An internal investigation was launched back in March of this year from allegations made against Days of our Lives’ co-executive producer and director, Albert Alarr.
According to Deadline, the reported nine-week investigation was set-off by a round of layoffs at the soap opera and one female former employee who alleged that women had been disproportionally impacted by the cuts and were not receiving equal pay on the show. In the staff reduction, seven women who were contract players were laid off. Of them, five actresses were let go or went to recurring status and two departed on their own, with one leaving due to her experience working on the soap. Only one male actor was left go. DAYS also has only one regular female director in their five-day work week, three males, and one other female as part of a part-time directing team rotation.
The internal investigation was conducted by Sony Pictures Television, who is the distributor of DAYS, and involved 30-40 individuals, mostly women. Alarr, who has been with the Corday Productions soap since 2003, was promoted to co-executive producer back in 2015.
Photo: AAlarrLinkedIN
Multiple insiders reportedly told the investigation that since his ascent to power, Alarr had become abusive and humiliated people on set or behind the scenes. Alarr has been accused of publicly bullying one actor, and allegedly making inappropriate sexualized comments to the staff and the cast, leaving one actress in tears. In the report, one staff member shared on the toxic work environment that Alarr has allegedly been, “fostering to a frat house, with college boys-style sexualized remarks about women normalized as being par for the course while working on the show.”
Since DAYS nor Corday Productions has an HR department for anyone to file complaints with, Sony Human Resources held two Zoom calls with cast and crew for a ‘Spotlight on Respect’ training webinar, explaining to all involved what constitutes sexual harassment and how to respond in certain situations. According to the report, Alarr was present on the calls making those who had filed complaints very uncomfortable.
Photo: Corday Prods
During the investigation, Alarr admitted to some of the allegations. The full report was completed by Sony TV and handed over to Corday Productions. In a statement to Deadline, Corday Productions issued: “Corday Productions engaged Sony Pictures Television, which distributes Days of our Lives, to conduct an impartial investigation into this matter. After a two-month investigation, the independent investigator produced a report with its findings. Based on those findings, Corday Productions has taken a series of actions designed to ensure a safe and respectful work environment.”
The upshot thus far from the report is that Alarr was issued a warning and was asked to undergo training. He still maintains his position at the show as co-executive producer and director. In recent weeks, Alarr has been said to not have been as present on the set as much. However, many believe that has more to do with keeping scripts generated during the writer’s strike, then because of the misconduct investigation.
One employee reportedly shared on the work environment at DAYS, “Nobody should treat people like this. In this day and age for men to be treating women like this, to take away their voices and treat them like they don’t matter and they’re second-class citizens, is just appalling.”
Share your thoughts on the misconduct allegations and Sony Pictures TV report on DAYS’ Albert Alarr via the comment section below.
Please fire him now! The fine cast of Days of our Lives deserve a healthy, safe and respectful work environment! This is totally unacceptable!
Moto62
9 months ago
He should be gone! There is no reason to keep him around and create a more toxic environment. Ken Corday needs to step up and fire him! It’s 2023 for God’s sake!
It’s up to Corday Productions, (the show’s producer) his employer. Peacock only pays Sony, the distributor for the rights to show DAYS on their platform.
Momo
9 months ago
He should be fired. I wouldn’t want to work in an environment that he created. He sounds toxic.
Jimmy
9 months ago
Sounds like a toxic work environment, I’d be hesitant to work there if I was an actor. Seems like it’d be best for the morale of the show to part ways with him.
Joel
9 months ago
Surprised Corday hasn’t let him go. I guess Corday cares little about the direction of the show after all these years.
I don’t think Ken Corday ever wanted the job. He just inherited it from his parents.
Angela
9 months ago
Between him, Corday & the idiot head writer the shoe isn’t worthy of supporting anymore.
Rebecca
9 months ago
A written warning is fine for the failure to do basic job duties & all, but when it comes to any type of sexual misconduct/speech & gender targeting, the female actors/staff deserve better. Once his comments came out of his mouth the damage was done. I feel like, all too often, males in the position of power over females don’t realize the feelings of violation that females experience, & it’s not feelings easily gotten over, particularly when they have to continuously be exposed to such a source. Do better, Ken. For all the females who, at minimum, make you very rich-fire him.
Sandy
9 months ago
He needs to go!?!
Jan
9 months ago
Fire him
Patricia Welch
9 months ago
Mr. Alarr, Should be Terminated! I’m 73 y/o, I’ve been a Loyal Fan since I was 15. I’ve been married for 43 Years, My Husband became addicted to Days when We Married. It’s Illegal for Women to be Mistreated in The Workplace! We don’t want to Lose Our Characters, that We Love. If We Lose Days, NBC WILL LOSE THEIR PEACOCK SUBSCRIBERS. Please Hear Your Fans, WE MATTER! Thank You and Peace!
Minnie
9 months ago
Wow!!! This is totally UNACCEPATABLE!!! I have been a DOOL for almost 40 years and have never experienced such absurdity!!! The DOOL cast deserves much better treatment and the utmost respect!!! That jerk needs a reality check!!!
‘Daytime Stands Up: A Benefit For Stand Up To Cancer’ Live Virtual Event Announced; Featuring Soap Opera Notables and Moving Tributes
May 2, 2024
Stand Up to Cancer in collaboration with Alan Locher and Michael Fairman, will come together for a a three-hour livestream benefit, Daytime Stands Up: A Benefit for Stand Up To Cancer … We All Have a Story.
Several stars from from daytime drama television past and present are scheduled to participate for an evening of stories of emotional on- and off-screen experiences with cancer, and moving tributes to beloved daytime favorites who lost their battle plus musical performances.
Daytime Stands Up: A Benefit for Stand Up To Cancer … We All Have a Story, streams live on Thursday, May 16, from 8 to 11 p.m. ET/5 to 8 pm PT simultaneously on StandUpToCancer.org and YouTube channels The Locher Room and Michael Fairman Channel.
Photos: CBS and JPI
Tune-in for cancer survivorship stories with General Hospital’s Cameron Mathison and The Young and the Restless’ Colleen Zenk, who will reflect on the impact of publicly sharing their diagnoses; 2024 Daytime Emmy nominee Eric Braeden, who shares his cancer journey as well his memories of beloved The Young and the Restless co-star Meg Bennett, who passed from cancer April 11; and more.
Moving tributes to soap stars who’ve lost their cancer battles, including: Daytime icon Jackie Zeman, who played nurse Bobbie Spencer on General Hospital for 45 years, shared by daughters Cassidy MacLeod and Lacey Gorden, a tribute to Elizabeth Hubbard who played the iconic Lucinda Walsh on As the World Turns and Dr. Althea Davis on The Doctors, as shared by her on-screen daughter Martha Byrne and real-life son Jeremy Bennett, two-time Emmy Award-winner Jerry verDorn (Guiding LightOne Life to Live), shared by widow Beth verDorn and his on-screen wife on Guiding Light, friend and co-star Liz Keife, the iconic Andrea Evans, who played Tina Lord Roberts on One Life to Live, shared by her husband Stephen G. Rodriguez and daughter Kylie Rodriguez and Kamar de los Reyes shared by his One Life to Live co-stars Michael Easton(General Hospital)Trevor St. John (The Young and the Restless).
Photo: MEastonFacebook
Poignant reflections from actors who have portrayed breast cancer survivors, including Sharon Case and Eileen Davidson from The Young and the Restless; Erika Slezak from One Life to Live; Tina Sloan and Kim Zimmer from Guiding Light and more.
Additional talent slated to participate in the virtual benefit include (*subject to change): Eddie and Kristen Alderson (One Life to Live); Elia Cantu (Days of Our Lives); The Day Players, Featuring Days of OurLives castmates Carson Boatman, Brandon Barash, Wally Kurth (2024 Daytime Emmy nominee), Eric Martsolf (2024 Daytime Emmy nominee); Kassie DePaiva (One Life to Live); Don Diamont (The Bold and the Beautiful); Linsey Godfrey (2024 Daytime Emmy nominee, Days of Our Lives); Leo Howard (Days of Our Lives); LesliKay (The Bold and the Beautiful); Eden McCoy (General Hospital); Kin Shriner (GeneralHospital); Michelle Stafford (2024 Daytime Emmy nominee, The Young and the Restless).
Courtesy/LaceyGorden
“Daytime television invites viewers into the private lives of characters, often bringing important issues like cancer screenings into living rooms and around water coolers. Soaps debuted the first cancer storyline in 1962 – years before the topic was discussed in the mainstream, and it left an indelible impact: a whole generation of women who scheduled a potentially life-saving Pap smear for the first time,” said Daytime Stands Up host Alan Locher. “For so many viewers, this brought the issue front and center,” added co-host Michael Fairman. “Today, it’s become almost impossible to avoid; but there is hope with cancer research, thanks to organizations like Stand Up To Cancer.”
SU2C Co-Founder Sue Schwartz, SU2C President and CEO Julian Adams, Ph.D., and SU2C Health Equity Committee Member Elizabeth Jaffee, M.D., will also participate to speak to the importance of early detection, exciting scientific breakthroughs, and the ongoing work yet to be done to make screenings and treatment equitable for all.
“This year, an estimated 2 million people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer, presenting an opportunity for the public to stand with us and rise to the occasion,” said Adams. “We’re thankful to Alan Locher, Michael Fairman and our friends from the daytime television community, who will raise critical funding to honor those we’ve lost – and to propel new scientific breakthroughs for current and future patients. Everyone has a story, and we’re grateful to all of you for sharing yours.”
For over 15 years, SU2C has leveraged its relationship with the entertainment community – which includes more than 1,100 celebrity ambassadors – to generate public donations, increase awareness and fund cutting-edge cancer research. SU2C research has contributed to the development of more than 10 scientific breakthroughs that have significantly impacted the field and provided new treatment options for breast, colorectal, lung, melanoma, pancreatic, pediatric and prostate cancers.
Photo: SUTC
In support of the event, SU2C will also be launching a 10-day eBay silent auction, from May 16 through 26, for fans to bid on items, including a meet-and-greet experience with the cast of NBC’s Days of Our Lives; an autographed script from the cast of Young and Restless and signed merchandise from the Bold and Beautiful cast; a 1:1 video call with General Hospital’s Cynthia Watros, Maura West and Laura Wright, and with daytime legends Robert Newman, Vincent Irizarry, Colleen Zenk, and more. Full details will be shared the evening of May 16, on Stand Up To Cancer’s website.
Are you looking forward to this very special one-night only virtual event to help benefit cancer research and shed light on the stories, performances and lives of the people we love and have loved in daytime TV? Comment below.
Deidre Hall to Guest Star on Season 3 of Comedy Series ‘Hacks’
May 1, 2024
Days of our Lives star Deidre Hall (Marlena) is set to play a version of herself on third season of Hacks. Look for Hall this month in an episode titled “The Deborah Vance Christmas Spectacular,” to air on May 23 on Max.
Not only will Hall appear in the episode, but so too, will Back to the Future and Taxi star, Christopher Lloyd.
According to EW.com, Deidre will play “a fictional version of herself, who just so happens to be the mom of Paul W. Downs’ Jimmy.”
Photo: JPI
Hacks co-creator and Downs’ wife, Lucia Aniello shared on Hall’s casting, “It made sense to us that Jimmy’s late father, a big-time manager, would have been married to an actress. When the idea for Deidre Hall came up, it just felt right.”
As for Lloyd, he will portray, reclusive writer Larry Arbuckle, who is to have had a rather famous grandfather. In the episode, Hall and Lloyd’s character intersect, which leads to onscreen sparks.
Photo: AP
“We had written some things that were flirty, but the chemistry was palpable,” says co-creator and series star, Downs shared. Hacks stars Jean Smart as comedy legend Deborah Vance.
Photo: Max
Season 3 of Hacks debuts on Thursday night May 2nd on Max 9 pm ET/6 pm PT.
So, will you be watching Deidre Hall guest starring on Hacks? Comment below.
Peacock Raising Subscription Prices $2 Dollars a Month This Summer; Includes Days of our Lives
April 30, 2024
As the Paris Summer Olympics are a few months away, the Peacock streaming service has revealed its plan for a two dollar summer price hike on its subscription plans, beginning in July for its content which will include Days of our Lives.
According to Deadline, in July, look for the monthly price for Peacock Premium to increase to $7.99. Premium Plus, which offers limited advertising, download capability and live local programming, will now be $13.99, while Annual plans will go up to $79.99 for Premium and $139.99 for Premium Plus.
This price hike will effect new customers starting on July 18th, while existing subscribers will notice the price change on their next billing date on or before August 17th.
Photo: JPI
This marks the second price change in two years for the streaming service, the previous one being in 2023, which was the first since the service launched back in 2020. The Summer Olympics in Paris which will be on NBC and Peacock run from July 26 to August 11.
The bright spot for Days of our Lives fans, is that unlike if the show was still on network television and NBC, the show would be preempted for two weeks, but with it being on Peacock it will continue with all-new episodes without interruption.
Photo: Peacock
At the recent Days of our Lives 15K episode celebration, Michael Sluchan the EVP, Current Scripted Programming & Limited Series for NBC/Peacock shared that the soap opera is doing extremely well for the streaming service, and they were very happy with its performance.
If you want to join Peacock now, there is still some time to get in on the current rates to watch DAYS and all of the programming and series it offers.
So, what do you think about the Peacock streaming service next price hike? Comment below.
