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?
Please do not end days. I have watched it for 35 years and record every episode. If anything make it better, bring on new writers. Anything but, taking it off the air.
I have watched this show with my mom and grandma since I was 4, I am now 42, I also dvr it and enjoy it before bed, it’s part of who I am, but I will say it would feel like a death if you stopped the show, please don’t…
I have watched Days of Our Lives for over 30 years and I will be very disappointed if it goes off the air. I DVR it every day and even DVR it on the soap channel in case there is breaking news that interferes with the 1:00 showing. Days and Grey’s are the only two shows I enjoy watching and I have really enjoyed seeing Marlena and John return this week! Keep up the good work NBC!!! It would be a bad mistake taking them off the air!
I hope it does not go off the air . My dearest friend who has had MS for over
30 years, just loves the show. She never misses it as she is always home in her wheelchair. It gives her something to look forward too. Thank you.
please do not take days off ive watched it since i was a very young girl aprox 6 yrs old im 42 now that would be such a dissapointment this is a part of my daily routine watching days of our lives so many woman of many cultures watch this soap it would be devastating to take it off
PLEASE DON’T TAKE DAYS OFF THE AIR….IT IS THE ONLY SHOW I WATCH A DAY!!!! IT IS GREAT…IT IS VERY ADDICTING PLEASE DON’T TAKE IT OFF!!!!
I hope that “Days of Our Lives” is not taken off the air, I have watched it from the beginning. Please keep it on, when I’m not home it’s recorded. I love all the drama old and new. If “Days” is being cancelled I hope that “OWN” will pick it up, I’ll have to get in touch with Oprah.
Please, Please keep “Days of Our Lives” on TV. I just love it. I watched it with my Mother, and I watch it with my Granddaughter now. It is quality programming.
Please…….
I have watched Days of Our Lives for more than 30 years and I still look forward to it everyday. I hope they never cancel it. It would be nice to see some of the old characters come back and the story lines more realistic then they have been. I really don’t care for all the new characters of late…. altho, E.J. and Nicole need to stay as well as Brady and Chloe, they’ve become regulars.
Please keep Days of our lives on. Ive watched it as ive grew up my whole life Im now 19 and still watching and recording every single day I never miss an episode.. My son is now watching it as he grows and my mother and her mother watched its been in our family since the beginning. Please dont take days of our lives off the air.
I really hope they do not end Days; I have watched it for 30 years. Albeit, I was 3 when I started thanks to my Grandmother and my nannies. I have never liked any other soap opera. I really hope they don’t take this show off the air. It would be such a mistake. Even watching reruns of Friends, I still love to see the Days references. It has always been there, and should remain. It’s unfortunate that we seem to have hit a generation where everything is disposable. Stop looking for newer and better NBC, and make strong what… Read more »
I to record it on the DVR every day and watch it after everyone goes to bed. I have been watching for over 30 years and would be sad if they cancelled the show . If the ratings are going up it is because of the support of the fans and afraid of the danger of cancellation – that should make NBC think.
Love DOOLs! Hoping it stays on air;)
Please don’t take days off the air. I have been watching it fir a very ling time. And my mother watched it before me she got me into it. I record it everyday and I also look forward to sitting down and watching it when everyone goes to bed. So make all the fans happy and keep it on the air. Thank you and have a great day your loyal days follower.
Please don’t take Days off there are so many women who watch this and others like myself that record every day and look forward to relaxing at night by watching Day of our Lives.