DAYS: Writing staff returns 4/23/08

[JAS0N47]

"Days of Our Lives" airs its first episode written since the WGA strike ended on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. As previously announced, Dena Higley, who was head writer of "Days" from March-August 2003, is the new head writer. In another change "Days" has dropped its breakdown writing positions (those who write the geenral storylines of each episode). That job will now be done by Higley and new co-head writer Victor Gialanella, who was with "Days" from 1995-2006. The six dialogue writers are: Rick Draughon, who was with "Days" from 2000-2006; John S. Newman, who was with "Days" from 2003-2004; and four holdovers that were with the show when the strike began: Bettina Bradbury, Renee Godelia, Cydney Kelley and Jodie Scholz. Bradbury will be leaving the series soon. "Days" had been "writer-less" due to the strike for 63 episodes, from January 25-April 22, 2008.

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HEAD WRITER BIOGRAPHY

Dena Anne Breshears Higley first joined the "Days" staff in 1985 and stayed with the show for over 19 years until November 2004, including a short stint as head writer from March 7-August 15, 2003. From 2004-2007, she was the head writer of "One Life to Live." Higley has been Emmy-nominated six times (five during her last stint at "Days", in 1987, 1994, 1997, 1998, and 1999, and once for "One Life to Live" in 2006). She was born September 26, 1958 in Tulare, California and is married to former "Days" writer Mark Christopher Higley. They have four children: Connor "CK" (1988), Jensen (1990), Helio (1994; adopted from Ethiopia), Adelle (1996; adopted from Vietnam). Tenure: 1985-November 26, 2004; April 23, 2008-Present.

CO-HEAD WRITER BIOGRAPHY

Victor L. Gialanella's first claim to fame was his Broadway play "Frankenstein", which ended up opening and closing on the same day in 1981. He wrote for "Guiding Light" from 1983-1987 and first joined the "Days" staff in 1995, staying for over 10 years until June 2006. Gialanella wrote for "One Life to Live" from 2006-2007. He has been nominated for four Daytime Emmys (three nominations while at "Days" in 1997, 1998 and 1999 and winning once in 1986 for "Guiding Light"). Gialanella was born on October 29, 1949 in New Jersey. He still resides there with his wife, Cindy, and daughters Alicia (1996) and Rebecca (1999). Tenure: 1995-June 19, 2006; April 23, 2008-Present.

STAFF WRITER BIOGRAPHIES

BETTINA BRADBURY

Bettina Francionne Bradbury began her writing career on "Capitol" from 1984-1987. She wrote for "Santa Barbara" from 1991 until its final episode in 1993. She then was a staff writer on "All My Children" from 1993-2006 and most recently wrote for "One Life to Live" and "As the World Turns" in 2006. She has won 3 Daytime Emmy Awards, all for "All My Children", in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Bradbury was born on July 22, 1955. She is the daughter of author Ray Bradbury, who wrote the 1953 novel "Fahrenheit 451." She is married to Gary Karapetian. Tenure: January 16, 2007-January 16, 2008; April 23, 2008-Present.

RICK DRAUGHON

Richard Lamar Draughon began his career writing for "Loving" and "Another World" in the early 1990s. He later became an assistant to the executive producer of "Party of Five" from 1994-1996. Draughon returned to writing at "Sunset Beach" from 1998-1999. In 2000, he joined the "Days" staff as its website producer. Draughon was on the "Days" writing staff from 2002-2006. He wrote briefly for "The Young and the Restless" in late 2006. In 2007, he created and wrote the internet soap "Coastal Dreams." Draughon was born July 14, 1968. Tenure: 2002-November 16, 2006; April 23, 2008-Present.

RENEE GODELIA

Renee Simone Godelia originally joined the "Days" staff as a writer's assistant in 2001. She was later promoted to writer's office manager. She was a member of the writing staff in 2006 before returning in 2007. Godelia, originally from Texas, was born on October 27, 1977. At 30, she is the youngest writer currently on the "Days" staff. Tenure: 2001-2006; October 15, 2007-January 16, 2008; April 23, 2008-Present.

    

CYDNEY KELLEY

Cydney Lee Kelley began her "Days" career in 2000 and worked her way up to a writer's assistant before becoming a full time writer in 2007. Kelley was born on March 11, 1974. Tenure: March 22, 2007-January 16, 2008; April 23, 2008-Present.

JOHN S. NEWMAN

John S. Newman was born into a soap opera family. His parents are former "Guiding Light" actors Roger Newman and Fran Myers. Both later became writers, including a stint by his mother for "Days." Newman's first stint for "Days of Our Lives" was from March 2003-December 2004. In his spare time, Newman is a musician. His debut album as Johnnie Newman was "The Golden Coast." He was born on March 29, 1976 in New York City, New York. Tenure: March 12, 2003-December 28, 2004; April 23, 2008-Present.

JODIE SCHOLZ

Jodie Evelyn Scholz began her writing career with "Sunset Beach" from 1997-1999. She later wrote for "Port Charles" from 1999-2003, before joining the "Days" staff in 2003. She was born September 17, 1960 in California. Tenure: October 3, 2003-January 16, 2008; April 23, 2008-Present.

[Sylph]

So Bettina isn't gone?

[JAS0N47]

Maybe she's been fired since and will disappear sometime in May/June. But she's on the staff listed for tomorrow's show, at least in Canada. I just work off the credits sent by some of my Canadian friends. Jason

[Toups]

Thanks for the bios, Jason.

If you find John Newman's birthdate, let me know.

[Sylph]

Oh, I see. Thank you for all this info, Jason!

[NYC123]

I hope BETTINA BRADBURY comes back to AMC!

[Sylph]

Kyle, be honest: are you just dropping some names here as well as in some other topics? If you can write me a, say, 5 paragraphs post about AMC writers and their trademarks, I can take this post seriously. Otherwise...

[Toups]

Are you serious?

5 paragraphs? And you can't take his post seriously? That's kind of snobbish.

[Sylph]

It was a hyperbole, Toups, hyperbole!!!

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Well, it is Sylph.

Anyway, this team blows, I expect the dialogue to stay the same or just barely improve. Victor L. Gialanella as Co-HW? Oh dear.....

I wonder if someone will be hired in Bettina Bradbury's place or they'll keep a small staff of 7 writers.....

[jonphil]

If tomorrow is the first show written by Higley, why has everyone been going off lately that she is already ruining the show? Anyways, I hope with a writing staff back in place that we continue to see the emphasis of the show on the pivotal characters that we care about and the balance that we have seen lately continues. If it does then I will continue to watch.

[SOAPSFOREVER]

Bettina survived the first few weeks back from the strike, but was then let go. Her career with DAYS officially ended a couple of weeks ago.

[Toups]

Ah okay. My bad then. I couldn't figure out what your tone was.

[Toups]

First "official" show.

That's all good but if the stories are bad (like they are now), it's pointless. A bad story is a bad story no matter who's in them.

[PhoenixRising05]

Glad the strike episodes are gone.

Not a very impressive team. Ok with Scholz and Kelley. Gianella did good helping during the strike. Losing Bradbury is a HUGE blow and a stupid decision IMO.