Days Of Our Lives
SOAP BOX with The Michaels Discuss: Victoria Rowell, Justin Hartley & Which Soap Would You Want To Be The Last One Standing?
Courtesy/TradioV
If you missed Thursday’s gossip-filled, champagne clinking one-year anniversary broadcast of Soap Box with Lilly Melgar and Martha Madison with their panel of Michaels: talent manager Michael Bruno, and soap journalists Michael Maloney and On-Air On-Soaps Michael Fairman, Lilly and Martha threw at “The Michaels” some hot topics to weigh-in on!
Chief among them was their thoughts on Y&R casting Justin Hartley as the new Adam Newman, the most sought after role in the soaps. After discussing the choice and how several former primetime actors were in the running, Lilly and Martha wanted to know, what Justin appearing on Y&R means for his burgeoning primetime career? Michael Maloney stated: “I don’t know if they (Y&R) will allow him to have time off to reprise his role on Mistresses if that’s coming back this season, or Revenge, and that’s going to another network.”
Michael Bruno responded: “In regards to the outs for Revenge or Mistresses, they were coming down to the wire and if they really wanted this guy, they could say: ‘We need notice. Let’s try to work this out, and let’s try and do this.'” But then Martha Madison followed that up with, “Don’t you think it’s in the shows best interest to let their stars do other things? It’s free publicity, don’t you think? To which Bruno replied: “That’s how they lost Billy Miller (Ex-Billy, Y&R). Next question?”
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
Later in the show, Martha asked the panel in her “Would You Rather” segment, “Who would you rather see a return to daytime from …. Victoria Rowell or Michael Muhney?” Michael Bruno replied: “Y&R needs a shot in the arm. Victoria is a shot in the arm. If someone hates her, he’s not in the scene with her, that’s how you play it. There are very few people who you could bring back where they would get additional eyes and people would tune-in. She is somebody that could.”
The panel of Michaels were also asked: “Of the four (daytime) soaps, which would you want to be the last one standing? Some said General Hospital, and some (including Martha) said, The Young and the Restless! In addition, when asking the panel of Michaels if they watch all the soaps every day, Martha asks Michael Fairman which is the hardest soap right right now to get through? You can watch the broadcast below and hear his answers, and the storylines he says give him pause.
Now below, watch the Soap Box 1-Year Anniversary show. Then weigh-in: Which soap would you want to be the last one standing? Do you think Y&R will let Justin Hartley have any outs to do primetime roles? Do you think a return by Victoria Rowell would bring in more eyeballs and be a huge ratings boost to Y&R?
If Belle comes back to DAYS, I hope she’s not played by Martha Madison. She is a bitter, mean spirited, ungrateful has-been!
The hosts and panel acted like vultures hovering over their dying prey! Clearly, they think they’ll be eating DAYS first…I hope they’re wrong and end up eating crow!!!
Days is my favorite right now of our U.S., soaps…GH is a distant second followed by the other two which could change…however, picking one to be the last one standing is like picking a family member who you’d rather see outlive the other three…no way would i pick(i wont even pick a family member and say he or she is my favorite)…we have four to choose from with fans, myself included, liking one better than the other…nothing wrong with that…i dont want any to go…lets keep all of them!!!
can’t help but say, I was a bit nonplussed, perturbed, baffled….
Days of OUR Lives… is a complete show of the 4 remaining on the air
all the elements of Serial composite are
living in Salem each and every day… 5 days a week is surprise…. who can stand it?
———–
congrats to Lilly and Martha…. what a blowout…cause celeb to toast YOUR one year tenure…. ahem… that boner and/or emmy win stint… lived…. Rafe’alicious
————-
question posed to 3 M’s : which of the two would you like to see back
Victoria Rowell and/or Michael Muhney
Y&R has nothing to lose and everything to gain… by bringing her back… she’s been gone for so long … 7+ years … maturity does stir… I think she’d be a big boon and ADD to the show on so many levels…. YES
GH and or DAYS should with zeal gusto and looking forward to a ratings bonanza and TALENT acknowledged and just hire the guy… He’s that good
—————–
I realize that GH meld with veteran and newbies… with bait hook and switch…. has a place to be acknowledged… but for my book…. DAYS recipe for remaining true to Serial … is a comforting less acknowledged… but FEASTED ON TREAT.
be that as it may : seeing the 3 M’s…. what fun… I’d toast with… listen … and can’t thank them enough for their contribution.
Serials are such a constant delight… a wonderment…. a mix of on and off…. and forever hold a place in my heart
Yeah, Patrick. The quirkiness to your writing is a breath of fresh air…don’t change the uniqueness of your style…love it.
Now, if only the Jen and Daniel neverending, hurts -my -stomach story could just be a bad dream(nightmare, rather), and disappear.
I don’t think it will be long and they will all be gone. The networks have to cut costs and they are changing their business model, large staffed inhouse projects are out. It’s sad. Once you cut as many soaps as have been cancelled, it irreparably damages the genre so it looses overall viewers. IMHO the quality has cratered. A long time OLTL fan, I can’t stand the remaining 4. They are each increasingly mind-numbingly, horribly, awful.
If OLTL did return, which it won’t, I wouldn’t watch it because it would not be the same show. It’s sad, but it’s time to hang up the RIP sign and more on. 😉
Yeah, Mitch. You bring back sweet memories. I loved OLTL…en pareil with Y&R;…watched both since High School. I miss OLTL and Y&R is trying to swim to shore…will it make it? I am fairly new to GH and six years into DOOL. I like them both….I hope the final four last forever…soaps are as Americana as apple pie…end of an era. Sigh.
Curious, are you new here or have you posted under a different alias…just wondering!!!
Sadly, I think GH would go first and CBS would have the last TWO standing.
you speak the truth
CBS has , in this day and age, a more complete daytime package… with the two serials… has more of a lasting herald
I would hope DAYS would never forgo the audience and entreat with respect… how much DAYS … tears… holds fast to our hearts
I can see ABC w/disney letting go Port Charles
I’ll take the backlash
I sometimes wish I can delete comments such as this one about Martha Madison. I’m hoping she returns to DAYS!
I wish to god we had Victoria Rowell back. Drucilla and Neil are like Sharon and Nick and Nikki and Victor
That, that Victoria Rowell come back to Y&R????? Let me see…N-O!!!!! IMO, VR is WAY TOO MUCH OF A SPOILED D-I-V-A!!!!! I H-A-T-E D-I-V-A-S!!!!! Somewhere down the line, if Y&R wants to bring the Drucilla character back, they could re-cast the role…I-F done correctly. But the idea of VR coming back to Y&R…N-O-T A GOOD IDEA!!!!! She has burned WAY TOO MANY BRIDGES (over the years) on the Y&R set with her HIGH-MAINTENANCE AND D-I-V-A WAYS!!!!!! Again…no.
But this show needs a diva!
jonboy…yes…Y&R does need a diva. But…an onscreen character who ACTS LIKE A DIVA and N-O-T an actress (that Victoria Rowell) who behaves like a difficult/spoiled diva behind the scenes!!!!! Furthermore, I think that Y&R should re-cast the role of Drucilla…but…with an actress WITHOUT THE ARROGANT EGO!!!!!
BIG BIG BIG DIFFERENCE!!!!!!
Debbie Morgan shouldve played Drucilla when she was on the show…such a great actress!!!
definitely, they wasted talent
I’d love to see Debbie Morgan working at the Salem hospital
she needs to take over… once Daniel and Jennifer are let go
to think…. Debbie Morgan working alongside… Kayla… MBE… hold on to this ride
why couldn’t she be a love interest for Abe
I’d love to see Debbie Morgan back on our radar
Shes poison PLUS no more WINTERS Stories. They suck the life out of the show and my FF button on my DVR already is wearing out!
Timmm…Y-E-S…THANK YOU!!!!! The ENTIRE Winters family on Y&R is BEYOND UNWATCHABLE (ESPECIALLY that damn Lily!!!!!)!!!!! And, as for Neil going blind…WHAT A CROCK?!?!?!? Pathetic.
Forget the diva give us back Michael Muhney.
.
To all the powers that be;
Last soap standing–
………… GENERAL HOSPITAL … !!
long live GH !!
I hope and pray!
last soap standing GENERAL HOSPITAL, duh! as for the victoria rowell situatiion, i’m not sure why an actress is so desperate to be on a show where nobody seems to want her? not the network, or studio that owns ynr, or costars? its weird, that one i don’t get, i’m not familiar with the whole back story, still, its clear, the show isn’t intererested, or they would of re cast the character and brought the characer back.
CBS/Sony would have to be utter fools to bring Victoria Rowell back. The non-stop talking about everybody being a racist. I am bored with her antics it has been seven years since she left and she is still yammering about race. She has accused several co-stars of being racist towards her she needs to seek counseling.
If i do eventually stop watching soaps like ive done on occasion i still wouldnt want any of the four cancelled because there is still a good chance i’ll return which i’ve obviuosly had done…soap characters are like family…sometimes you love them, other times you cant stand being near them but nothing is more important than family…sometimes…lol
I don’t think any will be left standing– if any network cancelled their remaining soap or soaps in CBS case, I think all them would pull the plug in short order, so if one was left standing, it wouldn’t be there for long, but my guess that last one would be B&B, simply because it is half an hour, not because it is the best.
Right now it is a game of chicken with the networks to be the first network to completely remove the genre from their daytime schedule– but as soon as one does it, becomes the bad guy, all of them will follow. Trust me they are all chomping at the bit to get rid of daytime soaps, but right now none of them have the guts to be the network that kills it altogether. But if I were to hazard a guess, I think ABC would be the first to cave and be that network.
“… right now none of them have the guts to be the network that kills it altogether. ”
this… is what I HOLD on to
shooting themselves in the foot… and then some….
I liken it to…. a complete desecration… should any network… go this route
I really dont watch anything on any of the networks in primetime anymore except “Under the Dome” so if the soaps go away I would probably look to just online content. The big four networks are really hurting. On TV, the only thing getting any real buzz is on AMC, FX, or Netflix.
B&B will be the last soap standing. It’s the only one of the remaining soaps that does not need a network or a production company to survive, since the show is owned solely by the Bells and is also produced by them. As the only 30-min soap, it’s cheaper to produce. Also, B&B is the most watched soap in the world, making it very profitable with a huge overseas presence.
Exactly, Matthew Place! Although I would like to see GH be the ultimate survivor, I simply cannot envision that outcome in any way, shape or form as long as it continues on its current downward trajectory. Hence, B&B is the only logical choice to be the last one standing for all the reasons you enumerate.
I agree totally
Loved the show. Thanks, Michael, for bringing it to our attention.
DAYS as last soap standing for me!
When DOOL did a “reboot” several years ago, I thought it gave the show a shot in the arm. I loved the role of Madison and the Horton Town Square was revealed. After watching the interview, I agree with so many things you said that is wrong with the show now. There are too many characters on the show that are NOT working as far as clicking with the audience. Eve is a cartoon villianess. She has no redeeming qualities and comes to town and still has all of this hate for Jennifer from high school? STUPID. The show has basically handed the show over to Eve, Theresa, Jordan and Paige, thinking that this is the next generation of the show. The answer is an overwhelming “no.”
The Will recast is NOT clicking. I look at him as a jerk who threw his mother under the bus. I think DOOL is ruining this character.
The show continues to drop the ball with missed opportunities. If Kristen would have come back to town with a baby, this would have had HUGE impact. Instead, we get to see Kristen and Daniel sit in a closet for two weeks and talk about her bad deeds. If Abifgail would have been pregnant, it would have been more shocking and with long-term effects. Instead, the secret of her affair comes out and everyone still treats her like the town virgin. Jennifer should have been angry at her for sleeping with someone so much older and thinking she could have been pregnant. There was not one scene with Jennifer showing her disappointment in Abigail’s bad choices.
It is time “DOOL” stops taping so far in advance and realize that if characters are not clicking with the viewers, the writers might not set the entire show around them.
Nicole was once a GREAT vilianness/diva. Now all she does is cry and beg everyone to be her friend.
Stop bringing in so many characters and give us some legacy characters – Belle, Shawn-Douglas, Mimi, Phillip, Carrie, Mike Horton. I would love to see Nadia B and Jay Kenneth Johnson, Jason Cook or Brandon B and Farah Fath come back.
Kassie D is a great actress, but she is not a good fit for Eve. The character is despicable.
Can someone be happy on the show? I am ready for a new super couple, in the same vein as Hope/Bo, Marlena/Roman, Marlena/John, Kayla/Patch. There is not one couple on the show that has rooting value, with the closest being Sami and Kate’s friendship.
Stop pushing Jennifer and Daniel down our throat. Put him back with Nicole. Bring back Melissa Anderson. Bring back Frankie Brady for Jennifer.
Kate Mani is a star in waiting. I love her character.
I love Hope and Aidan together, but please close this crazy storyline with Bo leaving his family to work undercover. Kristian A has been left drifting for too long.
Stop making Marlena so proper. Give her an edge. Deidra Hall has turned into the biggest bore on the show. Drake returning has not provided one spark.
Here are some storyline ideas. Let’s have another Salem Stranger Part II storyline and get rid of a lot of dead weight. This could make room for a Salem Reboot, Part II. Let’s see something that takes Kate to her knees, such as breast cancer. Lauren K has been a favorite for years. Let’s see Kristian A be given a storyline with the same acting depth as what she showed during Zack’s death. Hope being raped could have long-term impact on the character.
The show needs more romance and less bitchy characters. I am so sick of every female on the show trying to out-bitch each other. No one is in that category except Kristen, Sami and Kate.
Ive mention under different threads about having Kristen return with a baby she passes as Bradys but soon learns its Erics who at first finds it extremely difficult to accept this child but a sympathetic Nicole helps him through it and re-earns his love while Marlena struggles to accept a grandchild from her no.1 enemy! I also once mentioned the return of the Salem Strangular and i want John to awaken from his coma thinking he is the real Roman Brady, that current Roman is an imposter(inside joke sort of), that he is still a cop and must protect Marlena from the Strangular…i want the show to bring on Stephan Schnetzer(ex Cass, AW) to reprise his late 70s character Steve Olsen, Julies brother, as Kates new love interest who is now a conniving businessman hell bent taking over companies owned by the Dimeras and Victors as well…i want Clyde to be Stephanos nephew…he rapes Abigail who becomes pregnant but tells Ben he is the babys father…Jen finds Abigails diary and learns the truth…Jen begins to have mental problems like her mother Laura(now played by Erika Slezak) in town for the shows 50th…Meanwhile, Clyde gets Rafe fired from the police force after Rafe strikes him during a confrontation over Clyde harrasing Jordan which Clyde deliberately set up…Clyde blackmails Kate into marrying him…Clyde is shot but survives…there is several suspects including Ben who learns Abigails baby is Clydes after he raped her…Jen has a breakdown on the witness stand and admits she shot Clyde…as Jen is taken away from the courtroom we here Eve sarcastically remark ‘The nut doesnt fall far from the family tree!’ which is overheard by Laura who slaps Eve hard…Bo is persumed drowned after his plane crashes into the ocean and his body is missing…Hope becomes addicted to pain killers and Ciara, 12 years old in 2015, is becoming ill and gaining weight…Hope takes Ciara to the doctor and is shocked to learn Ciara is pregnant by a new boy she met at her school who turns out to be Rorys troublesome younger brother!!! Just a brief recap of ideas i commented on in the past!!!
i meant strangler…lol
Forgot to add i want Steve Olsen to be Jordans biological father making her a Horton and if Clyde was a Dimera then Ben would be one too…tie these newbies in to the core families…
GH should reboot. Bring back Stuart Damon and the Qs and if all that BS with Prospect Park is cleared, bring back Todd!
OMG Ray could you make it any longer?
I kept you reading, didn’t I?
I think Ray is related to Le a Marquis de Sade….kidding, Ray…yeah, I read it all. Lol
Last soap standing?? We need more soaps not less!
Why not start a soap on the Reelz channel. I dont need the F word or nudity but it would be nice if the characters could speak more like a normal person would speak. I would love to hear Nina say to Franco, “Dont piss me off Franco or I’ll get out of this chair and kick your ass” to which Franco replies, “Your full of shit, not that I would advocate hitting a women but I was a psycho killer before my brain tumor was removed!” To which Sonny walks by both of them and tells Nina not to trust Franco because he is an asshole!
Last soap standing hopefully will be Bold and the Beautiful. Y & R use to be popular but we lost a lot of great actors/actresses Phyllis Billy, Adam and the only storyline is Nikki drinking still again and Jill with that damn music box. The only good part is Sharon & Nick getting their daughter back. You could watch it once a week and not miss anything.
I think Y&R will be the last soap standing. I think GH will be the first to go because ABC doesn’t give two shits about the loyal soap fans. I say no to MM or VR.
Which soap will be the last one standing? It is is a toss up between all of them. I am the last person to speculate since I’m wrong 90% of the time.
Presently, Y&R is the most which drives me to distraction, up the wall and all that stuff. I have never been in close contact with an alcoholic, so I can’t judge…I just don’t get the attraction to imbibing to the point of oblivion. I know, I know, as someone with a bit of a brain, I should realize the abyss of addiction into which people fall. But, c’mon,…how many times are we to revisit this affliction with Nikki? Very boring…I lose interest instantly, as I can bet other viewers do, as well.
Regardless, and on a different note, am I the only one who doesn’t give a c$&@p about Neil and his blindness, or Hilary, the interloper, or Lily and Cain, who are as stuffy as Raggedy Ann and Andy? Every single character on this soap is an irritant…exception– Michael , Kevin and Nick.
No, No, and No, on Victoria Rowell. She has burned all of her Y & R bridges by her horrible racist comments. The show may need a diva, but it need a “character” that acts like a diva not her, who unfortunately thinks she IS a dive, but is nothing more than a screaming, whining, spoiled person. She didn’t get what she wanted, so she left. Don’t let the door hit ya on the way out Victoria….See ya”
Y&R will be the first to go, that is what happens when you have someone named the soap slayer as their Executive Producer!! GH will be the last to go. It is the only soap left that is entertaining to watch and the cast unlike Y&R is not full of egos that have been their since the beginning. GH is fun, fast ,and furious. Y&R is dead. dull and dweller. The other two, never cared!!
Should have been more careful with that champagne. The last time a toast was raised, Lilly blew up in a car.
First of all to all of you so upset about Victoria Rowell’s comment concerning racism, she listed some very valid reasons for she felt that way. Yes I know, you all have good excuses why it is not and you always do. In your eyes there is no such thing as racism and maybe never was. But the fact that you can’t get beyond that right now and just understand that she would make great tv speaks volumes about yourselves as YOU pertain to racism yourselves. It reminds me of an old expression, “the lady doth protest too much, methinks”. If it weren’t true than what difference would it make if she came back? Why does it bother SOME people so much, strike such a chord? Why? Because the TRUTH hurts. I LOVE Michael Muhney as Adam and victoria rowell. But let’s be honest, one accused of groping young girls or one who stood up for what she believed was right even though the odds were against her and she would be ostracized, maybe even BLACK listed (excuse the pun, lol). Playing devil’s advocate, I’ll put differently, who should we pick one accused of groping young girls or one who gave her experienced opinion and we disagree. Honestly they are both great tv and I wish both could come back.
By the way, I stopped watching Y&R a couple years after VR left, when I realized they were not bringing her back and I will only return when she does. I started watching Y&R in 1975, I was a kid, but every chance I got, holidays snow days, sick days, whenever.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Favorites Making Returns: Alison Sweeney, Christie Clark, Chandler Massey and Bryan Dattilo
Great news for Days of Our Lives fans, now that Ryan Quan is co-head writer of the long-running soap opera. Coming in June of 2027 (since DAYS tapes ten or so months ahead), you can look forward to the returns of Alison Sweeney (Sami Brady), Christie Clark (Carrie Brady), Chandler Massey (Will Horton) and Bryan Dattilo (Lucas Horton).
The foursome is back on set and began last week to tape their upcoming story arc, according to TV Insider. As to what exactly is going on that brings sister Sami and Carrie’s history back up, as well as Will and Lucas’ is only being teased at this time, but suffice to say, it should be intriguing.
Alison Sweeney explained on being back on set, “It was a lot of dialogue and emotion, but with all the best actors to work opposite, we fell into it as if no time had passed. It was really wonderful.”
Photo: JPI
As to working with the longstanding rivalry of Sami and Carrie, Alison added on working with Clark, “So, it really does feel like we’re sisters. It’s so fun, and she’s such a good actor that she makes everything so natural that you can really disappear into those stories.”
JUST LIKE OLD TIMES
It also seems like the deep-history, which often had the sister fighting for the love of Austin Reed, but that might not figure into the equation this time, or will it?
Alison indicated what she thought of the scripts she was given. “I felt like when I read it, it was a page-turner. I was very excited. There’s a lot of history here, and a lot of things that haven’t been said. So, it’s really not like, ‘Oh, rehashing stuff.’ And now having played some of the scenes, I’m psyched.” Sweeney added, as for the men, working again with her on-screen son, Chandler Massey and Will’s on-screen father Bryan Dattilo, was also extra special.
The last time DAYS viewers saw Sami on the canvas was back in November of 2025, when she revealed she has gotten engaged to never-before-seen Dante Vitali. As for Clark, she last visited Salem for the episodes surrounding John Black’s memorial in June of 2025.
Chandler Massey’s Will Horton last made a visit to Salem in November of 2025 when he attended the gala for the Tom Horton Free Clinic as part of the soap opera’s 60th anniversary celebration. Bryan Dattilo was last seen in December of 2025. So, by the time we see all four again it will be close to two years since they were on new episodes of the series. Time to look forward to June of 2027.
So, excited by the news of Alison, Christie, Chandler and Lucas making a return to Days of Our Lives? What do you think the story will be involving, Sami, Carrie, Lucas and Will? Let us know via the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Alum Al Calderon Talks On His Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes as Javi Hernandez (Exclusive)
Last Tuesday, Al Calderon scored the first Emmy nomination of his career for his role as Javi Hernandez on Days of Our Lives.
Calderon name was announced as one of the performers competing for gold in the Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series category at the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards on October 30.
This week, Calderon chatted live on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel for a one-on-one conversation where he discussed: his nominated scenes and time on the Peacock streaming soap opera, his decision to leave DAYS, his role of Nico Silva on Brilliant Minds and its sad cancellation, plus his passing the torch of Javi to Jacob Martinez, who took over the role on-screen on the June 30, 2026 episode of Days of Our Lives.
Photo: JPI
JAVI REVEALS TO LEO THAT HE HAD A DAUGHTER WHO DIED
Al revealed the scenes that comprise his now Emmy-nominated reel have at its epicenter the heartbreaking moments from the September 12, 2025 episode. In it, Javi shares for the first time to Leo (Greg Rikaart) that he had a daughter named Solana, with a woman he was seeing named Sylvia. One fateful day, Sylvia left their child in a car when she went to work and the little girl died. Javi had blamed himself for not being the parent to take his daughter to school that day since he was hungover the night before, therefore it opened up the opportunity for something to happen to the his child, and it did.
The multi-talented actor/singer explained his reel: “It was the scene where he is talking about his daughter to Leo. I also included the scene where Javi goes to talk to Melinda (Tina Huang) and to see if it would be a viable option to adopt, because I wanted to introduce the subtlety and nuance of why Javi kind of has this whole connection to Tesoro, in a way.”
It is true that Al can bring the tears and make us cry right along with him during his run as Javi. To that, Calderon added, “I’ve read the comments that I’m a little bit of a crybaby, so I didn’t want the entire reel to be of me crying, but I wanted it to show a little bit of an emotional range of the restraint that Javi was feeling so I included that scene
In addition Calderon shared, “I also included a really beautiful scene with Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez, DAYS) where I’m looking at photos of Tesoro, and of course, Javi is crying. I just wanted to show the relationship between Javi and his family as well, and as I mentioned the reveal of the child that he lost.”
Photo: JPI
ALUMS AL CALDERON AND ALICE HALSEY REPRESENT DAYS OF OUR LIVES IN EMERGING TALENT CATEGORY
In a twist of fate, Calderon is also nominated in the Emerging Talent category with Alice Halsey who played Rachel Black. Halsey is currently starring in the reboot of Little House on the Prairie in the lead role of Laura Ingalls on Netflix.
As to his hope on Emmy night, Al expressed, “Of course, I want to win, but Alice Halsey is going to give me a run for the money. And if’s not me (who wins the award), it better be her!”
You can check out the full interview with Al below.
Now let us know, do you remember Al’s emotional scenes when he explained to Leo he had a daughter who died, which made it all the more heartbreaking to not end up with permanent custody of Tesoro? What do you think of Al’s chances to win the gold based on his Emmy scene selection? Do you miss him as Javi? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
Emily O’Brien Talks On Her Y&R Past as Jana Hawkes and Working with Peter Porte on ‘Days of Our Lives’
On the latest edition of Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart which dropped on Tuesday, July 21, Emily O’Brien is the featured guest. As soap fans know, Emily has worked with Rikaart both in her first soap role on The Young and the Restless as Jana Hawkes and now on Days of Our Lives in her current role of Gwen Rizczech.
While Emily continues on DAYS, she has very impressive list of credits in the other part of her career as a voice-over actress and one in motion-capture in some of the most popular video games in the world.
O’Brien was first seen on The Young and the Restless back in 2006. She recalled her landing the role which eventually paired her for her five year run with Greg Rikaart.
Photo: JPI
BEING CAST ON THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
“The role was just a few days and she wasn’t even supposed to be English,” Emily recalled. “The role was originally called Jade. Karen Rae, the casting director of The Young and the Restless at the time said to me “Oh, you’re from England. Try it with the dialect.” I put it on and she said, ‘I’m going to bring you back at like 3 for s callback.’ So then they changed the role to Jana and they said she’s going to be a Brit. I was only supposed to be on for like five episodes and it turned into 5 years.”
In explaining why she loved crazy Jana, Emily shared, “Jana was sort of like the misanthrope. She was just was the odd one out and I loved it. I felt so comfortable playing that because she was just eclectic and weird and she loved playing with Ouija boards and she rode a motorbike. There was just so much color to bring to her. It was just such a great match to play with Greg (Kevin), and Christian LeBlanc (Michael) and Tracey Bregman (Lauren).
Photo: JPI
GWEN, DIMITRI AND LEO ON DAYS OF OUR LIVES
On Days of Our Lives, the Leo, Gwen, Dimitri dynamic is quite unique and been through many schemes and entanglements. Often Emily finds herself in repartee with her ex-lover, Dimitri, who turned out to be gay and then had a thing for her bestie, Leo (Greg Rikaart)!
During the conversation, Greg and Emily sang, Peter Porte’s praised with O’Brien expressing, “Peter is just ready to play. He comes on set prepared. I’ve never seen him with his script. From blocking and rehearsals, he doesn’t have it. He’s prepared. He’s a physical actor and he always trying to come up with something. I think he let me slap him. He let me kiss him. He let me throw a cheeseburger in his lap. He’s ready for anything for anything.”
You can catch the full episode of ‘Soapy; featuring Emily O’Brien below where the actress also talks about replacing Jen Lilley as Theresa Donovan after being let go as Gwen; and being paired again with Greg Rikaart on the Peacock streaming soap opera this time as best friends and more.
So, were you a big Jana Hawkes and Kevin Fisher fan on Y&R? Did you like them as a couple? Do you like the dynamic between Emily and Peter Porte and Greg Rikaart on DAYS? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Serena Sets Her Sights on Michael; Jason’s Emotional Exit from the Mob
‘General Hospital’ Fan Club Weekend 2026 (Photos)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie is Disowned By The Logan Sisters
GH Alum Nicholas Alexander Chavez Lands Role in Paramount’s Remake of ‘Possession’
‘General Hospital’s’ Steve Burton Reveals His Lead Actor Daytime Emmy-Nominated Reel Did Not Contain Monica’s Funeral
‘General Hospital’ Ethan Lovett Recast: Christian Howard Replaces Nathan Dean
‘General Hospital’ Alum Colin Cassidy to Appear in Ryan Murphy’s ‘The Shards’
Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun Written Out of The Young and the Restless
Rosie O’Donnell Says She Will Return to ‘The View’ During its Season 30
WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night Two: Top 5 Takeaways
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Serena Sets Her Sights on Michael; Jason’s Emotional Exit from the Mob
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Preview: Katie is Suspicious of Dylan and Warns Will, Steffy Takes Off to Monaco
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Recaps1 week agoTHE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie is Disowned By The Logan Sisters
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General Hospital4 days agoGH Alum Nicholas Alexander Chavez Lands Role in Paramount’s Remake of ‘Possession’
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General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’s’ Steve Burton Reveals His Lead Actor Daytime Emmy-Nominated Reel Did Not Contain Monica’s Funeral
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General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’ Ethan Lovett Recast: Christian Howard Replaces Nathan Dean
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General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’ Alum Colin Cassidy to Appear in Ryan Murphy’s ‘The Shards’
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General Hospital3 days agoGENERAL HOSPITAL: Ethan Lovett Hightails Out of the Country, Christian Howard Wraps His Stint
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News5 days ago‘The Young and the Restless’ Names New Co-Head Writers: Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor
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News5 days agoY&R’s Billy Flynn and Gina Comparetto Reveal Birth of Their Third Child and It’s a Girl!
