After several months of disastrous ratings returns that has left many in the industry wondering if “Days of our Lives” would survive its next renewal talks between NBC, Sony Pictures Television and Corday Productions, producers of the soap, the daytime drama series will welcome back veteran writer Dena Higley, and former “One Life to Live” and “The Young and the Restless” head writer Josh Griffith, as its new head writers. The two replace outgoing head writers Gary Tomlin and Christopher Whitesell.

ABC’s “General Hospital” is adding “All My Children” alum Rebecca Budig (ex-Greenlee Smythe) to its all-star cast, it was announced yesterday by executive producer Frank Valentini, following an ongoing Twitter conversation with head writer Ron Carlivati, in response to Valentini’s promise of a major casting announcement. “Hey @RebeccaBudig wanna join the cast of GH in a new Killer Role??” tweeted Valentini, after saying “okay okay” to head writer Ron Carlivati.

Victoria Rowell, who portrayed Drucilla Winters on CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” for the better part of two decades, is suing the network, Sony Pictures Television, Bell Dramatic Serial Company and Bell-Phillip Television Productions, Inc., producers of the daytime drama series, reports Deadline, for what her suit alleges is the result of Rowell being “impoverished and blackballed because she had chosen to speak out against the discrimination and injustice that she had endured and witnessed happen to other African Americans.”

CBS’ Angelica McDaniel, who in her role as Senior Vice President, Daytime, CBS Entertainment, has overseen the growth in all areas of daytime programming for the network since her promotion to the position in February 2012, will add oversight of first-run programming development for CBS Television Distribution, the syndication arm of CBS Corp., the company announced today.

Ratings Report for the Week of January 26-30, 2015

Ratings Report for the Week of January 19-23, 2015

For the week of January 19-23, ABC’s “The View” beat CBS’ competing “The Talk” in Total Viewers (2,881,000 vs. 2,788,000), Women 18-49 (445,000 vs. 438,000) and Women 25-54 (626,000 vs. 624,000). The daytime talk show was up across the board week-to-week to post 5 week highs in viewers and Women 25-54.

Ratings Report for the Week of January 12-16, 2015

ABC has confirmed that it will be recasting the contract role of Kiki Jerome on “General Hospital” with “The Young and the Restless” alum Hayley Erin (ex-Abby Newman). She is set to first air sometime in late February. Kristen Alderson, who originated the role, opted to leave when her contract was up earlier this month. She last airs in early February.

The Casting Society of America (CSA) hosted the 30th Annual Artios Awards last night in ceremonies taking place simultaneously in New York and Los Angeles. “General Hospital’s” Mark Teschner took home the casting award for Daytime Drama Series. He beat out “Days of our Lives” casting director Marnie Saitta, and associate Bob Lambert, and “The Young and the Restless” casting director Judy Blye Wilson, and associate Greg Salmon.