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?
I have watched Days of Our Lives since I was a little girl. Some of my best memories are of my mother & I watching the show together. Even when I can’t be home to watch it, I still record it and I hope that when my daughter gets old enough that we can watch it together. Days of Our Lives is a tradition in our family. I hope it never goes off the air. My all time favorite show!!!!!!
DON’T TAKE DAYS OFF THE AIR!!!!!!! It’s my escape into someone else’s world so that I can let go of mine for an hour each day. Been watching since I was 12 and I’m now 53 and don’t want to see any more doctor shows, reality shows, or talk shows on air, we have more than enough and they’re getting sickening. PLEASE DON’T CANCEL DAYS!!!!
I grew up watching Days with my grandmother at the age of 12. I am now 50 something. I love the 40 minute get away each day and have grown to count on it every day of my life. I feel like the characthers are a parto of my life (I am realisitc and know they are jutst characters) but they are a great get away each day from the hum drum of our lives. I especially like the religious aspect of the show and am glad it stays in even though everyone ont he show has fallen from grace… Read more »
I am 64 and have been watching Days since it began. I have heard rumors that the show was ending and was hoping that wasn’t true. This summer as all the old cast members began to return I figured that was the end and then I thought I’ll google it to see what I can find out. Much to my delight the network is picking it up through 2011…….Yeah! I can’t imagine it ending, I look forward to it ever day. Hopefully it will continue on for the rest of the Days of My Life! Nancy
day of our lives sa fait 34 ans que j lecoute ,mais taner tourne en rond ,bo and hope favorie.ce marient divorce meurs ressucide se remarient et divorce encore et encore.on dirait ces plus quoi ecris il vont perde mon ecoute moi j aime hope et bo.marlena ,kayla steve.
I have been watching Days since I was 6 years old, my grandmother always had lunch for me and my sister in the living room at 1:00 daily, just so she wouldn’t miss her favorite show, needless to say, it stuck with me, I am 41 years old, and now that it is summer, my 3 children know that everyday at 1:00 it is lunch time in the living room, so that mommy doesn’t miss “her favorite” show, I really don’t know what I will do if they take Days off the air, it has been a part of my… Read more »
I have watched Days of Our Lives since 1973! When I can’t watch it, I tape it on DVR! I can’t imagine it going off air! I agree with Delani Ryder that even the villans are family oriented!
I have always watched Days — it’s funny and current and speaks to five generations. I hope it continues. If only Sony would fund more to it, they could have a resurgence of travel and exciting getl-aways like in earlier years. It’s very family supportive even with the villians believing in family as being important. Some of the wild stories are unreal; yet they are entertaining and worthwhile watching.
i like days so must i wonna stay for good
please, please keep Days going
I have watched Days since I was 12 years old and now I am a grandmother
It is my entertainment for the day
I like how religion plays a big role in the story line
My mom watched Days of Our Lives since it started. I watched it since 1979 my grandma is 86 and she watches it. I can’t imagine it ending. I love this show I never miss it.
I do not want to see Days of Our Lives end. I love the soap I have been watching it on and off since I was a little girl I was born in 1961 and my bigma and grandma would watch it all the time and I am still watching it. Please don’t take this show away from me, pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
this show has been my favorite for ever i hope it will be around fo a long time
I would love for it to last forever! I love this show. When I am not at home I am taping it! I have grown up watching this show. I actually feel like I know everyone on it and like I am almost family with them. I know I have been watching this since I was a very little girl. I was born in 1969, and they aired in 1965. My Mother watched them and from the time I was 4 years old, I can remember watching it with her. When I was in high school, I always taped it… Read more »
I HAVE BEEN WATCHING SINCE DAYS STARTED I AM 60. IT IS A PART OF MY LIFE. I HOPE IT NEVER GOES OFF!!