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DAYS Shawn Christian Interview: Why he disappeared from Salem! Now that Jenn/Daniel are OUT … Are Billie/Daniel IN?

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/NBC

Courtesy/NBC

Days of our Lives fans were wondering where did soap heartthrob Shawn Christian (Daniel) disappear to after the Daniel/Jennifer/Jack triangle was getting a bit murky, and Daniel was having some health issues that were impacting his surgical prowess?   Well, we finally got some answers when On-Air On-Soaps chatted with Shawn to get the lowdown.

In addition, Shawn reveals his thoughts on the dissolution of the Daniel/Jennifer romance and previews the next gal on the dashing doc’s long list of female admirers in Salem … and it may turn out to be the just returned, Billie Reed!  Check out what Shawn had to say on a myriad of Salem and DAYS hot topics, as we welcome him back to the screen!

So we were wondering what happened to you on-air! All of a sudden it was like “Poof” you were gone!  Did they decide to give the character a rest so they could figure out where do go next with him?  Daniel admitted to Jennifer he went off surfing! But, of course! (Laughs)

SHAWN: First off, Daniel was off the canvas searching within. (Laughs) And as for me, yes I was off the show while they were figuring out what were they going to do with Daniel this “wild card”.  You can do anything with him, and somehow he will survive.  I think they needed to rethink what is the best way to utilize this character?  And I think they are exploring that, even still.  His stories do not run linear. Who is going to have a kid with a one-night stand with Crystal Chappell’s character of Carly? Daniel! And, people will buy it.  Who could have an affair with a girl when he is also sleeping with her mother? Daniel!  He could do that and still survive! (Laughs)

At least they did not pink-slip you from the show!  The powers-that-be had gone through the entire Maggie and her egg story so that it gave you an anchor into the Horton family as her bio-son, and you already had been given a daughter in Melanie.  But there must have been a moment where you weren’t sure if Daniel might have a surfing accident off-screen never to return!

SHAWN: When the writers and producers come to you and say, “We don’t know which direction we want to take the character,” you immediately either think, “I am replaced or I am gone.”  But they were very kind and immediately said to me that they want to re-work and recreate him.  It isn’t that they wanted to get rid of him which was refreshing, coming on the heels of possibly being written-out.  Look its work. I get it. They are working with the history of the show, and it’s not as if Daniel has a whole lot of history … in fact he would probably take the history and put a twist to it.  If you look at how he was brought on and how his character has interacted, besides from Maggie which gives me great roots on the show, whatever you thought historically such as if you thought Phillip and Chloe were going to be the be all and end all, well wait a minute?  Here’s a curve ball.  Daniel is going to screw that up! (Laughs)

Courtesy/NBC

Have you had any scenes with Molly Burnett (Melanie) and Suzanne Rogers (Maggie) since you have been back?

SHAWN:  No, I have not had scenes with them.  Molly is in story right now and the show is about family. They did have Daniel pick up a picture of him and his daughter, Melanie.  So, I don’t think it has been forgotten.

What did you think about how Jennifer and Daniel’s ill-fated love story came to an abrupt end?

SHAWN: It was a story about, do you fight for the family that you raised and grew up with and known to love?  Or is it, do you pursue a new love and a new life?  It was put to the test and it was very well-done and the answer was, “No, I am going to stick by my family.”  For the character of Jennifer it was a wonderful choice.  I loved working with Melissa Reeves (Jennifer).  I got it.  It made sense to me in the end.

Your closure scene aired yesterday.  Daniel told Jennifer something to affect that when he looks at her, he doesn’t feel that strong pull anymore to her!  Do you like how this was resolved?

SHAWN: I do explain to Jennifer some of the clarity I experienced while I was away and that I have come too.  Melissa was so present as an actress in those scenes, but I come off looking like an ass, which is great. (Laughs)  I mean, in a good way.  It was two characters doing what they felt was right.  For Daniel, Jennifer was one of the purest people he had ever met.  There were no lies, no cheating, and no deceit with them.  It was, “My cards are on the table if you want me great, if you don’t, I understand that.”

Looks like Daniel’s “shaky hands” are also gone! 

SHAWN: Yeah, it’s not really formally addressed, but the idea being that he is a surgeon and there was no other medical way to treat it, Daniel traveled the world and found alternative medicine to heal this shaking.  Now, what I will do from time to time, if you notice, is massage my hand as a way to suggest this is part of the healing process. There is no longer a story point of course (Laughs)  But for me as an actor, I at least try to maintain history to it, but I don’t want to make it a story point, because we are no longer pursuing that.  I also don’t want to leave the viewers wondering what happened with that as the front man of that beat of the story.

Courtesy/NBC

Lisa Rinna (Billie), who we recently spoke with and who has been making the rounds promoting her return to DAYS (officially airing today), has been hinting at a romantic entanglement with Dr. Daniel! What can you tell us?

SHAWN: Yeah, she may no more than I do.  What is great about this dynamic with Billie is she calls a spade a spade saying, “You slept with my mother and you were with my daughter!”  Even though I did not sleep with her, that is not brought up yet!  I was romantically linked enough to Chelsea to be taken aback.  So Billie calls him on it right away and that is great! Billie makes no bones about where she stands with anything which is a wonderful quality.  Beyond that, I don’t know what ends up happening.  But knowing Daniel’s life, anything can happen.

Daniel upon his return to Salem has been taking care of a pregnant Nicole as his patient in the hospital.   Seems like this could also be a good story choice having Daniel paired with Nicole!  After all, she loathes EJ right now and Daniel never knew about the daughter Carly had, so he never got to raise a child.  I think it would be interesting to see perhaps Nicole and Daniel form a close bond!

SHAWN:  I don’t know where that goes, but I can guarantee you if I am in a scene with a woman, something is going to go wrong, and Daniel is going to screw up somebody’s life! (Laughs)

Do you like working with Arianne Zuker (Nicole) in scenes? She is a Daytime Emmy nominated actress and again a Pre-Nom this year, you know! Would you welcome the opportunity to work more with her?

SHAWN:  She is very talented and she can spar with me and is wonderful. There is an unwritten history there, because her best friend, Chloe was the love of Daniel’s life.  It lingers in the air and it does not even need to be addressed and that does exist.  These are two people who have battle wounds from years of being knocked around, pushed around, and kicked around, but both have survived.  To what extent you explore their relationship I don’t know.  I think Daniel probably feels he is not worthy of love at this point in his life, or a relationship, quite honestly, considering his track record.  Nicole lived with Daniel for awhile.   I think that is an interesting dynamic and there is a lot there.

Courtesy/NBC

In the conversation, when DAYS told you they were going to bring you back to the show and re-tool the character a bit, did they elaborate or give you any hints what they were going to do with Dr. Daniel in regards to the bigger picture?

SHAWN: I don’t know if I got a straight up plan.  However, they got on the phone and told me when I was coming back.  As to what would happen, I don’t know because I have not had a new conversation with anybody.  Now, they may have a genius plan for Daniel already.  But the way they have tampered with everything thus far, I am finding quite intriguing, and the way people have just come into his life.  He is a local doctor for one which is why he gets involved with so many people in Salem, but also he is a man who has so many broken tentacles that it’s plausible he could be involved with anyone.  I guess I would say, they are trying him out with different characters on screen, which is good, right?  And, from a business and marketing perspective for this show it’s about, what is going to sell tickets? (Laughs)  I do think that the writers have story points well thought out in advance, and I don’t think it’s as random as I expressed it.  I think they check for fertile ground to write with.

 

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It seems like there is confusion at Days. Jack saying he and Jen aren’t meant for each other is a bunch of garbage. Anyone who has watched the show for years KNOW that Jen and Matt Ashford’s Jack are soulmates. Quit screwing us around and put them back together. Geez….

I totally agree!!

Another great interviewMichael, I really enjoyed reading it and hope Daniel will wind up with Billie. Lisa and Shawn are amazing actors and I think they will great together. I can’t wait to see what happens.

im just glad he is back on days a big fan of his

Glad Shawn is back but so disappointed that Jenn and Dan are over. I stopped watching Days 15 years ago. The Jenn and Dan pairing was the only reason I tuned back in. I will not watch to see Jenn and Jack reunite; I never liked them together! I also will not watch to see Dan and Billie get together. She is so annoying and I wish she and Jack didn’t come back to the show. It was better when they added new characters to the mix. Ever since the show re-launched I have been extremely disappointed. At least this interview confirmed that Jenn and Dan are truly done. So long Days of Our Lives.

I love Dan and Jen together!! They have chemistry. Nicole/Daniel worst pairing ever. Nicole is so pathetic they are so boring together. Get Dannifer back together. Only reason I watched because of Jen and Dan they were so good togther. Loved watching when they were going on their dates together.

I hope they don’t get rid of Daniel/Shawn. I liked the Dan/Jen pairing. Loved it actually. I also love Matt Ashford and was so happy when he was brought back. I just wish this show would do something different for once. After watching Jen pine over Daniel, now we are supposed to believe that she loves Jack again. Makes no sense.

The Billie pairing is sort of gross since he’s been with her daughter and her mother. Ewww. They should have just left him w/Carly/Crystal Chappell if they were not going to go with Dan/Jen. This show is in a constant state of confusion.

Jennifer and Daniel are so fun together. Such a lovable couple! Get them back together. I am so sick of seeing Nicole and Daniel together. She should just focus on having a healthy baby and stay away from Daniel.. What a loser!!

I’m glad Shawn Christian is back, and I hope Daniel gets paired with either Nicole or Billie!

daniel is so boring. time to get rid of him right now. days producers fire him. bring back vivian alamain and ivan. they were so much fun to watch.

Great. Jack and Jen were destroyed so Daniel could have a storyline, so now that it’s over when are they going to fix THAT mess? I don’t really care what they do with Daniel next.

Exactly.They’re trying too hard to save a worthless character.No matter if I like Shawn,too many long time fan favorites and supercouples were ruined to prop Daniel,especially Chloe.They should get rid of Daniel,Melanie,Madison,…and bring back the REAL CHLOE, not DH’s version.Philip,Shawn,Belle,.

Why not just get rid of this fail of a character already? He’s such a bland character, and he has been for years now! Just let him go! I am angry that Jack and Jennifer have been thrown to the dogs for this character, and that they’re getting so little screen time for a good reunion story, but Daniel gets to come back and be reset and front and center. And poor Jennifer! I don’t understand why they couldn’t let her do the dumping with finality, as in telling Daniel that she picked Jack, even if Jack said no. She didn’t pick Daniel, and that means something. Why couldn’t they give her back her spine since Dannifer is down the toilet anyway? I guess we just couldn’t have any woman completely resist Daniel. I am so sick of him. I see no difference in him since his return. All woman fall to his charms. He’ll be the miracle doctor with Bo. He gets to save Nicole. It’s the same over pushing that caused me to go from just ignoring this character to actively disliking him, only more so. I’m disgusted at the way Dan’s getting the focus as they try to salvage him while I almost never get to see Jack, and when a character who’s been loved for so many years, Jennifer, and one of the show’s most beautiful love stories, Jack and Jennifer, are the things in need of salvaging.

I don’t think you can blame the character of Daniel for Marlene and Darrell not writing for Jack, it appears like Marlene and Darrell couldn’t care less what the fans want. Just look at the characters always on sceen, Bradison, Rafe, and Daniel. We want Jack and Jennifer what do we get Jennifer flip flopping between two men, we want to see more legacy characters what do we get, an overdose of Madison and Rafe. We could have more Jack on Days if the headwriters would just write for him but they won’t do it. Blame Marlene and Darrell, they are the ones refusing to write for Jack.

Now as for Daniel I hope they write him getting in trouble for banging his patients and he ends up losing his job, someone else that has not been his patient falls in love with him. Some one like maybe Sami HA!

Dami foreva

Please do not pair Dan w/ Billie. He does not need another failed relationship and I just dont see Lisa Rinna sticking around long!

LOVE Shawn Christian and DAYS needs to make this work. There are compelling stories to tell other than romances, dubious parentages, and vague corporate boardroom games. Maybe there could be a plot about health care issues, a crisis of confidence, a medical mystery with Doc at the forefront.

I don’t understand why the show is “recreating” Daniel, when he wasn’t “created” in the first place. Daniel has zero substance, zero depth. He needs to be created, not recreated. In fact, why not just reduce his airtime and let those characters that already have substance have more of a spotlight?

It seems rather interesting to me that now the epic love of dannifer is%

Great interview with Shawn, love him he ‘s great. Hope he finds love soon preferably with Chloe, who he has always said is the love of his life.Thank god Dannifer is over, couldn’t stand him with Jen ,she is extremely boring and fickle. Not interested in Billie, with her recent comments I don’t expect her to last long on the show.I like Nicole, she and Daniel would be interesting since her BFF was Chloe. Glad the show loves him to write for him. Thanks Michael.

No no no …p[aese keep hypocritical heartless Daniel away from Chloe.Don’t waste her on him.If Nadia accepts to come back,give us the real Chloe and Broe/Phloe ,now they are adult and she has a kid with Philip.It would be way more interesting.Iwould rather have Chloe dead than back with Daniel after the way he treated her,.She deserves better.

will not watch days anymore. you all had a good thing going with daniel and jen. then you had to go and do something really stupid and hook up john and hope. why cant you all have made bo and hope the next tom and alice? possible that you could bring back eric for nichol? i mean theres so much confusion and always going back to the same old stories. get with some new stuff.

Although he was with Kate and Chelsea before, I think Dillie would be a nice couple. Daniel and Nicole would be alright if it happened years ago, but EJole is meant to be, and so is Janiel (Dannifer).

Daniel and Billie never happened :(…Dannifer is better anyway. Thank goodness Dicole is coming to an end.

Daniel and Jennifer all the way, I think those two should get married its about time they’ve been together for a long time so they should get married. Days did the best thing in pairing them and keeping them together. what ever days does with the storyline please keep these dan and jen together

Days Of Our Lives

‘Heated Rivalry’ Star Franco LoPresti Opens Up About ‘Days of our Lives’ Debut as Dante Vitali

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Next week on Monday, September 14 will mark the first appearance in Salem of Franco LoPresti in his new Days of our Lives role of Dante Vitali.

Heated Rivalry fans now LoPresti very well from his part as hockey player Cliff Marleau in the series first season. (No word yet if Cliff appears in season 2).

Now in a conversation with TV Insider, DAYS fans will learn that LoPresti is on the soap for a limited run. No timetable was given.

Dante Vitali

Photo: Corday Productions, Inc

When LoPresti does burst onto the scene come Monday, Dante makes quite the impact as Franco LoPresti explains. It seems that viewers will first see him in scenes in Monte Carlo at a poker table with none other than Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) and Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier).  However, Dante will come to Salem to talk to the Brady family about his supposed fiancée Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney).

Franco shared, “Dante was born and grew up in Italy and educated at this pretty top-tier English boarding school. He then went on to build his own dynasty in finance, all the while trying to distance himself from the Vitali name (as viewers know Tamara Braun played his cousin Ava Vitali).”

“But at the core of Dante, there’s definitely an old-school quality to him”, continued LoPresti. “He’s super passionate, he’s sincere and incredibly generous, but he’s also someone that you probably shouldn’t underestimate. Loyalty is something that means a lot to him. As Dante enters Salem, I think the audience will get to slowly peel back those layers and discover what’s really driving him. So, I’m excited for Days fans to go on that ride with Dante.”

Photo: Almay

As it turns out, LoPresti taped his episodes of DAYS starting back in November 2025 which happened to be weeks before Heated Rivalry became a smash hit.

Franco recalled, “It’s so funny because I thought my episodes would air in a month (on Days of our Lives). But I found out it was nine to 10 months and I was like, ‘I gotta wait that long?!’ So, I’ve been biting my nails, trying not to think about it, and I think it’s actually kind of helped because now it’s here and it’s all coming at me from all different angles. I’m nervous. I’m excited, and I just can’t wait to see it all come together. It’s one of the best jobs I’ve ever had for sure.”

In his personal life, Franco just had his first child with wife, actress Emily Alatalo, just a weeks ago on August 23rd when they welcomed their daughter, Stella into the world.

So, looking forward to seeing Franco LoPresti’s debut come Monday? What do you think about the fact that it’s being reported as a limited run? Do you think Dante and Sami have a chance on-screen or off-screen to be a happy couple? What do you really think brings Dante to Salem sans Sami? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.

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Days Of Our Lives

‘Days of our Lives’ Reveals ‘Class of Season 62’

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Days of our Lives

In a metaphor for the start of the school year and their upcoming anniversary in November, Days of our Lives revealed its “Class of Season 62,” with a very clever yearbook montage on their social media handles, welcoming new cast members, while paying respect to the veterans and “class”-iying the other characters in Salem.

The official Days of our Lives Instagram account shared on the posting, “The Class of Salem Season 62 has arrived. Familiar faces, new names and plenty of personality. Flip through our yearbook for a peek at this year’s class.”

Let’s take a look at how they broke it all down: The Salem Yearbook starts with saying “another unforgettable season,” with some group pics, and then we dovetail into Salem’s new class which features: Sydney Malakeh (Sydney DiMera), Brandon Butler (Mason Whitfield), Angelica Nero (Victoria Kiriakis), Cole Gersmeyer (Thomas DiMera) and Lorelei Olivia Mote (Rachel Black).

Photo: Days of our Lives

Next up, are the likes of: Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez), John-Paul Lavoisier (Philip Kiriakis), Tyler Joseph Andrews (Theo Carver) and LeeAnn Hopkins (Joy Wesley). Then, in the “Drama Club” section are: Dan Feuerriegel (EJ DiMera) and AnnaLynne Cipriani (Cat Greene).

Following the ‘Recess” section with some group snaps, comes “Homeroom Highlights” with: Abigail Klein (Stephanie Johnson), Eric Martsolf (Brady Black), Rob Scott Wilson (Alex Kiriakis), Lamon Archey (Eli Grant) and Sal Stowers (Lani Price Grant).

The “Salem Spectator” section features: Conner Floyd (Chad DiMera), Greg Rikaart (Leo Stark), Stowers again, and Ashely Puzemis (Holly Jonas). In the “Afternoon Sweets” section look for: Paul Telfer (Xander Kiriakis) and Linsey Godfey (Sarah Horton), Emily O’ Brien (Gwen Rizchech), Stacy Haiduk (Kristen DiMera/Susan Banks), Brandon Beemer (Shawn Brady), plus Jackée Harry (Paulina Price).

Towards the end of the yearbook, veteran performers such as: Mary Beth Evans (Kayla Johnson), Stephen Nichols (Steve Johnson), Lauren Koslow (Kate Roberts) and Josh Taylor (Roman Brady) are featured, plus Deidre Hall (Marlena Evans), James Reynolds (Abe Carver) and Matthew Ashford (Jack Deveraux), Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie Williams) and Suzanne Rogers (Maggie Kiraikis) with her on-screen daughter, Linsey Godfrey.

The Salem Yearbook comes to a conclusion noting “Big things happening in Salem” and to tune-in on Peacock, where we also find Jacob Martinez (Javi Hernandez), Maggie Carney (Rita Lesley), and a host of other favorites previewing what’s to come this fall.

So, what do you think of the Days of our Lives Class of Season 62? Looking forward to seeing what happens in Salem? Did you like the yearbook concept for promotional tune-in? Let us know via the comment section below.

 

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Days Of Our Lives

‘Days of our Lives’ Head Writers Give Fall 2026 Preview: Marlena and Stefano’s Chess Mystery, The Arrivals of Dante and Sydney, Romance Drama for Sarah and Others

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Chad and Belle

As summer comes to a close with Labor Day weekend, the former Days of our Lives co-head writing duo of Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford have given their annual fall season preview in episodes taped some 10-11 months ago.

As previously reported this past July, Ryan Quan returned to Days of our Lives and is now co-head writing the show with Ford, while Cwikly is now a consultant. The new co-head writing teams stories will not be seen till late spring/early summer 2027.

So for now, the stories pick up from where we left off with Cwikly and Ford promising via TV Insider, “Fall in Salem is full of twists and turns and secrets and surprises. Dots connect in unexpected ways as seemingly unrelated threads converge.”

Deidre Hall

Photo: JPI

CHECKMATE?

In one of the top mystery’s, Marlena is still having troubling memories and she will have another one on the Monday, September 7 episode. Meanwhile, her daughter Belle (Martha Madison) has gotten very close to Chad DiMera (Conner Floyd) and as pictured here, the two smooch while in Italy searching for answers to the chess set that Stefano DiMera gifted th the late John Black and Marlena (Deidre Hall) that has some significance.

The head scribes share, “The (chess board) mystery and its fallout are central to the fall stories. Chad and Belle follow the clues to a discovery that changes both of their families, and Salem, forever. Marlena worries that their investigation/the chess set may be a Pandora’s box that has been opened. And she is right…”

Newcomers are also the order of the day for Cwikly and Ford, this fall. We have already seen the debut as Brandon Butler as Mason Whitfield, and next week you can add as previously reported Sydney Malakeh on the Thursday September 1o episode as Sydney DiMera, followed by the the Monday, September 14 arrival of Franco LoPresti as Dante Vitali.

Philip, Belle and Sydney

Photo: Corday Productions

Paula and Jeanne Marie expressed on the incoming Dante, “The arrival of a stranger who will set the whole town on its ear. The character has several strong ties to the current canvas and impacts many storylines.” What will Dante be up to? We know Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney) had mentioned in 2025 she got engaged to the man, but that was off-screen.

LOVE THE ONE YOU’RE WITH OR THE ONE YOU WANT?

In the romance department, the triangle between Brady/Sarah/Xander heats up with a very conflicted Sarah (Linsey Godfrey). The head writers reveal, “When Sarah faces attacks personally and professionally, Xander (Paul Telfer) and Brady (Eric Martsolf) work together to help and protect her. Sarah’s new love for Brady is challenged by her lingering love for Xander. Xander risks everything for Sarah.”

In addition look for, “Gabi (Cherie Jimenez) and Philip (John-Paul Lavoiser) to draw closer as he tries to save the family company and home.”

Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) will also be returning at some point this fall and she won’t be alone. Who might she bring with her? And from the looks of the Peacock promo for next week’s DAYS, someone is wearing Stefano’s ring around their finger, but who … and how does it all tie in this fall?

So, what do you think about some of the highlights coming up this fall on Days of our Lives per the series head writers? Does anything float your boat or pique your interest? If so, what? Let us know via the comment section. But first, check out the action next week on DAYS in the promo entitled “Bag of Tricks” below.

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