Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Hank Northrop Says Heartfelt Goodbye to Marissa Reyes and Welcomes Vico Escorcia as Liam’s Love Interest Ari Horton (Exclusive)
Next week on all-new episodes of Days of our Lives and as previously reported, Vico Escorcia takes over the role of Ari Horton replacing Marissa Reyes who exited the series ten-months ago on her own accord.
Since DAYS tapes so far in advance, viewers will get to see the new Ari for the first time in scenes on the April 8 episode of the Peacock streaming soap opera. One man who is crucial to the Ari switch is the character’s current leading man, Liam Selejko played by Hank Northrop.Â
As soap fans know, Hank is the son of DAYS icon, the late Wayne Northrop (ex-Roman Brady) and General Hospital’s Lynn Herring (Lucy Coe) and began his on-screen journey of his own on Days of our Lives in the role of Liam, who we learned is illiterate, has a young son, bullied Theo Carver (Tyler Joseph Andrews) in high school, and has plenty of troubles of his own. However, Liam is smitten with Ari Horton.
In a brand new exclusive interview out today on the Michael Fairman Channel, Northrop opened about many things, but also his high praise for Marissa Reyes and how he will miss her, but how fans are in for a real treat with Vico Escorcia in the part.
FAREWELL MARISSA
Photo: JPI
On the departure of Marissa Reyes, Hank expressed, “She is such a sunshine beam of a human being. I have never met somebody in my life who just exudes so much joy and exuberance and just happiness. Literally, every day that I worked with her was like the greatest. We had so much fun together. I think it really bled onto the screen too. Just our chemistry was playful, and it’s all real. We really genuinely just like each other as human beings. We would hang out and we’d go to the commissary together and get food together. She’s so talented. She lights up any room she goes in and out of. To have that with my first DAYS scene partner in a romantic way, I could not have asked for a better situation. I wish her all the best. Listen, she’s already a superstar. She is going to be huge!”
WELCOME VICO
According to Northrop, Vico will also make you stand up and applaud! “She’s fantastic. I don’t wanna spoil anything, but Vico is a powerhouse of an actress. She is so, so good. I can’t wait for the fans to see it,” exclaimed the actor. “Obviously. I’m very sad that Marissa left. I couldn’t ask for a better Ari. However, I think fans are going to be really, really happy. Vico is ‘Whew! She’s great!”‘
SLOW BURN
Photo: JPI
Hank is also thankful that the DAYS writers have taken their time with the Liam/Ari romance: “This has been a slow burn. It’s a slow build. They met at Small Bar and they had the making out scene. They had to hide her from Gabi (Cherie Jimenez), her mom. But then it wasn’t just like, ‘OK, they’re hopping in bed together’. It was like, ‘OK. let’s treat each other politely and like normal human beings.’ These crazy circumstances happen and that brings them together. Liam’s super infatuated with her. Don’t get me wrong. He has a kid, you know, he has a five-year-old son, and that is his number one priority since day one. He’s super into Ari. But that dynamic, we will see how it progresses, because as you know, on a soap, you can’t just have a completely happy relationship.”
Meanwhile, Vico Escorcia took to her Instagram now that her casting is out, and shared her deep excitement to be a a part of the legacy of DAYS: “I’m deeply honored to announce that I am joining the iconic cast of Days of Our Lives as the new Arianna Horton. Growing up in Mexico, telenovelas are embedded in our culture, so I truly feel that I am honoring my country by venturing into this genre at such a legendary stage. This set has been an incredible school where I’ve learned, explored, and worked hard to become a better artist. I have the utmost respect for daytime actors; I agree with Ryan – they are some of the hardest working artists in our field.”
In replacing her predecessor, Escorcia added, “Taking over for Marissa Reyes is a transition I treat with great care. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her, and I can confirm she is as gracious and loving as she is talented. I have immense respect for the Ari she created, and I’m honored to carry the torch forward in this new chapter. Big shoes to fill. To the fans: Thank you for the warm welcome already, and thank you for inviting me into your home. I hope you enjoy the journey we’re about to take with Ari.”
You can check out the full conversation below with Hank Northrop below.
So, are you enjoying Hank as Liam thus far? Sad to see Marissa go, but excited for Vico’s debut? Are you down for the continuation of the Liam/Ari romance and to see where it goes from here? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
My problem with Vico is her accent. Arianna was raised in America and should have an American accent. Vico’s Arianna doesn’t.
I completely agree with this. She’s way too heavy and thick with that accent.
This Ari, although a great actress, is less than 10 years younger than Gabi/Cherie. IRL. And she looks it/plays it. If for some stupid reason they SORASed Gabi, sure. She and Liam/Northrop seem a decade older than Holly/Ashley and Tate/Leo. I would find her more age-appropriate as a Hernandez cousin, such as Javi’s sister or even fraternal twin.That’d be fun…
Four cast members are officially on contract at Days of our Lives, according to the soap opera’s closing credits on Peacock and longtime Days expert and historian Jason 47.
Lauren Koslow (Kate), Sydney Malakeh (Sydney), Sal Stowers (Lani) and Jacob Martinez (Javi) are the names that appear in the closing credits in the contracted cast members section. Days of our Lives fans also note that the series tapes ten months in advance of streaming episodes.
As Days of our Lives fans know, Lauren Koslow has played Kate Roberts since 1996, and recently filled-in for Jess Walton in the role of Jill Abbott on The Young and the Restless when Walton was unable to travel from Oregon to Los Angeles during the specific tape dates. But now, Koslow has been re-upped to contract status as of the September 8 episode.
Photo: JPI
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED
Sydney Malakeh is the newest member of the contract players when she debuted on contract status on the September 10th episode. Days fans first met Sami (Alison Sweeney) and EJ’s (Dan Feuerriegel) daughter in scenes in Monte Carlo around a gambling table.
As for Sal Stowers, the actress had been on contract from 2015-2022, then on recurring status with the soap, and would make appearances and limited runs since 2023. Soap fans first saw Sal as Cassandra Foster on Prospect Park’s revival of All My Children in 2013. Sal’s first new contracted episode was noted to be September 16.
Jacob Martinez, debuted on June 30 of this year as the successor to Al Calderon in the role of Javi Hernandez, and has now been bumped up to series regular as of the September 10 episode.
Photo: JPI
CREDITS
According to the referenced posting from Days of our Lives expert and historian Jason 47, he shared, “It took me four weeks to realize, but the same week that Sydney Malakeh (Sydney) debuted (9/7-9/11), “Days” also put Lauren Koslow (Kate), Jacob Richard Martinez (Javi) and Sal Stowers (Lani) on contract.”
Jason47 added, “This confirms the “errors” of Lani being listed in the credits the week of 9/7 but not appearing, and Kate and Javi appearing in the credits the week of 9/14 but not appearing. It also now makes sense why Javi and Sydney are being listed before Rafe and Philip in the credits.”
He also shared, “For the record, Lauren Koslow’s first date back on contract was 9/8, Jacob Richard Martinez was upped to contract on 9/10, Sydney Malakeh debuted on contract 9/10 and Sal Stowers’ first date back on contract was 9/16. The records will be fixed on the website in the coming days.”
So, glad to hear Lauren, Sydney, Sal and Jacob appear to be on contract with Days of our Lives (as of these episode airings)? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of our Lives’ Leo Howard Joins Cast for ‘Yellowjackets’ Fourth and Final Season
Yellowjackets announced its full cast and new additions for its upcoming fourth and final season. None other than Days of our Lives favorite Leo Howard (Tate Black) will be featured in an exciting and undisclosed role on the Paramount+ streaming series.
Howard’s casting comes after he was one of four Days of our Lives cast members pink-slipped from the Peacock soap opera back in January of 2026. Due to Days of our Lives advanced tape to streaming episodes, Leo is also still appearing on the soap.
Viewers will need to tune-in to see how Tate, Holly (Ashley Puzemis), Johnny (Carson Boatman) and Chanel’s (Raven Bowens) storylines resolve before they all exit the canvas. No word on when Howard’s last DAYS episode airs as of yet.
Photo: JPI
YELLOWJACKETS CAST ADDITIONS FOR FINAL SEASON
The official Yellowjackets Instagram account welcomed a slew of new cast members for the upcoming fourth and final season which included Howard accompanying the post were, “The wilderness welcomes these new faces to the cast of #yellowjackets season 4.”
Leo joins Molly Ringwald, Eric Stoltz, June Squibb, Dulé Hill, Devon Sawa, Ken Marino, Aaron Staton, Cynthia Stevenson, Patricia De Leon, Noah Harpster, Sam Braun, and John Emmet Tracy for Yellowjackets final season which will premiere on November 22, 2026.
For those who may not be aware, Yellowjackets, was created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, and follows a high school girls soccer team after its plane crashes in the remote northern wilderness. The series moves between the teenagers’ increasingly brutal fight for survival and the lives the survivors have attempted to rebuild nearly 25 years later, proving that what happened in the past is far from buried.
Back on August 20, Paramount+ revealed that Yellowjackets will conclude with season 4 offering up a chilling teaser with former MTV VJ, Kurt Loder seen as a newscaster announcing, “We are live with breaking news: The Wiskayok Yellowjackets have been found.” From there, the season will deal with the aftermath of the soccer team’s eventual rescue.
Michael Fairman TV will keep you posted when Howard’s first episode of Yellowjackets will stream on Paramount+.
Now let us know, glad to see Leo landing a role in Yellowjackets? Will you miss him on Days of our Lives? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
In an effort to bring back productions to the United States and offering incentives to keep them from going abroad, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in Congress has introduced proposed legislation to establish a federal film and television tax credit. It is being touted as a landmark moment for Hollywood Workers and small businesses.
The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act, led by Rep. Laura Friedman (D-Calif.), Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas), Rep. Sanchez (D-Calif.) and Rep. Brian Jack (R-Ga.) in the House of Representatives, would establish a 20 percent base tax credit on labor expenses and a potential rebate of 30% if signed into law. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) are spearheading an identical bill in the Senate.
To be eligible, productions must have a minimum spend of $1 million (per film or per TV season), and at least 75% of production days must be in the U.S. For animation, 75% of the production cost must be in the U.S.
Photo: CBS
SOAP OPERAS AND OTHER FORMS OF PROGRAMMING WILL NOT BE PART OF THE BILL
The federal incentive would be eligible to be stacked on top of individual state tax incentives, much like the current system in Canada and Australia. In the new bill, postproduction and special visual effects labor costs can be counted as eligible expenses.
However, the lawmakers proposed bill does not include the following type of shows: Daytime dramas, porn, commercials, talk shows, interview shows, game shows, award shows, news programming, live sports, corporate/industrial videos, and social media videos,
TV AND FILM PROJECTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE HOPE TO BRING BUSINESS AND JOBS BACK TO THE U.S.
The federal film and television tax credit will be available for: films, TV shows – scripted and unscripted (4-episode minimum), TV pilots, animation, above-the-line wages (producers, writers, directors, actors, etc.) and below-the-line wages (crew), and standalone post-production and visual effects.
If passed, the legislation could offer much needed help for workers who have been rocked by recent unsteady times in show business. In all, runaway productions, strikes and a contraction in the business have dashed many job opportunities in recent years, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics finding that jobs in the motion picture and video industries have declined by more than 100,000 since 2022.
Click here to review the entire proposed bill from congress.
So, what do you think of the new bill on the table in the U.S. congress? Glad to know that it could, if passed, help some types of projects? What do you think about how the soaps are excluded and deemed not eligible? Does it continue to seem to you, that no matter what, those that work within the continuous tightened budget of daytime dramas can never catch a break? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Bests ‘General Hospital’ in Key Demos and Gains More Viewers Week-Over-Week
REPORT: ‘Days of our Lives’ Puts Four Actors On Contract
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DANCING WITH THE STARS: Britt Stewart Visibly Upset After Shocking Elimination with Taylor Hanson
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