“Days of Our Lives” fans who are worried that their favorite 57-year-old soap will be unrecognizable once written and made especially for Peacock will eventually air early next year, fear not. Daytime legend Deidre Hall assured fans, “We’re doing it exactly like we always have and we’ll keep doing it that way.”
As the old saying goes, the only thing you can count on is death and taxes. OK, and change. Add it to the list. And although “death” isn’t something you can talk soap operas about—Hall’s Dr. Marlena Evans has been presumed dead, but four times since she joined the show in 1976—it’s on NBC. A switch from the long run to NBCUniversal’s streaming service is the only change happening. Will it be a little more risky with language or story as it’s on cable now? Probably not, Hall told TheWrap.
“Our audience is not changing and we respect who they are and their sensibility. We are not going to be a program of openly sexual or hate speech. We are not going to do that; That’s not who we are, and it’s not who our audience is,” Hall said. “Our model has always been the multi-generational family, something that serves the topical, human interest and social interest. I think in those ways we are always family-oriented. We are always topical. Our listener, Ken Corday And our headwriter, Ron Carlivati, stays very ahead of the cutting edge.”
The show currently has in can, as they say, episodes that run through the end of the year. In fact, Days had already shot the Christmas episode on September 12 before Peacock jumped on it. Hence no change in writing style or story content will be seen till 2023. For many people, this kind of leap in streaming can be concerning, because, you know, that whole “change” thing, but it Is Where the industry is going, and “Days” is following the trend.
Hall finds that many potential viewers no longer even watch network TV. This is a fact that he and many TV viewers in general are understanding. “I was surprised that so many people are already on streaming,” Hall said. “I feel [soaps are] It’s a really important medium and I think it’s important for the audience. I’m glad we’re continuing at the level that works best for us.
“‘Days of Our Lives’ has always been a staple for audiences. I’ve said it before, but we’re there for you when no one comes to your house for Christmas. We’re there carving a turkey and chopping down a tree.” And we’re opening gifts. And we’re your family for that in the traditional sense. We’re relaxing, we’re company. We’re not just fun. We’re also very busy teaching lessons and giving examples.
When Hall was hired 46 years ago to play Marlena—a number she can’t believe—they weren’t looking for a long-term contract for her; 26 weeks only. But she immediately took off and became one of the most beloved characters not only in the history of “Days” but in the history of all soaps.
“It was quite surprising to me,” she said of the acceptance and love the audience felt. Although Marlena has gone through a lot of horrible things over the years – including demonic possession. twice! – She has always prevailed because of the strength of her character.
“She’s been a steady person over the years,” Hall said. “Through the horrible moments in her life, she’s still the person you can turn to and say, ‘You have to help me.’ And there she is. Many people comment that whoever they want to be with in a crisis is the one they can approach. ‘I know she’ll fix it. She’ll be able to. She’ll frankly me’ She will have compassion and understanding and empathy.’ So the character can only do as much as she does.”
The hall stopped. “It makes me so happy that we’re continuing.”
