[Toups]

Soap Opera Network Exclusive!

Soap Opera Network has just learned of a huge writers shake up at “Days Of Our Lives.” According to sources, the following writers have been fired and will not return to the show after the strike ends: Head Writer: Hogan Sheffer; Associate Head Writers: Tom Casiello, Frederick Johnson, Meg Kelly, Gordon Rayfield, Judy Tate; Script Writers: Judith Donato, Renee Godelia; Script Editor: Richard Backus. The status of the other Script Writers: Bettina F. Bradbury, Cydney Kelley, and Jodie Scholz is unclear at the moment.

Stay tuned to SON as more details become available on this developing story.


Tom Casiello's goodbye letter

[Khan]

To all those who doubted me when I said Dena's re-hiring meant Hogan was on his way out: TAKE. THAT.

ETA: Okay, that's harsh, I admit. But I did say this would happen.

This post has been edited by Khan: 02 February 2008 - 05:35 PM

[dmarex]

Remember this because it's the end for DOOL. The final straw. It's done.

[Khan]

Remember this because it's the end for DOOL. The final straw. It's done.

Word.

I feel sorry for Tom Casiello, in particular. It was obviously his dream to write for DAYS, and now....

Oh well. Still loved Shawn & Belle's wedding, though! Maybe GL could use ya, Tommy!

[Loretta3938]

This show is so screwed. I'm now out of hope that it will survive past 2009...if it makes it that far.

[maconrich]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

[Khan]

So, the question is, where will all these displaced writers go, if and when they are able to return to work? Here's what I think:

Backus and Rayfield will return to OLTL, w/ Donato joining them.

Kelly and Tate will return to ATWT.

Johnson will return to AMC.

Casiello might return to Y&R, or pop up at GH.

Bradbury, Kelley and Scholz are pretty much there 'til the bitter end.

Have no idea where Godelia will show up - maybe OLTL?

And Sheffer ... ? Well, for once, I'll conceed to majority opinion, and predict Frons will make good on his alleged threats and bring him to AMC.

[reallyhateskateonlost]

Could Megan McTavish have a new job?

[Khan]

^ We'll know for sure when Victor Miller and Gail Lawrence have joined the writing staff.

[Angela]

If Dena Higley has been writing the show and hasn't been fired isn't she the automatic winner of the title of DAYS Head Writer?

[sungrey]

[!@#$%^&*].

I said this as a joke to Toups before but I'm serious this time. If Reilly returns later on I am DONE with this show.

As it is, now we have to stomach Higley again.

Way to go, NBC. DO YOU WANT THIS SHOW TO BE CANCELED??

[leevo64]

Hogan to AMC! Hogan to AMC!

[DaysForever]

DAYS is so stupid...

The show is as good as dead now. Thanks a lot!

[sheilaforever]

Hmmm, don't want to play devil's advocate but with Y&R's likely entire Latham-writing-team sacked by force majeur as well, could they pop up at DAYS???

[Errol]

The shakeups keep on coming at DAYS, just wow!

[PoisonIvy]

[!@#$%^&*].

I said this as a joke to Toups before but I'm serious this time. If Reilly returns later on I am DONE with this show.

As it is, now we have to stomach Higley again.

Way to go, NBC. DO YOU WANT THIS SHOW TO BE CANCELED??

Um, yes. I think it's been made clear that's exactly what they want to do....however, I DID think Corday cared. Obviously not.

ETA: Can they fire them while the strike's going on?

This post has been edited by PoisonIvy: 02 February 2008 - 06:05 PM

[PoisonIvy]

Hmmm, don't want to play devil's advocate but with Y&R's likely entire Latham-writing-team sacked by force majeur as well, could they pop up at DAYS???

I thought Ed Scott and LML hated each other, and that was part of the reason he left Y&R. *shrugs* At least I thought that's what I'd heard.

If that's the case - can't see them turning up on DAYS....

[fosta]

I guess I'm going to differ from popular opinion once again... I have watched this show for 27 years. I turned the tv off, however, when John was brought back again. It all just got too ridiculous for me. I was never a big fan of John and Marlena's to begin with. With her pregnancy pauses and his eyebrows... The last thing I wanted to watch was history being re-written once again so the show could focus on Johnny One-Brow. Frankly, I'm just sick of the history being re-written. It's like long-time fans don't matter at all. Of course, this is all JMO.

What I really don't understand right now are the fans. I have been reading about how everyone has adored the writing since John came back, and that Days is the best it's been in years. So now why all the uproar about the writers being fired? These people have not been writing the show, right? I hate to start a fight here. I'm just confused. It seems like there's no pleasing some people - so what is a show to do? Days has been blasted for every decision they have made since NBC announced the possibility of cancellation. It's difficult to see why a network would invest in such a "problem child" that can't make anyone happy.

[Errol]

The networks and studios were able to terminate contracts with writers, producers, etc after the strike hit three months.

This is due to a universal strike clause they have called force majeure:

Force majeure (French for "greater force") is a common clause in contracts which essentially frees both parties from liability or obligation when an extraordinary event or circumstance beyond the control of the parties, such as war, strike, riot, crime, act of nature (e.g., flooding, earthquake, volcano), prevents one or both parties from fulfilling their obligations under the contract. However, force majeure is not intended to excuse negligence or other malfeasance of a party, as where non-performance is caused by the usual and natural consequences of external forces (e.g., predicted rain stops an outdoor event), or where the intervening circumstances are specifically contemplated. - Source

Essentially, if there is no work to produce...it gives the companies an out.

[shawn Perez]

BIG ouch to DOOL viewers. not that Hogan was a bad writer. he was actually pretty decent when he came on Board. it gave DOOl fans hope that when the writer strike was over. things would improve..but ever since Corday stepped foot in the pot with stupid decisions after another. the show has decreased badly in terms of quality. it's really a mess right now. if this is indeed true. the show should just end before 2009. Everyone that still had hope for DOOL to get better is now long gone. now people are stuck with the disease of having Dena Hackley as HW in charge.

This post has been edited by shawn Perez: 02 February 2008 - 06:18 PM