Denise Alexander Interview Archive (2010, 2013)

Actress and longtime soap opera star Denise Alexander was beloved by fans for her portrayal of Lesley Webber on General Hospital and Susan Hunter Martin on Days of our Lives.  

Early in her career Alexander voiced characters on multiple radio soaps before making her Broadway debut in “The Children’s Hour”. On primetime television she made appearances on classics Father Knows Best, The Twilight Zone and The Danny Kaye Show. In the early 1960s she moved to daytime TV on the CBS soap The Clear Horizon.

She joined the cast of Days of our Lives in 1966 as Susan, where she rose to stardom during her seven-year run. She left Days in 1973 and joined the cast of General Hospital as Lesley to help give the ratings-challenged ABC soap a boost. Lesley fell for Rick Webber (Chris Robinson) and became entangled in a love triangle with rival Monica Bard (Leslie Charleson). Lesley also confessed to the murder of David Hamilton, a crime her daughter Laura (Genie Francis) committed. Her acting earned Alexander a Emmy nomination in 1976 for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series.

When storyline called for Lesley to be killed off in a car accident in 1984, fans became outraged. (Editor's Note: Alexander shared the what really happened back then, off the record).  It wasn’t until 12 years later in 1996 that it was revealed that Lesley was actually alive. In between the two soaps, Alexander appeared on NBC’s Another World as Mary McKinnon, working once again with Robinson during a portion of her three-year stint.  She last appeared on General Hospital in 2021.

Denise Alexander passed away in March at age 85, which led me to revisit the times we spoke (always by phone).  Below are my interviews with Alexander from 2010 and 2013 below.

First published in November 2010

ROGER NEWCOMB: You were involved in the industry when it was transitioning from radio to TV.
DENISE ALEXANDER: At the tail end of it. I got to do a little bit of everything.

Interview Revisited: Ellen Holly on the Early Years of 'One Life to Live'

We Love Soaps TV traveled to Westchester County, New York, in 2012 to speak with daytime television legend Ellen Holly about her storied career. In the never-before-released video below, Ms. Holly talks about the early years of ABC soap opera One Life to Live, which premiered in 1968 and featured her character, Carla.

'Beyond the Gates' Premieres February 24 on CBS

Upcoming CBS daytime drama Beyond the Gates, a set in a leafy Maryland suburb just outside of Washington, D.C., and in one the most affluent African American counties in the United States, premieres Monday, February 24, 2025 at 2pm ET/1pm PT on CBS.

Interview Revisited: Larkin Malloy on the Nelson Aspen 'Where Are They Now Tour' (2010)

Serial Scoop Now is back! Look for brand new content in the coming months as well as interviews from my personal archive. Some have been offline for years while others will include never before seen material. Kicking things off is a video interview from March 2010 with Emmy-nominated Edge of Night actor Larkin Malloy, who passed away in 2016. The interview was conducted by Nelson Aspen as part of his "Where Are They Now Tour" series for We Love Soaps.

Malloy, who came in at #45 on the We Love Soaps 50 Greatest Soap Actors of All Time list, played Sky Whitney on Edge of Night, Kyle Sampson on Guiding Light, Travis Montgomery on All My Children and Clay Alden on Loving. He also had a memorable guest run as Dr. Weston on As the World Turns.

The complete interview has been offline for a decade. Watch it below.

'Days of Our Lives' Announces "Day of Days" Fan Event to Celebrate Season 60

The stars of Peacock’s Days of our Lives will be back with fans at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 2 for the annual “Day of Days” fan event to celebrate the start of the 60th season of the beloved series.

Beginning at 10 a.m., the free event will offer Days of our Lives fans the opportunity to meet their favorite cast members in person, participate in autograph signings, photo ops, giveaways, a Q&A session with the cast, and so much more!

Peacock has some exciting surprises lined up in honor of the milestone season that fans definitely don’t want to miss. For the first time ever, in conjunction with Sony Pictures Consumer Products, there will be celebratory Days branded merchandise for sale.

Tamara Tunie, Daphnee Duplaix & Karla Mosley to Star in 'Beyond the Gates'

Tamara Tunie - Photo Credit: Emilio Madrid; Daphnee Duplaix - Photo Credit: Getty Images; Karla Mosley - Photo Credit: Karla Mosley

The first cast members for the upcoming CBS daytime soap opera BEYOND THE GATES have been revealed. Tamara Tunie, Daphnee Duplaix and Karla Mosley will star as prominent members of the Dupree family. Formerly known as “The Gates,” this series from the CBS Studios / NAACP Venture is the first Black one-hour daytime drama to air on television. BEYOND THE GATES begins production later this fall in Atlanta and will premiere on CBS in early 2025.

Tamara Tunie stars as Anita Dupree, matriarch of the family. A famous singer back in the day, Anita worked hard for her success, and raised two daughters with her now-retired senator husband. But underneath her glamorous and refined exterior is a fierceness she gained from her humble beginnings in Chicago. Tamara Tunie is a seasoned daytime star appearing on “As the World Turns” for many years. Also, she originated the role of medical examiner Dr. Melinda Warner with a now landmark 23 seasons on the legendary series “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” In addition, she has held recurring roles on shows including BLUE BLOODS, THE GOOD WIFE and ELEMENTARY for the Network.

CBS Announces New Daytime Soap Opera 'The Gates'

CBS has announced the series order for the new daytime drama THE GATES for broadcast on the Network in January 2025. The specific time period, launch date and other series details will be announced at later dates.

THE GATES follows the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community. Michele Val Jean, who has written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime dramas and won multiple Daytime Emmy and WGA Awards for her work on THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL and “General Hospital,” will serve as writer and showrunner. Val Jean will also be an executive producer alongside Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.

THE GATES was developed from the joint venture between CBS Studios and the NAACP. The series will be produced by the CBS Studios/NAACP venture in partnership with P&G Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble.

The CBS Studios production venture and development deal with the NAACP was established to help elevate a diverse range of voices as well as increase the visibility of Black artists on broadcast and streaming platforms in an ever-evolving media landscape.

UPDATE: The series will be called BEYOND THE GATES.

50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Nominations

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced the nominees for the 50th Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards.  The Daytime Emmy® Awards telecast will be presented live at 9 PM EDT (replay at 9 PM PDT) on Friday, June 16 on the CBS Television Network and streamed on Paramount+. The Daytime Creative Arts & Lifestyle Emmy® Awards will be presented on Saturday, June 17 and streamed on the NATAS OTT channel at Watch.TheEmmys.TV. The ceremonies will take place at the Westin Bonaventure Los Angeles.

“Today we not only honor this year’s outstanding programs and individuals, we mark a milestone in television history. Our golden anniversary celebrates the talented creators who have made the last 50 years of Daytime Television so unforgettable,” said Adam Sharp, President & CEO, NATAS. “Partnering with CBS for another two years, we look forward to a very special 50th Daytime Emmy® Awards this June.”

“In addition to this year’s many esteemed nominees, it is especially gratifying to also be celebrating so many milestones of Daytime television in our 50th anniversary year,”  said Brent Stanton, Head of Daytime, NATAS. “Not only are we celebrating 50 years of Daytime Emmy® Award programming,  we are also celebrating the milestones of some of its longest-running shows such as General Hospital, The Young and the Restless, Dr. Phil and Rachael Ray.”

'Beyond Salem: Chapter Two' Premieres July 11 on Peacock

In an epic, action-packed tale that spans the entire globe, from Monte Carlo to Hong Kong, beloved characters from Days of our Lives once again go “Beyond Salem!” as they trade the comforts of home for an adventure of a lifetime! Supercouple Steve and Kayla make a surprise visit to their children in Seattle, while private eye John Black travels to San Francisco to see his son, Paul. Meanwhile, new parents Ben and Ciara drop anchor in Montreal – where they are greeted by a much-missed Hope! Over the course of five thrilling episodes, heartwarming family reunions take a dangerous turn as a mysterious adversary wreaks havoc on their lives. The next chapter of DAYS OF OUR LIVES: BEYOND SALEM is story full of larger-than-life romance, jaw-dropping twists, and high-stakes drama – and it all connects back to a plot that long-time “DOOL” fans will surely remember.

The cast includes Kristian Alfonso as Hope Williams Brady, Peter Reckell as Bo Brady,Eileen Davidson as Kristen DiMera, Deidre Hall as Dr. Marlena Evans, Drake Hogestyn as John Black, Steve Burton as Harris Michaels, Stephen Nicholsas Steve “Patch” Johnson, Mary Beth Evans as Kayla Brady Johnson, Lucas Adams as Tripp Johnson, Camila Banus as Gabi Hernandez, Victoria Konefal as Ciara Brady, Robert Scott Wilson as Ben Weston, Loretta Devine as Angela, Vince Van Patten as Phil Hellworth, Tanner Stine as Joey Johnson, Christopher Sean as Paul Narita, Abigail Klein as Stephanie Johnson, Colton Little as Andrew Donovan, Victoria Grace as Wendy Shin, Remington Hoffman as Li Shin.

Watch a sneak peek below.

John Aniston to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Daytime Emmys

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced the dates, locations and Lifetime Achievement honorees for the 2022 Daytime, Daytime Creative Arts & Lifestyle, News & Documentary, and Children’s & Family Emmy® Award ceremonies.  The Academy had previously announced Lifetime Achievement honorees in Sports and Technology & Engineering but had postponed the presentation of those honors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All NATAS events are scheduled to return to being in-person this year following virtual ceremonies in 2020 and 2021.  

2022 will also see the launch of the Children’s & Family Emmy Award competition and ceremony — the first competition expansion since 1979 — as part of a previously announced realignment of the Daytime and Primetime Emmys.  These moves recognize a marked increase in children’s & family programming and submissions, and respond to changing viewer habits by prioritizing content genre over program scheduling.

The 2022 Lifetime Achievement honorees are:

• Yvette Kanouff (Television Technology & Engineering) A technology entrepreneur who has been involved in digital transformation worldwide for 25 years, Yvette Kanouff is an entrepreneur who has received numerous industry honors and awards throughout her career. In addition, she holds numerous patents andis an an active participant in industry organizations, standards bodies, and leading industry technology efforts.
  
  

• This Old House (Daytime Television) - The venerable home improvement series joins Sesame Street and 60 Minutes as the only programs — rather than individuals — to receive Lifetime Achievement awards from NATAS.  Like its peers in receiving this honor, This Old House has defined its genre and has become a television mainstay over the course of its 43-year run.
  
  

• John Aniston (Daytime Television) - John Aniston, who received a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 2017, has been a regular on the “Days of Our Lives” for more than 35 years, portraying the nefarious Victor Kiriakis.  Throughout the years, he has also amassed a robust theater resume both on-and-off-Broadway.
  
  

• Sir David Attenborough (Documentary Television)  - One of the world’s preeminent natural history documentarians, Sir David Attenborough is a multiple-time Emmy and BAFTA Award winner.  Attenborough’s Life collection, created with the BBC’s Natural History Unit, is an unparalleled look into the plants and animals of our planet.
  
  

• LeVar Burton (Children’s & Family Television) - The longtime literacy advocate and host of “Reading Rainbow,” who taught a generation about the joys of reading, has won more than 20 Emmy Awards.  Burton currently hosts his own podcast, ‘LeVar Burton Reads,’  and has a YouTube Series ‘This Is My Story’ which highlights racism in America.
  
  

• Lesley Visser (Sports Television) - Trailblazing sports journalist Lesley Visser, who is enshrined in six different halls of fame, is the most highly acclaimed female sportscaster of all time.  She is the only sportscaster, male or female, to have worked on the network broadcasts of the Final Four, the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the Olympics, the World Series, the Triple Crown, the World Figure Skating Championship and the US Open Tennis.
  
  

• Judy Woodruff (News Television) -  A news and political journalist for more than five decades, Judy Woodruff is the anchor and managing editor of the PBS NewsHour. She has served as Washington correspondent for NBC News and PBS and a senior correspondent for both CNN and PBS, and reported on every national political convention and presidential campaign since 1976.
  
  

“We look forward to honoring this year’s unparalleled class of Lifetime Achievement honorees — each an icon in their craft — and couldn’t be more excited to award the first-ever Children’s & Family Emmys,” said Adam Sharp, President & CEO, NATAS. “After two years of virtual ceremonies, we’re overjoyed to once again be together, in-person, to celebrate the best of television.” 

The 2022 NATAS awards calendar is as follows: 

The 73rd Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards

Held Monday, April 25 at the Wynn Encore, Las Vegas

Lifetime Achievement in Television Technology: Yvette Kanouff

Yvette Kanouff is a technology entrepreneur who has been actively involved in digital transformation worldwide for the past 25 years.  Currently, she is a partner at JC2 Ventures, helping global startups scale, grow, and create inclusive jobs for the digital future. She has held CTO and President roles at various companies in the cable and media industry and has focused on transformational technologies including video on demand, cloud DVR, CDN, virtualization and NFV, digital and on-demand advertising, streaming security and privacy, and new network architectures such as 5G. 

Kanouff has received numerous industry awards and honors including winning an Emmy for her work in Video on Demand with SeaChange,has been named one of the 11 most influential women in the Television industry and is consistently ranked as one of the top 100 industry executives.

Kanouff holds several patents, and is an active participant in industry organizations, standards bodies, and leading industry technology efforts including 5G, digitization, cloud, cybersecurity, media, and artificial intelligence. She began her career in digital signal processing and has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Mathematics from UCF. 

The 43rd Annual Sports Emmy Awards

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall, New York

Lifetime Achievement in Sports Television: Lesley Visser 

Lesley Visser is the most highly acclaimed female sportscaster of all time. In six Halls of Fame, she is often recognized as the “First” – the first woman enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame; the first woman to report from a Super Bowl sideline; the first woman to cover the NFL as a beat; the first and only woman to present the Championship Lombardi Trophy at the Super Bowl; the first female sportscaster to carry the Olympic Torch, the first woman on “Monday Night Football” and the first female NFL analyst in both Radio and TV. She is the only sportscaster, male or female, to have worked on the network broadcasts of the Final Four, the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the Olympics, the World Series, the Triple Crown, the World Figure Skating Championship and the US Open Tennis.

Visser’s career began at the Boston Globe in 1974 after she won a Carnegie Foundation Grant, given to only 20 women in the country who wanted to go into jobs that were 95% male.  Last Fall, In her 45th year in the business - 32nd at CBS - she launched "In Conversation with Lesley Visser" on SiriusXM. 

A graduate of Boston College, which awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in 2007, she served on the board of the V Foundation for Cancer Research for more than 20 years, while also serving on the board of NYU’s “Sports and Society”.  Visser has mentored young women for decades, while speaking at colleges and businesses around the world.

The 49th Annual Daytime Creative Arts & Lifestyle Emmy Awards

Saturday, June 18, 2022 

Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena

Lifetime Achievement in Daytime Television: “This Old House”

When “This Old House” first premiered in 1979 as a one-time, 13-part local public television series, it wasn’t just a new show.  It represented a new idea of what television could be.  The premise was radically simple: to show viewers the entire process of renovating a home, preserving its heritage and giving it new life.  On this new show, expert tradespeople spoke for themselves, teaching viewers the tricks of their trade.  The series was an immediate hit and it soon produced spin-offs such as The New Yankee Workshop and its current sister show, Ask This Old House.

What started as a home renovation project ultimately launched a new television genre.  Now in its 43rd season, the mission of This Old House remains unchanged and it continues to be one of the highest-rated home improvement programs on television.

The 49th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards

Friday, June 24, 2022

Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, CA 

Lifetime Achievement in Daytime Television: John Aniston

John Aniston, who received a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 2017, has been a regular on the “Days of Our Lives” for more than 35 years, portraying the nefarious Victor Kiriakis.

Prior to becoming one of the most prolific actors in Daytime, Aniston was born on the island of Crete, Greece and came to America at the age of two,  He graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor’s degree in theater arts before serving in the US Navy as an intelligence officer on active duty in Panama.  He later attained the rank of lieutenant commander before transitioning to acting in 1962.

Aniston’s acting career started on the New York stage in the original production of the hit musical Little Mary Sunshine. He has since appeared in many theatrical productions both on and off-Broadway, as well as in regional and stock productions, including Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.

The 43rd Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards

Wednesday, September 28, 2022 (News)

Thursday, September 29, 2022 (Documentary) 

Palladium Times Square, New York

Lifetime Achievement in Television News: Judy Woodruff 

Broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff is the anchor and managing editor of the PBS NewsHour. She has covered politics and other news for five decades at NBC, CNN and PBS.

Woodruff began her career in 1970 as a local TV news reporter at WAGA in Atlanta.  She has served as Washington correspondent for NBC News and PBS and a senior correspondent for both CNN and PBS.  In addition, she has reported on every national political convention and presidential campaign since 1976, moderated numerous presidential primary debates and one vice presidential debate, and has interviewed countless politicians and heads of state. 

A recipient of more than 25 honorary degrees, Woodruff is a founding co-chair of the International Women’s Media Foundation, dedicated to promoting and encouraging women in journalism and communication industries worldwide. She serves on the boards of trustee of the Freedom Forum, The Duke Endowment and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and is a director of Public Radio International and the National Association to End Homelessness. She is a former member of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, a former director of the National Museum of American History and a former trustee of the Urban Institute.

Lifetime Achievement in Documentary Television: Sir David Attenborough 

For more than 60 years, David Attenborough has been one of the world’s leading natural history filmmakers, making landmark series including Life on Earth, The Blue Planet and Planet Earth, seen by billions of people across the world. His extraordinary career has spanned black and white, colour, HD, AR, 3D formats, and his films have won multiple Emmys and BAFTA awards.

 

Attenborough joined the BBC in 1952 and, within several years, created his acclaimed Zoo Quest series - filming wild animals in their natural habitat. By 1965, he became Controller of BBC2 and responsible for the introduction of color television into Britain. In 1973, he left BBC senior management to return to program-making. The internationally acclaimed, thirteen-part series Life On Earth was the most ambitious series that had ever been produced by the BBC’s Natural History Unit, and created the famous ‘landmark’ format that continues to make the Natural History Unit world renowned to this day. 

 

Attenborough won the Emmy for Outstanding Narration for both Seven Worlds and Our Planet. Additionally, he narrated The Year the Earth Changed for Apple TV+, its highest-rated unscripted show for 2021, and will be narrating the platform's upcoming series Prehistoric Planet. Other narrations include The Mating Game, Dynasties II and Frozen Planet II.

 

Throughout the 1990s and 2000’s, Attenborough presented natural history series to huge global audiences, including The Trials of Life (1990), The Private Life of Plants (1995), and The Life of Birds (1998), The Blue Planet (2000), Planet Earth (2006), Life (2009), Africa (2013) and Life Story (2014).  Attenborough has presented the four-time BAFTA and two-time Emmy award-winning series Planet Earth II (2016) along with Emmy award winning series Blue Planet II, (2017). In November 2021, he appeared in Glasgow at the COP26 climate summit for the premiere of The Green Planet and to address world leaders on the need to address climate change in his role as "People's Advocate."

 

In April 2022, Attenborough was named as ‘Champion of the Earth’ by the UN’s Environment Programme (UNEP) which is the highest recognition from the United Nations for his commitment to telling stories about climate change and the natural world.

The 1st Annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards

Sunday, December 11, 2022

Wilshire Ebell Theater, Los Angeles

Lifetime Achievement for Children’s & Family: LeVar Burton 

Actor, director and educator LeVar Burton has taught multiple generations of children about the joys of reading.  Burton, whose decades-long body of work includes Roots, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Reading Rainbow, was recently cast in Season 3 of Star Trek: Picard (Paramount+). LeVar has been honored with 13 Emmy Awards, 3 NAACP Awards, a Grammy Award for Spoken Word Album, a Peabody Award, the Fred Rogers Award, the Inamori Prize for Ethics in Entertainment, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  The City of Sacramento dedicated LeVar Burton Park in his honor and President Bill Clinton appointed LeVar as Commissioner of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Sciences.  LeVar is the award-winning author of The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm, A Kids Book About Imagination, and his Grammy Nominated book, Aftermath. His podcast, LeVar Burton Reads, has been downloaded more than 25 million times. Most recently, LeVar launched the LeVar Burton Book Club via the Fable app, who are currently reading Roots in honor of the 45th anniversary.

About NATAS

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) is a service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational, and technical achievements within the television industry. It recognizes excellence in television with the coveted Emmy Awards for News & Documentary, Sports, Daytime, and Children’s & Family programming, as well as achievements in television Technology & Engineering.

NATAS membership consists of more than 18,000 broadcast and media professionals represented in 19 regional chapters across the country. Beyond awards, NATAS has extensive educational programs including regional student television and its Student Award for Excellence and the National Student Production Awards for outstanding journalistic work by high school students, as well as scholarships, publications, and major activities for both industry professionals and the viewing public.

'Days of Our Lives' Livestream Event on September 8 Promotes 'Beyond Salem'

To celebrate the premiere of the Peacock Original limited series, Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem, Xfinity and Peacock today announced an exclusive Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem livestream event only for Xfinity Reward Members.

The event reunites an all-star cast including Lisa Rinna, Deidre Hall, Drake Hogestyn, James Reynolds, and Eileen Davidson on Wednesday, Sept. 8th at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT. Viewers will enjoy a conversation with the stars - giving fans a chance to view exclusive content, hear stories from the set, and even have the chance to ask their favorite stars questions.

This special event is only for Xfinity Rewards members and is just one of the many benefits available through the Xfinity Rewards program. If you’re not yet a member of Xfinity Rewards, signing up is free and simple to do through the Xfinity app or online at Xfinity.com/rewards. From there, members can view and redeem all rewards currently available to them.

“Xfinity Rewards is all about creating unique experiences that only Comcast NBCUniversal can make possible, said Pooja Kapadia, Vice President, Customer Marketing and Loyalty. We’re thrilled to be able to bring together Xfinity, Peacock, and the team at Days of Our Lives, to create this fun and memorable event for our customers.”

The Peacock Original limited-series DAYS OF OUR LIVES: BEYOND SALEM begins streaming Monday, Sept. 6th on Peacock. New episodes will drop daily culminating with the limited series finale on Friday, Sept. 10th. All episodes will be available to stream for free. New episodes of Days of our Lives air weekdays on NBC and are available to stream exclusively on Peacock for free.

'Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem' Trailer Released, Spoilers Revealed

Peacock released the official trailer for Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem in anticipation of the weeklong special event beginning Monday, September 6. New episodes will drop daily culminating with the limited series finale on Friday, September 10. All episodes will be available to stream for free.

The trailer revealed Charles Shaughnessy's epic reprisal as Shane Donovan. Shaughnessy became widely known for playing the character on Days of our Lives from 1984 to 1992.

Jackie Cox (RuPaul's Drag Race), the iconic Canadian drag queen famously known for her Lisa Rinna impersonation, will also guest star in the limited series.

Over a long weekend, John and Marlena travel to Zurich, Ben and Ciara have a romantic getaway in New Orleans, Chad visits some old friends in Phoenix, and Abe, Paulina, Lani, and Eli vacation in Miami. All find themselves embroiled in a mystery involving stolen jewels which, in the wrong hands, could cause dire consequences for Salem. It’s a race against time for ISA agent Billie Reed as she crosses the globe in search of this missing treasure. Packed with all of the romance, action, drama, and surprises that only “Days of our Lives” can deliver, fans will spend a week with their favorite Salem supercouples and reconnect with many familiar faces along the way.

The original Days of our Lives limited series brings past and present residents including Lisa Rinna as Billie Reed, Deidre Hall as Dr. Marlena Evans, Drake Hogestyn as John Black, Jackée Harry as Paulina Price, James Reynolds as Abe Carver, Victoria Konefal as Ciara Brady, Robert Scott Wilson as Ben Weston, Billy Flynn as Chad DiMera, Lamon Archey as Eli Grant and Sal Stowers as Lani Price. Eileen Davidson is also set to appear.

Watch the trailer below.



Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem also brings along Thaao Penghlis as Tony DiMera, Leann Hunley as Anna DiMera, Christie Clark as Carrie Brady, Austin Peck as Austin Reed, Greg Rikaart as Leo Stark, Chandler Massey as Will Horton, Zachary Atticus Tinker as Sonny Kiriakis and Peter Porte as Kyle Graham for the hunt of stolen jewels across the globe.

Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem is produced by Corday Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television. Ken Corday is the executive producer with co-executive producer Albert Alarr. Ron Carlivati serves as head writer.

New episodes of Days of our Lives air weekdays on NBC and are available to stream exclusively on Peacock for free.

Mentoring Yourself

In 1983, sometime around my 20th birthday, I met “The Queen of Daytime Television,” soap opera star Mary Stuart. I was a young aspiring actor living in NYC and she was the grande dame of TV’s longest running serial drama, Search for Tomorrow. I landed some extra work on the show that eventually evolved into a small part and I was so besotted with the medium itself that I took on side work in the production office…not only to earn a living, but to be around the excitement of the daily inner workings of the show. I floated between the writing, casting and executive offices learning all aspects of what goes on “behind the scenes.” Mary took notice of my skills on both sides of the camera and offered me yet another side gig: she would give me personal acting coaching in exchange for helping her answer her fan mail and type up the edits of a new play she was writing. How could I refuse!?

Mary was not only an esteemed and groundbreaking TV star, she was a fine actress, having graduated from a Hollywood career in B-movies to being a co-creator and main character of television's very first successful soap opera. Search for Tomorrow, debuted in 1951 and Mary was there from Day One, creating a whole new form of storytelling that continues to this day. She was very famous (my grandmother indoctrinated me to the world of soaps and Mary was, of course, her favorite star; I’d grown up watching the trials and tribulations of her long suffering character, Joanne) and also an accomplished author, singer and songwriter.

Melody Thomas Scott Memoir 'Always Young And Restless' Out This Summer

Emmy Award-nominated Melody Thomas Scott admits she is nothing like her The Young and the Restless role, which has seen it all in her forty-one-year tenure on America’s highest-rated daytime serial. But the high drama, angst, and catastrophes aren’t confined to her character’s plotlines. In her first-ever book, the captivating memoir "Always Young And Restless" (Diversion Books; July 14, 2020, available for pre-order now; $26.99, Hardcover; ISBN 978-1635-766943), Melody reveals the intimate and complicated truths of her upbringing as well as behind-the-scenes tales of her own riveting journey to becoming an icon and searching for “normal.”

“Even though I have spent almost my entire life as an actress and performer, I have kept my private life well behind the scenes,” said Scott. “Now, I am ready to share these stories of survival and success that have shaped me into who I am today.”

As Nikki Newman went from impoverished stripper to resourceful, vivacious heroine—with missteps as gripping as her triumphs—Melody became a household name, enthralling audiences across the globe. But her road to stardom also had to be one to freedom marked by an escape fit for cinema. In "Always Young and Restless," Melody tells of her troubled, untraditional upbringing for the first time.

Readers will learn how she suffered at home with her grandmother, a compulsive hoarder whose cruelty as her guardian is shockingly extreme; abuse at the hands of industry men; the intensity of acting in feature films with Alfred Hitchcock and Clint Eastwood; and how she finally took control of her life and career, in a getaway move as daring as any on The Young and the Restless. And of course, Melody divulges more than forty years’ worth of juicy on-and-off-set details of what it’s like to be one-half of the show’s most successful supercouple, “Niktor,” plus her personal path to healing, love, and family. In witty, warm prose, meet the shining, persevering heart of an American icon—and prepare to be moved by a life story fit for a soap opera star.

Trailer Released for Jillian Clare's 'To The Beat! Back 2 School'

Vision Films will release To The Beat! Back 2 School, the second film from director and actress, Jillian Clare (Victorious: Freak The Freak Out, Days of our Lives, Pretty Broken) on all major VOD platforms and DVD on March 10, 2020. To The Beat! Back 2 School is the sequel to the hit teen comedy To The Beat!, released in 2018 from Leonian Pictures and Clare's Whimsical Entertainment.

In the highly anticipated sequel, the popular teen cast goes back to their performing arts school following spring break to compete for an all-expense paid summer scholarship program to a prestigious conservatory of fine arts. Friendships and feuds continue as sisterhood is tested, new bonds are formed, and rivalries heat up leading to a drama-filled evening at the epic 80’s Spring Fling where a major scheme shuts down the party and jeopardizes the upcoming end-of-year showcase.

"I'm honored and so excited to be one of very few women who have directed both the original and sequel in a film series," Clare says. "I've been able to grow so much as a director with these films and they hold a special place in my heart. Fans have patiently waited for this sequel and they won’t be disappointed."

The film reunites Laura Krystine and Brisa Lalich as twin sisters Mackie and Mia, with Jayden Bartels starring as their frenemy, Avery.

Soap opera fans will recognize a number of familiar faces in the film, including Clare, Days of our Lives stars Martha Madison, Eric Martsolf (Michael) and Marie Wilson (Camila), and former General Hospital actress Lilly Melgar.

Check out the newly released To The Beat! Back 2 School trailer below.

'Days of our Lives' Officially Renewed for 56th Season

Days of our Lives,the longest running series on NBC, has been renewed for a record 56th season.

“Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.”

Those words, which have drawn millions of eager viewers to their television sets for six decades, will remain a high point of the broadcast day with today’s renewal announcement of the multi-Daytime Emmy Award-winning series.

“From our incredibly loyal fan base to our wonderful writers, cast and crew, the enthusiasm for Days never wavers,” said Bruce Evans, Executive Vice President, Current Programming, NBC Entertainment. “We’re incredibly thrilled to bring viewers another season of a show that has cemented its place in television history and touches all generations.”

'The Young and the Restless' Renewed Through 2023-20-2024 Season

The Young and the Restless, the most-watched and highest-rated daytime drama for the last 31+ years has been renewed for four more years, through the 2023-2024 broadcast season. The renewal will officially see the series celebrating its 50th birthday.

“Having the #1 show for any length of time in any daypart is a tremendous accomplishment,” said Kelly Kahl, President, CBS Entertainment. “But The Young and the Restless has been daytime’s top drama for over three decades. The last time any other show was on top, Ronald Reagan was president and the Berlin Wall was still standing. It’s a remarkable achievement and a testament to the extraordinary cast, gifted writers, talented producers, and supremely passionate fans, as well as our tremendous partnership with Sony Pictures Television.”

Carolyn Hennesy Shares Holiday Plans & Memories, Will Perform with Nelson Aspen in January Show in L.A.

Hi, Serial Scoop! You guys gave me such kind coverage after the October premiere of my new cabaret offering, "A Showbiz Scrapbook" at NYC's beautiful GreenRoom 42, I wanted to alert you to its upcoming engagement at Hollywood's crazy-popular theatrical venue, Rockwell Table & Stage. As an entertainment reporter, I spend a lot of time in LA during Awards season, so I was keen to schedule this performance for Thursday, January 30...right in between my coverage of the Grammys and the Oscars.

As many of you may already know, given my own long history in daytime TV, I often welcome stars of the genre to join me onstage for special interactive performances. These have included talented folks like Anita Gillette, Shelly Burch, Ilene Kristen and Monica Horan. For January, I'm excited to tell you it will be one of my very favorite soap opera scene stealers: the lovely Emmy and Indie Series Award winning Carolyn Hennesy....known to millions of General Hospital fans as lawyer Diane Miller. I first noticed Carolyn guest starring on an episode of Reba and was smitten. She's one of the main reasons GH is on my DVR! I've gotten to learn so much about her life away from Port Charles: she's a New York Times best-selling author, passionate advocate for animals, and a trapeze artist. Now THAT is a multi-hyphenate!

From my own years in Soap Land (working at Search for Tomorrow, Another World and One Life to Live), Christmas was always a favorite time of year. It started weeks in advance for us, since we were shooting ahead...and the studio holiday parties of the 1980s were the stuff of legend! My mentor, Mary Stuart (Search for Tomorrow's Jo and Guiding Light's Meta), celebrated the season like no one I'd ever met before or since, and her influence remains forever inside me at this festive time of the year.

So in honor of the Yuletide, here's a little Q&A I had with Carolyn for you to enjoy.

What have you got planned for this holiday season?
Heading to Zurich before Christmas to see Sabrina Kern (co-star, St. Agatha) in the Swiss national musical. Then home to hibernate over the holiday with family and friends.

'Days of our Lives': Last Blast Reunion Sneak Peek

Episode 3 of Days of our Lives: The Digital Series' "Last Blast Reunion" will stream this Thursday. Check out a sneak peek video below.

Daytime Emmy Awards Divided into Three-Night Event

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) announced today that the 47th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be divided into three awards shows on Friday, June 12, 2020, Saturday, June 13th, 2020 and Sunday, June 14th, 2020.

"We are thrilled to add a third night of celebrating the diversity and talents of our Daytime community," says NATAS President/CEO, Adam Sharp. Adding, "We have seen how the Television Academy's expansion of the Primetime Creative Arts ceremonies has made room for more honorees to have their well-earned moment in the sun, and we hope to replicate their success."

All events/shows will take place in Pasadena, California. Categories to be presented at each program to be determined and announced at a future date.