Legion College

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) – “Days of our Lives” makes massive changes to its writing staff.

Breakdown writer Victor Gialanella and scripts writers Pete T. Rich, Roger Schroeder, Nancy Williams Watt and Lacey Dyer have been let go – all of them joined under the previous writing regime.    Joining “DAYS” is breakdown Dave Ryan, and scripts writers Melissa Salmons and Janet Iacobuzio.

Over at “The Young and The Restless,” Jeff Beldner has joined as a breakdown writer. Beldner was at “All My Children” (1989 – 1998, 2001- 2011) and “As The World Turns” (1998-2001).

For discussion on these topics and more, join us in the Writers/Directors thread at the SON Community.

EXCLUSIVE: Soap Opera Network has learned the names of soap opera writers who declared “Financial Core” status to keep on working during the strike. By going “Fi-Core,” these writers can never be members of the WGA again but they continue to pay reduced union dues and the Guild is obligated to continue providing services such health insurance, pension and residuals. Though they can still work on Guild projects, Guild members will not be keen to hire them.

Here is the list of “Fi-Core” writers:

• “All My Children”: James Harmon Brown & Barbara Esensten (returned to work in late December)
• “The Bold and The Beautiful”: Kay Alden
• “Days Of Our Lives”: Hogan Sheffer (went “Fi-Core” in early January), Meg Kelly (went “Fi-Core” in late November), Victor Gialanella, Mark Christopher Higley
• “General Hospital”: Garin Wolf (went “Fi-Core” immediately), Michael Conforti
• “One Life To Live”: Gary Tomlin, Fran Myers, Jeanne Marie Ford, Michelle Poteet Lisanti (all went “Fi-Core” immediately)
• “Passions”: James E. Reilly, Shawn Morrison, Pete T. Rich (went “Fi-Core” immediately)
• “The Young and The Restless”: Josh Griffith, Maria Arena Bell, Paula Cwikly (all went “Fi-Core” immediately)

There are no “Fi-Core” writers at “As The World Turns” and “Guiding Light.”

At “DAYS” the show decided not to use the services of Hogan Sheffer and Meg Kelly; instead they were paid to stay at home. This signifies that “DAYS” will name a new Head Writer.

Still at “DAYS,” it is unclear as to whether or not that the fired writers (Tom Casiello, Frederick Johnson, Gordon Rayfield, Judy Tate, Judith Donato, Renee Godelia, Richard Backus) will be returning to the show. More on this story in the upcoming days or weeks.

Over at “Y&R” there have been rumors and speculation about the departure of Executive Producer and Head Writer Lynn Marie Latham. However, there has been no word if these rumors are true or not.

UPDATE: April 18, 2008

The WGA released a letter today naming more writers that I didn’t originally have.

The list of writers are:

• “The Bold and The Beautiful”: John F. Smith
• “Days Of Our Lives”: Dena Higley (went “Fi-Core” just before the strike ended in February)
• “Passions”: Marlene Clark Poulter, Clem Egan, Darrell Ray Thomas Jr.