Thank goodness the Penthouse Grill is still one of DAYS sets. I was worried we would never see it again.

I know Ricj. We also saw one of the Titan offices today so it's good to know they still have them.

Days needs to do Maby. There is so much story there between Chelsea/Max/Abby.

Well, far be it from me to quibble with an episode that ends with Steve and Kayla snogging on a sofa *g*

But the entire episode felt stretched too thin to me. I think they just tried to cover way too many bases today. We got scenes with

Bo/Billie

Carrie/Lucas

Carrie/Austin

Hope/Patrick

Hope/Bo

Max/Chelsea/Abby

Austin/Sami/EJ

Sami/Lucas

Roman/Kate

Shawn/Mimi/Belle/Phillip

Steve/Kayla

EJ/Kate

Not to mention cameos from Maggie, Caroline, Alice and Mike-via-telegram (none of which bothered me, actually).

Does anyone else find Kristian Alfonso so skeletal now that it's painful to look at her?

Allison Sweeney did an outstanding job today, I thought, especially on the dancefloor with Lucas.

Who allows a surrogate to be implanted with their embryo before they've ever met them??

Now give us Steve/Kayla scenes that last more than 20 seconds.

Sofia Landon Grier is the woman who subbed for Anna Stuart as Donna in the 1990's right???

she is a pretty good actress, how long has she been writing with Days??

Yes she was. But she made her first big splash on GL as Diane Ballard - an evil blackmailer. She was killed by Carrie Todd Marler, played by Jane Elliott. Diane was blackmailing Alan (I think) over Phillip's parentage or it may have been Jackie & Justin she was blackmailing. She was great on the show. Then I loved her as Donna on AW too. She has been with Days for awhile now but not sure of exact tenure.

Now as to today's show, I felt it was lots better than yesterday. Enjoyed it very much. And really nice seeing EJ.

I know this will make lots of people mad but when in the world are they going to give us a day without Patch & Kayla. They have been on constantly. Even Matthew Ashford is not getting that treatment. I know some will say that it is because they were off for so long, but I don't like seeing anyone on a show every single day. They could give those of us who are not as crazy about them a break. Seeing them everyday makes me even madder than John & Marlena have not been on at all.

Well, far be it from me to quibble with an episode that ends with Steve and Kayla snogging on a sofa *g*

But the entire episode felt stretched too thin to me. I think they just tried to cover way too many bases today. We got scenes with

Bo/Billie

Carrie/Lucas

Carrie/Austin

Hope/Patrick

Hope/Bo

Max/Chelsea/Abby

Austin/Sami/EJ

Sami/Lucas

Roman/Kate

Shawn/Mimi/Belle/Phillip

Steve/Kayla

EJ/Kate

Not to mention cameos from Maggie, Caroline, Alice and Mike-via-telegram (none of which bothered me, actually).

Does anyone else find Kristian Alfonso so skeletal now that it's painful to look at her?

Allison Sweeney did an outstanding job today, I thought, especially on the dancefloor with Lucas.

Who allows a surrogate to be implanted with their embryo before they've ever met them??

Now give us Steve/Kayla scenes that last more than 20 seconds.

That is one of the things I loved about. I wouldn't want it everyday but I love these shows when we get to see so many, and see all these families and all relating to one another.

Nympho Kayla is awesome!

I loved all the preceeding comments on todays show. Here are some of my other thoughts and my comments.

Chelsea and Max are great. He sees in her his former wild self and wants to "save" her. He is her knight in shining armor. She knows she has hurt people near and dear to him and cannot commit with that guilt. This will be very interesting to see if he gets close enough she can tell him what she has done.

Abby and Max, no way. She is too young and totally not the type for him or he for her. She needs a "Jack" type man.

Days rents their sets. I was just thinking today that I'm actually missing John and Marlena as well as the penthouse and then it dawned on me that Days saved by not having to rent the penthouse, too.

You know what? I actually love Lucas and Carrie. Lucas has yearned for her all his life and will be good t her and she hopefully will be good to him and Will. Carrie, just herself, I do not like because she hurt Austin when she took up with Mike and then again when she chose Lucas over him without telling him the details figuring into her choice about the baby. That was extremely selfish....so I hate Carrie for Austin.

But, I LOVE Austin (Austin Peck). He is a great dancer and looked fab today. I hope he gets chosen for Dancing With The Stars....WOW!!!!!

I know this will make lots of people mad but when in the world are they going to give us a day without Patch & Kayla. They have been on constantly. Even Matthew Ashford is not getting that treatment. I know some will say that it is because they were off for so long, but I don't like seeing anyone on a show every single day.

Not mad at all, but I think you feel like you're seeing them more than we actually are. Last week was 3-day week for Days and they were on just once. They were on every day the week before, but every day of that week was back-from-the-dead / wedding day fallout, and Jack/Jennifer/Frankie and Steve/Kayla were all part of that.

I don't know yet how this week will play out, but they certainly didn't dominate today's ep. They had just over 4 1/2 minutes of total screen time.

edited to add:

They could give those of us who are not as crazy about them a break. Seeing them everyday makes me even madder than John & Marlena have not been on at all.

I wish John and Marlena were on as well, and I know that a lot of J&M fans seem to blame Steve & Kayla for their disappeance but I don't think there's a connection beyond timing. Whatever the cause I'll be glad when they're back.

Nympho Kayla is awesome!

Yeah, baby!

Not mad at all, but I think you feel like you're seeing them more than we actually are. Last week was 3-day week for Days and they were on just once. They were on every day the week before, but every day of that week was back-from-the-dead / wedding day fallout, and Jack/Jennifer/Frankie and Steve/Kayla were all part of that.

I don't know yet how this week will play out, but they certainly didn't dominate today's ep. They had just over 4 1/2 minutes of total screen time.

Sorry about that, I had forgotten they were not on all week last week (only one day as you said). They still have gotten more air time than even Matthew Ashford, and I feel that the Jack & Jennifer reunion is just as important. Esp. with both Jack & Jennifer leaving the show soon.

The Jack/Jennifer/Frankie story is the best thing the show has right now. And I am not even a fan of Jack & Jennifer. I just feel it should be getting more attention than it is.

Sorry about that, I had forgotten they were not on all week last week (only one day as you said). They still have gotten more air time than even Matthew Ashford, and I feel that the Jack & Jennifer reunion is just as important. Esp. with both Jack & Jennifer leaving the show soon.

The Jack/Jennifer/Frankie story is the best thing the show has right now. And I am not even a fan of Jack & Jennifer. I just feel it should be getting more attention than it is.

I would love to see more Jack and Jennifer (or Jack, period). I think they haven't been on the last couple of days because there was no reason to include them in the wedding stuff and Jack would have been too sick to attend anyway. Not that they couldn't have switched between scenes but I guess the writers found it easier to focus on couples/characters who were a part of the wedding.

I have a feeling we'll see Jack/Jennifer/Frankie more the rest of the week. At least I hope so. I could use a day without Shawn/Mimi/Belle/Phillip myself *g*

I thought the Kate/Roman scenes were interesting. I hated them as a couple but Roman seems to still have a thing for her and Kate looked a little flustered after talking with him. I am wondering if Days is going to try to redeem her now or have her just live her own life from now on.

Her scene with EJ was hot though.

Oh and I am convinced the reason why Steve/Kayla aren't on much during these episodes is because all this is rewritten material. Rumors had JER bringing Steve back either married or in love with someone else so Days must have tossed that and rewrote everything. I think that is why the scenes are short. I am content with the length though for now. I expect more when Milstein and Sheffer take over.

I do miss J&M though.

S&K are all I'm watching right now, and I'm getting kind of frustrated with the way their storyline is being written. Basically, they're making everything too perfect and ideal and that makes it boring (not that they're boring me, SN/MBE are too good, but it'll get to be too much eventually). Steve got over his frustration at the situation in 3 days. He's so open to connecting with Kayla and so hopeful he'll remember. What about some anger, frustration, detachment? He doesn't know these people. No concern about going back to his life, no nothing. They should really develop "Nick" more, we don't know him.

Then there's this making out session (love it) - I'm sure Steve will just stop her and say it's not the right time and that'll be it. But why not have them do something that's not "right" and will cause some angst? I'd just like it all to be a little messier.

On the other hand, they JUST got back and it's a period of transition so I shouldn't complain too much. Chances are it'll get better.

S&K are all I'm watching right now, and I'm getting kind of frustrated with the way their storyline is being written. Basically, they're making everything too perfect and ideal and that makes it boring (not that they're boring me, SN/MBE are too good, but it'll get to be too much eventually). Steve got over his frustration at the situation in 3 days. He's so open to connecting with Kayla and so hopeful he'll remember. What about some anger, frustration, detachment?

Well, detachment we got in spades.

But I think we're not seeing much anger or frustration because this guy (Nick) is kind of the anti-Patch. Patch was loud and brash. He had a corny sense of humor. He was bawdy. He laughed, yelled, or cried with abandon and even though he had a good heart was never particularly polite. Steve without his memories (Nick) is pretty polite, fairly quiet, has a dry sense of humor. He didn't even know he had a "wild and dangerous" streak.

I was saying on another board the other day, that I'm looking forward to the first time we see Kayla and Nick/Steve get "real" with each other. (I'll copy/paste the rest of what I said because I'm lazy that way). Right now they're still being careful and polite. More like caring strangers than anything else. Of course, for Steve, that's just what they are. But Kayla's being careful too; understandably she doesn't want to spook him. But these are two really passionate people. During their years together, they spent as much time yelling at each other as they did loving. They were rarely mean or destructive, but man could they yell. *g*

So, strangely, I'm excited about the first time they're comfortable enough to get really annoyed/loud with each other. (Assuming the current writers can handle a good rip-roaring argument without turning it ugly. Guess we'll have to trust SN and MBE to take care of that).

But back to your point, Moriah, I think/hope we're just being lulled into a fall sense of security and that things will get more complicated between them very soon.

Then there's this making out session (love it) - I'm sure Steve will just stop her and say it's not the right time and that'll be it. But why not have them do something that's not "right" and will cause some angst? I'd just like it all to be a little messier.

You know what I think would be very interesting to watch them deal with? If the two of them went ahead and slept together and it just wasn't that good for her. He barely knows her. She only thinks she knows him. Nick/Steve doesn't know her (or her body) like Steve did. They're both 15 years older. No way it could match her romanticized memories of what she had with Steve. That's probably a little too real, but I'd love to see them play out something like that.

Once again I am going to stipulate that THIS IS TO NO ONE PARTICULAR POSTER but just a general concensus.

Why can't we have Days watchers - instead of couple watchers? Days seems to be the only show plagued with this problem. I have watched all the current shows on the air at one time or another, and all the other shows have a few viewers here and there who only watch for a certain couple or a certain performer. But Days seems to have way more than any other show. It is making me think that not even Hogan or better writers can save the show at this point.

I mean all the show did by bringing back Steve and Kayla is just bring on a set of viewers who are only watching for Steve and Kayla. And now that they are firing Jack, there is already the backlash of Jack viewers or J/J viewers who will quit again like they did before. And the J/M fans have been mad and many have tuned out.

I don't know - it just makes me skeptical if the show can be saved or even should be saved. Maybe Days should have been cancelled a few years back and went out on a high note than dying a slow death.

I hope Hogie can work his magic, but I don't know if NBC has enough patience to give the show time to not just change the show, but to change the viewership from couple watchers to show watchers. That is the only way it will ever be saved.

Once again I am going to stipulate that THIS IS TO NO ONE PARTICULAR POSTER but just a general concensus.

Why can't we have Days watchers - instead of couple watchers? Days seems to be the only show plagued with this problem. I have watched all the current shows on the air at one time or another, and all the other shows have a few viewers here and there who only watch for a certain couple or a certain performer. But Days seems to have way more than any other show. It is making me think that not even Hogan or better writers can save the show at this point.

I mean all the show did by bringing back Steve and Kayla is just bring on a set of viewers who are only watching for Steve and Kayla. And now that they are firing Jack, there is already the backlash of Jack viewers or J/J viewers who will quit again like they did before. And the J/M fans have been mad and many have tuned out.

I don't know - it just makes me skeptical if the show can be saved or even should be saved. Maybe Days should have been cancelled a few years back and went out on a high note than dying a slow death.

I hope Hogie can work his magic, but I don't know if NBC has enough patience to give the show time to not just change the show, but to change the viewership from couple watchers to show watchers. That is the only way it will ever be saved.

Steve I understand what you are saying, but right now DAYS is in good shape, at least ratings wise. Couple that with Hoagie coming aboard with quite a few new writers and I think DAYS is in really good shape, better than most soaps anyway.

Trust me I really do see your point, but you have said many times you are mad what DAYS has done with John and Marlena. Isnt that being a couple fan as well? I may be way off and if I am just correct me.....

I do want to add I agree DAYS is in some trouble of being the supercouple soap, because Bope/Jarlena/J&J/ Patch and Kayla have been through so much already how is it possible to keep splitting them apart with it being believable? I wish DAYS would just stay strong if it wants to tear one supercouple up and see where it goes no matter what the fans reaction is. DAYS has kind of backed itself into a corner with all these so called supercouples.

Why can't we have Days watchers - instead of couple watchers? Days seems to be the only show plagued with this problem. I have watched all the current shows on the air at one time or another, and all the other shows have a few viewers here and there who only watch for a certain couple or a certain performer. But Days seems to have way more than any other show. It is making me think that not even Hogan or better writers can save the show at this point.

I mean all the show did by bringing back Steve and Kayla is just bring on a set of viewers who are only watching for Steve and Kayla. And now that they are firing Jack, there is already the backlash of Jack viewers or J/J viewers who will quit again like they did before. And the J/M fans have been mad and many have tuned out.

As an admitted "couple-watcher" (and apparent post-whore) I'll try to tackle this one. I honestly believe that if the writing is strong and compelling, you will have Days watchers instead of couple watchers. When the writing is a awful as it is right now, you're pretty much left with the charisma of the actors to keep you tuning in. That's going to cause you to be over-invested in individual characters or couples because there's certainly nothing about their stories to keep you glued to the screen.

I started watching Days back in the late 70s or early 80s. My earliest memories of Days are Doug and Julie and Marie and Alex. I was a fairly regular watcher until the character of Patch started getting screentime. Because of him I started taping and refused to miss an episode. I was heavily, heavily invested in him and his story with Kayla. But I kept watching after he died. I tried to anyway. Over the next two or three years the writing just got worse and worse. I gave up. Every once in a blue moon I would tune back in to see what was happening and it was always so bad the stories just never pulled me back in. I think the last time I tried watching was when Marlena was possessed by Satan and it was honestly so ludicrous I laughed and turned the channel.

Honestly, nothing would have brought me back to the show except Steve and Kayla's return. I started watching the show in May again to get caught up, and if it weren't for my investment in the couple, the absolute dreck I was seeing on the screen would have had me changing the channel again. The writing is getting a little better but it's still nowhere near compelling enough to have me watching if it weren't for Steve and Kayla. Honestly, if I thought it were going to stay this bad, not even Steve and Kayla could keep me watching but for the moment, they're the only thing keeping me watching. (I love Jack but I wouldn't be watching just for him).

Let's take a best case scenario: Hogan Sheffer comes in and turns the show around. He and his staff start writing a compelling drama that deals intelligently with complex storylines and characters involved with each other in all kinds of ways - romantically, familially, professionally, etc. If he accomplishes that, I'll be watching for the show itself, not just Steve and Kayla. And if SN and/or MBE were to leave the show, I'd keep watching as long as the show was compelling.

Right now, I just don't think the writing is strong enough that you can ask viewers to be invested/loyal because of the show itself. Hopefully that will change.

The gloved hand rocks. I love the hand! So far, it's been the best villian the show's had in years. Forget about Dead Fetus Walking and her scheme to break up Bope, Sami's constant scheming so she can be with her obsession of the month, Kate meddling in her kids' lives, the hand has them all beat, and it's only been on for three weeks!

I love the black gloved hand too! Great idea....