Days Of Our Lives
RATINGS: GH Hits 3 Million Viewers! All Soaps Up For Final Week Of 2012!
It looks like 2013 could truly shape up to be the year of the revenge of the soap fans! The ratings are out for the week of December 24-28th, which is the final full week of 2012, and through the Christmas episodes, new episodes, and the encore presentations (repeats are not taken into account) all four network daytime dramas ratings were up!
However, and most notable, General Hospital has fought all the way back, and for the first time since the end of the year in 2010, the ABC soap scored its highest viewer total! GH came back to the 3 million mark in total viewers with 3,017,000 for the ratings period! That is a new high for the Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati regime in Port Charles.
In addition, the new regime at The Young and the Restless under executive producer, Jill Farren Phelps and head writer Josh Griffith did exceptionally well too! They added the most viewers for the week adding a whopping + 510,000 viewers and for the ratings week, Y&R is nearing the 5 million mark coming in with 4,851,000 total viewers. Y&R also topped the 18-49 female demo with its highest numbers since Jill and Josh took over Genoa City!
The Bold and the Beautiful stayed at number two also picking up a healthy dose of viewers with a total of 3,550,000 for the ratings period. Days of our Lives also showed gains adding another +252,000 in the total viewers department giving the NBC sudser, 2,547,000 for the week. To view the complete ratings picture via Soap Opera Network click here!
Ok soapers, time for you to be our Soap Opera Programming Executive Armchair Quarterback! After taking a look at the numbers, what is is working on your favorite soaps? What do you still want to improve upon or fix, that would keep you tuning in every day? And as we begin 2013, do you think this could be the year that daytime soaps have a viable comeback as perceived by the mainstream? Weigh in!
Days Of Our Lives
‘Heated Rivalry’ Star Franco LoPresti Opens Up About ‘Days of our Lives’ Debut as Dante Vitali
Next week on Monday, September 14 will mark the first appearance in Salem of Franco LoPresti in his new Days of our Lives role of Dante Vitali.
Heated Rivalry fans now LoPresti very well from his part as hockey player Cliff Marleau in the series first season. (No word yet if Cliff appears in season 2).
Now in a conversation with TV Insider, DAYS fans will learn that LoPresti is on the soap for a limited run. No timetable was given.
Photo: Corday Productions, Inc
When LoPresti does burst onto the scene come Monday, Dante makes quite the impact as Franco LoPresti explains. It seems that viewers will first see him in scenes in Monte Carlo at a poker table with none other than Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) and Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier). However, Dante will come to Salem to talk to the Brady family about his supposed fiancée Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney).
Franco shared, “Dante was born and grew up in Italy and educated at this pretty top-tier English boarding school. He then went on to build his own dynasty in finance, all the while trying to distance himself from the Vitali name (as viewers know Tamara Braun played his cousin Ava Vitali).”
“But at the core of Dante, there’s definitely an old-school quality to him”, continued LoPresti. “He’s super passionate, he’s sincere and incredibly generous, but he’s also someone that you probably shouldn’t underestimate. Loyalty is something that means a lot to him. As Dante enters Salem, I think the audience will get to slowly peel back those layers and discover what’s really driving him. So, I’m excited for Days fans to go on that ride with Dante.”
Photo: Almay
As it turns out, LoPresti taped his episodes of DAYS starting back in November 2025 which happened to be weeks before Heated Rivalry became a smash hit.
Franco recalled, “It’s so funny because I thought my episodes would air in a month (on Days of our Lives). But I found out it was nine to 10 months and I was like, ‘I gotta wait that long?!’ So, I’ve been biting my nails, trying not to think about it, and I think it’s actually kind of helped because now it’s here and it’s all coming at me from all different angles. I’m nervous. I’m excited, and I just can’t wait to see it all come together. It’s one of the best jobs I’ve ever had for sure.”
In his personal life, Franco just had his first child with wife, actress Emily Alatalo, just a weeks ago on August 23rd when they welcomed their daughter, Stella into the world.
So, looking forward to seeing Franco LoPresti’s debut come Monday? What do you think about the fact that it’s being reported as a limited run? Do you think Dante and Sami have a chance on-screen or off-screen to be a happy couple? What do you really think brings Dante to Salem sans Sami? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.
In a metaphor for the start of the school year and their upcoming anniversary in November, Days of our Lives revealed its “Class of Season 62,” with a very clever yearbook montage on their social media handles, welcoming new cast members, while paying respect to the veterans and “class”-iying the other characters in Salem.
The official Days of our Lives Instagram account shared on the posting, “The Class of Salem Season 62 has arrived. Familiar faces, new names and plenty of personality. Flip through our yearbook for a peek at this year’s class.”
Let’s take a look at how they broke it all down: The Salem Yearbook starts with saying “another unforgettable season,” with some group pics, and then we dovetail into Salem’s new class which features: Sydney Malakeh (Sydney DiMera), Brandon Butler (Mason Whitfield), Angelica Nero (Victoria Kiriakis), Cole Gersmeyer (Thomas DiMera) and Lorelei Olivia Mote (Rachel Black).
Photo: Days of our Lives
Next up, are the likes of: Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez), John-Paul Lavoisier (Philip Kiriakis), Tyler Joseph Andrews (Theo Carver) and LeeAnn Hopkins (Joy Wesley). Then, in the “Drama Club” section are: Dan Feuerriegel (EJ DiMera) and AnnaLynne Cipriani (Cat Greene).
Following the ‘Recess” section with some group snaps, comes “Homeroom Highlights” with: Abigail Klein (Stephanie Johnson), Eric Martsolf (Brady Black), Rob Scott Wilson (Alex Kiriakis), Lamon Archey (Eli Grant) and Sal Stowers (Lani Price Grant).
The “Salem Spectator” section features: Conner Floyd (Chad DiMera), Greg Rikaart (Leo Stark), Stowers again, and Ashely Puzemis (Holly Jonas). In the “Afternoon Sweets” section look for: Paul Telfer (Xander Kiriakis) and Linsey Godfey (Sarah Horton), Emily O’ Brien (Gwen Rizchech), Stacy Haiduk (Kristen DiMera/Susan Banks), Brandon Beemer (Shawn Brady), plus Jackée Harry (Paulina Price).
Towards the end of the yearbook, veteran performers such as: Mary Beth Evans (Kayla Johnson), Stephen Nichols (Steve Johnson), Lauren Koslow (Kate Roberts) and Josh Taylor (Roman Brady) are featured, plus Deidre Hall (Marlena Evans), James Reynolds (Abe Carver) and Matthew Ashford (Jack Deveraux), Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie Williams) and Suzanne Rogers (Maggie Kiraikis) with her on-screen daughter, Linsey Godfrey.
The Salem Yearbook comes to a conclusion noting “Big things happening in Salem” and to tune-in on Peacock, where we also find Jacob Martinez (Javi Hernandez), Maggie Carney (Rita Lesley), and a host of other favorites previewing what’s to come this fall.
So, what do you think of the Days of our Lives Class of Season 62? Looking forward to seeing what happens in Salem? Did you like the yearbook concept for promotional tune-in? Let us know via the comment section below.
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Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of our Lives’ Head Writers Give Fall 2026 Preview: Marlena and Stefano’s Chess Mystery, The Arrivals of Dante and Sydney, Romance Drama for Sarah and Others
As summer comes to a close with Labor Day weekend, the former Days of our Lives co-head writing duo of Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford have given their annual fall season preview in episodes taped some 10-11 months ago.
As previously reported this past July, Ryan Quan returned to Days of our Lives and is now co-head writing the show with Ford, while Cwikly is now a consultant. The new co-head writing teams stories will not be seen till late spring/early summer 2027.
So for now, the stories pick up from where we left off with Cwikly and Ford promising via TV Insider, “Fall in Salem is full of twists and turns and secrets and surprises. Dots connect in unexpected ways as seemingly unrelated threads converge.”
Photo: JPI
CHECKMATE?
In one of the top mystery’s, Marlena is still having troubling memories and she will have another one on the Monday, September 7 episode. Meanwhile, her daughter Belle (Martha Madison) has gotten very close to Chad DiMera (Conner Floyd) and as pictured here, the two smooch while in Italy searching for answers to the chess set that Stefano DiMera gifted th the late John Black and Marlena (Deidre Hall) that has some significance.
The head scribes share, “The (chess board) mystery and its fallout are central to the fall stories. Chad and Belle follow the clues to a discovery that changes both of their families, and Salem, forever. Marlena worries that their investigation/the chess set may be a Pandora’s box that has been opened. And she is right…”
Newcomers are also the order of the day for Cwikly and Ford, this fall. We have already seen the debut as Brandon Butler as Mason Whitfield, and next week you can add as previously reported Sydney Malakeh on the Thursday September 1o episode as Sydney DiMera, followed by the the Monday, September 14 arrival of Franco LoPresti as Dante Vitali.
Photo: Corday Productions
Paula and Jeanne Marie expressed on the incoming Dante, “The arrival of a stranger who will set the whole town on its ear. The character has several strong ties to the current canvas and impacts many storylines.” What will Dante be up to? We know Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney) had mentioned in 2025 she got engaged to the man, but that was off-screen.
LOVE THE ONE YOU’RE WITH OR THE ONE YOU WANT?
In the romance department, the triangle between Brady/Sarah/Xander heats up with a very conflicted Sarah (Linsey Godfrey). The head writers reveal, “When Sarah faces attacks personally and professionally, Xander (Paul Telfer) and Brady (Eric Martsolf) work together to help and protect her. Sarah’s new love for Brady is challenged by her lingering love for Xander. Xander risks everything for Sarah.”
In addition look for, “Gabi (Cherie Jimenez) and Philip (John-Paul Lavoiser) to draw closer as he tries to save the family company and home.”
Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) will also be returning at some point this fall and she won’t be alone. Who might she bring with her? And from the looks of the Peacock promo for next week’s DAYS, someone is wearing Stefano’s ring around their finger, but who … and how does it all tie in this fall?
So, what do you think about some of the highlights coming up this fall on Days of our Lives per the series head writers? Does anything float your boat or pique your interest? If so, what? Let us know via the comment section. But first, check out the action next week on DAYS in the promo entitled “Bag of Tricks” below.
RATINGS: ‘General Hospital’ Shows Most Gains in Total Viewers Week-Over-Week and Up in Key Demo
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
‘General Hospital’ to Rebroadcast Special Episode in Tribute to Anthony Geary
Vivica A. Fox Exits ‘The Young and the Restless’ For Now to Film Netflix’s ‘Women Like Us’
Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
‘General Hospital’s’ Braedyn Bruner Reveals Her Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and How Emma is Getting Her ‘Edge’ Back
‘General Hospital’s’ Bluesy Burke Marks 1 Year as Charlotte Cassadine: ‘It’s The Best Gift I’ve Ever Received’
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
‘Beyond the Gates’ vs. ‘The Young and the Restless’ in a Soap Opera Showdown on ‘Flip Side’ Season 3 Premiere
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Heather Tom Talks Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and What’s Behind Katie’s Deep-Seated Issues with Dylan (Exclusive)
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Did Brook Lynn Deserve Chase Walking Out on Her?
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General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’ to Rebroadcast Special Episode in Tribute to Anthony Geary
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News1 week agoVivica A. Fox Exits ‘The Young and the Restless’ For Now to Film Netflix’s ‘Women Like Us’
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News2 days agoJess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
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General Hospital7 days ago‘General Hospital’s’ Braedyn Bruner Reveals Her Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and How Emma is Getting Her ‘Edge’ Back
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General Hospital5 days ago‘General Hospital’s’ Bluesy Burke Marks 1 Year as Charlotte Cassadine: ‘It’s The Best Gift I’ve Ever Received’
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News5 days ago‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ Drops First Look 40th Anniversary Opening Title Sequence
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Interviews6 days ago‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Kelly Sullivan Talks Becoming Darcy Dylan, Who’s Melissa’s Dad, and Future Love Interest (Exclusive)
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News3 days agoY&R’s Co-Head Writer Jamey Giddens, Ahead of November Stories and Scripts Debut with Dan O’Connor, Explains How Fall Tees Up Their Plans for Genoa City
Could you please tell us how these numbers compare to the talk shows that air during daytime? Thank you!
GH hit 3 million on Wednesday Dec 26 and GH also hit 3 million the previous Tuesday Dec 18 (a heavy Robin episode) as well as the day Robin talked to Emma on the phone in November.
HI Veronica:
We are talking the weekly average not specific episodes. This is a series high since the end of 2010 for GH.
Hope that makes sense.
Best always
Michael
i’m happy about GH. hope 2013 gets better.
DOOLs’ NEW YEARS EPISODE WAS JAM PACKED!
Rafe/Sammi/EJ – Nicole
IMO… Sammi looks more in LOVE w/RAFE. That New Years Eve Kiss was ooh la la… and like they were meant to be together… Sammi seems more assured and like a Woman w/Rafe.
That Kiss that Nicole “stole” with EJ… was SEX… A man w/Power like EJ… was smoking…
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Sonny and Will…. was so Touching. When Sonny shared with Will.. last years wish list that Will falls in love with him…. WAS ROMANCE.
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Kristen/Marlena/John/Brady
That fight between father/son, over Kristen, with Marlena rushing at the two of them, really threw me… I did not expect that… the ramifications and story fallout is GOOD…. I did laugh out loud when Kristen happened upon the scene in salem square and she wet herself…
with good writing… this 4-some could be quite good…. they need to show John, manning up every now and then… and not be so stuffy… Marlena’s ball and chain… curbing his libido… C’mon John.
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Nick/Gabbi/Will
Will telling Nick – I won’t let my child be raised by a bigot…. and telling Nick “i’m not your gay boy”….
Nick telling Will – you gave Gabi and I this baby… etc….
Nick Fallons’ acting is on par believeable (surprising me)… even i don’t know what to expect… ie: his job interview with Kate was power play toying…
Homophobia is wrong on so many levels… but it happens… and it’s a storyline that needs be brought to light….
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Kristen and Marlenas bantering…. Kristen telling Marlena she wants and or wishes her dead…. within or by the end of the year… and that she may be her Mother in law….? LOL.
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It looks like… OK… I soap box enthusiasm… DAYS hopefully, is steering toward it’s full potential.
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had to re-post this… simply pressing.
Chloe is Back…. took me by surprise!
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Two Scoops Alert! Our little Abigail Deveraux, aka minx, jezebel, hot about town… is a “Golden Ring” Ingenue… as she keeps reassuring Mom Jenn.
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Days has it’s wheels’ Turning… That Hour Glass is drama’tizing.
That’s awesome news for GH and fans!! I also want to say how much I loved yesterday’s episode!!! Laura Wright was awesome.
Agree!!! Laura was awesome… but she usually is!!!
You’re right, she is!! 🙂 More Todd & Carly!
Yes Laura is awesome, but i wish there was some way Jason could go back to general city to finish out the scene with Sam and finding out that the baby is his biological son, and also Laura reunites with Luke, and also that Robyn hurry and come back to port charles.
I’m happy the 3 soaps I watch now. GH, Y&R and B&B. Been watching soaps for 40+ years. Happy that Steve B will be on Y&R curious to what his character will be, but so glad he is off GH. His s/l on there was just awful the last 4 yrs. I don’t miss any of his s/l. Which has allowed me to enjoy GH more again.
Just keep it up!!!! The show is fantastic.
I am glad to hear it, but I am sure people home for the holidays and able to watch may have bumped up the numbers artificially, meaning next week when things are back to normal, those numbers might dipped. But it is so obvious that there is still an audience out there and soaps are not are dead as some might like.
Man they are really making Days look bad when you look at those numbers! Huge difference! And not long ago Days was ahead of GH, now GH is with a huge gap in viewers!
Needless to say, Ron and Frank continue to be daytime’s super team. They made GH watchable again and have really brought the ratings up. I would love to see them beat B&B’s ratings since it’s almost close.
When will Days admit that other than the Kristen/Brady/Marlena/John story it sucks. Gabi and Daniel are not working, never will and they need to go!
Is it the characters you don’t like or the actors playing them? In my opinion if these roles were recast they could be interesting characters, but it is the acting that is making these characters so unlikable. As for GH, it is on fire for sure, but the rate they are going through story line, I wonder how long the dream team can keep this pace up.
Well with Gabi she would definitely have to be recast with a much better actress. Daniel, I’m not sure if he would be better with a different actor. But they are constantly trying to make him work. First as Melanie’s dad, then as Maggie’s son, then with Nicole, now being with Jenn not long after she lost Jack. And now the father of Chloe’s baby.
I have to believe that DAYS is doing OK… considering… that DAYS and GH are competing with each other in many markets and time zones….
I keep hearing that Days does extremely well in online viewership. And that means a lot to NBC.
80% of percent of days is right now and story with kristien is good, jen and daniel is weak story and chloe should bring sparks to that.
Interesting for Y&R. Hope it will last.
Let’s hope! Y&R has been good lately with Jack’s drug storyline!
GH has been great!!! However… I really want to see what is happening with Robert, Anna, Robin and Duke. It’s been weeks… what we have had in those weeks has been great… but there is too much time between this story arc. I would recommend Brit and her identity of Faison’s daughter be done soon… we want her to leave. Christina should have gone off with Trey. I am up to my eyeballs with Connie… how can we get Jerry Jax interesting in keeping Connie locked up somewhere in Switzerland for an indefinite amount of time and bring Robin back… even if she isn’t on much! As much as I like Ellie… I really want SPIXIE!!! Would love Jax to come back he is so great with Carly. Since we don’t have Jason back as Jason Q yet.. to possibly get involved with Carly. So glad Genie is coming back as Laura and hope they do that well. Would love Luke back too.
Love the use of the entire cast and like the quicker story arcs… but don’t like how much time goes on between getting back to all of them. Otherwise love the cast and the show!!! GH rocks!
I know soaps are suppose to keep you in suspense but this is getting silly, waiting to find out what is going on over in Europe with Anna the gang. So I agree, great story telling, but better balance between arcs would be nice.
does any one… know the status of Kimberly McCullough school and or Directors’ Program is lasting?
I would much prefer they wait till she’s ready to come back full time to COMMIT to, IMO, one of the ALL TIME GREATEST LOVE STORIES…. and keep as they are…. doing this justice.
and that means’ even letting Patrick falter some… with this cinderella/femme fetale storyline. which is like filler till KM can assume her role full-time.
Great news for GH viewers! I personally like the return of the old fan favorites. Duke, Anna, Robert, Lucy etc. I just hope they continue with their stories and not just bring them back for short storylines just to get the ratings. Always wondered how these audience numbers were compiled?
Gh is firing on all burners. Even Spinelli, for the FIRST TIME EVER, is a character I enjoy. (Starr, not so much.) FV and RC have and continue to do a fabulous job.
However, I’ve stopped watching Y&R. I hated what MAB had done to the show, but even though the dialogue is much better, there is still too much airtime eaten up by the same over-exposed characters, characters like Mrs. C. continue to act wildly OOC, and Victor and Nikki still haven’t been buried, although it’s obvious they both died years ago.
The show stinks. And IMO, JFP hasn’t improved it, just switched around the awfulness. And now with SB coming on board, I fear it will slide into the horror of the other shows she’s helmed.
So GREAT news for GH, and my condolences to Y&R.
Amen to this post. JFP has turned YR unwatchable to me. Thank goodness for GH
Y&R has been great to me!
Very excellent ratings for Y&R………….Please continue to go up, the writing has been good!!!!
GH hits 3 million……….oh dear……………..watch out B&B! Up your game!
Happy all soaps went up!
Yes B&B needs to look out for GH for sure!
It is great that all these soap operas gain viewers during this week of the hoildays. May all four of them stay on the air. I pulling for days of our lives and young and the restless to pull it through.
Great news for soaps.
I’m so happy for GH, particularly now that Genie Francis is coming back to the show. I love the show but what is missing for me is consistency. For example, Starr and Michael went to bed on Christmas Eve and then the next time we saw them it was New Year’s Eve. Were they in bed together that whole time? Did Michael ever call AJ or Sonny to apologize for not showing up that night? What has Lucy been doing this entire time? Where have Anna, John McBain, Robert and Duke been? Are they still in Europe trying to find Robin? Why would Anna & Robert miss Christmas with their granddaughter given that this is the first Xmas without Robin?
While I applaud Ron & Frank for wanting to beef up the Nurses, why are two new characters fighting over Patrick when Elizabeth and Maxie both have chemistry with Patrick and there would be very real conflict when and if Robin ever comes back to the show. How much more poignant it would be if Elizabeth and Patrick bonded over being single parents and slowly fell in love and then Robin came back. Or Maxie moves in with Patrick while she deals with her pregnancy while Spinelli gets back together with Ellie who continuing the Affair to Remember theme, can’t walk because of the accident?
By the way, what woman in her right mind, would have sex have she just suffered a miscarriage? I know Maxie was pregnant for like 5 seconds but seriously? Alexis and Shawn have no chemistry and I don’t understand why Shawn can’t work at the Metro Court as Carly’s head of security. I’m not also not sure how Ron & Frank are going to dig Johnny, Todd and Kate/Connie out of the hole are three are in, since they’ve committed multiple felonies.
I love the fact that John McBain and Todd have been seemlessly woven into the fabric of Port Charles, and that the show is more balanced and not mob, mob, mob 5 days a week. I love the fact that AJ is back and that Ned will be back for a few more episodes (thanks Days of Our Lives for letting Wally have 2 jobs!). Hopefully Skye will be back for more episodes as well. Kudos for giving both Anna and Tracy prominent roles proving most viewers know, that actresses over 40 are just as viable as younger actresses.