JPI Studios

She’s been with some of Salem’s most prominent men, but is “Days of our Lives’” Samantha (Alison Sweeney) tough enough to handle late night talk show host Jay Leno? That was the question when the “The Tonight Show” host ran over to the “DAYS” set to profess his love for Sami!

Read More >>

Ben Cohen/NBC

On Tuesday, April 9, NBC premieres the new supersized “Bachelor”-esque reality series “Ready for Love,” and NBC’s daytime superstars Alison Sweeney (Sami Brady) and James Scott (EJ DiMera) from “Days of our Lives” are giving you a sneak peek of what NBC hopes to be it’s next reality hit, but first…it’s time for “The Tonight Show.”

According to NBC, the two will appear in a skit in tonight’s edition of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” which Sweeney says will not only make you laugh, but you can also spot Scott in a robe. Now we know you ladies (and some men) will definitely be tuning in after hearing that!

Read More >>

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

Read More >>

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.

Chris Haston/NBC

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — On Thursday, September 29, word around the web had “Days of our Lives” star James Scott (EJ DiMera) out, only to later be clarified by Scott himself that he in fact was still meeting with show producers over a new contract. Now comes word from Soap Opera Digest that Scott has signed a new one-year deal with “DAYS” to continue in the role of EJ DiMera, for which he originated in 2006. Per Digest‘s report, Scott’s new deal will keep him in Salem through April 2013.

After seeing the Digest story, sources have since told Soap Opera Network that fans can expect to see Scott “for a long time to come,” but did not clarify whether that meant beyond 2013 or just confirming what had already been reported. These same sources have also told Soap Opera Network that due to the way in which “Days of our Lives” films and writes episodes, discussion of Scott’s contract was necessary at this time as outlines for episodes airing in the early part of 2012 have already been written and in order for writers to move forward the soap needed to secure Scott or face writing out one of their most popular characters.

Smashwords.com

Nelson Branco, best known as the writer of the popular Suds Report column for website TV Guide Canada and for his contributions to magazine Hello! Canada is back! This time he’s Uncensored.

With Soap Opera: Uncensored, fans of Branco will notice the same writing style from his Suds Report, which includes an interview, translated comments on daytime moves, a breakdown of what’s happening on each soap and his uber-popular Blind Items.

For just $1.99 per issue, readers will receive 60 pages of news, notes and even an interview from “Venice: The Series” star Crystal Chappell where she explains why her online web soap is recasting roles played by Gina Tognoni (ex-Kelly Cramer, “One Life to Live“) and Wes Ramsey (ex-Sam Spencer, “Guiding Light”).

Snippet from Chappell Interview…

Despite winning an Emmy for Venice, Chappell still has to deal with the cruel realities of show business. But hey, what’s a soap without cast changes? My boyfriend Eric Martsolf has joined the Sapphic web serial as a recast. The ‘DAYS’ hunk will be replacing Wes Ramsey, who is currently in New York City shooting ‘The Playboy Club.’ “Eric’s wonderful in this,” compliments Chappell. “Eric’s always been supportive of the show. I had to shoot this character with or without Wes, so I sent the script to Eric, and luckily he agreed to do it. It was so much fun to see actors I love and respect in different parts. And you can talk to Eric about this — but this was a part he was born to play!” Also, don’t expect Gina Tognoni back as Sami. “She can’t do it,” sighs Chappell. “So I have to recast the role. I have someone in mind, but I can’t say who.”

Soap Opera: Uncernsored:
Inside the Issue

• INSIDE: Crystal Chappell Exclusive – Life After DAYS! Also: Why Venice is recasting Gina Tognoni and Wes Ramsey! Plus: Molly Burnett and Christian LeBlanc join Gina and Company!
• Exclusive: Major Daytime Emmy Award changes!
• Melody Thomas Scott VS. Sony: What really happened!
• Is James Scott leaving DAYS?
• Alleged Stalker Shocker Involving — Wait For It — John Driscoll!
• Andrea Evans’s Cancer Victory!
• Inside Dirty Soap! Is Eden Riegel AMC-bound?
• The truth behind Megan Ward’s GH firing!
• Drama at THE CHEW!
• Y&R’s Christel Khalil divorce drama!
• More turmoil at THE TALK?
• Four Decades Later: DAYS Chief Ken Corday finally gets a clue!
• Last week’s Soap Reviews; Next Week’s Preview Cheat Sheet! And every week: Blind Items!

If that wasn’t enough to get you interested, here are this weeks blind items from Soap Opera: Uncensored (as written by Nelson Branco):

—Which boring character is headed back to his old stomping grounds?
—Which super villainess is returning to her old show with a new-ish face?
—Expect some major firings very soon!
—Which despised star is cleaning up his or her a-hole act? But co-stars are dubious.
–Which soap actress in major trouble physically, mentally, and professionally?
—–Which new actor is as “gay as a handbag,” says one co-star, but the acting novice thinks he’s fooling people into thinking he’s straight?

To order your copy of the first edition of Soap Opera: Uncensored, click here.

Chris Haston/NBC

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Earlier today, Soap Opera Digest shocked the soap world when it reported that after five years on “Days of our Lives,” actor James Scott (EJ DiMera) would soon be vacating Salem after a contract dispute with show producers Corday Productions and Sony Pictures Television hit a snag, now hours later like sands through the hourglass, Scott’s “DAYS” have changed.

In a statement released by “Days of our Lives,” Scott says “It has always been my wish to continue working with ‘Days of our Lives,’ and in light of recent reassurances given, I am optimistic of my future here at Days!” That reassurance seems to have been helped along by “DAYS” co-executive producer Greg Meng, who co-head writer Marlene McPherson noted on her Twitter page had informed her that despite Digest‘s claims, “they are [still] in negotiations.”

Prior to joining the cast of “Days of our Lives” in 2006, Scott had portrayed the role of Ethan Cambias on ABC’s “All My Children.”

Mitchell Haaseth/NBC

via Press Release

On Saturday, August 13, 2011, James Scott (EJ DiMera, “Days of our Lives“) will be throwing out the first pitch at 7:05 PM for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, a minor league baseball team, then signing autographs from 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM, at 111 Eastwood Mall Blvd., Niles, Ohio 44446.

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.”