The current cast of DAYS OF OUR LIVES
With such long-running soaps as 73-year old Guiding Light and 54-year old As The World Turn being cancelled, the future of the remaining daytime soaps may not look too promising but one serial is bucking the trend. NBC’s 45-year old Days Of Our Lives, which was just renewed through the 2010-2011 season, is the sole serial last year to actually show gains in audiences, which bodes well for it’s continuing in daytime for at least a little bit longer.
Having premiered in 1965, the serial, set in the fictional town of Salem, is also currently pulling in the highest ratings it has seen in over four years. In this age of Twitter and Facebook, Days Of Our Lives is making every effort to make bring in more viewers and what better way to do that than to showcase the overabundance of hunks the occupy front-burner roles and rely on what Days has always done best – tell a great story.
The beloved Frances Reid played Alice Horton from episode #1.
Being a fan of the show since I was a kid (whenever Marlena’s evil twin sister tried to steal Marlena’s husband – Don Craig – by throwing Marlena into the loony bin; I think late 70′s), it was a surreal feeling to visit the Days set on the NBC studio lot in Burbank recently and was able to talk to several of the cast members to get a take on whether they think the genre can continue to weather the tough economic times hitting daytime right now, why gay characters and storylines are still considered taboo and the loss of beloved original cast member Frances Reid. In fact, even though Reid passed away in February, the show hasn’t dealt with the death of Reid’s Alice Horton until this week. A slew of former cast members will be descending on Salem in the next few weeks to pay their respects so for long-time fans of the show, it will be a melancholy trip down memory lane.
BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?
Everyone involved in soaps today is aware of the penny-pinching and bottom line watching that the entertainment business is focusing on these days and, for some of them, they’re taking the hits as best they can by accelerating production and seeing lower amounts on their once lucrative paychecks. “We’ve had to take pay cuts as actors,” said Galen Gering, who has played the rugged Rafe Hernandez on Days since 2008 when the soap Passions was cancelled. “Across the board our show cut 40% and that’s a huge number and we have to do more for less. I think that’s indicative in so many realms whether you’re making cars or soap operas.”
Kristian Alfonso has played Hope off and on since 1981.
Kristian Alfonso, whose alter ego, Hope Brady, has been with the show since 1983, is doing her best to maintain a positive outlook on the future of the show and of daytime television. “I like to look at life with the glass half-full. I live in the real world. I love my job and I hope that this show and daytime will be around a very long time. Not just for myself but for the viewers because they enjoy it and look forward to it.”
While Days was the only daytime soap last year to actually build its audience, Suzanne Rogers (aka Maggie Horton since 1973) surmised that there still may be a sizeable number of audience members that are not being figured into the ratings. Rogers contends that there are more men and women who work during the day so while they aren’t watching the show when it actually airs, DVR numbers need to figured in more substantially. “I don’t know why they can’t figure that out,” she said, “because I think a lot of people still watch the show but they don’t have the means of finding out how many.”
One cast member (and another alum of Passions), Eric Martsolf, wasn’t shy about voicing his concerns. “I’d be lying to you if I said ‘I’m completely confident that we’ll be fine.’” In fact, Martsolf added, he recently came across a lot of former soap actors whose lives have changed drastically due to there being fewer soaps – and therefore fewer jobs – in existence in the present day. “I recently spent a weekend on a soap cruise with many veterans who have many Emmys amongst them who are now unemployed and this was their bread and butter. This is what they know. It’s a very particular line of work.”
Is EJAMI back on? Scott and Sweeney's characters shared a kiss this week!
Love in the Afternoon…but will EJAMI or SAFE win??
One can imagine that it would be quite easy to feign falling in love with any of the hunks on Days but the elusive power of chemistry is something that everyone agreed is more often than not an unpredictable thing. Gering, who has been paired with popular Alison Sweeney (who also moonlights as host of NBC’s The Biggest Loser), said that chemistry isn’t completely out of an actor’s hands. “Chemistry is a really hard thing for me to put a finger on and understand what it really means. Do you just see these two characters together and you think they’re great and there are sparks? I think Alison and I like to work in the same ways. It’s not always really what’s on the page but a lot of times it’s what’s not on the page. There’s a lot of work.” One thing is for sure, Gering added, it takes two to make that spark between characters ignite. “I think a lot of times…you go in and your co-star could just give a shit. That’s really hard as an actor but Alison has been tremendous.”
Fans are definitely torn between seeing Sweeney’s character paired with Galen’s good guy Rafe or with bad boy EJ, played by James Scott, who burst onto the soap scene before Days with a 2-year run on ABC’s All My Children from 2004-2006. “I’ve been lucky with most of the actresses I’ve worked with,” Scott explained. “I do know of actors who have been in relationships on the show where they have just had no attraction to the person they’re working with and didn’t even like them as an individual and that makes things very difficult. I’ve worked with Alison and she’s fun and it’s really a great privilege to work with her.”
James Scott looking dapper on the red carpet
Scott further talked about the fact that chemistry also helps between the men on the show even when there’s not a romantic storyline for them to act. “As [Galen and I] get to do more and more together, I’m getting to learn more about him and I really like him a lot and that’s really important. I’ve been in situations where you have the person – the male character you’re playing opposite – there is some kind of rivalry, threat or competition and if you don’t have the right person working opposite of you it can bleed off camera quite easily.”
Superstars on daytime TV
One way to get more viewers to return to soaps is the often-used manner of stunt casting. “Soap actors are frowned upon as soap actors,” Martsolf said, somberly. “It’s a poor title especially with the many, many movie names that come here and play guest star. They’re always overwhelmed and overloaded with material and walk away from the experience and say ‘You guys work harder than I ever have in my life.’ That’s a compliment.”
James Franco returns to GENERAL HOSPITAL later this month
In fact, it was recently announced that James Franco, who shocked Hollywood by agreeing to a short-term story arc on ABC’s General Hospital late last year, would be returning to the show for another stint this summer. Academy Award nominated actress Julianne Moore recently returned to As The World Turns, where she started her career in 1985, for one episode last month. Academy Award Winner Shirley Jones (and former Partridge Family mom) also appeared on Days in 1998 for a story arc.
While the fact that big names are helping give some added attention and ratings mojo to daytime, Martsolf isn’t feeling completely comfortable about the future. “I’m nervous about the future of daytime but at the same time it’s so rooted in history I don’t know how the genre can just go away. People love their stories. They’re like country music fans. The sense of loyalty they have is ridiculous.”
The Gays of Our Lives?
Martsolf is all for gay storylines being the norm on daytime soaps
While popular and highly publicized LGBT storylines weren’t able to save Guiding Light from ending last year or As The World Turns from its own cancellation (it signs off for good on September 17th), gay storylines have been popping up on soaps with more frequency over the last decade but Days is one show that hasn’t embraced the subject matter.
Scott noticed that gay subject matter is much more sensitive in the United States than it is in his native United Kingdom. While long-running British soaps like EastEnders (which Scott appeared on early in his career) featured gay characters as well as storylines with heterosexuals with AIDS long ago, he wondered “I think soap operas are a very strong medium to address issues but soap operas in America are fantastical so how do you portray serious issues? How do you really give it legs and ground it and how do you maintain drama in the storylines? It’s not that easy.”
Martsolf shared, “I think it’s a harsh reality that there’s a huge percentage of our country that has come to see that [gay subject matter] is something that should be completely open; a door that is just swinging wide right now.” While the powers that be at Days have yet to jump on the big gay bandwagon, Martsolf did say “I think it’s time, personally. That would be terrific.”
“Certainly there are taboos,” said Gering while acknowledging that there has been a certain amount of progress over time. “Is there less now than 10 yrs ago? Of course. Will there be less in 10 yrs? If this genre is around, I certainly hope so. I think if you look at today versus in the 1950s where there were no taboos explored, there are tremendous amounts of shows that focus on that or have that in addition to representing other races, diversity…hopefully it will be embraced more so as time goes on.”
Martsolf, is the father of two with his wife, said he’d have no problem playing a gay character, though, and wouldn’t have to look far for research since he made many gay friends in his musical theater days. “I was on a bus for four years with Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat!” he joked.
In the beginning...it was MacDonald Carey and Reid as Tom and Alice Horton
A Death In the Family
Since viewers often get as attached to their television families as much as their own, it was a very sad day earlier this year when actress Frances Reid passed away at the ripe age of 95. Reid started her stint as matriarch Alice Horton in the very first episode of Days on November 8, 1965 and played the role until her last appearance on December 26, 2007. (It should be noted, however, that Reid was still under contract with the soap until her death).
Alfonso, who was 18 when she made her first appearance as Hope Williams Brady in 1981, said that the grandmother/granddaughter relationship on the show was mirrored in real life, learned from Reid early on how to speak your mind if something didn’t feel right for your character. “I remember walking on the set the first day, not knowing what I was doing and Frances was arguing with the director. ‘I’m sorry but this line needs to be changed. Alice would never serve frozen peas and carrots! They have to be fresh!’ [Alfonso laughs] I learned so much from her!”
Suzanne Rogers is seeing a boost in her storyline for the first time in years
Reid had a similar effect when Rogers joined the show in the early 1970s and was a newbie to the daytime serial. “She really took me under her wing when I first came on the show,” she said of Reid. “I had just done musicals and theater before I came onto the show so I didn’t really have any experience whatsoever with doing a soap opera. She was very absolute. She took me into her room and said, “Now look, you come into work prepared, don’t keep people waiting and be a professional and you’ll get along just fine.” Obviously Rogers took that advice since she’s still on the show today.
Peggy McCay, who has played Caroline Brady since 1983, remembered the spark that Reid conveyed, especially in teaching her ways for an actor to subtly get their way with line readings without raising a fuss. McCay recalled saying to Reid, “If I ask anybody to make a change, then they have to go talk to the writers.’ Frances said ‘Don’t ask!’ [McCay laughs] and she was right. If it makes sense and it’s the same thing, they don’t really notice. But once you raise the flag to change the line, it opens the doors to the writers’ objections so that was her advice.”
To honor Frances Reid, the show will finally address the illness and death of Alice Horton this month with appearances by long-gone cast members like Melissa Reeves (Jennifer), Patsy Pease (Kimberly), Marie Cheatham (Marie) and Lisa Trusel (Melissa) returning to Salem to show their respects and pay tribute to one the longest running characters in daytime and the beloved actress to play her for over 40 years.
The Untold Story…
DAYS Executive Producer Ken Corday
For the true diehards of this serial, longtime Executive Producer Ken Corday just released a tell-all book called The Days Of Our Lives: The True Story of One Family’s Dream and the Untold History of Days Of Our Lives. Like the longtime legacy onscreen of the Horton family, Ted Corday, Ken’s father, was the co-creator of Days Of Our Lives and, upon his untimely death, his mother, Betty, took the reigns. When Ken was old enough, he then took over and has been at the helm every since. The book is compelling not only because it gives a unique look at the behind-the-scenes working of a daytime drama producing five one-hour episodes 52 weeks a year but it also gives an intimate window into the Corday family where soap opera has run through its veins for decades.
With the upward spike in ratings and the hope that more abandoned viewers of cancelled soaps will move over to Days, the future looks good for the fine folks of Salem. One can only hope another current trend – the many sexy hunks on the show – will also continue to grow and keep viewers more than satisfied to keep tuning in. As original cast member (and now deceased) MacDonald Carey continues to narrate in the voiceover of every episode’s opening, “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the Days Of Our Lives.”
Days Of Our Lives airs every Monday through Friday on NBC with re-airings nightly on the cable channel SoapNet. Check local listings for air times in your area.
****Watch in the coming weeks for my full interviews with Suzanne Rogers, Kristian Alfonso and Exec Producer Ken Corday…and I have more in the works!
Related Posts
- DAYS’ Suzanne Rogers on saying goodbye to Frances Reid and…a ‘Mactor’ coupling??
- Rewind: DAYS’ Peggy McCay on her prime time gig and memories of Frances Reid
- V-chat: DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Shawn Christian on Tweeting, Daniel changes and the future of soaps
- One-on-One with…DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Kristian Alfonso
- VIDEO: DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Melissa Reeves & Ty Treadway talk possible coupling
Jim Halterman is a freelance writer who spends his days interviewing the top tier of talent and creative forces in the entertainment world and then, because he's that kind of guy, he brings it all to YOU! And, because we all like free stuff, check back on Fridays for the best giveaways!! (Photo: Interviewing actor Ray Ford - from DONT TRUST THE B**** IN APARTMENT 23 - at The Abbey, West Hollywood, 4/2012)
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“Chemistry is a really hard thing for me to put a finger on and understand what it really means.” this explains A LOT about GG.
the chemistry between James & Alison is effortless and should definitely be explored to it’s FULL advantage! EJami just have IT. and BTW – GREAT PICTURES! James on the red carpet – YUM!!
EJ and Sami are an evocative couple that gets everyone talking. That is the making of a great soap couple. They have chemistry for “Days” (hehe) and a rich backstory. Those are the makings of a winning storyline and strong viewership. It’s very counterintuitive to leave the vast EJAMI following waiting for 4 years. If viewers are what they are after, they need to give them what they want eventually and in this case sooner is better. Leaving an audience FFing through scenes in hopes of an EJAMI crumb here and there is surely not what they are going for but that is what they are doing. Give EJAMI a chance. Show the love. Heck the show is only renewed through Sept. 2011. There isn’t much time left at this point.
NOPE JIM…the viewers aren’t torn at all!! But thanks so much for the EJAMI love there!!
But naaa…we’re not torn AT ALL!! We know exactly what & who we want…AND THAT’S EJAMI!!!!!!! WE WANT SUPERCOUPLE EJ & SAMI!!!
And you know what else I love Jim, how people will make post about JS and EJ being a villain and such…but don’t have or know the first clue about Alison and Sami, and have no idea…that she’s actually a villain too! In fact has won SEVERAL awards for being one of soap operas greatest and legendary villainesses!!! She’s wonderful and is so super great at being soooo bad!! But more than that…Sami & EJ are even greater at love, their long history together from being with each other, to their past lives as Santo & Colleen, to JAMISON being incredible actors with chemistry that is just so off-the-charts amazing and wonderful…NO ONE even comes close to what James & Alison do and have together on screen with their chemistry & story together for years! And NO ONE even comes close to the GREATNESS of SUPERCOUPLE EJAMI!! They’ve got history and a family together and they’re just amazing and have been on the show for a long time together! They’re wonderful!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE EJAMI!!!! They soooo belong together!!! EJAMI Always & foreva & ever!!!!!!!! GOOOO EJAMI!!!!!! EJ & SAMI!!!!!! YEA!!!!! GOOOOO EJAMI!!!!
And it is sad about Alice/Frances Reid, as she’s been the first of our lovely Days of Our Lives. She will be missed!!
And loved James Franco making an appearance on daytime television, being on GH. He was great! Loved it!!
(And go EJAMI!!! Go James & Alison!! Yea!!!! Excellent job to James Franco in his guest appearance in daytime!! And rest in peace Alice H./Frances Reid!!)
Thanks Jim!
The Chemistry between ejami is powerful ,amazing if a couple never being a real couple have so much fans that says something wonder what happen when they decide gave a real shot !
Rafe is hypocride sami can´t lie but rafe can he may love her but he haves no respect for her never will be! ej would jump in fire for sami rafe never will do it ! even lucas couldn´t do it ej decide sami could shoot him because he loves her so much in 2007 !
PS forgot to add thank you for the interview Jim!
Great Article!
This is the deal – Safe has been written as the rooting couple, Ejami/EJ for the majority of the time over the past 4 years has been thrown under the bus. KC should realize that despite being thrown under the bus time and time again EJAMI remains a popular couple and EJ is even a more popular character. It isn’t the writer’s telling us who to root for that makes a Supercouple it is the couple despite the writing and in many cases inspite of the writing that captures the imagination of an audience. Safe was served up on a platter. If they didn’t have fans it would be shocking because the writer’s and now KC are telling you they are the couple to root for. Ejami on the other hand has risen to the top all on their own. Now that is a SUPERCOUPLE!
You can’t force chemistry….no matter how good an actor you are. Ejami are a force of nature when it comes to chemistry. I’d rather watch paint dry than watch “Safe” try to convince me they are two people in love.
Whether you like them or loathe them, EJ and Sami are an evocative couple that gets everyone talking. That is the making of a great soap couple. They have chemistry for “Days” (hehe) and a rich backstory. Those are the makings of a winning storyline and strong viewership. It’s very counterintuitive to leave the vast EJAMI following waiting for 3 years. If viewers are what they are after, they need to give them what they want eventually and in this case sooner is better. Leaving an audience FFing through scenes in hopes of an EJAMI crumb here and there is surely not what they are going for but that is what they are doing. Give EJAMI a chance. Show the love. Heck the show is only renewed through Sept. 2010. There isn’t much time left at this point.
EJ and Sami have an undeniable chemistry, pull, whatever you want to call it. No one that has been paired with Sami can compare to what happened the moment Sami met EJ at his door. Sami’s character has been whitewashed and EJ’s character has lost too many brain cells-that’s not who they are.
I want the real EJ and Samantha back and I want to watch all hell break lose for what has been taken from them.
jim take a look on thet! tell me you dont see the chimestry?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_O3bYl1tdQ&feature=PlayList&p=7405F155B22E36F5&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=6
this is why we fight so strong! thet kind of chimestry cam ones in a life time! i hope thet days will use it
EJAMI is where it´s at!
Chemistry isn’t always there with a couple, But EJami have had since the beginning!
Personally I don’t know anyone who is torn, it’s EJAMI all the way! The chemistry between James and Ali, EJ/Sami is beyond amazing. It comes naturally and just screams passion, hot, desirable and leaves the veiwers wanting more. Anything besides them is just plain boring and not worth my time. EJami and only more EJami please!
thanks for the interview!
Frances will be missed. May she rest in peace!
I have been waiting for Ejami patiently for years. I think they are that good and have the potential to be a great lasting soap couple. I really liked this interview. I have not been a fan of “goody” Sami or brainless EJ the past year. It would be nice and more complex to have the characters meet somewhere in the middle. Let’s hope that is where the writers are going with this one.
Thanks for sharing that interview.
Sami was so evil to Austin and Carrie. She raped Austin. I can’t feel sorry for someone who put her sister and the man she said she “loved” through so much Hell. Sami got what was coming to her and I’m glad it was EJ. She has met her match with EJ.
She is not this fragile, innocent creature who will never recover. In fact, she’s moved on from that. They both get what they want and stop at nothing. This is a Power Couple! There is not one guy on that show that has loved Sami like this. The way he looks at her, holds her, he longs to be a good man for her.
EJ is her man! Sami needs to quit running, grow up, and start building a family with him.
These two are one in the same. They are equals. Let’s get them on the same team. EJ+Sami+=HOT EJami scenes
Thanks for the wonderful article, Jim. I loved how you used all the interviews you had done and put them together in a very interesting and thought provoking article. I am looking forward to seeing so many of the former cast return and to crying over the flashbacks they will have of each of them with Alice.
As for the right man for Sami Brady, that would be Rafe Hernandez. The writers have done a great job with their love story. As others have said, it reminds me of the love stories of the past like Jack/Jen, Jarlena, and so on. Besides the great love story (I want to see love in the afternoon, not torture, lies and manipulations) Alison and Galen bring an off the charts chemistry to the screen when they are on together. I just love them and can’t wait for Rafe to return to Salem to fight for the woman he loves.
I’m not torn at all. Sami belongs with EJ!! They’re two of a kind and the chemistry between them jumps off the screen. I really hope Days gets it right this time.
I am a huge supporter of Ej and Sami. I only watch for the those two. Or I wouldn’t even watch at all. They have this forbidden love since the first time they met. It reminds me a little of Romeo and Juliet. Divdided by two families that hate each other like we see with the long history of Bradys and DiMeras. I would like to see them as a couple finally, They are a hot couple on screen together.
The only confusion as to who belongs together seems to be with the people who should know better… EJ and Sami’s story is the story that has driven this show 4 four years… I don’t see any reason for it to end now…. It’s just beginning…
Good job Jim !
Really complete article about the soap opera Days of Our Lives.
It is good that they paid a tribute to the iconic and matriach of the show Alice Horton.
The triangle Ej/Sami/Rafe is really really debated it is crazy ! People are really passionate about it ! It is certainly because Sami Brady is a very popular character.
Personally i don’t have really a strong opinion about it, i just notice when i watch the show that the actors who play Sami and Ej have a killer romantic/sexual chemistry on-screen, the most obvious chemistry between acting partners on this show. I also notice that the guy who plays Rafe has a wooden and flat acting but it is just my observations and i don’t root really for one couple or another…on soaps anyway they always change ! lol
I am not torn I love Ejami and truly can’t imagine anyone in their right mind choosing Rafe over EJ. Sami can be her true self with EJ, have a family together and with Rafe she can be a stepford wife who must defer to her man who always knows what is best for her as she is far too stupid to take care of anything herself. He is a smuck parading as a good guy IMO
I know it’s not really brought up in this article but anyone have thoughts on Maggie and Victor? Too soon to dub them Mactor?
(I’m going to be talking to Suzanne Rogers early next week and they seem to be creating some romantic stuff between them….) Thoughts??
i like victor and Maggie they cute!:) but victor is not so much nice man! i will love for you to do chat wite the actors who pleys stepeno and victor i will love to raed abaut them!
Iwatch for the chemistry of Ejami…Why settle for less when you got the best! Go Ejami!
EJAMI=TRUE LOVE, PASSION, CHEMISTRY
THIS VIEWER WANTS EJAMI!!!!!! TEAM EJAMI ALL THE WAY!!!!!!
It’s EJAMI for me. They have chemistry that is off the charts. Safe is boring to me. And Rafe just annoys me.
I am not torn at all!!! Ejami is what I want and have always wanted, and I am pretty certain that is what many others have said also. Thanks so much for the article and for the chance to have my voice heard, hopefully, someone is really listening!
The passion and chemistry is there with EJAMI for sure! They melt my screen and continue to be the REASON I watch Days of Our Lives.
It’s Ejami for me too!
I adore Ejanna Ej and Arianna, Lucas and Sami when they were on and Brady and Nicole. I stopped wwatching when Bryan Dattilo was let go and came back for Ejanna. They have explosive chemistry together and I think that should be explored. I would like to see Bryan Dattilo brought back as Lucas and Rafe’s Emily brought on for Lucas. I would love to see that storyline explored.
http://ultimatesoaprant.niceboard.biz/index.htm?sid=7cd3462a62194e32e85c3a4182a9848c
definetly Ejanna. Ej an Arianna are hot together!
When it comes to chemistry, EJ and Sami have it over anyone else. As for Rafe, it’s like watching paint dry. And he will stifle Sami with his dictatorship attitude. If this show is going to last we need to see Ejami together. The fans have waited too long for this and if there is no hope then it’s not worth watching. We need another super couple like John and Marlena were and that certainly is not Sami and Rafe.
Nope not torn here in anyway shape or form… Can only be EJ and Sami for me! They were meant for each other!
Good article, but I’m not torn about the couple with the greatest, romantic chemistry on Days. It’s hands down EJ and Sami! Before EJ came onboard I was a hit n’ miss Days viewer. I hate how EJ and Sami don’t get the scenes together that other couples do. It just seems Corday has favorites, and if viewers don’t like his pick, he just pushes his agenda anyway. I tape each epi, that way when Rafe (or Carly) is on I can ff through the scene.
Wanted Lumi, got zilch. Now it will have to be Ejami because Safe bores me big time.
Maggie and Victor? They are great as friends who spar, but for romance, I don’t think so. Vic needs to keep his edge, but Maggie wouldn’t let him.
Oh, I’m not torn! EJAMI for me. Right now EJAMI and NT Hope are the only parts of the show that are holding my interest.
goodbye Alice Horton
my name is Nicole
I have always Left like I was a part of your family.
you were best woman there was.
alice you always made me Lough times
you made everyone feel at home
I am so disappointed that “Days of Our Lives” has abandoned its long-time viewers for the younger audience. I do not watch any programming with gay characters as I am highly offended by it. This means that I must now stop watching Days when the other characters are having such great storylines. You have caved, Days and I hope it hurts you in the ratings.
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