EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) is always in the thick of things on Peacock’s Days of Our Lives. Currently on all-new episodes his pet project to bring his sister, Lexie Carver (Nikki Crawford) back to life, seems in part, successful.

Meanwhile, his machinations with the women in his life continue as viewers wait to see just what he may remember about Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) and his past, and what trouble he and Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien) will stir up, and that’s only part of EJ’s story.

Recently, viewers learned at the reading of Stefano’s will, that the Phoenix’s Queen of the Night, Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) was bequeathed a chess set. In fact, Stefano left it not only for Marlena, but her late husband and Stefano’s ultimate adversary, John Black. Clearly, there is more to the story, after Marlena declined the gift and walked out without saying a word, opening up another mystery.

Photo: JPI

In a brand new conversation with Days of Our Lives leading man and villain, Dan Feuerriegel now featured on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel, he previews just how EJ may be deployed into the mystery of Marlena’s chest set from his father, the iconic Stefano DiMera.

CHECKMATE

First, Feuerriegel weighed-in on what EJ truly thinks of Marlena. “Respects, but cautious. Marlena’s the Queen Bee,” explained Dan. “So, there are some people on DAYS that EJ will not mess with, shall we say, and Marlena is one of those characters.”

As to what is up with the chess set that Marlena was given and turned down at the will reading, Dan shared, “There’s some fun that that occurs with that chess board and shall we say, like a little adventure. Obviously, EJ is suspected of having something to do with this, but also, in regards to the will reading, he was shut out. So, he’s curious. EJ’s kept a little bit to the side about what it is, because it’s his father. However, it’s going to lead to some pretty fun stuff.”

EJ has always wanted his father’s respect, so might that be what drives him to make sure Stefano’s wish with Marlena is carried out? Dan weighed-in. “I think in the end, EJ will do what his father wanted. So, whatever that entails that’s what he’ll do. With this and the chess set, he’s a little bit out of the loop, which is infuriating for him, but it also gives him a lot of curiosity. He definitely wants to keep himself involved. But as I mentioned, he’s kept to the side a bit, but he’ll get his mitts in there somewhere.”

THE HARD GOODBYES

In soap operas, cast members come and go, and sometimes, often like a baseball team analogy, they are traded from one show to another, or their story has run out for now. But in soaps, never say never.

For Dan, he had to say goodbye to some very key members of his on-screen family when they departed Days of Our Lives for various reasons: his on-screen brother, Billy Flynn (ex-Chad, now Cane, Y&R), on-screen son, Carson Boatman (Johnny) and on-screen sister, Stacy Haiduk (Kristen/Susan, now Patty, Y&R). As DAYS fans know, the series tapes ten-months in advance of dropping new episodes, so fans can expect to see both Boatman and Haiduk firmly in their Salem roles for months yet to come.

Photo: JPI

BILLY FLYNN

“It was a bit of a bummer because I had developed a close bond with him and he was a lovely guy,” Dan shared fondly. “We shared a lot of the same kind of humor and views on the world and things like that. We were able to chat and it was shame. But look, Billy’s got a big family now, and he needs to do what’s best for him and his wife and his family. And so, you completely understand it. Then, Connor Floyd came in and Connor is just as lovely. It kind of sucks because the guy that is more handsome than me leaves, and then is replaced with a guy just as handsome. I’m like, ‘okay, alright.”

Photo: JPI

CARSON BOATMAN

It’s no secret that some of the best scenes were always between EJ and his son, Johnny. So, when Carson Boatman was let go from the show late last year, it was hard for all involved. “It’s a similar situation to Billy to be honest. It’s like the people that I loved the most moved on from the show and it’s sad,” shared Dan. “It’s because Carson and I were friends outside of the show. We would hang out and just like me and Billy we’d talk to with each other and everything like that and that just translated into (our on-screen) father/son dynamic.”

Photo: JPI

STACY HAIDUK

Since Dan became the new EJ DiMera back in 2021, he had the opportunity to work with Stacy Haiduk not only as EJ’s sister, Kristen, but as the wacky Susan Banks, EJ’s mother! Here he sums up his experience working with Haiduk and the respect he has for her as a performer.

“I adore Stacy so much. Whenever she plays (Susan Banks) my mother, it’s so much fun,” said Feuerriegel. “They give her so much dialogue and the way she talks is so different. Stacy will improvise a little bit here and there. But the amount of times I’ve had to bite my lip from not laughing because she just makes such great, fantastic, outrageous choices … and she’s also an absolute sweetheart. Then, to go from that, to the dynamic of Kristen where it’s very brooding and a very similar brother/sister dynamic, it’s fantastic. To be able to work with with her was really, really lovely. She’s an amazing woman and a fantastic actor. I know she’s at Y&R now which is great. But, that’s another a bummer for me. There’s been a few little heartbreaks for me, personally.”

Now below, check out our full conversation with DAYS Dan Feuerriegel now on the Michael Fairman Channel, where we touch on many subjects on the life and times of EJ DiMera.

Then weigh-in: what do you think is the story behind Marlena (and her late husband John) being gifted the chess set by Stefano? What are your hopes for EJ DiMera in the months to come? What did you think about the sentiments shared by Dan on the departure of several of his beloved co-stars? Drop your thoughts in the comment section.

This month, Days of our Lives is celebrating their 60th anniversary having premiered back on November 8, 1965. Its current longest-running cast member is Susan Seaforth Hayes, who was the fourth recast to play the role of Julie Olson back in 1968, but the one that sticked! Now, she will be coming up on her 57th year in the role come December.

Susan visited the Michael Fairman Channel where she reflected on a myriad of subjects tied to the 60th celebration, plus her own real-life/TV-life love story with the late Bill Hayes as soap opera’s first super couple, Doug and Julie Williams.

It’s been a tough couple of years for Seaforth Hayes. First, losing her beloved Bill back in January 2024 at 98-years old, and earlier this year, losing her dear friend and former DAYS co-star, Denise Alexander at 84 (ex-Susan Martin, DAYS, ex-Lesley, GH). She reflects on those unforgettable relationships during our discussion.

Photo: NBC

For the 60th anniversary week of episodes, that recently streamed on DAYS home on Peacock, it centered on the dedication of the Tom Horton (MacDonald Carey) Free Clinic, which brought back together Hortons, past and present for the gala, which included the returns of her on-screen grandson, Lamon Archey (Eli Grant) and TV brother, Stephen Schnetzer (Steve) and more.

TV GRANDSON

In a very touching moment during our chat, the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, explained how highly she regards, Archey, including a gift he presented her with following the death of Bill Hayes. Susan explained, “Lamon is so beautiful. So, that’s the physical side. I got to know him, and always enjoyed doing our scenes together, because we had a couple of good storylines together to play. Then, Billy passed. Lamon gave me a wind chime that says, ‘Every time this plays, remember me,’ for Billy and it hangs in my garden. And whenever I go by it, I thank him again. I’m always happy to see him back on the show with Sal Stowers (Lani), who is also just walking and talking goddess of beauty charm and talent. I love that couple. I love that they’re on the show.”

Photo: JPI

With countless storylines over nearly six decades, Susan recalls several to us including Julie’s facial burns and disfigurement written by her mother, Elizabeth Harrower, who at one-time was the head writer of Days of our Lives, and the classic Addie/Doug/Julie triangle where Doug wound up marrying Julie’s mother, played by Patricia Barry, and having a child with her, none other than Hope Williams (Kristian Alfonso). Yet, there is still something else Susan says she would love to play.

THELMA & LOUISE SOAP STYLE

“I enjoy working with Deidre Hall (Marlena). We’ve become very close friends,” shares Seaforth Hayes. “I would like to see these two ladies of a certain age and of a wide range of experience to go off and have an adventure, where something goes wrong. I loved the film, Thelma & Louise (which starred Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon). I loved that story of people who are driven by outside events, who are aspiring to something more, aspiring to something else. Even at this time in our lives.”

Photo: JPI

Susan continued, “I think that’s the secret of any character. Yes, they’re in a plot. Yes, they’re in a set, and yes, they have a family, but do they have dreams? Do they have aspirations? Do they have hopes of something you can’t quite see that they’re driven to go after? So, I would love to see Julie and Marlena go off and have an adventure, and if Steven Schnetzer turned up and it was all his fault, that would be perfect!”

Now below, check out our full conversation with the Days of our Lives legend, Susan Seaforth Hayes, who tells us fascinating behind the scenes stories plus working with another TV icon, Dick Van Dyke (ex-Timothy Robicheaux) and more.

Would you like to see a Thelma & Louise style adventure story for Julie and Marlena? Were you touched by Susan’s sentiments in the interview on Lamon Archey, Bill Hayes and Denise Alexander? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

You know what they say, often soap opera actors are like members of a baseball team; where at times, it feel like they were traded to another one of your favorite daytime dramas as new characters or recasts to fill key a spot. That analogy is kind of what went down for Conner Floyd.

After getting his soap opera start on The Young and the Restless back in 2021 as Phillip ‘Chance’ Chancellor IV, it was a role he played on-screen until late July of this year when Chance was fatally shot by Cane’s assistant, Carter. But here’s the twist! Conner was already hired to be the new Chad DiMera on Days of our Lives replacing Billy Flynn who took on the role of Cane Ashby on The Young and the Restless. In a “only in the soaps” moment, when Floyd taped his final scenes on Y&R, he died in the arms of Flynn, his DAYS predecessor!

Michael Fairman TV caught with Conner on the red carpet at the 52nd annual Daytime Emmy Awards to see how things are going over at his new digs in Salem and Days of our Lives, how he feels now about exiting Y&R as Chance in the manner that he did, and just how long we have to wait with DAYS schedule of taping over nine months ahead of streaming new episodes on Peacock for his debut!

Photo: JPI

“Over at DAYS, it’s going great,” rejoiced Flynn. “I kind of meshed in the program without a beat. Been learning everybody’s names. Haven’t got it wrong yet, but don’t test me on it,” joked Conner on his new castmates. “Everyone’s been very welcoming. It’s been great to fill these shoes. Got big shoes to fill by the way (because of Billy Flynn).”

AND THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES

Conner shared, he didn’t feel that out of place when coming to the set of Days of our Lives, because of Billy Flynn’s mentorship,”I got a month of spark notes from Billy, and where to go, how things work, who to hang out with, you know, stuff like that. So it was really nice and helpful.”

Sharing how his experience coming on to the top-rated soap opera, The Young and the Restless compared to his shift to DAYS, Floyd explained, “Going into Y&R was a lot harder than going into DAYS just because I kind of knew the lay of the land already. But, I also know Greg Rikaart (Leo, DAYS) from way back on Y&R, and so he’s been kind of my chauffeur around days these days.”

Photo: JPI

The big question for any newcomer to Days of our Lives, have you met and talked with soap icon, Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie Williams)? “I have got to see her a little bit. She’s a legend,” admitted Floyd. “It’s been great to pick her brain and kind of get her sense on everything. I’m making my rounds with the cast and so far it’s been great.”

TAKING A BULLET ON DAYTIME

Floyd was all for the way his exit on The Young and the Restless went down, when Chance was shot and killed by Carter (Vincent Stalba) and landed in the arms of Cane (Billy Flynn). But does anyone dying in soap operas ever mean they are truly ‘dead-dead’? Conner weighed-in. “I loved it. I wanted there to be more blood, more gore, actually, but you know its daytime. But, that was a great week. It was awesome to work with everybody. We had a bunch of cool guys in the scene, which was fun. #RIP Chance, but never say never, man. It’s daytime!”

Courtesy/CBS

And as the story goes, Floyd met Days of our Lives Daytime Emmy-winning casting director, Marnie Saitta on a plane, and she remembered him when the role of Chad became available. “I’m very into serendipitous stuff,” shared Conner. “Just look at the fact that I got to work with Billy before all this played out. I met Marnie Saitta on a plane and that’s how this all kind of came into fruition. It feels like it’s part of the plan, you know what I mean?”

FROM CHANCE TO CHAD

Sinking his teeth into the role of Chad previously played by Casey Deidrick and Billy Flynn and comparing him to Detective Chance Chancellor, Conner reflected, “I love Chad. It’s a really, really fun character. It’s completely different from Chance, which is nice. I’m trying to find my own spin on it, you know, a little different from Billy.”

Photo: JPI

But what about the wait! While Conner is taping at DAYS as Chad, we are still watching Billy Flynn in the role!  Floyd confirmed his Salem debut, “April of 2026! Nine months ahead. It’s a trip,” exclaimed Floyd. “I thought Y&R was stressful. Just because I’d go to do a scene, I’d leave and I’d be like, ‘I don’t know what the hell I just did (as we work so fast)’. But then, I’d get to see it on-air in like a month.”

As for the transition from Genoa City to Salem and working within the world of soap opera, Floyd expressed, “It’s like going to college or high school. You spend four years there, you make your friends and then you gotta peace out. But I like change. I like the challenge. So it was nice to step into a new environment, and not get too comfortable.”

Watch our interview with Conner Floyd from the red carpet at the 52nd annual Daytime Emmy Awards below. For more red carpet conversations on the Michael Fairman Channel click here.

Now, let us know, what do you think of waiting until April of 2026 to see Conner as the new Chad on Days of our Lives? Do you miss him as Chance on Y&R? Do you think down the line they could resurrect Chance as well? Share your thoughts via the comment section.