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Raven Bowens is the New Chanel on DAYS

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: IMDB

There has been a casting switcheroo at Days of our Lives.   Precious Way is out in the role of Chanel Dupree and the part had been recast.

Way debuted on-screen back in March of 2021, but now comes word, first via Jason 47’s Facebook page, that Chanel will be played by actress Raven Bowens.

According to Soap Opera Digest, look for Bowens to first air on-screen on the July 6th episode.  Apparently, she has been taping at the DAYS set since April.

Raven has previously appeared on All Rise, Insecure, The New Edition Story and Future Man.

You can follow her on Instagram here.

So, what do you think of the Chantal switch? Comment below.

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Welcome Raven! I hope you can dig deep and delve into the core of who Chanel is now, and who she wants to become. I will say this again… I am still not feeling the character of Aunt Paulina played by Jackee Harry (why does she have to chuckle/laugh like after every line? It’s very irritating…) and the character of Chanel (currently played by Precious Way)… and her recent discovery of wanting to build a bakery business… has been somewhat interesting for the character. Though, Precious has good chemistry with the young woman who plays Allie Horton. Allie lights up more around Chanel it seems, and gets that “party girl” to come out and Allie smiles more in her presence. Anyways, the way the DAYS writers work, they do so much damage to old and new characters (Example: Zander remains in great pain thinking that Sarah (Linsey Godfrey), left town with Rex… TO Zander working a deal with Chanel in some scam short-lived marriage with Chanel for $10 million from Momma Paulina. And, then Chanel has eyes for Allie and then has eyes on her brother-in-law, towel-dropping Eli in the kitchen (twice) and makes immature and inappropriate remarks to Lani about how hot and fine her man is. The point that I am trying to make is that since March of this year, Chanel has been darn trouble – all the way… now we are to believe – after a few months in Salem, Chanel really wants to open this bakery with Allie? This new character changed that much??? And so quickly? The development of Chanel is just a fail on the part of the writers and I don’t know why a Recast was in order, nor do I want to speculate to that, but I hope Raven can FIND Chanel, right now… she’s lost, and Momma/Auntie Paulina is a dismal failure. I wish DAYS just kept Jackee on-board as reoccurring, though it seems that recently, that Jackee is now full-time. (Again, why does she have to do that chuckle/laugh like after each line and rolling her eyes all over the place? I’ll never understand why DAYS bumped her to full-time. I’d rather us see more of Valerie who is an established character… return to Salem by the lovely actress, Vanessa Williams (I). I liked the Valerie pairing with Abe so much more… and Eli’s relationship with his Mother was a very special one, too. Why is Valerie not around (except for “visits”)? Anyways, wishing Raven the best. Perhaps, one day, I’ll grow to care about Chanel.

Jeremy, that’s the way Jackee always performs. I mean, she’s not a great actress, more of a one trick pony.

Not upset by this switch; look, Precious Way, for me, was just not someone I enjoyed seeing in the role of Chanel. I am hoping Raven Bowens does well in the role!

Agreed, Scott—-so tired of unnerving Chanel. That constant Cheshire cat smile is so irritating.
I, too, hope the recast has a more grounded outlook on life, in general—-and not such a sardonic, almost contemptuos approach towards everythin and most people with whom she enteracts.
This, out-of-the-blue, irrational brainstorm of opening a bakery is so lame. Is it to con Allie somehow?
She comes off as pushy and as a bully, albeit I think it’s a front to conceal her own insecurities. Perhaps, that should be explored as a storyline. Allow the real Chanel to emerge.
The way she is behaving now tells me something’s afoot—and, it “ain’t ” good news.

Oh, yuk, I have to change channels every time her mouth starts. Her acting is so fake

I hear you, Carol. Chanel leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Her words are too honeyed and her expressions too sweet.

Gee, I was just getting used to this Chanel.

Apparently the current Chanel got a new job. Good luck. She was okay, but I hope the recast is a better actress.

Precious Way had the job prior to Days of Our Lives, however, due to COVID, production on the job was delayed and she was able to take the role of Chanel.

I am curious to know why this switch was made? At first I wasn’t happy with Precious Way in the role but she has won me over recently, her performances definitely improved. Perhaps there were behind the scenes reasons for the casting change? Here’s hoping Raven Bowens is great in the role going forward!

Richard, I share your sentiments. Precious Way won me over pretty quickly. And I am curious about the reason for the casting change. Mr. Fairman doesn’t always volunteer such information (e.g., Lindsey Godfrey’s departure as Sarah Horton). Surely, he is well connected enough to know.

I will say this: although I was unhappy upon learning years ago that a new actor would be playing the role of Chad DiMera, Billy Flynn has been exceptional and won me over almost instantly.

Precious Way booked a job prior to Days of Our Lives and chose that job, however, due to COVID, production on the job was delayed and she was able to take the role of Chanel.

She landed another role in a TV sitcom. Good luck in your new role.

Who knows? She looks a little old for the role compared to Allie. But, I’m being more patient with Days these days.

Funny you should bring up age. Moto—-at least Precious is in that range of age group.
Look at Kate!! What are these writers thinking? It’s one thing for a virile younger man getting involved with an older woman ( in this case much, much older), but there is a young, sexy, vibrant female in the mix.
It boggles the mind for TPTB to assume the viewer accepts the fact that Kate has a chance with Jake. Not this viewer!! It’s not for money; he’s no gigolo—-furthermore, this pity party thing going on is so off key!! Feeling sorry be damned—not realistic. Even for a soap.
On one hand there’s a 70-year old woman ( no disrespect—my grandmother is as spirited and sprite as can be, but, she is not delusional), and on the other hand there’s Gabi. In plain English ( LOL), Jake is a wuss and a loser.
Now, Kate is making so many blunders —-she must have such a keen sense of smell—Grrrr—everyone serms to accept that excuse. She can smell not only flowers but also people, it seems.
I have a feeling Kate is not pulling the wool over Anna’s eyes!!
And, Chad? Who died and made him the model of honesty and righteousness?
The same can be applied to Tara Locke on Y&R ( albeit she’s not decades older than Kyle), where Nikki referred to her as a girl. A girl? The woman looks in her forties—could pass as Kyle’s mother.
Pardon my rant. LOL

I’m thinking that maybe Brandon Barash asked for the Kate & Jake pairing. If you saw him when he was on GH, most of his pairings were with women old enough to be his mother. So either he has a “type”… or ReRon (who also wrote most of those pairings on GH) just thinks he does!

Really? Never crossed my mind—I guess, I didn’t realize that actors were able to make such requests. Lauren is just not an older woman, she’s an oooolder woman. She’s like 70. That’s not old by today’s standard—-so, I will grant you that there may be men who go for ultra-experienced/much older women……must have a lot of energy to keep up with a muuuch younger man.
I always thought that Nancy Grahn (GH) was too old for William deVry—-but Lauren and Brandon surpass even them!!

Oh Celia, THANKS for mentioning the exquisite
Mr. DeVry. How I miss Julian, before they made him lower than low. He’s too young for me, too, but one can certainly imagine. And I do imagine. By the way, I never cared for the Kate and Jake pairing. Just seems seedy.

PS—–Kate can’t feel any peace in her future—just think, Satan—she will worry about every young woman who happens to cross Jake’s path. Oy vey and mamma mia!!

Celia, my Friend, please allow me to politely challenge you on these points. I totally understand what you’re saying here, but it could be construed as ageist — and I highly doubt that is your intent. Perhaps you simply don’t like the character of Kate and see these storylines as ludicrous. Frankly, a man of Jake’s age dating a woman of Kate’s age is unusual in real life, no doubt. But what is the expression? Love is love? Or is it, Lust is lust?

The writers are quite cognizant of Kate’s age relative to Jake’s and are giving the character plenty of angst, insecurity, and self-doubt over that age difference. What gets me is that Kate is supposed to be the mother of Billie Reed, though she is about 10 years older in real life.

I am a big fan of Kate’s. She’s one of my favorite characters. A case can be made that Kate is less devious and destructive than Gabi and, thus, preferable. Both women are attractive. I think it’s no accident the way younger woman Gabi dresses in these tight-fitting, revealing outfits. And I admittedly have found Gabi to be increasingly amusing.

Anyway, thanks for letting me go on about this. Take care, Celia!

LOL, James,
Here I am —-no more replying between classes—-School’s OUT!! Yeay!!
Go ahead, my friend—throw the gauntlet, LOL—I will always accept your comments, whether we agree or not. You are the best—-and a gentleman.
I don’t think I’m ageist—-I can’t see how such relationships could work. —for me, ageism is a senseless concept because aging is part of life—-it is avprocess—it touches each and every one of us, if we are so lucky to live so long. No escaping it.
I, too, love Kate—-always have—love her mode of dress, her sassiness and eccentricity—her persona, in general.
It’s puzzling —-she has been so good lately, staying out of trouble, when suddenly she’s fallen back into her old ( pardon the pun, LOL) devious machinations.
I was really targeting the writers more than the character. She plays a part—-
She’s almost thirty years older than her counterpart—-it strikes a discordant note with me.
Perhaps I am trapped under the influence of my in-you-face grandmother. She’s a character, let me tell you!! She’s very similar to Kate—-in her way of dress etc.—- she’s a 60’s babe—-still married to my grandfather.
We occasionally watch our soaps together—-when I’m with her, I can’t help but laugh so hard with tears streaming down my face, as she throws outrageous words around in her Highlander Scottish brogue. She doesn’t even try to be funny. She just is.
Just yesterday, as we were watching, she was loudly scolding Kate’s panting after a “boy” -“Thu bawface. Ach, yer off yer heid””—and so much more, James—–I cannot repeat it in public.
Friendly and polite debates are good for the soul, my friend. Truly liberating!!

Celia, thanks for your kind reply! Fun reading! Nice to see that you enjoy Kate, too. What hampers me with DOOL is that I am not a long-time viewer (maybe 8 or 9 years), so I don’t know all the history. Funny, how I can give Kate a pass over all her misdeeds but won’t even consider it for GH’s Sonny — I know, don’t get me started on that one… Maybe even I am mesmerized by Kate’s beauty… (Insert joke here.)

It’s also nice to hear about your grandmother. She sounds a lot like my grandmother, who always acted younger than her age and had a mischievous sense of humor.

Great chatting with you, Friend!

Take 2! If you don’t like what you see onscreen, change the Chanel!

Good one, James!

4ever DAYS, I just saw this. Thank you, Friend!

that’s to bad,what is wrong with the one we have now?

I like the old Chanel but welcome the new one and hopefully she will stir things up because this show is becoming so boring and nambly pambly and everyone whining about their feelings and how politcally correct they need to be. Where is the action and adventure and romance? This is so boring I am ready to watch General Hospital instead.

Mark C.
Don’t watch G.H instead, just watch it, it’s the best and most exciting of the four.

Replacements are sometimes good, sometimes bad, especially the anticipation. I remember when they replaced Ciara, we were so lucky to be rid of “stick girl”. Hopefully, this time will be good too.

Poor girl’s head is out of proportion: huge forehead, all features squashed together at the bottom of her face above her tiny chin. Hope I can get used to her. I will miss Precious!

I agree. Days could have done better.

Days Of Our Lives

Deidre Hall Marks 50 Years as ‘Days of Our Lives’ Dr. Marlena Evans

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If you have ever tuned-in to the soap opera genre over the last 50 years, and witnessed some of the greatest romances, drama, classic and outlandish storylines of all-time, you would have seen Deidre Hall smack dab in the middle of it as longtime Salem heroine, Dr. Marlena Evans.

It was 50 years on this date, June 21, 1976 that Hall first appeared on DAYS on NBC which was its home for 57 years before it moved to its current streaming platform on Peacock in September of 2022.

In Hall’s first episode she was introduced as a psychiatrist treating Mickey Horton (John Clarke) at Bayview Sanitarium after he suffered a complete mental breakdown. Mickey learned that his brother Bill Horton (Edward Mallory) was the biological son of Mike Horton (Wesley Eure) with his wife Laura (Susan Flannery) and that he had been lied to for years and years. From that moment on, the rest is television and soap opera history. Days of Our Lives put Hall front and center.

Photo: NBC

There were so many heartbreaking and shocking story twists involving the beloved Marlena. One of the first was the historic crib death of baby DJ (Don Jr.) in 1980, Marlena’s infant son with Don Craig (Jed Allan). The story had never been told on daytime television and Hall’s performances received accolades from TV critics to fans when Deidre received thousands of letters from grieving mothers who had gone through the same thing in their own lives.

DAYS also brought Deidre’s twin sister, Andrea Hall Lovell to the show as her on-screen sister Samantha, who had a grudge and even locked Marlena up in a sanitarium and took her place! Fast-forward and in 1982, DAYS launched the Salem Strangler story where everyone believed Marlena was his next victim, only it turned out to be Samatha. Jake Kositchek (played by Jack Coleman) was revealed to be the actual serial killer.

Later, Deidre would assume the role of Marlena’s look-alike, Hattie Adams in 2004, once played by her sister, Andrea. Over the years, Hattie has come back to Salem and caused trouble giving Hall a chance to play a different type of character, then the always upstanding Marlena.

Photo: JPI

THE LOVES OF MARLENA

Deidre Hall struck gold with all her leading men: from the late Jed Allan, to Wayne Northrop as Roman Brady, and of course, her enduring love story with the late John Black played by the iconic Drake Hogestyn. In fact, Marlena’s 1986 wedding to John (who was believed to be Roman at the time) remains a favorite of fans to this day.

TOP MARLENA STORYLINES OF ALL-TIME

While the list is long, here are several that were some of the memorable during Deidre’s five decades in Salem!

The Possession (1994- 1995)
Considered one of the most ambiguous, outlandish and unforgettable story arcs in soap opera history, then Days of Our Lives head writer, James Reilly went there! Marlena was possessed by the devil! That included; the demonic eyes, hissing at father John (Black) the priest, morphing into creatures, and the classic levitating in her bed! It became a cultural phenomenon and cemented Deidre Hall’s status as a daytime television legend. Just ask Ryan Gosling!

Photo:JPI

The Affair with John Black (1993)
John and Marlena’s forbidden love could not be denied and they had passionate affair, while she was still married to the real Roman. Problem was her daughter, Sami (Alison Sweeney) caught her mother having sex with John on a desk that changed Sami forever.

The Salem Stalker Mystery (2003-2004)
In a shocker, Marlena was revealed to be a serial killer who bumped off several Salem favorites residents who were all alive on the island of Melaswen (spelled “New Salem” backward). Turns out, she was manipulated and gaslighted by Andre DiMera (Thaao Penghlis) to do the “killings” and had no memory of her actions.

The Pier Scene (1991)
This remains Michael Fairman TV’s all-time favorite Deidre Hall moment, which featured some of the best acting in the storied careers of both Hall and Drake Hogestyn.

In the story, a presumed-dead Marlena returns after four years. One foggy night on the pier, John is alone, and Marlena steps out of the fog to reveal herself, and is reunited with the love of her life. You can watch it any year, any decade, and in any moment, and it will have you reaching for the hankies again and again. (best music score fo a soap scene of all-time too!)

Photo: NBC

Kristen’s Secret Room Reveal (1997)
Marlena was caught in Kristen Blake’s (Eileen Davidson) elaborate web of lies, when she was held hostage in a secret wine cellar/room until John managed to track her down, leading to an iconic on-screen reunion. The classic catfight between Hall and Eileen Davidson was one for the ages.

It should be noted that Maison Blanche, Queen of the Night, Possession, Aremid and Lady in a Cage were all a part of classic DAYS storyline and all featured Hall at the epicenter of it from 1993-1996.

THE RECENT YEARS OF MARLENA

In recent years, DAYS brought back the possession 2.0 storyline under then head writer Ron Carlivati in 2021 where the devil leapt back in Marlena after taking advantage of a frail Doug Williams (the late Bill Hayes)

In 2025, viewers watched the end of the love story of John and Marlena, as John succumbed to injuries sustained in an explosion saving a vial of medication needed to bring Bo (Peter Reckell) back to life. Marlena has been a widow on-screen since June of 2025 as Hall as portrayed the good doctor struggling with her grief and to move on with her life since his death.

Photo: JPI

One story that never goes away is Stefano DiMera’s (the late Joe Mascolo) obsession with Marlena, his “Queen of the Night.” Even in death, Stefano is toying with her from the great beyond with the mysterious chess set and the missing “pawn,” that he had gifted John and Marlena in his will. The mystery is currently unfolding on all-new episodes of Days of Our Lives.

Tune-in to Days of our Lives on the Monday, June 22 episode as Marlena looks back at her 50 years in Salem.

Share your congratulations to Deidre Hall for this incredible 50-year milestone as Dr. Marlena Evans on Days of Our Lives in the comment section. Then let us know, what is your all-time favorite storyline or moment in the life of Marlena over the past 5 decades? And, just for kicks, and to celebrate this amazing milestone, here is Marlena levitating below circa Christmas Eve 1994.

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Days Of Our Lives

Al Calderon Reflects on ‘Major Chapters’ Coming to an End on ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘Brilliant Minds’

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It’s been a bittersweet time for Al Calderon. The talented actor/singer/songwriter has watched from his vantage point to roles he loved so much come to their conclusion for different reasons.

In a heartfelt message posted to his Instagram story on Saturday, Calderon took a moment to share how grateful he was for the opportunity to play Javi Hernandez on Days of Our Lives, and nurse Nico Silva this year on NBC’s second season of Brilliant Minds. Currently, Brilliant Minds has two more episodes that will air on June 24 and the series finale on July 1.

Calderon expressed, “As I sit here reflecting on this lovely Saturday afternoon over the last two years of my life, I have two major chapters closing that have been part of my life every day for the last two years. We have Brilliant Minds. Our last episodes are wrapping up, and then my last scenes aired yesterday as me as Javi on Days of Our Lives.

Photo: JPI

“I’m just unbelievably grateful for the chance and the opportunity to be a part of something so much larger than me,” continued Al. “I (will) love Days of Our Lives forever, my family. Thank you for supporting me and supporting my decision to take the leap of faith and believe in myself and, and tell other stories. You know, it’s never goodbye. It’s always ‘see you later’ to me and just leaving with love and leading with love.”

Al concluded with a special mention to some very important people, the fans: “Thank you to the fans and the support from everyone, the lovely messages. So this next chapter, hopefully it’s not a dragon, hopefully it’s a gold coin.”

Photo: NBC

Calderon’s journey on-screen on Days of Our Lives began in October of 2024 and concluded this month. In one of his last appearances Javi was asking a favor from Gabi (Cherie Jimenez) before bumping into his ex, Leo (Greg Rikaart). In story, Javi has a new romance with Gus (Michael Ocampo), while fighting his feelings for Leo. The role of Javi will be played starting on June 30 by Jacob Martinez who takes over the role.

NBC decided to cancel the Brilliant Minds, after it split up the airing of its second season which began in the fall of September of 2025 and the back-half started airing after a long break this past May. Calderon joined the medical drama staring Zachary Quinto for the new season, which sadly was its last.

So, will you miss Al on Days of Our Lives and Brilliant Minds as his time on-screen has come to an end? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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Days Of Our Lives

Christopher Sean and Colton Little Make a Return to ‘Days of Our Lives’

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Next week, Days of Our Lives welcomes back fan favorites Colton Little (Andrew Donovan) and Christopher Sean (Paul Narita) when they reprise their roles for an upcoming special episode which contains Deidre Hall’s 50th anniversary as Marlena Evans.

Circle Monday, June 22 when the married couple comes back to Salem. Paul is the son of Marlena’s beloved and late husband, John Black (Drake Hogestyn). Andrew is the son of iconic couple Shane Donovan (Charles Shaughnessy) and Kimberly Brady (Patsy Pease).

According to the official Days of Our Lives spoilers for the week of June 22-26, Andrew scolds Cat (AnnaLynne McCord).  Let’s remember Andrew is ISA. Meanwhile while Marlena thinks back on her fifty years in Salem, Paul arrives back in town.

Photo: JPI

ANDREW AND PAUL

Christopher Sean began playing Paul Narita back in 2014. He has come and gone from the show over the last decade. He was last on-screen back in November of 2025, when Paul arrived back in Salem for the dedication of the Tom Horton Free Clinic as part of the Days of Our Lives 60th anniversary celebration.

Colton Little, first began playing the all grown-up Andrew Donovan in 2022 on the Peacock limited series, Beyond Salem: Chapter 2. Little eventually moved to the mothership and Days of Our Lives in 2023. He was last seen on the soap opera back in March of this year in scenes with Peter Porte (Dimitri Von Leuschner) and Greg Rikaart (Leo Stark).

In story, Andrew and Paul tied the knot in front of family and friends on June 24, 2025, which followed the heartbreaking funeral of Paul’s father, John Black, who had passed away several weeks earlier from injuries sustained in an explosion.

Photo: JAnchondoIG

Michael Fairman TV also confirmed the romance exclusively of Colton Little with former General Hospital actor, Adrian Anchondo (ex-Marco Rios) at the end of  December of 2025.

Anchondo shared at that time, “I reached out to him (Colton) when I got the job on GH. We knew of each other through mutual friends; so I knew of him for a long time. I started asking Colton about what his experience was like on soaps and asked about SAG health insurance, etc. We met up one night and were hooked from then on.”

So, are you excited to see Andrew and Paul back on your screens? Share your thoughts and if you would like to see them stay longer in Salem in the future, with a story all of their own via the comment section. But first, check out the just released promo for the action on Days of Our Lives entitled “Conspiracy” below featuring Christopher and Colton.

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