January 6, 2013 11:41 AM PDT

NBC Boss Addresses Days of Our Lives' Future: 'It's Not Going Anywhere'

Get More: News, Renewals

Michael Ausiello

It appears the sands will continue to flow through the hourglass for the foreseeable future.

Addressing the fate of its only daytime soap, NBC Chairman Robert Greenblatt expressed confidence that Days of Our Lives would remain on the air beyond its current contract cycle, which expires in September.

“I think Days is going to stick around,” Greenblatt told reporters Sunday at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour in Pasadena. “I don’t know that I’m at liberty to say that officially yet, but it’s not going anywhere.”

Days currently ranks last in the ratings among the four remaining soaps, averaging 2.3 million viewers. It recently tied an all-time in women 18-49 (0.7). (Reporting by Vlada Gelman)

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Tags: Days Of Our Lives, NBC

Comments (155)

Wonderful news! Looking forward to more EJami, Jarlena, and Hope. I’m also excited to see what they do with the young crew. I’m hoping Gabi and Rafe leave because they bore me. They need to send Rafe away and bring back Bo.
Comment by Kate – January 6, 2013 03:48 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Ken Corday should just let Ejami be happy for a long time with nothing bothering them at all, right? I mean, is that what Ejami fans really want, for them to be happy? I’m trying to say that without any trouble for Ejami and all happiness, they will be boring.
Comment by Donnie – January 6, 2013 03:52 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- like any other couple you know, they just need to write Sami and Ej as a couple with some other type of stories than an interloper between them for a while, with their ties to lot’s of characters, them coming from core families it is not hard !
  Comment by jen – January 16, 2013 09:23 PM PDT Reply To This Post
James can’t do it all by himself he needs help Alison and him are the stars of the show but you need other characters that have appeal as well to many boring characters on days people like Rafe,Daniel,Lucas so on these are not soap characters who will bring in viewers. EJ and Sami when they been together as far as making love they bring up ratings grief sex proved that now NBC write for Ejami and put them together in the way the fan want them. Then if they fail in the ratings then you won’t have any arguments with me just give them a proper chance to be happy and in love and when i mean by that Sami not dreaming about Rafe while being with EJ because what turned off viewers in 2010 and even now we are not convinced we are getting them to much Safe in their story.
Comment by Paul – January 6, 2013 04:13 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Yay for Days!! Hope they make it to their 50th. I’m looking forward to more EJ and Sami togetherness. As well as Hope, Kristen, Brady, and Abby who are another set of my faves. They also need to bring Bo back for Hope.
Comment by Tiffany – January 6, 2013 04:14 PM PDT Reply To This Post
I consider this good news as long as LSB means for the individual characters not the couple because KC didnt say ejami. Theres always a play on words to keep the dreadful triangles going, which is not working.
Comment by Sharon – January 6, 2013 05:07 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- KC doesn’t use fanbase names like EJami, Safe, Bope, Jarlena…etc. He uses character names, and it’s pretty clear from his article he was talking about EJ and Sami as together, not in individual stories. I understand people wanting their couples, but twisting KC words is just being a little desperate.
  Comment by Karen – January 6, 2013 05:59 PM PDT Reply To This Post
  - KC is full of poop,he never says what what he means,
    he also said when BD/Lucas came back,he would be in the gay SL with his son Will,but is he,not realy,Sami is….
    I am sick of EJ Sami Rafe Dan and Jenn,now here comes Chole @@
    Comment by anna – January 7, 2013 01:17 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Good news for Days fans. I’m just sorry that “fans” feel the need to always be so nasty and rude to others over a fake TV couple. The fake outrage is probably the most offensive. If you don’t understand how soaps work, then go watch cartoons and leave the rest of us in peace.
Comment by Angela – January 6, 2013 05:32 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- Exactly.
  Comment by Debra – January 6, 2013 08:08 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- lol agree, this fake offense about fictional stories is so dumb..make these so called offended posters pretty stupid..to say the least.
  Comment by jen – January 16, 2013 09:25 PM PDT Reply To This Post
To bad DOOL couldnt get Crystal Chappell back she ALWAYS gave DOOL great ratings. Kristian is done without Peter. But, OMG what Crystal and Peter are doing on the web!!! Fantastic stuff!! Glad Crystal gave DOOL the finger and is creating GREAT SOAP on the web!! Yes they did try to get her back!! The idiots at DOOL let Kristian Alfonso call some shots and she is nothing more than a daytime fake, spoiled BITCH!!
Comment by Carly – January 6, 2013 05:34 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Does anyone else remember when EJ was first introduced? He was funny, playful and very down to earth. That was hot ! There were moments that seemed to elude he had a dark or mysterious past, and he seemed like he’d rather be the opposite of Stephano rather than his partner in crime.

A love triangle between Sami, Lucas, and EJ was possible then. But as a looooooong time viewer, I am a Sami/Lucas fan – Lucas truly loves her and knows just how Sami works yet loves her warts and all.

I despise Rafe. He’s about as thrilling as watching paint dry. Good looking guy but his acting stinks and he has noooo chemistry with Sami. Give him the boot please!

Is EJ totally hot? Yes. He’s an amazing actor who commands any scene he walks in to. Too bad the writers have wasted many opportunities with him. There was no need to go down the “rape ” road unless they were going to make him truly evil. Too bad they have wrecked Sami’s character as well. They could have used her past with EJ to break her down and have her rise against her tormentor to be a stronger woman who could have been used as a real role model for the thousands of every day women who are stuck in a cycle of abuse.

I think EJ could really love Sami but the magic for me was broken long ago. It should be revealed the twins are Lucas’ and bring him back with Sami where he belongs.
Comment by Mom2Sweetpeaz – January 6, 2013 07:59 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- Well Lucas tried to kill Sami and makes her crazy and after they had a full-on romance so really your argument is moot..everything can happen on soaps !
  Comment by jen – January 16, 2013 09:28 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Congrats to Days!! And I hope they use this time wisely. The show has a terrific past and characters we love, hate, and love to hate, still on canvas. Use some imagination and Salem can sparkle again.
Comment by Debra – January 6, 2013 08:07 PM PDT Reply To This Post
I love this show been watching it for 30 years, I love Rafe, Sammy and Ej drama. Jennifer and her daughter can go they are boring. Ithink Abe and Kayla need to have a romance. Looking forward to seeing what happen nexts.
Comment by Coly – January 6, 2013 10:40 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Perhaps Days should enter a new Era with the soap. Maybe it should become interactive and become a soap where the fans get to vote and choose the story lines. I am also not opposed to them turning it into a one time a week night soap opera like Dallas. I truly believe James Scott, Ariana Zucker (sp) Eric Martsolf and the actors that play Kate, Kristen, Daniel, Chad, Maggie, and Victor have the skills to attract and retain an audience in primetime. Furthermore, all of the sexy men on Days would work well in primetime.
Comment by vickiharris1976 – January 7, 2013 06:29 AM PDT Reply To This Post
Given that NBC has a lot of problem areas in primetime (especially starting now from January to August when “Sunday Night Football” is out of season) that need fixing more urgently, as well as a myriad of issues with the “Today” show, those are probably among the few factors keeping “Days” afloat for now. Because let’s be honest- “Days” is beyond boring, the writing quality has gone sharply downhill since just after the Olympics break, and the ratings clearly reflect that- they’re awful.

IMO, it’s a major problem that the show films so far ahead (reportedly about 4 months). If/when storylines clearly aren’t working and even if changes are actually made in the writing stages, it will take at least as long as that for the changes to show up on camera. That’s much too long, causing tons of viewers to flee. The other remaining soaps (even the recently cancelled ones) only taped 5-6 weeks ahead. (“Days” filmed its 12,000th episode, airing this Friday 1/11, in late September!!)

From the outside, it seems hard to believe that NBC is actually making $$$ or at least breaking even on an show where the production values seem to be quite low. If the ratings drop any further (esp among 18-49 females), the budget will surely have to be cut even more. Do they really want to get to a point where “Days” needs to use even more newbies and switch to cheap, outdoor shooting a la “Guiding Light” toward the end (2008-09)? That would be an embarrassment and it’s certainly where it could be headed if things don’t pick up. Didn’t NBC/Comcast recently reportedly fire/lay off a bunch of crew members in LA, many of whom worked behind the scenes at “Days”? I wonder what kind of effect that will have, if any.

I’d like to believe Mr. Greenblatt, but I learned quite a while ago not to trust network executives when speaking out about a soap’s fate. They won’t state point blank that a show will be cancelled until they actually do it. (Remember ABC/Brian Frons stating two years ago that “AMC” and “OLTL” were both safe? I rest my case.) For “Days” fans, hopefully the show can get more time to pull out of this slump and pick up some steam, which it needs in the worst way.
Comment by Lee – January 7, 2013 06:49 AM PDT Reply To This Post
Good to hear that Days won’t be going away, especially if it means that we will finally get EJami together as a loving couple for awhile. They could be one of the most exciting provocative couples in daytime, and isn’t that what soaps are all about? Congrats, Days!
Comment by Gail – January 7, 2013 07:41 AM PDT Reply To This Post
DAYS hasn’t been officially renewed yet, there is something going on backstage. Maybe new writers?
Comment by Donnie – January 7, 2013 10:20 AM PDT Reply To This Post
- I wish we were getting new writers,
  I want Lucas and Sami
  EJ and Nicole
  Hope and Rafe,till Bo comes back
  Marlena and John
  Kate and Roman,just to piss off Sami
  bring the Horton’s back
  Comment by anna – January 7, 2013 01:24 PM PDT Reply To This Post
  - I want Sherri Anderson to come back as the writer. She wrote good stuff for Lumi and I bet she will not show favoritism towards couples or characters.
    Comment by Donnie – January 7, 2013 05:05 PM PDT Reply To This Post
  - Ej and Sami is a far more perspective, thank you
    Comment by anna – January 16, 2013 09:30 PM PDT Reply To This Post
    - exiting perspective i meant lol
      Comment by anna – January 16, 2013 09:31 PM PDT Reply To This Post
You know why Sami, Rafe and EJ are pictured instead of say Hope or Kate or Nicole? Because this show has become a recycled mess of “Ejami” and “Safe”. ENOUGH ALREADY! Most viewers (if not all) don’t care anymore! But, truth be told, DAYS really isnt as good as it used to be anymore. It seems like a shell of what it once was, I like the returns of Kristen and Eric, but the whole triangle mess, as well as the Nick/Gabi/Will crap they’ve got going on is awful. Killing off Jack was a HUGE mistake, and Bo leaving town was too.
Comment by Jimmy – January 7, 2013 02:01 PM PDT Reply To This Post
I have watched since I was a kid, almost 30 years. The show lacks the super couple love stories of the 80′s. Remember when it was so excited to see a wedding that was planned out for months? It seems like in the last 10 years, new couples are formed by bumping into each other at the town square or coffee house and within a few episodes they are in bed. Not to sound like Im living in the dark ages but it was the romance, the real love stories of the 80′s that got me hooked. Then add in a few bad guys, some board rooms, a college age crowd along with a few vets that make appearances for holidays and special events and that is the show. I would like to see some reality as well like someone get an illiness that isnt cured in a day, struggles with finding a job, and when someone moves they actually show them packing and having to sell a house.
As for the current show, they need to get rid of Roman, Abe, and Rafe. Have John, Marlena just come on for special events. I am a LUMI fan but I doubt that will happen, I actually think the 2 almost good love stories of the last 5 years have been Ari/Brady and Nicole/EJ. I just want to see the show continue. I can;t believe it does as bad in the ratings because I know so many people of multiple generations that watch. Most like myself let the episodes sit on the dvr for a few weeks until I get time to watch so I guess we don’t count in the ratings?
Comment by Ann – January 7, 2013 09:24 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- Totally disagree, Ej and Nicole were absolutely awful and Brady and Arianna totally boring, NEVER ever that PLEASE ! Even Sami and Rafe have had a better love story than these two pukeworthy ‘couples’
  Comment by julia – January 16, 2013 09:33 PM PDT Reply To This Post
If finally Ej and Sami have a real love story i will watch, otherwise don’t care, i watch prime time above all, most of the time daytime soaps are too corny but Ej and Sami are interesting characters and their dynamic on-screen is exiting.
Comment by pauline – January 16, 2013 09:37 PM PDT Reply To This Post
For the money they paid to have Nick, Kristen, Eric and Chloe and maybe Nancy her mother come back, why could they not have given Bo (Peter Reckell) the money he was asking for, to remain on the show seeing as how popular he is. How are they going to eventually take him out of the show? They can’t keep him mystery Bo forever. I do not believe I am the only viewer to really want him back. I can’t believe we will never see Bo Brady again. He and Hope have always brought a hopeful and forever love to the show. I too would love to see jack back though I know that is no longer possible, how sad on both characters. There always seems to be more bad guys than good ones but at least the good ones always seem to win in the end. The lesson is that lies always have a way of coming out, no matter how carefully planned, Gaby and Nick. Look at Nichole!!
Comment by pamamartin – January 17, 2013 04:24 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Bring back Sister Mary Moira and Susan hahahaha! I love Kristen!
Comment by Stephanie Thorn – January 27, 2013 12:16 PM PDT Reply To This Post
PLEASE get rid of KRISTEN..I can handle just about anything else. I would love to see Bo come back if you can give him the creativity he wants.
Comment by Corrine – March 5, 2013 08:32 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- I agree. Nix Kristen and bring on Bo. I am weary of the bad guys. I know conflict drives drama, but it’s getting rather ridiculous when there is not one couple who isn’t in trouble, well maybe with the exception of Maggie and Victor. I don’t care that much about Sami and EJ, can’t stand Brady and Kristen, Chloe couldn’t be more transparent, Daniel’s dense. I have to say, however, and I may be in the minority, I do like this Kate and Rafe twist. It seemed to happen so naturally, too, which is not our typical Days plot line.
  Comment by Susan – March 6, 2013 09:00 AM PDT Reply To This Post