DAYS: December 2024 Discussion Thread

[JAS0N47]

TRIO ADDED TO CONTRACT LIST...

As the "Days" credits suggested, I checked with "Days" today and a spokesperson confirmed that Brandon Beemer (Shawn), Martha Madison (Belle) and Peyton Meyer (Doug III, listed today in credits as Young Man) are all on contract. For the record, Beemer's first episode on contract was November 29 and Madison and Meyer joined the contract cast on December 2.

I mean, from my own thoughts watching yesterday, I considered it to be Young Doug and Young Bill, an homage to Bill Hayes' first storyline (from Doug first meeting Bill in prison to his release a few months later when he headed to Salem). The first time we saw Peyton Meyer's actual character was at the end of today's episode, when he met Julie outside of St. Luke's. That's my thinking as of now.

However, to be certain, I just emailed the publicist and asked for confirmation, so I will update you if I hear back.

[Efulton]

I always thought Julie was the oldest but cannot find anything that documents it.  Charla Doherty was 2 years older than Flip Mark (original Julie and Steven) not that it really proves anything.

[Paul Raven]

Y&R had John Abbott and John Silva on concurrently.

Reading comments about Liz I get that my 'tenuous' comment was a bit hasty. Doug did give her her first singing break and we assume Liz went on to a successful career. Maybe she should have mentioned  that Doug and Julie saw her perform in various venues over the years in their travels.

The whole Marie/Liz connection should have been downplayed until they bumped into each other. Then a bonding moment to show that their past rivalry was just that, and that their connection to Doug was more important - a much more satisfying scenario to me.

And I would have liked to see Melissa be there as Hope's best friend. Melissa and Sarah  and Maggie catching up.

[Contessa Donatella]

Thank you, Jason, as always you are the best. If you happen to hear any news about more people watching, please let us know!

[asafi]

My Thoughts:

Why hasn’t Steve Olson returned to Salem in the last 45 years? Was this ever explained? I imagine he met with Doug and Julie in Europe over the years off-screen, but he didn’t even come back for his grandmother Alice’s funeral. He missed all those weddings and special events too. It’s so strange. I really hope Stephen sticks around - he could be an interesting match for Marlena.

I also hope Marie Horton keeps making appearances. She’s the only original Horton child still alive, and we need her on the show! I’d love to see her interacting with Maggie, Marlena, Julie, Hope, and Jennifer.

It was great seeing Liz return, but did she keep in touch with anyone during the past 40 years? Did she mention Neil? Also, just a note: her rivalry with Marie wasn’t with Mares Chatham but with Lana Sanders, so it felt odd that they referenced it.

I really hope these legacy characters stick around or return more often. The show needs to tap into its rich history and these amazing characters as much as possible.

 

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[Paul Raven]

That AI is creepy as fluck.

Liz should have arrived at Marlena's at her invite.

"When I got your message about Doug, I knew I had to be there. He and Julie came to my shows over the years and Doug never failed to send me a Xmas message."

Establish that Marlena and Liz kept in touch sporadically as old friends often do over the years.

As for Steven , have Julie chide him for not ever coming back to Salem. "If Doug and I hadn't made the effort to catch up when we were traveling, then you would have no connection to your family." Have Steve be regretful -maybe his own son Spencer did the same to him and after a health scare he has realized how selfish he has been.

[AbcNbc247]

Or that she got rid of a gift that her daughter gave her so easily

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Thanks! 

I’d love to see one of those couples singing or dancing to it. 

[vetsoapfan]

When James Carroll Jordan briefly took over the role in 1972, Steve was again confirmed to be Julie's younger brother. I don't remember if it was mentioned specifically when SS was cast in 1978. By that time, I assumed everyone already knew, and I probably didn't pay much attention. I should say, however, that if Steve was then said to be OLDER than Julie in 1978, I'm sure I would have picked up on it and remembered it. Inconsistencies with details like that always grate on my nerves and stick in my mind.

In 1964 on AW, Pat Matthews shot and killed her ne'er-do-well boyfriend, Tom Baxter. For years afterwards, it was reported in the soap press and even by the likes of writer Harding Lemay, that Pat had stabbed him to death. Lemay even had Pat flashback to "stabbing" Tom after she had killed Greg Bernard. UGH! 

Doug Davidson of Y&R expressed good-natured vexation in the press that it had become known as "fact" among fans that Paul Williams had given Nikki Reed a sexually transmitted disease. Nooooooooo. Those of us who were watching way back when knew it was the other way around; she infected him. Other fans have not believed me, because they "read it in a book" that Paul was the one responsible.

The soap opera landscape is littered with misinformation which has become accepted as factual through decades of erroneous reporting.

[AbcNbc247]

Good episode… that was ruined by Leo

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Even with Ron’s obsession, I’ll never understand how with all this talk about scheduling, availability, guarantees, etc., they can always make it work for Greg Rikaart. And that’s a big HELL NO on bringing in Spencer Olson for him. 

And yeah, let’s add Stephen Schnetzer to the list of people that Ron owes an apology to, along with Al Calderon. His final scene with Susan Seaforth Hayes was really nice though. I’ll miss him. And Marie too. Hope we see them again. 

Everything else was actually pretty good though, especially Shawn/Belle. It’s like they’re in the middle of a classic soap dilemma where they want to be together but they feel that they can’t because of everything they’ve been through. I’m happy that we’re going to see this all play out onscreen. I hope they play the long game with them. There’s still so much story for the two of them, as a couple and as individual characters. 

Lucas immediately suspecting Steve of stealing the necklace was classic Lucas. He really is another character that should be on the canvas full time. 

And, we got confirmation that Peyton Meyer wasn’t playing young Doug on Monday. Again, I didn’t dislike it but at the same time, it just didn’t seem necessary. But I like that they’re finally delving into Dougie’s family after so many years, even though they mispronounced Robert’s name throughout the whole episode lol the T is silent. 

There’s so much that they can do with this character, especially since he was the one who stole the necklace. But I like how they’re drawing a parallel between him and Doug, just as long as they don’t take him too far and ruin him. I wonder who he’s gonna end up being paired with lol he kinda looks like Lucas Adams.  

[brisbydog]

We have had two characters named Alexander Kiriakis for years now. And Mickey and Mike were both Michael Horton. And way back Tom and Tommy Horton.

[VelekaCarruthers]

Wednesday's episode was also well done. Steve S handled all of his scenes so well. What a consummate actor.  He'd be great back on a soap.  Marie was also great. Aunt Marie needs to be seen more often.  The actor playing Doug has promise, a little green but he held up well with Susan.  Interesting that Dave Ryan has written the last three scripts. His name should be disappearing from the credits any day now since he moved over to Y&R several months ago.  I'm shocked I actually have watched four Ron episodes in their entirety. I wonder if he and Ken looked at these episodes and realized that you don't need several overplayed, ridiculous murderous back from the dead characters (Kristen, Ava) or actors double cast (Alex, Theresa) to tell a compelling story. 

[1974mdp]

After tuning back in after about a year for the Doug episodes, it amazes me how GOOD the show can be when it focuses on actual human emotions and family versus mask wearing, back from the dead, crypto chambers, Dr. Rolf, etc.

But, man, Leo...RC just won't give that character up no matter what.

[Soapsuds]

Leo is cancer to this show. He weakens this show.

[j swift]

Next week: Leo cries about the fact that Doug was the only man in Salem who never fell for his charms...

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[asafi]

I think this is what the fans want: the old characters and a respect for the show's history. Bring back Marie, Liz, Steven Olson, Melissa, Kimberly, and maybe even Susan Hunter, and of course, Missy Reeves and Kristian Alfonso.