Days Of Our Lives
The Phoenix Rises Again! Joseph Mascolo Returns to Days of our Lives!
Courtesy/NBC
Ah, you can’t keep the best villain on daytime soaps off the canvas for too long! And now comes the news that soap fans have been waiting for! Joseph Mascolo who was “killed-off” in early June as Stefano DiMera is on his way back to Days of our Lives once again! Salem fans circle your calendars for next Tuesday August 21st! That is when you will first see Mascolo back on your television screens.
In the latest issue of Soap Opera Digest on newsstands now, Mascolo addressed his return by stating that the plan was always in place for his comeback. However, in his absence there was a writing regime change at the top that brought in Gary Tomlin and Chris Whitesell and ushered out Marlene McPherson and Darrell Ray Thomas Jr.
Joseph commented on McPherson and Thomas’s ideas for Stefano’ s story intimating, “I didn’t think they were so credible. But they wanted to tell Stefano’s story in a certain way, so we did.” The outspoken soap veteran also did not like the fact that Stefano “died” before his daughter, Lexie. “I thought there would be a little more than we had in our last scene together. But Stefano went first, which was too bad. If there was any time these two should have been together it was at the very end.”
Mascolo also said he was very thankful to the fans while he was away from DAYS. “They always let me know how they feel and what they think,” he added. “I have always found their insights to be right on the button.”
So soapers, are you happy that Stefano and Mascolo are coming back? What do you think will happen once everyone knows Stefano is alive? Weigh-in!
Sorry, but they’ve brought Stefano back so many times he has lost his credibility as a legitimate villain. He’s nothing more than a cartoon character at this point. It’s all right to create new characters, writers, really.
IKR? I mean, who didn’t see this coming a mile away? And Jack, as well. You can only bring characters back from the dead so many times before it becomes a cliche.
I wish that they opted to keep him dead this time. The one thing that DAYS needs to do is revitalize the show but by keeping the notorious villian Stefano in the mix and front and center they will never be able to move forward. The fans know who he is and that HE NEVER DIES which just makes Days comical in a bad way.
The show should have kept him dead, got rid of Ian, and brought on a new villian but one that is just BAD ASS and not a murderous mob/underworld king pin living in a small town somewhere in middle america. It’s just too much unbelievable crap.
Sure, I like the character but when he just wasnt always sitting around. Now that budgets are TIGHTER than even the number of different characters that could have been brought on in lieu of Mascuolo’s salary would and could have made the show much better. (Speaking of characters, the DAYSaster did nothing to the enormous and dull cast. Gaby, Melanie, Hairy chest doc, Roman, and a slew of others should have died along with Madison or at least left town)
go away paul, stefano rules, he owns u
the Hernandulllllllll family should have DIE first and for most. They are epitome of useless and boring characters, shudder..
Thanks for that Jim. Stefano’s storylines are nothing but an insult to any intelligent viewer’s intelligent. That’s why I quit Days just before the shooting. It was a big lame cliche.
I returned to Days for the last reboot. I had quit the show in the mid 90s. It was great to see Deidra Hall, Alison Sweeny and Bryan Datillo again but I quickly got board with all the contrived plots and vapid melodrama that unfortunately have become a staple of soaps over the last 20 yrs. So I turned it off. No looking back.
Si I knew he was alive. Now Ian will get what he So Deserves!! Why did they before his beloved daughter Lexi? Ian’s dish will now be served cold!! Get him Senore’!!
I hope Kate is right there when it happens too!!!!
it’s been really touching and affecting… to watch Kate…. she’s really in LOVE, with Stefano… God… after all these years… I liked her with Victor as well… but, it’s Stefano, that really brings Kate, Full circle. ? She’s shown us, her true colors… When Stefano comes home… Kate will be home.
The DiMera’s are alive and well…. Classic. The epitome of Serial. The one family… to reign supreme in Salem. I cherish what Horton’s and Brady’s are left… however, the catalyst, for what drives story and channels intrigue… are the DiMera’s. I’m beside myself… ecstatic at the prospect.. of the phoenix rising once again from the ashes… and celebrating his brood… his beloved family…. Kristen, EJ, Chad… and the lovely Lex.
I thrilled that Joe Mascolo and his character Stefano has returned to Days. Welcome back .
I am happy too.Welcome back Joe.It is good to have you back.
So glad the Phoenix is back. Joe Mascolo rocks the role and Salem isn’t the same without him. Can’t wait to find out how his resurrection will be explained this time. Now to reunite Stephano and Kate! An EJ!
Stupid Ian was wearing gloves when he checked the vitals. Ian was too dumb to get rid of the Phoenix permanently.
I’ve missed Stefano. He was one of the legacy characters [along with Marlena Bo & Hope] that brought me back to Days after OLTL & AMC left the air. Since my return to Days I’ve become enraptured by the Will coming out storyline, Brady’s ‘addiction’ etc.
NO!
Being a relatively new viewer, I don’t have the history with the character, but what I saw I didn’t care for. It was a nice change to have Stefano gone and EJ conflicted over the situation. What is going to be resolved by him coming back?
Just asking…
i like Stefano but i quite agree, seeing Ej being finally his own man and more a grey conflicted character instead of Stefano’s yes man was great and interesting and quite character driven for once now i fear all of that will be take away..sigh..
Retread. How soon before that tire blows again? Not surprising, since this happens again and again and again. Don’t really care anymore. After the third time, I stopped trusting that the character was really going to be away too long. I like what they had going with Stefano and Kate, but otherwise, couldn’t have cared. Yawn.
Please allow me a yawn. I have come to enjoy DOOL but I tire of the endless death and resurrection stories here (and elsewhere). I love good storytelling but have to wonder why such important life points as marriages, births/children, and death are treated so poorly by daytime drama. People very close to me have died and what I would not give for them to so easily pop up again in my life. It does not happen and to see it on screen so often, well…
I always hoped he would return,I was worried he left because of illness,So glad he’s back!
i like stefano, but i would like to see them continue with EJ not being his son, i would like to see where he came from and who he is. but, if he turns out to be stefano’s son and mrs H’s letter was wrong hopefully the other evidence was wrong as well and hope and john arent really still married..
I really didn’t miss Stefano. I think it has been a better show without him. I knew he would ocme back eventually. I just wish we had more time without him.
Oh no!!!! He keeps comin bck and doesn’t hve any good of any1’s lives but himself! I was Glad he was gone. Ian blah but Stefano the only thing I liked abt him was his accent.
Berna..
No offense but you are loci in the cabesa!! You must have just started watching.. TRUE Long term fans KNOW What Joe/Stefano means to the show!!
I have been watching this show since I was 12 yrs old, it was my mother’s favorite show, Im not a new viewer. The only thing I like about him is his accent and how he handles his posser… but the way he treats the HORTONS AND BRADYS I don’t like at all.
SPOILER ALERT: Ej IS Stefano’s son! I wonder if that was part of the original plan as well, or is that a fix in response of public outcry? Call me crazy, but I am starting to enjoy DAYS again…I hope it stays this good!
YES I am so happy. I don’t think the show would be the same without him ever. There is no villian like stefano!!! His character is awesome. Thank you for returning him. I can watch Days again and like it…
I love Stephano and I am so glad he is coming back!
I am so happy that Stefano is coming back. He makes my day. I hope that he makes Ian pay before Ian’s departure time from the story is completed. Kate deserves some happiness and peace for a change.
euh Kate always tries (and sometimes succeeds) to destroy other people’s lives so why should she deserve some hapiness and peace exactly ?!
very happy. also glad EJ will really be Stefano’s son. The new writing team is fixing the mess at Days fast.
yes, but they still have to clean up the EJami mess
Ejami is one of the best thing on this soap, a Brady and Dimera couple : endless potential for storylines involving almost ALL the canvas.
I hope John is EJ’s daddy! Another fued beteen Stefano and his Pawn and lets not forget.. Kristen/john, Susan.john. susan.kristen… OHHH The possibiliyies are ENDLESS!!!
@Tracy.
I am giddy with excitement. !!!!!! love your post. I too, hope this is the case… oye! EJ is a DiMera. geez! story after the fact… EJ loves his father… and ditto… with Stefano… it was unbearable to go with the writers… and Joseph Mascolo said as much… and he thanks us… He hated the direction of Stefano disowning his son and “going” before his Alexandra.
The command that Stefano, Kristen, EJ, and Chad will reach…. in Salem… is present. I got you. LOL. Pure camp….escape.
My wish list… is bringing back peter blake… (Jason Brooks)… he would be excellent foible… and temptation for Hope, Billie, and Jenn.
Soaps… do translate real time drama. however, back from the dead… we should just put in the category of Escape… story. IMO. Stefano, belongs, forever on DAYS…. if he chooses to remain with DAYS… like our beloved Mother Horton… Gran. Francis Reid… then so be it. He catapulted DAYS.
DAYS… please! show us more Maggie and Victor… and Justin and Adrienne.
As difficult as it is to see what’s left of the Brady’s and Hortons’s… it would seem to me… that DAYS… should focus on the DiMera’s and Kiriakis’ CLANS. you have Stefano head to head with Victor…. and their wives… Kate and Maggie…. LOL…. woman to woman… fighting for their offspring. having said this…. and Marlena’s camp….. sammi, will, John etc…. all the elements, and certainly, gifted intelligent actors who captivate.
i adore and admire stephano so much he is the core of evil thst’s why they were inable to kill him off for good dool would be boring without stephano joesph mascolo deserves a daytime emmy he deserves one
i think they should continue with that story on who is ej’s parents only stephano would know by now who is ej’s parents
Stefano should have stayed DEAD. I hate him as a character. He’s better off staying dead. The show has been so much better without him.
Fantastic, glad Stefeno is coming back!!!!! DOOL is not the same with out him. I hope he had some time to rest and now he can get back to what fans love most,Stefeno!!!!
Saw it coming. They don’t call him The Phoenix for nothing. Happy, because I love to hate Stefano, but hope they put an original twist on it.
…… and when is Jack coming back form the Dead???? We all know that he is not dead and will be back.. they would never kill him off either… tick tock…. tick tock… I will try to act surprise when Jack is alive
I Knew This Was Coming–LOL! 😀
Days has “The Stefano Dimera Show” and GH has “The Sonny Corinthos Show”–the more things change the more they stay the same….
Days could also be “The Victor Kiriakis Show”. Well, maybe in the past, but Magic hasn’t been shown in a while. I hear they’re getting scenes soon though.
I wish Stefano stayed dead. But I’m glad that EJ is really a DiMera.
Everybody returns from the dead on DAYS. What would DAYS be without that plot element? I wish some talented writers would show us.
If a 64ys young lady could do summer salts from a wheelchair, I would be doing them all over my group home. I love Joe and just hope he takes it very slow. I hope he has a sofa in his dressing room so he can rest or nap between seen
i’m so ecstatic Stephano is coming back, killing him off however temporary this time was a dumb move, the only worse move MarDar made was making EJ not Stephano’s son though the Ejole reak up & making Nicole completely OOC & hanging with the likes of Rafe & Daniel certainly come close to the top of MarDar’s bad moves. here’s hoping bringing Stefano back is only the begining of Tomllin & Whitesell rectifying the previous writers’ mistakes.
My;; Ej and Nicole is maybe one of the worst and boring pairing Days have had therefore it was actually one of the BEST move MarDar did ! So let’s not go there again please !!!! Please, please, please.
OMG those who are not happy about his return are you KIDDING me right now??? This is the best news EVER!!! 🙂
I cant wait for your return, I dont like Ian he is no Stephano !!!!!
Some people are so mardy, of course we want him back!
OMG…. best news ever!!
To all the Stefano haters..
Stefano is one of the reasons that Days is still on, I have been watching my WHOLE LIFE & Days isnt what it is w/out Stefano!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank gawd the pheonix ALWAYS Risers! I for one. cant wait to hear what he has to say to evryone when he’s see’s them for what they said to him in his coffin!!!!
YAY!!!! Is he bringing Jack with him?
and to complete this venture, let EJ be his son. Making EJ not his sone didn’t feel right at all.
Glad to see Stephano back. he caters to the older fans.
Elated Stefano is returning.
I LOVE THAT YOU ARE COMING BACK I WAS MAD TOO THAT THEY KILLIED YOU OFF B4 LEXIE AND YOU ARE A GREAT ACTOR I LOVE TO HATE YOU .LOL
Welcome back Stefano! You’ve been missed. <3
I cant wait for stefano to come back it will clear ej and sami
Neither surprised nor excited that one of daytime’s hammiest actors is returning to one of the genre’s most ridiculous roles. Of course Stefano never dies; neither does Wylie E. Coyote in the Road Runner cartoons, which are on a par with Days storylines for derivative repetitiousness.
I am very happy to see Stefano return again. He is on of the Actors that makes Days. He is one of my favorite Actors on Days. Although I’m
Married. He is very Handsome. And he supports his age very well.
I did not know that he was that old. He carries his age very well.
Welcome back Stefano, welcome back. And do not change
your character, you are one that we love too late. You can really
act. You are truly a great and wonderful actor. He is one of the
Actors that make Days what it is.
Glad to hear that Stefano is back
one thing to say, thank God, life isn’t like this soap. I used to really like DOOL because it dealt with the real issues. But my goodness folks, how many times can one come back from the dead. Come on writers, let’s get real again and start writing like they used too back in the day when you could see your own lives through those in the soaps. This is just getting ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree.
Real issues? Bev what soap have you been watching? I’ve been watching since the early 80’s and all I ever seen were serial killers, sisters trying to steal sisters husbands, the ISA, pawns, people brainwashed to think they are someone else, and demon possession. This soap has always been a bit out there, plot driven, more than character written. Trying to figure out how Stefano is going to come back alive this time, is part of the fun. This show is pure escapism, I love it. If I want real issues, I will watch the news
I know people wanted Stefano back, but how unrealistic the story line. I know its fiction,but come on. I heard that Days of our lives is not so popular anymore could your
unbelievable story line have anything to do with it.
Stefano/JM is great. He is always right on the mark whatever emotion he is playing or scene he is in, so I am glad he is back, but how many times can one man ‘die’ and comeback? As everyone said, there is no surprise in his return although I did not expect him to be wearing the Hannibal Lecter mask – creepy.
Happy to see Stefano again…..he adds another dimentsion to EJ. Speaking of EJ, who is hotter in TV or the movies???? I want to know!! Love you, EJ.
I am so glad Joseph Mascolo is back as “Stefano DiMera”. I had no idea he was coming back and was I surprised when I saw him in the chair in the same room as EJ. The show felt really empty without Mr. Mascolo.
Although I realize the day may come when Joseph Mascolo may want to retire, I am glad he is staying with Days Of Our Lives for one more round.
Like this is news????? C’mon now, we all knew it was a matter of time before he’d be back again! I was just wondering when it would be!
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Alum Tanner Stine to Appear in ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ Starring Nicholas Chavez
Another face familiar to daytime fans has already boarded Ryan Murphy’s limited series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story which stars General Hospital favorite, Nicholas Chavez (Spencer Cassadine) in the role of Lyle.
Tanner Stine who played Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) and Steve’s (Stephen Nichols) son, Joey Johnson on Days of our Lives will also appear in the series.
In ‘Monsters’, look for Stine to portray the role of Perry Berman, who was Lyle and Erik’s friend and former tennis coach. In the story, Perry found himself at the epicenter of the murder mystery when he had accepted a phone call from Lyle shortly before the brutal murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez.
Photo: JPI
Other previously announced castings included: Cooper Koch (who plays Erik), Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny as parents Jose and Kitty Menendez, Nathan Lane as Dominick Dunne, Ari Graynor as Leslie Abramson, and Leslie Grossman as Judalon Smyth.
Photo: IMDb
In the series, the two wealthy brothers stand trial for shooting their parents in Beverly Hills, amid claims of self-defense after years of abuse, while prosecutors alleged that greed was the motives for the killing. Lyle and Erik Menendez have been behind bars in California for more than three decades for the 1989 killing of their parents.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story will debut later in 2024 on Netflix.
What do you think about Tanner Stine being part of the all-star cast for ‘Monsters’? Miss Joey on Days of our Lives? Comment below.
Breaking News
51st Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Set to Be Announced
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences revealed on Wednesday via X, that this year’s 51st annual Daytime Emmy Nominations are set to be announced in full on Friday, April 19th at 12 pm ET/9 am PT.
However, four of the top award category nominations will be revealed on Thursday, April 18th across four entertainment news programs to kick things off.
Those include this Thursday episodes of Access Hollywood, E! News, Entertainment Tonight and Extra. Over the past few years, NATAS has often let the syndicated entertainment news program handle the duties of revealing the top actor and actress in a daytime drama series, but we shall see which categories the shows unveil this year.
Photo/AP
As previously announced, the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be presented in ceremonies on Friday night, June 7th on CBS (8 – 10 PM, ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+*.
The awards will be back at The Bonaventure hotel in downtown Los Angeles, where (the delayed due to the actors and writers strike) 50th annual Daytime Emmy Awards were held back in December of 2023.
Look for the full nominations to be posted right here at Michael Fairman TV and you can follow along on Friday on the Daytime Emmys social platforms as well.
Photo: AP
The Daytime Emmy Awards have recognized outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts since 1974, honoring work in a variety of categories, including daytime dramas, talk shows, instructional programming, hosting, culinary, and legal/courtroom programs. In 2021, NATAS and the Television Academy jointly announced plans to realign the Daytime and Primetime Emmy Awards to be organized by content genre, as opposed to program airtime.
The 51st Daytime Emmy Nominations will honor the work and achievement from the calendar year of 2023.
So, who would you like to see in the running for gold when the Daytime Emmy nominations in the key acting and show categories are revealed? Share your thoughts below.
Let the countdown begin! #DaytimeEmmys nominations are coming this Friday at noon ET, with a special sneak peek tomorrow on @accesshollywood @enews @etnow @extratv! pic.twitter.com/aL5PFYXBCL
— Daytime Emmys (@DaytimeEmmys) April 17, 2024
Days Of Our Lives
Days of our Lives wins WGA Award for Daytime Drama Series
Sunday night, April 14th in concurrent ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York City, the Writers Guild of America is handing out their 76th annual WGA Awards in the fields of motion picture, television, news media, and radio/audio.
In the Daytime Drama category, Peacock’s Days of our Lives was the winner, taking home its fourth WGA Award in this category in a row.
The DAYS winning writing team consisted of Head Writer Ron Carlivati Creative Consultant Ryan Quan and Writers Sonja Alar, Jazmen Darnell Brown, Joanna Cohen, Carolyn Culliton, Richard Culliton, Cheryl Davis, Kirk Doering, Christopher Dunn, Jamey Giddens, David Kreizman, Henry Newman, Dave Ryan, and Katherine D. Schock.
Photo: JPI
The team from Days of our Lives bested the only other team in the category from General Hospital, which consisted of former GH head writers: Dan O’Connor, Chris Van Etten Writers Ashley Cook, Emily Culliton, Suzanne Flynn, Charlotte Gibson, Lucky Gold, Kate Hall, Elizabeth Korte, Shannon Peace, Stacey Pulwer, Dave Rupel, Lisa Seidman, and Scott Sickles.
Courtesy/Peacock
As previously reported, a show spokesperson for Days of our Lives shared that the episodes submitted for the competition were #14663, #14678 & #14679, and mostly centered around the death, and the funeral of Victor Kiriakis played by the late John Aniston.
This week, DAYS head scribe, Ron Carlivati, confirmed that, and told Michael Fairman TV on the decision of the scripts the team submitted: “I like to have some humor, but it was also the funeral, and then there was Sarah (Linsey Godfrey) giving birth, and then Vivian’s (Louise Sorel) crashing the reading of the will.”
You can follow along with the live updated list of all the winners from tonight’s WGA ceremonies here.
Michael Fairman TV will have more on DAYS WGA Award win as it becomes available.
So, what do you think of Days of our Lives winning the WGA Award writing award for a Daytime Drama series for the fourth year in a row? Comment below.
Mark Consuelos Celebrates One-Year Anniversary as Co-Host of ‘Live’ Alongside Kelly Ripa
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Days of our Lives wins WGA Award for Daytime Drama Series
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