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
Sydney Malekeh Joins the Cast of ‘Days of Our Lives’ in Mystery Role: Who Do You Think She’s Playing?
There’s a new gal coming to Salem, or is she new and a recast? That’s what inquiring minds from Days of Our Lives fans have been trying to figure out since the Peacock soap opera dropped an Instagram video heralding actress‘ Sydney Malekeh’s arrival in Salem.
The soap did confirm that viewers will first see Malekeh on the September 9 episode. In the video, Malekeh is seen going set to set from her dressing room and in to the halls of Days of Our Lives studios.
What we do know id that Sydney has been acting professionally for 6 years and had appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, Apple TV’s Shrinking and the HBO Max’s The Sex Lives of College Girls.
Plenty of Malekeh’s DAYS castmates jumped into the comment thread with positive emojis symbols or written excitement including: Paul Telfer (Xander), Linsey Godfrey (Sarah), Sal Stowers (Lani), Conner Floyd (Chad), Eric Martsolf (Brady) and Christie Clark (Carrie) and more now that fans will finally see her on-air. Since Days of Our Lives tapes 10-11 months in advance, Sydney would have started taping the show sometime back in 2025.
DAYS fans think perhaps because the actress’ name is Sydney that she might be playing the grown-up daughter of Sami and EJ. That character hasn’t bee on the canvas since 2021.
So, who do you think Sydney Malekeh might be playing on Days of Our Lives? Drop your casting director thoughts via the comment section below.
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Days Of Our Lives
Peacock Hikes Subscription Rates for Fourth Time in Four Years; ‘Days of Our Lives’ Fans Sound Off
While recently the streaming service Peacock reported turning a profit for its first time since its infancy, now comes word that the company is raising their prices for all customers, and in some cases it stared today on August 18.
The news of the subscription rate increases marks the fourth time the NBCUniversal streaming platform has done so in four years. So, on August 18, Peacock is increasing the prices for new or returning subscribers and customers, while current subscribers will see the rate increase on or after September 17 depending on their billing cycle when they initially signed up.
Here is the new pricing to follow along: Peacock Premium (which includes ads) will be $12.99/month, up two dollars from $10.99; Peacock Premium Plus will be $19.99/month, up three dollars increase from $16.99; and the Peacock Select tier (which includes current and past seasons of NBC and Bravo shows but excludes movies, live sports and Peacock originals) will increase a dollar from $7.99 to $8.99/month.
Photo: JPI
SUBSCRIBERS CONTINUE TO PAY MORE ACROSS THE STREAMER LANDSCAPE
It was back in June that the streamer reported that aid subscribers were up to 48 million adding a 2 million net gain during Q2 in of 2026. The subscription price hikes are rampant now in the entertainment streaming industry where over the last two years for example, Netflix, HBO Max, Apple TV, Paramount+ have all raised their fees to consumers.
Peacock’s tier-levels feature not only Days of Our Lives, but reality hits such as The Traitors and Love Island USA, Bravo series, and a vault of Saturday Night Live, Law & Order, The Real Housewives franchise, and Below Deck episodes as well. Pecock Premium and Premium Plus subscribers have access to sports and live events, as well.
DAYS OF OUR LIVES SUBSCRIBERS HAD A FEW CHOICE WORDS FOR PEACOCK
As Days of Our Lives fans know, the soap opera moved from NBC to the streamer back in September of 2022 after 57 years on broadcast television. When the news hit X on the price increase, DAYS fans had a lot to say about it. Here are just a few of the comments below:
“I can’t believe Peacock and can’t come to a deal with Cordya to air old episodes of #Days. That alone would bring a ton of subscribers,” to If Peacock actually cared about #Days of Our Lives, gave the show the budget it needs for better sets, cameras, background actors and enough time to tell proper stories, I wouldn’t mind paying more. If the money actually showed on screen, the higher price would be worth it,” to “I will continue to pay for a Peacock subscription as long as #Days is on it, but did we know there was another price increase coming?” and more.
So, what do you think of the new price hike increase to watch Days of Our Lives and your other favorite shows and events on Peacock? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Veronica & Julian’ Feature Starring ‘Days of Our Lives’ Alums Nadia Bjorlin and Kyler Pettis Releases Key Art and More (Exclusive)
In the upcoming indie feature Veronica & Julian from director Otoja Abit, two former Days of Our Lives stars, Nadia Bjorlin (ex-Chloe Lane) and Kyler Pettis (ex-Theo Carver), headline the drama feature in this story of a May-December romance that faces challenges along the way.
Veronica & Julian centers on a confident and successful marketing executive (Bjorlin) who winds up falling for a younger aspiring architect (Pettis). From there, a journey of desire and self-discovery is set against the backdrop of present-day New York City.
The cast also includes: Blake Jenner (ex-Glee), Erin Cummings, Chrystee Pharris (ex-Simone Russell, Passions and Queens of Drama), Robert Lee Leng, Mark Famiglietti and Jennafer Newberry.
Photo:
LIVE CHAT WITH NADIA AND KYLER PLANNED
Now, Michael Fairman TV can share exclusively: the key poster art below, and that current plans that call for Veronica & Julian to be released and made available late this holiday season.
In addition, Nadia and Kyler will join us for a very special livestream conversation on the Michael Fairman Channel (Monday, Aug 24 – 3PM ET/Noon PT) to chat about their roles in the film, their time on Days of Our Lives, life post-soap opera, and much more. Fans can join the live chat and pose their questions to the actors as well.
Courtesy/Bright Leicht Content LLC
THE THEMES BEHIND VERONICA & JULIAN
Director Otoja Abit shared this statement on the feature film, “Veronica & Julian is about the right people who have a chance meeting at the wrong time. It’s a look at two people who don’t grow apart—they just grow up. This film is an authentic exploration of an imminent ending and how two people deeply in love got there. It aims to be quiet while telling a relatable story about modern-day relationships.”
Abit continued, “As a society, mainstream romantic films are often delivered through fantastical aspirations. I created this film believing that viewers who have experienced a breakup can relate to Veronica and Julian, depending on their perspective. They’re a couple navigating some of the most familiar obstacles in love: miscommunication, timing and pride.”
He concluded, “It’s a story about endings told through the small moments we often don’t recognize until they’re gone. With the support of the Panavision New Filmmaker Program, I approached the story with a deeper sense of visual control while maintaining the naturalism that defines each character.”
Photo: Bright Leicht Content LLC
NADIA AND KYLER GOT THEIR FIRST BIG BREAK IN SOAPS
As Days of Our Lives fans know, Bjorlin is best known for her long-running role as Chloe Lane. Nadia played the part from 1999-2023 with various runs in Salem. She is also known for her role as Lara in the Venice the Series since 2009. Nadia’s other TV and film credits include: A Murder Between Friends, NCIS, Two Broke Girls and more.
Pettis played Theo Carver on Days of Our Lives from 2015-2018 and earned himself a Daytime Emmy for his work in the now defunct Outstanding Younger Actor in a Daytime Drama Series back in 2019. His other TV credits include roles on: The Rookie, All American: Homecoming and Ray Donovan.
Veronica and Julian is written, produced and directed by Abit and produced through his Willful Productions alongside Kory Apton and Ian Phillips. Executive producers include: Nick Leicht, Gregory Sinche, Shelly Sinche, Torsten Sippel, Tim Freydberg, Ryan Schulke and Matthew Conlin.
So, intrigued to see Nadia and Kyler as a romantic couple in the film Veronica & Julian? Miss them on Days of Our Lives? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
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THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Preview: Kelly Sullivan Debuts as Dylan’s Mom; Suspicion is Raised About Carter and Steffy
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How John Oliver’s ‘Days of Our Lives’ Guest Star Turn as ‘Devlin St. John’ Came to an End
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John Oliver Recaps His ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘General Hospital’ Soap Opera Experience on ‘Last Week Tonight’
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