Thomas A. Montalto/Montalto Photos

The peer votes have been cast, and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has announced the Drama Performer Pre-Nominations for the 40^th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards! Five categories have been announced, including Lead Actress and Lead Actor, Supporting Actress and Supporting Actor, as well as Younger Actress and Younger Actor. Without further adieu, here are the pre-nominees:

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

• Sharon Case as Sharon on “The Young and the Restless”
• Jeanne Cooper as Katherine on “Y&R”
• Susan Flannery as Stephanie on “The Bold and the Beautiful”
• Finola Hughes as Anna Devane on “General Hospital”
• Peggy McCay as Caroline on “Days of our Lives”
• Kelly Monaco as Sam on “GH”
• Melody Thomas Scott as Nikki on “Y&R”
• Michelle Stafford as Phyllis on “Y&R”
• Kelly Sullivan as Kate on “GH”
• Heather Tom as Katie on “B&B”
• Laura Wright as Carly on “GH”

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NBC’s “Days of our Lives” is continuing its nationwide fan event tour this February when cast members of the series gather throughout Universal Orlando Restort in Florida, including a meet and greet with fans at the parks Universal CityWalk. Cast members scheduled to attend are John Aniston, Camila Banus, Shawn Christian, Casey Deidrick, Galen Gering, Kate Mansi, Eric Martsolf, Peggy McCay, James Scott and Arianne Zucker. The event will be held on Saturday, February 23.

Paul Drinkwater/NBC

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Photo Credit: Mitchell Haaseth/NBC

While Soap Opera Digest in its newest issue lists their last airdate being Wednesday, August 15, both Matthew Ashford (Jack Deveraux) and Sarah Brown (Madison James) will actually find their characters departing the world of the living much sooner.

On the Monday, August 13 episode, fans saw Madison speak for the last time as she called out for her fiancé, Brady Black (Eric Martsolf). On Tuesday, August 14, Jack departs Salem for the umpteenth time as the elevator cables snap while daughter Abigail (Kate Mansi) and the love of his life Jennifer (Melissa Reeves) look on in horror. Sadly, it looks like Jack is really dead this time! Also according to Digest, Caleb Hunt (Andrew) last airs on Friday, August 17 despite the character escaping unnoticed on the Monday, August 13 episode while Chad (Casey Deidrick) was tending to Gabi (Camila Bannus). Father Matt (Ralph Waite) is also back on the 17th as he shares words with Nicole (Arianne Zucker).

Soap Opera Network has learned Brendan Michael Coughlin will return on Monday, August 20, when his character Tad (aka: T) has a confrontation with Will (Chandler Massey) that eventually leads to a dangerous one with Sonny (Freddie Smith) later that week. On Tuesday, August 21, Brant Daughtery is back as Brian, and Will is none too pleased when he sees him getting intimate with Sonny.

Blake Berris returns as Melanie’s (Molly Burnett) stalker Nick Fallon, who is up for parole, on Monday, August 27. As previously reported, Nick’s mother Jessica Blake Fallon (Jean Bruce Scott) returns to Salem after a 30 year absence on Friday, August 31.

NBC

EXCLUSIVE: Beginning today at 2:00 PM ET/11:00 AM PT, cast members of NBC’s “Days of our Lives” will take part in live chats, interviews and interactions with fans of the popular daytime drama series on NBC.com, while the soap is on hiatus during the networks coverage of the Summer Olympic Games in London. Soap Opera Network already revealed who will take part during this weeks sessions, but now we can reveal exclusively who will be taking part next week!

According to a “DAYS” representative, Daytime Emmy Award nominated producer and director Albert Alarr will take part in discussion with fans of the drama series on Monday, August 6. Actress Molly Burnett (Melanie Jonas) steps up on Tuesday, August 7, while Casey Deidrick (Chad DiMera) takes part on Wednesday, August 8. Meanwhile, Gabi Hernandez’s portrayer Camila Banus checks in on Thursday, August 9, and James Scott (EJ DiMera) will hopefully give fans a preview of what’s ahead when he chats live on Friday, August 10.

All chats and fan interactions are scheduled to take place for approximately a half hour from 2:00 PM ET/11:00 AM PT to 2:30 PM ET/11:30 AM PT.

As a recap, here are the full list of participants:

•  7/30/12 – Lisa Rinna (Billie Reed)
• 7/31/12 – Arianne Zucker (Nicole Walker)
• 8/1/12 – Shawn Christian (Daniel Jonas)
• 8/2/12 – Kate Mansi (Abigail Deveraux)
• 8/3/12 – Eric Martsolf (Brady Black)
• 8/6/12 – Albert Alarr (“DAYS” Producer/Director)
• 8/7/12 – Molly Burnett (Melanie Jonas)
• 8/8/12 – Casey Deidrick (Chad DiMera)
• 8/9/12 – Camila Banus (Gabi Hernandez)
• 8/10/12 – James Scott (EJ DiMera)

Note: Cast participation is subject to change.

“Days of our Lives” returns on Monday, August 13, when viewers learn the fates of everyone caught in the explosion that has rocked Salem.

Thomas Montalto/MontaltoPhotos.com

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) – On Thursday, July 28, while visiting the “Days of our Lives” set, my crew and I had walked in noticing a tray of cupcakes sitting at the security desk. Turns out it was brought in by Molly Burnett, who was celebrating her third year portraying the role of Melanie Layton on the daytime soap. After completing some scenes that are set to air in October, Burnett and Casey Deidrick (Chad DiMera) headed outside to Salem Place, one of the sets no longer used by the soap, and spent more than 11 minutes talking with us about their characters, what they do in their personal life outside of work, and some of their favorite TV shows and movies . Also, for those fans clamoring for some Chill (Chad/Will), Deidrick shared he’s not opposed to a possible pairing.

For the full interview, view the clip below.

Soap Opera Network

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Casey Deidrick portrays Chad DiMera on the popular NBC daytime drama series “Days of our Lives” and he’s grateful to be in the company of some fine actors. Soap Opera Network spoke with Deidrick on the red carpet at the “38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards” on Sunday, June 19 and the actor shared some interesting information about the parties being held during Emmy weekend, the upcoming gay storyline hitting “DAYS” and the rumors surrounding co-star Chandler Massey, whose character, Will Horton, is said to play a major role in it.

“They don’t tell us actors much,” said Deidrick when asked about the gay storyline hitting the show. “I do know there is something in the works. I’m not sure if it is Chandler Massey or another character, but I’m really looking forward to it and I think it’s going to be a great storyline.”

For more from Deidrick, tune into our Soap Opera Network: On the Red Carpet interview below.

Justin Lubin/NBC

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Will fans of same sex pairings finally get a true gay storyline on “Days of our Lives?” That’s where it looks to be headed as Entertainment Weekly‘s always spot on Lynette Rice revealed in a piece posted on Inside TV that she’s hearing the soap “may involve a current cast member [in a gay storyline] hooking up with someone new.”

While a “Days of our Lives” representative declined to comment on the EW article, and it remains unclear whether the supposed duo are male or female, fans have for sometime noticed the exuberant chemistry between Will Brady (Chandler Massey) and Chad Peterson Woods (these days known as Chad DiMera; played by Casey Deidrick). The two have the star crossed lovers plot twist, that soaps currently lack, down pact – Will is a Brady and Chad is a DiMera, a definite no-no in the town of Salem. You see, Chad’s father, Stefano DiMera (Joseph Mascolo), stalked Marlena Evans (once the wife of Roman Brady), Will’s grandmother, who was in love with John Black (who once thought he was Roman Brady). Chad’s brother, EJ DiMera (James Scott), once upon a time raped and married (later annulled) Samantha “Sami” Brady (played by Alison Sweeney), Will’s mother. Madeline Peterson Woods (Jessica Tuck), Chad’s mother, and Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow), Will’s other grandmother, once made it their mission to keep the two friends apart as they got closer and closer to the truth of Chad’s true parentage. Even though Will is currently dating Gabi Hernandez (Camila Banus) and Chad is involved in the antics of Abby Deveraux (Kate Mansi), it would be a shame for the soap to ignore the interesting history the two share and the storyline potential the two together could create.

With that said, as previously reported, “Days of our Lives” is currently casting the contract role of Ryan who is described as a “17 to 18-year-old Caucasian or African American male” – [Ryan] “is the all-American high school idol. Gorgeous, well-built quarterback of the football team. Popular, confident and charismatic…the world is at his feet for the taking.” Based on Entertainment Weekly‘s report it looks like Ryan could be the “someone new” in the life of a current cast member, but we still don’t know if the roles in question are male or female. The character of Ryan is scheduled to debut in May on “DAYS.”