DAYS: Head Writer Ron Carlivati Departing Peacock Soap After Seven Years

[AbcNbc247]

He admitted that he saw the devil as just like any other villain, which was his biggest mistake. There needed to be a lot more effort put into it. 

And also make a lot more sense lol the devil pretty much forgetting about Ben and Ciara’s baby once he went into Johnny, being able to bring Jan out of her coma but needing a key card to get into Jan’s hospital room, Kristen making jokes about it, etc. 

[Vee]

I think Ron's clear imprint and voice is certainly imbued into the show at DAYS, probably more than any of the past examples we've cited. The problem is it's often so symbiotic with the same rotgut tone and style that has been perpetuated since late-stage Reilly, Langan, etc. That's a big part of why he lasted so long. He was in a tacky way often a perfect fit. He could've been much better overall (IMO) if he'd had any brakes and moderation of taste, or if the show had. Neither did or do.

I remember rumors that the actress playing Willow was dating someone higher-up at DAYS. That would've explained a lot. (Or was that the girl who played Morgan the sorority sister? Either would've made sense.)

[carolineg]

It was one of those ideas that actually started okay, but went on for far too long with no real purpose.   RC didn't get JER's vision at all.  And I know JER had a real wild imagination and was a bit weird, but there was a reason no other head writer didn't want to touch that story.

I know the OG Possession was extended by NBC/Production/whoever and we saw a lot of flashbacks.  The set up, the plot, and the conclusion still made sense though.  I mean, as much sense as a Devil Possession can 

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It was the girl that played Morgan.  I actually thought she wasn't half bad.

[titan1978]

I think it was Morgan, and Ed Scott IIRC. The show looked so beautiful under Ed Scott’s moody lighting. Unlike what JFP did at GH, Scott’s Y&R infused history added depth to the lighting without just being overly dark and hard to watch. She tried bless her heart.

The last time I regularly watched DAYS, it felt like the cheap version Tomlin was producing mixed with a bad Reilly knockoff (Ron’s C).
 

I think Ron did great work on OLTL for a couple of years. And his nostalgia fueled first couple of years at GH more than likely saved the show from cancellation. But eventually it kind of slips into Dorian election territory. Camp, and often not the fun kind. And as time us gone on I feel like I could watch any show he has been added to and tell you exactly what characters will be driving every story in 6 months, plus whatever legacy character he knows is the show to the public. Viki on OLTL, Marlena on DAYS, a little bit Luke on GH. GH was a hybrid though because of the OLTL refugees and Valentini’s insistence they be used all the time.

[Contessa Donatella]

His writing. 

And, yes, Maurice was one of the actors who got him fired from GH. Mo & Tony, for sure, and I think Sean Kanan, I believe is the third. 

[JAS0N47]

THIS IS AN ANSWER TO VelekaCarruthers SAYING DAYS WAS DARK THE LAST FEW WEEKS. I WAS REPLYING THE SHOW HAD TAPED THE LAST TWO WEEKS: "They taped the last two weeks, I just haven't updated the page."    This is not attached to my post below, but SON combines posts when you make them in quick succession.   So, if you mistook this and were saying on Twitter I said Cwikly/Ford taped the last two weeks, I did not.  Sorry for any confusion!!

 

 

SEPARATE POST BELOW ABOUT NEW WRITING TEAM:

 

 

MEET THE NEW HEAD WRITING DUO OF "DAYS OF OUR LIVES"...PAULA CWIKLY & JEANNE MARIE FORD...

 

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Paula Cwikly was a production coordinator at NBC in the late 1980's, and later was a writer/producer at CBS from 1989-1991, responsible for on-air promotions of "The Young and the Restless" and "The Bold and the Beautiful". By 1998, she was NBC's director of daytime programming. Her first writing stint was at "Sunset Beach" in 1999. She started her "Days" career as a breakdown writer from January 2000-March 2002, when she was named head writer of "Days" on March 29, 2002, She spent a year as head writer, with her last episode airing March 6, 2003. Cwikly then returned to her role as breakdown writer from March 2003-September 2003. She wrote for "As the World Turns" from 2004-2005 and "The Young and the Restless" from 2006-2013. Cwikly has been nominated for 7 Daytime Emmy Awards, winning twice (2005, 2011), Paula Frances Cwikly was born on April 29, 1961 in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.

 

Jeanne Marie Ford credits her love of daytime dramas to her grandmother. "My grandmother lived with me growing up and she was a big fan of 'General Hospital' and all the ABC shows...She kind of got me hooked on soaps. Then when I was in high school, my best friend got me hooked on 'Days.' (via https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/.../so-are-the.../117186840/) She first worked on the "Days" staff in 1992 as an unpaid intern and soon after became the show's writer's assistant from 1992-1996. She moved back to Marlyand from 1996-1999, and then re-joined "Days" as its continuity coordinator in March 1999 and became a full time staff writer (switching between breakdown writer, script editor and script writer) beginning in 2000, leaving in May 2007. While away from "Days", Ford wrote for "As the World Turns" and "One Life to Live." She returned to the show as a breakdown writer in October 2008, and, since then, has worked as both that and a dialogue writer. She has been nominated 11 times for Daytime Emmy Awards, winning 3 times (2012, 2018, 2022). Jeanne Marie Grunwell was born on April 26, 1971 in California. She is married to James Ford and now uses her married name professionally. Ford, who is based in Maryland, also works as a college English professor there.

Edited July 20, 2024 by JAS0N47

[DRW50]

That would explain all the ugly weight jokes...

[VelekaCarruthers]

Thanks, Jason. We were speculating that while Ron's contract started Jan 2017 and probably ran through Dec 2024, it would make sense that he left or was fired at the end of his mid year cycle and the end of June.  My speculation is that Sony/Steve Kent moved him over to Y&R to retool that show before The Gates premieres.....we will see

[DRW50]

B&B is so completely vacant I am almost curious as to what he would do. Likely bring Sally back recast with Jill St. John, hellbent on destroying Forrester. And Stacy Haiduk joins as a not-dead Angela Forrester and her imposter Devaney Dickson or whatever her name was. 

And the show still won't have any gay characters. 

[Michael]

Nah. He'd have Kevin cross over from Y&R, finally in touch with his 'true' sexuality and perving on Thomas, Finn, Bill, Liam, etc.

[soapfan770]

Another well said perspective I agree with here on RC.

Someone on SON years ago was friends with the actress who played Willow and was distraught by the criticism of her. Then again the year before she played Willow, she had a leading in the 2005 horror flick Death Tunnel which gained notoriety for being one of the worst horror flicks ever produced at the time (yes I unfortunately watched it was horribly boring).

[LeClerc]

She also, inexplicably, was a co-head writer at Y&R for a period in 2018. 

[Beachstorm]

I'd honestly take RC back at YR. That place is a sh!t show. Anyone know how EBraeden feels about him?

[DRW50]

That's crazy. I have paid so little attention to that show in recent times you could tell me Spanish Red from GLOW was a co-HW and I would believe you.

Honestly that's one show I can see saying straight to the end, although if anyone does he will.

[Vee]

Donna is wrong. SK was fired by then in early 2014 (and had no power). The group at the time that revolted in late '14 and '15 included Maurice, NLG, I believe Michelle Stafford and probably more. I'm not sure how much Tony weighed in since he was leaving anyway, he just paid him dust in the press and acted out on set re: the storylines (tanking the alcoholism revisit and LNL)

Edited July 19, 2024 by Vee