Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Shawn Christian Interview: Why he disappeared from Salem! Now that Jenn/Daniel are OUT … Are Billie/Daniel IN?
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.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Favorites Making Returns: Alison Sweeney, Christie Clark, Chandler Massey and Bryan Dattilo
Great news for Days of Our Lives fans, now that Ryan Quan is co-head writer of the long-running soap opera. Coming in June of 2027 (since DAYS tapes ten or so months ahead), you can look forward to the returns of Alison Sweeney (Sami Brady), Christie Clark (Carrie Brady), Chandler Massey (Will Horton) and Bryan Dattilo (Lucas Horton).
The foursome is back on set and began last week to tape their upcoming story arc, according to TV Insider. As to what exactly is going on that brings sister Sami and Carrie’s history back up, as well as Will and Lucas’ is only being teased at this time, but suffice to say, it should be intriguing.
Alison Sweeney explained on being back on set, “It was a lot of dialogue and emotion, but with all the best actors to work opposite, we fell into it as if no time had passed. It was really wonderful.”
Photo: JPI
As to working with the longstanding rivalry of Sami and Carrie, Alison added on working with Clark, “So, it really does feel like we’re sisters. It’s so fun, and she’s such a good actor that she makes everything so natural that you can really disappear into those stories.”
JUST LIKE OLD TIMES
It also seems like the deep-history, which often had the sister fighting for the love of Austin Reed, but that might not figure into the equation this time, or will it?
Alison indicated what she thought of the scripts she was given. “I felt like when I read it, it was a page-turner. I was very excited. There’s a lot of history here, and a lot of things that haven’t been said. So, it’s really not like, ‘Oh, rehashing stuff.’ And now having played some of the scenes, I’m psyched.” Sweeney added, as for the men, working again with her on-screen son, Chandler Massey and Will’s on-screen father Bryan Dattilo, was also extra special.
The last time DAYS viewers saw Sami on the canvas was back in November of 2025, when she revealed she has gotten engaged to never-before-seen Dante Vitali. As for Clark, she last visited Salem for the episodes surrounding John Black’s memorial in June of 2025.
Chandler Massey’s Will Horton last made a visit to Salem in November of 2025 when he attended the gala for the Tom Horton Free Clinic as part of the soap opera’s 60th anniversary celebration. Bryan Dattilo was last seen in December of 2025. So, by the time we see all four again it will be close to two years since they were on new episodes of the series. Time to look forward to June of 2027.
So, excited by the news of Alison, Christie, Chandler and Lucas making a return to Days of Our Lives? What do you think the story will be involving, Sami, Carrie, Lucas and Will? Let us know via the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Alum Al Calderon Talks On His Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes as Javi Hernandez (Exclusive)
Last Tuesday, Al Calderon scored the first Emmy nomination of his career for his role as Javi Hernandez on Days of Our Lives.
Calderon name was announced as one of the performers competing for gold in the Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series category at the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards on October 30.
This week, Calderon chatted live on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel for a one-on-one conversation where he discussed: his nominated scenes and time on the Peacock streaming soap opera, his decision to leave DAYS, his role of Nico Silva on Brilliant Minds and its sad cancellation, plus his passing the torch of Javi to Jacob Martinez, who took over the role on-screen on the June 30, 2026 episode of Days of Our Lives.
Photo: JPI
JAVI REVEALS TO LEO THAT HE HAD A DAUGHTER WHO DIED
Al revealed the scenes that comprise his now Emmy-nominated reel have at its epicenter the heartbreaking moments from the September 12, 2025 episode. In it, Javi shares for the first time to Leo (Greg Rikaart) that he had a daughter named Solana, with a woman he was seeing named Sylvia. One fateful day, Sylvia left their child in a car when she went to work and the little girl died. Javi had blamed himself for not being the parent to take his daughter to school that day since he was hungover the night before, therefore it opened up the opportunity for something to happen to the his child, and it did.
The multi-talented actor/singer explained his reel: “It was the scene where he is talking about his daughter to Leo. I also included the scene where Javi goes to talk to Melinda (Tina Huang) and to see if it would be a viable option to adopt, because I wanted to introduce the subtlety and nuance of why Javi kind of has this whole connection to Tesoro, in a way.”
It is true that Al can bring the tears and make us cry right along with him during his run as Javi. To that, Calderon added, “I’ve read the comments that I’m a little bit of a crybaby, so I didn’t want the entire reel to be of me crying, but I wanted it to show a little bit of an emotional range of the restraint that Javi was feeling so I included that scene
In addition Calderon shared, “I also included a really beautiful scene with Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez, DAYS) where I’m looking at photos of Tesoro, and of course, Javi is crying. I just wanted to show the relationship between Javi and his family as well, and as I mentioned the reveal of the child that he lost.”
Photo: JPI
ALUMS AL CALDERON AND ALICE HALSEY REPRESENT DAYS OF OUR LIVES IN EMERGING TALENT CATEGORY
In a twist of fate, Calderon is also nominated in the Emerging Talent category with Alice Halsey who played Rachel Black. Halsey is currently starring in the reboot of Little House on the Prairie in the lead role of Laura Ingalls on Netflix.
As to his hope on Emmy night, Al expressed, “Of course, I want to win, but Alice Halsey is going to give me a run for the money. And if’s not me (who wins the award), it better be her!”
You can check out the full interview with Al below.
Now let us know, do you remember Al’s emotional scenes when he explained to Leo he had a daughter who died, which made it all the more heartbreaking to not end up with permanent custody of Tesoro? What do you think of Al’s chances to win the gold based on his Emmy scene selection? Do you miss him as Javi? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
Emily O’Brien Talks On Her Y&R Past as Jana Hawkes and Working with Peter Porte on ‘Days of Our Lives’
On the latest edition of Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart which dropped on Tuesday, July 21, Emily O’Brien is the featured guest. As soap fans know, Emily has worked with Rikaart both in her first soap role on The Young and the Restless as Jana Hawkes and now on Days of Our Lives in her current role of Gwen Rizczech.
While Emily continues on DAYS, she has very impressive list of credits in the other part of her career as a voice-over actress and one in motion-capture in some of the most popular video games in the world.
O’Brien was first seen on The Young and the Restless back in 2006. She recalled her landing the role which eventually paired her for her five year run with Greg Rikaart.
Photo: JPI
BEING CAST ON THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
“The role was just a few days and she wasn’t even supposed to be English,” Emily recalled. “The role was originally called Jade. Karen Rae, the casting director of The Young and the Restless at the time said to me “Oh, you’re from England. Try it with the dialect.” I put it on and she said, ‘I’m going to bring you back at like 3 for s callback.’ So then they changed the role to Jana and they said she’s going to be a Brit. I was only supposed to be on for like five episodes and it turned into 5 years.”
In explaining why she loved crazy Jana, Emily shared, “Jana was sort of like the misanthrope. She was just was the odd one out and I loved it. I felt so comfortable playing that because she was just eclectic and weird and she loved playing with Ouija boards and she rode a motorbike. There was just so much color to bring to her. It was just such a great match to play with Greg (Kevin), and Christian LeBlanc (Michael) and Tracey Bregman (Lauren).
Photo: JPI
GWEN, DIMITRI AND LEO ON DAYS OF OUR LIVES
On Days of Our Lives, the Leo, Gwen, Dimitri dynamic is quite unique and been through many schemes and entanglements. Often Emily finds herself in repartee with her ex-lover, Dimitri, who turned out to be gay and then had a thing for her bestie, Leo (Greg Rikaart)!
During the conversation, Greg and Emily sang, Peter Porte’s praised with O’Brien expressing, “Peter is just ready to play. He comes on set prepared. I’ve never seen him with his script. From blocking and rehearsals, he doesn’t have it. He’s prepared. He’s a physical actor and he always trying to come up with something. I think he let me slap him. He let me kiss him. He let me throw a cheeseburger in his lap. He’s ready for anything for anything.”
You can catch the full episode of ‘Soapy; featuring Emily O’Brien below where the actress also talks about replacing Jen Lilley as Theresa Donovan after being let go as Gwen; and being paired again with Greg Rikaart on the Peacock streaming soap opera this time as best friends and more.
So, were you a big Jana Hawkes and Kevin Fisher fan on Y&R? Did you like them as a couple? Do you like the dynamic between Emily and Peter Porte and Greg Rikaart on DAYS? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun Written Out of The Young and the Restless
Rosie O’Donnell Says She Will Return to ‘The View’ During its Season 30
WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night Two: Top 5 Takeaways
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Serena Sets Her Sights on Michael; Jason’s Emotional Exit from the Mob
‘General Hospital’ Fan Club Weekend 2026 (Photos)
GH Alum Nicholas Alexander Chavez Lands Role in Paramount’s Remake of ‘Possession’
‘General Hospital’s’ Steve Burton Reveals His Lead Actor Daytime Emmy-Nominated Reel Did Not Contain Monica’s Funeral
‘General Hospital’ Ethan Lovett Recast: Christian Howard Replaces Nathan Dean
‘General Hospital’ Alum Colin Cassidy to Appear in Ryan Murphy’s ‘The Shards’
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ethan Lovett Hightails Out of the Country, Christian Howard Wraps His Stint
Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun Written Out of The Young and the Restless
Rosie O’Donnell Says She Will Return to ‘The View’ During its Season 30
WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night Two: Top 5 Takeaways
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Serena Sets Her Sights on Michael; Jason’s Emotional Exit from the Mob
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Preview: Katie is Suspicious of Dylan and Warns Will, Steffy Takes Off to Monaco
-
General Hospital5 days agoGH Alum Nicholas Alexander Chavez Lands Role in Paramount’s Remake of ‘Possession’
-
General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’s’ Steve Burton Reveals His Lead Actor Daytime Emmy-Nominated Reel Did Not Contain Monica’s Funeral
-
General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’ Ethan Lovett Recast: Christian Howard Replaces Nathan Dean
-
General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’ Alum Colin Cassidy to Appear in Ryan Murphy’s ‘The Shards’
-
General Hospital3 days agoGENERAL HOSPITAL: Ethan Lovett Hightails Out of the Country, Christian Howard Wraps His Stint
-
News5 days ago‘The Young and the Restless’ Names New Co-Head Writers: Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor
-
News6 days agoY&R’s Billy Flynn and Gina Comparetto Reveal Birth of Their Third Child and It’s a Girl!
-
News5 days agoErika Slezak to Celebrate 80th Birthday; How Fans Can Share a Special Memory and Message to the Soap Opera Icon
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