The current trend in daytime TV seems to be that soap operas are on their way out. Passions and Guiding Light have both ended in the last couple years and As the World Turns will likely wrap this fall. There are also rumors that ABC may soon end one of its soaps as well.
However, there’s some good news coming out of NBC. The network plans to keep veteran sudser Days of Our Lives on the air for another year.
Days of Our Lives has been entertaining viewers daily since 1965. The serial was created by Irna Phillips, who had her hand in creating many other soaps as well and mentored fellow soap creators Agnes Nixon and William J. Bell. The cast of the series, which famously opens with sands pouring from an hourglass, includes Alison Sweeney, Peter Reckell, Kristian Alfonso, Eric Martsolf, John Aniston, Lauren Koslow, and real life married couple Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth-Hayes.
The serial has had its share of ratings slumps, followed by ratings surges. Throughout the past decade it’s been on a fairly steady decline (as most soap operas have) but has picked up recently, besting last year’s numbers by nearly 10%. It’s currently the second most-popular serial among women 18-49.
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NBC Universal Television president Jeff Zucker stated three years ago that Days of Our Lives was unlikely to continue past 2009. In November 2008, it was renewed for a maximum of 18 months, keeping it on the air until September 2010.
Despite Zucker’s earlier prediction of its demise, NBC has now come to a new agreement with Sony Pictures TV, albeit a short-term one. NBC is agreeing to keep Days of Our Lives on for another season, until September 2011.
Of the renewal, Marc Graboff, chairman of NBC Entertainment, said, “Days of Our Lives continues to be a favorite of the daytime audience and we are thrilled to keep it going through its 45th season.” He continued, “Days has shown year-to-year increases in key female demographics and remains both relevant and fresh creatively.”
While the renewal is good news for the soap’s faithful viewers, the short term agreement certainly shows that the network still isn’t committed to keeping the drama on their daytime schedule.
What do you think? Are you surprised that NBC as renewed the soap opera? Realistically, do you think Days of Our Lives will survive past 2011?
This soap opera should continue at least another 20 years or s0! I have been watching since I was 8 years old and have been watching since. I love the EJ-Sami story line. They hook these two up and make a beautiful love story like in the past when Bo and Hope got married and Justin and Adrianne. Keep days going!!!!
please whatever you do don’t end days its my favorite soap if i don’t see it everyday i make sure i watch it on soap net i,m so addicted please11!!1!!1 don’t end it
I hope they never cancel that show!! Its a part of TV history and the only soap left on NBC. My whole family has watched it over the years. It would be a terrible decision.
help save days of our lives from being cancelled, please sign the petition located at the web address:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/daysofourlives/
My grandmother…My GRANDMOTHER, has been watching Days since she was in high school. When I was little she used to put me in a bouncy seat to watch it. So I pretty much grew up watching it. I see some of the characters on the show as family. I grew up with Samy and remember when Fancy Face was the name of Bo’s wife. I hope that NBC keeps it going longer.
I have watched Days since it first aired, but I am so sick of all this teenage garbage and miss the older characters. I know I don’t fit the demographics, but have been a faithful viewer. I totally can’t tolterate Phillip, Brady, Melanie, etc., and am seriously thinking of deleting it from the dvr so I don’t have the daily irritation.
I’ve been watching the show since its inception in 1965. Its a tradition!
Would love to see it stay on for another 10 years. However, I am sick of EJ/Sami thing. It isn’t realistic that any woman would be so fooled and make such dumb mistakes. Its time to have Sami grow up. I just LOVE Rafe!
I love watching days of our lives i’ve been watching it for years. my mom and grandmother has been watching it since it started.i hope it does not go off the air. one thing i would like to see happen to days as well as other soaps such as passions,general hospital evenanother world and santa barbara is that they would come out with the series from the beginning on dvd like they have other tv shows that way people can watch shows that they missed because they were too young or wern’t born yet i believe the dvd’s would sell… Read more »
I started watching soaps as a teenager back in the mid 60s. Days is the only soap I have watched for years now, PLEASE don’t ever take it off the air. The actors are all so incredible (and georgeous!) and it makes you feel like these people are your family. Quite simply it’s the classiest soap in daytime t.v. , and always has been.
I am a constant viewer of Days. For one hour each weekday I can forget about the problems in the outside world and live, laugh, cry and love with my adopted family on Days. It is nice to help solve the problems in Salem and I certainly enjoy the well-acted soap. Love E.J. and Sami together. E.J. is the bad boy you grow to love. Sami has branched out in the TV world and has grown into a beautiful actress. Hopefully Days will continue to be on NBC for many years to come.
I agree with you completely, I have grown up viewing Days and I am so very sad to think they may cancel in the near future. I have discussed this with alot of people and I can assure you they feel the same as I. Please reconsider for all the fans!!!!
I hope they never cancel i dye if i,m not home everyday to watch and believe me if i can,t view it at 2 i make sure i catch it on soapnet at 4 p.m
I DVR Days everyday while I work and have a Days marathon during the weekend with my mom. Even my dad catches on to what is going on in Salem. This is one of my favorite shows and miss many of the cast members that have been let go. I really hope that this show continues for years to come.
I just hope they keep it on. My 93 year old grandma has watched Days since I was a child, and I, naturally follow in her footsteps. When I heard that they might be ending, my heart sunk. Sadly, days is a strong conversation piece for my grandma and me, and I’d be devastated if it wasn’t on anymore.
please get to the end of the syory with sammi and e.j. its getting a little sickeing and so long get to another story line this story line with stefeno,ej with running the whole world and making fools of the f.b.i. are people that stupid or you make them out to be i thought its to be real life its getting realy stupid
My Mom enjoys watching Days of our Lives. Right now, it is her favorite soap opera. Also, it is the only soap on NBC. The story lines and plots are excellent, and I feel like this soap will last a long time.. I do not want them to cancel this soap like they did to PASSIONS I WISH PASSIONS WAS ON . It will be a huge mistake.