Days Casting Rumor

[Roman]

That's one thing they have to do. Get rid of the crap music they have been using and get back some of the stuff from back in the day. People shuddered when they heard that flute play and echo. They knew The Phoenix was somewhere in the mix.

This music today? Sounds like I recorded it.

[sungrey]

I guess I fall into Steve's camp. I won't give up watching Days (I did briefly during the SSK, but the show is MUCH more entertaining now), but all I can think is why? Too much of the DiMeras was what made the show fall flat in the last couple years.

Having said that, if Stefano returns I'd like to see them delve into what the heck was behind the feud with the Bradys all those years ago. I think Hogan could really do that story the right way. Just DON'T make the DiMeras the one behind Patch's amnesia and memory erasing. I know somehow Stefano ended up with Hope after Ernesto had her, but this would be a total cop-out.

[SouthOfSoap]

I didn't have a problem with Stefano in JER's first run, but under Langan he was awful. IIRC, he left because of renewal contract issues with Days (read salary) and he left on bad terms with Tom Langan. His role in Princess Gina and the babyswitch was puke-worthy. Under B&C, Higley and JER's second run, the main Di Mera was Tony, but he was written one-dimensionally and was neither menacing or intense like his father. I think the other problem with the Di Meras is that Langan botched (as in alluded to it forever and never actually resolved it despite foreshadowing it for about 2 years!) the whole story of how the feud between the Bradys and the Di Meras began - it got to the point where people no longer cared anymore how the feud began and just wanted the Di Meras gone. From a personal point of view, I still don't care what caused Stefano's hatred of the Bradys and would prefer him stay gone because the payoff of resolving the Brady/Di Mera feud could never be big enough for me to get invested in the Di Mera's again, thanks to 10 years of crap writing for the Di Mera's.

I can imagine the hacks at NBC sitting down at a strategy breakaway and asking why was Days so big in the 90's and they come up with the Di Mera's vs. the rest of Salem. And while I agree that this was a big part of why Days was big in the 90's, so much has happened since and Daytime has changed so much that i don't believe "Lightning will strike twice" by bringing back this type of storytelling to Days.

I was so impressed with the [s.W.S.N.B.N.] interview on WOSt when she spoke about multidimensional characters who are complex - i.e. not all goood or all evil. (The good husband with the porn stash was a simple example she gave, but it illustrates the point). I don't think Stefano is complex - he hates the Bradys because of something that happened in Ireland, for killing his daughter, his obsession with Marlena and his love and protection of his children. But we have never seen a more human side to Stefano (except when he was in a wheelchair and became Marlena's friend - contrived nonsense) - he has no layers as far as I can see. We have never even seen benevolence from Stefano, never mind empathy for others. I feel by reintroducing the Di Meras, all that [!@#$%^&*] said is negated - its a step in the wrong direction.

If DOOL needs "villains" or rather real flawed people with questionable principles but huma base, they could introduce such characters or bring back the Alameins.

[Mitchapalooza]

*Gets on knees, clasps hands, looks up to the heavens and prays for this to be true*

[SteveFrame]

Phoenix and all, Don't get me wrong. I love Hogan but the times that he failed many times at ATWT was with some of the stories involving James Stenbeck. When James returned to aid Barbara in getting even with her enemies and the spa story, I actually enjoyed that - but Hogan was highly criticized for that story by many.

And before going on it is not just the DiMera's that I am really tired of but I am tired of all the characters like Stefano and James Stenbeck who just keep returning from the dead. Characters like them have cost daytime much of the respect that it once was able to get. I mean no wonder we can't get any social issue stories that much in daytime, because how can you do a social issue story and put it in the midst of characters who constantly return from the dead. You might buy it once in awhile but when a person returns from the dead 3, 4 or even 5 times how can you respect or take anything serious that the show does.

I don't want soaps to be all about reality because we do need an escape but some credibility is nice.

Now as to Stefano returning, if he was even written like JER wrote him during his first stint, I think it would be okay. But writers after JER and then JER this time destroyed the DiMera's. The last time I was interested in anything about them was when they were attempting to explore what was at the root of the Brady-DiMera feud, and hinted at the possibility that Colin might have a secret. I would not mind seeing that explored esp. before they get tired of Shawn Sr. and kill him off.

I am just ready for the show to depart from the DiMera's. I love Joe Mascolo, but I have loved the show all these months without the DiMeras. I would just love to see the show move on with a new writer into a new chapter of the show. A new villian maybe tied to the DiMera's, but I just feel Tony and Stefano have both run their gamut and it is time for a new generation without all the scifi and campiness that have become such a part of the DiMera's in the last 8 to 10 years.

I just don't want to see Days move back to that. Days has come so far in the last few months, and I would love to see Hogan and gang build on that and make it better without having to return to some of the other. With the DiMeras in the picture it would be so much easier to go back to it.

And besides that one of the problems that has affected the show the last year is the fact that so many of the characters have so much history together, been together so long, and all are so related - bringing back in another long time family is not going to help that. With Days there is almost too much history. That is the reason I loved EJ so much in the beginning because he was like a breath of fresh air. Sometimes shows need a shot like that. Just revisiting history may not help much this time.

[DaysFanJean]

Now, see...I disagree with this. What she gave as an example of multidimensional to me is ludicrous and cheapening. Multidimensional does not mean good and evil or black and white, it means well-rounded and diversified. A good man is not one-dimensional if he doesn't have closet black desires. A good man is one who is a leader, a contributor to the community, a man with a hobby he loves and pursues, a man who plans his future which makes a nice one for those he is concerned about, a man who needs a lover and plans a life based around that person, a father. This is a multi-dimensional character, not a pseudo-maniac. I think most people have demons to struggle with, but it's the struggle that is interesting, not the demon and the result .... hopefully successful.

Stefano is very complex. If I remember him correctly, he is a multi-talented individual, extremely intelligent and involved in many worldly things including stock trading, leading multi-organizations, keeping tabs on the lives of his family and learning, learning, learning. He admires education and educated people. He is cultured and loves the fine things in life....food, wine...books, music...women. Stefano does have a dark side though by being overly controlling of all his interests including lifes of people.

[RionPassions]

I'd love to see Stefano's reaction to finding out his son made his beloved Queen of the Night think she was a serial killer...

[Roman]

He may kill Tony/Andre himself when he finds that out.

I would also like to see Stefano go back to doing what I really got a kick out of - playing chess against himself. It was arrogant and true at the same time, which is just another layer that was not written for him the last time out.

It's all about how he and everyone else is written. Personally, I'm sick to death of Kate, Mimi, Philip, Belle, Shawn, Austin, Carrie, and Will. I wish all of them were gone. But, I know that every aspect of a show can't be perfect, and there are just some things I just have to put up with if I am going to watch Days.

I'm going to do like I said - wait and see what Hogan, [!@#$%^&*], Beth and the new writing team will have in store for us. None of their stuff will hit the small screen until September, so I'm going to give it some time.

I do see Steve's point. When Halloween first came out in 1978, Michael Myers was someone the movie going public had never seen before. After John Carpenter left after H2, different writers started writing Michael so badly that by the time of Halloween: Ressurection, he was plain laughable, so much so that even I hoped there would not be another Halloween sequel written by some jackass who would have Michael getting hit hit a nuclear bomb and surviving.

With that being said.......

Bring on The Phoenix!!!!!

[Keith]

Under competent writers, this would excite me. This past week has made me stone-faced again (I expect people got lazy and didn't care about a three-day-week, but after the past month or so, it was a bit unnerving to see the dip in quality -- and I don't care if it was because of Wimbeldon, it's just lazy and I hope it doesn't continue). However, I do have faith that we may just have competency on the writing team again and, hell, if Stefano's the only DiMera around, they could easily make him a bonafide villain again, certainly. He was best, standing on his own and with lackeys who were never more important than a speck of dust.

[Bree]

I don't know if this is actually going to happen. Corday said the DiMera reign was over, but then again, he likes to talk out of both ends.

If Stefano were to return, he needs to go back to being the badass he was like in the 80s and early-mid 90s, and I'd also love to see him continue with his Marlena obsession. The sadist in me always wanted a Marlena/Stefano pairing. Despite his evil schemes, I think he would be the one to protect Marlena and care for her. Alex North would have been dead in a week. Tony would have been too, if he was around and found out his son brainwashed her into thinking she killed all her friends and loved ones. And I would love to see how he reacts when Sami badmouths her. The brat wouldn't live to see her next botched wedding.

[PhoenixRising05]

The Dimeras went downhill fast once the Gina saga began. I will never understand why they stopped Stefano's obsession with Marlena. That was part of what the made him great. He just lost so much of what made him one of the best, if not the best, villains ever.

Sheffer and his team will write him well. I have no doubt since he likes to be true to history. Just his mere presence will bring fans back to the show. Kirk is right-Days will surge with this since recent fans even know him.

When Stefano learns what Tony/Andre did, he won't be a happy camper .

[Bree]

Well Phoenix, if it doesn't happen on-screen, write it up for your blog.

[PhoenixRising05]

Oh I am already there Bree. It very well may happen. I had no idea you read my blog-that is cool .

I still want it on screen though-it would be one of those classic Days ending (hopefully with no SFX) where we see a mystery man in the shadows. Cue the Phoenix theme when the camera pans up to Stefano. That is just so chill inducing. This guy inspired my damn screename for God's sake. I love this man!!!

[Roman]

Well, at laeast the rumor is true.

From Celebrating The Soaps:

Rumors are buzzing that Joseph Mascolo (Massimo, The Bold & the Beautiful) is being dropped to recurring... leading to rumors, of course, that he will return to Days of Our Lives as Stefano DiMera. NEW 7/9

[PhoenixRising05]

I hope so Roman. I will be keeping a eye on this because I really think they may come to pass for some reason. I don't know why but it's just a gut instinct.