Could Casting Shakeups Rock Days of Our Lives?

It’s hard to keep behind-the-scenes secrets on a show that tapes six months in advance and that’s something that Days of Our Lives has been dealing with ever since it switched to this schedule. Now comes word of even more cast changes and it may hit a certain fan base pretty hard.

Jason47’s Days Website is reporting that Billy Flynn (Chad) is back on contract, with Kate Mansi (Abby) on recurring. However, both Kassie DePaiva (Eve) and Brandon Barash (Stefan) are no longer with the show.

DePaiva has come and gone a lot over the past couple of years, so it could very well be a “so long for now” situation once again, but for Barash, whose status with the show has never been crystal clear, it could be a bit more tricky.

The actor was brought on to quickly replace Tyler Christopher, who originated the role, and the length of stay was never clear. It’s unknown if he only signed a short contract to buy DAYS time to write out the character or whether or not things simply didn’t end up working out between the actor and the show.

The sad thing is, fans have really taken to his character’s volatile romance with Gabi (Camila Banus). Their love/hate sexcapades have certainly earned them a place in the hearts of many fans and word that it is being dumped, along with a hard-working actor, may end up shooting the show in the foot, so to speak.

It’s hard to tell what is working and what isn’t when you’re working in a vacuum — a situation that shooting six months in advance tends to create. It doesn’t give the writers and producers the opportunity to learn what the audience likes or doesn’t like — and adjust accordingly. Of course, he could easily return in a few months, as other actors have done.

Both Jen Lilley (Theresa) and Alison Sweeney (Sami), who are hugely popular with fans, have returned to the show for short arcs and that seems to work for them and for the show’s writers. Could that be the case this time? Obviously, time will tell. Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for airtimes.