Days Of Our Lives
Thank You, Alison Sweeney: For Two Decades Plus Of The Perils Of DAYS Sami Brady!
Photo: AlisonSweeneyFacebook
Today, Alison Sweeney takes her Sami Brady to Hollywood, and leaves the role she has played for almost 22 years as her final episode of Days of our Lives plays out on-air. Although, Alison wrapped her role back in May, Sami says her final farewells to the rest of her family and loved ones, as viewers will watch her final moments unfold on the October 30th episode of the long-running NBC series.
For Sweeney, a self-proclaimed DAYS fan, nabbing the role of Sami was like a dream come true for her! Over the years, as viewers watched Sami go through her various machinations for Austin (Patrick Muldoon/Austin Peck), Lucas (Bryan Dattilo), or whoever else was in the wake of Hurricane Sami, Alison always brought her A-game! For here was a young woman determined, invested, and always willing to learn! From her younger DAYS, to her more mature ones, the character of Sami grew up, but that fire and spunk was always inside her, and as storylines unfolded; in particular those with her last love interest EJ DiMera (James Scott), Alison always made it interesting to watch, doing some of her finest work in 2014!
On a personal note: having had the opportunity to know Alison, interview her, hang out with her on set, I can say that here was a true champion of the soap genre, who cared to make it the best it can be, and who truly appreciated and loved her fans. Her social media DAYS of Sami countdown’s, her beautiful posts on her facebook page, (this one posted today, a heartfelt love letter to her fans) as we all continued to watch the final months play out, and sharing photos with the cast, memories and moments, were a wonderful repository to those who have followed her journey along the way.
There is no one quite like Samantha Brady as Grandma Caroline (Peggy McKay) said on yesterday’s episode of DAYS, and there is no one quite like Alison Sweeney, either! So, whether you wanted to throw thing at your TV set at Sami’s latest plots, or grab a hankie when she showed humanity for her family and children, or laughed at some of her catfights with Nicole (Arianne Zucker) and Kate (Lauren Koslow), or wanted her to step up and be there for her son Will (Chandler Massey/Guy Wilson), the audience always had some reaction to the antics of Sami, and that was due in large part to Alison’s portrayal.
In closing, here’s a big “Thank You” to Alison, for bringing the drama and the memorable moments. Oh, what a ride it has been! As they say, “This not goodbye … just see you later.” O K, now we need to grab a hankie … or two!
XO’s from Michael and On-Air On-Soaps!
If you would like to share a positive comment on this post, and for Alison on her final episode of DAYS, please comment below! NOTE: No negative comments will be approved by the moderators for this post.
I liked Alison and Sami as soon as the actress starting airing way back when. Sami has been my favorite character by far and I’ve loved watching Alison. I wish EJ and Sami had had their happy ending.
I will miss Sami and Alison. Good luck to them both and thank you for the entertainment!
Love you Alison and will miss you .
I would like to say to Ali Sweeney that i find everything she has became to be the most important and miraculous transformation of any soap actor’s character i have ever seen in the last 25yrs. Sammy Brady was the Girl we all loved & hated so often off and on like a beautiful roller coaster ride we all would have never choose to get off. She maid us laugh ,she maid us furious, she maid us tremble inside of sadness and provoked great emotions in all of us. She bloomed into the greatest woman i have ever had the privilege to know. Ali You will always be forever in my family as a great member just like my other daughters Who truth be told got real life jealous of you as i spent lots of time watching you and ranting about your behavior and your growth how proud i was of you . They Knew you were playing a role but i felt like you were my daughter too and always will. I shall go on too follow you were ever you go and support you in all life’s journeys take you . see you in your next great adventure. And next yr for the anniversary for days im sure you will make an appearance . Love your seragate mom and friend always Elizabeth Harrison. Mom Harrison!!
Going to miss you Samantha Jean!!
Max: not to be a smart ass but it is Samatha Gene she was named after one of the best characters ever on that show Eugene/ played by the wonderful John de Lancie. I have not watched the show in a decade or more but he was wonderful on it. 🙂
Thank you Kay I wasn’t sure about the spelling.
Going to miss you Samantha Gene!!
I am going to miss Alison and Sami so much!! Salem won’t be the same without her!! I have been watching her since high school and always loved watching her devlish antics and search for love!! While her exit story isn’t my favorite, I wish her much success and hope she returns one day with her aged kids in tow. A better story would’ve been having EJ be alive and they go on the run from Stefano and into hiding. The Hollywood story is very cheesy. But I have stuck with Sami through Carrie/Austin, Lucas, Brandon, the Stan storyline, her feuds with Kate and Nicole, her battling Marlena, being Roman’s faithful daughter and being there for Will through his coming out. Bravo, Alison Sweeney and come home soon!!!!!
What a wonderful 22 year journey to be a part if with Alison and watching she and Sami grow. The past 20 months have been the most consistently sensational performances from Ali giving me what has been one of my favourite Days storylines. She will leave a massive hole in daytime tv but I cant wait to see what the Days team bring us to make a smooth transition to a Sami-free Salem.
Best of luck Alison and we can’t wait to see what you do next.
But more importantly, Thank you!
Allison – i have watched you since you first started on Days, and Sami and I were about the same age and we “grew up” together so to speak. I am going to miss you on Days!
AS is extremely beautiful; inside and out. AS is my favorite soap actress; I am going to miss her majestic presence and fantastic acting as SB on DOOL so much. Good Luck! AS in whatever you do. As MF rightly said; this is not goodbye to either AS or SB; just see you later!
I am hopeful Alison will return from time to time as Sami. That might be the best of both worlds for Alison and her fans 🙂 All the best to her.
PS Catch her hosting The Biggest Loser~!
Thanks! Mollie: I did not know AS was hosting The Biggest Loser. Now, I am definitely going to watch TBL.
Alison and Sami Brady are completely unforgettable. She has made a permanent mark on both Salem and the soap opera genre. I will never forget her and she will always be my favorite character. I have watched and lover her “generous, self less, reckless, I’ve loved it all” and I have cried like a blubbering baby today watching Sami for the last time in the 17 years I’ve been watching soaps.
But I’m so horribly depressed about how the show wrote her ending. I wanted a HEA for her and Ej so much I could hardly stand it. And even having to let that go, I wanted to see Sami go out in a blaze of glory. And even if I had to let that go and just watch her move away.. Maybe, but to watch her leave town to publicize every mistake she has made before her kids eyes? WTF? This is not Sami Brady, the woman who does everything and anything for her kids, even if what happens always turns into chaos. Such a terrible decision. Lazy, pathetic, horrible, joke of a SL and writing. Sami and Ali deserved more than this.
Shame on the Days writers, you had the chance to make your mark in her story, and a mark on the genre by writing an epic farewell, because the characters and actors of Sami/EJ and Ali/James could have pulled off anything, and you let it slip by. You wonder why ratings are struggling. Right here people.
Allison has been the star of “DOOL” for years. After Marlena and Hope, it has always been Sami that made the show a must-watch. She has become great actress through the years and will be missed. I hope to read soon that she will be coming back for a visit.
As we move forward, I hope the writers have a HUGE storyline to offset the loss of AS and Eileen Davidson. I have said it before, but the current group of actresses have not made a big impression, especially Eve and Paige. The time has come to bring back a few characters with great history to the show – Belle, Shawn-Douglas, Chloe and Phillip. Also, it is time to make Nicole strong again and stop the endless begging for everyone in Salem to be her friend.
Thank you, Allison for your engaging and dynamic portrayal of Sami Brady. We will miss you and Sami on Days. I hope that you will ‘stop in’ periodically, so we can see Sami again. I know you are very busy with many projects going on. I wish you all the very best, and look forward to seeing you in many different venues!
A fitting tribute Michael to a bright star, one of the best in the biz. Her loyalty to the show even as her star started to climb speaks volumes.
Her void will be noticeable. Even when she was a cast member, days when she wasn’t on just weren’t the same. It’s going to be a tough while before the show feels whole without Sami.
That ending though…..Days…come on! RC would have done a better job, and that’s saying something coming rom me! I was hoping the limo driver would have come to the door and in walks Wayne Northop (who was on set her last day saying farewell)! An o course, who’s waiting in the limo? EJ. More flashbacks were needed, as was more time to say goodbye (Marlena’s especially, but where was her’s with John?). This should have been a Sami-centered episode- as good as the other parts to the episode were (ie Kristen/Daniel, Brady/Theresa/John). I wanted there to be more surprises, more tributes, more memories. It didn’t pay enough homage to Sami or Alison as they both deserved. Love you Days, but where was the creativity, thoughtfulness, Samantha-Gene-Brady-dimera grand exit? Tisk, tisk!
it’s just SO nice
superlatives galore
for this person
1. Hurricane Sami
2. Alison always brought her “A” game
3. here was a true champion of the soap genre,
4. There is no one quite like Samantha Brady
Days of OUR Lives has stratasphere in the last 3 years…. and it’s not without Alison Sweeney
gosh! she carried DAYS for, what seems like years, on her very own shoulders. I’ll always share this
this is DAYS lights out (blackout)…. candle light acknowledge of Samantha Gene
Thank You Ms. Sweeney for bringing the audience a tour de force reckon
I have to say… of all the flashback moments… I thoroughly enjoyed Sami and Lucas
LOL… her first burgeoning real deliver
I teared up when she bade Lucas …. ” I’ll never have another friend like you”
TEARS
her scenes with grandma Caroline are a treasure
and her pillar of being…. Marlena
Thank you MF… for the nice tribute to
her absolute LOVE ‘ ing for Will… knew no bounds
just a dream story…. that furthered for SO much and many
“THANK YOU ” DAYS for helping me , with, celebrate , what is no longer that alternative lifestyle….
a gather of humane love for each
I appreciate the respect that Alison has paid to the show, the cast, and her fans. I can only imagine how bittersweet this move is for her and wish her the best. 🙂
(On a side note, can Sami please take nuWill to Hollywood, indefinitely)? HA!
Love you forever sami! I wish you had the Ejami ending I so badly wanted. I will miss you AS. Sami was like a friend, her antics were always there for me and I must admit, I cried and felt very sad. AS, you are an asset to whatever you do in life. Respect always.xxx
I have watched dool since I was 5 and I love Sami but I think they did not give her a good enough exit of the show it should’ve been better than what it was very disappointed in the situation
Days Of Our Lives
Kristian Alfonso Returns to Days of our Lives for Tribute to The Late Bill Hayes
After a few weeks of Days of our Lives fans being upset that Kristian Alfonso (Hope Williams) was not on the first list of initial returns for Doug Williams’ funeral and episodes honoring his portrayer, the late Bill Hayes, comes word that the popular star is back and taping scenes.
Kristian reported to work on the Peacock streaming soap opera on Monday, April 22nd. She shared how important it is for her to be back for this particular return to the show that made her a household name.
“My return is very bittersweet,” Alfonso told TV Insider, “because it is the end of an era with Bill gone. So to return to Days is very sad. I am appreciative that they came to me to include me in their series of shows honoring Doug and I’m very happy to see everyone, but I’m entering the studio with a heavy heart.”
Photo: JPI
It was back in 1983 that Kristian first debuted as Doug’s daughter, and now 41 years later looking back at it, and her time with Bill Hayes is very emotional for her.
“I remember my first scenes with him/ He was very loving, very welcoming. That he was very talented and an incredible actor and an icon, that all goes without saying, but my personal relationship and my working relationship with Bill, it was home,” expressed Alfonso. “Doing the scenes with Bill, I felt like I was with my dad because there was so much warmth and reality.”
Photo: JPI
Alfonso did express some deep regret, in that she had wanted to work with Bill Hayes during her last appearance on the soap back in 2023, but according to the iconic actress, there was something in the works but it never materialized. “I’m sad that I did not get the opportunity to do the storyline that Ron (Carlivati, head writer) had planned/ It was great; we returned to Salem to reunite with our families and I would have had father/daughter scenes with Billy. What Ron had written was beautiful and emotional and it was a fantastic story. I was 100 percent for it and the fans would have loved it.”
Photo: JPI
As for if Bo (Peter Reckell) and Hope will be back on-screen together anytime soon, Kristian would only say, “What I will say is don’t give up hope.” Doug’s passing and memorial episodes will stream later this year come late November into December.
So, are you happy to learn that Kristian Alfonso is back taping episodes surrounding Doug’s memorial episodes? Comment below.
Breaking News
Steve Kent Reportedly OUT as Sony Pictures Television VP in Charge of DAYS and Y&R
On Friday, reports surfaced that Steve Kent, Senior Executive Vice President of Programming at Sony Pictures Television, is no longer with the company and overseeing the Sony soap operas, Days of our Lives and The Young and the Restless.
According to Soap Opera Digest, a set side source reported that Kent’s last day was last Friday, April 12th, which was one day after what would have been his final appearance in his Sony VP role at the Days of our Lives 15,000th episode on set celebration.
During that ceremony, Kent gave a brief speech giving kudos to DAYS for its incredible milestone. Days is a co-production of Sony Pictures Television and Corday Productions, while Y&R is produced by Bell Dramatic Serial Company in association with Sony Pictures Television.
Photo: JPI
Kent started his soap opera career as a producer for CBS’ defunct Capitol and then as the supervising producer of NBC’s Santa Barbara from1984 to 1993.
Photo: JPI
At Sony, before his role overseeing the soaps, Kent was Senior Executive Vice President of International Productions for Sony Pictures Television International department.
If reports are true, the question becomes who has taken over his position, and would oversee DAYS and Y&R from the Sony side? Share your thoughts on this developing story via the comment section below.
Breaking News
(WATCH) 2024 Daytime Emmy Nominations Special Live!
After exciting morning for your favorite daytime stars when they were revealed to be nominees for the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards comes tonight 10th annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Special.
Beginning at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT, several of the nominees will talk with Michael Fairman on their reactions to the news they have been nominated for a Daytime Emmy, share what scenes they submitted that landed in the top five or six in their respective performer acting categories and much more.
Scheduled to appear are: Days of our Lives nominees, Tamara Braun (Ava), Eric Martsolf (Brady) and Linsey Godfrey (Sarah), The Young and the Restless nominees: Allison Lanier (Summer), Michelle Stafford (Phyllis), Courtney Hope (Sally), Bryton James (Devon), The Bold and the Beautiful’s John McCook (Eric), General Hospital nominees, Finola Hughes (Anna) and Alley Mills (Heather), and The Bay’s Mike Manning (Caleb).
Photo: JPI
The 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ on Friday night, June 7th and emanating, once again this year from the Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
Photo: JPI
For a full list of this year’s nominations click here.
Now, watch below as the stars chat it up as we celebrate their Daytime Emmy Nominations. If you have a potential question you might want posed to any of our guests, drop it in the comment section below and we just might ask it on air.
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(WATCH) 2024 Daytime Emmy Nominations Special Live!
51st Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations: CBS Soaps Score Most, Eric Braeden, Dick Van Dyke, Guy Pearce Receive Nods
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