Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Head Writers Talk Challenges of Episodes Taped 10 Months in Advance of Streaming
Days of our Lives is the only soap opera which continues to find itself in a unique situation due to its cost-cutting measures to enable the long-running drama to go on well past its 60th season. Last year, DAYS marked its 6-0 milestone, and the episodes fans were watching and continue to watch on its streamer, Peacock, where taped 10 months prior.
As 2026 kicks-off, DAYS head writers, Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford weighed-in on the challenges this schedule has on the story while they teased what’s ahead in Salem this year. According to the duo, there will be more of what viewers like about the show, expressing, “Salem is and always has been about family, friendship, mystery, and romance across multiple generations. And there’s plenty of the above in 2026.”
However, it’s the romances that can be tricky, whereas in other daytime dramas, if a couple is just not clicking on-screen or the audience reaction is so poor, the writers may be able to make a shift to save the story. For Cwikly and Ford, that is not the case. As they explained to TV Insider, “While we get feedback from the producers on what is currently taping, we don’t have the ability to change course in the middle of a story based on fan reaction. Romantic chemistry is the most difficult area for us to gauge because we don’t see the couples we’re writing for many months.”
Photo: JPI
The Peacock soap opera also faces, quite often, not knowing if they will be renewed or not, but the great news for DAYS fans is that in the recent pick-up, Days received two-more years and will live on at least through its 63rd season. Cwikly and Ford shared another complexity in their jobs, “Any time we begin winding down the writing of a season without a pickup announcement, certain contingency plans go into place that drastically affect the storytelling. Knowing that we have a two-year pickup gives us much greater ability to plan ahead and breathe.”
Now as they look to 2026, most of which has already been filmed given the 10-month lead time, they shared a couple of major previews worth noting below!
LEXIE OR NOT LEXIE?
First, it sounds more and more like Lexie Carver could be the person in the chamber in EJ’s (Dan Feuerriegel) secret lab, especially when the scribes shared for 2026, “Theo’s (Tyler Joseph Andrews) life is about to be turned upside down.” The character of Lexie, formerly portrayed by Renee Jones died on-screen in 2012 of a brain tumor caused by toxic fumes. But on DAYS, many a DiMera have come back to life.
Photo: JPI
In addition, after Dimitri Von Leushner’s (Peter Porte) return at the end of the Friday, January 2 episode just after Leo (Greg Rikaart) and Javi (Al Calderon) tied the knot, the head scribes, tease, “Dimitri’s return will directly impact Javi and Leo’s future plans. Both Gwen (Emily O’Brien) and Dimitri are seeking revenge, and there will be fallout and collateral damage.”
CASTING SWITCHEROOS
They also noted the casting changes that viewers will finally see on-air due to the 10-month delay come this spring. “New Rachel starts airing in March, and we’ll see Conner Floyd as Chad starting in April. There is also a new actress taking over the role of Ari (formerly Marissa Reyes) in April. Stay tuned.”
Check out the latest promo for the action in Salem the week of January 5-9 below, as the clock strikes twelves on New Year’s Eve several lives face shockers including, Dimitri’s arrival and the aftermath to Javi and Leo, Peter (Dan Gauthier) still hanging on to life, after Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) decided to pull the plug on her brother at the hospital, Brady (Eric Martsolf) and Sarah (Linsey Godfrey) kissing while Xander (Paul Telfer) is shown saying Brady is fired from Titan, and Theo wakes up in the hospital, plus the mystery person in the black hoodie is walking around as Stephanie (Abigail Klein) and Alex (Rob Scott Wilson) ring in the New Year.
Now let us know, how do you feel about Days of our Lives production schedule which does not allow the writers to make shifts in story in line with viewer reaction or fizzled chemistry issue in on-screen romances or storylines? Are you glad the show is able to make the adjustments it needed to stay in production and streaming on Peacock? Do you think it will be Lexie who has been resurrected and back from the dead? Share your thoughts via the comment section below,
Being nearly one year tape-to-release is ridiculous in 2026. Especially when in 2020, there were mere weeks when they returned from COVID hiatus. Give the cast a year off, catch up to what’s releasing in ten months, and then use that money to improve production, sets, makeup, hair, and costumes.
The unions might not make an extended hiatus so simple…..
But I do wish there was a way they could slow down and close the gap. Maybe instead of filming 8-10 episodes a week, they just do 5?
They’d have to be paid as contractual fulfilment. But even on hiatus, they would release the cast from their contracts⏤which they’ve done before⏤which would also likely open the cast up to join other soaps (and some should).
I don’t disagree that it is a huge problem that Days films so far in advance. However, if the show stops taping, the actors/ crew won’t get paid. If they can somehow continue to pay the actors / crew then I would be all for the production halting for at least 6 months. Unfortunately, there are already budget cuts now so I can’t see this happening. It sucks for all involved. I am sure everyone there agrees that their advanced schedule is more of a detriment than a positive.
They would still be paid for their ‘likeness’ being used. They’d have to be. It’d be a risky move, but it wouldn’t be the first time the cast has been released from their contracts for a period of time.
In Days defense i think this is the production model that they have been given in order to keep the show on the air I feel giving the cast a year off would be the death of a beloved soap !that’s definitely not the answer.
I am fully aware as to why the original six-month (which was ridiculous) tape-to-air (now tape-to-release) schedule exists. But in 2026 it is a detriment to them as a serial. And it wouldn’t be the first time they all got contractually released; in November 2019, the whole cast was released from their contracts, and they all re-signed in February 2020 when filming resumed, and then COVID happened a month later.
I agree with your comment a 100%
I don’t understand why taping 10 months in advance saves money.
The problem with this ridiculous taping schedule is that when they start doing idiotic storylines that the viewers obviously HATE (like the massive waste of time “Body & Soul”, for example) they can’t change direction and dump the next several months of episodes that are already in the can and start over. As opposed to a show that follows a more conventional taping schedule of 1-2 months ahead where you can change writing if the fan backlash is clearly obvious (though sometimes the “powers that be” will still choose to ignore the fans, such as Frank Valentini deliberately ignoring what GH fans think about Dragon Chow Drew, for example)
As for as the identity of the person in the cryogenic tube in EJ’s secret lab… Lexie would make sense in some ways, though I really don’t think a Lexie recast makes sense at this point. If Renee Jones wanted to comeback, it would be different, but that does not seem likely.
The big question there would be why Gwen – who never met Lexie – would be bankrolling the effort to bring her back to life? What would she gain from that? Now on the other horn, if the tube occupant was Abigail Deveraux, that definitely explains Gwen’s involvement. It’s not about Gwen having much love for her sister. We all know she doesn’t. But what Gwen does want – and what she has always wanted – is the love of her father Jack. And since she can’t seem to get that on her own, then bringing back the daughter that Jack truly loves might get some appreciation from him.
And let’s face it, when they dug up Abigail’s grave and found an empty coffin, we all knew it would be a matter of time before she showed up in Salem. Since neither Lexie or Abigail went to Hell, I’m not personally involved in the decision either way, so this is all unholy speculation on my part, of course. But Gwen’s involvement in the process makes Abigail more likely to be resurrected than Lexie.
The long delay between taping and streaming is their own doing. Prior to the 2020 shutdown, DAYS was a little over 6 months ahead. When taping resumed, they were about 2 months ahead. Instead of using that to their advantage, Corday made it more extreme.
There’s no simple fix to this. Crews have to be paid and performers contracts need to honored. Combine that with a bare-bones budget and this conundrum is doomed to continue.
BTG appears to be 3-4 months ahead. Y&R and B&B typically 2 months ahead. GH is the most flexible with its block filming schedule. Some scenes may be 2 months ahead, while at times they are able to get some scenes on air in under 2 WEEKS.
Days of our lives writers can you please tell us does sarah and Xander get back together! and does sarah get pregnant by Xander and have twins another girl and a boy
No, Star, Sarah gives birth to Xander’s son who has a parasitic twin.
A new Rachel?! Just got used to Alice.
I remember years ago when we got a new Belle, Charity Rahmer, She was awful. Due to taping in advance viewers had to suffer through her until Martha Madison aired. Fortunately, Days realized they had made a mistake hiring Charity once she started airing.
Taping so far in advance means when we hear about actor changes, like Chad, and we don’t see them for months. It is a bit jarring seeing Billy on Days and Y&R at the same time. Sometimes I forget who he is playing.
Your memory has failed you, Momo.
Charity Rahmer appeared in 15 episodes from July 19th to August 9th, 2004…courtesy Jason47
My belief is her casting wasn’t a mistake by Days. Kirsten Storms was very popular in the role, and Days knew there would be backlash no matter who replaced her, so they cast Charity knowing she was horrible, so fans would be happy when Charity was replaced by Martha.
I believe I’ve heard that Martha simply wasn’t available and so they just brought someone in to tape until she was.
They skipped a year forward in order to avoid the huge tape to release that they previously had and now they have it again! If the audience is unhappy about the direction of the storyline, they should be able to pivot. People are fickle and if they don’t like the storyline they will stop watching the show. This is ridiculous to me (I’ve been watching wayyy to long to give up now lol) but they lose viewers. And as far as Lexie, she’s been dead for 14 years!! Where/How would they be keeping her on ice for that long?! Also, in the previews it seems to show a man’s hand wearing the signet ring Stefano wore so…
I hear crazy shit from y’all every day. They skipped a year forward in story. They didn’t skip actual episodes.
The new writers need to start writing for the male cast members and not make them weak and dominated by the females.
Gwen and Sophia need to be gone or at least recast as I fast forward through all their scenes.
Let’s hope the new Javi is as good as Al as I want him with Leo.
Its just poor business. Taping so far in advance doesn’t allow for fixing what isn’t working. This could lead to a huge drop in viewership. If this happens around when the decision to renew the show is being made, then we lose our show.
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS OF OUR LIVES Preview: Kristen Locates an Alive Sophia, How Much Does Rita Know About the Birth of Dominic Marino?
Next week, expected surprises and schemes on Days of our Lives. In official spoilers for episodes streaming on Peacock from October 5-9, it looks like Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) has hunted down a very much alive Sophia Choi (Rachel Boyd), while Marlena (Deidre Hall) admits a deeply concerning confession to her daughter Belle (Martha Madison), and more.
As previously reported, Tajh Bellow (ex-TJ Ashford, General Hospital) is stepping in for one day for Tyler Joseph Andrews in the role of Theo Carver and will share scenes with Gabi (Cherie Jimenez), where Theo finally agrees to go along with Gabi’s plan, after she offered him a job.
Meanwhile, Gabi may have her hands full with Philip (John-Paul Lavoisier) whose big win in Monte Carlo may have sparked his gambling addiction … all over again, but Philip reveals her has a plan.
Photo: Corday Productions
Sydney (Sydney Malekeh) is in for a shock when Dante (Franco LoPresti) arrives in Salem. Why is he in Salem? Is he part of the unraveling of the Dominic Marino mystery, since we know he seemed like he was talking to the man in Monte Carlo?
Will Marlena ever figure out what Rita (Maggie Carney) is hiding about the mystery of Dominic, and if Marlena is truly his birth mother or did something more suspicious go on and how deeply involved is Rita in this whole story?
EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) finally demands answers of his own from Rita after overhearing on today’s Cliffhanger Friday her conversation with Marlena. Will Rita cop to anything?
Then as noted, while everyone thinks Sophia took her own life, after Kristen “murdered” her, Kristen is infuriated to find she is somehow alive working as waitress in a diner in Kentucky. Will Kristen try to kill Sophia yet again?
Take a look at some of the additional spoilers for next week’s action on DAYS below.
Monday, October 5
Joy worries about her future.
Alex surprises Stephanie.
Chanel supports Johnny through a difficult decision.
Tuesday, October 6
Rachel gives Brady cause for concern.
Roman surprises Kate.
Wednesday, October 7
Leo’s good day takes an unexpected turn.
Brady is forced to make a difficult call.
Thursday, October 8
Paulina refuses to give up on Lani.
Chanel asks Johnny for a promise.
Friday, October 9
Stephanie and Alex steal a private moment.
Steve gets troubling news from Johnny.
So, what do you think will happen when Kristen finds that the woman she thought she murdered and framed (making it looking like a suicide) is alive and well and working in a diner far away from Salem? Was Rita more involved with Stefano DiMera than we even know? Who is the birth mother of Dominic? Is it really Marlena or did someone else carrying her child? And what of Dante? Why is he back in Salem? To get at Philip, or something else? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘General Hospital’ Alum Tajh Bellow Fills In for ‘Days of our Lives’ Tyler Joseph Andrews in the Role of Theo Carver
After an earlier post on Thursday, October 1 about General Hospital alumni Tajh Bellow’s (ex-TJ Ashford) upcoming project from Issa Rae’s HOOPAE Digital, comes word that Bellow is temporarily stepping into the role of Days of our Lives Theo Carver to fill in for Tyler Joseph Andrews on the Peacock streaming soap opera.
According to TV Insider, Bellow will be making a one-day appearance next week on the October 6 episode of DAYS as Andrews was unable to make the tape date that was shot 10 months ago on a day last December. Andrews (pictured below) took over the role of Theo in September of 2025.
In Bellow’s upcoming episode as Theo, he will share scenes with Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez). A DAYS spokesperson tells the outlet that Bellow “stepped seamlessly into the role, and the cast and crew were grateful for his professionalism and commitment, albeit for only one episode.”
Photo: JPI
TAJH WILL BE SEEN IN MULTIPLE PROJECTS IN OCTOBER
As General Hospital fans know, Tajh played the role of TJ Ashford from 2018 to his last appearance in December of 2024. Along the way, he received two Daytime Emmy nominations for his performances as TJ, the last being in 2025 in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
In addition, bellow along with Y&R alum Loren Lott will be seen starting on October 14 in the new Love Island spoof series, The Compatibility Experiment. The show will drop exclusively on TikTok and the PineDrama platform.
The Compatibility Experiment gives a satirical look at reality dating shows, think Love Island! The story centers around Kelvin (Bellow) and Camila (Lott), whose relationship is put to the test when they join a reality show to try to win a the million dollar prize.
So, what do you think of Tajh stepping in for Tyler Joseph Andrews as Theo on DAYS? Perhaps, the soap opera liked his work that he might be considered for another role in the future bringing Bellow back to the soaps? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.
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.
Mark Consuelos Celebrates Kelly Ripa’s 56th Birthday on ‘Live,’ But Remember When Wendy Williams Outed the Couple as Married Before Anyone at ‘All My Children’ Knew?
DAYS OF OUR LIVES Preview: Kristen Locates an Alive Sophia, How Much Does Rita Know About the Birth of Dominic Marino?
TUNE-IN: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Banneker Homecoming Episodes, EP Sheila Ducksworth Speaks on Impact HBCUs Have in Real Life
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Tells Dante, “I Don’t Want a Son Like You,” While Michael Tells Brook Lynn to Bide Her Time Till Chase and Willow Have an Affair
‘General Hospital’ Alum Tajh Bellow Fills In for ‘Days of our Lives’ Tyler Joseph Andrews in the Role of Theo Carver
REPORT: ‘Days of our Lives’ Puts Four Actors On Contract
‘Beyond the Gates’ Honors HBCU Tradition with Banneker University Homecoming Episodes
Alley Mills Returns to ‘General Hospital’ as Heather Webber
Judith Light Joins Cast of ‘Shrinking’ Season 4 in Recurring Role
‘Beyond the Gates’ Marquita Goings Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’
Mark Consuelos Celebrates Kelly Ripa’s 56th Birthday on ‘Live,’ But Remember When Wendy Williams Outed the Couple as Married Before Anyone at ‘All My Children’ Knew?
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Tells Dante, “I Don’t Want a Son Like You,” While Michael Tells Brook Lynn to Bide Her Time Till Chase and Willow Have an Affair
GH Alum Tajh Bellow and Y&R Alum Loren Lott Star in New Tiktok and Microdrama ‘Love Island’ Spoof
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ava and Drew Revealed to be Behind Framing Sonny for Sidwell’s Prison Beatdown
DANCING WITH THE STARS: Britt Stewart Visibly Upset After Shocking Elimination with Taylor Hanson
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