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Days of our Lives’ Emily O’Brien and Rob Scott Wilson Talk On the Challenge of Switching Soap Roles, and the Alex & Theresa Pairing

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: JPI

On Days of our Lives, very few cast members have experienced, since being on the long-running soap opera, what Emily O’Brien and Rob Scott Wilson have been through.

Rob went from playing the role of Ben Weston to being written off the canvas, and then being written back on to the canvas as a new character, Alex Kiriakis. Emily went from playing troublemaking Gwen Rizczech in one scene, to reappearing in the same scene as the recast for the role of Theresa Donovan formerly played by Jen Lilley.

So, what has it been like taking on new characters, while still mourning not playing your former alter-ego, and trying to make the audience go along for the ride with you? Both Emily and Rob weighed-in during the Michael Fairman Channel’s recent sit-down conversation with the duo at Day of Days 2023.

Photo: JPI

Emily revealed if she was ready to say goodbye to Gwen when she found about her role switch, admitting, “No, I wasn’t really ready. But this happens all the time. They’re circulating through characters. Characters come and go. And so you as an actor, you’re always thinking, this could be the time, you know? But, at that moment, I wasn’t expecting it just because I thought that there was more to flesh out with that storyline. What was a bigger shock was when they called and said, ‘Would you like to play the role of Theresa?’ It’s been a journey and one that I’m actually enjoying now. I wasn’t sure how to feel about it because I didn’t know how I would fit in in this role. I feel so fortunate to be working with Eric Martsolf (Brady), and Rob, and Jamie Mann (Tate) who is now playing my son. I get to work with all these new actors and kind of stretch my legs somewhere else now. It feels really good.”

Photo: JPI

Recently, viewers learned that Alex is supposedly the biological son of Victor Kiriakis (the late John Aniston) and not the son of Justin Kiriakis (Wally  Kurth). Rob weighed-in on the whole story twist: “The only thing that would’ve made it better was if John was around to be a part of it, you know?  t’s been amazing. It was a bittersweet thing. He’s (Alex) going to question him himself and question his family, his friends, his relationships. You know, it was almost like a lot of his life was a lie. But with that, you know, he’s the CEO of Titan. He’s the heir of the Kiriakis fortune, and we’ll see how long it lasts.”  And it may not last long, if the Days of our Lives extended winter promo, which dropped during the Day of Days 2023 fan fest, is correct!  In it, a stunning revelation seems to occur, which names Xander (Paul Telfer) aactually Victor’s bio-son, not Alex! Stay tuned.

Photo: JPI

As to what fans can look forward to as she gets deeper into the skin of Theresa, Emily expressed: “There’s a lot to come, It’s a ride. It was a challenge to begin with and I really tried to just put my head down and just do my job and do it as best as I could. That’s always been my main focus, ‘They’ve given you this opportunity. They’re trusting you for a reason.” It may not make sense right now, but I think fans might be surprised. I’m hoping. I’ve really kind of found a stride now and everybody has been so incredibly supportive.”

Photo: JPI

Rob added that he is happy to be working with his newest scene partner: “I am really grateful. We got to touch on it a little bit with Alex and Gwen, and there was just something that worked with Emily and I, you know. She’s a good actor, but she’s a great person. We come in wildly prepared, and do as much as we can, rehearse as much as we can, but really, we’ll always find something new, and that makes it exciting. She’s available like that. Then, when everything happened with Theresa, you know, it worked out perfectly, because we get to kind of continue what we were doing with new characters.”

Photo: JPI

Just a few months back, when Days of our Lives viewers saw the scene where a stunned Justin tells Alex that he is not his father, both Rob and Wally Kurth brought their A-game. Wilson commented on the emotional moment: “Ultimately, working with Wally he cares about the work and he’s just a pro. Wally’s a legend.  So, we have a good dynamic and good chemistry  So, for that moment to happen, we just wanted to do it justice.”

Check out our full video interview with Emily and Rob from Day of Days 2023 below.

Now let us know, are you looking forward to seeing Emily and Rob paired together on DAYS? Are you getting used to Emily as Theresa? Do you hope that Alex or Xander, when all is said and done, is proven without a doubt to be Victor’s biological son? Comment below.

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I would be okay if Emily O’Brien stayed on as Theresa! She is a phenomenal actor

They are both fabulous !

I’m glad Emily and Rob are on Days and I hope they stay there. I do miss Gwen and Leo though, they were quite funny together. I also wish Emily could keep her British accent.

Days Of Our Lives

DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Kristen Double Crosses Sophia and Sends Her Up the River; Rachel Boyd Delivers Emotional Performance

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The twisted topsy-turvy story of Sophia Choi has seemingly comes to an end on Days of our Lives or has it? Whatever the case, the Friday, May 1 episode of the Peacock streaming soap opera, and the episode proceeding it, gave actress Rachel Boyd a great exit story complete with Sophia writing a suicide note, that also gave DAYS a moment to end their Friday cliffhanger with a suicide prevention message. However, Sophia didn’t take her own life, it appears that Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) murdered her!

The unstable Sophia has been causing problems for everyone in Salem most notably, Rachel, Johnny, Chanel, Holly, Tate and more. So, the resolution of this story appears to be what the character deserves, but this is DAYS, and people have habit of coming back from the dead.

On Friday, after tying up Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman) in his apartment and turning on the gas, Sophia left him there to die. In the pick-up, we learn Johnny imagined the place blowing up with Chanel (Raven Bowens) inside it. When he came to in the reality of the situation, he is tied up and the gas fumes are on. Outside the apartment, Javi (Al Calderon) and another paramedic show up and he burst down the door to save Johnny.  Meanwhile, we see that Chanel is still at University hospital where she learns from Sarah (Linsey Godfrey) that she has a breast cancer malignancy.

Courtesy/Peacock

Sophia, who has just written the suicide note, which is part of the plot that Kristen set for her, is confronted by her mother. Eventually, after hearing Jada (Elia Cantu) and Brady (Eric Martsolf), she sneaks out her bedroom window. Next, she runs into Tate (Leo Howard) and Holly (Ashley Puzemis) at Horton Town Square. Holly goes in on Sophia: “We all know you shouldn’t have been let out of Bayview, you crazy bitch! Part of me wishes you really were dead!” Sophia calls her former friend horrible, blows her and Tate a kiss, and the makes her exit.

At this point, Sophia had been off her medication which would have helped balance her out, but she continues to be a deeply troubled teenager. Kristen had a concocted a plot to bring Sophia down once and for all for having her young daughter, Rachel, while in Bayview together, running drugs fo her to Holly. Viewers will recall the pills were actually Sophia’s own antipsychotic medication, which she had previously been swapped for Holly’s skin supplements. Rachel was unaware she was acting as a drug courier. That sets the stage for Kristen’s ultimate act of revenge.

In the final moments of the episode, Sophia had met up with Kristen on the bridge in the evening. She takes the gun out of her purse that Kristen gave her to kill Johnny, and throws it in the river, making Kristen believe she shot him, when instead she chose to gas him. Perhaps, believing someone would find him, since he is raising her child?

Courtesy/Peacock

Next, Sophia demands Kristen’s promised payment, for faking her suicide and so she can head to Paris to start a new life. Kristen directs Sophia to throw her shoes in the water, and get her fingerprints on the railing. With her back to Kristen, she is double crossed when Kristen picks up a rock, bashed Sophia in the head and had her male cronies toss the young teen into the river below. “I told you revenge was sweet,” announced Kristen!

Following the streaming of the pivotal episodes the official Days of our Lives Instagram account posted some behind the scenes photos of Stacy Haiduk and Rachel Boyd (you can see it below) which says, “Things took a dark turn at the pier for Sophia and Kristen, but behind the scenes, Rachel and Stacy kept the mood a little lighter. Continue watching the drama unfold, only on Peacock.”

If as it appears to be that Rachel Boyd has exited DAYS, she definitely went out delivering some haunting performances.  However, the just released Days of our Lives promo for the week of May 4, 2026, shows Kristen being visited by a bloodied Sophia. Is she hallucinating or did the girl survive?

Share your thoughts on Kristen’s plot to kill Sophia, and what you thought of the plot twist and the performances of Rachel Boyd leading up to it via the comment section below. But first, check out the promo for next week on DAYS.

 

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‘Brilliant Minds’ Officially Canceled After 2 Seasons at NBC; DAYS Alum Al Calderon, OLTL Alum Teddy Sears and Zachary Quinto Among the Cast

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After languishing on the bubble for months, on Friday, NBC handed down the decision and canceled the medical drama Brilliant Minds after two seasons.

Brilliant Minds stars Zachary Quinto as neurology physician Oliver Wolf, who’s character and the series is inspired by the life and books of neurologist. Oliver Sacks. The series focuses on the medical mysteries of the mind, as Wolf a larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns explore the last great frontier, the human mind, while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.

The final six episodes of what will now be the end of its second and final season were already set to air beginning on May 27, after being pulled off the network schedule in February as viewership saw a steep decline. Brilliant Minds second season became the lowest-rated drama on linear TV viewing, which didn’t bode well fo a network renewal, although it had its hard core fan base.

Photo: NBC

There are some exceptional notables in the cast along with the talented Quinto that includes Days of Our Lives alum, Al Calderon (ex-Javi Hernandez) who joined the series in its second season as Nurse Nico Silva, and One Life to Live alum, Teddy Sears (ex-Chad Bennett) who plays Wolf’s love interest and fellow physician, Dr. Josh Nichols.

The rest of the talented cast includes: Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Donna Murphy, John Clarence Stewart, and Brian Altemus.

In an ironic twist of fate on Thursday, April 30, Days of Our Lives finally revealed the actor who was Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Javi, when they announced that actor Jacob Martinez had now stepped into the role. Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming new episode, Calderon left in the spring of 2025, but will be seen in the part for the final part this month, and then on June 20, Martinez debuts as Salem’s new Javi.

Taking to his Instagram with a sorrowful and heartfelt post on the Brilliant Minds cancellation was Teddy Sears who wrote, “Thank you, Brilliant Minds. I got the call today and I didn’t want to hear, but I knew that it would come, You have to be a particular vintage to quote Don Henley from memory, but that’s the line that came to mind earlier today after I got off the phone with our inimitable showrunner Michael Grassi who delivered the news that NBC has cancelled the series”.

Photo: NBC

Sears continued, “To say that I feel sad to be moving on from these stories, this character, and this cast and crew just doesn’t paint the entire picture. I’m sad, sure. But I’m also deeply grateful that I got hired to play this part, so proud of the stories we told, and the other actors I got to play alongside. I’m excited to see what comes next, what adventures await, and terrified to be without a professional home. A quick and heartfelt thank you to everyone, all over the globe, who found us and found themselves in us, in our characters and in our stories. We wouldn’t have been able to tell them without you. And we still have 6 fresh episodes yet to air, and I do hope you tune in enjoy the remainder of the series. They’re the best we’ve done.”

As he wrapped up his sentiments, Sears signed off with, “The more I know, the less I understand. All the things I figured out I have to learn again. I’ve been trying to get down to the heart of the matter. But everything changes…Thank you, Brilliant Minds.”

Calderon took to his Instagram story and simply shared, “Thank You, Brilliant Minds.”

The medical drama was created and executive produced by Michael Grassi alongside Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, Lee Toland Krieger, DeMane Davis, Jasmine Russ, Henrik Bastin, Jonathan Cavendish, Andy Serkis and Shefali Malhoutra.

So, what do you think of NBC’s decision to cancel Brilliant Minds after two seasons? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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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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