Killing Sami off? I really cant see that happening

Me neither. Even if they were to send off Sami in something like a plane or car crash, I'm pretty sure we'd see her crawl away (or better yet, be rescued by a shadowy figure) before the big, final explosion.

This is big news...

However, if there is one show in daytime that is somewhat 'star' proof, it's DAYS. They've gone through so many big names in the last two decades and sure the show goes through peaks and valleys, but it survives. And so it will continue.

I don't know what Alison Sweeney is hoping for at this stage of her career, at 37, not looking particularly young, but maybe she's just looking forward to life at home with her kids, maybe she's been good with her money. Whatever it is, there is no denying she has been the star of the show for a solid 15 years, if not more, and the canvas will be very different without her.

James Scott should go with her, he will be very out of place on the canvas.

I also wonder what the positioning will be for characters like Nicole, Kate and Marlena, all of whom have had major interaction with Sami for the entirety of her run.

she's sort of the female Carson Daly/Ryan Seacrest. I think she's getting a lot of entertainment magazine/talk show offers, and has probably turned many offers down on account of DAYS.

i wouldn't be surprised is once she's done with DAYS we see her turning up on Live with Kelly and Micheal and The View and The Talk as guest co-host... she might even do DWTS, at some point, to boost her profile some.

i can see her joining the Today Show as well, in some capacity...

This is typical - I finally like Sami again for the first time in a decade, so she decides to leave...

i believe this. JS has been shaky as far as staying w/ the show long term, and has been resigning short-term contracts every time... IMO, DAYS (finally) only put EJ/Sami together to appease him (and maybe, Alison?) because they were like WTF are they going with them? Damn. LOL

when Sami's gone, EJ's gone, imo.

Losing two huge stars within months of each other? That's too much talent to bleed out in such a short amount of time. They would basically be losing both their show anchors and their two heaviest story hitters. Once EJ and Sami leave, nothing in Salem happens outside of Dannifer. Makes sense why they begged Eileen to come back.

And I don't think anyone was talking acting so much as stature and star power. Lucci is the top of that list. Alison Sweeney, while I find her talented and a force not unlike Lucci, is quite a few rungs down the ladder.

Lucci is basically the Lucielle Ball of Daytime. She's at best a solid, fun comedic actress full of charisma. But out of the Daytime divas she is a poor dramatic actress in all regards. She will never be looked at highly as a strong actress in any regard. Sweeney however is a powerhouse when it comes to dramatic confrontation scenes, which soaps build themselves on. Sweeney is vastly superior when it comes to crafting and working a scene. Lucci is just style, nothing more.

Sadly, I don't see a place for JS once AS leaves. EJ has been shackled to Sami for so long he'd stand out like a sore thumb in her absence.

I think they are at this point entwined together to the point that they can no longer be separated. There was a chance around 2010-2012 where he could have gotten away from her and been fine on his own. But since their reunification in 2013 EJ's fate was sealed to hers. This isn't just for EJ though, Sami is tied inextricably to EJ too and has been since 2006. Rafe and Lucas are merely stop-gaps. The writers have always known where the true story lies. EJ's been feeding Sami story for 8 years now and both have benefited from the relationship. If EJ didn't exist Sami would have never become as central to the show as she was from 07 onward.

As for leading lady legacies, I def think Sweeney has more than earned her spot among the greats. While her acting may not be as good as some (but better than others) she carried Days for a good 20 years, the last 12 basically in her own. She's had multiple huge pairings, become a star outside of the soap world, championed and cheered soaps on instead of turning her back on them. Her character has driven a large part of days and is the central leading lady. She put in the time, the effort and had the popularity. I'm not sure how she's not one unless you just think she's a weak actress and if that's the case lucci sure isn't one either. If your talking about their character being an icon and that alone then I'd say basically there is Erica and nobody else.

She's not a great. She's nowhere near that of a Lucci, Francis or a Slezak, she's not even a Flannery. At most she is in the ball park of a Michelle Stafford or a Katherine Kelly Lang with more publicity.

I get everyone has their favorites, but she hasn't carried DAYS for 20 years. Has she been an integral character during that time? Hell yes! The last 6 years? As far as I can tell it's been her as the constant leading lady, minus some Nicole love, the year of Kristen, and what they tried to do with night time Hope and Carly's return. Oh and Melanie . But she was the center during these last 6 years for sure.

I would say I will miss her, but she's not the Sami I loved. She's a dull version of that character mixed with what Carrie should be written like. I'm bored with both.

I agree with this. She hasn't carried Days for 20 years. She has definitely given them some highlighted material during her tenure for sure. The Will storyline, her death row story, her sabotage of Carrie's relationships, her issues with her mother and John Black being the most memorable ones. But Sami wasn't carrying Days until 2007 at the earliest, and even then there was a major antagonist fueling pretty much all of her story.She was never the sole lead prior to 2008, and even then she was co-leading with another actor.

She was def one of the leads in the mid and late 90s. Around 2002 she became more than less the sole lead.

I wouldn't say that. Belle's love triangle with Phillip and Shawn received just as much of a priority as Sami's trials with Lucas and Austin during that time period. I think people forget that Shawn, Belle and Phillip were huge players at Days for years prior to their exits. Sami wasn't the sole lead until the show became all about her in 2007 where pretty much everything was about EJ and Sami.

Edited February 2, 201411 yr by Skin

Lucci is just style, nothing more.

She's no Alexa Havins. Where is Alexa Havins?

I wouldn't say that. Belle's love triangle with Phillip and Shawn received just as much of a priority as Sami's trials with Lucas and Austin during that time period. I think people forget that Shawn, Belle and Phillip were huge players at Days for years prior to their exits. Sami wasn't the sole lead until the show became all about her in 2007 where pretty much everything was about EJ and Sami.

This!

Message from Deidre Hall

The Deidre Hall Fan Page

Liked · May 23

Dearest Ali.
I don't know how we will get through today, much less all the Days to follow. For years I have stood arms-length from you, finding our light, watching the greatest show of all. It has been your breathtaking journey to womanhood. I am unspeakably proud. My love and respect for you go beyond words. You are the daughter I never had.
I always knew you would walk, I never dreamed you would fly.
Clear skies, little one.
Deidre

Pictures from Ali's last day

That's sweet.

I'm not the biggest Sami/Sweeney fan, but both deserve a good send off for the years of loyal service to the show.

Some more from Deidre Hall's Facebook page

Edited May 26, 201411 yr by cassadine1991

are Carrie and Austin returning?

Who the heck are those brunette girls? A new Sydney or maybe Carrie's child?

Wow, I didnt realize Allie was played by twins

Edited May 26, 201411 yr by Cheap21

I'd assume Christie, Wayne and Patrick just came to say goodbye, but I'd be OK with all three of them returning. BYE JOSH! (If only)

How sweet of Wayne, Christie, and Patrick to come by. God I hope Josh wasn't filming that day.

Melanie Jonas that's who lol cancelled 2015 Mark my words

I'd assume Christie, Wayne and Patrick just came to say goodbye, but I'd be OK with all three of them returning. BYE JOSH! (If only)

I was hoping JT was out and Wayne was in until I saw this. Crap, lol.

Thanks for the pics. Aww I love the one with her and all the kids.