Days Of Our Lives
Susan Banks Returns To DAYS! What Were Your First Impressions?
Courtesy/NBC
Let’s not be, “MEAN, MEAN, MEAN!” On yesterday’s episode of NBC’s Days of our Lives, finally Daytime Emmy winner Eileen Davidson reprised her role of Susan Banks, the mother of EJ DiMera (James Scott), and the woman who Stefano (Joe Mascolo) and Kristen used to be a Kristen-lookalike to trap John into marriage!
Now in September2014, Susan shows up on EJ’s doorstep, and he just doesn’t know what to make of her return to Salem or what to do with her around! Especially, when she kind of lets him know she is not to keen on Sami (Alison Sweeney)! Susan says she feels that something bad is going to happen to her son and came to warn him and bring him back to England with her and Edmund! After EJ tells her that he is not leaving Sami behind, Susan says she can come with them.
But what is the ominous feeling that Susan has? Could this help facilitate the final exit of EJ as played by James Scott? And let’s not forget: on today’s episode Susan will come face to face with her arch nemesis Kristen! Raise your hands, if you can’t wait to see Eileen Davidson play against herself on-screen!
So, what did you think of the 2014 rendition of Susan Banks? Share your thoughts below and watch a video review of yesterday’s DAYS after the jump featuring Susan’s entrance!
A tad bit too GH style campiness but still somewhat fun to watch and does add much needed humor to the show…yes, i believe Susans Banks return is related to the departure of E.J. and Sami…it should be fun to watch Eileen confront herself as Susan and Kristen…maybe theyll switch places and Kristen leaves town as Susan and Susan as Kristen is given a drug not to remember who she really is and eventually gets in trouble for something the real Kristen has done…just a thought!…P.S.,…I smell emmy nomination next year!!!
You can never have too much camp on a soap. That’s what I tune in for!
I agree with you about your comment re: General Hospital. I am growing very tired of General Hospital these days-which is sad, because I have watched since the early ’80’s. I do love Susan Banks. I think she will be enjoyable in this short story arc. I absolutely love Eileen Davidson-so talented! I was thrilled that she won an Emmy this past year-most deserved! I wish that she would stay longer on DOOL!
Emmy Nod for sure next year and I DO believe Kristen and Susan will have a major face off soon, that is a given!! Like you said Jimh, campy but fun to watch!!
It was a better memory than to see Susan again. Actually, it was sophomoric and really bad for all involved. Awful. Send her back to London immediately.
Hi Ruby…we must have seen a different Days because Eileen as Susan was incredibly entertaining. IMO. It is called comedic relief which was so desperately needed after all the dramatic goings-on ad nauseam.
Davidson plays three different women on two different shows…that’s a lot of masks to interchange. She assumes three different personalities without missing a beat, and she keeps it all aligned…what a chameleon…WOW !!!!
CeeCee: You are right about Eileen! The three characters that she portrays are very different. Ashley is a heroine. Kristen is multi-dimensional-emotional, vulnerable, broken, with evil all rolled up into one. Susan has a child-like innocence who loves her son with her whole heart and admires her friend “Dr. Marlena Evans.” I watched the episode three times. I could not stop laughing! I just love Eileen!
Totally agree with you Ruby…..it was so painful to watch I just had to fast forward past all the scenes with Susan
Love Susan banks. Kiddos to Eileen Davidson
I had to keep rewinding Susan’s scenes because I thought she was hilarious! I love Susan’s awkward demeanor and mannerisms. Honestly, I just love Eileen Davidson!
I’m a fairly new watcher, but even I recognized her as the same actress who plays Kristen – the Billy Bob teeth and the 8 Dollar dark wig and dime store glasses didn’t get past me – cute, sort of funny – I guess. The show does need some humor that’s for sure. Plus, it’s almost in time for Halloween.
I thought they should have made her age a little. It was too lame to bring her back exactly like she was before. Give her a little gray hair or something.
They could have found a better wig for her, one that wasn’t so obviously fake– but aside from that it was nice to finally see EJ with his mother—not sure what all this danger stuff is that she is speaking about but we will have to assume this is the way EJ will be taken off canvas. Looking forward to dual roles scenes today.
Hey, Mary. I suppose one can call it a mother’s intuition. Susan senses, or more aptly, smells danger for her son. You are correct, IMO , that her appearance is to escort EJ out of Salem.
I also believe that the danger will come directly from Clyde, the Hyde.
Eileen Davidson can do no wrong imo. This woman is on 3 different network shows, playing 18,000 different characters!!! She is wonderful!!
Hilarious
Why in the world do they use Eileen Davidson in this role?? “Susan” looks so much like Kristen that it’s distracting and embarrassing. Is it supposed to be funny?
Hi Betsy, Several years ago, Susan was hired by Stefano because she looks like Kristen. Susan’s job was to give birth to EJ so Kristen could fake her pregnancy by John and pass Susan’s child off as the son of Kristen and John. Susan studied Kristen’s walk and talk and had special Kristen teeth and had her hair dyed.
Susan fell for John and posed as Kristen whom she locked in a secret room where Marlena was held prisoner by Kristen. Susan was found out at the Kristen (really Susan) wedding where her teeth flew through the air!
It is supposed to be funny and sometimes serious and almost always seriously funny!!!
If you wanted to, you can google Susan Banks or any other character and learn so much more than I can tell you.
I hope you become a fan of DAYS if you aren’t already!!!
Thank you, 4ever. I did as you suggested to Betsy on Monday. I have been watching for 6 years, so I am not too familiar with Susan either; except for what my Mom and Gran re-tell me. Davidson is such a great actress and her portrayal of herself as Susan is hilariously to die for. That voice….those squinty eyes and facial expressions….Those teeth…haha !!
All in all I give them credit for taking something that had become totally boring EJ and Sami and bring wonderful humor back into the situation….Days has totally forgot about humor for way to long! Susan was a perfect way to give some of it back, and still keep the important stories happening with her premonition of Evil in the house.
It’s funny-I find EJ and Sami boring, too-I’ve never been a fan of the pairing. I always liked EJ and Nicole (I find Eric and Nicole very boring). I think that Daniel and Kristen have some spark, too…
I was pleasantly surprised that the current Days writers, who write the show in such a boring and un-dramatic way, were able to capture the essence of Susan Banks and the Reilly era. I was impressed! Hats off the dialogue writer for these episodes, not to mention Eileen Davidson for delivering a terrific performance. She deserves another Emmy because these episodes showed how she can play someone so completely different from Kristen.
I loved seeing the Marlena/Susan friendship again. Deidre Hall was radiant in those scenes, and I love how she and Eileen have such different chemistry when playing friends! Alison Sweeney played Sami in a natural way that usually only comes across in scenes with Lucas. And James Scott was also good at EJ. He’s a little embarrassed by his mother (aren’t we all at some point?), but deep down he loves her dearly. The Kristen/Susan faceoff was exciting and I was surprised Days had the budget to do a split-screen and show them in the same shot! And they had Susan and Kristen change positions in a scene! Wow! The writers also remembered all the great character things about Susan, like “mean, mean, mean”, “Kris-TAN”, “vampires, pork rinds, and her crush on John! I love that Susan carries a photo of her wedding to John in her purse at all times! I am on such a “Susan high” right now. Days did a great job with this, and I am very surprised to be giving Tomsell kudos considering they’ve made such a mess of this show.
I was laughing so hard watching this episode-“evil, evil, evil,” “mean, mean, mean,” “Kris-tan,” and then whenever she pulled out the garlic, I think I howled! Loved when Kristen called Stefano and he called her a “piece of lint.” I just love Susan’s mannerisms. She cracks me up! Way to go, Eileen!
So glad to see Susan again. Although it felt like something was missing in the portrayal. I don’t know what. Guess I’d have to see some old Susan scenes to know. Maybe it’s because it’s just been a while.
I was thinking that her return might be to help ease EJami out of Salem.
Eileen Davidson can sure play that role!
HA-LARIOUS!
I have been waiting for the day that Eileen would play Susan opposite her grown up baby boy EJ. James looked like he was biting anything in his mouth just to keep himself from laughing.
I love that DAYS sticks to good old fashion, down to earth drama, but intersperses these moments that bring the levity. The weed donuts were one, a while back their 4th of July Oscar movie episode was another. It’s not farcical, just some special, bright moments.
These scenes were great. I was thoroughly entertained. I’m glad DAYS took advantage of having Susan while Eileen (and James!) were still on and available!
That “good old fashion, down to earth drama” drove this viewer away. I grew up on high drama and melodrama like Carly Buried Alive, Marlena’s Possession, Gina/Hope, etc. Days in its current incarnation is broken and boring. It no longer appeals to me.
It stings seeing Days as an imitation of a CBS soap instead of embracing its identity as a Gothic, supercouple soap.
I can see why you might say that. I can’t disagree that it’s a vastly different show than it was under James Reilly. But I would argue DAYS is no where near as, pardon me, stuffy as YR or repetitive with one storyline as B&B. It still maintains the DAYS quality, without being as theatrical and exaggerated as it used to be. It’s a matter of taste, but I’m very happy with the balance of mostly smart drama and romance, peppered with some light moments when we don’t expect it.
I’m not sure how the cast and Eileen herself were able to keep a straight face! I was laughing so hard when Susan went to University Hospital (and her interaction with the Maxine).
Jules, it’s great that you’re happy with the current Days, but I have been driven away from my formerly-favorite soap and it hurts. It makes me very unhappy to see the mess it’s become.
alistaircrane: I feel that way with General Hospital. It’s unfortunate, but I think that it has lost its core and balance. Days, I think-is back on track. What characters, parts, or storylines are you unhappy with? I like most of the characters and storylines. I don’t care much for Theresa, and I think that the storyline involving Eve is a waste of Kassie DePaiva’s talents. But, I do love Kristen; I think Nicole is hilarious, love Kate’s fashion, like Hope and Jennifer’s friendship, and I love Victor’s one-liners.
Can never get enough Susan – great to see her back. Too bad Vivian and Ivan are gone – those 3 were always hilarious together!
I don’t watch Days regularly anymore but I do greatly appreciate moments like these!
Eileen is just great! yeah its a crazy character but Eileen nailed it regardless….
Brilliant work by Davidson, per usual. She always gives 100% as her kooky alter egos. Humor (which is not the same as camp, look it up) and daytime soaps go way, way back, long before Kristen DiMera appeared. Characters and scenes played for laughs give the show balance.
DISGUSTING~! Why portray her as such a dolt with a BIG problem – did not fit the show
I dissagree Eileen Davidson played such a great character, the Susan thing is just Hilarious why wouldnt everyone not like Susan!!!
Days Of Our Lives
Sydney Malekeh Joins the Cast of ‘Days of Our Lives’ in Mystery Role: Who Do You Think She’s Playing?
There’s a new gal coming to Salem, or is she new and a recast? That’s what inquiring minds from Days of Our Lives fans have been trying to figure out since the Peacock soap opera dropped an Instagram video heralding actress‘ Sydney Malekeh’s arrival in Salem.
The soap did confirm that viewers will first see Malekeh on the September 9 episode. In the video, Malekeh is seen going set to set from her dressing room and in to the halls of Days of Our Lives studios.
What we do know id that Sydney has been acting professionally for 6 years and had appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, Apple TV’s Shrinking and the HBO Max’s The Sex Lives of College Girls.
Plenty of Malekeh’s DAYS castmates jumped into the comment thread with positive emojis symbols or written excitement including: Paul Telfer (Xander), Linsey Godfrey (Sarah), Sal Stowers (Lani), Conner Floyd (Chad), Eric Martsolf (Brady) and Christie Clark (Carrie) and more now that fans will finally see her on-air. Since Days of Our Lives tapes 10-11 months in advance, Sydney would have started taping the show sometime back in 2025.
DAYS fans think perhaps because the actress’ name is Sydney that she might be playing the grown-up daughter of Sami and EJ. That character hasn’t bee on the canvas since 2021.
So, who do you think Sydney Malekeh might be playing on Days of Our Lives? Drop your casting director thoughts via the comment section below.
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Days Of Our Lives
Peacock Hikes Subscription Rates for Fourth Time in Four Years; ‘Days of Our Lives’ Fans Sound Off
While recently the streaming service Peacock reported turning a profit for its first time since its infancy, now comes word that the company is raising their prices for all customers, and in some cases it stared today on August 18.
The news of the subscription rate increases marks the fourth time the NBCUniversal streaming platform has done so in four years. So, on August 18, Peacock is increasing the prices for new or returning subscribers and customers, while current subscribers will see the rate increase on or after September 17 depending on their billing cycle when they initially signed up.
Here is the new pricing to follow along: Peacock Premium (which includes ads) will be $12.99/month, up two dollars from $10.99; Peacock Premium Plus will be $19.99/month, up three dollars increase from $16.99; and the Peacock Select tier (which includes current and past seasons of NBC and Bravo shows but excludes movies, live sports and Peacock originals) will increase a dollar from $7.99 to $8.99/month.
Photo: JPI
SUBSCRIBERS CONTINUE TO PAY MORE ACROSS THE STREAMER LANDSCAPE
It was back in June that the streamer reported that aid subscribers were up to 48 million adding a 2 million net gain during Q2 in of 2026. The subscription price hikes are rampant now in the entertainment streaming industry where over the last two years for example, Netflix, HBO Max, Apple TV, Paramount+ have all raised their fees to consumers.
Peacock’s tier-levels feature not only Days of Our Lives, but reality hits such as The Traitors and Love Island USA, Bravo series, and a vault of Saturday Night Live, Law & Order, The Real Housewives franchise, and Below Deck episodes as well. Pecock Premium and Premium Plus subscribers have access to sports and live events, as well.
DAYS OF OUR LIVES SUBSCRIBERS HAD A FEW CHOICE WORDS FOR PEACOCK
As Days of Our Lives fans know, the soap opera moved from NBC to the streamer back in September of 2022 after 57 years on broadcast television. When the news hit X on the price increase, DAYS fans had a lot to say about it. Here are just a few of the comments below:
“I can’t believe Peacock and can’t come to a deal with Cordya to air old episodes of #Days. That alone would bring a ton of subscribers,” to If Peacock actually cared about #Days of Our Lives, gave the show the budget it needs for better sets, cameras, background actors and enough time to tell proper stories, I wouldn’t mind paying more. If the money actually showed on screen, the higher price would be worth it,” to “I will continue to pay for a Peacock subscription as long as #Days is on it, but did we know there was another price increase coming?” and more.
So, what do you think of the new price hike increase to watch Days of Our Lives and your other favorite shows and events on Peacock? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Veronica & Julian’ Feature Starring ‘Days of Our Lives’ Alums Nadia Bjorlin and Kyler Pettis Releases Key Art and More (Exclusive)
In the upcoming indie feature Veronica & Julian from director Otoja Abit, two former Days of Our Lives stars, Nadia Bjorlin (ex-Chloe Lane) and Kyler Pettis (ex-Theo Carver), headline the drama feature in this story of a May-December romance that faces challenges along the way.
Veronica & Julian centers on a confident and successful marketing executive (Bjorlin) who winds up falling for a younger aspiring architect (Pettis). From there, a journey of desire and self-discovery is set against the backdrop of present-day New York City.
The cast also includes: Blake Jenner (ex-Glee), Erin Cummings, Chrystee Pharris (ex-Simone Russell, Passions and Queens of Drama), Robert Lee Leng, Mark Famiglietti and Jennafer Newberry.
Photo:
LIVE CHAT WITH NADIA AND KYLER PLANNED
Now, Michael Fairman TV can share exclusively: the key poster art below, and that current plans that call for Veronica & Julian to be released and made available late this holiday season.
In addition, Nadia and Kyler will join us for a very special livestream conversation on the Michael Fairman Channel (Monday, Aug 24 – 3PM ET/Noon PT) to chat about their roles in the film, their time on Days of Our Lives, life post-soap opera, and much more. Fans can join the live chat and pose their questions to the actors as well.
Courtesy/Bright Leicht Content LLC
THE THEMES BEHIND VERONICA & JULIAN
Director Otoja Abit shared this statement on the feature film, “Veronica & Julian is about the right people who have a chance meeting at the wrong time. It’s a look at two people who don’t grow apart—they just grow up. This film is an authentic exploration of an imminent ending and how two people deeply in love got there. It aims to be quiet while telling a relatable story about modern-day relationships.”
Abit continued, “As a society, mainstream romantic films are often delivered through fantastical aspirations. I created this film believing that viewers who have experienced a breakup can relate to Veronica and Julian, depending on their perspective. They’re a couple navigating some of the most familiar obstacles in love: miscommunication, timing and pride.”
He concluded, “It’s a story about endings told through the small moments we often don’t recognize until they’re gone. With the support of the Panavision New Filmmaker Program, I approached the story with a deeper sense of visual control while maintaining the naturalism that defines each character.”
Photo: Bright Leicht Content LLC
NADIA AND KYLER GOT THEIR FIRST BIG BREAK IN SOAPS
As Days of Our Lives fans know, Bjorlin is best known for her long-running role as Chloe Lane. Nadia played the part from 1999-2023 with various runs in Salem. She is also known for her role as Lara in the Venice the Series since 2009. Nadia’s other TV and film credits include: A Murder Between Friends, NCIS, Two Broke Girls and more.
Pettis played Theo Carver on Days of Our Lives from 2015-2018 and earned himself a Daytime Emmy for his work in the now defunct Outstanding Younger Actor in a Daytime Drama Series back in 2019. His other TV credits include roles on: The Rookie, All American: Homecoming and Ray Donovan.
Veronica and Julian is written, produced and directed by Abit and produced through his Willful Productions alongside Kory Apton and Ian Phillips. Executive producers include: Nick Leicht, Gregory Sinche, Shelly Sinche, Torsten Sippel, Tim Freydberg, Ryan Schulke and Matthew Conlin.
So, intrigued to see Nadia and Kyler as a romantic couple in the film Veronica & Julian? Miss them on Days of Our Lives? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
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