• Kristian Alfonso - Hope Brady
• John Aniston - Victor Kiriakis
• Nadia Bjorlin - Chloe Lane
• Lauren Boles - Ciara Brady
• Molly Burnett - Melanie Layton
• Crystal Chappell - Carly Manning
• Shawn Christian - Daniel Jonas
• Casey Jon Deidrick - Chad Woods
• Galen Gering - Rafe Hernandez
• Mark Hapka - Nathan Horton
• Lindsay Hartley - Arianna Hernandez
• Bill Hayes - Doug Williams
• Susan Seaforth Hayes - Julie Williams
• Shelley Hennig - Stephanie Johnson
• Leann Hunley - Anna DiMera
• Jay Kenneth Johnson - Philip Kiriakis
• Renee Jones - Lexie Carver
• Lauren Koslow - Kate Roberts DiMera

• Wally Kurth - Justin Kiriakis
• Eric Martsolf - Brady Black
• Joseph Mascolo - Stefano DiMera
• Chandler Massey - Will Horton
• Peggy McCay - Caroline Brady
• Terrell Ransom Jr. - Theo Carver
• Peter Reckell - Bo Brady
• James Reynolds - Abe Carver
• Gabriela Rodriguez - Gabby Hernandez
• Suzanne Rogers - Maggie Horton
• James Scott - EJ DiMera
• Hailey & Lauren Sinnema - Sydney DiMera
• Louise Sorel - Vivian Alamain
• Taylor Spreitler - Mia McCormick
• Alison Sweeney - Sami Brady
• Josh Taylor - Roman Brady
• Arianne Zuker - Nicole Walker DiMera

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February 9
Carly is knocked unconscious; Vivian tries to persuade Melanie to go through with the wedding; Brady gives Arianna a gift.

February 10
Carly tries to sneak out of the hospital; Hope learns that Carly is Melanie's mother; Melanie opens Vivian's wedding gift; Chloe makes a discovery.

February 11
Melanie asks Stephanie to deliver a letter to Nathan; Vivian shares her murderous plot with Carly; Chloe shares her news with Daniel.

February 12
Rafe and Sami reconnect; Philip and Melanie's wedding begins; Vivian panics; Carly escapes.

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Poll Question Which is the most boring couple? (The winner will compete versus the other soaps starting Feb 19 on our Main page) Rafe & Sami Bo & Carly Phillip & Melanie Nathan & Stephanie Will & Mia Daniel & Chloe Other If you choose other, please tell us who: Results So Far

News, Cast Updates and Scoop

1. Very Special Days Events: On Saturday, February 13, 2010, join Kristian Alfonso and Peter Reckell for a meet and greet atthe River Cree Casino, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

   On Sunday, February 21, 2010, from 12PM - 5PM, join Eric Martsolf at Carl Casper's Louisville Auto Show at the Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, KY. For more information, visit: www.carlcasper.com.

   On Saturday, March 13, 2010, join John Aniston at the American Hellenic Institute – Hellenic Heritage Achievement and National Public Service Awards Dinner. A reception will be held at 6PM with dinner at 7PM. The event is going to be held on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. For more information, call: 202-785-8430. Tickets are $300.00.

   Friday, April 9 - Sunday, April 11, 2010, join Eric Martsolf and Wally Kurth for the Rock the Soap Cruise rom Long Beach, CA to Encinitas, Mexico. Please visit www.rockthesoap.com for more information.

   On Saturday, April 17, 2010, join Mark Hapka, Eric Martsolf, Nadia Bjorlin, Jay Johnson and Shawn Christian for a Days Charity Events Benefit for the Alzheimer's Association. The event will be held at the Grand Hyatt International Airport in Dallas, TX.

2. Thursday, February 11- Vivian discovers that Victor has foiled her plan.

3. Friday, February 12- Melanie and Philip get married.

4. 'Cop (Officer Lopez)' played by CARLOS ACUNA Air Date: 2/16/2010

5. 'Harold' played by JULIAN BARNES Air Date: 2/16/2010

6. 'Governor Ford' will be played by STUART DAMON

7. Frances Reid Memorial Ceremony: A memorial ceremony is tentatively scheduled sometime in April. In lieu of flowers, Reid’s family is asking anyone who cares to send donations to the actress’s favourite charities, Habitat for Humanity and Save The Children.

8. Sources tell Soaps In Depth that Stuart Damon (ex-Alan, GENERAL HOSPITAL) has booked a new gig — on DAYS OF OUR LIVES! The move to Salem will reunite Damon with GH nephew Wally Kurth (ex-Ned), currently starring on the NBC sudser as Justin. We'll keep you posted as we learn more details about Damon's new role!

9. NBC STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF FRANCES REID: "NBC is deeply saddened by the passing of Frances Reid. She was a true icon of the daytime genre and while we mourn her passing, we also celebrate her long life and the tremendous talent she shared with her generations of fans. She will be sorely missed."

10. Frances Reid Memorial: Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie): "For the last six years or so any time we would meet fans of Days of our Lives, the first question was always, 'How is Grandma Alice ... Frances? Where is she? Is she alright? Oh I'm glad she's alright. Is she going to be on the show some more? And, of course, in the past five years she wasn't able to be on the show anymore. Her saddest moment that I'm aware of was when her character was killed in the mass bludgeoning under the (James E.) Reilly writing regime. Frances took that rather personally. It was obvious that everyone was getting knocked off, but Frances said, 'You're firing me.' It was like a knife through her heart. She couldn't believe it. She wasn't philosophical about it. She was hurt. Everyone was hurt, but she was really hurt because the show meant so much to her. Her presence meant so much to the people who have loved Days for large portions of their lives. She was eternally beautiful on camera and her character generally was written as a wise, forgiving matriarch. Sometimes her own flash and opinion would shine through some rather maudlin dialogue. She had claws and sparks and ferocity that Alice has never shown. She also was the focus of all the love that Days has earned from its fans over the last 45 years. She's irreplaceable and her kind of character is no longer on the map."

    "Frances Reid, although the consummate actor's actor, was far from the donut baking, apron clad wife of Tom Horton most of America knew and loved," Deidre Hall (ex-Marlena) shares with Digest. "She was a saucy, wildly outspoken and politically incorrect woman. She earned the respect and admiration of her friends and peers with her candid approach to life, work, and philosophy."

    "She was honest, spunky, and had such a wonderful sense of humor," says Peggy McKay (Caroline). "She was so present, so there. One of the things I really admired about her was her support for her fellow actors. She provided a strong voice for our union. She was a great, great woman."

    "One thing I remember about her was that she was full of useful tips for her co-stars," notes Leann Hunley (Anna). "I remember her telling me that as an actress it was very important to take at least a 20 minute nap during the day, but it was just as equally important not to mess up our hair and make-up. She was able to teach me a little trick of how to sleep completely still so when I woke up from my nap I didn't have a hair or eyelash out of place! I love her, she was just lovely."

    "Frances was always a source of joy and inspiration to me," lauds James Reynolds (Abe). "Her professionalism always inspired me to be better. Her joy and interest in life was such a pleasure to be around. I miss our conversations on politics and life. What a wonderful person."

    "Frances Reid was a force of nature, part scamp, highly intelligent, funny, and spirited," says Louise Sorel (Vivian). "We were blessed with her smile and compassion. What a lovely spirit we have to cherish."

    "Since my mom lived on the East coast I always felt that Frances was my California mom," says Suzanne Rogers (Maggie). "She always put me in my place but only in a nice, constructive way. We discussed everything from politics to religion. I miss those conversations. The hardest part about all this is not being able to talk to her again."

    "She was, has been, and always will be an inspiration to me — both as an actor and as a person. We will miss her," says Peter Reckell (Bo).

    "This is a very sad day, indeed; not only for me personally, but for the DAYS OF OUR LIVES family and the entire Hollywood community," says Executive Producer Ken Corday. "From day one until she taped her last scene, Frances epitomized the past, present and future of the show. Frances was truly one of a kind. Her class cannot be matched and her shoes cannot be filled… We will miss her all the rest of our days."

    "I just loved her so much," Kristian Alfonso (Hope) tells Digest. "There was just so much about her to love. It's so rare that someone has so much to say with their eyes. They were just so bright and she was just so sharp and fun and smart and worldly and a live wire. I would do scenes with her and I knew that we were acting, but I knew that she loved me and I loved her! When I first moved out here or when I was feeling a little sad, just like a kid, I wanted to crawl up on her lap like it was my grandmother's. It's very sad and it's a great loss."

    Bill Hayes (Doug, DAYS): "Frances was certainly a genius actress and a lovely lady. When I joined the show in 1970, she had already been on it for five years and she was just perfect. Every year, for the first dozen years that I was on the show, she gave the Christmas party for the cast and really made everybody feel like they were a family. She was always funny. She was always direct. She could zero in on her part and other people's parts with such focus. It was just wonderful to watch her. Her last birthday I teetered on the brink of going to call on her, and I didn't. I'm so sorry..."

    "The news of Frances Reid passing breaks my heart," wrote Melissa Reeves (ex-Jennifer) on her Facebook page. "She was an incredible friend and mentor, not to mention an incredible 'Gram' with a wicked sense of humor! What an honor and blessing to have known her for so many years. I pray she is in great peace now. What a beautiful woman! I am so glad many of you got to know her through 'Days of our Lives.' I love you, Frances! xoxo, missy"

    "My very first day on DAYS I was exceedingly nervous," recalls Jason Cook (Matt, GH; ex-Shawn, DAYS) to Digest. "Big studio, big cast, two shows to memorize...a lot going on. As Peter [Reckell, Bo] called it, induction by fire. He proceeded to laugh at me, pat me on the back and then left me with my script. I'm sure he thought he was being comforting (in the following weeks I would learn how cool he was, despite an odd sense of humor I would learn to love), however, at the time, it was anything but.

    My first scene on the show was Shawn entering the pub with Grandpa Shawn at the ready, complete with baseball bat, to knock him out. But as we often had to do, we were shooting out of order for production, and so my ACTUAL first scene to shoot was in the hospital with the entire cast. Someone had crashed a yacht into a helicopter or something, of course was in critical condition, and everyone in Salem had converged into the ER to pray. Shawn comes in, goes straight over to Great Gran, and proceeds to talk for half a page, answering to why he's back and wondering where Belle is. Before the scene is over, before her next line, Frances responds to me by saying, 'You're not going to say it like that, are you?'

    Nervous, green, first day — this is not the reaction you want to get out of your co-stars. Especially the matriarch, been there since episode 1, when 20 cast members and an even bigger crew are all silent listening. I thought I was going to be fired before my first scene shot.

    'Well, I...that's what is written I think...'

    'Well change it. It's terrible. Especially the Great Gran part. I didn't think it was possible to age me any more than I am, but GREAT Gran? Believe me, it's not so great.'

    Frances Reid was the most comical, spunky, full-of-life woman I ever knew. Her repertoire of incredible stories seemed endless, both from DAYS and her travels throughout the world (Frances was incredibly well traveled). I feel blessed for my seven years of working with her. But more so, I'm grateful to have known her wit and warm sense of humor first hand. I'll miss you, Frances. You'll always be Gran to me. Just Gran."

    "She was a sassy gal and we ALL loved her," Mary Beth Evans (ex-Kayla) tells Digest. "She was a riot and so sharp. She might not have seen you in a while — a year maybe — and she would remember details of your life and ask about them. She was funny, sassy and self deprecating; she made us all laugh. She was such a great example for all of us. Frances loved the DAYS OF OUR LIVES family and was always a professional. I know anyone that was lucky enough to know her, is sad today. She will live on in our memories for sure."

    Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS) tweeted: "I'm so sad to hear the news about Frances Reid. She was a truly talented actress and we are all lucky & proud to have known her."

    Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe, DAYS) added: "Rest in peace Frances Reid (Alice Horton). She was a great lady whom I feel honored to have known..the heart and soul of Days of our Lives."

    Shawn Christian (Daniel, DAYS) twittered: "Rest in peace Frances Reid. Condolences to your loved ones. Your stories and your spirit live in the hearts of those you have touched."

    "I'm honored to have known Ms. Frances Reid," Farah Fath (Gigi, OLTL; ex-Mimi, DAYS) tells Digest. "She always put a huge grin on my face and being around her was nothing short of a treat. Her favorite thing to say to me was, 'You're not really going to wear your hair like that, are you?' It made me laugh every time and she would crack up, too. I will always remember Frances and cherish the moments I had with her."

    "NBC is deeply saddened by the passing of Frances Reid. She was a true icon of the daytime genre and while we mourn her passing, we also celebrate her long life and the tremendous talent she shared with her generations of fans. She will be sorely missed."

11. Look Back: Frances Reid Celebrates 30 Years at DAYS: In honor of Frances Reid's passing Feb. 3, here's an article from the January 10, 1995 issue of Soap Opera Weekly where the actress looks back at her 30 years on DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Janet Di Lauro, West Coast Editor, Soap Opera Weekly, wrote the article and she has this to say: "What I remember most about this chat with Frances, aside from the off the record stuff she made me turn off my tape recorder for, was walking to the commissary together midway through the interview to get lunch. Frances said to me, 'Now, Janet dear. What happens if we do this interview, and when we're all done you don't have anything good to write about?' I said, 'Well, then I just make the whole thing up.' She laughed so hard. I will never forget that." Part 1, Part 2.

12. 'Days of Our Lives' star dies: Soap star Frances Reid, who played the Days of Our Lives matriarch Alice Horton for 42 years, has died.

    Reid passed away on February 3 at the age of 95.

    The actress began her career with a small role in 1938 movie Man-Proof, before landing a string of jobs on Broadway.

    She was said to have been reluctant to accept the part of Alice in Days of our Lives after an exhausting run on another soap opera - Portia Faces Life in 1954.

    But the role made her a household name after the series' premiere in November 1965 - and eventually earned her a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmys in 2004.

    Reid made her final appearance on Days of our Lives in December 2007.

    She married actor Philip Bourneuf in 1940 and the pair remained together until his death in 1979.

13. DAYS Fave Returns: With Wally Kurth (Justin) back in town, it was only a matter of time... Judi Evans (Adrienne) is returning to the Salem and will work again with Kurth for the first time on DAYS since 1991. "He's just the greatest sweetheart and a wonderful actor and a little teddy bear," she smiles. "Through the years, I have really missed working with him, so it’s nice to see him on a professional basis." For the full scoop from Evans, check out a future issue of Digest.

14. DAYS Star on COLD CASE: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES Peggy McCay (Caroline) plays Roman and Bo's devoted mother and pub owner, but she ventures off in an entirely different direction for her upcoming role on the CBS nighttime drama, COLD CASE. McCay will play a circus performer named Zelda Panay when she guest stars on the show's Feb. 21 episode. The episode focuses on the CSI team's investigation of the 1971 death of a teenaged circus aerialist whose mid-act fall may not have been an accident.

15. Tamara Clatterbuck (ex-Alice, Y&R; ex-Barb, DAYS) appears in the episode of NIP/TUCK, airing on February 5. Check local listings for times. "I'm totally crazy!" she chuckles of her stint. "I think my fans will enjoy it."

16. Days of Our Lives Matriarch Dies at 95: Days of Our Lives matriarch Frances Reid, who played Alice Horton on the long-running soap, died Wednesday at the age of 95.

    Reid appeared last on NBC's hit show in December of 2007. She also had roles on As the World Turns and The Edge of Night.

    "I'm so sad to hear the news about Frances Reid," Tweeted actress Alison Sweeney, who plays Sami on Days. "She was a truly talented actress and we are all lucky and proud to have known her."

    Reid played the silver-haired, mild-mannered matriarch of the show’s Horton clan since 1965 – a role she initially turned down.

    Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, Reid was raised in Berkeley, Calif., and later moved to New York to pursue her acting career on the stage. She landed roles in Cyrano de Bergerac, Hamlet and Twelfth Night.

    Her character on Days was seemingly killed off by the show’s Salem Stalker in 2004, but it turned out to be a hoax and she returned later the same year.

    Reid won the Daytime Emmy's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 and was married to late actor Philip Bourneuf for 43 years. She had no children.

17. Drake Hogestyn: "Never Say Never" to DAYS Return: Drake Hogestyn, who sat down with Digest on the recent Soap Cruise, has no hard feelings toward DAYS, which released him from his contract after 23 years as John. "The Yankees fired me," he grins, "and I still root for the Yankees!" Would he consider a return to the show, even on a guest-star basis? "Never say never," he says. "DAYS gave me a great 23 years." In the meantime, Hogestyn is focused on the producing side of show biz, working on reality/game show ideas. In fact, a project he developed with son Ben (ex-Lucas, GH) was recently given a greenlight. "It’s an exciting time," he enthuses.

18. Aniston Appearance: WHO: John Aniston
    WHAT: American Hellenic Institute - Hellenic Heritage Achievement and National Public Service Awards Dinner
    WHERE: Capitol Hill, Washington DC
    WHEN: Saturday, March 13th 2010 - Reception at 6:00PM / Dinner at 7:00PM
    For more information, call: 202-785-8430 (Tickets are $300.00)

19. 'Cop (Officer Dylan)' played by MARSHALL HILLIARD - Air Date: 2/9/2010

20. 'Cop (Officer Jenkins)' played by TIM FIELDS - Air Date: 2/11/2010

21. 'Dr. White' played by KIT FLANAGAN - Air Date: 2/12/2010

22. Ciara goes crazy after witnessing Bo and Carly together

23. Friday, February 5- Kate confronts Carly about her connection to Vivian and Melanie.

24. Arianne Zucker (Nicole) is back from her maternity leave and on set filming this week. Her on-screen mom, Valerie Wildman (Fay) also taped on Monday, Jan. 25. Look for both to first air in March.

25. Hennig's Dream Team: When the Saints go marching in to South Florida for the Super Bowl on February 7, Louisiana native Shelley Hennig (Stephanie, DAYS) will be rooting for them big time. "I'm a huge Saint fans and so is my whole family," gushes the actress. "I've been a faithful season watcher for the past two years and was able to make a couple of games this year. So I was really excited for their win last Sunday." Hennig plans on being glued to the championship game, when her team tackles the Indianapolis Colts, although she isn't sure where. "I'm working on getting tickets," says the actress, who has a few connections. However, if that doesn't work out, "I may just go home to New Orleans. I think it would be fun to watch the game on Bourbon Street. Or I may have a party at my place." And Hennig's boyfriend will be by her side cheering on her team. "He's become a fan," notes Hennig. "When he started watching with me I was like, 'You have be rooting for the Saints, or we can't watch football together.'"

26. 'Mr. Lee' played by ARNOLD CHUN Air Date: 2/3/2010

27. DAYS has released another hilarious online offering. The small clip is rumored to be from a longer video, which played at the soap’s Christmas party last year.

28. Stars Raise Money For Haiti: How did soap stars end up at the Rose Bowl last Saturday, collecting donations for Hope for Haiti? The night before, a reporter from the local NBC station contacted Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis, GH) via Twitter to ask for help wrangling celebs for the fund raiser. "One call and boom, they were there," marvels Grahn of the soap stars who responded. In addition to numerous GH stars, Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS) rounded up several of her castmates, who were joined by Sarah Brown (Sandy, B&B) and Stephen Nichols (soon-to-be Tucker, Y&R), among others. "The best part," smiles Grahn, "were these little kids that came up and emptied their piggy banks." Hope for Haiti raised $100,000.

29. Alison Sweeney (Sami) will make a guest spot on Mercy in March

30. DAYS Alum Helps Haiti: Ashlee Holland (ex-Crystal, DAYS) has organized a "Basic Needs" drive for the devastated city of Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. "It was making me crazy to see the survivors walking around without shoes," she said in a press release. "They were all barefoot. Who knows what they were stepping on." The drive will take place tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 16, at the Michael Jackson Auditorium at the Gardner Elementary School in Los Angeles, CA (7450 Hawthorn Avenue). Holland and others will be collecting shoes, socks, hiking boots, clothing, boxed food and more to send to Haiti. "I would be delusional to think that this drive would help all the affected but I am very aware that every little effort counts."

31. Bo takes off his wedding ring and moves in with Carly

32. Emmy-winner Darin Brooks (Max) is headed back to Salem. The actor, who is currently starring on Spike TV's BLUE MOUNTAIN STATE, will return in March for a couple of episodes to check in on sister Melanie.

33. Days of our Lives Lands Book Deal: If you can't get enough of all things Days of our Lives, then have we got news for you -- the show has just inked a publishing deal with Sourcebooks to do a line of "branded titles" related to the show!

    Under the terms of the deal, the good folks behind Days (including executive producer Ken Corday, son of show creators Ted and Betty Corday) will produce both fiction and non-fiction titles ... everything from novels featuring your favorite characters (an "EJami" romance novel, perchance?) to behind-the-scenes accounts of the series.

    The first book from Days of our Lives Publishing, entitled "The Days of our Lives: The Untold Story of One Family's Dream and the True History of The Days of our Lives," will be released in May 2010 -- written by Corday, it's said to be an "insider memoir." OMG, that sounds awesome, right?

    Look for a coffee table book -- celebrating the show's 45th anniversary -- to be released later this year.

34. Give 'Human Target' a shot, and it could just be a bull's-eye: Even if you're not a fan of comic books, take a chance on Human Target. Loosely based on a DC comic of the same name, Target is actually a throwback to a once-dominant style of TV action-adventure: handsome, mysterious hero with a dark past; stalwart sidekicks; damsels in, or causing, distress. The tweaks this new Fox hour brings to the template are a higher degree of special-effects-fueled action, a faster pace and a consistently amusing tongue-in-cheek tone. Clearly when it comes to TV heroes these days, insouciance is in. And this is America, where smart-aleck never went out. The "target" is Christopher Chance (Mark Valley, ex-Jack- Days Of Our Lives), a private bodyguard/detective who serves as a human shield for people in extreme danger. In the comic, the super-powered Chance actually transforms himself into his clients and assumes their identities — but you don't hire someone who looks like Valley for a weekly series and then hide his face behind masks, makeup or stand-in actors. Chance's business is run by his friend and sometimes-field-assistant, Winston, played by Chi McBride with the same terrific mix of slow-burn, sarcasm and sweetness he brought to Pushing Daisies. When Chance needs help that skirts the edge of legality, he turns to Guerrero, a shady character played with characteristically humorous yet dangerous edge by Jackie Earle Haley. On Sunday, Chance is hired to protect a lovely railroad executive who is trapped on a runaway train full of enemies, most of them well-earned. ("Even I want to kill you just a little bit right now," Chance tells her at one point.) On Wednesday, when the show gets a special post-Idol slot, he has to save a computer hacker on a plane that, thanks to gunplay and various mishaps, winds up flying upside-down. No doubt you see a pattern forming. Automobiles can't be far behind, followed by ships, buses, cable cars and any other form of conveyance that can accommodate a fistfight. Don't scoff: Sunday's confined-spaces fight on the train is a miniature marvel of its kind. McBride and Haley provide great side notes, but the center has to be held by Valley, and he does it well. A critical favorite ever since his starring stint in the late, lamented Keen Eddie, Valley has a kind of low-key, deadpan appeal that can get lost when he's surrounded by outrageous, extroverted personalities (as he was in Boston Legal). But here, given the opportunity to shine on his own and to exercise his action chops, he may finally become the bona fide TV star Eddie fans always thought he could be. That, at any rate, is the chance Fox is taking. You should take it as well. (Human Target - Fox, Sunday, 8 ET/PT)

35. Peter Reckell on Bo, Hope - and Carly: After Hope was "killed" by Ernesto Toscano in a vat of acid, Bo was left to grieve his beloved wife. During this time, he met Dr. Carly Manning. And, although at first there was a great deal of animosity between the two, eventually (naturally) they fell in love. They were never officially married but they did exchange symbolic vows on top of a Mayan temple. Click here to watch their Mayan vows.

    Eventually, however, Carly left Salem to be with Lawrence Alamain and their son, Nikki. She recently returned, and at an opportune time; Hope had just moved out of her and Bo's house with their daughter, Ciara. Carly needed protection and a place to stay and Bo offered them both.

    As Peter told us, Hope leaving was "the catalyst for pretty much everything that's happening right now, especially the way she moved out, taking our daughter. Not being in touch with Bo for, I don't know, a couple of weeks. He didn't even have any way to contact them. A lot of things happened during that period of time, the worry about where they were, the anger about not giving me some way of talking to them. Like I said, it was a catalyst to a lot of hurt feelings and anger." And this was the scene that Carly stepped into.

    On top of that, Bo really couldn't understand Hope's actions. "The whole reason she did it," he told us, "was because she thought I handled the kidnapping the wrong way." Bo, however, is quite certain he handled it the right way. "We did it the way the department is supposed to do it," Peter continued. "The rules and regulations about kidnapping are that way because, most often, this is what works. That's what I followed. She thinks they should have done it her way, which is going by her emotions and the procedure is to help people whose emotions get in the way when they're trying to get their child back."

    And following the rules did bring Ciara back. Now, perhaps rightfully so, Bo thinks their little girl "needs her family together to have that security and Hope is taking her away, taking her from her home, etc. She doesn't have that security. So we have a huge disagreement on how to handle our daughter." This has further driven the wedge between Bo and Hope, and opened up old wounds, as traumatic situations often can. Namely, it has opened up the wounds that never quite healed after the death of their son, Zack. As Peter told us, "we've had disagreements in the past. We've sort of pulled ourselves together and moved forward. Those things I guess have kind of built up and gotten to the point of, well, we've reached the exploding point." He continued, saying that "with a certain circumstance like that, it's difficult to not try to blame somebody and most often you blame the person you most love. That's on top of everything else. I don't know how you overcome a circumstance where your child is killed like that. That's unfathomable to me. I hope I'm never faced with that."

    Hope had moved out and taken Ciara and Bo couldn't begin to wrap his mind around why. He was hurt, resentful, angry, and that's when Carly came back to town. "It's funny because people talk about it like it's a new thing," Peter said. "The thing with us is that we've got this very intimate relationship that was several years ago. With her coming back, it isn't something that is just starting. It's old, old feelings that are being stirred up. At first, it's like an old friend and it's comfortable that way. It's as if we talked yesterday although it's been fifteen years or whatever. There's that comfortableness and I think that's what helps the two of them pull together. Carly has her drama and the hell she's going through and I've got my drama and the hell I'm going through. We can support each other and the relationship itself is kind of a haven. We can just be ourselves with each other. We understand the other person so it makes it that much easier."

    Does this mean it's curtains for Bo and Hope? We'll withhold judgment on that, but for now, it sure looks that way.

36. TV Land picks up Hamlin-Rinna series: TV Land has ordered a six-episode docusoap starring Lisa Rinna and husband Harry Hamlin. "Harry Loves Lisa" follows the duo as they navigate family and their celebrity-driven Hollywood lifestyle. The show is slated to air in the fall as part of the cable channel's PRIME original-series block. Rinna and Hamlin, married more than 11 years, re-entered the spotlight as contestants on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," Rinna on Season 2 and Hamlin on Season 3. TV Land has been ramping up original production. It also recently ordered "Retired at 35" and "Hot in Cleveland," its first scripted pilots.

37. Art Van Furniture Joins with 'Days of our Lives' Cast Members to Aid Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries-Genesis House III: Art Van Furniture is teaming up with cast members from the long running daytime drama "Days of our Lives" and local NBC affiliate WDIV Channel 4 to help Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries- Genesis House III. Truckloads of furniture including 50 mattress sets, bed frames, night stands and dressers will arrive next week at the Genesis House III compliments of Art Van Furniture.

    To celebrate this campaign and draw attention to the cause, "Days of our Lives" cast members Shawn Christian ("Dr. Daniel Jonas") and Nadia Bjorlin ("Chloe Lane") will make personal appearances at four Art Van Furniture stores for autographs and photos on January 16 (12 noon to 1pm at the Warren store and 3pm to 4pm at the Taylor store) and January 17 (12 noon to 1pm at the Lakeside store and 3pm to 4pm at the Novi store). Directions and details can be found at www.artvan.com.

    Guests can also enter to win a trip for two to Los Angeles for a special tour of the set of the popular daytime drama, thanks to WDIV and the Producers of "Days of our Lives." The trip will be awarded to one lucky winner who enters now through January 18th, either in store at any Art Van location, or on the website at www.artvan.com.

    Everyone is invited to help make a difference, through donations of toiletries and cleaning supplies at all Metro Detroit area Art Van Furniture stores from January 8th through January 18th. Donation items needed include travel sized shampoo, toothpaste, lotion, soap and washcloths, as well as laundry and dish soap.

    "These donations will benefit the lives of hundreds of homeless women and children," said Art Van Elslander, Chairman and Founder of Art Van Furniture. "Providing a few of the comforts of home – even just the little things- can make a big difference."

    Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries' Genesis House III provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, treatment and case management services to women and children in need. The actors became involved in the cause during an earlier visit to Detroit, when they toured the facility and participated in a food donation drive for DRMM. Shawn Christian, a Michigan native, commented "It was an amazing experience travelling to Detroit this past November. I felt like we did a lot for the community but realized that there was much more that could be done." Fellow cast member Nadia Bjorlin added "In Detroit, I met many truly inspirational people who were struggling to put their lives back together. I choose to put my focus here in an effort to help them where I can. The important thing, though, is to be cognizant of the need for community service in Detroit and around our entire nation."

38. Bryan Dattilo (Lucas) is claiming he quit to Soap Opera Digest and wasn’t fired (DAYS took him off contract but offered him recurring status which he declined).

39. Check out Crystal Chappell’s soap debut on AMC opposite fellow Emmy winner, Maurice Benard. Watch here!

40. Lisa Trusel Revisits Days: The passing of longtime Days of our Lives patriarch Mickey Horton (we know! Can you believe it?!) this week means that several faces from the past will be returning to Salem to help Maggie and her family grieve. One such face is Mickey and Maggie's adoptive daughter -- and young doctor Nathan's mother -- Melissa Horton.

    Actress Lisa Trusel -- who portrayed Melissa from 1983 until 1988 (and who returned for brief stints in 1994, '96, and 2002) -- will be coming back to mourn the loss of Mickey, per Soap Opera Weekly.

    For the uninitiated: When Melissa was born in 1971, her mother Linda Phillips claimed that Mickey Horton was her real father -- but it was later revealed that Mickey was sterile, and Melissa's dad was Linda's husband Jim. Later, when Melissa returned to town in the '80s as a teenager, Mickey and his second wife Maggie took her in and adopted her.

    Look for Lisa's Melissa to return to Salem on January 14th and 19th.

41. Dattilo Speaks Out on DAYS Exit: Bryan R. Dattilo (Lucas) opens up to Digest about leaving Salem. "I have no bad feelings at all toward anybody," he says. "I don't feel like I've been wronged. I just kind of feel like it happened because it needed to happen. The show is a great show and always will be. I hope it lasts long and I hope that the ratings are soaring and I wish nothing but good for everyone there. I love everyone there." As for why he didn't go back to film his last episode, he explains, "I had one more episode to do after the vacation when Gary [Tomlin, co-executive producer] told me they weren't renewing my contract. And in the scenes, I literally had two lines and came in at the end of the scene and said something to Rafe like, 'Leave Sami alone,' then walked away. It was very uneventful and Gary even said, 'You don't need to come in for that last episode if you don't want to.' At the time, I was like, 'No, I'll come in; that's cool.' And then when I got home and read the episode, where I really didn't say much and nothing happened, I thought, 'If that's going to be my last episode, I don't want to go out like that.' " For the full interview with Dattilo, check out an upcoming issue of Digest.

42. DAYS and Y&R will be off the airwaves in Israel thanks to Sony asking for more money in terms of their licencing fee. DAYS has aired for 14 years, and Y&R, 20 years.

43. Mark Hapka (Nathan) informs Soap Opera Weekly that he has signed a four-year contract

44. Introducing Gabriela Rodriguez: Gabriela Rodriguez recently joined the cast as Gabi, the little sister of the Hernandez family. She joined big brother Rafe and big sister Arianna. Gabi is still in high school, but it looks like she wants to take care of her big sister and help keep her out of trouble. At the same time, although it's hard to say, she looks like she could be a bit of a troublemaker herself. As Gabriela told us, "Gabi, she just came in and at first you might think that she's crazy and always yelling at people, but she just has a lot of issues with her sister. She just wants the best for her. She's a little bit outspoken, I guess. But she's kind of shy when it comes to guys. She's just like a typical sixteen year old girl." So far, Gabriela is enjoying playing Gabi, and not least because she thinks it's "awesome" that she got to keep her own name.

    Unfortunately, the audition process was a little stressful for Gabriela. "I get so nervous at auditions!" Gabriela laughed and told us. "I'm the worst! I just get so nervous. I remember that when I went in to see the producers, I was shaking. I could not stand still without shaking my knee. It was horrifying! I was so embarrassed. But I tried my best. It was very challenging. All the other girls who were up against me were so talented. I really didn't think I was going to get it. When we did the screen test, I was the youngest one. I said, you know what? Whatever. I'll just try. And then I got it. It's cool."

    And when she found out she'd been cast? "My manager called me and I was in my room," Gabriela said. "My parents were like 'so, so?' And I just said 'I got it!' My dad carried me and started screaming and hugging me! It was kind of funny."

    Once on set, Gabriela quickly learned how nice and friendly the cast and crew are. "I just feel so at home with everybody," she said. "Everybody was so welcoming when I first got there." But she also learned what a confusing place Studios 2 and 4, where Days shoots, can be. "The first couple of weeks that I was there, Lindsay Hartley helped me a lot," Gabriela told us. "She plays my sister on the show. She was so great to me. She showed me around, told me where everything was. At first, I would always be so lost. I did not know where to go. She was always there for me. 'Gabi, no! Wrong set!' She was great.

    "It's like a maze in there," Gabriela continued. "When they would call my name through the speakers, I would never know which set to go on. Sometimes I'd go on Stage Four and everybody would be on Stage Two. That was kind of my thing at first. It was difficult to get used to. But now it's gotten better!"

    And when she's not on set? "I like to dance," Gabriela said. "I dance all the time! I have ever since I was a little girl. That's like my second favorite thing to do. It's a lot of fun and it's just such a great stress reliever for me sometimes. If I have a busy week, I'll go sweat it off at dance."

    Gabriela told us that she's wanted to be an actress as long as she can remember. When asked her favorite actress, she quickly responded "I really like Anne Hathaway. I've always wanted to be her! Ever since she did Princess Diaries. She became such an amazing actress. And she's done so much. She got nominated for an Oscar next to Meryl Streep and all these amazing actresses. She's come such a long way. Hopefully, I'll get to do some of the cool stuff she's done."

    We hope so, too. Gabriela seems like a lovely, charming young lady who's going places.

45. Sweeney On Dattilo's Departure: Alison Sweeney (Sami) opens up about the exit of beloved co-star Bryan R. Dattilo (Lucas), who has finished his run in Salem. "I'm so sad that the producers have decided to let go of Bryan Dattilo," she says. "I shot our last scenes together and I didn't even know it. I am so upset, not just for me, and the cast, crew and DAYS fans who will miss him tremendously, but for Sami, too. They've been a major part of each other's lives for 17 years, and at this point, I have no idea how they'll explain his absence, but it will, without question, be a major void in Sami's life."

46. DAYS's Dattilo Out: Bryan R. Dattilo (Lucas), who joined the show in 1993, is out. Before DAYS took its holiday hiatus, Dattilo was informed that the show would not be picking up his next cycle. "He has taped his last episode," confirms his manager. His contract officially expires in February, 2010.

    
    

47. If you have watched DAYS this week, you've surely noticed John Aniston (Victor) sporting sunglasses and bandage. In the script, they called it a "skating accident." But what really happened? "I honestly don't know!" says Aniston. "A dog, some Milkbones, a pair of flip flops and some stairs ... THAT's what happened!"

48. Y&R Shocker: Stephen Nichols Replaces William Russ: That was fast. Actor William Russ, who hit The Young and the Restless December 2 as the Donald Trump-esque jillionaire Tucker McCall, has been ousted from the role and replaced by Days of Our Lives great Stephen Nichols (Patch). Nichols was due to begin taping December 17 and will appear on air January 27. The Y&R execs have kept their statements brief. Co-exec producer/head writer Maria Arena Bell says: “William Russ is a talented actor and we enjoyed working with him. However, we decided to take the character in another direction.” Adds co-exec producer Paul Rauch: “[Russ] did a wonderful job while he was here.” Why the switch? Here’s my thought: Russ, known for his recurring roles on Boston Legal and The Ex List, has been giving a performance that seems strong enough, but it may be that the soap needed more superstar luster because Tucker will eventually be revealed to have a shocking (and we do mean shocking!) connection to a major (and we do mean major!) denizen of Genoa City.

49. It's a Girl for Zucker & Lowder: Congratulations are in order: After months of trying to hide her baby bump on Days of our Lives, actress Arianne Zucker has given birth! She and her husband, Bold and the Beautiful's Kyle Lowder, welcomed baby Isabella via cesarean section on December 7th. Per CBS Soaps in Depth, Arianne is telling friends and family that the baby looks just like Kyle.

    Arianne kept shooting as Nicole DiMera on Days until late November -- some very dramatic scenes, to boot! -- with the show covering her growing belly with a series of baggy clothing, purses, and strategic camera angles.

    The two actors first met when both were costarring on Days (he played the original "older" Brady Black from 2000 until '05) and got married in 2002. After a brief separation in 2007, the couple reunited -- with the announcement of Arianne's pregnancy coming in June '09. Isabella is the first child for both.

50. Sami and Lucas's son is about to look a whole lot different. Dylan Michael Patton is out; Chandler Massey has been hired to replace him. "They just felt they needed to make a change with the story coming up," says an insider.

51. Frances Reid (Alice), who turns 95 on December 9, is currently in a care facility, reveal Bill and Susan Hayes.

52. Band Together: Have you been missing your Kurth and Taylor fix? Well, Wally Kurth (Justin, DAYS) reports that the band is back together again. "We have a new album out called 'Greatest Hits? 1993-2010' and we put on like 17 of Kurth and Taylor's greatest songs," he explains. "We actually polled our 50 ardent fans [laughs]. They voted on their favorites from the last four or five albums, and we threw them on there and we wrote two new ones that are really fun. We made the video of a song called, 'Let's Get The Band Back Together,' and the long form has a little scene where we actually talk about the singing actors on daytime. If you can believe it, after all these years and all our appearances, we've never done a music video of our own. If there was one band that was meant to be a video band, it probably would have been us." You can check out the videos, purchase the album or get a free download at these links:

    Long Form Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG6EE-1xjsQ

    Short Form Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS4SvebN-KY

    To buy the album on Amazon: www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002VSRZKW/almosthuman

    Free download of "Let's Get The Band Back Together Again": www.uaradio.net/Kurth_and_Taylor (just click on our "Songs" tab and hit "Free Download")

    Or, finally, their MySpace page: www.myspace.com/kurthandtaylorband

53. Thursday, January 28 - Monday, February 1, 2010 join Nadia Bjorlin and James Scott for the Soap Cruise – Third Voyage, departing from Miami, Forida and traveling to Cozumel Mexico and Key West.

54. Molly Burnett and Casey Deidrick, produced this entertaining dance spoof, so all is forgiven. The majority of the DAYS cast participated — and it’s worth a view and a chuckle.

55. Jensen Ackles and Danneel Harris Are Engaged: Sorry, ladies. Jensen Ackles is off the market. The Supernatural hunk and his longtime girlfriend, One Tree Hill star Danneel Harris are engaged, TVGuide.com has confirmed. After dating for three years, the 31-year old actor and 30-year-old actress are planning to tie the knot, reps for the actors tell us. They have been friends for nearly a decade and co-starred together in the 2007 romantic comedy Ten Inch Hero.

56. www.venicetheseries.com: Due to Elizabeth Keener's illness, Nadia Bjorlin has taken over the high profile role of Lara. Keener will appear on the series as a different character in the second season. The emergency switcheroo was made at the very last minute.

57. Merchandising for Crystal Chappell’s online series Venice is now availbable for purchase at http://www.venicetheseries.com

58. You can buy Kristian Alfonso's jewelry at www.hopefaithmiracles.com

59. Days of our Lives Podcasts!: “Days goes digital! Listen to your favorite stars’ Podcasts.

60. "Days of our Lives - Love Songs" - Love Songs is a compilation of romantic songs composed for and heard on the show. Featured vocalists include Kelly Moneymaker (Mrs. Peter Reckell), Peter Reckell (Bo), Kyle Lowder (Brady), Arianne Zuker (Nicole), Tanya Boyd (Celeste) and Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe). Available at Amazon.com

61. Click here for the book: All the Days of My Life So Far by Alison Sweeney (Sami)

Facts

1. The song that played for Morgan & Phillip on July 30, 2008 was 'Magic' by Colbie Caillat. You can find the song on her CD 'Coco'

2. Q. What is the name of the song Max and Stephanie danced to in the Cheating Heart on the "Days of Our Lives" episode that aired Dec. 3, 2007?
   A. That was "Save a Dance," written by Peter Reckell's (Bo) wife, Kelly Moneymaker.

3. February 21, 2005 NBC's "Days of our Lives" airs its 10,000 episode

4. In 1968, the show toyed with an incest storyline: Marie Horton fell in love with a doctor at the hospital named Mark Brooks. Mark reminded Tom & Alice Horton of their son, Tommy, who had died in the Korean Was 15 years earlier. Sure enough, after Mickey had Mark’s fingerprints checked, it turned out that they matched Tommy’s. Marie was devastated to learn that she was in love with her own brother.

5. Q. What song was playing during Lucas and Sami's wedding on "Days of Our Lives"?
   A. "I Can't Stop Loving You" by Whiskey Falls.

6. The romance of Doug and Julie was so popular that they landed on the cover of Time magazine on January 12, 1976, a first for daytime actors.

7. In 1995, Satan came to Salem in what is considered one of the riskiest out-of-this world plots ever seen on daytime. Town favorite Marlena Evans was possessed and carried out the devil’s work. Eventually, Father John performed an exorcism, which saved Marlena.

8. On November 10, 1995, Melissa Reeves (Jennifer) suddenly left her Days role for what she described as personal reasons. Shortly after, Corday Productions filed a breach of contract suit, which was settled out of court in 1997. The next year, Stephanie Cameron, who replaced Reeves, was let go. Last fall, Days expressed interest in Reeves returning, but at press time, their calls hadn't been returned.

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