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DAYS Emily O’Brien Talks Gwen’s Summer Return and Reteaming with Greg Rikaart

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: JPI

Emily O’ Brien returns on-screen this week on all-new episodes of Days of our Lives streaming on Peacock. This time, she is coming back to Salem for a short stint as Theresa Donovan (blonde wig and all). However, a larger return is imminent this summer when O’Brien is back on-screen in her original DAYS soap role of Gwen Rizczech. The character of Gwen has been off the Salem canvas since October of 2023.

Speaking to Woman’s World on reprising Gwen, the talented actress noted how things were left when Gwen made her exit, “The story is still so open-ended with her father (Jack, played by Matthew Ashford), Leo (Greg Rikaart) and Dimitri (Peter Porte), Xander (Paul Telfer), even, and all the people she’s affected. There’s so much more we can still play with, and I just love playing Gwen.”

One of the things O’Brien looked forward to most was getting the opportunity to work once again with Greg Rikaart as Leo. The two performers go way back when they played love interests Kevin Fisher and Jana Hawkes on The Young and the Restless. Jana and Kevin married in 2008, and were divorced by 2010.

Photo: JPI

“It’s so serendipitous because Greg played my husband on The Young and the Restless,” explained O’Brien. “I’ve known him for 20 years – which is crazy … so we’re just silly giggles all the time. We’re constantly making each other laugh, sometimes too much, because we’re on camera!”

One of Emily’s favorite storyline was the Gwen/Peter/Leo triangle – you know the one where woman falls for man, and the man fall for another man, who happens to be the woman;’s bff!

Photo: JPI

As Emily explained, “The love triangle with Peter Porte was just glorious. That little banter we had was so amazing. We felt like we were doing a sitcom. It was brilliant. I hope more of that is to come.”

Look for Emily to hit your Salem screens beginning in July, and don’t forget to check out Theresa’s return this week when she learns of her son Tate’s baby mess, only to learn some news that sends her quickly back out of town.

Photo: JPI

You can check out a moment from Emily’s return as Theresa on the latest promo for Days of our Lives below.

Now, let us know are you excited to see Emily back on-screen as Gwen? Do you enjoy her scenes with her longtime scene partner, Greg Rikaart? Comment below.

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Hell yeah I’m excited for Gwen’s return! Emily is so good no matter who she is playing but I prefer her as Gwen!

I hope when Gwen comes back she is in full fledge bitch and bad mommy mode with baby Dimitri and a host of refugees from Alamania in tow. It will give the DiMeras a well deserved rest and bring back Jack and Jennifer to the canvas. Hopefully Gwen hooks up with Brady or Phillip. Gwen can be Days answer to Bold and the Beautiful Brooke Logan keeping it all in the Kiriakis family.

Very excited to have Gwen back but I’d love to see Dimitri back as well in a Dimitri/Leo/Javi triangle!

Great news! I love the character of Gwen! Emily O’Brien is a talented actress. I assumed that Gwen was the faux Lady Whistleblower. I hoped for a sooner return of Gwen. But the viewer can expect some fireworks! That’s for sure!

Days Of Our Lives

DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Sophia Seemingly Plans to End Her Life, But Not Before Setting Fire to Johnny’s Apartment With Him Trapped Inside

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The final few moments of the Thursday, April 30 episode of Days of our Lives, will pave the way, to what just may be the end of Sophia Choi’s (Rachel Boyd) life, but not as you may think!

After an unhinged Sophia paid a visit to Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman), maced him in the eyes, knocked him out and then tied up to a chair, now conscious, she lets him know that she holds him responsible for all the trouble and trauma she has gone through from adopting her child, and her being sent to a mental institution.

So instead of the unregistered gun Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) gave her to finish off Johnny, Sophia sets up a plan to light candle, use nail polish remover and turn on the gas on the stove to ultimately create a mass explosion, which although Johnny pleaded to her not to that to all the innocent people inside his apartment building, she doesn’t seem to care.

Photo: JPI

FIERY FACE OFF

The plan was supposed to be, after she takes care of Johnny she will toss the gun in the Salem River, then focus on payback to Holly Jonas before leaving town to start a new life.

Now, Sophia makes her exit, leaving Johnny to be a few moments away from an explosion or gas inhalation, when Chanel (Raven Bowens) comes home after awaiting the results of her mammogram. She sees Johnny tied up, as he panics and tells her to put out the flame on the candle, things go awry, and a fire has begun and everything may go up in flames with Johnny and Chanel inside.

Photo: JPI

A BROKEN SOPHIA

Back in her room, Sophia breaks down after reading the social media comments about her, she planted, and then starts writing a suicide or farewell note which says. “I’m tired of begging for forgiveness for my mistakes. All I wanted was to move forward, to be loved and understood. But it’s clear that I was never going to get that. Holly Jonas said that I was dead to her. So, as her former BFF, I’m going to make her dream a reality.”

Photo: JPI

A DEADLY TRAP

Now, the fate of Johnny, Chanel and Sophia will be revealed on tomorrow’s May 1st cliffhanger, which may be the end of Sophia when she crosses paths with Kirsten at the bridge near the river. We do know Rachel Boyd is no longer appearing in the show credits section and is now off contract with the soap.

So, what did you think of the climatic final moments of DAYS? What did you think of the performance of Rachel Boyd as Sophia Choi? Let us know via the comment section.

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Jacob Martinez is ‘Days of Our Lives’ New Javi Hernandez Replacing Al Calderon in the Role

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Finally! The casting has been revealed as to just who would be Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Days of our Lives, Javi Hernandez. On Friday, April 30, the long-running soap opera revealed Jacob Martinez is taking on the part and he will first be seen this coming June 30th and then on all-new episodes streaming on Peacock.

As previously reported, the popular Calderon exited the soap opera last year to join the cast of the NBC primetime medical drama, Brilliant Minds as nurse Nico Silva, who in May will air the remainder of their second season. The series has been on the bubble for renewal by the network. His last episodes as Javi will also air this May on DAYS.

Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming, Martinez has been secretly ensconced in all the drama in Salem for quite some time. When viewers see the new Javi in story, we should learn what will happen in Javi’s relationship with Leo Stark played by Emmy winner, Greg Rikaart, plus his continued relationship with his relatives in the Hernandez clan. Currently, when Javi returned to Salem after taking care of his ailing father, and after the bust-up of his marriage to Leo thanks to Dimitri (Peter Porte), he claimed he had moved on with someone else while he was away from Salem.

Photo: JPI

Like Calderon before him, Martinez is a multi-talented actor and singer. Jacob’s resume is impressive having appeared in the musical In Pieces: The Musical at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and he was hand-picked by Joey Contreras to play the role of Grey. Other credits include: the short film, Memory Swim and the play Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage.

Martinez hails from Norfolk, Nebraska and appeared when he was very young at the Johnny Carson Theatre, and as DAYS fans know, Jacob is now working at the Days of our Lives studios, right where the “Tonight Show” is filled. In addition, Jacob Martinez is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).

Taking to his Instagram on Thursday, April 30 once the news of his casting was revealed, Martinez, expressed, “Way too many people to thank in one post, so I’ll just say THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and every person who continues to pour into me and encourage me to chase my dreams. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am. I already feel beyond blessed, supported, and loved. See you all in Salem ⏳”

Jacob Martinez appeared on Friday on the Days of our Lives Instagram account announcing his casting. You can check it out below. Deadline was the first to report the casting switch.

So, excited to learn who is the new Javi Hernandez? Please welcome Jacob Martinez to the role and be on the lookout for his debut on June 30. Comment below.

 

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Days Of Our Lives

‘Days of Our Lives’ Conner Floyd on Chad’s Quest For Abigail’s Resurrection; But Who Should Be Cast as NuAbby?

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Former Y&R favorite, Conner Floyd made his debut as the recast Chad DiMera on Days of our Lives last week on the April 21 episode of the Peacock streaming soap opera

Floyd replaced Billy Flynn in the role who is firmly cemented in his old stomping grounds of Genoa City and The Young and the Restless as Chad DiMera. For the last year or two of Chad’s story, he believed his wife, Abigail Devereaux DiMera could be alive, he even thought Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) was Abigail until the story turned.

Now with Floyd taking over the role and Lexie coming back to life after years of being dead, and Chad noting how Dr. Rolf (Richard Wharton) and his brother, EJ (Dan Feuerriegel), could resurrect somehow they all love, he thinks, how about Abigail? The part of Abigail was played by Kate Mansi and then Marci Miller. 

Photo: JPI

Speaking with Stephanie Sloane for her new Daytime Dish Newsletter on the matter, Conner shared, “Any kind of idea that she could possibly be coming back, as farfetched as that may seem, he’s stuck on it. The idea gets in his head, and he’s locked in on it.”

CHAD WRESTLES WITH THE FATE OF ABIGAIL

Floyd added that Chad, “He’s asking Theo (Joseph Tyler Andrews) about it. He’s asking EJ about it. It’s one of those things where he loves her so much that the peace in his mind that he’s made with this kind of comes unbroken. So the fact that that she might be able to come back, he’s so bent on it, he thinks it’s going to happen and he kind of spirals away.”

A NEW ABIGAIL ON THE HORIZON?

Photo: ABC

That begs the question, with Days of Our Lives taping ten months in advance, which is already taking them into the beginning of 2027, is it possible that the soap has already recast Abigail and its being kept top secret?

Recently, it was revealed that former General Hospital favorite, Sofia Mattsson (ex-Sasha) has joined Days of our Lives. Back on March 30 it was reported that Mattsson is now taping all-new episodes that will be seen in 2027, but her role was being hush-hush! Could she the new Abby?

If not, the question is, since it seems that Kate Mansi is not coming back as she is firmly entrenched in her role as Kristina Corinthos-Davis on General Hospital and other outside projects, and Marci Miller has also been away from soaps for awhile working on other TV and film roles and indie motion pictures, who should play nuAbby?

Now below, let us know, who do you think would make the perfect leading lady opposite Conner Floyd as a recast Abigail Deveraux DiMera? Be our armchair quarterback casting director and drop your pick in the comment section.

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