DAYS: November Discussion Thread

[Shawn]

^^ You misread me Toups, I was comparing the AIRTIME and story quality between the two. Personally I think DH is a joke as far as a celebrated actress - but none of that takes away from the fact that she has A line stories when much better actresses are stuck without. I find it interesting to look at Days cast photos over the years. Slowly Hall was moved towards the front centre with Francis Reed while Rogers was pushed off to the side. It's certainly a statement of their treatment by the show.

A major reason for SR's backburner status for several years was her real life health issues that forced her to leave the show and work less. It is unfortunate that, when she was able to work many hours and be front burner again, the writers didn't use her heavily again until 2003 or so. During this time other characters moved to the forefront and became the heavy favorites, mostly thanks to fans.

If you want to know Dee tended to get "favored" over vets like Suzanne, look at the ratings during the Possession storyline, and pretty much, all of Reilly's first tenure. Dee and Drake were front burner a majority of the time, and the viewers came in DROVES to see them. It may not be fair at times, but when you are consistently getting the ratings that Days was getting in the 90's, you're going to keep the people on the air that fans are obviously tuning in to see. Like them or not, think they are bad actors or not, but Dee and Drake are synonymous with the modern Days of our Lives, while classic actors, like the great Suzanne, Susan, and Bill, represent the Days Gone By, who had their time in the "A story" spotlight but now have settled into a consistent and always welcome supporting role.

Hell, even during Suzanne's heyday, she won the Emmy for SUPPORTING actress, a sign that, while she was incredibly vital to the show at that time (and even still), she wasn't featured on a daily basis at all times. She, and Maggie, are beloved people who are always a pleasure to see onscreen, but, unlike Dee, she isn't the face of Days. She never was, and there's nothing wrong with that, IMO.

Since the reboot there has been a nice balance, and many different characters are being featured through the week. Yes, Dee has the most episodes logged in October, but most of that time was spent in the penthouse as a supporting player watching John and Carrie discuss the case. She has hardly hogged the spotlight from anyone since she's been back. It can be argued that, while she has had fewer episodes in the last few weeks, Suzanne has had the meatier material.

Okay, end of rant...back to work

[Cheap21]

EJ shot John in December 2006 which was the same time as he made Sami sleep with him and she got pregnant with Johnny. John was in a coma for months before finally coming out of it than of course a few months later was hit by a car and "died." This storyline cause that guy to try and attack Drake Hogestyn in real life because he thought he was dead on the show or something nutty like that.

Did he shoot him intentionally or was it an accident?

[jcar03]

Cheap, I think it was intentionally. I can't remember all the details anymore or why he was trying to shot him.

[quartermainefan]

Did he shoot him intentionally or was it an accident?

It was intentional and in cold blood. John went into a coma so never could tell, and then when he woke up I think he immediately got run down by a car? Then came amnesia. it's all on youtube, It was a great episode too, almost like a Dynasty season finale cliffhanger. One of the best episodes of a soap I can recall in many a year with cliffhanger following cliffhanger, and Hope takes the cake. I literally laughed at the OTTness of it all. I wish every episode was like this

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VHpuBxJzzaY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bbPS_Jg-1A8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kKfhUya9M-8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[remos]

A major reason for SR's backburner status for several years was her real life health issues that forced her to leave the show and work less. It is unfortunate that, when she was able to work many hours and be front burner again, the writers didn't use her heavily again until 2003 or so. During this time other characters moved to the forefront and became the heavy favorites, mostly thanks to fans.

If you want to know Dee tended to get "favored" over vets like Suzanne, look at the ratings during the Possession storyline, and pretty much, all of Reilly's first tenure. Dee and Drake were front burner a majority of the time, and the viewers came in DROVES to see them. It may not be fair at times, but when you are consistently getting the ratings that Days was getting in the 90's, you're going to keep the people on the air that fans are obviously tuning in to see. Like them or not, think they are bad actors or not, but Dee and Drake are synonymous with the modern Days of our Lives, while classic actors, like the great Suzanne, Susan, and Bill, represent the Days Gone By, who had their time in the "A story" spotlight but now have settled into a consistent and always welcome supporting role.

Hell, even during Suzanne's heyday, she won the Emmy for SUPPORTING actress, a sign that, while she was incredibly vital to the show at that time (and even still), she wasn't featured on a daily basis at all times. She, and Maggie, are beloved people who are always a pleasure to see onscreen, but, unlike Dee, she isn't the face of Days. She never was, and there's nothing wrong with that, IMO.

Since the reboot there has been a nice balance, and many different characters are being featured through the week. Yes, Dee has the most episodes logged in October, but most of that time was spent in the penthouse as a supporting player watching John and Carrie discuss the case. She has hardly hogged the spotlight from anyone since she's been back. It can be argued that, while she has had fewer episodes in the last few weeks, Suzanne has had the meatier material.

Okay, end of rant...back to work

Ranting is fine. I don't have to agree - and I don't. But it's all good. I hardly think DH2 were the draw during the possession story as much as the story itself, but c'est la vie. It's all part of daytimes' kooky history anyway.

[jcar03]

It was intentional and in cold blood. John went into a coma so never could tell, and then when he woke up I think he immediately got run down by a car?

I think there was a few months in between but it wasn't long. I do believe he woke up from the coma around May and he was hit by the car in late September or early October. I know the funeral was in October and Sami gave birth to the twins.

[Antoyne]

As dumb as it was to change John's familial ties again, I think it would be a smart move and add a little to the stories if it wasn't ignored that EJ, Stefano, John, and Brady were all related.

Also weren't we supposed to be seeing the inside of shops and stuff in the Horton Square.

Oh and I personally am quite excited for the return of Quinn, a character from pre-reboot.

[AllMyDaysatGH]

Quinn Go away! I would've rather seen someone more important back over him. What a waste!

I'm already kinda over the Town Square. I thought there would be more areas people could go to but there seems to just be that one spot where everyone goes to sit. Boring.

Melanie & Maggie have been really delightful to watch.

[DaytimeFan]

I'm already kinda over the Town Square. I thought there would be more areas people could go to but there seems to just be that one spot where everyone goes to sit. Boring.

The second I saw the Horton Town Square in a preview I hated it. So cheap looking, so small and so useless. DAYS just doesn't have the budget to pull something like this off. Hell, none of the American soaps do.

[marlenafan]

I usually visit this site everyday, however, I don't post too ofter. However, I just had to chime in on his Dee Hall discussion. I completely agree with Toups on this one. Suzanne Rogers, although she is a great actress is NOT "A" story-worthy. She simply does not have that type of appeal. Dee Hall IS Days of our Lives, like it or not! She has carried this show on her back numerous times in the past and it was NOT solely because of her storylines. It was her acting as well. As far as I am concerned, Dee has been able to sell ALL of her storylines on this show, whether they were realistic or ridiculous. It is simply politics why she has not been nominated for daytime emmies while the horrendous Susan Lucci has been nominated 1,287.43 times!!! I will say that no soap character is on their A-game every single day so I am not saying that everything Dee has done has been oh so phenomenal, but when she is on her A-game, she usually knocks it out of the park. Dee Hall has proven to be a ratings magnet for this show in the past because she had the "je ne sais quoi" to be able to deliver. She may not be everyone's cup of tea, however, she has proven herself time and time again as lead character material both in acting and appeal. Days of our Lives is filled with phenomenal actors, young and old, however, no other veteran has had the consistent track record of successfully driving story as Dee Hall. It certainly makes sense that if the show is looking to find its footing again, it would bring back the person who played perhaps the MOST POPULAR character in Days, which happens to be Marlena Evans. Like it or not, for a long time Dee Hall was the star of this show. If the PTB decide to put her back, front and center, it would be a very logical choice.

[marlenafan]

I found some great clips of Deidre Hall in some scenes from past storylines. Once again, she may not be your cup of tea, however, no one can deny that the woman is a strong actress.

John Tells Marlena about her Sins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwo1958JaUg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvHkVxtkGpc&feature=related

Sami in Hospital http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROim_yZbgAY&feature=autoplay&list=ULdkuKr_78mvo&index=2&playnext=4

Sami confronts Marlena about affair

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9zcQrZMPxM

Sami’s Execution

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRfuR6gN9y4&feature=related

Marlena @ John’s funeral

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEV4a44oLfo

Belle comforts Marlena after the funeral

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whvLRKpgtls&feature=related

Marlena injects Stephano

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cRR_UCSLso&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Marlena injects Stephano 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITv4acdZ6U0&feature=autoplay&list=UL1MXRVcCFlts&index=2&playnext=1

Marlena and John Valentine Day Dance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wQE5xgo6gc&feature=fvsr

Marlena @ John’s funeral

Belle comforts Marlena after the funeral

Marlena injects Stephano

Marlena injects Stephano 2

Marlena and John Valentine Day Dance

[marlenafan]

Belle comforts Marlena after the funeral

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whvLRKpgtls&feature=related

Marlena injects Stephano

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cRR_UCSLso&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Marlena injects Stephano 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITv4acdZ6U0&feature=autoplay&list=UL1MXRVcCFlts&index=2&playnext=1

Marlena and John Valentine Day Dance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wQE5xgo6gc&feature=fvsr

Marlena begs Stefano to help her

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2ftD2GvmRI

[DaytimeFan]

marlenafan' timestamp=1320206041' post='1034893]

I usually visit this site everyday, however, I don't post too ofter. However, I just had to chime in on his Dee Hall discussion. I completely agree with Toups on this one. Suzanne Rogers, although she is a great actress is NOT "A" story-worthy. She simply does not have that type of appeal. Dee Hall IS Days of our Lives, like it or not! She has carried this show on her back numerous times in the past and it was NOT solely because of her storylines. It was her acting as well. As far as I am concerned, Dee has been able to sell ALL of her storylines on this show, whether they were realistic or ridiculous. It is simply politics why she has not been nominated for daytime emmies while the horrendous Susan Lucci has been nominated 1,287.43 times!!! I will say that no soap character is on their A-game every single day so I am not saying that everything Dee has done has been oh so phenomenal, but when she is on her A-game, she usually knocks it out of the park. Dee Hall has proven to be a ratings magnet for this show in the past because she had the "je ne sais quoi" to be able to deliver. She may not be everyone's cup of tea, however, she has proven herself time and time again as lead character material both in acting and appeal. Days of our Lives is filled with phenomenal actors, young and old, however, no other veteran has had the consistent track record of successfully driving story as Dee Hall. It certainly makes sense that if the show is looking to find its footing again, it would bring back the person who played perhaps the MOST POPULAR character in Days, which happens to be Marlena Evans. Like it or not, for a long time Dee Hall was the star of this show. If the PTB decide to put her back, front and center, it would be a very logical choice.

Ms. Hall is not Days of our Lives. Ms. Hall was fired in 2009 and ratings for the program remained absolutely steady, at times ratings improved. Ms. Hall's firing was instrumental in slashing the budget, the very budget slash that allowed Days of our Lives to be renewed by NBC-Universal.

Since Ms. Hall's arrival at the end of September ratings have fallen. Thus, Ms. Hall has not aided ratings in this instance, in fact, it could be argued that Ms. Hall has damaged ratings with her arrival.

[marlenafan]

Marlena asks Austin to lie to Sami

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Odcff5FeFf8&feature=BFa&list=ULdkuKr_78mvo&index=4

Marlena after DJ’s Death

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU3cR_MJXog&feature=related

Marlena yells a Bo for leaving Roman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuw-uhpNe5E&feature=related

Marlena’s exorcism begins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pgB3KZUkp4&feature=related

Marlena gets revenge on Kristen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4LFO_rOpMk

Marlena taunts Stefano

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ7b8MHTrI&feature=related

Marlena exposes Kristen 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q-D3d4cyLw&feature=related

Marlena revealed as the serial killer 2 (2:16)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXq98-TlTr4&feature=related

The possession trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhIV4AX_a_4&feature=related

[marlenafan]

Ms. Hall is not Days of our Lives. Ms. Hall was fired in 2009 and ratings for the program remained absolutely steady, at times ratings improved. Ms. Hall's firing was instrumental in slashing the budget, the very budget slash that allowed Days of our Lives to be renewed by NBC-Universal.

Since Ms. Hall's arrival at the end of September ratings have fallen. Thus, Ms. Hall has not aided ratings in this instance, in fact, it could be argued that Ms. Hall has damaged ratings with her arrival.

No one is disputing why "Ms. Hall" had to be fired. When I say she IS Days, I simply mean that she has been the face of Days for years just like Eric Braeden is the face of Y&R, especially for most of the long time viewers. Her presence makes the show seem more grounded in the familiar, regardless of she is an A storyline or Z storyline. Since we are discussing "arguments that can be made," I can also make the argument that since the arrival of the Horton Town Square, ratings have dropped, however, that would be foolish because correlation doesn't necessarily imply causation. No reasonable person would expect that in today's soap climate, simply bringing back vets that haven't been on the canvas in years will all of a sudden shoot the ratings into the stratosphere and keep them there. That would be silly, especially since its only been a month and it always takes a while for ratings to build. Furthermore, I am not defending "Ms. Hall's" present role on the show. I was simply addressing the issue of "Ms. Hall" vs "Ms. Rogers" and who was a proven track record of being a lead actress. I am simply saying that if TPIC chose to take a chance with "Ms. Hall" as the show's lead actress again and intricately weave her into the current storylines of others as well as give her a storyline of her own, it would actually make sense because it HAS worked in the past. Does it guarantee that it will work again in 2011-2012? No. However, we DO know it has NOT worked with Suzanne Rogers, Kristian Alfonso, Louise Sorrel, Lauren Koslow, Peter Reckell, or insert random vet's name here------>____________. The whole point of the reboot was to go back to what worked before. There is no guarantee that it will work again however, if soaps are eventually gonna be canceled anyway, I rather it go out with some dignity, familiarity, and nostalgic storytelling as opposed to crap that is unrecognizable and leaves our shows without an identity.