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Days of Our Lives

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Days of Our Lives
File:Days2004logo.jpg
Opening Title Screen
Created byTed Corday, Betty Corday
No. of episodes10,583 (as of June 1, 2007)
Production
Executive producersKen Corday, Stephen Wyman
Original release
NetworkNBC, SOAPnet
ReleaseNovember 8 1965 (US)
July 29 1991 (France)
September 1993 (Germany)
August 11 2003 (Finland)
June 14 2004 (Hungary)

Days of our Lives (Days or DOOL) is an American soap opera. It debuted on November 8 1965, and can still be viewed weekdays on NBC. Originally, the show revolved solely around the Horton family, and has since expanded to tell the stories of other families, such as the Alamain, Black, Brady, Carver, Deveraux, DiMera, Johnson, Kiriakis, Lockhart and Roberts clans. The series is set in the fictional town of Salem.

Storylines

1960s through the 2000s

For detailed information on historical storylines, see List of Days of our Lives storylines

Current storylines

  • Shawn and Belle have been staying on an island called Tinda Lau with the help of Gabby, who desires Shawn, and her father Duck, the owner of the hotel. Shawn and Belle recommitted themselves to each other, and are in love, protecting Claire.
  • After a storm nearly capsizes their boat off Tinda Lau, Philip dove off the boat with Claire, but Claire was washed away in the storm and is presumed dead. John came to Belle in a dream and told her Claire was alive. Marlena believes her, but Hope does not and doesn't think it's right to get her hopes up over a dream.
  • Kayla brought Stephanie back to town, in an attempt to get Steve to reveal the truth about E.J to Bo and Roman. Steve agrees. But before Steve can talk, a doctor retriggers the memory control of Steve and Steve keeps quiet.
  • Adrienne has returned to town at the request of Kayla. Kayla has come up with the plan of getting Adrienne undercover at the Mental hospital to keep an eye on Steve and expose the machinations of the Dimera's control over Steve.
  • Stefano DiMera is still alive. He was living in a hospital room in Italy, found by John and Marlena, until he was transported back to America. It was later revealed that he needed a kidney transplant. The kidney was taken from John Black, who is in a coma. Steve Johnson stole him from the hospital, Kayla eventually removed the kidney from him. But it has been reported in Soap Opera Digest that Stefano's condition is getting much worse.
  • John is currently suffering severe brain damage after having been shot by E.J.
  • Sami finds out she is pregnant. Is the father Lucas or E.J?
  • Hope asked Willow to sign over parental rights of her child to her and Bo. Willow says no. Hope tells her she will take Willow to court.
  • Willow planted Chelsea's hairbrush in Hope's house. She continues to believe that Chelsea is the one who started the fire.
  • Nick and Chelsea have gotten back together. But will Nick helping WIllow with her problems drive them apart once again?
  • Lucas has exposed Mythic Communications to the SEC, who will run an inquiry on their creative accounting practices. Will EJ and Kate go to jail?

Ratings and scheduling history

Not long after its introduction in 1965, Days of our Lives became a successful part of NBC's attempt to dethrone daytime powerhouse CBS. By 1973 the show, pitted against CBS' Guiding Light and ABC's Newlywed Game at 2 p.m. Eastern/1 p.m Central, had matched the first-place ratings of As The World Turns and sister NBC serial Another World. NBC capitalized on this success with the decision to expand to one hour on April 21 1975. This expansion had followed the lead of AW, which became TV's first-ever hourlong soap on January 6, three and a half months earlier. Further, Days' new starting time of 1:30/12:30 finally solved a scheduling problem that began in 1968 when NBC lost the game Let's Make a Deal to ABC, and in its wake, eight different shows were placed into the slot, with only one, Three on a Match, lasting more than nine months.

However, this first golden period for NBC daytime proved to be short-lived, as Days' ratings began to decline in 1977. Much of the decline was due to ABC's expansion of its popular soap "All My Children" to a full hour, the last half of which overlapped with the first half of Days. By January 1979, the network, in a mode of desperation more than anything else, decided to jump headlong against AMC and moved the show ahead to the same 1 p.m./12 Noon time slot. In exchange to its affiliates for taking away the old half-hour access slot at 1/Noon, NBC gave them the 4 p.m./3 slot, which many (if not most) stations had been preempting for years anyway. By 1986, ABC and CBS followed suit, under the intense pressure of lucrative (and cheap) syndicated programming offered to affiliates.

By the early 1980s, Days had displaced Another World as NBC's highest-rated soap. However, the entire NBC soap lineup was in ratings trouble. In fact, by 1982, all of its shows were rated above only one ABC soap (The Edge of Night) and below all four CBS soaps. The "supercouple" era of the 1980s, however, helped bring about a ratings revival, and the 1983-1984 season saw "Days" experience a surge in ratings. It held onto its strong numbers for most of the 80s, only to decline again by 1990, eventually falling back into eighth place. In the mid-1990s, however, the show experienced a resurgence in popularity and the show reached number two in the ratings, where it remained for several years before experiencing another ratings decline beginning in 1999, the year that Days became NBC's longest-running daytime program (upon the cancellation of AW). Throughout the 2000s, Days and all the other remaining network daytime serials have witnessed a steady erosion of viewers, mainly due to vastly altered viewing habits induced by cable networks and alternative genres such as reality and talk shows on minor network affiliates.

With the impending move of Passions from NBC to DirecTV in September 2007, Days will become NBC's last remaining traditional daytime program (excepting the Today Show, which will receive a fourth weekday hour in exchange for the forementioned cancellation) on its mid-day schedule. On January 17 2007, NBC Universal Television president Jeff Zucker remarked that "Days of our Lives" would most likely not "continue past 2009."[1] It is widely speculated that this has resulted in ratings dropping even further to an all-time low of 1.9.

DOOL Primetime Specials (Nielsen Media)

  • Fri, January 10 1992 (8 p.m.) 14.8 million viewers (#64 out of 92 shows)
  • Fri, February 26 1993 (8 p.m.) 10.6 million viewers (#72 out of 87 shows)
  • Fr, February 4 1994 (8 p.m.) 10.2 million viewers (#78 out of 94 shows)
  • Fri, July 8 1994 (9 and 10 p.m.) 8.5 and 8.2 million viewers (#64 out of 91 shows/#68 out of 91 shows)

Theme song and opening title sequences

Opening titles


1965 - 1972 		Almost completely unchanged since the show's debut in 1965, the titles show an hourglass, as sand slowly trickles to the bottom against the backdrop of a partly cloudy blue sky. In 1966, the focus moved from the entire hourglass to the bottom, with the sand trickling away as the theme played. This version used a decidedly darker tint of blue than the subsequent versions.
File:Dayscorday72.jpg
1972 - 1985 		In 1972, the current title lettering was introduced, a condensed version of the Times New Roman typeface in yellow coloring (before then, the show's title was in generic caps). The title card would also say "Copyright 1972 by Corday Productions, Inc." While the copyright was only for the title sequence, viewers would become confused in later years, as the 1972 copyright notice stayed on the title sequence until 1985.
File:Daysofourliveslogo.jpg
1985 - 1993 		No huge difference came in 1985's titles revision, save for the removal of the copyright notice of said titles.
File:Days2004logo.jpg
1993 - present 		In 1993, a computerized version of the visual was made, with completely redone sound effects and rearranged music. In this version the hourglass, now slowly spinning clockwise, starts focus at the bottom-half, overlooking the dawn. As the sun rises, the focus is zoomed out, and the audience sees the entire hourglass and the show's title "flourishes" on to the screen as the music flourishes. While the entire hourglass is revealed, the clouds in the sky change formations. The current version of this theme is about 30 seconds in length, however the full version lasts around 3½ minutes.

A shortened version of this open debuted in 1995 as the show's time period was shortened due to coverage of O.J. Simpson trial (and later for the Martha Stewart trial in 2004). It is still used from time to time when episodes run over the allotted time, most recently during the February 2007 sweeps period. Because of numerous preemptions due to Simpson trial, NBC aired episodes of Days in primetime.

The 1993 opening of Days is the longest used opening among current soap operas, most of which have changed their opening sequences more frequently than Days. What's unusual about Days and NBC's other soap Passions (whose opening has been used since it premiered in 1999) is that they are the only soaps whose current sequences were created in the 1990s. They, like Passions are the only American soaps not to feature their main cast members in the opening sequence.

A portion of the opening is also used as a mid-show break bumper, starting after the hourglass has zoomed out and title has appeared with Macdonald Carey announcing "We will return with the second half of Days of our Lives in just a moment," something he has said since the show expanded to one hour in 1975.

From its debut in 1965 until March of 1966, announcer Ed Prentiss spoke the words now made famous by Macdonald Carey. Since April 1966, the late Macdonald Carey has intoned the legendary epigram "Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives." From 1966 to 1994, he would also say, "This is Macdonald Carey, and these are the days of our lives." After Carey's passing, the decision was made to remove the second part of the opening, out of respect for Carey and his family.

Opening music

Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Multi-listen start Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen end Template:Sample box end

The theme that regularly accompanies each sequence was composed by Charles Albertine, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart.

In the summer of 2004, the show's theme song was changed to give the tune a more majestic feel. As this coincided with the height (or depths) of the Salem Serial Killer storyline, many viewers speculated that the change in theme was signaling a profound change in the nature of the show (and perhaps a clue to the outcome of the plot itself). Both versions (the 1993 theme and the new theme) were alternated by every other day, but was scrapped after only being used in eight episodes with the 1993 theme the only one used since; the 1993 theme tune was reinstated with no comment from Days publicists.

Days in other media

Friends

The series was satirized on the hit sitcom Friends when one of the principals, Joey Tribbiani (played by Matt LeBlanc), got a job as Dr. Drake Ramoray on the show, despite the fact that Joey lived in New York and Days of our Lives is shot in California. All storylines shown on Friends (with guest shots by actual Days of our Lives stars) were fictional and did not represent what was really going on in the soap opera itself. Joey's fictional stint on the show ended when he angered its writers and his character was killed after falling down an elevator shaft. Later, his character was brought back to life in a further spoof on the show (no fewer than thirty-six characters have been "brought back" from the dead on Days). Joey was brought back as a man with a brain transplant. His new brain was from the character Jessica Lockhart, played by Susan Sarandon. Lockhart died from a horseback riding injury. The Lockharts are also the last names of Bonnie, Mimi and Patrick on Days, but the Jessica character is not a relation to any of the three. Alison Sweeney who plays Samantha Brady appeared on Friends as "Jessica Ashley" who stars with Joey on Days. In another episode has Joey in a scene with Kristian Alfonso as Hope Brady; she and Roark Critchlow's Mike Horton are the only characters from the real Days to be on Friends. In the spinoff sitcom Joey, Joey was nominated for "best death scene" in which his character was stabbed while performing surgery.

Other media

In Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, Socrates quotes the famous line "Like sand through an hourglass, so are the days of our lives."

In the movie Nine to Five, when the evil Mr. Hart (Dabney Coleman) is being held prisoner in his house, there is a quick shot of him holding the TV remote and watching the opening credits of Days of our Lives.

The long running sitcom King Of Queens featured actual characters from Days in a dream sequence where the characters had their dialogs modified and some characters were replaced by Queens' characters. Also, the sequence was shot on video instead of film.

On an episode of Sanford and Son, Fred Sanford complains about his television bill and not being able to watch Days of our Lives if the bill isn't paid. Then, Fred goes into a rampage about the current storyline, in the early seventies it was Mickey Horton's saga, and what he might miss if he doesn't get to watch the show.

In the movie Drop Dead Gorgeous Iris Clark (Mindy Sterling) taped over Gladys Leeman's (Kirstie Alley) beauty pageant tape with the opening credits of Days of our Lives.

In the movie Legally Blonde, in Elle Woods' (Reese Witherspoon) college application video, she proves her ability to recall information "at the drop of a hat" by relating a Days of our Lives storyline in which heroine Hope Brady is brainwashed by "the evil Stefano," which roughly corresponds to the timeframe in which the movie was filmed.

The Food Network show Behind the Bash, hosted by Giada De Laurentiis (who also hosts her shows Everyday Italian and Giada's Weekend Getaways) celebrates an episode behind the 40th Anniversary party for Days of our Lives

On the teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210, the kids ponder their lives to being similar to Days of our Lives and The Young and the Restless.

In Episode 102 of the comedy show Scrubs, Dr. Perry Cox is watching Days of our Lives in the hospital staff room. Johnathan loves this show In the sitcom The Nanny, Fran says to Maxwell "As William Shakespeare once said, Like sands through the hourglass so are the days of our lives". From 1984 to 1992, Maxwell's portrayer, Charles Shaughnessy found stardom as Shane Donovan on Days of our lives.

In the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind, while Richard Dreyfuss is creating the Devil's Tower in his home, Days of our Lives is on the television, featuring Susan Seaforth Hayes and Bill Hayes as their roles of Julie Williams and Doug Williams just prior to the news report.

On an Episode of Night Court, Richard Moll, quotes the famous Epigram just before the Theme Song Plays.

Cast

Current Cast Members

Actor Character Status
Kristian Alfonso Hope Brady 1983-1987, 1990, 1994-
Brandon Beemer Shawn-Douglas Brady 2006-
Blake Berris Nick Fallon 2006-
Steve Blackwood Bart Beiderbecke 1997-2005, 2007-
Darin Brooks Max Brady 2005-
Bryan Dattilo Lucas Roberts 1993-2001, 2002-
Judi Evans Adrienne Johnson Kiriakis 1986-1991, 2007-
Mary Beth Evans Kayla Brady Johnson 1986-1992, 2006-
Deidre Hall Marlena Evans 1976-1987, 1991-
Shelley Hennig Stephanie Johnson 2007-
Drake Hogestyn John Black 1986-
Jay Kenneth Johnson Philip Robert Kiriakis 1999-2002, 2007-
Lauren Koslow Kate Roberts 1996-
Martha Madison Belle Black 2004-
Peggy McCay Caroline Brady 1983, 1985-2003, 2004-
Rachel Melvin Chelsea Brady 2005-
Stephen Nichols Steve Johnson 1985-1990, 2006-
Frank Parker Shawn Brady 1983-1984, 1985-1989, 1990-
Thaao Penghlis Antony DiMera 1981-1986, 1993-1995, 2002-2005, 2007-
Julie Pinson Billie Reed 2004-
Peter Reckell Bo Brady 1983-1987, 1990-1992, 1995-
James Reynolds Abe Carver 1981-2003, 2004-
Suzanne Rogers Maggie Horton 1973-1984, 1985-2003, 2004-
James Scott E.J. Wells 2006-
Alison Sweeney Samantha Roberts 1993-
Josh Taylor Roman Brady 1997-
Ava and Olivia White Claire Kiriakis 2006-

Recurring Cast Members

Actor Character
John Aniston Victor Kiriakis
Alex Bovicelli Dr. Abruzzi
Kale Browne Dr. Berman
Kavi Faquir Theodore Carver
Christopher Gerse Will Roberts
Bill Hayes Doug Williams
Dakota Hobbs
Danica Hobbs		 Ciara Brady
James Lancaster Father Timothy Jansen
Susan Seaforth Hayes Julie Williams
Vernee Watson-Johnson Ella Kraft

Comings & Goings

Actor Role Date
Trevor Donavan Jeremy Horton Debuts June 1
Marcus Patrick Jett Carver Debuts June 1
William Utay Dr. Wilhelm Rolf Returns June 4
Joseph Mascolo Stefano DiMera Returns June 6
Renée Jones Dr. Lexie Carver Returns June 14
Nathan Towry Dr. Alan Rebert Temp. Returns June 18
Leann Hunley Anna Fredericks Returns June 21
Justin Melvey Colin Murphy Returns August
Annie Burgstede Willow Stark Exits June 4

Deceased cast members

Actor Character Date of Death
Brenda Benet Lee DuMonde April 7 1982
Charla Doherty Julie Olson (original cast member) May 29 1988
Ed Prentiss John Martin / Dr. Ralph Dunbar / Alex Marshall March 19 1992
Joy Garrett Jo Johnson February 15 1993
Macdonald Carey Dr. Tom Horton (original cast member) March 21 1994
Patricia Huston Addie Horton September 25 1995
Christopher Stone Bill Horton October 20 1995
Mary Frann Amanda Howard September 23, 1998
Madlyn Rhue Daphne DiMera December 16, 2003
Richard Biggs Dr. Marcus Hunter May 22 2004
Paul Carr Bill Horton (original cast member) February 17 2006
Terry O'Sullivan Richard Hunter September 14 2006
Darlene Conley Edith Baker January 14, 2007
Lanna Saunders Marie Horton March 10, 2007
Edward Mallory Bill Horton April 4, 2007

See also: List of Days of our Lives cast members

Executive producing and head writing team

Days of our Lives executive producers


Days of our Lives head writers

Awards

  • Daytime Emmy for "Outstanding Daytime Drama" in 1978.
  • Writer's Guild of America award for "Best Daytime Serial" in 2000.

Trivia

  • At 92 years old, Frances Reid holds the record as the oldest personality on television (she ranks ahead of As the World Turns star Helen Wagner and Mike Wallace, who tie for second). The actress officially retired from the show in 2006 due to failing health.
  • Despite the fact that the Friends character Joey Tribbiani (played by Matt LeBlanc) played the character of Dr. Drake Ramoray (not an actual Days of our Lives character) on a semi-fictionalized version of Days of our Lives on the series, this causes some discrepancy as Days is filmed at NBC Studios in Burbank, California (the series itself is produced by Sony Pictures Television), more than 3000 miles cross country from New York City (where Friends was set). In truth, the only NBC soap that existed during Friends ' ten-year run that was filmed in New York was Another World (like Procter & Gamble's other soaps, P&G produced AW, As the World Turns and Guiding Light) which aired alongside Days until its cancellation in 1999.
  • In 1991 Deidre Hall was lured back to Days of our Lives with the promise that she could serve as executive producer of a Days spin-off called Manhattan Lives. Initial hopes were to begin airing in 1994 if Another World wasn't renewed. In the end Another World was renewed and the spin-off never came to be.
  • Mary Jackson was the original Alice Horton in the unaired pilot. The role was then assumed by Frances Reid.
  • Frances Reid and John Aniston appeared on a 2004 episode of American Dreams as a couple at Jack Pryor's TV store. John's character's name was John Victor (reference to his character of Victor) and Frances's character was named Alice. In the show, Frances watches herself on an early episode of Days with Macdonald Carey. This particular episode took place around February 1965, when Days was just 9 months from premiering. Alison Sweeney and Farah Fath also appeared on that same episode.

See also

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