By now, Days of our Lives fans have learned that this week marks the end of the run, for now, of Billy Flynn and Kate Mansi as Chad and Abby.  But before they exit look for wedding bells to ring as Chabby remarries.

When Marci Miller decided to depart the role of Abigail, Kate Mansi returned to the role she played before Miller to finish the arc, which would have potentially left Abby to leave town and Chad to be without her, since Mansi signed on to just complete the storyline,

DAYS head writer Ron Carlivati told Soap Opera Digest  (in latest issue on newsstands now) the thought process of having the duo leave together: “While it was kind of agonizing to make the decision that Chad will exit the canvas with Abigail, I decided that was the best thing for the couple, it was the best thing for the fans and it was the best thing for the show. The way that they exit is very, very open-ended. It’s not like someone is going to die. They leave happy and the door is completely open for them to come back. As much as I’m sure some people will be sad to see them go, I think they’ll be happy to see them go together. It just seemed so unfair to not give them a happy ending. And I just didn’t see how that happy ending would work if Chad stayed in Salem and Abigail left.”   He added: “Obviously, if the time is right, the story is right, and the people are available, they’ll be back.”

Looks like we all need to get out the hankies after checking out the latest NBC promo for Chad and Abby’s wedding and farewell.  You can watch it below.  Then let us know if you are sad to see Billy and Kate exit DAYS, and if you hope they will be back sooner than later via the comment section below.

Love is in the air for Chad and Abigail as they get ready to get married one more time. Watch Days of our Lives, weekdays on @NBC. pic.twitter.com/XlibR90G8D

— Days of our Lives (@nbcdays) February 15, 2019

The complex life of John Black (Drake Hogestyn) just got even more complicated on NBC’s Days of our Lives; thanks to the arrival of his ex-flame Diana Colville (Judith Chapman) and the bombshell that bad boy Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart), who has been causing so much trouble for Will (Chandler Massey) and Sonny (Freddie Smith), is actually his biological son!  Boy, John certainly has had some kids he never knew about pop up (remember, Paul Narita is John’s son, too).  But, is this all a tale spun by Diana, or the truth regarding Leo?

Longtime DAYS vet, Drake Hogestyn sits down with host, Michael Fairman on an all-new installment of NBC’s Inside Salem: Days of our Lives Podcast.  During the conversation, Drake talks about his surprise learning from the script that Diana Cooper was indeed his ex, Diana Colville.

The beloved actor reveals that at one point he thought Genie Francis (Laura, GH) might be coming back to reprise the role, but now that it’s Judith Chapman he is having a great time acting opposite her.  In addition, being a true historian of DAYS, Drake takes the listeners on some fun facts that they may not have remembered. Later, Hogestyn reveals why he and Deidre Hall (Marlena) have found such success as DAYS’ enduring John and Marlena.

Michael commends Drake on his Daytime Emmy Pre-Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his emotional turn following Marlena being shot at the Jarlena nuptials, and the family saying their goodbyes believing she was going to die, especially she the good doc had a DNR request on her legal forms filed with the hospital.

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

In the backstage segment of the podcast, Eric Martsolf (Brady) takes Fairman on what a typical production day is like for him and others in Salem: visiting the wardrobe department, stopping to talk to the stage manager, and chatting it up with co-stars along the way including: Lauren Koslow (Kate) and Linsey Godfrey (Sarah).

The new episode of Inside Salem: Days of our Lives Podcast is currently streaming on NBC.com here, and will be available for download via iTunes on Monday.

So, do you think John will do next now that Diana is working her way back into his life, and Leo is his son?  Will he tell Marlena what is going on?  What did you think of the sentiments shared by Drake in the interview? Comment below.

In a breach of contract and fraud complaint filed this morning, Corday Productions, the Producers of Days of our Lives, is seeking 20 million dollars in damages from its producing partner, Sony Pictures Television, as well as its Columbia Pictures and Screen Gems divisions, and to significantly take back control of the show.

In the 33-page court filed document this morning, Deadline.com noted some of the key points contained within.  Corday Productions is alleging that Sony has treated the show unfairly skewed in favor of its Sony-owned daytime drama series, The Young and the Restless.  The complaint indicates that, “While the domestic ratings for Days of Our Lives have remained largely constant, Sony’s distribution receipts have decreased by over 50%. This dramatic decline is directly attributable to a decision at the highest levels of Sony management to eliminate any competition to its own wholly-owned series The Young and The Restless also distributed by Sony.”