Ken Corday, executive producer, Days of our Lives, recently welcomed a cavalcade of actors past and present to the show’s set. DAYS is celebrating its upcoming 15,000th episode which will honor Doug Williams (played by the late Bill Hayes). Soap Hub was on the scene to get the scoop!
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“I look around, and I see people from 20, 30, even 40 years ago, and it’s just old home week,” Corday told a hundred or so cast, crew, staff, press, and invited guests at the show’s Burbank Studios. “It’s just the greatest way to celebrate the show.”
DAYS 15,000th episode will center on a memorial service for Doug Williams as the show will be writing in the death of his beloved portrayer, Bill Hayes. “I have to give kudos to Ron Carlivati [head writer], who wanted to do this momentous celebration on this show, this very important show,” the exec says, “and it couldn’t be more wonderful that we celebrate Bill’s life, Doug’s life in these shows, with all these wonderful people from the past.”
A previously reported original cast member, Maree Cheatham, is reprising her role as Marie, Julie’s aunt; Gloria Loria is coming back as Liz, who took over Doug’s Place when it was renamed Blondie’s.
“I won’t cry, but it’s daunting to stand here and have the privilege of thanking you all for doing such a wonderful job for so many years and having such a beautiful cast and crew and company,” Corday humbly added, “15,000 — the math is just incredible.”
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“A special thanks to Susan Hayes [Julie],” Corday added. “For touching all of us in a way that makes this genre work, that makes daytime drama work. This is the right way to do things. This [tribute show to Doug and Bill] will resonate a long time to come with our viewers. I thank you all so much.”
Later, Steve Kent, Senior Executive Vice President, Programming, Sonny PIctures Television, took to the podium and spoke. “I can lean over [and] talk loud,” the statuesque exec quipped. “You guys are a hard act to follow. I’ve been around here a for a while behind the scenes and on the set for a real long time.
“A lot of the people on this show I worked with [were with me] on Santa Barbara — Richard Bloore [costumer], many others,” Kent continued. “It’s really nice to be here. I’m honored. I’m honored to work with Ken Corday and Peacock and all of you because it really is a fantastic accomplishment.”
Kent said he recently viewed photos from a similar press event when the show celebrated other milestone anniversaries. “But the reason there’s 15,000, and why there’s gonna be 16,000 in four years, 23 days, 37 minutes, and 15 seconds…it’s because of all of you. The cast and the crew are what makes this show, what it is, and this is what [is bringing it] into the future. Thank you for everything you’ve done.”
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