Days Of Our Lives
More DAYS Shake-Ups: Lisa de Cazotte OUT As Albert Alarr Tapped As New Co-EP!
Courtesy/NBC
Days of our Lives is making more behind-the-scenes changes leading into their big push to the episodes that will bring them into their 50th anniversary come November!
News Monday out of Soap Opera Digest has that soap veteran Lisa de Cazotte has been let-go as Days of our Lives co-executive producer! Lisa held that position since 2011. She will be replaced by longtime series director and producer, Albert Alarr!
Besides being with the NBC soap opera since 2003 on the DAYS directing team, Albert’s daytime drama credentials have included directing gigs on The Young and the Restless, Port Charles, and All My Children. In addition, fans of Crystal Chappell’s online web series, Venice the Series and Beacon Hill know that Alarr has been one of the main directors. Alarr will work closely with DAYS main co-executive producer Greg Meng in the months to come. In more backstage changes, Janet Spellman-Rider has been upped to series producer!
These changes on the production side have take shape after Josh Griffth and Dena Higley have come on board as the new DAYS head writing team.
So, what do you think of the producing changes at DAYS? Do you think it will have an impact on the series? Share your thoughts below!
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Change is always needed for survival.
It will MOST ASSUREDLY change the trajectory of this show. NBC wants it lone Soap to post the gains that GH is enjoying over on ABC and I GUARANTEE you they won’t let up with the myriad of backstage changes until they do…and I don’t blame them because really ..this show was sleep inducing as far as i’m concerned.
If NBC wants to see the show posting GH-sized gains I’m not sure Higley and Griffith were the way to go…
Higley did boost the soap in 2008 through 2009. Her writing regime had higher ratings than this.
Based on Higley’s work on One Life To Live and Griffith’s Work on Y&R I don’t have much confidence in this team.
Very good. It sounds like Albert Alarr has what it takes to take our beloved DAYS into the remainder of it’s 50th year and beyond. I really hope great changes will come to DAYS. It’s so important for our show to succeed, for all our soaps to succeed and continue for many more ‘Days’ to come… of course, I mean, years! Wishing DAYS a great 50th and hope all these changes behind the scenes makes the show pick up and get back to where it once was. I’m rooting for DAYS and I fell like Sony and NBC feels the… Read more »
I agree with you Jeremy. Now there are only four soaps with four different views on the genre and they will be hard pressed to replicate stories in the same fashion since they all come from a different production model. NBC was a daytime leader as well as ABC who stand behind one remaining soldier in a genre that reinvented prime time in the way stories are told…AND ALWAYS WILL…every prime time drama is a continuing serialized form bred of daytime that wiped out the closed end episodes of nighttime and forced characters to have a life…a family..a past and… Read more »
Desperately needed changes. I can’t watch the show the way it is right now. They have some huge messes to clean up. They need to start by putting the vets we know and love front and center again.
I’m hopeful as many of the story arcs have fallen flat. Maybe they will consider the concept of NOT taping 6 months in advance. It doesn’t allow for changes when stories aren’t working. I understand the need to tape in advance, but 6 months is extreme.
I agree with Carolyn and frankly some of the storylines are NOT working – case in point: the whole Clyde and his “children” Ben and Jordan – it’s just a little too draggy (the whole show is a too drawn out, sorry, that’s just my opinion) and it hasn’t REALLY gone anywhere to speak of. At least the hard-to-believe storyline of young JJ and a woman over 50 WENT somewhere now that Jen has gotten an eye-full and has something to hold over Eve, maybe tell her to leave town or else she’ll spill the beans to Paige – I… Read more »
one note anger management “Ben” needs to hit the road… if DAYS production team think it’s SO sexy to see Ben and Abs ACT in bed…. and his seething temper reel…..
to watch Abs vacillate between child and womanhood… burgeoning Heroine… I’m just not seeing it… is it the writing ? most assuredly ?
I give props to Kate Mansi… but… with all the behind the scenes upheaval….
why not give Kelley Missal a shot as Abs
with her sexiness matched with JJ
dour plain Jenn has NO chance
I like your comment about the sets. While I think the Brady Pub is an anchor location, the “death” park is ridiculous. How many people have to die or be assaulted in the exact same location before people figure out it’s not a safe place to walk. lol
Days is in need of change in both front and behind the camera….ill stick with it up to the shows 50th to see if the changes are for the better?
Monkeys locked in a room with word processors would do a better job than the current writing we’re seeing now, so anything is an improvement.
No writer can fix a broken production schedule where arcs are written six months in advance. Because of this the show is always stuck with bad story lines and chemistry problems long after it clear it isn’t working ( can we say Jordan) while its audience dwindles due to boredom. The production problem should have been addressed years ago. As long as the solution to the ratings issues is to recreate the 80’s and bring back the star that left or to push the flavor of the month on the viewers with no real background (Serena) expect the show to… Read more »
Let’s hope it works!
I think DAYS is fighting for survival. Their ratings are bad falling to new lows in the demos,and I welcome changes,because the show is truly awful right now. With a new writing team,and producer changes that may improve the show,and make it watchable again. I am rooting for the show to succeeded.
If it makes the show better, I’m for it.
Well at this point they got nothing left to lose. I have been watching Days for a long time and I cannot recall it ever being in this rough of shape. I truly hope they have hit rock bottom and it all uphill with the new regime. This show really deserves a great 50th year and truly hope this team will bring the history and great production values the show had, back in full force.
Im all happy for change. But SMART CHANGE. I just dont get the decisions that are made on this show. Why re-hire a writer that was fired TWICE for crappy SL’s and writing. Thats the biggest thing that frustrates me with this Genre. Instead of going to hire the best damn daytime writer out there, they rehire someone that was let go twice. Thats like me going back to a Doctor that has gotten me Sick twice, instead of doing my homework and finding a better doctor. You have Lorraine Brodderick on your writing staff who penned some of the… Read more »
Well said.
you nailed it, Travis – in every way! I feel like DAYS is just too safe, they need those major storylines like you mentioned, I remember how big Cruise of Deceptive, Marlena possessed by the devil (ok, that way way way out there). Days is in jeopardy and I hate saying it, because I don’t want to read a year from now that the soap was cancelled. Since, AW ended in 1999 (?) NBC has had 16 years to get DAYS together. I want DAYS to survive for as long as possible. Your post was well said, man! Thank you.
I love DOOL and it is disappointing to see such an iconic show not bringing in the ratings it deserves (IMO). I have felt for a long time that the ratings issue is primarily due to the fact that it doesn’t have a designated time slot and doesn’t even air in several markets. DOOL has a very talented & very attractive cast. I know the writing and pacing can be a little off at times, but it never ceases to entertain me and I rarely FF other than the commercials. It would be beneficial to not continue to PROP certain… Read more »
Days is in trouble, They need to bring back Carrie, Austin, Recast Billie Reed with Noelle Beck. I hope Days stays on the air, because I really love the show, but right now the show really sucks.
NO!!!! Please, no more Austin, Carrie, and Billie. They suck and all of them are boring.
Those characters rocked the 90s and surely whole better than newbie characters.
Austin, Carrie, and Billie were brought back, then let go again because they did nothing for the ratings.
If DAYS wants to see gains like GH, hiring Higley back after two failed attempts was not a wise idea. Lorraine Broderick should have been promoted to Head writer. If not then maybe they should bring Nancy Curlee out of retirement or even Claire Labine. Also, bringing back some big time vets for the anniversary would be great…GH did a year long celebration they should do the same!
True , I would leave Broderick on the writing team , but she was head script writer for gary and chris.
FINALLY There hearing the CRYING OUT LOYAL FANS VOICES OUT HEAR Concerning DAYS Stories and especially some of the NEWBIE CAST that aren’t working out at all the RATINGS are way to down its very sad and alarming that KEN CORDAY Let it go this FAR NOW US the FANS that watch for YRS 5 Days a week and its gotten really bad PLS hear our voices BRING Back Bo Brady , Jack Deveraux , Steve Johnson , Belle Black , Shawn D Brady , Phillip Kiriakis , Tony DiMera , E.J . DiMera and Sami Brady and pls try… Read more »
Higly has been around forever. Most of her previous soaps are now cancelled. Days needs fresh writing- not a rehashing of the same old same old. Give Deidre Hall a real storyline!
I love DOOL and want it to survive…the behind the scene changes are necessary, but I want a lot of stories to go away…The storyline with Serena, a new character that has no connection or history except with Eric years ago, obsessing over a ceramic elephant for weeks now is CRAZY. Lucas and Adrienne and not going to drive ratings…Kassie D as Eve is not working…I liked Melanie when she was on the show previously, but all she does is stammer over her words (annoying beyond measure)…The storyline with Aidan and Hope hav already grown dull…Here are a few suggestions.… Read more »
The first thing they should do is get Chandler Massey back. The second thing they should do is get Chandler Massey back. Third thing they should do is get an exciting young actor to play Kate and Victors son and put him in a rivalry with Chad. The fourth thing they should do is have Spencer Neville shirtless in every episode.
If not Chandler Massey a competent actor with a bit of spark should be cast as Will. It’s unbelievable that the powers that be cast such a flat actor to play Sami Brady’s son.
LoL regarding Spencer Neville. Well, it wouldn’t hurt – Chandler Massey chose to leave, with a little help out the door from the producers. I can’t speak for others, but I know there are some viewers who are not in love with the replacement actor who was cast as the new Will. I would say he’s doing an adequate job in the role, but my problem with the show as a whole is that it is just too drawn out. The writers really REALLY need to pick up the pace. They also need to have some innovative writing in place… Read more »
Long live Days of Our Lives!
I agree that change is definitely needed on DAYS, they need a GH-type story where a disaster hits and several characters are killed off, ones that aren’t needed and no one likes (at the top of the list, for me, is Clyde, followed by Paige, whom I can’t stand). But I don’t think bringing Dena Higley back, who was fired twice before because of her storylines, is the right choice. And Griffith’s latest visit to Genoa City wasn’t anything to brag about either, but that was probably because of his tyrant leader, Jill Phelps. Change is definitely needed, and hopefully… Read more »
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Marlena Becomes Possessed … Again!
On Tuesday’s episode of Days of our Lives, the devil had his way with his favorite person, Dr. Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall)! In story, leave it to Marlena to save Doug (Bill Hayes) by giving herself up to Satan!
As Doug revealed himself to be Satan while in a therapy session with Marlena in her office, a shook Marlena tries to comprehend what is happening! When the devil says if Marlena won’t accept him in, she will punish Doug, he does just that.
Photo: JPI
Poor Doug is left writhing in pain and on the floor, crying out for help! When we come back to the scene Marlena is not exactly right near his body, but sort of overlooking what is happening. Julie (Susan Seaforth Hayes) rushes into Marlena’s office to find Doug as Marlena stares blankly. Eventually, she calls for help.
After Doug is put in a hospital room and is monitored, Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) and Tripp (Lucas Adams) can’t find anything wrong with him. Meanwhile, Julie finds Marlena at the nurses station and asks what happened with Doug during their therapy session. Marlena flashes back to what led to Doug writing on the floor, and clearly something is way off with Marlena, because she has now become possessed.
Later, Julie sits by Doug’s hospital bed as he opens his eyes, as he tells his beloved wife, “He left me and went in to her.” A confused Julie is left to ponder what on earth Doug could be talking about.
When Marlena comes home to John (Drake Hogestyn) – who is already concerned with Johnny (Carson Boatman) being set on making a movie of Sami’s life story which includes points on Marlena’s original possession – she tells him Doug collapsed in her office. When the two hug, Marlena slowly opens her eyes revealing that they are glowing yellow. Yup! We are off to the races. Marlena is now once again possessed.
So, what did you think about the scenes between Deidre Hall and Bill Hayes? Are you enjoying the revisiting of the infamous ‘possession’ storyline thus far? Comment below.
Days Of Our Lives
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Days Of Our Lives
Ron Carlivati Talks on the Creation, Scenes & Cast of ‘Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem’
Last week viewers saw all five episodes of the limited-series Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem drop on Peacock. It was the first foray for the long-running NBC daytime drama series onto a streaming platform with an original self-contained story, in a move that is forward-thinking, and another avenue for soaps to be seen on and to keep the genre remaining relevant in the pop culture of today.
The head writer of Days of our Lives’ Ron Carlivati was also in charge of the overall story and direction and development of the creative of the limited-series, and following the initial streaming of all five episodes talked with Michael Fairman for in-depth look at the scenes, the moments and the casting of “Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem”, exclusively on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel.
Photo: JPI
During the conversation, Carlivati explained the impetus for bringing back Lisa Rinna to her signature role as Billie Reed, how the writing team created the parody of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills infamous “Amsterdam'” scene which featured Rinna and Eileen Davidson (Kristen/Sister Mary Moira) who also returned for the DAYS limited-series, and why they felt it was important to bring Davidson back to the roles she originated for the streamer.
Photo: JPI
In addition, Ron shares details of what went into the decision to recast the role of Sonny Kiriakis for the series with Zach Tinker, after Freddie Smith did not return for it, the casting of Peter Porte in his dual role as ISA agent Kyle Graham and bad guy Dimitri Von Leuschner, how the hilarious drag show scenes came to fruition, and how the decision was made to have Deidre Hall do the voiceover in the opening title sequence, plus his thoughts on the performances of the stellar cast.
Photo” JPI
Watch the chat with Ron below, and in case you missed it, our chat with cast members: Eileen Davidson, Peter Porte, Charles Shaughnessy, Zach Tinker and Rob Scott Wilson … and if you haven’t check out “Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem” its continuing to stream on Peacock.
So, what was your favorite part of Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem? Let us know in the comment section below.
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