According to the latest issue of 'Soap Opera Digest,' Eileen Davidson has signed a three-year contract with the show. She will be playing Ashley Abbott.

Check out Page 3 for the Louise Sorel scoop

At this point would LS return make a difference? Vivian left on a low note, with very little popularity and her character become pointless in many ways. Hogan is not really writing for Steve and Kayla that much either, everything they do surrounds the youngsters. Shelle have been going around in this circle and now Willow is becoming this major character. Nick and Chelsea are on way too much. And not bringing on Eileen to focus on characters we already have?? Not happening at all. John's been in a coma, Marlena's time has been reduced because of that, Hope is on rarely the show is balanced more yes but the younger group is definitely taking the front and center. This is not how DAYS should go out.. really...

If there's one thing I've noticed since Hogan's taken over as headwriter, he shifts stories from back to frontburner pretty frequently. One month, one character's story will be frontburner... the next month, it takes a backseat while someone else gets a chance to have lead story. January just so happened to be a month with the younger generation on the front burner. At one point last year, the majority of them were seen rather infrequently.

I'm just glad that I LIKE the younger generation now. Abby, Max, Nick, Chelsea... I'm loving them all. Even Shawn/Belle. And I'm getting enough of the veterans to be perfectly content. Look around at other soaps. Days is veteran RICH -- it's almost an embarassment of riches. So no arguments from me. I really cannot complain.

Edited January 31, 200718 yr by Kenny

You really give Corday too much credit and the show for that matter. But that is all good. DAYS lost a BIG opportunity here, they have no excuses. They are bringing on new character after character and can not bring a familiar face, known to bring in ratings, and known to stir up the show in the right direction. There is no excuse for it. They had ample time, and Eileen clearly sounded VERY interested in her exit interview from Y&R, especially when she was almost making it seem rationale that EJ has now become a 30 year old and she could still portray his mother. This is a major bomb for DAYS and no matter how good it is, or how good it will be, it is really just a step in the wrong direction IMO.

I am not giving Corday or Days any more credit then they deserve. I have always been critical of Corday. Corday is known for bringing back familiar faces when the oppotunity arises and when he thinks it will benefit the show. We know they are on a tight budget. How do you know his hands weren't tied? He knows ED would result in some sort of ratings increase (may not be a big one but still) so common sense says he would love to bring back former faves like her if he could. I think people are too quick to blame Days here when we don't know what the circumstances behind this is. One poster here said that the deal with ED was already set in stone at her goodbye party from Y&R. If that was the case, how do we know that she didn't already have her sights on B&B? It's a half hour show afterall. her interview said she would entertain offers. She never blantantly came out and said she was interested in Days. She came off like she did and she sounded interested in what was going on over there and that is it.

I love ED and wanted her back but Days isn't going to die without her. The new characters have nothing to do with this. The show needs new blood too. Returns have not helped Days that much (take a look at Steve, Kayla, Austin, Carrie, etc.). The writing will bring the ratings. Period. Returns bomb without good writing.

I am not giving Corday or Days any more credit then they deserve. I have always been critical of Corday. Corday is known for bringing back familiar faces when the oppotunity arises and when he thinks it will benefit the show. We know they are on a tight budget. How do you know his hands weren't tied? He knows ED would result in some sort of ratings increase (may not be a big one but still) so common sense says he would love to bring back former faves like her if he could. I think people are too quick to blame Days here when we don't know what the circumstances behind this is. One poster here said that the deal with ED was already set in stone at her goodbye party from Y&R. If that was the case, how do we know that she didn't already have her sights on B&B? It's a half hour show afterall. her interview said she would entertain offers. She never blantantly came out and said she was interested in Days. She came off like she did and she sounded interested in what was going on over there and that is it.

I love ED and wanted her back but Days isn't going to die without her. The new characters have nothing to do with this. The show needs new blood too. Returns have not helped Days that much (take a look at Steve, Kayla, Austin, Carrie, etc.). The writing will bring the ratings. Period. Returns bomb without good writing.

IA that returns bomb without good writing but bringing in new characters doesn't help either. I don't believe anything about Corday's hands being tied, he was OPENLY, and published, in talks with Joseph Mascolo to return for MONTHS. That means he had the $$, and the intention. He has let go of many cast members, including Renee Jones an african american veteran of the show. How tied can his hands be when with that he has hired 2 more actors and several recurring (or whatever). I don't believe in any of that tied hands BS. That's all it is. Kristen not returning is certainly not the death of the show but it is a big opportunity wasted and that's all DAYS seems like now, opportunities wasted. The special effects are not going away and things are not just all peachy.

Ridge, he only wanted Joe back for two episodes. There was no other story beyond that so the money argument doesn't fly there. They never wanted Joe back long term so that can't be brought up. If anything, that makes it clear that NBC has Days ona tight budget because if they had the money they would bring him back long-term. Corday likes Joe and certainly has bright big names back in the past.

RJ may not be gone for good and the door is very wide open. Corday made no secret of that. I don't want to discuss the new characters because they are cheap and you already know my feelings on that.

Yes, it is an opportunity wasted but how do we know if Days could afford it? We really don't so it's unfair to blame Days. Think about this-if they never called her wouldn't that say they knew they couldn't bring her in because of the budget? Normally, they would at least call her up and ask her price so that, to me, says that Days knows they can't spend that kind of cash right now. NBC probably has them on a strict budget with little wiggle room. Days is notorious for bringing fan faves back so it's strange that they didn't go after ED or push harder for Joe. That is why I can't come out and blame them when the budget may very well be the issue and that is out of their hands.

You know what sucks the most out of all of this? Now, Brenda Epperson won't be coming back to Y&R as Ashley.

You know what sucks the most out of all of this? Now, Brenda Epperson won't be coming back to Y&R as Ashley.

That's a good thing. LML wouldn't be able to write any better for her than she did for Eileen. Eileen is very talented, it's not like she wasn't worth bothering to write for. The only actor LML wants to feature on her Y&R is Michelle Stafford.

Well, I'm just going to hope B&B/Brad Bell's notorious reputation for getting big name actors and then losing them after only a few months works out for me on this one. On the bright side, at least ED wasn't snatched by GH or back to Y&R, who you KNOW wouldn't let go of her.

As for Vivian, I really hope it's true, but after this mess with ED, I can't afford to get my hopes up like that again.

That's a good thing. LML wouldn't be able to write any better for her than she did for Eileen. Eileen is very talented, it's not like she wasn't worth bothering to write for. The only actor LML wants to feature on her Y&R is Michelle Stafford.

I'm inclined to agree. She's following everything that Jack Smith should not have done. Although, I am surprised that she has cut back on Gloria.

I we can't have ED back at DAYS, Louise Sorel is certainly a great alternative!!

I would DIE if Vivian returned, the true Witch of Salem needs to come home!!

Well, I'm just going to hope B&B/Brad Bell's notorious reputation for getting big name actors and then losing them after only a few months works out for me on this one. On the bright side, at least ED wasn't snatched by GH or back to Y&R, who you KNOW wouldn't let go of her.

As for Vivian, I really hope it's true, but after this mess with ED, I can't afford to get my hopes up like that again.

Some how Jack Wagner has managed to stay well past the regular 3 month stint. I guess we'll all just have to wait and see.

Jack Wagner is not a good example, lol. He is pure torture and his character is beyond burnt out! They need to fire him so Frisco and Felicia can be reunited.

I can't believe DAYS allowed the small window of opportunity they had with Eileen between Y&R and B&B pass them by without nabbing her. DAYS must be kicking themselves. Kudos to Brad Bell.

Eileen Davidson to B&B

In a stunning move, ED is reprising the role of Ashley Abbott - on B&B! "Brad (Bell) called me at home," explains ED. "I actually sealed the deal on the same day that I had my last air show on Y&R. So that was weird He spoke with so much passion. I told him that he reminded me of the way his dad spoke about the character when he was alive."

ED, who's under contract, was scheduled to tape her first episode the first week of February. "Ashley comes to help the Forresters launch a new fragrance for their new line," shares ED. "It makes sense. Ashley was even mentioning the Forresters in a few episodes before I was let go. It's fun to have a second chance at her. And Brad Bell knows Ashley better than a lot of people on Y&R know her."

Some how Jack Wagner has managed to stay well past the regular 3 month stint. I guess we'll all just have to wait and see.

he plays Ridge's brother. Insta-Forrester connection and they are the characters with any sense of security on the show

Ridge, he only wanted Joe back for two episodes. There was no other story beyond that so the money argument doesn't fly there. They never wanted Joe back long term so that can't be brought up. If anything, that makes it clear that NBC has Days ona tight budget because if they had the money they would bring him back long-term. Corday likes Joe and certainly has bright big names back in the past.

RJ may not be gone for good and the door is very wide open. Corday made no secret of that. I don't want to discuss the new characters because they are cheap and you already know my feelings on that.

Yes, it is an opportunity wasted but how do we know if Days could afford it? We really don't so it's unfair to blame Days. Think about this-if they never called her wouldn't that say they knew they couldn't bring her in because of the budget? Normally, they would at least call her up and ask her price so that, to me, says that Days knows they can't spend that kind of cash right now. NBC probably has them on a strict budget with little wiggle room. Days is notorious for bringing fan faves back so it's strange that they didn't go after ED or push harder for Joe. That is why I can't come out and blame them when the budget may very well be the issue and that is out of their hands.

Some people are very quick to defend shows and have undying faith in them. DAYS has burnt me too much. I have no faith in this show any more whatsoever. I'm glad you do. They have really given me an almost 20 year viewer of the show any reason to believe that they are making the right moves are or going to make the right moves. The money excuse is pure BS because they are still hiring new people, they cause money, one causes money and all of them together cumulatively cost even more. DAYS has hired several people and let go of several as well.

Corday never said he wanted Mascolo for 2 episodes, Hogan wanted him for 2 episodes and Mascolo wanted a contract. For months the magazines were reporting that Mascolo was going to back and that talks were being made. Then when Mascolo refused for the short term gig the talks ended.

Anyways, its like beating a dead horse, LOL. I understand you have undying faith in DAYS. I've been watching long enough to know it just doesn't work like that and this whole Eileen Davidson incident is a prime example of that.