Days of Our Lives’ Fate Decided: Read Peacock’s Statement
Wednesday, March 15th, 2023
How much longer will the sands be flowing through the hourglass?
It’s good news for the residents of Salem — not to mention those of us who spend time with them every day: the long-running soap has officially been renewed for two more years.
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Sadly, the show’s fate wasn’t necessarily a given. Sure, it’s been airing for over five decades, but if there’s one thing soap fans have learned, the future is not certain. And where Days of Our Lives is concerned, many feared that the show’s move from NBC to the Peacock streaming service might translate into the show being on its last legs.
But as it turns out, viewers did follow the show to its new home. In fact, Peacock says that the soap has “consistently been a top 10 title” since it relocated.
More: Steve Burton on his return to Days and his past at GH
“Following its move to Peacock last September,” the streaming service said in a press release, “Days of Our Lives has been picked up for an additional two seasons. The latest renewal for the venerable soap will take one of television’s most iconic and trailblazing [dramas] through its 60th season.”
The news comes as several shows are approaching major milestones. The Young and the Restless will mark its 50th year on CBS (having first aired on March 26, 1973), while ABC’s General Hospital is ramping up to celebrate its 60th anniversary on April 1.
More: A Days actor in a role like nothing they’ve done before
While many predicted moving to Peacock would spell the soap’s doom, it is perhaps not surprising that the opposite has proven true. This is not exactly the first time Days of Our Lives has managed to defy the odds. When first it began airing, the then-30-minute soap was a ratings disaster… and it remained so for several years, seeming to live on the verge of cancellation.
Until, that is, a name very familiar to soap fans stepped in as headwriter: William J. Bell. He took the reigns in 1966 and set about trying to breath new life into the ailing series. “It needed help,” he said during an interview with the Television Academy. “It needed revamping!” So successful and popular were his resulting stories that Corday Productions actually sued to prevent him from leaving to create another show. (Of course, he would later go on to co-create with wife Lee Phillip Bell The Young and the Restless.)
By the 80s, Days of Our Lives had become a show which vacillated wildly between traditional, romantic storylines and those which were a bit more outlandish… especially once the villainess Stefano DiMera entered the picture in 1982.
More recently, the spin-off series Beyond Salem (and its sequel, Beyond Salem: Chapter Two) aired on Peacock, laying the groundwork for the show from which they sprung to follow suit. In fact, headwriter Ron Carlivati recently told Soap Opera Digest that the currently unfolding Bo/Hope story was originally conceived as the third chapter of Beyond Salem.
“The reason Marlena and Kayla and Kate were sort of in limbo for a few weeks in heaven/purgatory is because we were stalling,” the scribe admitted, “because we did not have an answer about whether we were doing [another] Beyond Salem. I personally loved the little interim arc in heaven. I thought that was super-fun. But it was kind of a pit stop on the way to them being in this mysterious lab, in these cryogenic tubes.”
While there’s still no word on whether another edition of Beyond Salem might be on tap — or perhaps another holiday movie in the veins of Days of Our Lives: A Very Salem Christmas — viewers can at least rest easy knowing that for the next two years, the sand will, indeed, continue to flow through the hourglass.
Days of Our Lives now exclusively airs on Peacock. To make sure you never miss an episode, subscribe to Peacock. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
Relive every spectacular storyline, romance and twist of this iconic soap’s history in the photo-packed gallery below.
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Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>… and for decades, these were the two that it took: the late Frances Reid and MacDonald Carey as Alice and Tom Horton.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Never mind how it ended <em>and</em> ended <em>and</em> ended again between these two; this is the way we like to remember Hope Williams (Kristian Alfonso) and Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) — as happy as they were on the day of their first wedding.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>… or was it just the early days in the romance of Carrie Brady (Christie Clark) and Austin Reed (Patrick Muldoon)? Nothing, it seemed, could come between them. Nothing <em>except</em>…</p>
Image: Gary Null/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>New Austin — Austin Peck — same old chemistry. Whew.</p>
Image: Columbia Tristar/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In 1966, Diane Hunter (Coleen Gray) did her best to assure daughter Susan (Denise Alexander) that bows were <em>sure</em> to come back in fashion. One day. Maybe.</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
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<p>All Lucas Roberts (Bryan R. Dattilo) is missing in this late-1990s portrait is the other members of his dreamy boy band.</p>
Image: Columbia Tristar/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Nothing could stand in the way of Joshua Fallon (Scott Palmer) marrying Jessica Fallon (Jean Bruce Scott). Well, unless you count her relationship with the Salem Strangler and her alternate personality.</p>
Image: Jonathan Exley/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In 1992, Robert Kelker-Kelly wasn’t just a new beau for Dr. Carly Manning (Crystal Chappell), he was a new Bo Brady for us all.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
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<p>Eh, it was really more of a crowd for a jealous Ben Weston (Robert Scott Wilson), girlfriend Abigail Deveraux (then Kate Mansi) and her true love, Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn), in 2015.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Looking back, gamblin’ man Neil Curtis (Joe Gallison) and sad songstress Liz Chandler (Gloria Loring) probably would’ve been better off as strangers.</p>
Image: Dana Fineman/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>If only the late, great Joseph Mascolo’s Stefano DiMera could rise yet again…</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In the mid-1970s, David Banning (Richard Guthrie) and Valerie Grant (then Tina Andrews) — aka Eli Grant’s parents — became <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ first interracial couple.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>In 2004, Mickey Horton (the late John Ingle) was torn between naughty Bonnie Lockhart (Judi Evans) and nice wife Maggie (Suzanne Rogers).</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Billie Reed (Lisa Rinna) and Bo (Kelker-Kelly here) were as fond of one another as <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/gallery/real-life-soap-scandals-photos/" target="_blank">their portrayers infamously weren’t</a>.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Sister Mary Moira was but <em>one</em> of the secondary characters that former headwriter James E. Reilly created for <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ original Kristen DiMera, Eileen Davidson.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Nothin’ to see here. Just Hope and Bo (Reckell again) sharing a warm moment while chilling in 1996.</p>
Image: Jesse Grant/JPI
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<p>In 2003, somebody just needed to tell Belle Black (Kirsten Storms; now Maxie, <em>General Hospital</em>), Cassie Brady (Alexis Thorpe), Rex Brady (Eric Winter) and Mimi Lockhart (Farah Faith) that the camera was over here. Over <em>here</em>, kids.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>There’s really no other way to describe the tortured relationship between Carly and Lawrence Alamain (Michael Sabatino, who married his leading lady in 1997).</p>
Image: Dave Bjerke/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Well, at least Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney) was happy anytime she and Austin (Peck here) were together. He, on the other hand, was generally ambivalent. At <em>best</em>. Maybe it shows?</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Despite his checkered past and despite how brightly her halo glowed, Jack Deveraux (Matthew Ashford) and Jennifer Horton (Melissa Reeves) discovered that they were perfect for one another.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>They say that when couples have been together for a while, they start to look alike. Or is it <em>dress</em> alike? Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes) and husband Doug (real-life spouse Bill Hayes) might be able to shed some light on this subject.</p>
Image: Paul Skipper/JPI
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<p>For some reason, EJ DiMera (James Scott) and sometime missus Sami looked as if we were interrupting them during this 2006 bedroom shoot. We’ll just let ourselves out…</p>
Image: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>John Black (Drake Hogestyn) turns his bedroom eyes up to “seduce.”</p>
Image: Columbia Tristar/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In 1986, sometime stripper Pete Jannings (Michael Leon) married Melissa Horton (Lisa Trusel) in a double-wedding ceremony with her adoptive parents, Mickey (then the late John Clarke) and Maggie.</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
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<p>Shawn Brady (then Jason Cook) and Belle (then Storms) were just whippersnappers when they fell in love.</p>
Image: Doug Piburn/JPI
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<p>Hey, how come when Shawn and Belle grew up — and began being played by Brandon Beemer and Martha Madison — they remained just as pretty as they always were? That hardly seems fair.</p>
Image: Chris Haston/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Lucas would stop at nothing to prove to people that there was nothing up his sleeve. Including eschewing sleeves altogether.</p>
Image: Chris Haston/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Sure, they were troublemakers to the core, but Vivian Alamain (Louise Sorel) and Victor Kiriakis (John Aniston) certainly showed us a devil of a good time.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In an early publicity shot, Reid strikes such a pensive pose, you’d swear she was auditioning for <em>Dark Shadows</em>.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
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<p>In 2015, Chad, Stefano and Tony — or was that André (Thaao Penghlis, either way)? — managed to fit three generatuons of DiMeras into one frame.</p>
Image: Chris Haston/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>We get why the Bradys — Shawn (the late Frank Parker) and Caroline (the late Peggy McCay) — would be together in this 1996 promotional photo. But sweet Maggie and the dastardly Stefano? Mystifying.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Tom tried to reach Susan, but her troubles were usually so great, even his wise words couldn’t help. She was probably daydreaming about her old bows. “They’re coming back in style,” she told herself.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Abe Carver (James Reynolds) made the last days of lost love Lexie (Renée Jones) ones that she — and “oui” — would always remember.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Unless you know Mark Valley, who spelled usual portrayer Ashford in the role from 1994-97. Then OK, you <em>might</em> know Jack. (Don’t get us started on Steve Wilder, though.)</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Doug gave only the subtlest of signs to gold digger Lee DuMonde (the late Brenda Benet) that was he was <em>slightly</em> more into Julie. Do ya think she noticed?</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>There would be no pulling focus from Lucas in 1999. Not at <em>this</em> photo shoot, anyhow.</p>
Image: Gary Null/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p><em>Days of Our Lives</em> vet Alfonso may have left the building, but we’ll always have our memories of her iconic character. And also amazing images like this one. What <em>was</em> up there? Cobweb? Good lighting? We can’t help but wonder.</p>
Image: Paul Skipper/JPI
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<p>Given the history between Sami, Austin (Peck here, as if you didn’t know), Lucas and Carrie, this <em>had</em> to be one of the more fraught double dates in history.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>When John married Isabella Toscano (Staci Greason) in 1992, he thought that it was for keeps. If only, pal. If only.</p>
Image: Gary Null/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>If this wasn’t Jack and Jennifer’s engagement photo, it should’ve been. For real, yo.</p>
Image: Sean Smith/JPI
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<p>As this 2013 scene shot suggests, mercurial Kristen (original flavor Davidson) had a tendency to go off half-cocked.</p>
Image: Dick Zimmerman/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>So frosty a presence is Vivian that she gives herself the chills even in a sweater. Now <em>that’s</em> cold.</p>
Image: Alice S. Hall/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Austin (Peck again) and half-sibling rival Lucas never failed to make a splash when they tried dipping into the same dating pool a, um, <em>toe</em>.</p>
Image: Columbia Tristar/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>After solving the Salem Stalker case, Roman Brady (then Wayne Northrop) made a missus of Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) in 1983.</p>
Image: Gary Null/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In the early 1990s, Kelker-Kelly’s do-gooder had it bad for both Hope and Billie. Can ya blame him?</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>By 2018, Ben had totally sold <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ audience on his feelings for Ciara Brady (Victoria Konefal).</p>
Image: Jesse Grant/JPI
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<p>Unbeknownst to them, back in 2001, Philip Kiriakis (Jay Kenneth Johnson), Chloe Lane (Nadia Bjorlin), Shawn Brady (Cook) and Belle (Storms) were <em>actually</em> looking at seaweed; they’d been in the sun for a long time.</p>
Image: Gary Null/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In 1995, Marlena ran afoul of a demon that was even more troublesome than Kristen. Maybe you heard a little something about it?</p>
Image: Gary Null/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Foolishly, the first doctor who treated Marlena for possession had just prescribed Visine.</p>
Image: Gary Null/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In the grip of an otherworldly fiend, Marlena seemed seriously opposed to letting John — or <em>anyone</em> — borrow her office supplies.</p>
Image: Gary Null/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
51/110
<p>We’d love to say that we didn’t know what possessed her. But c’mon, we knew. We <em>all</em> knew.</p>
Image: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>In the end, Kristen (still Davidson) didn’t have a prayer of holding onto John.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>“Her!” cried Kristen. “There are too many pictures of her and her damn possession in this photo album!” Fine. We’ll move on.</p>
Image: Curt Gunther/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Nope. This is just about normal for Doug and Julie. They dance cheek to cheek even when standing still.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Dr. Mike Horton (Roark Critchlow) did the near-impossible: He made us forget that we always thought that Austin was endgame for Carrie.</p>
Image: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>But then Austin (pec again… er <em>Peck</em>) would show up looking like this, and all bets would be off.</p>
Image: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Ultimately, Austin (you know which one) just kept taking clothes off until Carrie said, “Fine, you can have your favorite pillow back.”</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>When Doug and Julie tied the knot for the first time… well, in looking back, they really should’ve <em>double</em>-tied it. Salem ain’t an easy town in which to maintain a marriage.</p>
Image: Columbia Tristar/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>As evil twins are wont to do, Samantha Evans (Andrea Hall-Gengler) — aka the sibling rival with which sister Marlena was saddled — stole the shrink’s life out from under her. Briefly.</p>
Image: Paul Skipper/JPI
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<p>In 2012, Nicole Walker (Arianne Zucker) felt that Eric Brady (Greg Vaughan) really, <em>really</em> needed to know how often she’d watched <em>The Thorn Birds.</em></p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>Abe’s relationship with Paulina Price (the inimitable Jackée Harry) was not the endless party that this photo makes it look like. There weren’t even balloons most of the time.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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