Monday’s June 24th episode of Days of our Lives marked the final episode of Steve Burton as Harris Michaels. Back at Christmastime in December of 2023, the popular actor finished his time on the soap, and then announced he had wrapped his run on the Peacock series.

Next, in early January of 2024, during the conclusion of General Hospital’s 60th anniversary special, Burton revealed he is back on the ABC soap in his signature soap role of Jason Morgan. Previously, Burton was let go from the show for not complying with the Covid-19 vaccine mandate in November of 2021.

Steve’s Days of our Lives journey began back in 1988 when he first appeared as the character of Harris Michaels. Next, DAYS brought back the character in the summer of 2022 for the limited series Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem 2.  Then, he joined the mothership in March of 2023.

Photo: JPI

In storyHarris comes to tell Ava that he is heading out of Salem because Hope needs him to follow up on a lead on the treacherous Megan Hathaway (Miranda Wilson). Ava questions why he has to be the one to go. Harris explains that Hope (Kristian Alfonso) has to stay by Bo’s (Peter Reckell) side and can’t leave him, so he is going to try to track down Megan, after all, she nearly destroyed his life.

Courtesy/Peacock

Harris tells Ava there are a lot of trust issues between them, and that he will always care for her. The two hit the sheets one final time, before Harris makes his exit. Tamara Braun told Soap Opera Digest on the final moments between Ava and Harris, “You hold on as tight as you can before you let go. You try to feel everything real, good and intimate, and you cry and you say good-bye. It’s sad.”

If you recall, Steve dropped this video below after he finished taping his last scenes at Burbank Studios where DAYS is taped.

Did you enjoy Steve Burton’s time on Days of our Lives as Harris Michaels? Did you like the pairing of Ava and Harris? Share your thoughts via the comment section.

This week on Days of our Lives, Judith Chapman is back for a one-day stint as Diana Colville when her son, Leo (Greg Rikaart) visits her in prison.

In story, Diana was sent to the slammer, for back in 2019 she tried to murder Marlena (Deidre Hall), and at the time she admitted (or claims) she falsified the DNA tests that originally proved the John Black (Drake Hogestyn) was Leo’s father. Leo turned his back on his mother and has not seen or spoken to her again.

However, recently Leo has visited Marlena as his shrink to try to get to the bottom of why he is the way he is. Upon Marlena’s suggestion, she advises him to see his mother.

Photo: JPI

Speaking with Soap Opera Digest on her upcoming key scenes, Chapman expressed, “Diana was not happy about him going to Marlena for help and Leo is like, ‘Yeah, Mom, I’m figuring this out because you messed me up so much in my life.'”

Judith teased,“She (Diana) stays in control so she’s not breaking down but her facade definitely cracks. By the time we finished the scenes, everybody who was in earshot started applauding. I thought it was just a token, ‘Oh, welcome back, Judith,’ but it was because Greg and I apparently knocked it out of the park. The director came out, threw her hands up and was like, ‘You did it, you did it!’ Greg and I hugged and just clung to each other for 15, 20 seconds.”

Make sure to tune-in to the Tuesday, June 25th of the Peacock streaming soap opera to see the showdown between Leo and Diana.

So, do you think Leo is John’s biological son after all? Do you think Diana will reveal something else that will help Leo figure out why he does the things he does? Are you excited to see Judith and Greg in scenes again, after years as Y&R mother and son, Gloria and Kevin, and then on Days as Diana and Leo?

Check out our recent Daytime Emmy Red Carpet interview with Greg below. Then, let us know your theories in the comment section.

In a not-then-but-now real-life story, Days of our Lives incoming Gabi Hernandez, actress Cherie Jimenez took to Instagram on Friday after it was revealed by Deadline, that her first airdate as the recast Gabi is next week on June 27th!

Jimenez has replaced longtime DAYS star, Camila Banus in the role. Previously, Banus made the decision to step away from the part after taking on the role in 2010. Camila was with the series on and off through 2023. To facilitate her exit, Gabi was sent to prison for the murder of Li Shin, only she didn’t commit the crime.

Cherie shared her emotions on finally being able to talk about being the new Gabi Hernandez DiMera. She expressed, “WOW ✨🎬 My heart is filled with immense gratitude over the opportunity of a lifetime. I am GABI HERNANDEZ DIMERA on the iconic DAYS OF OUR LIVES ⏳❤️‍🔥 It has been an absolute dream working on DAYS.”

Photo: JPI

As for her time so far at DAYS, Jimenez added,”These past 7 months I have worked harder than I ever have and now I get to share it with the world. Everyday I walk onto set I am in awe that I’ve been given the opportunity to live my dream. I get to work with the most phenomenal & hardworking cast and crew I’ve ever had the honor to work alongside.”

Photo: JPI

Jimenez, thanked among others the series producer, director and writers for trusting in her including: Janet Drucker, Noel Maxam, Ron Carlivati and Ken Corday, and her agents for helping her along the way in her show business journey.

She concluded with the most ironic twist of all, Cherie recalled, “At 22 years old an audition for the role of Gabi on Days of our Lives came into my life. It was not meant for me then. Now 15 years later at 36 years old the universe told me I was now ready to step into this role…Thank you ✨ …I am just beginning ✨”

So, are you looking forward to the debut of Cherie as the new Gabriella Hernandez DiMera? Comment below.

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