Days Of Our Lives
RATINGS: In A Week That Featured DAYS WilSon's Wedding & GH's 51st Anniversary, All Soaps Lose Viewers!
The week of March 31st through April 4th saw some very strong episodes delivered to soaps fans, in particular on General Hospital and Days of our Lives. And while you can’t please everyone all of the time and some fans have had complaints about each, General Hospital’s 51st anniversary was surprising, riveting, and heartbreaking.
Meanwhile, DAYS had its first same-sex wedding (and also the first gay male wedding of main characters on a daytime soap in history), and throughout that episode, there were some extremely well-written speeches that touched the hearts of many, as well as the symbolism of the nuptials between Sonny and Will.
Yet, when the ratings picture for the week came out via SON, GH and DAYS lost viewers, although DAYS lost the LEAST viewers from the previous week, and Y&R and B&B were also down in total viewers.
The Young and the Restless lost -275,000 viewers, giving it 4,554,000 for total viewers for the week, but still held number one. The Bold and the Beautiful lost -158,000 viewers, but totaled 3,529,000 for the week and holds strong at number two.
General Hospital in its anniversary week lost -183,000 giving it 2,875,000, and Days of our Lives which lost only -22,000 came in with 2,423,000 for their weekly tally. In addition, General Hospital was the only soap to gain viewers in a key female demo adding +5,000 in women 18-34.
So, why the decline in viewers last week? Why weren’t fans tuning in when the soaps need their audience to keep watching for daytime dramas to continue to survive and thrive? Did you expect that more eyeballs would have tuned into GH and DAYS? Since we always ask your thoughts by being our Soap Opera Programming Executive Armchair Quarterback, what went right on your favorite soaps? What went wrong? Let us know!
Days Of Our Lives
Days of our Lives Kicks-Off Possession Storyline Revisted with ‘Doug’ Twist Cliffhanger, Followed by Fall Preview
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.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem’ Stars Talk the ‘Making of’ the Limited-Series & the Moments They Loved
Beloved Soap Stars Left Out of 2021 Primetime Emmy Broadcast In-Memoriam Tribute
TONIGHT: 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards on CBS
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Tells Nina He Knows Exactly Who He Is; Jason & Carly’s Wedding Comes to an Explosive Conclusion
Days of our Lives Kicks-Off Possession Storyline Revisted with ‘Doug’ Twist Cliffhanger, Followed by Fall Preview
Soap Vet Exec Prod and Director, Chris Goutman, Virtual Interview On Tap
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Remembers Carly Just as She Is Marrying Jason
Ron Carlivati Talks on the Creation, Scenes & Cast of ‘Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem’
REPORT: Clayton Echard Cast as the Next ‘Bachelor’ for its Upcoming 26th Season
Janice Lynde Making a Return to The Young and the Restless
‘Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem’ Stars Talk the ‘Making of’ the Limited-Series & the Moments They Loved
Days of our Lives Kicks-Off Possession Storyline Revisted with ‘Doug’ Twist Cliffhanger, Followed by Fall Preview
Briana Nicole Henry on Her Decision to Exit GH: “I Decided It Was Time to Move On”
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Remembers Carly Just as She Is Marrying Jason
Days of our Lives Revisits ‘The Possession Storyline’ This Fall
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Tells Nina He Knows Exactly Who He Is; Jason & Carly’s Wedding Comes to an Explosive Conclusion
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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason asks Carly to Marry Him and She Responds “With All My Heart”
‘Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem’ Stars Talk the ‘Making of’ the Limited-Series & the Moments They Loved
Ron Carlivati Talks on the Creation, Scenes & Cast of ‘Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem’
‘The Talk’ Unveils Its Season 12 Premiere Promo with its New Host Line-Up
Days of our Lives Kicks-Off Possession Storyline Revisted with ‘Doug’ Twist Cliffhanger, Followed by Fall Preview
Days of our Lives Revisits ‘The Possession Storyline’ This Fall
‘The Talk’ Unveils Its Season 12 Premiere Promo with its New Host Line-Up
WATCH: Kimberly McCullough Reunite and Visit with Maurice Benard on ‘State of Mind’
B&B’s EP and Head Writer, Brad Bell, On Bringing Back Sheila Carter
‘Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem’ Drops Trailer; Announces Charles Shaughnessy and Jackie Cox Cast Additions
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Sheila’s Going To Make Sure She Has Jack & Finn Right Where She Wants Them
Carrie Ann Inaba Officially Departs ‘The Talk’
THIS SATURDAY: Jen Lilley, Ryan Paevey and Linda Dano in Hallmark’s ‘A Little Daytime Drama’
WATCH: GH’s Maurice Benard Duet with his Son Joshua On ‘Elvis’ Classic
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Days Of Our LivesSeptember 18, 2021Days of our Lives Kicks-Off Possession Storyline Revisted with ‘Doug’ Twist Cliffhanger, Followed by Fall Preview
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General HospitalSeptember 14, 2021Briana Nicole Henry on Her Decision to Exit GH: “I Decided It Was Time to Move On”
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General HospitalSeptember 17, 2021GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Remembers Carly Just as She Is Marrying Jason
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Days Of Our LivesSeptember 13, 2021Days of our Lives Revisits ‘The Possession Storyline’ This Fall
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General HospitalSeptember 18, 2021GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Tells Nina He Knows Exactly Who He Is; Jason & Carly’s Wedding Comes to an Explosive Conclusion
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NewsSeptember 15, 2021Janice Lynde Making a Return to The Young and the Restless
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General HospitalSeptember 11, 2021GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason asks Carly to Marry Him and She Responds “With All My Heart”
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Days Of Our LivesSeptember 14, 2021‘Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem’ Stars Talk the ‘Making of’ the Limited-Series & the Moments They Loved
The Will/Sonny wedding would have had more impact if the show would have given the audience more time to get adjusted to seeing Guy Wilson’s Will with Sonny. I am trying to be patient with the pair, but it feels almost like Sonny is being unfaithful to Chandler Massey’s Will.
The speech Caroline Brady gave was great. Alison Sweeney’s Sami knocked it out of the park again. Her sobbing during the wedding made it feel more real. I would have loved to have seen Kate be able to speak from the heart and show a softer side.
Kate is a repugnant,amoral character.What heart ? What softer side?Why is a 60 year old business mogul going around with a ridiculous blue streak in her hair?
Robert, Robert, Robert……. Luv me some Kate….. may she never lose her blue streak….
OMG…you must be from the backwoods. …so offensive. I am very young and I hope that when I am 60 I can be as cool as she! Kate , that is. Yes, her character is amoral. However, by the same token there are those who think homosexuality is aural, aetheism is amoral , cheating on one’s mate is amoral…get the gist?…shall I go on? This is a soap where we are introduced to a variety of colorful protagonists…some outrageously not representing real life, some delving into the most tragic of human suffering. But, do not insult the person. Every story,… Read more »
Correction..amoral, not aural..typo
Gee, Robert, my in capability of not understanding what I read has somehow got me as far as medical school. , but thanks for the nice words. I can read between the lines, sir.
FAS;What are you talking about?What does medical school have to do with your misunderstanding my comment.And why are you so testy?My prescription for you is Rx :”lighten up”.
Lauren Koslow’ Kate.. is the quintessential… “woman” business mogul… albeit.. taken in by the DiMera Mystique… and she was so alluring… lovelorn… fetching… as the feeling… HER guarded taken in by, I want him too, Rafe’alicious… Kate and Rafe knocked it out of the park for me… time and time again… Yikes HOT it would have been over the top… for Kate to endear herself… to Salem’ites… her one true LOVE… her kids and grand kids… I’d have cried watching her yesterday…. eschew… and throw to the curb… Lucas… love interest.. just brought her right back…. tough as nails… and… Read more »
O, Patrick…you are after my own heart! …I love your double entendre…pun? …TOP? Oh, how poetic…loli love it.
FAS you misunderstood ,or were incapable of understanding ,my comment.The point I was making is that Kate IS a villain and I was replying to Ray who wanted Kate to show a “softer side”.Plus I said nothing about “accept(ing)homosexuality”.In fact ,I think the writing has been preposterously,illogically,unrealistically one-sided.To tell this story without divergent thoughts and opinions is proselytizing not good story-telling.
GHs…51st anniversary was not as good as it shouldve been…its like throwing a party and hardly anyone showed up…too much focus on Carly/Sonny and barely anyone else was in the episode…and whats to celebrate when the rest of the show focused on a death…and days later no real follow up with A.J.s death…Monica should have been shown grieving at the Q mansion looking over old photos of A.J. with Tracy comforting her…same with Micheal who should have been there with his grandmother…soap characters are like family…when their happy i want to feel happy for them…when they are sad and grieving… Read more »
GH does have its good moments and i still like but i know it can be much better!!! Days has problems too…Jordans story moves at a snails pace…Liams story is just ok but lets put Jen and Danial in a different storyline instead of someone coming around to break them up…other than that Days is still the best of the four…GH is a little better…i like Dr. Mutter from Hell!!! lol
Not only did GH “celebrate” it’s 51st by killing a legacy character due to a dispute with the actor, TPTB showed zero class putting up a big HAPPY ANNIVERSARY sign at the end of the episode. Look at the day by day ratings that week. About 2.9 million viewers each day MON-WED. AJ dying on MON, the 51st on TUES. On WED people tuned in to see the aftermath and they got Carly and Sonny trashing AJ and that idiot Franco making an appearance. What happened Thursday, down to 2.7 millon, 250,000 viewers shut it off. Watch the next round… Read more »
I cant wait for Micheal to find out about Carly and Sonny and have him trash them for a change, telling them A.J. was a kind, decent man who had more heart than the two of them combined!!!
I loved GH’s 50th, but I haven’t watched since the stupid Robin exit. Getting rid of AJ, leaving Monica with NO family AGAIN?!! Sick of all the newbies and that includes the OLTL Trio. I want to see the characters I grew up with in a REAL story.
It has been a real disappoint to see the legendary families crumble. The Quartermains – all that’s left is Robin and Tracy. Why kill off Tracy? Now we have the faux Luke trying to infiltrate their business, That’s a loser of a storyline in itself. And the mad Doctor running around GH as chief of staff. That’s a real kick in the butt to the hospital itself. The plotlines are getting looney and disrespectable of the Quartermains and Gh itself. Very little love in the storylines, alot of crime. That’s one of the things that drove me away from GH… Read more »
Well said.
Ooops, apologies in my post up above. Meant to say why all that’s left is Monica and Tracy. Meant to say why kill of AJ. Would have liked to see him succeed. I miss Robin, her return was ridiculously brief. I’ve got her on the brain, it seems…
Regardless of people’s views on gays or gay marriage, Days of our Lives was THE show to watch last week! Everybody should look those episodes up and watch them.
thank you… the fact that DAYS was thee ONE show.. that lost the least amount of viewers… is telling it’s a cumulative effect… the whole cast.. IS still “bringing” their A game… delivery.. marvelous intrigue… must see… and captivating story there’s so much on the cusp to uphold you know… with “only” 4 soaps on the air… and I know there are plenty who would attest : that DAYS of OUR Lives… continues to feature… collectively… the whole production… at NBC – Sony – DOOL… course.. i ave my wish list Ted King… and/or Peter Reckell… to stratosphere.. thru the… Read more »
Days pulls all the elements together: good acting good stories even the costumes and sets are nice — and the show moves at a graceful pace. The other shows move too slow or too fast and have too many loose ends. I will continue watch — I want daytime to thrive — but GH in particular is really a bit silly sometimes.
who the freak knows, how do they come up with the numbers to begin with? how do they count those key demo #? its all confusing. hopefully things will improve especially for GH. So far i’m happy that Rebecca Herbts is in the forefront of sort hopefully she will carry her own storyline and i wish Finola Hughes would take center stage more, and I wish/hope that RC would realize that he doesn’t have to dumb down certain characters to make others look better, GH would be so much better if the good guys were more on even par with… Read more »
”’why the decline in viewers last week? ”’
..
Because the rating are a rollercoaster, always have been always will be an up and ride..
Never is one thing the reason, never..
The soap fans are frantic over ratings… geez that is so lame..it’s numbers..
All I care about is enjoying my soap!!
As long as I’m happy I could care less about numbers that rotate..
Soaps will be up one day down the next, never ending rise and fall of numbers..
I don’t worry over ratings 🙂
No matter the numbers, Y&R has not been better than GH ..
(number pffffttt..
The 50th and the return of the Nurses Ball was important to viewers. Robin’s return was important to viewers. Jason’s return was equally important. But suddenly viewers are supposed to warp let alone extend their imaginations to have serial killers/mass murderers running Hospitals and essentially Homeland Security type bureaus. The DC slant is becoming all a bit much with every villain you can think of popping up on the canvas..characters up and exiting/dying..babies found and stolen again…it’s as if RC is writing to the end of a story instead of THE STORY…DAYS is plodding..with characters who should make sense yet… Read more »
great assessment, ITA
Gh is a mess but days has been wonderful as always
GH is a mess? Are you kidding? This past week has been the best in so long. For the love of Zeus!!! Dr. O with all her drama is classic.
Lately, the characters on days are portrayed as cartoons. The arrest Hope made at the square was a debacle. She actually turned her back on the perp, who didn’t even try to bolt. Seriously?
Dr O? Lol one character does not a show make and really she is a psychotic criminal and we are supposed to believe she is a chief of staff at gh? lol gimme a break! At least hope is believable as a policewoman.
GH is too cartoonly and over the top for a lot of soap viewers.
I am among those viewers. I do not mind some cartoony but GH is running amok in cartoony! I miss the extended family relationships and genuine regard for history in those relationships, not they just exist. The mob stories can be exciting but there is just too much evil and no comeuppance. Redemption is a good plot point, too. I am tired of resurrections, baby dramas, and nonsense (freezing machines). I remain faithful but I was disappointed in the Robin save and her sudden departure. Seems the over-the-top was fine in the 1908s but these are more realistic and tough… Read more »
Don’t the upper echelon know that more people record the shows? Very tired of the antiquated rating system.
Yes!! That should count, too. Sometimes I will catch it in the ABC App. Anything to watch my show.
An inadequate rating system is to blame.. and quite surprised that the ratings still do not allow for online viewing and recording.
People get busy and save up for a marathon view it it best suits THEIR time.
It’s counted-
Nielson ratings do count internet viewers, for awhile now..
And Nielsin is also Global/international..
((CBS probably has something going with Nielson to count viewers for Y&R in Mexico, too lol
… ya never know.. Big business has their ways..
How else could any soap be #!, without fail, not even one year down, for decades, numbers are coming from somewhere.. lol
thanks for the info. and your thoughts make total sense on the y&r’s ratings.
Such a ridiculous claim.
I did not watch DAYs at all, the whole idea of a gay wedding offends me. I quit watching when even Great-grandma Caroline was all enthusiastic about it. The only people I like on DAYS these days is Eric and Jennifer. Everybody else is too liberal. Why does a soap have to take one side on this polarizing issue and bad-mouth those of us on the other side? Do they think we find this entertaining?!
How does/do your gay relative(s) feel about your feelings?
believe it or not, there are plenty of GAY people who are against gay weddings.
Statistically, most gay people are against gay marriage, that is true. Marriage does not fit with their lifestyle…commitment, monogamy, procreation, etc. If they wanted those things, they would be straight.
you are correct
I t is a sign of bad writing when all the characters speak with interchangeable voices.That is to say the writer’s own sentiments are spoken by ALL the characters.Where is the diversity of thought and opinion.If it does not comport with trendy,politically correct thought it is not given an airing..This writing by committee produces trek.All this talk of increased soap ratings is imbecilic.When you cancel 50% of the soaps on the air naturally the remaining 50% will pick up some of the viewers of the departed shows.
you are right, robert! at the next straight wedding, i want someone to stand up and make a speech against straight people getting married. we can’t just have one side of the issue. you tell them, robert!
Well, I think soap writers think their audience is stupid and they can brainwash us into thinking any way they want us to. What DAYS just did alienated those of us who recognize propaganda when we see it. But we also see this kind of “the audience is dumb” writing when writers change RECENT history and expect us to not notice. My grandma was a soap fan. My mother was a soap fan, and I have always been a soap fan. But I don’t like to be insulted. If one soap offends me too much, I’ll try a different one.
GB, did you watch the Days wedding of Will and Sonny? Was there an actual speech against straight marriages? First I heard of it. Everyone says Caroline’s speech was amazing. BTW Welcome to the MF comments section 😉
It would make better drama if they show both sides of any issues…all they showed was a day player opposing it…my family has gay relatives and at a family picnic i could easily tell not everyone there showed acceptance…at least one regular character on the show should have been showed offended by it and refused to attend the wedding to make it a little more real(and i bet there are some actors on the show who secretly do not accept gay marriage but wouldnt admit it)…love is love…the wedding episode was well done…imo!!!
And you win the bet, Beaver. There most definitely IS one actor on the show like that & most of us know her since she’s been vocal enough fairly recently. I laughed when I saw her at the wedding full of smiles… must have just killed her.
IowaMan i know you are referring to but she might understand she’s just playing a character.So she can separate her real life views on gay marriage from her character’s views.However i do agree with the above poster that said the show should have had a regular character be opposed to Will and Sonny getting married instead of someone we never met before.Plus even if a regular character is opposed to a gay marriage it doesn’t mean he or she is homophobic.I think a person can be okay with gay people but not want to get married.
Thank you, Andrew! The actress in question is a devout Christian (and a VERY nice person, btw, I’ve met her) and I’m sure she, personally, would not do a LOT of things her character has to do. That goes for all the other Christians on soaps. They are actors, they are not playing themselves. BTW, nobody knows for sure her views on gay marriage. She tweeted her support of FREE SPEECH, that is all. As an actress, she knows many gay people and, by all accounts, loves them dearly. One of her co-stars, a RABID gay supporter, defended her publicly.… Read more »
Soaps will never tell a realistic gay story because they can’t and they know it. They have to forcefeed the idea off a fairytale where everyhing is sunshine and roses, and everyone is supportive and happy. Because…gasp….should anyone have an opposition…they will immediately be branded as hateful and homophobic. Statistically…since gay marriage has been legalized in different places, not many gay weddings have taken place….considering all the clamoring for them to be allowed. Of the ones that have, 78% have ALREADY ended in divorce. And…where do you go in story now? You cant tell the usual soap stories with this… Read more »
Thanks Johnny, I think many in DAYS audience are buying this sanitized version of gay life, but you and I aren’t.
Unfortunately you are right on the money Johnny. I thought while watching the Wedding, oh yes right the whole town is in favor of this gay union, when does that ever happen – the one old fart who objected to Victor was quickly and swiftly branded a bigot and a narrow minded fool. It’s not reality, not even close – would be nice if it were realistic, but it just isn’t. Seemed to me to be some Writer’s dream vision of how things ought to be.
johnny, you googled wrong. You got the numbers for straight couples. Gay divorce rate is actually 2%. Just wanted to correct so you wouldn’t look bad. 😉
Ooohhh, Maddie, watch your mouth…lol….you will be called a bigot. We have to apologize for being heterosexual . I will not say any more on the subject as Mr. Robert believes I have poor comprehension skills. I will not debate anyone who makes snide remarks on ageism, specifically, older women with blue-streaked hair . Blah, blah, blah….
I don’t care what strangers on the internet think of me, lol
johnny seems to know more about gay people than gay people do. BTW couldn’t find stats for half the crap he’s spewing. oh well, I do find it amusing that straight people seem to know so much more gays — than gays do!!! Know the easiest way to spot a bigot? Just ask them if what they say about gays (or blacks or any others) can be said about others without sounding offensive. Why worry about one gay marriage when there have been a gazillion straight weddings on the soaps in the past nearly 100 years! (Yep, soaps started on… Read more »
I thought the Wilson wedding was very well done. However, I feel Days is going downhill. They killed the Nicole Eric story with that stupid evidence thing. They need to give us some closure on Bo. I could never watch Days if I couldn’t record it.
You are right That they killed the Eric/Nicole storyline by having her destroy the evidence. It makes all her actions prior, like almost being killed, negated. I stopped watching after that as it became clear the writers do not know what they are doing.
If I see one more Flash back scene of Nicole shredding those secret papers that could prove Eric’s innocence I may puke. Geez get to the point already – to me, the Eric/Nicole deal is sooo drawn out.
I love Y and R, only soap I have watched now for years.
Mostly I DVR it and watch 2 at a time.
The days wedding might have had more viewers if it felt like Sonny was marrying Will Horton. Guy Wilson’s emotionless and robotic form of acting made it feel like Sonny was marrying a stranger and NOT the person fans have watched him be with for the last couple of years. If Days and mangement had given fans what they wanted and waited for, a wedding with the characters played by Freddie and Chandler, ratings would have been higher. No amount of press or interviews or selfies he takes on set that seem to be forced on fans from Guy Wilson… Read more »
Amen!
Maybe if the writers knew who Will Horton was, an actor could too. He was a straight teenager three years ago in a sweet little romance with Gabi. Then boom, two days later he was turned gay. Beyond being gay, there’s not much else story to tell there. Any young blonde actor could play Will, it doesn’t matter.
No offense but did you even watch Will’s coming out story?It sort of started in June 2011 and then built over several months until Will finally revealed he was gay early the next year.Plus i take offense to you saying that any blond actor can play Will.
Yeah the ratings are down for all 4 soaps this weeks but for most of them they were up from the same time last year.The week to week ratings go up and down all the time.Plus the networks may look at the ratings increases or decreases differently we do.They may look at all the ratings categories and not just overall viewers.
Maybe the soaps would have more viewers if, They listened to the viewers! I don’t watch days since they killed off Jack, and decided a rapist was the only one to be with their victim, Namely EJ and Sami. GH what can I say a mobster walks up to ANOTHER man shoots him in cold blood and is the victim.? I have watched soaps for YEEAARRSS. Now they are not something I care about. ON GH evil rules. That is my take on why they are losing viewers. I have no interest in keeping the ratings up for something that… Read more »
Right on!!!
Soaps need new viewers, with that being said if you bring in the two original Carly’s there is a good chance that the newer viewership is not going to care. However this new storyline with Obrecht/Donna Mills is creating a lot of buzz this week. For Days of Our Lives, a nice wedding without drama does not even exist in real life so why give that much for airtime in a SOAP. The drama was EJ going to Chicago to meet a hippy dippy guy (James Scott seemed pushed to have a scene). Also Day’s of Our Lives seems to… Read more »
Because of spring break…
I had beent thinking about giving Days a try for sometime and started watching during the wedding week. Not that I was interested in the wedding. I thought they would put their best foot forward for the special occasion and it would be a good time to just take a look at the show. I have continued to watch daily this week and I am certainly impressed by the quality of the production. As far as story lines go, I’m interested in the pharmaceutical rep who is stalking the PR woman and drugging her doctor boyfriend. He looks nuts. I… Read more »
It is always so interesting (and fun) to hear the comments and thoughts of a new viewer. Welcome to the best of the remaining Four… and your instincts are pretty much on the mark. Keep watching & enjoy!
Except that Nicole is someone you love and hate at the same time, IowaMan…I like that moniker.
Does Michael Fairman have any pull with the days of our lives writers. Wish he did and could let them know how they screwed up the Nicole Eric story. First of all with the evidence, and secondly making it look like the church wouldn’t accept Nicole. As a Catholic I was offended. Are any of the writers even Catholic. I really hate all this priest stuff. Either Eric wants to stay a priest or not. So many dans have been happy to finally see Nicole happy and the writers are going to screw it up. I started watching days when… Read more »
Soaps fans are mostly women and we don’t get excited by gay male pairings! We want heterosexual romance and we aren’t getting it! On GH, the 51st Anniversary ep was pathetic! The 3 Carlys was a PR stunt with no substance and basically meaningless since Sonny and Carly haven’t been a couple for years! The death of AJ was offensive and pointless! Audiences want to see more of the Q’s not less and AJ is a legacy character who should have been put in a coma rather than killed! Killing the character added nothing to the storyline! Another issue at… Read more »
I, too, want to see a ROMANTIC heterosexual story. That is what would make me start watching again. Just putting two people into bed doesn’t cut it for me. I remember Frisco&Felicia, Brenda&Jax, Robert&Anna .. Patrick&Robin was the last time GH had a REAL love story. THAT is what most of us women want to see, I’d bet my bottom dollar.
Id love a good old fashion love story on soaps like Days Doug and Julie or AWs Steve and Alice(they didnt hardly ever show couples just jumping in bed together back then)…iv watched soaps since 1964 and they use to be so much better than they are today!!!
Hey Jimh, you are correct, soaps back in the day had a MORAL to the story, anybody who had sex outside of marriage there were consequences (usually a surprise pregnancy). There were “good” characters and there were “bad” characters. Right and wrong. Even as late as the ’90s the “good” couples never had sex unless they were in love, and that after more than a year of angst. Morals in society have changed, I guess, and soaps reflect that. But I don’t want to see realism, soaps are supposed to be an escape, I still want romance.
Thank you, Tracy…well said!
You said this very well. I agree with everything. I remember when couples and romance were the lifeblood of the soaps. Now its mostly stunts, violence, plot driven, and unabated misery. Will and Sonny are really the only characters I fast forward through. Days does seem to be getting back to romance…JJ and Paige are adorably awkward….Eric and Nicole have off the charts chemistry….Dan and Jen are approaching something watchable finally…even Abe and Maxine are getting down. I also loved when Gabi slapped Sami!!! I have never really gotten the character of Gabi…she always seemed like a plot point more… Read more »
But the thing is: Except for Will and Sonny, ALL of the romances on Days ARE straight romance … er … heterosexual love stories. How can you NOT be GETTING IT?! I’ve read ALL of the comments above and believe me: I DO GET IT! If any of the soaps gave SOME viewers what they think they want, they’d all be off the air. The remaining soaps try to give all viewers something, it seems some viewers just can’t get enough. Opposition to gay characters is no different than opposition to blacks being added in the past or even interracial… Read more »
btw To newer Days viewers: Nick was in prison for murder. He killed Melanie’s father. He also stalked and kidnapped Melanie. He also struggled with Willo and she died in a fall.
I’m sorry Matthew, but none of the soaps have really great love stories any more. They put the couple together too soon. They don’t make us WAIT for it! That makes their love cheaply won. Back in the day, we AGONIZED over couples like Bo&Hope, Patch&Kayla, Shane&Kim, Roman&Marlena, Jack&Jennifer, and yes, Doug&Julie, Bill&Laura, the ones who started it all! I would have LOVED a 5-day wedding extravaganza for a couple I’d invested in for years and they were finally getting their payoff. Will&Sonny are a joke compared to the great couples of the past.
Love Sonny and Will, and have loved their storyline, but even I missed the wedding scene which I have been so supportive of. I think it got buried in other storylines that weren’t interesting me as much, and somehow I missed it. Will try to see it at some point,. It may also have been the timing. It has been a long and cold winter in some parts, and it had just started warming up, so maybe people were out and about more.
On another note…can someone please slap The arrogance from Gabi’s face?
I think that Ari will be taken from Gabi. When Sami called her an unfit mother…well, the writing’s on the wall. Perhaps she and Nick will run away with the baby.
Will and Sonny are gonna raise the baby, that’s the whole reason Ari was born. So DAYS can have the perfect gay family. They are gonna show all the heterosexual couples how it’s done. More propaganda.
Reading these comments takes a lot of fun out of watching soaps. Still, love Sonny and Will, tho! Without WilSon, Days would not be timely or relevant. That said, it is draggy, pacing too slow, some scenes unnecessary to tell a story. Can’t live in the past or turn back the clock, after all, it’s 2014 not 1914, but I do watch reruns of vintage soaps when I need a nostalgia fix. Those old school romances are still out there for those who want to re-live them.
Exactly, Matthew. I am so tired of the non-ending storyline centering around Daniel and Jen…one storyline leads into another. What gives? Maid Marian and Dr. Hunk are always in some sort of peril or being set up by co- workers. Enough already. Let’s give this couple closure….
@FAS, for great pacing, check out Hollyoaks at H*l*. Watch a couple of episodes and you should get into it. The filming is amazing, the use of music is top notch, and it skews young although there are older characters, too. You may also like Coronation Street (also on H*l*). These shows are short but pack a lot of punch. For old school teen drama, almost nothing beats Home & Away (on the Y) —
OMG! Maid Marian and Dr. Hunk!!! Love it!
Thanks, Matthew…I will do your bidding..lol. I’ve just turned 22, but I’m a old soul, at heart….I love nostalgia.
Fas, I’m a bit older than 22. 😉 I won’t say how much! As an old soul, you’ll love Coronation Street. It has stories about younger and older characters. So does Hollyoaks, but it skews much younger, more of a teen soap. I loved the early 80s when Kelly and Morgan were on Guiding Light (it’s on the Y), one of my all-time fave couples and love stories. In the end love will always matter, H8 not so much. My nephews are both going into medical field. Good luck with med school.
Mark, believe me, I agree with you…the storyline surrounding Dr. O is beyond ridiculous. But, that is the point…I just get a kick out of her….her antics never fail to entertain me. No doctor would get away with the crimes she continues to commit, ….I am enjoying it thoroughly. I do not get to watch as much as I would like….so, the completely incredible plot twists make my head spin…in a good way.
OMG…there goes Nick, working Gabi. He just threw an-I’m-so-sorry-but-I-gotta-go line at her. Wow, Master Manipulator is showing his cards, one at a time.
Writers, please don’t make Gabi appear so dumb!…Nick does not love her…it is all about sweet revenge. Voila’, mes amis, he is succeeding.
Also, writers. Ari is over a year old, no? Why is she still being strolled around in a pram? Those things are designed for infants…just a few months old. Why is she not walking? And, why, oh why does she still sound like a neonate when she cries? C’mon, now…can you please try to make it a bit more realistic? Just sayin’.
Hi, Matthew. All I can say is that I know two gay guys very well. That does not make me a connoisseuse (fem.), for lack of a better word, nor do I profess to be one. These guys are two of my older sister’s best friends whom she has known since grade school. My sister is straight and married…these friends were groomsmen at her wedding amidst my father’s grumbling. (I am being honest, here). When they came out, my mother did not blink an eye..my father, on the other hand, is another story. Don’t get me wrong, my dad is… Read more »
And, thank you for the best wished…it’s a little frightening, but I am doing what I have aspired to my whole life…true passion for helping our fellow-man.
OK. Well, it’s always best to know where someone stands. I don’t have a problem with your stance, per se. BTW I wasn’t making any comments to Maddie, but I did comment re: Johnny’s “statistics”. I could not find those he claimed and posted. I googled. Nada. Just to say I wasn’t disputing Maddie’s propaganda claim (although only the writers know their true intent, they have thought it would make good story) — just Johnny’s “statistics”. I guess the real question is would Maddie have felt any differently if the gay wedding had been more PC as per her views?… Read more »
You’re welcome, of course. BTW Days could have gone with “reality”: Most of Salem shunning Will and Sonny just like in real life in many places. But how would that have played? How would Jen and others have looked, then? Would all those saying how “unreal” the gay wedding on Days was be happy then? I doubt it. They might still scream foul. I have a feeling the writers did not want to chase reality with this SL and have their characters/stars be painted in a bad, if somewhat more realistic (according to some posters) light. You see, I read… Read more »
Matthew, I have watched DAYS since the ’80s, and having gay characters was not a problem for me. The love scenes turn me off, but I can always FF through that. I don’t agree with shunning or ridiculing gay people. But not everybody agrees with gay marriage, especially in Illinois, where Salem seems to be situated. In Illinois, gay marriage barely passed by two votes, and those were entirely in the Chicago area. I never got the idea that Salem was a liberal stronghold. Most of the citizens are religious and attend (mostly Catholic) church. I have cringed at the… Read more »
Hi, again Michael. I really appreciate your answer…and you are correct. We should always know where one stands. I do not really go by statistics because they change from day to day, and not very reliable. Perhaps I misspoke and at this point I can answer my own question. Yes, I do believe every network, every program, every soap has an agenda. The scope is to attract viewers for the ratings. I get that. DOOL was very well aware this wedding would amass both controversy and ratings……so , my question is…did TPTB do the gay community a disservice using this… Read more »
Fas, your writing is fine, no typos, bu we all make them at times. It just shows how meticulous you are to be concerned. Only thing is my name is not Michael. lol It’s Matthew, but I knew you were speaking to me — so no harm, no foul. I do understand about sex on soaps and TV in general. I watch a mix of current TV shows and older. Most older shows have less sex, with some soaps in the ’90s being the exception. I am glad you responded. You have a wonderful outlook on life. Let no one… Read more »
Sorry, Matthew…I called you Michael…as I was writing, I received a message from my boyfriend, Michael…sorry.
Thank you..peace, Matthew…..stay well.
You cannot force people to watch what they do not want to watch. There are probably a lot of loyal Days fans who, like me never approved of the Wilson storyline. Such fans would not enjoy watching a Wilson wedding. I did watch. The build up to the event sparked my curiosity about how the writers would handle it. To those Days fans who did not watch but are curious, at the end, those attending the “wedding” threw rice! Now if the notion of a gay marriage is strange enough, seeing people throw rice at a gay couple reinforced how… Read more »
I have often wondered whether or not real deep friendship between two persons of the same sex has often been misunderstood or misconstrued as gay. There is the story in the Bible of David and Jonathan. They were real friends and NOT gay. The Bible says David loved Jonathan “as his own soul”. Jonathan protected David from his own father Saul (Jonathan’s father) when Saul wanted to kill David. After Jonathan died, David sought for and found Jonathan’s offspring so he (David) could care for them as his own. When I see Will and Sonny on Days, I think of… Read more »
I agree 100%.