Days Of Our Lives
NBC Executive Jennifer Salke On Ron Carlivati Writing Regime: "We're Feeling Really Great About The New Team In Place …"
Courtesty/NBC
On Thursday morning at the NBC TCA (Television Critics Association) Summer Press Tour executive session, the network’s President of Entertainment, Jennifer Salke said the network brass is behind Days of our Lives under new head writer, Ron Carlivati.
“We’re feeling really great about the new team in place and we’re evaluating it as it goes,” Salke told the media. “Right now, we’ve been so focused on the fall and making all these new shows. We love the new DAYS and we hope it stays on the schedule forever. Everyone’s feeling really good,” she added.
So what did you think of Jennifer Salke’s comments on DAYS? Comment below.
Wow wonderful news, It seems that Days is here to stay. The ratings will go up, I am sure this will happen.
When looking at the now available soap writers ( an endangered species ) there is only one that could turn DOOL and very possibly rise over GH and that is RC,
RC writes out of the box and he is a brave writer. He will be bring his A-Game to Days..
I am envious that days has RC .. (and that Days has Tyler)
You’re incorrectly thinking that only someone who has already written for soaps is eligible to be a writer for soaps. And that is the whole problem: they just keep recycling the same ol’ same ol’. That’s why all these shows are going the way of the dinosaurs: that’s who is running them.
Seriously!!! Good post! Doppelgänger plots are the cheapest laziest most sophomoric of all soap plots. That’s all Ron knows how to write! If DAYS is pinning their hopes on this….um….buh bye.
So true..mab n pratt both wrote ridicuolous doppleganger stories on y n r during their tenures. pratts with jack n marco probably the worst of the bunch. Mabb wrote not one..or two. .but three..catherine n marge, lauren n sarah, sheila and phyliss. Wat a waste of my viewing time
Su, obviously you haven’t seen any of the episodes RC has written.
Watched today–and it’s like a totally different show. Kayla and Steve were a just-remarried, sweet couple. Today, they were shouting at each other and Kayla was slamming doors. Overnight, “Adrienne” is an impostor as is “Marlena.”
And Morgan Fairchild is suddenly front and center. I could go on, but why? It’s all so cliche and predictable. Ho hum–and jeepers creepers!
Wow, what a difference a writer makes, huh??????
Words sound good but i wont get all giddy goo ga until i hear it once again is renewed…then and only then i can be happy and sigh relief!!!
I agree jimh read between the lines. A statement that reads this is truly the last shot for DAYS. If the numbers don’t project a significant rise by the early months of the New Year..IT WILL be cancelled. All the negative posters on various sites and twitter and facebook could quite possibly end DAYS days. People were negative and tuning out of Y&R over Pratt..they listened and brought back Sussman and within months the complaints and tuning out have now led to Mal Young in full charge and already on the sites people have started their negative campaign. He’ll surprise THE WHOLE DAMNED LOT OF YOU..TRUST THAT!! I WANT LOVE NEED MY DAYTIME DRAMA PERIOD!! The choice is four and I watch them ALL. STOP whining and crying and add your voice to the many reasons they should stay and your viewing/dvr to the reason why they are guilty pleasure appointment TV. Voice your complaints but at the same time voice your enthusiasm for never leaving daytime drama less. THAT IS ALL!!
Yes, too many complaints and not enough enthusiasm. I watch all four shows ,also ; not because everything is going the way I desire, but to help boost ratings. Believe me, I’m not overjoyed with every storyline ; however, if I / we continue to voice my/ our opinion and keep watching , hopefully, the powers that be will listen and do the right thing.
i think it is always great to have support from a top nbc executive . i would say to jennifer salke evaluate Days way beyond nielsen , you need to look at figures through streaming platforms not just the official ones but the non official ones , the traffic on facebook and twitter , through facebook and twitter the product is also being consumed , in a different way but it is being consumed , their is also communication from the fans through social media . Yes the market is more diversified on a multitude of platforms and consumed in different ways at different times .
Excellent point. I find it hard to believe the ratings are accurate. When DOOL stars appeared in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee two years ago, more than 5,000 showed up for a book signing. I am hoping that DOOL is turned around and that the show gets back to “can’t miss daytime.” It has NOT been that way since Ben was the serial killer.
great point!
I hope it stays on the schedule forever too.
My username says it all…
Titanic…….
Okay call me a cynic here– but saying we hope it will stay on forever means nothing. No show stays on air forever— although Ron is great at kick starting the engine, he is not very good over the long haul– it happened at GH when he took over, but eventually, his style of writing cannot be sustained– so her statement sounds good, but when I am on holidays I hope my vacation will never end– but it does– and so will their support for the show if the numbers don’t go up or if something comes along that they think will bring in more viewers–
Mary!!! You said it best! His writing style cannot be sustained!!! It is short term, high impact, zero believability, emotionally void writing. There is absolutely no character development, or motivation, or people to root for.
Unfortunately this is true. I truly hope he can do it. I want the remaining four soaps to succeed. Can’t imagine daytime tv without the soaps.
His “engine” just sputtered–big time. Everything on DOOL is suddenly at sixes and sevens and UNRECOGNIZABLE.
I love that Ron is being appreciated for his work. He really is the best in the business.
Come again? I can’t hear you!
You might not appreciate his work but i do. We all have our own opinions. If you like someone better, that’s fine. It doesn’t mean I’m going to agree with you.
Sounds great. NBC & Sony seem to really support Days and want it to stay on the air.
What execs say in public and what they discuss in their conference rooms are two totally different agendas.
Didn’t ask you to! 🙂 🙂
Call me cynical here, but I’m just calling it like I see it. Ms. Salke’s comment “…we hope it (Days) stays on the schedule forever” means zero. “Hoping” it will stay on the air and it actually staying on are two entirely different things. The ratings are beyond putrid. What network executives say publicly and what they say behind closed doors are very often two different things as well. Folks, television is a business, not a nostalgic photo album. Networks have to answer to their advertisers and shareholders, and they can’t be happy at all with Days’ status. The fact is that TPTB are always going to publicly support a show in front of the media– until that show is cancelled. Remember ABC/Disney with AMC and OLTL? I rest my case.
Days has only been renewed by NBC through September 2018 (13 more months), so the next few months are undoubtedly do or die time. If the numbers don’t show any kind of upward trend, you have to think that the sand in the hourglass will finally run out. And if I’m a fan of Days, I’d be scared to have my show’s fate rest in the hands of overrated “Re-Ron” Carlivati’s nonsensical, cartoonish brand of writing (How does this man keep landing head writer jobs at daytime soaps?!?!) Talk about desperation.
Agreed, I wonder if she said this with a straight face, LOL. The “new Days” is an embarrassing hot mess.
She’s honestly feeling “really great” about falling under 2 million total viewers, 300K in W18-49?? The show being moved out of its longtime 1 pm time slot in many key markets??
Be afraid–be very, v-e-r-y afraid, Nick. I saw the show and your adjectives apply in spades.
Keep the faith!
I love Ron C
I think it’s a big mistake for Ron to start off with this double doppleganger story. I’ve been fast forwarding more than ever before… Sometimes I just delete the entire episode when I read the episode summary. Can we get some fresh stuff. Don’t want dopplegangerw, DNA switches, couples in love for 5 minutes and then they’re on to the next one ( Chad, Abby/Gabby/Abby/Gabby and now back to Abby…sucks. I’m waiting for Sami, Will, Vivian, Kristin and whoever Tyler Christopher is playing. Hopefully we’ll get something new and exciting. Until then it’s fast forwarding and skipping entire episodes for me. Beyond ridiculous and boring.
“Beyond ridiculous and boring.” Spot on. And that ol’ double doppleganger story–how unoriginal and fantastical. Verisimilitude? Say what? Lost in the shuffle.
So far not enjoying the new storylines, fast forward through most.
First thing out of the gate, Ron breaks out the lookalike imposters. At least it’s not the endless latex mask parade like it was at GH. But we really NEVER needed Bonnie Lockhart back again for any reason. Or any other member of her trailer trash family.
Hattie is at least amusing, in limited doses, but it’s a 666 mile stretch to claim that she would be associated with Angelica Deveraux, who had been gone for decades before Hattie was ever seen.
And locking Marlena in the nuthouse?? Is this a sign that eventually Ron will change the whole story and turn Hattie into Marlena’s other personality….. like that “Fluke” dragonshit rewrite on GH (even though we saw Luke Spencer physically locked in a rubber room while the wannabe ran around Port Charles stealing his life)
Yeah, sounds like! (Snore!)
The fact is…Ron really doesn’t know how to write anything other than look alike sandbox doppelgangers and plastic surgery fake outs. His entire 3.5 year run at GH was exactly the same…first Faison and his masks, Obrecht and hers, Julian coming back surgically altered, Kate and Connie as alters, the notorious Fluke, Jason returning with a new face etc etc. Even going back to his OLTL days, he had the luxury of multiple personality disorder for core favourites Viki and Jessica. That was any combination of 10 characters right there! He did Stacy and Gigi…the Tale of Two Todds, and more. This is just more of the same because the man doesn’t know how to write genuine human interaction. He is fantastic at umbrella plotting! He does not Lack all the good things that make a soap headwriter great. It’s that his writing style is so jeuvenile, so predictable, so uninspired, and so cartoonish. What I would love for this show to do (or any show)…is on Bonnie’s first attempt at being Adrienne…is for someone…ANYONE…to hear her say “Hi” and to have that character say “Oh hey Bonnie, what’s with the Adrienne get up?” To sell whatever major plot point he is pushing, Ron makes all his characters look stupid! He completely underestimates his audience. We are NOT stupid! Put yourself in any of these characters’ shoes. Your significant other comes home one day and acts completely different, sounds different, kisses different, doesn’t understand or appreciate all the little inside jokes you have between you. No one can replace someone like that. It’s not entertainment anymore. That two senior citizen off their rocker loons and a 50 something trailer park trash would be so deluded that they could even begin to pull something like this off is absurd. To suggest that Anjelica…charitably 70… would be lusting after a young man she had a fling with 30 years ago and thinks she can “get” him is demeaning and disgusting. Where is the character motivation in that type of writing? The realities of psychosis and dementia and obsession are not pretty, and to have all these women on at once who are all clearly diminished in their mental capacities and should be locked in the loony bin does a real disservice to those who do suffer from mental disorders. The fact these women would willingly and gleefully destroy the lives of countless people around them is scary! Marlena is a trusted doctor with mentally ill patients! What if one of them committed suicide on Hattie’s watch? What if she prescribed wrong medication that killed someone? Doppelgänger plots are done. They are irrelevant. They are not entertaining and have been done to death! I know that in Soapland, not everything is realistic and kids go from 5-18 in the span of a day. I just don’t appreciate stories that completely insult my intelligence. When there is no emotional core of truth in the writing, no logic, no motivation, no character development…there is little reason to tune in. I just know that Bonnie will be revealed as Adrienne’s twin and that will be her get out of jail free card. Probably same…Hattie will be a triplet with Marlena and Samantha. They won’t pay for their crimes and will be kept around for future shenanigans. Speaking of Shenanigans. I would like to see that joint resurrected! I don’t want Days cancelled… but my initial feelings are not positive. Should that happen…at least we know that Ron can write one helluva finale for a long running soap! His two part finale for OLTL was awesome!!!! Although I would have reversed the order in which they aired. Unfortunately, we will not be able to assess the full spectrum of destruction that Rons stories have caused for about 6 months. Although he has recently stated that some of his stories will have already wrapped on air in 6 months. So that is good news! I really can’t see 6 months of this doppelgänger nonsense! I think probably Kristen is pulling Anjelica’s strings. Maybe Anjelica is even Kristen’s birth mother. That’s a scary thought! Wait and see.
So FAR THE WRITING IS EVEN WORSE!! DUAL RULES STUPID, THE ACTING HORRID! THIS IS NOT COMEDY ITS JUST LOUSEY
Days Of Our Lives
‘Brilliant Minds’ Officially Canceled After 2 Seasons at NBC; DAYS Alum Al Calderon, OLTL Alum Teddy Sears and Zachary Quinto Among the Cast
After languishing on the bubble for months, on Friday, NBC handed down the decision and canceled the medical drama Brilliant Minds after two seasons.
Brilliant Minds stars Zachary Quinto as neurology physician Oliver Wolf, who’s character and the series is inspired by the life and books of neurologist. Oliver Sacks. The series focuses on the medical mysteries of the mind, as Wolf a larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns explore the last great frontier, the human mind, while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.
The final six episodes of what will now be the end of its second and final season were already set to air beginning on May 27, after being pulled off the network schedule in February as viewership saw a steep decline. Brilliant Minds second season became the lowest-rated drama on linear TV viewing, which didn’t bode well fo a network renewal, although it had its hard core fan base.
Photo: NBC
There are some exceptional notables in the cast along with the talented Quinto that includes Days of Our Lives alum, Al Calderon (ex-Javi Hernandez) who joined the series in its second season as Nurse Nico Silva, and One Life to Live alum, Teddy Sears (ex-Chad Bennett) who plays Wolf’s love interest and fellow physician, Dr. Josh Nichols.
The rest of the talented cast includes: Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Donna Murphy, John Clarence Stewart, and Brian Altemus.
In an ironic twist of fate on Thursday, April 30, Days of Our Lives finally revealed the actor who was Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Javi, when they announced that actor Jacob Martinez had now stepped into the role. Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming new episode, Calderon left in the spring of 2025, but will be seen in the part for the final part this month, and then on June 20, Martinez debuts as Salem’s new Javi.
Taking to his Instagram with a sorrowful and heartfelt post on the Brilliant Minds cancellation was Teddy Sears who wrote, “Thank you, Brilliant Minds. I got the call today and I didn’t want to hear, but I knew that it would come, You have to be a particular vintage to quote Don Henley from memory, but that’s the line that came to mind earlier today after I got off the phone with our inimitable showrunner Michael Grassi who delivered the news that NBC has cancelled the series”.
Photo: NBC
Sears continued, “To say that I feel sad to be moving on from these stories, this character, and this cast and crew just doesn’t paint the entire picture. I’m sad, sure. But I’m also deeply grateful that I got hired to play this part, so proud of the stories we told, and the other actors I got to play alongside. I’m excited to see what comes next, what adventures await, and terrified to be without a professional home. A quick and heartfelt thank you to everyone, all over the globe, who found us and found themselves in us, in our characters and in our stories. We wouldn’t have been able to tell them without you. And we still have 6 fresh episodes yet to air, and I do hope you tune in enjoy the remainder of the series. They’re the best we’ve done.”
As he wrapped up his sentiments, Sears signed off with, “The more I know, the less I understand. All the things I figured out I have to learn again. I’ve been trying to get down to the heart of the matter. But everything changes…Thank you, Brilliant Minds.”
The medical drama was created and executive produced by Michael Grassi alongside Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, Lee Toland Krieger, DeMane Davis, Jasmine Russ, Henrik Bastin, Jonathan Cavendish, Andy Serkis and Shefali Malhoutra.
So, what do you think of NBC’s decision to cancel Brilliant Minds after two seasons? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Sophia Seemingly Plans to End Her Life, But Not Before Setting Fire to Johnny’s Apartment With Him Trapped Inside
The final few moments of the Thursday, April 30 episode of Days of our Lives, will pave the way, to what just may be the end of Sophia Choi’s (Rachel Boyd) life, but not as you may think!
After an unhinged Sophia paid a visit to Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman), maced him in the eyes, knocked him out and then tied up to a chair, now conscious, she lets him know that she holds him responsible for all the trouble and trauma she has gone through from adopting her child, and her being sent to a mental institution.
So instead of the unregistered gun Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) gave her to finish off Johnny, Sophia sets up a plan to light candle, use nail polish remover and turn on the gas on the stove to ultimately create a mass explosion, which although Johnny pleaded to her not to that to all the innocent people inside his apartment building, she doesn’t seem to care.
Photo: JPI
FIERY FACE OFF
The plan was supposed to be, after she takes care of Johnny she will toss the gun in the Salem River, then focus on payback to Holly Jonas before leaving town to start a new life.
Now, Sophia makes her exit, leaving Johnny to be a few moments away from an explosion or gas inhalation, when Chanel (Raven Bowens) comes home after awaiting the results of her mammogram. She sees Johnny tied up, as he panics and tells her to put out the flame on the candle, things go awry, and a fire has begun and everything may go up in flames with Johnny and Chanel inside.
Photo: JPI
A BROKEN SOPHIA
Back in her room, Sophia breaks down after reading the social media comments about her, she planted, and then starts writing a suicide or farewell note which says. “I’m tired of begging for forgiveness for my mistakes. All I wanted was to move forward, to be loved and understood. But it’s clear that I was never going to get that. Holly Jonas said that I was dead to her. So, as her former BFF, I’m going to make her dream a reality.”
Photo: JPI
A DEADLY TRAP
Now, the fate of Johnny, Chanel and Sophia will be revealed on tomorrow’s May 1st cliffhanger, which may be the end of Sophia when she crosses paths with Kirsten at the bridge near the river. We do know Rachel Boyd is no longer appearing in the show credits section and is now off contract with the soap.
So, what did you think of the climatic final moments of DAYS? What did you think of the performance of Rachel Boyd as Sophia Choi? Let us know via the comment section.
Breaking News
Jacob Martinez is ‘Days of Our Lives’ New Javi Hernandez Replacing Al Calderon in the Role
Finally! The casting has been revealed as to just who would be Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Days of our Lives, Javi Hernandez. On Friday, April 30, the long-running soap opera revealed Jacob Martinez is taking on the part and he will first be seen this coming June 30th and then on all-new episodes streaming on Peacock.
As previously reported, the popular Calderon exited the soap opera last year to join the cast of the NBC primetime medical drama, Brilliant Minds as nurse Nico Silva, who in May will air the remainder of their second season. The series has been on the bubble for renewal by the network. His last episodes as Javi will also air this May on DAYS.
Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming, Martinez has been secretly ensconced in all the drama in Salem for quite some time. When viewers see the new Javi in story, we should learn what will happen in Javi’s relationship with Leo Stark played by Emmy winner, Greg Rikaart, plus his continued relationship with his relatives in the Hernandez clan. Currently, when Javi returned to Salem after taking care of his ailing father, and after the bust-up of his marriage to Leo thanks to Dimitri (Peter Porte), he claimed he had moved on with someone else while he was away from Salem.
Photo: JPI
Like Calderon before him, Martinez is a multi-talented actor and singer. Jacob’s resume is impressive having appeared in the musical In Pieces: The Musical at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and he was hand-picked by Joey Contreras to play the role of Grey. Other credits include: the short film, Memory Swim and the play Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage.
Martinez hails from Norfolk, Nebraska and appeared when he was very young at the Johnny Carson Theatre, and as DAYS fans know, Jacob is now working at the Days of our Lives studios, right where the “Tonight Show” is filled. In addition, Jacob Martinez is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).
Taking to his Instagram on Thursday, April 30 once the news of his casting was revealed, Martinez, expressed, “Way too many people to thank in one post, so I’ll just say THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and every person who continues to pour into me and encourage me to chase my dreams. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am. I already feel beyond blessed, supported, and loved. See you all in Salem ⏳”
Jacob Martinez appeared on Friday on the Days of our Lives Instagram account announcing his casting. You can check it out below. Deadline was the first to report the casting switch.
So, excited to learn who is the new Javi Hernandez? Please welcome Jacob Martinez to the role and be on the lookout for his debut on June 30. Comment below.
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‘Brilliant Minds’ Officially Canceled After 2 Seasons at NBC; DAYS Alum Al Calderon, OLTL Alum Teddy Sears and Zachary Quinto Among the Cast
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