Are sunny days in store for fans of the Days of Our Lives TV series? In an exclusive with soap reporter Michael Maloney, for TV Line, NBC Entertainment Chair, Robert Greenblatt, says negotiations to renew NBC’s last surviving soap opera are set for February. The daytime drama is currently in its 51st broadcast season.
Days of Our Lives premiered on NBC, November 8, 1965. The soap marked its 50th anniversary with a bicentennial celebration of the show’s fictional Midwestern town setting, Salem USA. This was no festive fête for Salem’s finest (or worst). Fan-favorite Peter Reckell returned, so that his character Bo Brady could rescue and reunite with Kristian Alfonso’s Hope Williams Brady, only to die in her arms, the next day.
From TV Line:
“We’re happy with where Days was this year,” NBC entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt tells TVLine. “We have a negotiating period that starts in February. Stay tuned.”
Although the show’s current deal doesn’t expire until September, Days famously tapes many months in advance — as such, it will actually fulfill production of episodes under the current deal as early as March. The good news is that NBC entertainment president Jennifer Salke is “optimistic” a successful re-negotiation will take place.
“We’ve been really happy with the show,” Salke says. “I’ve been over there seeing Ken [Corday, executive producer] and the team and the new writers. They’re an incredible group and we love the show. They got a [ratings] bump in the fall for their 50th anniversary. There’s a creative resurgence and exciting storytelling going on right now.” […]
“I’m optimistic,” Salke adds. “We need to negotiate with Sony [Pictures Television], but I’m optimistic. We would like the show back.”
Based on remarks in numerous cast interviews, Maloney’s comment that Days of Our Lives typically tapes many months ahead, is no exaggeration. Usually the soap shoots five months or more ahead of airdate.
It is a cost-effective measure for the show, but when a character or storyline sinks with fans, the writing staff does not know, until well after the audience has started losing its patience.
The shooting schedule also means when a performer leaves the show or is written off, fans usually find out long ahead of time. Any big death or other reason for a character’s absence, is easy to anticipate, well in advance.
The death of Bo Brady was only the tip of the titanic iceberg of death, destruction, doom, and gloom, dished out to Days fans since November. While NBC is optimistic about renewing Days of Our Lives, fans of the show could use a little of that optimism injected into current storylines.
What do you think? Are you a fan of the Days of Our Lives TV show? Do you think this soap opera should be cancelled, or renewed for a 52nd season?
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