The reports of Days of our Lives' death have turned out to be greatly exaggerated.
Days of our Lives' executive producer Ken Corday delivered the news on set today that the long-running soap, created by his parents, Ted and Betty Corday, has gotten a one-year renewal that will keep it on the air until September 2021.
The news, which insiders say was widely expected, comes just a little more than a week after an online article created a deluge of mainstream media reports that the show was being canceled.
On November 12, word leaked that the entire cast of Days of our Lives had been released from their contracts. The move was a cost-cutting measure in advance of an indefinite hiatus for the NBC soap that had already filmed episodes that won't air until the summer of 2020. What was not initially reported was that the cast had already been told that they'd be taking an open-ended break from the show.
Days of our Lives trended on Twitter for hours following the report, and several of the show's stars took to social media to label the cancellation stories as "B.S." You can read some of those accounts here.
Though an exact date has not officially been announced, Soap Central has learned that production could resume as early as January, with some of the crew already receiving their work schedules. Meanwhile, DAYS will continue to shoot new episodes for about another week. Those episodes won't hit the airwaves until August 2020.
If it seems like the renewal came at an odd time, you're not mistaken. Days of our Lives' renewal has typically come in January. The fallout from the cast release rumors more than likely added a sense of urgency to the negotiations.
Soap Central has reached out to DAYS and NBC for comment on the renewal.
Days of our Lives has broadcast more than 13,700 episodes since it premiered as a 30-minute soap back in 1965. The soap has been named Outstanding Drama Series by the Daytime Emmys four times and has garnered multiple People's Choice Awards and GLAAD Media Awards.
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