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Tag: renewed

  • 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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  • Downton Abbey Renewed for a Fifth Season

    Downton Abbey Renewed for a Fifth Season

    Love the British hit drama “Downton Abbey?” If you do, not only will American audiences get to see season four this January, but the show has already been renewed for a fifth season. The international PBS Masterpiece sensation from creator Julian Fellowes, will begin airing in America on January 5, 2014. The fourth season has just finished its run in the UK and averaged a staggering 11.8 million eager television watchers which made it their top-rated drama. “Downton” is also the number one rated show in the history of PBS.

    What makes “Downton” such a worldwide hit? On paper, an upstairs/downstairs British drama set in the early 1900s about the wealthy Crawley clan and their pleasing servants, may not seem like it would attract such a universal audience. However, the show is smart, well-written and touches upon a time in the UK where aristocratic wealth and lavish homes like the mansion featured in “Downton” were coming to an end. It was also the start of an era when over excess and luxury were clashing with World Wars and economic down times.

    The show was also not afraid to kill off its precious darlings. SPOILER ALERT IF YOU’RE NOT DONE VIEWING SEASON THREE. One would expect that shows like “Walking Dead” or even “Homeland” would feature key character deaths, because those shows revolve around danger. However, “Downton Abbey” was a total Kleenexfest last season. First, Syblil Branson, the youngest Crawley daughter died during child birth. And then in one of the most heartbreaking moments in television history, Matthew Crawley died in a car accident at the end of the season three finale, just after seeing his newborn son for the first time. Matthew and Lady Mary were finally happy! They finally got married! They finally had their heir! And then, out of nowhere, Matthew crashes his car and dies in a ditch.

    Matthew’s death, which aired on Christmas day in the UK, was meant with rage and anger amongst its British fans. Loyalists accused writers of “killing my soul” while one fan even said, “I AM 100% DONE WITH THIS SHOW. I CAN’T BREATHE.” Some viewers even claimed to be so upset that they could barely speak.

    It is difficult for Americans to avoid spoiler alerts from season four, since it has already aired in its entirely in the U.K. Matthew Crawley’s death was ruined for me. I stumbled upon an article on the internet about all the backlash from fans and why actor Dan Stevens (who played Matthew Crawley) decided to leave the show, just as I was popping in the DVD to start viewing season three. So I watched the entire season knowing the tragic ending. Somehow, the ending still shocked me, which is truly a testament to how powerful, well-acted and executed the show is.

    Take a look at the trailer for season four (I promise, no spoilers here.)

    You can join the countdown for the season four premiere on the Masterpiece website. The show’s narrative will pick up sometime after Matthew’s death. You can also take some “Downton Abbey” quizzes and see exclusive features there. Just please, try and stay away from spoilers. I know that I will.

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  • Bill Belichick Extends Contract Again with the Patriots

    Although the amount of Bill Belichick’s salary has always been obscure, one profound detail in his contract is crystal clear– it’s expiration date.  According to New England Sports News, it has been announced by NFL officials that Belichick isn’t going anywhere ‘anytime soon.’

    There has been a lot of speculation in regards to the details of the legendary coach’s contract and the New England Patriots football club where Belichick is concerned.

    Belichick, who is also the Patriots’ general manager, may have predominant control over nearly all of the team’s football transactions. But, the extent of his authority isn’t what grants him credence with any advantages in locking down yet another contract renewal. Belichick’s financial discretion, and winning track record are evident that his main focus is victory. Over the years, his actions have definitely spoke louder than his words.

    Bill Belichick has been the head coach of the New England Patriots since 2000. His initial contract was set to end in 2007, but was renewed for another six seasons. Although the 2000 season, wasn’t a success, it served as the syllabus the team needed for development, which paid off tremendously. Over the past 13 years, Belichick has managed to produce the most laudable coaching statistics in franchise history with an impressive 153-57 record over 13 seasons collectively. He has also impelled the Patriots franchise to five Super Bowl appearances, clenching the first Patriots’ victory in franchise history in 2001. Out of the team’s five Super Bowl appearances, the Patriots have walked away with three victories. With Belichick’s peerless record, it is definitely not a surprise that the New England franchise has come to an amicable agreement to renew the head coach’s contract yet again.

    NFL Network official Ian Rapoport also quoted an inside source stating that Belichick may be “coaching for quite some time.” The NFL Network has stated that the franchise is pleased, and the fans appear to be just as contended with the news.

     

     

     

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