DAYS is really enjoyable now though.

They have a young group that can act and all of the storylines are VERY enjoyable. Day to day episodes are worth the watch. BUT, if any single storyline takes the show over (whether it be with teens, adults or whatever), it will be over due. It sucks that the show finally has a good writer who will probably have a good story but will be over dosed with people that not many may want to be seen.

GREAT post billyjill.

Part of me wants to feel bad for Corday. Yes, he's done a lot of damage to the show by contributing to the crap that's been shown for years, but some of the times, he had no choice. Reilly's second era is a prime example. PSNS would be the only NBC soap on the air right now if Corday did not allow Reilly to return in 2003. NBC forced that upon him. There was nothing he could do. Finally, he had the courage to tell the network that they were wrong in 2006 and proposed the idea to bring on Hogan Sheffer. Luckily, for the show it's working, but NBC doesn't care much anymore. They want out of the soap business.

That's it exactly. And they've (NBC) tried owning their own show and it didn't work (for THEM). I predict Hogan will quit much like Malone did during his second stint at OLTL.

I've held off talking about DAYS so much because I'm so [!@#$%^&*] angry about it, but this is the [!@#$%^&*] cherry on top.

The pressure from NBC will be to force the ratings down, just like what they did with AW.

The fact that Days shoved the teen scene down our throats back in '99 has made Days viewers REALLY unfriendly to youngsters now. The show is reaping what it sowed. It's unfortunate because I think the younger set now is much better and more promising than that one and could do well if not for the resentment that was built.

I agree that if the show puts all its eggs in the big 6 basket, it dooms itself down the road. However yanking them off is not the way to go either. Extreme solutions generally cause more problems than they solve, IMO.

What we need is torch passing. These older generations do have stories to tell, and what their fans really want is restitution for the damage done under JER and Langan and Co. A lot of the supercouple fans are fans of really emotional character-driven storytelling and I think what people want is a storyline to redefine their characters, whom they feel have been disfigured and disrespected, and re-establish the unique points in their relationships. They do not have to be backburnered in order for the younger generation to have their emergence.

At the same time, anyone thinking that the show will do better without a younger generation is, again, dooming it to a limited appeal.

The wrench in all this is the 2009 supposed end date looming in front of us. If it really is the end, then a future generation is not really going to pay much dividends. I for one do hope Days continues on somehow so I'm still in favor of a balance where the youngsters are present too (and also I think this show does best as a multi-generational show, it's a show about family and that has always reached across generations). But some people may feel that if the show is going out, that it'd be better to just reward the loyal fans.

I think it's overly simplistic to choose one side or the other. You need the vets, they are the ones people care about. It's to the show's discredit that few characters have been created memorable enough to carry on the Days tradition from the last 15 years. But that's the way it is, and getting rid of beloved favorites is just going to result in exchanging old viewers for new viewers, no net gain. If we need more viewers (aka, a net gain) this doesn't seem to be helpful. At the same time, it's just bad business to not plan for the future, and these vets of ours were once "the future" so it's just hypocritical to bring down the youngsters also. Paring needs to be done on all levels and all levels have to give a little in the name of balance.

I would advise Days to attend a girl scouts meeting, I remember our troop always sang that "Make new friends, but keep the old" song ... that's what they need to do. Choosing old fans over new or new fans over old isn't going to increase the ratings, they'll just stay the same that way and it'll just be a different bunch watching.

Definitely a good post, billyjill.

I doubt Corday is broke, I'm sure his mansion is as comfortable as ever.

It sucks the state to which he has brought this great show.

The fact that Days shoved the teen scene down our throats back in '99 has made Days viewers REALLY unfriendly to youngsters now. The show is reaping what it sowed. It's unfortunate because I think the younger set now is much better and more promising than that one and could do well if not for the resentment that was built.

I agree that if the show puts all its eggs in the big 6 basket, it dooms itself down the road. However yanking them off is not the way to go either. Extreme solutions generally cause more problems than they solve, IMO.

What we need is torch passing. These older generations do have stories to tell, and what their fans really want is restitution for the damage done under JER and Langan and Co. A lot of the supercouple fans are fans of really emotional character-driven storytelling and I think what people want is a storyline to redefine their characters, whom they feel have been disfigured and disrespected, and re-establish the unique points in their relationships. They do not have to be backburnered in order for the younger generation to have their emergence.

At the same time, anyone thinking that the show will do better without a younger generation is, again, dooming it to a limited appeal.

The wrench in all this is the 2009 supposed end date looming in front of us. If it really is the end, then a future generation is not really going to pay much dividends. I for one do hope Days continues on somehow so I'm still in favor of a balance where the youngsters are present too (and also I think this show does best as a multi-generational show, it's a show about family and that has always reached across generations). But some people may feel that if the show is going out, that it'd be better to just reward the loyal fans.

I think it's overly simplistic to choose one side or the other. You need the vets, they are the ones people care about. It's to the show's discredit that few characters have been created memorable enough to carry on the Days tradition from the last 15 years. But that's the way it is, and getting rid of beloved favorites is just going to result in exchanging old viewers for new viewers, no net gain. If we need more viewers (aka, a net gain) this doesn't seem to be helpful. At the same time, it's just bad business to not plan for the future, and these vets of ours were once "the future" so it's just hypocritical to bring down the youngsters also. Paring needs to be done on all levels and all levels have to give a little in the name of balance.

I would advise Days to attend a girl scouts meeting, I remember our troop always sang that "Make new friends, but keep the old" song ... that's what they need to do. Choosing old fans over new or new fans over old isn't going to increase the ratings, they'll just stay the same that way and it'll just be a different bunch watching.

I see what you are saying, and I agree on a lot of levels. I wouldn't mind seeing Marlena and John happy and in love, and supporting as parents for Belle, and Sami; for Bo and Hope to be happy and in love, and be supporting as parents for Shawn and Chelsea. Ultimately, bringing back Steve and Kayla was a mistake I think; as much as I love them. I believe NBC will cancel the show, but that it will be moved elsewhere. The show needs to plan for the future, and it falls on Hogan now to create memorable new characters, if it's true the budget isn't there for the more expensive performers. Something tells me, much like new actors, vets like Suzanne Rogers, Peggy Mckay, and James Reynolds, and reacurring actors like Tanya Boyd, and Bill and Susan Hayes, aren't being paid that much. Use them in story; I would love to see lots of Doug, Julie, Maggie, Abe, and Celeste.

I see what you are saying, and I agree on a lot of levels. I wouldn't mind seeing Marlena and John happy and in love, and supporting as parents for Belle, and Sami; for Bo and Hope to be happy and in love, and be supporting as parents for Shawn and Chelsea. Ultimately, bringing back Steve and Kayla was a mistake I think; as much as I love them. I believe NBC will cancel the show, but that it will be moved elsewhere. The show needs to plan for the future, and it falls on Hogan now to create memorable new characters, if it's true the budget isn't there for the more expensive performers. Something tells me, much like new actors, vets like Suzanne Rogers, Peggy Mckay, and James Reynolds, and reacurring actors like Tanya Boyd, and Bill and Susan Hayes, aren't being paid that much. Use them in story; I would love to see lots of Doug, Julie, Maggie, Abe, and Celeste.

Creating new characters for a show that may not go anywhere past 2009 is pointless. Yes you can build some sort of a future but the next generation or future should NOT be foundation of the show AT ALL. You might as well change the title of the show or cancel it and create a spin off. Because, in all practicality that is what it will be.

They've already TAKEN paycuts. It was reported some time ago that ALL the actors would have to take paycuts.

Oh, thanks!

Praise GOD. I hadn't heard that.

And its all BS about creating new characters and letting the show survive with new characters and setting up a new generation. Yes shows have to do that but not by just shoving the ones you have in the back and letting the new ones take over. It DID NOT work in 1999 and IT WON'T WORK now. DAYS TRIED this already. Many soaps have tried this already. IT HAS NOT WORKED FOR A SOAP. Balance is key. This is THE FORMULA that has worked for Soaps FOR YEARS, shows have not lasted this long with simply throwing out the old and bringing in the new. It won't work. It's even worst when you're removing characters that have WORKED for a show. Bope, Jarlena, Steve and Kayla, Jack and Jennifer, Shelle (to a lesser extent), Lumi all work for this show. You remove them from the equation at any point, COMPLETELY, and you have a formula that will not work. This show is being driven into the ground, this is the WAY to do it.

Well, I think this debate is really useless. I mean, if there aren´t enough of money to pay the vets, there simply aren´t enough money to pay them and that´s it. We can speculate and argue how wonderfull it would be if they were on frontburner or viceversa, but it will not change anything. Corday cannot fire everybody except them, because he has 5x40 mins of show weekly he has to fill with stories. And Sheffer isn´t able to tell stories with characters Corday can afford to appear only few times per month.

DAYS isn´t first nor last soap which is forced to bacburnered its major characters for budget reasons. We will see what happens. But if Corday really wants try to sell the show elsewhere in 2009, he will need to prove the show is still viable. Nobody is going to be interest in a soap museum with all major character over fifty.

This is no surprise. However, the ratings aren't any worse. Sure, if the vets were on they would be better but still.

See, that's my whole point, Phoe, It seems like, despite what others say, AMC is making it work because they have fewer vets now than ever, and even with an average rating, I'm guessing the small salaries for everyone except for Susan's MEGA bucks make them not NEED the huge ratings that "Days" does, if that makes any sense. Again, it's pure speculation. But if the ratings were "fine" now, profit-wise, if three or four vets were bumped to recurring, they may be in the clear.

Edit: This is all PURE speculation on my part, just trying to make sense of things.

Edited February 13, 200718 yr by JointStrikeFighter

I see what you are saying, and I agree on a lot of levels. I wouldn't mind seeing Marlena and John happy and in love, and supporting as parents for Belle, and Sami; for Bo and Hope to be happy and in love, and be supporting as parents for Shawn and Chelsea. Ultimately, bringing back Steve and Kayla was a mistake I think; as much as I love them. I believe NBC will cancel the show, but that it will be moved elsewhere. The show needs to plan for the future, and it falls on Hogan now to create memorable new characters, if it's true the budget isn't there for the more expensive performers. Something tells me, much like new actors, vets like Suzanne Rogers, Peggy Mckay, and James Reynolds, and reacurring actors like Tanya Boyd, and Bill and Susan Hayes, aren't being paid that much. Use them in story; I would love to see lots of Doug, Julie, Maggie, Abe, and Celeste.

I don't think bring back Kayla and Patch were needed. I would rather keep Bo & Hope and J&M.

And after this storyline with EJ and Patch's missing years, I wouldn't be surprised if Days cut them lose.

Well, I think this debate is really useless. I mean, if there aren´t enough of money to pay the vets, there simply aren´t enough money to pay them and that´s it. We can speculate and argue how wonderfull it would be if they were on frontburner or viceversa, but it will not change anything. Corday cannot fire everybody except them, because he has 5x40 mins of show weekly he has to fill with stories. And Sheffer isn´t able to tell stories with characters Corday can afford to appear only few times per month.

Exactly.

It was good while it lasted, and now I'll just enjoy the writing for the characters I DO get to see.

I've already ranted and raved about how I feel towards NBC in regards to all of this.

Corday can't fire the whole frickin' cast and leave just Bo, Hope, John and Marlena. There would be no soap.

Eh, whatever. The whole thing sucks ass.

Well, I think this debate is really useless. I mean, if there aren´t enough of money to pay the vets, there simply aren´t enough money to pay them and that´s it. We can speculate and argue how wonderfull it would be if they were on frontburner or viceversa, but it will not change anything. Corday cannot fire everybody except them, because he has 5x40 mins of show weekly he has to fill with stories. And Sheffer isn´t able to tell stories with characters Corday can afford to appear only few times per month.

DAYS isn´t first nor last soap which is forced to bacburnered its major characters for budget reasons. We will see what happens. But if Corday really wants try to sell the show elsewhere in 2009, he will need to prove the show is still viable. Nobody is going to be interest in a soap museum with all major character over fifty.

Like you said it is useless, we can go back and fourth and you're right. But I'm not talking about those people alone. DAYS is an ensemble just like any other show. I don't see why John, Marlena, Bo, Hope and Steve and Kayla are the ones people are picking on so much. They have given this show a lot of its life, some of them almost 20 years. At one point it is time to go, of course. No one is saying the show should become a museum of characters over 50, I think that's pretty silly. But no characters should take over this show and definitely not new ones. Building a future generation for a future that may not exist is dumb. Just balance it out, that is all I am saying. I'm not saying the vets should be on all the time. I'm not saying the teens or younger crew shouldn't be on at all. There needs to be balance. And characters shouldn't become instantly front burner either. It's not going to send the show off any better than it is now. And since they know the show is dying in 2009 what is the big deal anyways? They should try and send it off respecting both old and new viewers of the show. It's a hard concept, apparently.

Exactly.

It was good while it lasted, and now I'll just enjoy the writing for the characters I DO get to see.

I've already ranted and raved about how I feel towards NBC in regards to all of this.

Corday can't fire the whole frickin' cast and leave just Bo, Hope, John and Marlena. There would be no soap.

Eh, whatever. The whole thing sucks ass.

Actually, but for Drake, I'd watch those four sit around for an hour discussing Salem's events.

Building a future generation for a future that may not exist is dumb.

Exactly. They have an opportunity to play IT out now to an ending.

Edited February 13, 200718 yr by Brandeis

I don't think bring back Kayla and Patch were needed. I would rather keep Bo & Hope and J&M.

And after this storyline with EJ and Patch's missing years, I wouldn't be surprised if Days cut them lose.

Well, based on number of appearances I´m pretty sure SN and MBE paychecks are much thinner than would be corresponding with their veteran/soap megastars status. We will see what happens with B/H now, when their contract is almost over. I wouldn´t be surprised if they are both demoted to recurring.