Hey, all four of you who still care about what’s going on in the world of soap operas, I’ve got some news for you: This morning, NBC announced that it has renewed Days of our Lives, the best sole remaining sudser in its daytime lineup, for another 18 months. That’ll keep Days — which celebrated its 43rd birthday last weekend — on the air through at least September 2010.
A PopWatch editor asked me if I’d write a little "fanboy tribute" to a show that I admittedly still watch every day, and his choice of wording made me smile. I guess I never thought of my allegiance to Days as anything approaching "fanboy." (Soap operas are downmarket enough as it is. Can’t I at least call myself a connoisseur?) Truth is, he’s right. By my estimation, I’ve been watching Days since I was roughly five years old. And after doing some very rough math, I can tell you that I’ve given approximately 6,240 hours of my life — many of them right after walking home from Catholic grade school — to this show. My love for Days peaked in the early-to-mid ’90s, when crazypants writer James E. Reilly launched the infamous buried alive storyline (still my all-time favorite), the Maison Blanche mystery, the legend of Samantha Brady (where would be without Alison Sweeney, people?), and what ended up being probably the most controversial storyline in daytime history: the demonic possession of Marlena Brady. Come on, PopWatchers, I know you remember this fantastic crap!!
As glad as I am to see Days given yet another reprieve, I can’t say I’ve sat through an episode fully absorbed in years. The show has been in a creative slump for a while now, there isn’t a single storyline currently holding my interest, and I’m not sure that NBC has the money (or the desire) to save what is admittedly one of the last of a dying breed. But we’ll see. In the meantime I, like any loyal soap fan, will keep tuning in tomorrow, ready to spend another 42 minutes with my beautiful, clueless, dazzling, and inane friends in Salem, U.S.A.
So, who’s willing to join my shame spiral and ‘fess up to be a present (or past) Days watcher? What are your all-time favorite storylines? And if you’re still watching, what’s your advice for the show in its next two years?
I, like you, have been watching the show since around the age of five. Mother got he hooked, I had morning kindergarten, so I could spend my afternoons in Salem. And they didn’t know I was gay? However, I am glad it’s been renewed, I cant imagine NBC without Days… its unimaginable. The 90s were the heyday of this show, sadly the last few years have not been so kind, its starting to show its age. My idea to save it? Get rid of Dena Higley who’s writing the show and bring someone who knows the characters and the history.
My time with Days was in the 80s–my university days. I still love me some Patch and Kayla. Of course, I’ve watched Y&R everyday since grade 10, and continue to do so. It’s a great way to unwind after a work day (does that sound legit enough?)!
I have been watching since birth, I guess. I still watch off and on…Mostly off…:( But, I loved the buried alive story also. We used to rush through lunch in college just to watch Vivian torment poor Carly. There were probably 15 or 20 of us that would huddle around the Dorm T.V. My favorite all time couple would be Jack and Jennifer (1.0). I love a “good” girl and a “bad” guy. But, they botched it this last time they brought them back, and that is when I became a “casual” watcher. If they want to fix it, they need to move story quicker and give us some couples with “sizzle”…
I watched Days from the womb up until a few years ago. Getting a job probably had something to do with it… I used to tape it on random Fridays just to see what’s up but by now I barely recognize anyone. I have fond memories of Eileen Davidson playing three characters at once – Kristen, the nun, and the chick she stole the baby from, right? Also, Marlena possessed by the devil = best summer ever.
I’m an admitted Days-addict, and it’s the only soap I’ve ever watched. However, I’ve been increasingly annoyed by the lack of effort put into the writing, and the elimination of an entire generation of characters (Shawn, Belle, and Mimi all in a short time). Plus, is anyone else bothered how soap operas just seem to trade actors? In this picture, the actor used to be on Passions, and I can find former Days actors in the same time slot on ABC and CBS. It’s just strange – with all the out-of-work actors, why recycle so much?
I am a HUGE Days fan, in particular, a Bo and Hope fan. I’ve been watching for over 40 years, as my mother watched while I was a baby. In my opinion, backburnering the vets continues to be a problem. I don’t want to watch the teen mess and the ratings show that. They need to get back to basics…love in the afternoon.
Days was and is my grandma’s show, so my brother and I have been watching it our entire lives. Once we started school and she was no longer our babysitter, she would tape it for us (it comes on at 1:00 on the West coast, so we were still in school). To this day we still talk about the buried alive era…it’s unforgetable, really. And what about the Hope and Bo saga?? And Stephan! Ok, I could go on all day….Days is the best soap ever, there I said it. Now if only they would put it on DVD so we could enjoy forever……
I’ve been watching DAYS, off and on, since the early ’70s. I remember when Hope was a baby! It has ebbed and flowed over the years but it does seem to be on a continuing downward spiral. I miss the romance and adventure that was the hallmark of the show at it’s peak. The super couples were legendary – and plentiful. Nowadays they seem to rely much more on sleaze and steer away from any compelling romantic couples. I don’t understand it – it’s not that they don’t have the talent in the cast. Ali Sweeney and James Scott have amazing chemistry – but currently they are sharing zero screen time and are seemingly paired with other people. It’s an incredible waste. And they certainly still have the tried and true couples of Bo & Hope, Patch & Kayla, Tony & Anna – yet they are rarely seen and when they are, seem to be background filler.
So I agree that it seems they need to get rid of the current head writer and find someone who either knows the characters or will learn the history.
My mom has watched Days since it’s very beginning and I’m glad for her sake that it’s still going, if only for a short while longer. Due to her loyalty, I’ve seen quite a bit of Days growing up, namely the Marlena demon, the ridiculous age jump of Sammy and Eric, and my favorite tv character from childhood…Patch.
My mother watched Days from day one, so I got hooked when I was about 3-4. I also remember when Hope was born and the whole Doug & Julie, Mickey and Maggie, and of course Tom and Alice Horton. I loved the zany days of Bo and Hope, Patch and Kayla, Shane and Kim, Jack and Jennifer, etc… Days was a huge part of my childhood and helped me bond with my mother since I would come home from school (long before VCRs & DVRs) every afternoon and ask what happen on the program today. We always talked about the show as though the charcaters were real people/friends. I haven’t watch a complete episode in about 2 years, but I will be sad when the last sand falls through the hour glass.
The demonic possession storyline used to give me nightmares when I was a little kid.
My mom used to watch Days while I was at school. I watched when I was home with her during the summer months. Grew up had kids and watched it mysself everyday, my daughters followed me at it. But since going to work, put a crimp in watching it, haven’t really understood whats going on with it in years. My daughters have the same problem. I do know that Sammy was born just before or after my grandson (Marlena & my daughter were pregnant together), and he’s not that old! Always used to wish my kids grew as fast as their kidss did.
Days ugh who cares there hasn’t been a good soap on since Santa Barbara. The world of soaps stopped for me the day that was cancelled.
It was always my mom’s favorite too. I used to watch it religiously when I was on summer vacation in High School and while I was in University. But then I started to work where I didn’t have afternoons off and I stopped watching. My dad used to watch it on his lunch hour and I’d make him keep me filled in. I do find myself watching if I’m home sick or during Christmas vacation. I remember my roommates and I watching the episode with the Greta Coronation Massacre and I had to go to class before the end so we taped it and as soon as I got home I had to watch it like twice. So much carnage for a daytime show! It had the parental advisory and everything.
Days is a great show that I still love. Love pld Jack and Jennifer, love psossed Marlena. Nicole is my favorite character now. She is the best thing going for it. And I know the writer has this happening in her real life, but the autistic child’s story line is Boring!