Days Of Our Lives
Days of our Lives Scores 18 Month High In Key Demo! Moves Ahead Of GH In Latest Ratings!

According to NBC, Days of our Lives has equaled its biggest women 18-49 audience in 18 months and set an 11-week high in total viewers, according to “live plus same day” viewing figures for the week of May 20-24 from Nielsen Media Research. For the week, Days of our Lives averaged a 1.0 rating, 6 share among women 18-49 and a 0.6 rating among women 18-34, tying it for #4 among network daytime series in the women 18-49 demographic and tying it for #3 in the women 18-34 race.
“Days” equaled its biggest women 18-49 audience (634,000) since the week of November 21-25, 2011 (703,000). “Days” also averaged 634,000 women 18-49 during the week of January 14-19, 2013. In total viewers, “Days’” 2.513 million persons for the week was the show’s biggest overall audience since the week of March 4-8 (2.563 million).
For the week versus the same week last year, Days of our Lives was up 14 percent in the women 18-34 race (200,000 vs. 175,000), up 32 percent in the women 18-49 demographic (634,000 vs. 480,000), up 34 percent in the women 25-54 race (788,000 vs. 590,000) and up 10 percent in total viewers (2.513 million vs. 2.294 million).
For the second quarter to date, Days of our Lives is up 3 percent in the women 18-49 category (632,000 vs. 611,000), up 8 percent in the women 25-54 demo (807,000 vs. 748,000) and up 3 percent in total viewers (2.6 million vs. 2.5 million).
Season to date, Days of our Lives is tied for #4 in the women 18-49 category and tied for #3 in the women 18-34 demo. Season to date, “Days” is up 2 percent in total viewers (2.7 million vs. 2.6 million).
In addition in the latest ratings via Soap Opera Network, DAYS has moved ahead of GH for the first time in ratings week of May 20-24!
What do you think of DAYS ratings climb? Enjoying their May Sweeps storylines? Weigh-in?
Days has been real good these last two weeks…GH has had some good moments too but not nearly as good as Days but that could change later. Both Days and GH are better than OLTL. These are the only three soaps i watch at the moment. Complete lost interest in Y&R and AMC.
Days deserves it, they are on fire lately!
Don’t watch Days, but read the previews and reviews of its recent programming. Clearly its May Sweeps was dramatic and successful. Good for Days!
GH, on the other hand, followed its phenomenal 50th Anniversary celebration with its weakest, not to mention most perplexing, storytelling of the past year. GH’s ratings and momentum soared with the returns and excellent usage of its veterans (Anna, Robert, Duke, Frisco, Felicia, Laura, Scotty, Lucy), and then dropped when the powers-that-be dumped EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM for this dreariest of dreay May Sweeps featuring the atrocious “acting” of the new Morgan and the less-than-successful returns of the OLTL 3 (not to mention, RELISH, RELISH, RELISH). I am not going to write off the Franco recast because I love Howarth and want to give him a chance. But, goodness, what a letdown from the 50th anniversary. A complete and total drag.
Bright spots, in such a dreary storytelling landscape? Great to see Denise Alexander. Will we ever see her again???? Maura West is just so amazing and has chemistry with EVERYONE!!!!! Emme Rylan has really grown on me. Hers is a still strong, but poignantly vulnerable Lulu. I LIKE her in the part, alot!
But my goodness. Where is Anna? Where is Laura? Where are Duke, and Scotty, and Felicia, and Mac, and Lucy, and Maxie, and Patrick, and Sabrina? I miss Kelly Sullivan, as whomever…
The execs of GH deserved for the show’s ratings ass to be kicked in May, because THEY WASTED ALL THE MOMENTUM AND GOOD WILL!!!!!!! Both of which were generated by storylines rooted in history and acted by people the viewers have made it clear they CARE ABOUT!!!!!! Get back to the roots. That is what drives ratings up and keeps momentum going. Franco ain’t roots, he is a weed that was pulled years ago and, maybe, should have stayed pulled!!
You are so right…as for Laura i was hoping she would show up at the hospital to see Luke upsetting Scotty…some missed firworks here!
I agree Tristan I miss the veterans. They really should give them more airtime.
DAYS culminated in several of their key stories….
so, it’s back to relative… for now… I don’t even know what to expect… but it’s intrigueing to guess.
Days came together and delivered great story. and WE still want more, whats next… for Kristen, Nick, and Cast Kudos! That’s two good blocks… Kristen – Nick -with Will, packaging it all together … and so on and so on.
Kate has been hilarious and up to snuff…. all on her own… no Stefano, and non business…. sans, her does she or doesn’t she… need Rafe. She Wants… and that’s enough… even for him… it’s sense’ual. it’s nice to see her about… now, if they’d add more Maggie and Victor.
————–
GH. I liked that Maura West’s, Ava – GH. told Kiki about her father and that she’s a Quartermaine… I thought that honesty would serve her better… but, didn’t like that she was quashed, so soon, needing her daughter’s signature… I wanted Ava to get right in to the “Q” mansion and start owing some.
minimally, it’s a crime to not have Anna on… doing something.
Roger Howarth – he’s one of those actors who everyone has THEIR “Own” opinion on. umhhh… Franco – i wanted to know right away if Franco and Carly had chemistry. will she overcome, even if it’s not Franco’s doing… ie: Michael in prison? I don’t think it’s plausible… don’t think so.
Silas, for what it’s worth? I buy in to ME’s take. it’s Sam that needs to ease up.
i can’t add anymore… the ebb and flow of writing… DAYS is ON fire/spot on.
“Q” mansion and start *owning some.
forgot to add…. thank you for saying… miss Kelly Sullivan as whomever?
Well said and very true!!! GH is my fave and I want it to be great everyday… that may be unrealistic… but it can be done! Go for it RC and FV… we know the cast and crew will make it happen… because they are the best… with the exception of a few younger newer castings!
Days has been quietly on fire during sweeps…DOOL has had the best sweeps month of the remaining 3. I would then put YR next.
These network press releases should always be taken with a giant grain of salt. No matter how you slice it, these numbers for DOOL are still NOT impressive when you consider how expensive these soaps are to produce, 5x/week, 52 weeks/year.
I think that the only reason why DOOL is safe for now is because NBC currently has numerous other questionable areas on their daily schedule. Plus, Sony’s licensing fee for the show must be ridiculously low. At this point, NBC will keep any kernel of programming that’s working even the tiniest amount. Between the Today show’s ratings slippage and rumored host friction, low ratings across primetime (save SNF and The Voice), and the upcoming Tonight Show/Late Night host transitions next year, NBC has plenty of other issues on their plate.
I personally think NBC will hold on to DOOL through at least 2015-16 to allow it to reach its 50th anniversary in November 2015, which will be quite a milestone. But after that all bets are off.
Minimally, I can’t disagree with you.
I hope… beyond hope, that NBC.. knows that they can’t do without a soap in their line up…
it’s my last defense that soaps stay.
you know… backlash… from the bigger ups….
No surprise general hospital lost my interest after nurses ball. Congrats days of our lives.
#1 OOOHHHH on the 18 month high.
#2 ahead of GH. for us Salem’ites… that’s no surprise.
Wow – Wow – Wow.
Happy dance for DAYS.
Me too, dancing partner! I’m so happy for DAYS! They deserve it! I’ve always loved this show, but these past weeks have been extra exciting and I’m so happy everyone agrees.
And it seems like their rating highs from November 2011 (Sami/EJ grief sex), Jan 2013 (Nick and Gabi’s non-wedding + Will’s reveal) and this past month’s, were all featuring plots that I absolutely loved, too. Ha!
Oh, and just because I’m SSSSssssoooo over them, suck it GH! Carlivati and Valentini are good, talented guys, but I lost my love for that show years ago thanks to Guza and all the hubaloo in March and April only made me resent the show more. DAYS is my underdog soap and I am so proud of what they’ve managed to do with good old fashioned storytelling.
Think I am going to stop caring about the ratings game and just enjoy my show, GH and OLTL.
Long may they live… but I am done with all this network fear rating stuff.
I am not so surprised! Days has been amazing the past couple of weeks… Here is what I say the ratings should be right now:
1. Days
2. GH
3. Y&R
4. B&B
Totally agree.
Very well deserved. Go DAYS!
I hope they plan to give Eileen a raise
Very good news days of our lives is on fire right now. the ratings are finally showing. its about time. days is my favroite soap right now. i love kristen dimera. she is evil but she fell in love with brady. she called marlena a bitch. that was a very good scene. also kristen begging brady on her knees. that was good. eileen davidson deserves an emmy next year. Susan bring her back. she always says kristen is mean mean mean. lol
I watch both shows and right now Days is the show I look forward to watching. I never thought that would be the case!
I just don’t understand why network brass haven’t put 2 and 2 together and notice that no matter what soap it is, if the storytelling is good, people watch, if the story telling is crappy they stop. Look at Days, lots of great work being done during sweeps, but for weeks before that YAWN. And GH, burning through story line after story line leading up to the 50 anniversary was so HOT– and now melt down–. And I’m faithful to Y&R, but come on, they didn’t even make an effort for Sweeps at all. The only bone they gave us is the possibility of Jack being Summer’s dad– hanging in for that fall out, but they are sure taking their time getting there. B&B- well they lost me a while ago because of the writing, if I ever hear they have a new head writer, I will tune in again, otherwise I just can’t bear to watch it anymore. So ptb get a clue- invest in your writing team– write it well; we will watch.
I Never Watched The Show,Till It Was On Soap Net…Ilove the story of the gay couple…The blonde..he is Wonderful!1 O truely dont knpw his name…What a Wonderful Actor….He ROCK’s
Chandler Massey plays Will
I prefer oltl and amc
it’s just been a better show, even a storyline I thought would have been awful ( kate & Rafe??) has worked.
hope they keep it up!
AND love the fact Will & Sonny are right in the middle, even during sweeps. sweet kiss yesterday!
It deserves it the show has been really good. Beside Will & Nick who are doing some great acting.. we have Ejami and that always makes the ratings go up!!
Haven’t watched GH since it,pretty much,became “The Sonny Corinthos Mobster Hour”. DAYS,on the other hand,i’ve watched,on and off,since 1990. More so since OLTL was canned. And it’s actually getting good. Good for you,DAYS!
GH is on it’s last leg.. with this news and ABC obvious hatred of the genre, I think they’ll wrap GH up by fall. ABC made the mistake of announcing the cancellations of AMC/OLTL in the spring, giving people months to complain..this time they’ll “hold their cards” close and announce a month before it happens.
Brilliant soap is all I have to say. Finally Days is being appreciated.
Days is the best show left on network . It has been really really good lately !!
Days has been great lately. I actually look forward to it each day and it’s been a while since I felt that way about a soap. Hope they keep up the good work and stay on the air for years to come.
I need to start watching Days, I have always watched Y&R..Have not been happy with Y&R the past few years..time to switch I think
SO HAPPY FOR DAYS. SAMI, EJ, NICK, WILL, SONNY, KRISTEN, NICOLE = GOLD
Days has been really good the past two week but what is NOT working and needs to be completely revamped or done away with is:
DANIEL & JEN (These two are so boring, I would literally rather watch paint dry!)
JJ (the casting on this jerky looking punk is way off and his character is horrible – FFWD)
ABIGAIL & CAMERON (Boring!!!) She had more chemistry with Austin
HOPE (K.Alfonso being wasted is stupid on Days part!) Not explaining Bo’s absence for all this time is a giant misstep for the show!
If we can just get rid of all four of these characters OR take Jen on another journey and give K.Alfonso a storyline she deserves, then I’d be a lot more thrilled about Days newfound success.
In the meantime, I will continue to FFWD straight thru the boring Deveraux/Jonas storyline. YAWN!
Hope needs to have a story with Vargus. Hot!
I do see potential there, definitely.
Good. They deserve it. Glad people are watching.
Good for Days.
I think it needs to be called out that Y and R was up 17% for the week in that same demo (18-49) to increase their lead.
Mays sweeps was good for all of the shows, with GH coming in the weakest.
Freddie Smith, Chandler Massey and Blake Berris have just knocked it out of the park lately. There’s some half-decent other plots going on, but all I really want to do is watch these three masterful performers work the material. Some of the plotting is hackneyed, but there’s been a few interesting twists. The dialogue writers have been working overtime on DAYS and all of these performers are just a delight to watch.
You said it perfectly!
The dialogue writers have been working overtime on DAYS and all of these performers are just a delight to watch.
I try to keep up with all six soaps, althought that means I miss some episodes. I kept up with DAYS this month. It is the newest for me and I have come to really like Salem and its characters. The last two weeks were amazing!
I expected some GH letdown after the six months leading to the 50th anniversary. I will say I am a little disappointed with the direction plots are taking. Introduction of new characters is always difficult, moreso when the three are played by actors we love who were once characters we loved. It will take patience. Cartini had to work fast here and I suspect some changes may be in order. LOVE LOVE LOVE Maura West. I am no fan of over-the-top freeze-me baby-switch everyone-has-a-different parent revisionist-history storylines and this is where GH wears on me. I want more romance and family drama.
Loving the AMC reboot, more than the OLTL restart which surprised me. Still, I am so glad to follow some of my favorites in Llanview again.
Y&R and B&B are the same. The Jeanne Cooper tribute was remarkable and I feel Y&R is stronger since MAB left. Will very much miss Michelle Stafford. As for B&B, another baby for Brooke? Her pleas to Eric had me ready to say goodbye to B&B for good. That series needs a retooling. I like the actors and characters. They just are not fitting together to make a pretty picture. I shake my head and just move on lately.
The writing is a lot less frenetic than it was under MAB that’s for sure. I also can’t stand Brooke’s plea to Eric. I find it ridiculous.
RC is an idiot.he has some of the best soap actors ever ,and what does he do. Turn GH into OLTL. The show has no actual plots except for the ones Ol actors are pushing. Franco is a certifiable psycho. No one wants him to win except RC.I like ME but Silas is dead bury him He has no life. Kiki is another way to destroy GH at the hands of the OL writer. I don’t object to new actors but lets not rewrite the history of GH that Guza made us hate. Where is Anna, Lesley comes on the wedding is over ??? Is Maxie dead? haven’t seen her in months. What the hell kind of mother would go on her honeymoon while her daughter has amnesia and is living with Sonny’s goon??Laura hates Sonny. Luke has one child left and he can’t bother to check on her. Will we now have to watch incest, kiki and Michael first cousins. No thanks. Where is Robert? where is Duke,? Where is a story that starts and actually we see the end? All RC can seem to write is rape, rape, rape, women used and then we get oh poor me I am sorry? yuck and of course young well built men with their shirts off. Milo is ten cents short of a dime, and given enough time he would have used Lulu’s amnesia to get her in bed. That’s rape. Its certainly not love. He knew she was married even if she didn’t and he still wanted to bed her. This is the reason the show is losing fans. I want to watch GH if I want to watch OLTL I will turn to hulu! I am back to dvring it so I can FF .I was watching in real time commercials and all. RC needs to listen to the fans and stop blocking them out of his twitter. I have actually been thinking of joining twitter to tell him this. ENOUGH.
This isn’t OLTL either. OLTL – mostly, with some glaring exceptions – was a pretty good show. What’s onscreen with GH right now defies description, it’s so bad.
I think RC was hoping he could keep the GH audience and win over the OLTL audience… instead he is appalling everyone in both camps! I have watched GH since 1980 but these days I wait to see what the boards say before I waste my time on any given day. Decided to do that after the big cheating bait and switch, when they had the Lnl spoiler kiss and then decided their 30 year relationship was no better than an old sweatshirt.
Rubbish!!! That show is boring as hell and it only caters to a certain type of audience, of course they’re tuning in.
GH willfully knocked themselves out of the race–going against the fans–and deriding them for caring for the Luke and Laura story. If memory serves, TPTB DID bring back Laura/Genie Francis, didn’t they???? BUT WHERE IS SHE? OH, NO, DID YOU SAY SHE MARRIED SCOTTY? CAN’T BE! Right there is the ratings killer. What cruelty to trot Genie out prior to the 50th anniversary to get loyal fans’ hopes up and then to dash them! Look no further for an answer. GH WOULD HAVE BEEN CANCELLED LONG AGO IF NOT FOR THE LUKE AND LAURA STORY. Alas, no more Douglas Marlands nor Gloria Monty–just PTB who tell fans “to get a life.” Just sad.
Days of Our Lives was very good this week, the climax of the Kristen and Nick/Gabi/Will storylines were very entertaining. However, I believe General Hospital was far better this past week. The Franco reveal, ensemble cast scenes were SO good between the actors and the writing. Lulu remembering her life, after sorting through what she went through with Stavros were incredible and Emme Rylan really shined, not as nuLulu, but as LULU. The Luke/Tracy scenes were, as always, brilliant, with the perfect blend of drama and humor. Maura West proved why she is a multiple Emmy winner in her scenes with Kristen Alderson and Sean Kanan. I just think the show is at a creative high right now and I wish the ratings could reflect that.
Stavros was downright ridiculous. No offense to Robert Kelker Kelly, but my Gawd! When Stavros first captured Laura in 1982 he was this nefarious international playboy type that was older than Luke. Now Stavros is this ghoulish vampire wannabe cartoon man, and younger than Laura! (I realize this actor has played the character for awhile, but he is ill-suited to put it mildly. He needs to talk to the people at DOOL and see if he can’ t get badk into the role playing Beau Brady again since Peter Reckel jumped ship. Much better for hm.)
I don’t watch Days but I can see why GH is losing viewers. Its been going downhill since the NB and now that they are trying to redeem a serial killer/rapist in two days with a couple of DVDs it can only get worse. Its only a matter of time until it gets canceled if they keep this up.
I never watched DOOL until recently. The sweeps has been really good and I especially enjoyed the Gabi/Nick/Will scenes among many that were good. I watched GH for more years than I care to remember. This version, under RC, is NOT GH. This is all about bringing on three actors that he likes and building stories around them. In addition, he is continually bringing on new characters. Fan favorites are left on the back burner for many days at a time and the stories are ridiculous and they keep getting worse. I finally got the message and stopped watching GH this week. I wish that someone at the network would hire a new head writer and restore GH to its former glory.
Days had it’s best May sweep in years. All the other soaps were terrible.
While GH was singled by this journalist it might be important to look at the time slots of the shows in question. B&B is opposite DAYS and has become an epic failure due to misogynistic writing and the pushing of everything Logan upon the viewing audience and in doing so TPTB have alienating many people in the fan base of Steffy and Taylor. #savetheforresters or #switchtodays .
Days of our lives has definitely been better lately, with the Todd/Franco storyline I have lost a lot of interest in Gh, its just too unbelievable and silly.
Days Of Our Lives
Jackie Cox Talks On Latest Return to DAYS, An Offer for Dimitri, and Life as a Performer In and Out of Drag

On the Monday, December 4th episode of Peacock’s Days of our Lives, Jackie Cox is back and hell hath no fury like a drag queen scorned! With revenge the order of the day on Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart), Darius Rose (Cox out of drag) arrives in Salem with a plan.
As Dimitri (Peter Porte) is about to turn himself into the authorities to save Leo’s skin, Darius gives Von Leuschner a talking to; letting him know that Leo deserves to rot away in prison, and so, to help Dimitri out of town, Darius has a tempting, and yet outlandish way to do just that!
Cox first appeared on Days of our Lives during the limited-series Beyond Salem in 2021 and then on to the mothership in 2022. The drag artist and Rupaul Drag Race alum took time out from his busy touring schedule of his holiday show, Jackie and Jan’s Jingle Jam (coming to a town near you), to speak with Michael Fairman TV all about his recent return to the long-running soap opera, playing ‘soapy’ versions of Jackie/Darius, and if there’s more story to come.
In addition, Jackie talks on the often misperceptions of the art of drag and drag performers, working with his DAYS co-stars since first appearing on the series including: Rikaart, Porte, Billy Flynn (Chad AKA Belinda Chinashop), and much more. Check out our chat with the incomparable Jackie below.

Photo: JPI
You get asked back to DAYS, once again. Were you shocked that you got the call to return?
JACKIE: You know, what’s so funny is ever since my appearance on Beyond Salem a couple years ago, the fans kind of picked up on this little connection with me and Leo. Which then, Ron Carlivati (head writer, Days of our Lives) kind of expanded into my storyline last year where I came and broke up Leo’s wedding with Dr. Craig Wesley (Kevin Spirtas). What’s amazing is the DAYS fans now think they have seen me in places in the story that I’m not. Like, I was one of the prime suspects for the murder of Abigail DiMera, or I’m somehow helping Leo with other things. (Laughs) The fans have amazing imaginations of their own. I think Ron and the team picked up on that a little bit and have kind of found different ways to work me back into the storyline, which is so cool. I’m there, even when I’m not. That’s so fun for me.

Photo: JPI
As viewers saw on Monday’s episode, you are not in scenes with Greg Rikaart but Peter Porte. Was that a surprise for you coming back to tape a new episode?
JACKIE: When they called me to come back, I thought I’d be working with Greg again as I have been very much a part of his storyline. However, it was really fun working with Peter, because we didn’t get to work together much on Beyond Salem, even though we were both there. It was fun to kind of like build a connection to Dimitri, because I think that’s such an interesting character.
Were you ever a fan of Days of our Lives before you were even on it?
JACKIE: I would pop in and out when I was a kid when I was homesick. My mom would let me watch a little bit. So, I remember the Stefano of it all, and Hope, and all of those storylines are still in my ether somewhere from when I was young. Coming into it now, and to see where the storylines have expanded into even more is great. The world is bigger now than maybe it was in the nineties. So, the fact that you have a drag queen dealing with an immigration problem, and getting back at her ex, I think is so wild to me. I couldn’t imagine that kind of a storyline happening back then, but it’s so cool to see now.
DAYS, at times, had shown a lot of forward-thinking to its audience that I don’t think you’d necessarily see on the other current soaps. The way they’ve had you, and other gay, or sexually-fluid characters or romances, or introduced drag into the storylines – all these things they had implemented along the way to make the soap, in its current form, a little more progressive leaning. They are also not on network TV anymore, but on a streaming platform, which gives this most likely an assist, as well.
JACKIE: What I love about it is, sometimes people just don’t think that we exist. You know what I mean? Maybe drag queens are something they just heard about and they don’t know what we are. I think what’s great is this character is me in my real life. I am Jackie Cox. I am a drag performer who goes around the country to different places and performs and stuff. So, for that to also be my character, it’s not like, “Why is she a drag queen?” It’s like, “Well, that’s just who she is.” I just happen to be there and I know that the daytime audience is so diverse. I love that they get to just see a little bit of my real life brought into Salem in this way. You can’t deny the fact I am Darius Rose and Jackie Cox.

Photo: JPI
It looks like Darius had a plan to ‘help’ Dimitri?
JACKIE: I don’t know if I’m as much helping Dimitri as if I have ulterior motives. I’m pretty frustrated with Leo. He is this charmer and he always gets what he wants. But I think at this point, I’ve had it with him and his schemes. He didn’t get that emerald. He didn’t give me the money from the Beyond Salem. He left me for Dr. Craig Wesley and I’m tired of it. I want to get back at him. Now that I find out he has this hot new little boyfriend, I know just how to do it because Dimitri better watch out, because he has not yet dealt with Jackie Cox yet. I have quite the persuasive offer you’ll see during the episode, and in the performances. I do think you see Dimitri really consider me and consider what I have to offer, which is to steal him a way, and help him escape to Canada with me.
We see you as Darius and Jackie in the episode, but there is a reason for that.
JACKIE: Yes! What’s fun for the audience is, I think, is there’s this tease during the episode, which is, “How are we going to get Dimitri out of here?” So, we take a page from the old drag book of tricks, which is walk right out the front door and let them look right at you, because drag is an amazing disguise. I think that Dimitri should have, could have chosen to be a fabulous drag queen and leave with me, and we could run across the Canadian border together and done cabarets in Montreal! (Laughs).

Photo: JPI
So, this is what Jackie/Darius wants to pull off in the episode?
JACKIE: Oh yeah, and also me, in my real life, (Laughs) I wouldn’t mind doing a cabaret in Montreal. That sounds like a good life to me. I think coming to Dimitri with this offer, which is: “Come with me across the border. Let’s get away from Leo. You haven’t been hurt by him the way I have, but I know you will be.” I think for the Darius side of me, you get to see a little bit of the softer side, in a sense. I really am hurt by Leo and the things that he’s done to me, and had been keeping me from – getting a green card in this fantasy version of my life. I really want to get back at him. What I love about Peter as an actor is, as we were working through this scene, we were able to find all these other levels. I kind of build this little connection through our episode of maybe I’m offering him something that he hasn’t even thought of before, a different kind of life where he’s not this Almanian crook, but maybe he can be a free gay man, maybe drag queen in Canada with me. That’s what’s on the table and the audience sees that. Unfortunately, he doesn’t choose me at the end, but that’s not going to stop me from putting on a fabulous look and walking outta there, anyway.
So then as he leaves, is Darius hurt by all of this?
JACKIE: I’m a little hurt. I don’t think my revenge cup is full at the end of this episode. There’s still a burning little desire for me to get back at Leo by the end of this and maybe a desire for me to just get back into Salem and see if I can find Dimitri again. Let me tell you honey, looking at Peter Porte is not very hard and maybe there’s more men in Salem for me … yet. (Laughs)

Photo: JPI
Ya never know! What was your takeaway from previously working with Greg Rikaart? Had you known Greg before taping Beyond Salem?
JACKIE: No. Greg and I met right then, and it was so much fun. Right away in those first couple of moments, we decided we needed to up this whole backstory, like just the two of us, and then it ended up on the show: that we were from New York, and we were in cahoots together, and then apparently we got married. and all this kind of subtext we worked in. For Greg and my character on DAYS, it was not about us being hot and heavy with each other. It was more about seeing each other as partners in crime very much from the beginning. So, that’s where the hurt for me comes in. I thought Leo was my main ride or die, but clearly he is not.

Photo: JPI
Ron Carlivati has a penchant for writing these types of campy stories. Did you speak with him at any point, and talk about the fact that you would like to do more appearances on DAYS?
JACKIE. Ron did just come to my Christmas show in New York a couple weeks ago. We had a little chat. I can’t say much, but I didn’t die at the end of this. So, there’s always room to come back! There’s always room for more Jackie.

Photo: JingleJam
Do you find there’s lot of misconceptions about drag queens and people that perform in drag? Do you think there’s an underlying misunderstanding of it within our culture?
JACKIE: There are a lot of misconceptions. A great example of it for me was last year when I came to Craig and Leo’s wedding. Once I got out of drag, Craig, wasn’t sure how to address me. I just was very clear with the pronouns I prefer out of drag. That was just something that was a matter-of-fact conversation that could happen between any two people. I think sometimes, everyone is scared of what they don’t know or they don’t understand, or are afraid of having a conversation that they think is going to be really horrible. I think the average person, no matter who you are, no matter what side of the political spectrum you are, no matter what gender or sexual orientation you are, everyone just wants to get along in general and have a decent experience walking around the world. I think if you see people like me and my character who’s a drag queen, who’s younger than for example, Dr. Craig Wesley’s character, having just a quick little conversation and then we move on … it’s not a big ‘falling on the sword’ moment. There’s nothing horrible happening. Drag can be a performance. It doesn’t actually matter who you are. Drag is just an expression, and if you love it, great. And if you don’t, you don’t have to come to my show. It’s okay.

Photo: JPI
What did you think about Belinda Chinashop (Billy Flynn), Sonny Delight (Zach Tinker) and Amanda Bottom (Chandler Massey) in the drag show scenes in Beyond Salem? Did you give the guys any pointers, or were you just stunned at how good they were?
JACKIE: We had just shot my drag stuff with them before, and they were like, “We’re doing this later this week.” I was like, “You guys will be fine. Don’t you worry.” They had amazing makeup artists come in and help them, which was great. I think that’s the biggest part. Billy Flynn told me, it was so fun for him to get to do it. I love that. Next time I come to Salem, I think there needs to be a reason for me to get Belinda Chinashop back out of the trunk.

Photo: JPI
You went to college at UCLA in their theatre department, didn’t you?
JACKIE: Sure did. I went to UCLA with Blake Berris (Everett). Blake and I were in the same theater program together and he booked DAYS I think right after college or while we were in college. It was amazing. He started so young. Now, we’re on this show together! How funny! We were like, “Oh my, God. This is amazing.” Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see Blake when I was there this time this time. Hopefully, the timing works out next time. I don’t think Ron Carlivati even knows that we went to school together.
Were you determined once you left UCLA to become a successful performer? What trajectory were you on at that point?
JACKIE: I went to UCLA and I really focused in on theater because I love theater so much. I didn’t actually really do much film or TV, even though it’s the school of theater, film and television. I loved the theatre. Then, after school I moved to New York because that’s where theater is. I got to New York and I realized that the theater industry was not for me, at least at that time. This was 15 years ago or so. It wasn’t quite as progressive, even in the theater industry, as it is today. I mean, to be on Broadway, you kind of had to be this big strapping hunk back then. I didn’t really find a place for me there. I did find it in New York with drag, and that really unlocked something in me. I kind of started building this career as Jackie Cox. I’ve been doing drag now for 13 years. So, for me to come back around to what I maybe kind of started doing in the first place is very interesting. We will see what happens.

Photo: JPI
Now, would you want to take on more roles as yourself, as Darius?
JACKIE: That’s the thing. These days, writers are actually writing material that really connects to who I am. I really want to play more characters, bringing myself to the role is something that’s important to me. So, whether it’s drag, whether it’s a character, whether it’s incorporating some of my Middle Eastern heritage in there, those are all things that I want to bring to life, whether it’s in or out of drag. It’s all on the table. It’s definitely something where I still want it to have that authenticity, to have that reason where it’s me, the actor, not just someone who hasn’t lived it.
So, if you end up with an expanded role of Days of our Lives, would you take it?
JACKIE: Are you kidding? In a heartbeat! My only question to myself and to the writers out there is, am I still going to be me … or is it revealed that I’m not actually Jackie Cox, and that I’m just some delusional fan who thinks I am? (Laughs)

Photo: JPI
In closing, how is Jackie when she walks out the door after this episode?
JACKIE: Jackie walks out the door with a renewed sense of purpose, a burning desire to eventually get back at Leo, and maybe a new friend in Salem. Those are the things that I walk out that door with, for sure.
So, did you enjoy seeing Jackie Cox back on Days of our Lives? Should the soap opera continue to weave Jackie/Darius back into the storylines with Dimitri and Leo and company? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
Days of our Lives Peter Porte Stars in ‘Yuletide the Knot’ Holiday Movie on UPtv

Sunday, December 3rd, Peter Porte (Dimitri, Days of our Lives) stars in a holiday rom-com on UPtv, entitled Yuletide the Knot. Not only is Porte the romantic male lead, but he is also one of the producers of the movie.
Yuletide the Knot premieres tonight at 7 pm ET. Porte stars opposite Mary Antonini who take on the role of Rachel. Also appearing are Kelly Jakle, Kelsey Scott and Melissa Peterman.
In story, Rachel, a small-town wedding planner (Antonini), is tasked with planning a Christmas ceremony for an influencer couple. But her big plans hit a major snag when she is partnered with the bride’s manager, Logan (Porte), who is actually her first love and high school sweetheart. Will Logan and Rachel soon be kissing again under the mistletoe?

Photo: UPtv
Taking to his Instagram to share some background on the movie, Porte revealed: “I got the script in 2019 and was excited to come on board as an actor as well as producer. After months of planning, we were headed to Colorado with truckloads of Christmas decor and a start date of March 13… 2020. Three years, countless pivots, pulled favors, and a pandemic later, my tenacious and wildly talented cast and crew made and sold a movie and I couldn’t be more proud. Let’s all get in the holiday spirit together!”
To locate UPtv stations in your area click here, or you can stream the holiday movie on UP Faith & Family here.
Watch the preview for Yuletide the Knot below.
Now let us know, will you be checking out this holiday rom-com featuring Peter Porte? Let us know via the comment section.
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Dallas
Lifetime’s ‘Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas’ Brings Epic Food Fight and “Slapfest Coup de Grâce”

Get ready for the feuding soap opera divas, when five actresses known for their signature primetime and daytime roles are brought together in Lifetime’s new holiday film, Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas.
Saturday night, December 2nd on Lifetime (8pm ET/7PM CT) marks the highly-anticipated holiday movie premiere featuring: Donna Mills (ex-Knots Landing), Nicolette Sheridan (ex-Knots Landing), Morgan Fairchild (ex-Falcon Crest et al), Linda Gray (ex-Dallas) and Loni Anderson (ex-WKRP in Cincinnati).
Here’s what we do know! In story, five alums from the long-running soap, The Great Lakes reunite for a live Christmas finale. Uh-oh! Now take a look at the backstory of the colorful cast of characters (pay special attention to the clever twists on the actresses names!)

Photo: Lifetime
LAUREN EWING (Linda Gray) “Everyone thinks I’m so damn good all the time,” confesses the junk food-loving Lauren of her second act as a lifestyle guru. “I don’t know how Gwenyth Paltrow does it!”
DANA CUNNINGHAM (Donna Mills) Now a sitcom mom, she’s yet to make amends to ex-bestie Juliette after abruptly leaving the soap back in the day. Not that she hasn’t tried: “When I thought the world was going to end in Y2K,” Dana says, “I reached out to her, and she never called me back.”
LILY MARLOWE (Loni Anderson) After replacing Dana on ‘Great Lakes’, Lily never again found a role to win her acclaim. “What do I have to show for (my career)? An arc on For the People – Shonda Rhimes’ only flop!”
JULIETTE MATHESON (Nicollette Sheridan) “She left me for L.A.,” the party girl turned fashion mogul recalls of Dana’s betrayal. Will their feud derail the entire event?
MARGEAUX ROBERTS (Morgan Fairchild) “Fasten your face-lifts, ladies, it’s gonna be a bumpy weekend!” The sassy grande dame of ‘Great Lakes’ sees the Juliette-Dana beef as the perfect escape from her own domestic drama.

Photo: Lifetime
Now, making this all the more hysterical is the director of The Great Lakes reunion special, which makes the five women live under the same roof, is its former child star Alex, who has gotten his ex-girlfriend, Nell to direct the finale. Meanwhile, in the subplot. the ‘Ladies of the ’80s’ come up with a plan to get Alex and Nell back together.
As with any good soap opera, there is a major food fight. Linda Gray shared with USA Today ,”The food fight was one take. And it was fabulous.” And of course, their is a bitch-fest slap-fest. Morgan Fairchild revealed, “Oh honey, we all got ours in. Mine was a simple, ‘How dare you?’ with a slap. But I was hoping for a punch.”

Photo: Lauren Dukoff/Lifetime
The movie’s EP, Larry Thompson, who is a Hollywood manager and has Donna Mills as a client, said that the entire scene peaks with the”slapfest coup de grâce.” What is that exactly? That is when Donna Mills pushes Nicollette Sheridan into a pool in a nod to Dynasty’s Lily bond battle between Dynasty’s Alexis (Joan Collins) and Krystle (Linda Evans).
In case you missed it previously, check out the trailer for Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas below, also starring Patrika Darbo, Alec Mapa, Mills real-life daughter, Chloe Mills, and Christopher Atkins with theme song by Tiffany.
Now let us know, will you be tuning in to the movie for a premise that should delight many a longtime soap fan? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
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