WEEK OF 12/18/06 EDITION

***STARTING WITH THIS EDITION, THE INSIDER WILL NO LONGER FEATURE LENGTHY ARTICLES ABOUT THE WEEK'S EVENTS. THEY WERE SIMPLY GIVING AWAY TOO MUCH. WE WILL STILL INCLUDE TEASERS, RED LETTER DAYS, NEXT WEEK PREVIEWS, AND CASTING NEWS AS ALWAYS ALONG WITH RUMORS ONCE IN AWHILE. YOU WILL FIND ALL THE INFO YOU NEED TO BE INFORMED ABOUT THE BLOG HERE WEEKLY AS USUAL. WE WILL ALSO START A NEW FEATURE CALLED "THE INSIDER SPOTLIGHT" WHICH WILL FEATURE AN INTERVIEW WITH ME, PHOENIX (OR MY BLOG NAME TIM LOWERY), OR ROMAN (OR HIS BLOG NAME PATRICK L. EWING) ALONG WITH INTERVIEWS WITH CAST MEMBERS TALKING ABOUT THEIR CHARACTER'S STORIES. THE SPOTLIGHT WILL FOCUS ON CONTROVERSIAL STORIES THAT HAVE PEOPLE TALKING AND WILL BE MUCH VAGUER THEN THE OLD INSIDER FEATURES. HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY AND THANKS FOR READING!!!***

THE INSIDER SPOTLIGHT: EP/HW TIM LOWERY

I-Interviewer

TL-Tim Lowery

I: Thanks for joining us.

TL: Glad to be here.

I: It seems like you have a big week on tap.

TL: Huge. It's not like the previous big weeks we have had that were focused around tragedy or big events. This week is one of miracles, revelations, payoffs, big returns, surprises, and everything you could want to have a happy Christmas week. It's our gift to the readers and fans who stuck with us through all the doom and gloom. This is their reward and it's just a wonderful week for fans of the couples and families of Salem.

I: Sounds great!! Can you give us some details?

TL: Well, without giving too much away which has become our policy here, we have several returns. Stephanie returns and finally meets her long presumed dead father, Steve. The Johnson's will have their first Christmas together, which is nice. Kimberly returns and she will stick around beyond the holidays. Jeannie and Andrew return with her but they will only be with us until the 26th. Bill, Laura, Melissa, Sarah, and Don stay with us until the 26th so the Horton's will be plentiful this year. There will be nice tributes to all those lost this year including Jennifer, Mickey, and Marlena. Bo has a huge surprise for Hope and the couples that are apart will be happy this Christmas despite the complications that still exist for them. We won't ignore the conflict between Bo and Hope and some of the others but it's the holidays and they deserve some happiness. Sami's maturation provess is complete and heroic measures will be rewarded as Salem realizes how far she has come.

I: Wow!! Anything else?

TL: There are two surpise returns on Wednesday's show that will be real tear-jerkers. We have the Horton's tree trimming and a special super couple themed show on Friday as the couples celebrate Christmas together and it's quite romantic. Romance is in the air for many, even for some non-couples like Victor and Maggie and Jack and Billie. The answer to the question of Eric dying is finally given and there will be major revelations for some of our characters. It's just a great week.

I: Great. Thanks for the scoop. You will be joining us next week too to preview the last week of 2006 and then the following week to promote 2007 right?

TL: You bet. I will do another interview next week to preview the last week of the year and then my Co-EP/HW and I will give an interview previewing the new year. Also, look for more in-depth 2007 previews to be published soon and to be posted around December 29. It's definitely an exciting time.

I: Indeed. Well, thanks for joining us.

TL: No problem. See you next week!!!

COMINGS AND GOINGS

COMING

Shayna Rose (Stephanie Johnson): Rose reprises her role for a limited time on December 18.

Patsy Pease (Kimberly Brady): Pease resumes the role for an unlimited run on December 19.

Tom Welling and Michelle Williams (Andrew and Jeannie Donovon): The actors, who appeared this past summer, return to the roles for a few episodes beginning on December 19.

Jay Kenneth Johnson (Philip Kiriakis): As fans learned on the December 12 episode, Johnson reprised the role of Philip. "The fans wanted him and they decided it," says EP/HW Tim Lowery. "We were going to go with him anyway but then we started thinking of others but here we are back where we started. We love having him and we think he is great. The fans should look for a great story between him and Belle (Martha Madison). It was fun keeping it a secret until the episode though.

Christie Clark (Carrie Brady):Carrie finally reappears on December 19.

Two shocking returns: Look for the returns of two surprise characters on the Wednesday December 20 episode. "It's a tear-jerker and the last five minutes will be very emotional," vows EP/HW Tim Lowery.

GOINGS

Jaime Lyn Bauer (Laura Horton): Bauer, who has been on recurring since August, will see her run end on December 26. "We loved having her but her story has ended," says EP/HW Tim Lowery. "Much like all the other returned Hortons, she will leaving Salem but the door is very much open for a return."

Kale Browne (Bill Horton): Browne's run has ended too and he will exit with Laura on December 26.

Lisa Trusel, Alli Parker, and Jed Allen (Melissa Horton, Sarah Horton, and Don Craig): All 3 actors, who returned for limited runs in October, depart Salem on December 26. "All 3 were really meant to be done in November, which is why we haven't used them this month, but we kept them around for Christmas as a treat," says EP/HW Tim Lowery. "The door is open for all of them to return."

RUMORS/GRAVEVINE

-Rumors have Jensen Ackles and Arianne Zuker (Eric and Nicole) already finished with their runs. Looks like things don't go well for Eric...

-Where does Greta (Julianne Morris) go from here? Rumors have fans learning exactly how Victor (John Aniston) is her father early on in 2007 and look for her to connect with a lonely Salem man and be part of a mystery story in 2007.

-Setsiders warn fans that this week is highly emotional and that the end of Wednesday's episode will make die-hard fans smile from ear to ear.

-It looks like Alexis Thorpe (Cassie) may be upgraded to contract status.

-Will's (Jeremy Sumpter) secret is about to be revealed.

-Info about Roscoe Born's character is sketchy but rumor has it SL is looking for 3 actors to play his wife and two children as part of a new story arc. It appears Born's character will stir things up with Victor. He debuts next week and look for info on Born's character next week in the Insider.

PREVIEWS AND PEEKS INTO WEEK OF 12/18/06

-Sami pulls out all the stops to save Roman and Eric.

-The Brady's, Nicole. and Greta say goodbye to Eric as he slowly slips away.

-Chelsea tells Hope the truth.

-Max and Abby confess their feelings while Frankie acts to stop Cassie.

-Stephanie, Kimberly, Andrew, and Jeannie return.

-Alan is shocked when Carrie shows up in Salem.

-The Johnson's enjoy their first Christmas together as Stephanie finally meets her father.

-Sami and Roman have a breakthrough and later have a special Christmas moment.

-Bo has a surprise for Hope.

-Two surprise returns shock Salem.

-Cal and Katherine enjoy a private Christmas.

-Romance is in the air on Christmas Eve for Jack and Billie and Max and Abby.

-Victor and Maggie exchange gifts.

-Salem celebrates Christmas as the Horton's trim the tree once again and miracles abound in Salem.

-Carrie watches her friends and family from afar and contemplates revealing herself.

-Salem's beloved couples engage in their own celebration of Christmas.

RED LETTER DAYS!!!

Monday December 18: Max and Abby confess their love while Chelsea tells all to hope. On this same day, Stephanie returns and reunites with her father.

Tuesday December 19: Kimberly, Andrew, and Jeannie return while Carrie reappears.

Wednesday December 20-22: Salem celebrates Christmas Eve with the traditional tree trimming, romance, miracles, surprises, and two big returns that are sure to be tear-jerkers.

Next Week: Celeste has a horrible prediction. Will reveals his secret to Alan. Word of Stefano's impending return rocks Salem. Several people are in harm's way as Victor, Roman, and Stefano's plans collide leading to a shocking end to 2006.