DAYS: Show shuts down production for one month hiatus

[JAS0N47]

"DAYS" SHUTS DOWN PRODUCTION AND GOES DARK FOR ONE MONTH...FIRST TIME IN 49 YEARS THAT "DAYS" GOES ON A MONTH-LONG BREAK...

Jen Lilley (Theresa) confirmed in an interview today that "Days" is currently dark and on a four-week hiatus. This is the first time in "Days" history that the show has shut down production for an entire month. "Days" recently finished taping November sweeps and would have been nearing six months ahead of airdate if they had not shut down for a longer-than-usual break sometime this year. "Days" taped its last episode on Friday, June 20 and will go back into production with its December episodes on Monday, July 21.

HISTORICAL NOTE: The last time "Days" did not tape an episode for 30 straight days was from September 29-October 28, 1965, the month before the show ever went into production!

Here's the link to Jen Lilley's interview, where she discusses the four-week break during the first few minutes: https://twitter.com/jen_lilley/status/484462709233049601

[AlexElizabeth]

So they'll still be 5 months out? Ridiculous!

[Bright Eyes]

But how nice for the cast to have a beautiful summer vacay!

[Chris B]

It's scary in case of a writing quality decline, but filming far in advance seems to be working for them, quality-wise and it HAS to be good for the budget. Being able to take a month off alone will save them tons of money. DAYS and B&B both take these extended vacations and it must be so amazing working for those shows.

[Vee]

I called it! They're trying to catch up to 2016.

[YRfan23]

How exactly does Days film this far in advance again?

[cassadine1991]

5 months

[JAS0N47]

Do you mean how did they get 5 months in advance? In January 2009, they were still taping just 4 weeks ahead of time. In February 2009, the new smaller budget kicked in (and with it, the firing of Drake Hogestyn, Deidre Hall, Stephen Nichols, Mary Beth Evans and several others). Also starting in February 2009, the show began a new production schedule. They began taping an average of 7.5 episodes per week for 3 weeks each month, and taking one dark week off at the end of each month. Regardless of the month (and regardless if the show was preempted, such as for 2 weeks during the Summer Olympics in 2012), "Days" started averaging taping 22-23 episodes per month. For many months, "Days" only airs 20 or 21 episodes a month. Combine that with the 50 preemptions the show has had since Febaury 2009, and that's how "Days" went from 4 weeks ahead to 5 months ahead.

[YRfan23]

Ok.....that makes more sense......but jeez that must be the busiest soap to work on!

[cassadine1991]

Explains why Eileen left back in 2013 and would now be appearing for arcs

[Juliajms]

If by amazing you mean difficult and exhausting, I'd say you are right. The break neck pace is why they are losing some of their actors.

[jo.frank88]

Anyone know this? When the studio is "dark" do the writers also stop working? Or do they continue mapping out story/plot,etc ?

[allmc2008]

Jen Lilly reminds me of Rebecca Budig. Maybe she could have played Greenlee instead of Sabine Singh?

[Cheap21]

She's at least 10 years younger than what Greenlee should be

[jcar03]

I think most shows are mapped out further in advance. I assume the writers can keep working since they are based all over the country not at the studio.