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Tag: daytime soaps

  • Days of Our Lives to Continue Without Alison Sweeney

    Tuesday was a rough day for Days of Our Lives fans as the news quickly spread that Alison Sweeney would be leaving the show after playing Sami Brady for the past 21 years. Today, daytime diehards can breathe a sigh of relief.

    Sweeney announced on The Ellen Degeneres Show that she was leaving Days to spend more time with her family and pursue other creative endeavors. It’s definitely not because the show is any trouble of being cancelled. In fact, NBC announced today that the network is renewing Days for two more years with a contract running through September 2016. The show will get to celebrate their 50th anniversary on November 2015.

    The ever-popular soap opera explores the lives of the Brady and Horton clans along with their many friends and enemies in the fictitious town of Salem. Jennifer Salke, who is president of NBC Entertainment, spoke of the continued success of the show. “Days has shown year-to-year increases in key female demographics and remains both relevant and fresh creatively due to the hard work of the producers, writers, cast and crew who have worked tirelessly to make Days the ratings success it is today.”

    The show is currently airing its 48th season yet the key demographic of women 18-49 is running higher than it has in the past three years. January’s fourth quarter ratings went up 9% in total viewers over last year and the show also experienced its biggest quarter in four years.

    Sweeney will stay on for the remainder of the season. It will be interesting to see whether the 21 year vet’s exit from the show will have any impact on ratings. Her character Sami Brady certainly brings a lot of drama to Salem and is known to Days of Our Lives fans as a character that they love to hate.

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  • ‘Days of our Lives’ Renewed By NBC For Two Years

    The critically acclaimed, daytime soap opera Days of our Lives has been renewed by NBC. Earlier today, the television network announced that the long-running broadcast has been extended for two additional years through September 2016. The renewal will surpass the show’s 50th anniversary in November 2015.

    The announcement comes shortly after the news of Alison Sweeney’s departure from the show. Sweeney, who portrayed Sami Brady, has been on the show for more than 20 years.

    Jennifer Salke, President of NBC Entertainment, released the statement on behalf of the network. She expressed that NBC is “thrilled” that the show will pass the 50th season mark in 2015.

    “Days of our Lives continues to be a fan favorite for the daytime audience and we are thrilled to keep it going through its 50th season,” said Salke. The statement cited the showed continued success was due to the notable increase in the key female audience. The show’s production and cast were also accredited for the show’s highly lauded accomplishments.

    “Days has shown year-to-year increases in key female demographics and remains both relevant and fresh creatively due to the hard work of the producers, writers, cast and crew who have worked tirelessly to make Days the ratings success it is today.”

    Steve Kent, Senior EVP, Programming for Sony Pictures Television also weighed in with a brief congratulatory statement in regards to the renewal. “Having won the Emmy Award for outstanding daytime drama, Days of our Lives continues to deliver on its legacy of quality storytelling,” said Kent. “We appreciate NBC’s continued support and are excited to celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary with our generations of dedicated fans.”

    Days of our Lives premiered as a half-hour drama November 8, 1965. Due to its success, it was expanded to a hour-long series on April 21, 1975. According to Hollywood Reporter, the show is currently posting its best season in women aged 18-49 in three years, and its best viewership in four years.

    It is considered one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world.

    Image(s) via Facebook | Days of our Lives