(Chris Haston / NBC)

The sand will keep flowing through the hourglass in Salem, USA. NBC has renewed the long-running Days of Our Lives TV show for another season. While the press release says the show is renewed for season 52, we feel like someone lost count over the decades. Days of Our Lives premiered on November 6, 1965, so by our count, it’s already in its 52nd season. Whatever. Season 52 or season 53 is math-schmath. The main point is Days of Our Lives is not cancelled, but renewed!

A daytime drama on the NBC television network, Days of Our Lives follows highs and lows of the Horton, Brady, Kiriakis, and DiMera families. John Aniston, Suzanne Rogers, Peggy McCay, Kristian Alfonso, Galen Gering, Arianne Zucker, Deidre Hall, Drake Hogestyn, Melissa Reeves, Eric Martsolf, Lauren Koslow, James Reynolds, Billy Flynn, Camila Banus, Casey Moss, Stephen Nichols, and Mary Beth Evans star.

Days of Our Lives Renewed Through 2018 on NBC

(Photo by: Herb Ball / NBC)

The 13,000th episode of Days of Our Lives just aired on January 10th of this year. Last month, we reported the show was likely to be renewed, but possibly only for a final season. We’re happy to report that the NBC press release mentions nothing about the next season of Days being its last. Check it out.

News February 21, 2017

NBC RENEWS ICONIC DRAMA ‘DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ FOR 52ND SEASON

More Tales From Salem Are Ahead as Venerable Daytime Series Continues to Deliver for Its Loyal Audience

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — Feb. 21, 2017 — “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.”

Those words, which have drawn millions of eager viewers to their television sets for six decades, will remain a high point of the broadcast day for a record 52nd season with the announcement today of NBC’s latest renewal of the acclaimed drama “Days of our Lives.”

“We feel so privileged to be able to continue the remarkable legacy of ‘Days of our Lives,’” said Jennifer Salke, President, NBC Entertainment.” “We thank Ken Corday and his team for their incredible accomplishments and look forward to all the stories from Salem that will continue to unfold.”

Said Ken Corday, executive producer: “It’s a great day in Salem! We’re pleased to announce that after more than 51 years in the hearts and homes of our amazing fans, ‘Days of our Lives’ will continue to be part of the NBC family. We are grateful to our incredible network and longstanding partner Sony for their continued support, and we look forward to what the future will bring under the new creative direction of the show. I’m especially proud to be able to shepherd ‘Days’ into the new season, continuing my parents dream and the show’s legacy.”

Steve Kent, Senior Executive Vice President, Programming, Sony Pictures Television, added: “‘Days of our Lives’ has a legacy of rich storytelling that has traveled across generations. Ken Corday and the cast and crew continue to deliver dynamic storylines and unforgettable performances, and we are proud to continue to bring this award-winning series to audiences both in the U.S. and around the world.”

In January, Emmy Award winner Ron Carlivati was named new head writer with Sheri Anderson Thomas and Ryan Quan on board as creative consultants.

“Days of our Lives,” which aired its 13,000th episode in January, remains a television institution. The show first premiered as a half-hour drama in 1965 and expanded to an hour 10 years later.

The show is currently in its 51st season and remains a favorite among critics and fans alike. “Days of our Lives” airs nationally on NBC in the United States and in more than 25 countries internationally. The show has garnered 46 Emmy Awards, including most recently 2013 and 2015’s Outstanding Daytime Drama, and 276 nominations, as well as multiple People’s Choice Awards, GLAAD Media Awards and Prism Awards.

“Days of our Lives” is set in the fictitious Midwestern town of Salem. The core families are the Bradys, Hortons and DiMeras, and the multi-layered storylines involve elements of romance, adventure, mystery, comedy and drama.

“Days of our Lives” is produced by Corday Productions Inc. in association with Sony Pictures Television. Ken Corday is the executive producer with co-executive producers Greg Meng and Albert Alarr. Ron Carlivati is the head writer.

Days of Our Lives Season 52 Ratings

As of February 6, 2017, Days of Our Lives was averaging a 0.61 rating in the 18-49 year old viewer demographic and drawing an average total audience of 2.280 million viewers, which is not good news. Those numbers mean the show has dropped by 11.18% in the demo and by 4.24% in terms of total audience size, compared to last year.

Let’s hope that new head writer, General Hospital vet Ron Carlivati, and the creative consultants DOOL vet Sheri Anderson Thomas and former co-head writer Ryan Quan, can right the good ship Days, and keep this beloved soap opera on the air, for many years to come.

(Photo by: Jeff Katz / NBC)

What do you think? Are you a Days of Our Lives fan? Are you surprised the soap was renewed for another season on NBC? Let us know, below.