Days Of Our Lives
Jay Johnson and Shelley Hennig leaving Days of our Lives!
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
We heard the rumblings of this late last week, but we can now confirm, and as Soap Opera Digest printed today, Days of our Lives younger set is about to be minus two more major players. Both Jay Kenneth Johnson (Phillip) and Shelley Hennig (Stephanie) have decided to leave the NBC soap series. This comes on the heels of the news of the firing of Mark Hapka (Nathan).
Both Hennig and Johnson spoke with SOD and offered their thoughs on why it was time to take the leap from daytime to pursue primetime and film careers: “It just feels right,” says Hennig. “I have been preparing for this for awhile, so I have said my mental good-byes. I will miss the faces I see here every day, but everybody has been really encouraging and has embraced my decision…. I feel like I’m going out with a bang after last week’s air shows and I feel great about it creatively and I am thankful to the writers for giving me that. I am thankful for this role that DAYS has given me and will miss playing this character. I am forever thankful for the fans and this wonderful gift that was given to me. It’s been a lot of fun to play and I wouldn’t change anything.” Hennig’s last tape date is February 2.
Johnson stated,”It feels perfect. The story ended and there’s a lot of stuff going on out there. I thought about it a lot; it just felt like the right time. I want to thank the fans for continuing to watch and following me from my first stint to the other shows I’ve done and back to here. I hope they keep an eye on me in the future.”
We at On-Air On-Soaps wish two of our dear professional friends the best of luck in their new endeavors!
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Elani Wedding (Photos): What Did You Think Of The Nuptials?
This week on Days of our Lives saw the first African-American couple to be married on-screen in the 54-year history of Days of our Lives. Now while Lani (Sal Stowers) and Eli (Lamon Archey) tried before in a previous ceremony, this one did the job … they are now officially husband and wife!
The ceremony was attended by Lani’s dad, Abe Reynolds (James Reynolds), her mother Tamara Price (Marily McCoo), Billy Davis Jr. as a former FBI mentor to Eli, Julie (Susan Seaforth Hayes) – it was her restaurant after all and she is Eli’s grandmother. Dr. Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) presided over the ceremony.
There were some unwelcome guests at the ceremony as well; leading the bride to question, are we doomed? Why does this keep happening to us everytime we tried to get hitch!
However, fate was on Lani and Eli’s side this day, as even Gabi (Camila Banus) with her antics, and a shocking arrival from Vivian Alamain (Louise Sorel), couldn’t rain on this day. Vivian even tried to shoot the bride, but thanks to Rafe (Galen Gering) saving the day and armed with news that her son Stefan (Brandon Barash) could be alive; he informs Viv firmly that she would be killing someone for the wrong reason, even though Vivian is in disbelief that her son is alive. Next, she is whisked out of the ceremony.
Lani still feeling rattled by all the wedding interruptus gets a sign she should marry the man she loves; when her mother, who needed to go lie down earlier, as she was feeling faint, was able to show back up just in time to restart the wedding.
During the ceremony, Eli mentions the loss of little David Abraham and the struggles they went through, but how in the end it brought then closer together. After the rings are exchanged and they are pronounced man and wife, the newlyweds “jump the broom” a wonderful tradition and a symbol of African-American heritage, where the sweeping of the broom signifies sweeping away all the bad energy. After they sweep the broom, Elani jumps over it.
In a behind-the-scenes of the wedding segment released this week on the DOOL app, Sal Stowers and Lamon Archey talk about the inclusion of the ‘jump the broom’ moment in the episode, and how they suggested the idea to DAYS Co-EP Albert Alaar, and how it was written into the episode.
So, what did you think of Lani and Eli’s wedding? Did you enjoy it? Let us know via the comment section below, but first check out this wedding photo gallery of the big day!
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
Breaking News
47th Annual Daytime Emmys Draws Over 3 Million Viewers For CBS Telecast with Return to Network TV
Friday night was a good night for daytime! With its first foray back on to network television since 2011, the Daytime Emmy kudofest, while for the first time held this year virtually, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, scored very well in its timeslot.
The CBS broadcast averaged 3.1 million total viewers and a 0.3 demo rating. That is way up from the last time viewers saw the award show on TV when it was on cable network POP TV back in 2015 with just over 900,000 viewers for its initial broadcast.
According to TV Insider report: The first hour of the Emmys garnered 3.3 million viewers to top the hour by edging out a rerun on ABC”s Shark Tank, and then slipped to second place for the second hour with 2.8 million viewers.
These were strong numbers for Friday night, and hopefully CBS and the other major networks will now continue this, and serve up the Daytime Emmy Awards moving forward.
Courtesy/CBS
The ladies of CBS’s The Talk hosted the event; each virtually from their homes, in an event filled with at-home acceptance speeches and presenters, and clip packages. The show was produced by NATAS and Associated Television International
So, what do you think of the ratings performance of this year’s Daytime Emmys? Comment below.
Breaking News
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All My ChildrenJuly 2, 2020‘Strahan, Sara and Keke’ Canceled by ABC; Show Aired In Timeslot That Once Housed ‘All My Children’
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Breaking NewsJune 26, 2020Y&R Wins Drama Series, Jason Thompson and Heather Tom Take Top Acting Honors During 47th Annual Daytime Emmys
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InterviewsJune 29, 2020Y&R’s Executive Producer Anthony Morina Talks On Daytime Emmy Drama Series Win For Neil’s Memorial & Honoring Kristoff St. John
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Breaking NewsJune 28, 202047th Annual Daytime Emmys Draws Over 3 Million Viewers For CBS Telecast with Return to Network TV
Paul8148
January 18, 2011 at 2:18 pm
They have to be recasting Phillip right? Brent Claywell?
royd
January 18, 2011 at 2:59 pm
JKJ leaving just SUCKS! Sacrificed at the altar of Melanie. Dena Higley has scant regard for legacy families and characters. Every actor in close contact with the character of Melanie has been turned into a prop for her. Who wants to sign up for that endless monotony. JKJ has been treated like a man bag for too long!!
lovingit
January 18, 2011 at 10:09 pm
3 actors deciding to leave at the same time speaks volumes. These are great actors who’s characters have been badly neglected for some time and I don’t blame them one bit for moving on but I will miss them especially JKJ in the role of Phillip. People have been posting for months on all the boards how things need to change at DOOL. Since they seem to ignore their viewers hopefully this will be wake up call for them to make the needed changes in the writing dept. They need to get rid of the dead weight both in the writing dept and one actor and focus on better utilizing the amazing talents on the show. We have barely even seen Justin and Adrienne and the Bope and Chad sl have been way to spread out.
chelsea
January 19, 2011 at 3:59 am
I am sick of Dena Higley’s total disregard of the history of Days of Our Lives and it’s characters. I have watched this show since 1983 and the direction this show has taken makes me sick. She takes great characters like Philp, Chloe, Stephanie etc and uses them as props for the characters she wants on screen and it shows. It’s time for Dena Higley to go.
Ruthie
January 19, 2011 at 2:30 pm
Wow. It seems as though the show is falling apart. I’m a long-time viewer who rarely tunes in anymore because the show is not enjoyable to me. If they lose James Scott I will never watch the show again. He is the only actor I still enjoy.
Michael Jenkins
January 20, 2011 at 9:00 am
I agree with you, once James leaves, I will no longer watch Days.
Bettyrj
January 22, 2011 at 10:49 pm
I am in total agreement with you. James goes, I go! I can do better with my time than watch Days go down the toilet!
sara
March 10, 2011 at 2:48 pm
Me too James goes, I go! The one reason I keep watching is James Scott!!!!
SoapStud79
January 20, 2011 at 1:09 pm
I never put my ‘eggs in one basket’ when it comes to soap operas, meaning I never watch any soap for just one actor or character. I will miss JKJ as Phillip, but I am glad to see SH’s Stephanie depart. I wonder if these roles will be recast or if the show will just focus on the other characters coming to the canvas, including Dario, Abby, and Taylor.
Brian T
January 20, 2011 at 8:27 pm
The show is losing a lot because three of it’s best actors are leaving. First Mark and now Jay and Shelley. Although I don’t care for Stephanie any longer (ever since she and Phillip broke up), I do think Shelley is an amazing young actress. Jay and Mark are also both very good actors and were given terrible material to work with. I wish them all the best and I pray that the show will wake up and give the other characters some real s/l besides Sami/EJ/Rafe/Nicole and Chloe/Daniel/Melanie
Skyla
January 22, 2011 at 10:58 pm
OH NO!!! I can’t believe JKJ is leaving!!! and right on the heels of his chracter having two babies, though I really think Chloe’s baby will end up being Daniel’s in the long run. I don’t mean to sound harsh but I didn’t care one way or the other about Mark Hapka except to hope he has succes in the future and quite honestly I haven’t been a fan of Stephanie for years, the last time I really liked her was back when she was with Max but Shelley is a great actress and I’m sure she’ll be sccessful in all her future endeavors. My brother will be sad though… when he’s sort of forced into watching Days all he can talk about is Stephanie.. and then Chloe. I’m fairlycertain JKJwill go far but I am completely bumbed about this!!!
CONNIE
March 10, 2011 at 11:35 am
Once James Scott is out of Days. I who have been watching DOOL for the past twenty years will STOP BIG TIME>!!