Days of Our Lives’ Fate… Sealed? Exec Speaks Out on the Soap’s Future
Tuesday, February 20th, 2024
It’s been one blow after another lately for Days of Our Lives fans, from Arianne Zucker’s exit as Nicole to the destruction of the Horton house and the Christmas ornaments it contained. (Although that twist could still be salvaged; here’s how.) Now, at last, some good news from the Peacock drama: It’s looking good for Season 61 and beyond!
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“We are thrilled with the [show’s] performance” since transitioning to streaming, Michael Sluchan, NBC/Peacock’s executive vice-president of current scripted programming, tells Soap Hub. “The viewers really did show up, and they moved over to Peacock. [The show] continues to be a top performer, and we’re very much behind [it].”
Moving forward, the exec says that “we’re doing our best to honor the show’s legacy. We have such support from the show — all departments, publicity, marketing, and we have such a great cast. This [move] was a big change for them after 57 years, coming over to this new platform.”
That’s Sluchan with Greg Vaughan (Eric). But you recognize Vaughan, of course!
Credit: Jill Johnson/JPI
As Days of Our Lives nears a milestone anniversary in November, Sluchan promises big things ahead. “We tape so far ahead that we’re shooting into our 60th season already,” he explains. “We’ve already heard some of the storylines for that, and we are energized. Ron [Carlivati, headwriter] has some exciting stories coming up.
“There’s both forward-thinking,” he adds, “and [our anniversary] will also harken back to classic Days as well.”
Hopefully, by the time the anniversary rolls around in real time, Zucker and the show will have been able to resolve the lawsuit in which she alleges that she was fired as Nicole for speaking out against executive producer Albert Alarr, who was fired after an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment on the set.
The show responded by saying, “The allegations in Ms. Zucker’s lawsuit are without merit. Corday Productions offered to renew Ms. Zucker’s contract including offering her a pay increase. Rejecting Ms. Zucker’s counteroffer does not constitute retaliation. Complaints about Mr. Alarr’s on-set behavior were promptly investigated. Corday Productions fully cooperated with the impartial investigation and subsequently terminated Mr. Alarr.”
Review the below photo gallery to revisit highlights of all 60 years of Days of Our Lives.
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Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>… and for decades, these were the two that it took: the late Frances Reid and MacDonald Carey as Alice and Tom Horton.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Never mind how it ended <em>and</em> ended <em>and</em> ended again between these two; this is the way we like to remember Hope Williams (Kristian Alfonso) and Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) — as happy as they were on the day of their first wedding.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>… or was it just the early days in the romance of Carrie Brady (Christie Clark) and Austin Reed (Patrick Muldoon)? Nothing, it seemed, could come between them. Nothing <em>except</em>…</p>
Image: Gary Null/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>New Austin — Austin Peck — same old chemistry. Whew.</p>
Image: Columbia Tristar/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In 1966, Diane Hunter (Coleen Gray) did her best to assure daughter Susan (Denise Alexander) that bows were <em>sure</em> to come back in fashion. One day. Maybe.</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
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<p>All Lucas Roberts (Bryan R. Dattilo) is missing in this late-1990s portrait is the other members of his dreamy boy band.</p>
Image: Columbia Tristar/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Nothing could stand in the way of Joshua Fallon (Scott Palmer) marrying Jessica Fallon (Jean Bruce Scott). Well, unless you count her relationship with the Salem Strangler and her alternate personality.</p>
Image: Jonathan Exley/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In 1992, Robert Kelker-Kelly wasn’t just a new beau for Dr. Carly Manning (Crystal Chappell), he was a new Bo Brady for us all.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
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<p>Eh, it was really more of a crowd for a jealous Ben Weston (Robert Scott Wilson), girlfriend Abigail Deveraux (then Kate Mansi) and her true love, Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn), in 2015.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Looking back, gamblin’ man Neil Curtis (Joe Gallison) and sad songstress Liz Chandler (Gloria Loring) probably would’ve been better off as strangers.</p>
Image: Dana Fineman/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>If only the late, great Joseph Mascolo’s Stefano DiMera could rise yet again…</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In the mid-1970s, David Banning (Richard Guthrie) and Valerie Grant (then Tina Andrews) — aka Eli Grant’s parents — became <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ first interracial couple.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>In 2004, Mickey Horton (the late John Ingle) was torn between naughty Bonnie Lockhart (Judi Evans) and nice wife Maggie (Suzanne Rogers).</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Billie Reed (Lisa Rinna) and Bo (Kelker-Kelly here) were as fond of one another as <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/gallery/real-life-soap-scandals-photos/" target="_blank">their portrayers infamously weren’t</a>.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Sister Mary Moira was but <em>one</em> of the secondary characters that former headwriter James E. Reilly created for <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ original Kristen DiMera, Eileen Davidson.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Nothin’ to see here. Just Hope and Bo (Reckell again) sharing a warm moment while chilling in 1996.</p>
Image: Jesse Grant/JPI
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<p>In 2003, somebody just needed to tell Belle Black (Kirsten Storms; now Maxie, <em>General Hospital</em>), Cassie Brady (Alexis Thorpe), Rex Brady (Eric Winter) and Mimi Lockhart (Farah Faith) that the camera was over here. Over <em>here</em>, kids.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>There’s really no other way to describe the tortured relationship between Carly and Lawrence Alamain (Michael Sabatino, who married his leading lady in 1997).</p>
Image: Dave Bjerke/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Well, at least Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney) was happy anytime she and Austin (Peck here) were together. He, on the other hand, was generally ambivalent. At <em>best</em>. Maybe it shows?</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Despite his checkered past and despite how brightly her halo glowed, Jack Deveraux (Matthew Ashford) and Jennifer Horton (Melissa Reeves) discovered that they were perfect for one another.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>They say that when couples have been together for a while, they start to look alike. Or is it <em>dress</em> alike? Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes) and husband Doug (real-life spouse Bill Hayes) might be able to shed some light on this subject.</p>
Image: Paul Skipper/JPI
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<p>For some reason, EJ DiMera (James Scott) and sometime missus Sami looked as if we were interrupting them during this 2006 bedroom shoot. We’ll just let ourselves out…</p>
Image: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>John Black (Drake Hogestyn) turns his bedroom eyes up to “seduce.”</p>
Image: Columbia Tristar/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In 1986, sometime stripper Pete Jannings (Michael Leon) married Melissa Horton (Lisa Trusel) in a double-wedding ceremony with her adoptive parents, Mickey (then the late John Clarke) and Maggie.</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
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<p>Shawn Brady (then Jason Cook) and Belle (then Storms) were just whippersnappers when they fell in love.</p>
Image: Doug Piburn/JPI
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<p>Hey, how come when Shawn and Belle grew up — and began being played by Brandon Beemer and Martha Madison — they remained just as pretty as they always were? That hardly seems fair.</p>
Image: Chris Haston/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Lucas would stop at nothing to prove to people that there was nothing up his sleeve. Including eschewing sleeves altogether.</p>
Image: Chris Haston/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Sure, they were troublemakers to the core, but Vivian Alamain (Louise Sorel) and Victor Kiriakis (John Aniston) certainly showed us a devil of a good time.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In an early publicity shot, Reid strikes such a pensive pose, you’d swear she was auditioning for <em>Dark Shadows</em>.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
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<p>In 2015, Chad, Stefano and Tony — or was that André (Thaao Penghlis, either way)? — managed to fit three generatuons of DiMeras into one frame.</p>
Image: Chris Haston/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>We get why the Bradys — Shawn (the late Frank Parker) and Caroline (the late Peggy McCay) — would be together in this 1996 promotional photo. But sweet Maggie and the dastardly Stefano? Mystifying.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Tom tried to reach Susan, but her troubles were usually so great, even his wise words couldn’t help. She was probably daydreaming about her old bows. “They’re coming back in style,” she told herself.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Abe Carver (James Reynolds) made the last days of lost love Lexie (Renée Jones) ones that she — and “oui” — would always remember.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Unless you know Mark Valley, who spelled usual portrayer Ashford in the role from 1994-97. Then OK, you <em>might</em> know Jack. (Don’t get us started on Steve Wilder, though.)</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Doug gave only the subtlest of signs to gold digger Lee DuMonde (the late Brenda Benet) that was he was <em>slightly</em> more into Julie. Do ya think she noticed?</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>There would be no pulling focus from Lucas in 1999. Not at <em>this</em> photo shoot, anyhow.</p>
Image: Gary Null/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p><em>Days of Our Lives</em> vet Alfonso may have left the building, but we’ll always have our memories of her iconic character. And also amazing images like this one. What <em>was</em> up there? Cobweb? Good lighting? We can’t help but wonder.</p>
Image: Paul Skipper/JPI
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<p>Given the history between Sami, Austin (Peck here, as if you didn’t know), Lucas and Carrie, this <em>had</em> to be one of the more fraught double dates in history.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>When John married Isabella Toscano (Staci Greason) in 1992, he thought that it was for keeps. If only, pal. If only.</p>
Image: Gary Null/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>If this wasn’t Jack and Jennifer’s engagement photo, it should’ve been. For real, yo.</p>
Image: Sean Smith/JPI
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<p>As this 2013 scene shot suggests, mercurial Kristen (original flavor Davidson) had a tendency to go off half-cocked.</p>
Image: Dick Zimmerman/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>So frosty a presence is Vivian that she gives herself the chills even in a sweater. Now <em>that’s</em> cold.</p>
Image: Alice S. Hall/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Austin (Peck again) and half-sibling rival Lucas never failed to make a splash when they tried dipping into the same dating pool a, um, <em>toe</em>.</p>
Image: Columbia Tristar/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>After solving the Salem Stalker case, Roman Brady (then Wayne Northrop) made a missus of Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) in 1983.</p>
Image: Gary Null/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In the early 1990s, Kelker-Kelly’s do-gooder had it bad for both Hope and Billie. Can ya blame him?</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>By 2018, Ben had totally sold <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ audience on his feelings for Ciara Brady (Victoria Konefal).</p>
Image: Jesse Grant/JPI
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<p>Unbeknownst to them, back in 2001, Philip Kiriakis (Jay Kenneth Johnson), Chloe Lane (Nadia Bjorlin), Shawn Brady (Cook) and Belle (Storms) were <em>actually</em> looking at seaweed; they’d been in the sun for a long time.</p>
Image: Gary Null/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In 1995, Marlena ran afoul of a demon that was even more troublesome than Kristen. Maybe you heard a little something about it?</p>
Image: Gary Null/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Foolishly, the first doctor who treated Marlena for possession had just prescribed Visine.</p>
Image: Gary Null/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In the grip of an otherworldly fiend, Marlena seemed seriously opposed to letting John — or <em>anyone</em> — borrow her office supplies.</p>
Image: Gary Null/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>We’d love to say that we didn’t know what possessed her. But c’mon, we knew. We <em>all</em> knew.</p>
Image: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In the end, Kristen (still Davidson) didn’t have a prayer of holding onto John.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>“Her!” cried Kristen. “There are too many pictures of her and her damn possession in this photo album!” Fine. We’ll move on.</p>
Image: Curt Gunther/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Nope. This is just about normal for Doug and Julie. They dance cheek to cheek even when standing still.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Dr. Mike Horton (Roark Critchlow) did the near-impossible: He made us forget that we always thought that Austin was endgame for Carrie.</p>
Image: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>But then Austin (pec again… er <em>Peck</em>) would show up looking like this, and all bets would be off.</p>
Image: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Ultimately, Austin (you know which one) just kept taking clothes off until Carrie said, “Fine, you can have your favorite pillow back.”</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>When Doug and Julie tied the knot for the first time… well, in looking back, they really should’ve <em>double</em>-tied it. Salem ain’t an easy town in which to maintain a marriage.</p>
Image: Columbia Tristar/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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