History of Days of Our Lives in Timeline
Days of Our Lives is an American soap opera created by Ted and Betty Corday, debuting on NBC in 1965 and moving to Peacock in 2022 after 57 years. One of the longest-running scripted TV programs, it has aired nearly every weekday since its premiere. Irna Phillips was a story editor early on, and William J. Bell, creator of The Young and the Restless, wrote many early storylines. Following Passions' cancellation in 2007, it was NBC's only soap opera until its move to streaming, marking NBC as the sole Big Three network without a daytime serial.
1952: Albertine's 'Music for Barefoot Ballerinas' Inspiration
In 1952, Charles Albertine wrote "Music for Barefoot Ballerinas", which would later inspire a flute-and-bells broken arpeggio in the Days of Our Lives theme.
April 1956: As The World Turns premiered at 1:30 p.m. in April 1956
In April 1956, As The World Turns premiered at 1:30 p.m. overlapping with the first half-hour of Days of Our Lives.
May 1964: Another World Premieres
In May 1964, Another World premiered and was taped in New York City.
November 1965: Show Debut
In November 1965, Days of Our Lives's title sequence shows an hourglass, with sand trickling to the bottom against the backdrop of a partly cloudy sky, accompanied by the spoken words, "Like sands through the hourglass, so are the Days of Our Lives."
1965: Show Debut
In 1965, Days of Our Lives debuted with announcer Ed Prentiss speaking the opening phrase, followed by "Days of Our Lives, a new dramatic serial starring Macdonald Carey."
1965: Premiere of Days of Our Lives
In 1965, Days of Our Lives premiered, focusing on the Horton family's lives. Over time, additional families were introduced to create more dramatic storylines.
1965: Archived episodes dating back to 1965 available on SoapCity
In July 2003, SoapCity began offering archived episodes of Days of Our Lives dating back to the series' 1965 premiere.
March 1966: Ed Prentiss Leaves Announcing Role
In March 1966, Ed Prentiss stopped announcing the opening phrase of "Days of Our Lives," which he had been doing since the show's debut in 1965.
April 1966: Macdonald Carey Takes Over Opening Narration
In April 1966, Macdonald Carey, who played Dr. Thomas Horton, assumed the role of reading the opening sequence for "Days of Our Lives."
1966: Ted Corday dies of cancer in 1966, Betty Corday named executive producer
In 1966, Ted Corday, co-creator and original executive producer of Days of Our Lives, died of cancer. His widow, Betty, was named executive producer.
1966: William J. Bell starts writing for Days of Our Lives in 1966
In 1966, William J. Bell started writing for Days of Our Lives.
March 25, 1968: Broadcast on the Nine Network
On March 25, 1968, Days of Our Lives was initially broadcast on the Nine Network in Australia.
1968: Scheduling problem started in 1968
In 1968, NBC lost the rights to the game show Let's Make a Deal to ABC, which led to a scheduling problem for Days of Our Lives.
1968: Amnesiac Tom Horton Jr. returns from Korea
In 1968, Tom Horton Jr. returned from Korea with amnesia, believing he was someone else and romancing his younger sister Marie.
1968: Rape of Mickey Horton's wife Laura
In 1968, a storyline began involving the rape of Mickey Horton's wife, Laura, by Mickey's brother, Bill. Laura confided in Dr. Tom Horton, leading to a secret about the true parentage of Michael Horton, spanning episodes from 1968 to 1975.
1968: Susan Seaforth Hayes Joins the Show
Susan Seaforth Hayes has played Julie Olson Williams since 1968, with breaks in-between.
1970: Bill Hayes Joins the Show
Bill Hayes has played Doug Williams since 1970, though neither Seaforth Hayes nor Hayes is employed with the serial on contract.
1973: Days of Our Lives matched the first-place soap ratings of As the World Turns and Another World by 1973
By 1973, Days of Our Lives had matched the first-place soap ratings of As the World Turns and Another World.
1973: Suzanne Rogers Joins the Show
Suzanne Rogers, who plays Maggie Horton, has been on Days of Our Lives since 1973.
1974: Death of Addie
In 1974, Addie died, a culmination of a popular love triangle storyline between lounge singer Doug Williams, Tom and Alice's daughter Addie, and Addie's own daughter, Julie.
April 1975: Days of Our Lives expands to one hour
In April 1975, Days of Our Lives expanded to one hour, increasing the cast to 27 actors.
July 7, 1975: Debuting on Television New Zealand
Days of Our Lives debuted in New Zealand on July 7, 1975, airing on Television New Zealand (TVNZ).
1975: Carey voices show's mid-program bumper
Starting in 1975, Macdonald Carey voiced the show's mid-program bumper at intermission, reading, "We will return for the second half of Days of Our Lives in just a moment."
1975: Resolution of the rape of Mickey Horton's wife Laura storyline.
The secret surrounding the rape of Mickey Horton's wife Laura by his brother Bill, and the true parentage of Michael Horton, which began in 1968, spanned episodes until 1975.
1975: William J. Bell ends writing for Days of Our Lives in 1975
William J. Bell continued with Days of Our Lives until 1975, two years after he created The Young and the Restless.
1976: Marriage of Doug and Julie
In 1976, Doug and Julie married, following the death of Addie in 1974; the marriage was the culmination of the storyline between lounge singer Doug Williams, Tom and Alice's daughter Addie, and Addie's own daughter, Julie.
1977: Viewership for Days of Our Lives began to decline in 1977
Viewership for Days of Our Lives began to decline in 1977.
1978: William J. Bell ends as storyline consultant in 1978
In 1978, William J. Bell stopped working as a storyline consultant on Days of Our Lives.
January 1979: NBC moved the show ahead to the same 1:00 p.m./12 Noon timeslot in January 1979
In January 1979, NBC decided to move Days of Our Lives ahead to the same 1:00 p.m./12 Noon timeslot.
1980: Days of Our Lives displaced Another World as NBC's highest-rated soap in 1980
By 1980, Days of Our Lives had displaced Another World as NBC's highest-rated soap.
1980: Series begins in Barbados
In 1980 the series began in Barbados from the very first episode.
1982: Salem Strangler storyline
In 1982, the "Salem Strangler" (Jake Kositchek, nicknamed "Jake the Ripper") storyline involved the stalking and murder of women.
1983: The supercouple era of the 1980s helped bring about a ratings revival in 1983
The supercouple era of the 1980s helped bring about a ratings revival, and the 1983 season saw Days of Our Lives experience a surge in ratings.
1984: Gone with the Wind storyline
In 1984, the "Gone with the Wind" storyline featured Hope Williams Brady and Bo Brady hiding out on a Southern plantation, dressed as Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler, to maintain viewership during the 1984 Summer Olympics.
1985: Betty Corday semi-retires from showrunning duties in 1985
In 1985, Betty Corday semi-retired from her showrunning duties on Days of Our Lives. Her son, Ken, became executive producer.
1985: John Aniston Joins Days of Our Lives
In 1985, John Aniston began portraying Victor Kiriakis on "Days of Our Lives", a role he held until his death in 2022.
1986: ABC and CBS followed suit in 1986
By 1986, ABC and CBS followed suit, under the intense pressure of lucrative (and cheap) syndicated programming offered to affiliates.
1987: Betty Corday dies in 1987
Betty Corday, co-creator and former executive producer of Days of Our Lives, died in 1987.
1989: Shifted to TV2
In 1989, Days of Our Lives was shifted from TV One to TV2 in New Zealand.
1989: Many head writer changes occurred after Laiman left the series in 1989
Many head writer changes occurred after Laiman left the series in 1989 and the role would not become stable again until James E. Reilly joined the show in that role in 1993.
1990: 25th anniversary of Days of Our Lives
By the 25th anniversary in 1990, 40 actors appeared on the show in contract or recurring roles.
1990: Days of Our Lives declined again by 1990
Days of Our Lives held onto its strong numbers for most of the 1980s, only to decline again by 1990, eventually falling back into eighth place.
1990: "The Cruise of Deception" storyline
In 1990, "The Cruise of Deception" storyline involved madman Ernesto Toscano inviting his enemies aboard the ship, the S.S. Loretta, and holding them captive.
1992: Retooling of Days of Our Lives
In 1992, Days of Our Lives was retooled with refurbished sets, the debut of the Brady Pub, and new characters like Vivian Alamain, Lisanne Gardner, Billie Reed, and Kate Roberts. The show also introduced its highly popular teen scene with characters such as Carrie Brady, Sami Brady, and Lucas Roberts to appeal to younger viewers.
January 1993: WPXI-TV airs Days of Our Lives
Since January 1993, after the cancellation of Santa Barbara, WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh aired Days of Our Lives weekdays at 3:00 pm.
1993: Eileen Davidson's original run on Days of Our Lives begins in 1993
Eileen Davidson originally played six characters on Days of Our Lives during her 1993-98 run.
1993: Broadcast on Living
From 1993 to 1994, Living (formerly UK Living) broadcast Days of Our Lives weekdays at 14:00 and midnight.
1993: Eileen Davidson portrays Kristen DiMera
From 1993 to 1998, Eileen Davidson portrayed the villainous Kristen DiMera, who faked a pregnancy and used a doppelganger, Susan Banks, to bear a child (EJ DiMera). Davidson portrayed the entire Banks family clan.
1993: Sunset Variant
From 1993 to 2001 A sunset variant of the CGI sequence (which had been used for the closing credits from) remains in use as Corday Productions' closing credit vanity card.
1993: Vivian Alamain Buries Dr. Carly Manning Alive
In 1993 Vivian Alamain buried Dr. Carly Manning alive, marking the first controversial storyline from head writer Reilly.
1993: Theme Updated with CGI Sequence
In 1993, the "Days of Our Lives" theme was updated with a more conventional orchestral arrangement by Steven Reinhardt, debuting with a CGI sequence.
1993: James E. Reilly joined the show in that role in 1993
The role would not become stable again until James E. Reilly joined the show in that role in 1993.
April 1994: Secondary Introduction Removed After Carey's Death
After Macdonald Carey's death in April 1994, the secondary part of the introduction, "This is Macdonald Carey, and these are the Days of Our Lives," was removed from the sequence as a sign of respect.
1994: Friends Parodies Days of Our Lives
From 1994 to 2004, the NBC sitcom "Friends" partially parodied "Days of Our Lives", featuring Joey Tribbiani playing Dr. Drake Ramoray.
1994: Dropped after 12 months
In 1994, Living dropped Days of Our Lives after only 12 months.
1994: Christmas Tree Burns Down and Marlena Becomes Possessed
In the 1994–1995 storyline, the town's Christmas tree burns down and Marlena becomes possessed in Exorcist fashion.
1995: Christmas Tree Burns Down and Marlena Becomes Possessed
In the 1994–1995 storyline, the town's Christmas tree burns down and Marlena becomes possessed in Exorcist fashion.
1997: Romantic dilemmas of Carrie, Austin, Mike, and Sami
By 1997, the romantic dilemmas of Carrie, Austin, Mike, and Sami, and the Will Horton paternity issue and custody battle storylines had become a focal point of the series.
1997: Eileen Davidson receives Daytime Emmy nomination
In 1997, Eileen Davidson received her first Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her roles.
1998: Eileen Davidson portrays Kristen DiMera
From 1993 to 1998, Eileen Davidson portrayed the villainous Kristen DiMera, who faked a pregnancy and used a doppelganger, Susan Banks, to bear a child (EJ DiMera). Davidson portrayed the entire Banks family clan.
1998: Sky Soap started broadcasting
In 1998, Sky Soap started broadcasting Days of Our Lives weekdays at 12:00.
1998: Lewinsky a Passionate Fan
In 1998, a Time article mentioned that Monica Lewinsky was a passionate fan of "Days of Our Lives", writing a poem about it in her high school yearbook.
July 1999: Passions debuts in July 1999
In July 1999, Passions, a soap opera created by James E. Reilly, debuted.
1999: Days of Our Lives becomes NBC's longest-running daytime program
In 1999, Days of Our Lives became NBC's longest-running daytime program upon the cancellation of Another World.
1999: Sky Soap taken off
In 1999, Sky Soap was taken off shortly before the channel closed.
1999: James E. Reilly leaves Days of Our Lives
James E. Reilly left Days of Our Lives in 1999 to create Passions, after ratings rose to number two during his tenure.
1999: Current contract cast members with the show since 1999
Since 1999, twenty of the current contract cast members have been with Days of Our Lives, off-and-on.
August 21, 2000: Kyle Lowder debuts as SORAS Brady Black
On August 21, 2000, Kyle Lowder debuted as the new, aged-up (SORAS) Brady Black, a month following Eric's exit. Brady was romantically linked to the character of Chloe Lane.
2000: Channel 5 bought the show
Following the end of Sunset Beach on Channel 5 in 2000, they bought Days of Our Lives as its replacement.
November 2001: Hourglass sequence replaced
Until November 2001, the hourglass sequence was used during the show's closing credits, when the network replaced it with a split-screen generic credit reel to incorporate video promos for other NBC daytime and prime time programs.
2002: Julia Roberts Admits Being a Fan
At the 2002 People's Choice Awards, Julia Roberts admitted she was a fan of "Days of Our Lives" and requested to be seated near the cast.
July 2003: Episodes made available on digital platforms in July 2003
In July 2003, episodes of Days of Our Lives were first made available on digital platforms through SoapCity.
2003: "Salem Stalker" storyline
From 2003–2004, the "Salem Stalker" storyline saw several characters purportedly die at the hands of a masked psychopath, later revealed to have been kidnapped to the secret island of Melaswen.
2003: Moved back to TV One
In 2003, Days of Our Lives moved back to TV One in New Zealand.
2003: Reilly returned to Days of Our Lives in 2003
Reilly returned to Days of Our Lives in 2003.
March 2004: Agreement reached with Sony Pictures Television in March 2004
Under an agreement reached with Sony Pictures Television in March 2004, Soapnet began airing same-day rebroadcasts of Days of Our Lives.
May 2004: Grander Orchestration Introduced
In May 2004, a grander orchestration of the theme music was introduced, coinciding with the revelation that characters thought to be killed were on Melaswen Island. However, this version was only used in eight episodes before reverting.
September 13, 2004: A New Day special
On September 13, 2004, Nine aired a one-hour special, Days of Our Lives: A New Day, which summarized four years of storylines.
2004: Friends Parodies Days of Our Lives
From 1994 to 2004, the NBC sitcom "Friends" partially parodied "Days of Our Lives", featuring Joey Tribbiani playing Dr. Drake Ramoray.
2004: "Melaswen" storyline
From 2003–2004, the "Melaswen" storyline revealed kidnapped characters on a secret island after they were believed to be victims of the "Salem Stalker".
2004: Roberts Comments on Melaswen Storyline
In 2004, during the show's Melaswen storyline, Entertainment Weekly quoted Julia Roberts saying that "Days of Our Lives" had "gotten a little wacko."
2004: John Clarke Leaves the Show
Original cast member John Clarke, who played Mickey Horton, left the series in 2004.
2005: Brady Black and Chloe Lane leave town
In 2005, Brady Black and Chloe Lane married and left town, when Kyle Lowder's contract was not renewed.
2005: Returns of cast members from the 1980s and 1990s since 2005
Since 2005, cast members from the 1980s and 1990s, such as Christie Clark, Stephen Nichols, Austin Peck, Mary Beth Evans, Joseph Mascolo, and Thaao Penghlis have returned to Days of Our Lives.
October 2006: Hogan Sheffer named head writer in October 2006
Hogan Sheffer was named head writer of Days of Our Lives in October 2006.
2006: Hogan Sheffer becomes head writer
In 2006, Hogan Sheffer became the head writer, but ratings failed to revive, leading to the hiring of past fan favorites.
January 17, 2007: NBC Universal Television president's remark
On January 17, 2007, NBC Universal Television president Jeff Zucker remarked that Days of Our Lives would most likely not "continue past 2009," contributing to an immediate ratings decline for the show.
April 2007: Executive producer comments on ratings decline
In April 2007, executive producer Ken Corday commented on the ratings decline of the previous months, expressing concern over the precipitous drop in viewership.
June 2007: Episodes offered via iTunes in June 2007
In June 2007, episodes of Days of Our Lives began to be offered via iTunes.
December 2007: Last Appearance of Frances Reid
Original cast member Frances Reid, who played Alice Horton, made her last appearance on Days of Our Lives in December 2007, though she remained on contract until her death on February 3, 2010.
2007: Aired on Zone Romantica
During 2007-08, Days of Our Lives aired on Zone Romantica twice daily.
2007: "Bradys and DiMeras: The Reveal" storyline
In 2007, "Bradys and DiMeras: The Reveal" storyline told the story regarding how the Brady/DiMera feud started.
January 2008: Hogan Sheffer's last episode airs in January 2008
Hogan Sheffer's last episode as head writer of Days of Our Lives aired in January 2008.
April 23, 2008: Dena Higley's first episode as head writer airs on April 23, 2008
Dena Higley's first episode as head writer of Days of Our Lives aired on April 23, 2008.
2008: Increase in Viewers
In 2008, Days of Our Lives experienced a substantial increase in viewers, finishing the 2008–2009 television season with 3.0 million viewers compared to 2.8 million the previous year.
2008: Recent episodes of the series were also available on Hulu from 2008
Recent episodes of the series Days of Our Lives were also available on Hulu from 2008
June 2009: Theme Abbreviated for Extra Airtime
In June 2009, the "Days of Our Lives" instrumental theme was shortened from 32 to 17 seconds to allow more airtime for the episodic plot.
August 10, 2009: NBC began making same-day episodes available for streaming on August 10, 2009
On August 10, 2009, NBC began making same-day episodes of Days of Our Lives available for streaming on the show's NBC.com subpage.
October 2009: TVNZ announced ending contract
During October 2009, TVNZ announced that they were ending their exclusive contract with Sony Pictures for Days of Our Lives.
2009: Rises to No. 3 spot
During the 2009–2010 season, Days of Our Lives rose to the No. 3 spot behind The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, and increased its average household rating to 2.4, averaging consistently over 3,000,000 viewers.
2009: Tony DiMera killed off in 2009
In 2009, Tony DiMera was killed off in Days of Our Lives.
2009: Possible end date mentioned by Jeff Zucker
In January 17, 2007 Jeff Zucker mentioned that 'Days of Our Lives' would most likely not "continue past 2009."
February 3, 2010: Death of Frances Reid
Original cast member Frances Reid, who played Alice Horton, remained on contract with Days of Our Lives until her death on February 3, 2010, though she made her last appearance on the show in December 2007.
May 19, 2010: Ending on TVNZ
On May 19, 2010, Days of Our Lives ended on TVNZ despite a national petition from fans.
June 2010: Returns of Jennifer Horton, Bill Horton, Shane Donovan and Kimberly Brady
In June 2010, Jennifer Horton, Bill Horton, Shane Donovan, and Kimberly Brady returned to Days of Our Lives for a short time, featured heavily in a tribute to Alice Horton.
June 23, 2010: Passing of Alice Horton
In June 2010, past characters returned to honor the passing of Alice Horton, whose character died on June 23, 2010.
2010: Continued increase in viewership
In 2010, Days of Our Lives continued to increase viewership, reaching as high as 3.6 million viewers on several days.
February 2011: Christopher Whitesell remained with Days until February 2011
Christopher Whitesell remained with Days of Our Lives until February 2011.
May 18, 2011: Dena Higley fired on May 18, 2011
On May 18, 2011, Dena Higley was fired from Days of Our Lives and replaced as head writer with Marlene McPherson and Darrell Ray Thomas Jr.
June 23, 2011: Introduction of Sonny Kiriakis
On June 23, 2011, Days of Our Lives introduced Sonny Kiriakis, the show's first contract gay character, leading to the show's first gay story line. Will Horton investigates his own sexuality and starts a relationship with Sonny, eventually marrying.
October 2011: Brief resurgence after cancellation of All My Children
In October 2011, the cancellation of All My Children on ABC, combined with the return of several cast members, allowed a brief resurgence of Days of Our Lives, but ratings soon declined again.
December 2011: New lows in 18-49 female demographic
In December 2011, before the cancellation of One Life to Live, Days of Our Lives recorded three consecutive weeks of new lows in the 18–49 female key demographic category.
2011: End of Carey's Mid-Program Bumper
In 2011, Macdonald Carey's mid-program bumper was discontinued.
2011: 46th season
In March 11, 2013, ChoiceTV picked up the series with the 46th season for the show (2011-2012).
January 26, 2012: Tribute to soldiers and discontinuation of inline promos
On January 26, 2012, episode 11765 was a tribute to soldiers who served in Afghanistan and previous wars, featuring a PTSD therapy group for Jack Deveraux. Inline "Next On" promos were discontinued in favor of an external weekly promo.
April 4, 2012: McPherson and Thomas fired as co-head writers on April 4, 2012
On April 4, 2012, McPherson and Thomas were fired as co-head writers of Days of Our Lives, replaced by Whitesell and Gary Tomlin.
April 2012: Consecutive weeks of low ratings
During March and April 2012, Days of Our Lives recorded another consecutive three weeks of low ratings in the 18-49 female demographic group.
June 2012: Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Writing Team
In June 2012, Days of Our Lives won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Writing Team.
2012: Ranking among daytime soap operas
As of 2012, Days of Our Lives generally ranked No. 3 among the four remaining daytime soap operas on the air in terms of total viewers, surpassing only General Hospital, and was lowest-rated among all soap operas for viewers in the 18-49 age demographic.
2012: Eileen Davidson reintroduced as Kristen Blake DiMera in 2012
In late 2012, Eileen Davidson was reintroduced in Days of Our Lives in the role of Kristen Blake DiMera after a fourteen-year absence.
February 27, 2013: ChoiceTV picks up the series
On February 27, 2013, ChoiceTV announced their decision to pick up Days of Our Lives nearly three years after the series' final broadcast on TVNZ.
March 11, 2013: Began broadcasting on ChoiceTV
Days of Our Lives began broadcasting on ChoiceTV on March 11, 2013, with the series' 46th season (2011–12).
April 2013: Episodes airing 16 months behind
By April 2013, episodes of Days of Our Lives were airing in Australia at a delay of 16 months compared to the United States.
April 26, 2013: Nine Network axes the show
On April 26, 2013, the Nine Network in Australia axed Days of Our Lives based on a commercial decision.
June 2013: Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series
In June 2013, Days of Our Lives won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.
June 17, 2013: Resumes on Crackle
On June 17, 2013, Days of Our Lives resumed to Australian viewers free and on-demand through Sony's Crackle service.
August 19, 2013: KSNV-DT stops carrying the show
On August 19, 2013, KSNV-DT in Las Vegas stopped carrying Days of Our Lives due to a move to an all-news schedule, with the program moving to KVCW.
December 2013: Days aired on Soapnet until its closure in December 2013
Days of Our Lives aired on Soapnet until its closure in December 2013.
December 20, 2013: Removed from schedule
By December 20, 2013, Choice TV had removed Days of Our Lives from their schedule for summer hiatus.
2013: Debut of new characters JJ Deveraux and Theresa Donovan in 2013
In mid-2013, Days of Our Lives debuted new characters JJ Deveraux and Theresa Donovan to appeal to younger viewers.
January 20, 2014: Releasing five episodes each week
From January 20, 2014, Crackle began releasing five episodes of Days of Our Lives each week.
February 10, 2014: Series resumed airing
On February 10, 2014, Days of Our Lives resumed airing on Choice TV from episode 11,880.
April 15, 2014: Arena begins airing episodes at the same pace as the US
On April 15, 2014, Arena in Australia began airing episodes of Days of Our Lives at the same pace as the US after screening ten catch-up episodes from April 1 to 14.
April 2014: Returned to television
In April 2014, Days of Our Lives returned to Australian television on Foxtel's channel Arena.
December 2014: Show returns to KSNV
In late December 2014, Days of Our Lives returned to KSNV as part of a change in the all-news plans.
2014: Channel drops the series
In 2014, CBC TV 8 in Barbados dropped Days of Our Lives.
February 9, 2015: Tomlin and Whitesell ousted on February 9, 2015
On February 9, 2015, Tomlin and Whitesell were ousted as head writers of Days of Our Lives. Higley would return, alongside Josh Griffith.
February 16, 2015: Higley and Griffith took over as head writers on February 16, 2015
On February 16, 2015, Higley and Griffith took over as head writers of Days of Our Lives.
April 2015: Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series
In April 2015, Days of Our Lives won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.
August 2015: Hulu removed Days from its NBC program offerings in August 2015
In August 2015, Hulu abruptly removed Days of Our Lives from its NBC program offerings.
August 2015: Higley taking a leave of absence in August 2015
In August 2015, reports stated that Higley would be taking a leave of absence from Days of Our Lives. Beth Milstein would help Griffith.
August 24, 2015: Pop began airing same-day rebroadcasts on August 24, 2015
On August 24, 2015, Pop began airing same-day rebroadcasts of Days of Our Lives.
2015: End of season number of metered viewers
End of season number of metered viewers (listed as a Nielsen share in millions) and ranking (against other soap operas) from the first broadcast to the reporting week of August 24 to 28, 2015.
2015: Cast members return for the soap's fiftieth anniversary in 2015
In 2015, in celebration of the soap's fiftieth anniversary, Peter Reckell, Stephen Nichols and Thaao Penghlis returned to Days of Our Lives.
February 2016: Griffith departed Days of Our Lives as head writer with Higley remaining in February 2016
In February 2016, Griffith departed Days of Our Lives as head writer with Higley remaining, and script writer Ryan Quan was promoted to replace Griffith.
April 15, 2016: Pop dropped Days of Our Lives from its lineup after the April 15, 2016, broadcast
Pop dropped Days of Our Lives from its lineup after the April 15, 2016, broadcast.
January 23, 2017: Higley and Quan let go from their positions as co-head writers on January 23, 2017
On January 23, 2017, Higley and Quan were let go from their positions as co-head writers of Days of Our Lives, with Ron Carlivati named as Higley's replacement.
July 19, 2017: Carlivati's first episode as head writer aired on July 19, 2017
Ron Carlivati's first episode as head writer of Days of Our Lives aired on July 19, 2017. Sheri Anderson would return, sharing the role of creative consultant with Quan.
April 2018: Daytime Emmy Award Wins
In April 2018, Days of Our Lives won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Writing Team and also won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.
2018: Aired in the United Kingdom
From January to December 2020, episodes from 2018 were aired on Sony Channel in the United Kingdom.
February 2019: Carlivati signed a new deal to continue as head writer, Anderson announced her departure in February 2019
In February 2019, Carlivati signed a new deal to continue as head writer of Days of Our Lives; that same month, Anderson announced her departure from the writing team.
2019: NBC stations air Days of Our Lives at 1:00 p.m.
From 2019 until 2022, most NBC stations aired Days of Our Lives at 1:00 p.m. local time.
July 2020: Greg Meng let go in July 2020
In July 2020, Greg Meng was let go after more than 30 years with Days of Our Lives and Corday Productions.
December 2020: Pulled from schedules
In December 2020, Days of Our Lives was pulled from schedules on the Sony Channel in the United Kingdom with no explanation given.
July 2021: Peacock Orders Limited Series Beyond Salem
In July 2021, Peacock ordered a five-episode limited series titled "Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem."
September 6, 2021: Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem Premieres
On September 6, 2021, the five-episode limited series "Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem" premiered, featuring original cast members and new additions.
November 2021: Holiday Film Announced
In November 2021, Corday Productions announced a spin-off holiday film titled "Days of Our Lives: A Very Salem Christmas," starring Chandler Massey and Davidson.
December 16, 2021: Days of Our Lives: A Very Salem Christmas Premieres
On December 16, 2021, the holiday film "Days of Our Lives: A Very Salem Christmas," starring Chandler Massey and Davidson, premiered on Peacock.
2021: Continued erosion of viewership
In 2021, 'Days of Our Lives' witnessed a steady erosion of viewers, mainly due to vastly altered viewing habits induced by cable networks and alternative genres such as reality and talk shows on minor network affiliates.
April 2022: Second Chapter of Beyond Salem Announced
In April 2022, a second chapter of five episodes for "Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem" was announced, scheduled to premiere in July 2022. Casting of Alfonso and Reckell was revealed the same day.
June 2, 2022: Additional Casting Announced for Beyond Salem
On June 2, 2022, it was announced that Davidson, Christopher Sean, Vince Van Patten, and Loretta Devine had been cast in the second chapter of "Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem."
June 2022: Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Writing Team
In June 2022, Days of Our Lives won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Writing Team.
2022: NBC stations air Days of Our Lives at 1:00 p.m.
From 2019 until 2022, most NBC stations aired Days of Our Lives at 1:00 p.m. local time.
2022: Death of John Aniston
John Aniston, who portrayed Victor Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives since 1985, passed away in 2022.
July 25, 2023: Investigation against Albert Alarr for misconduct
On July 25, 2023, Deadline Hollywood reported an investigation into co-executive producer Albert Alarr for misconduct, following allegations from 30-40 individuals, predominantly women. The claims against Alarr included abusive behavior, leading to feelings of discomfort and humiliation, and an incident of forceful kissing without consent. The report also cited the departure of several female actresses and bullying of male actors. Alarr received a written warning after a nine-week investigation.
August 4, 2023: Alarr replaced by Drucker as co-executive producer on August 4, 2023
On August 4, 2023, Alarr was replaced by Drucker as co-executive producer of Days of Our Lives, following allegations of misconduct.
August 2023: Ken Corday splits show-running duties with Drucker as co-executive producer in August 2023
As of August 2023, Ken Corday splits show-running duties with Drucker as co-executive producer of Days of Our Lives.
October 2023: Ken Corday offers Arianne Zucker a "take it or leave it" deal
In October 2023, following meetings with Sony and Human Resources in March and June, Ken Corday offered Arianne Zucker a "take it or leave it" deal.
January 2024: Arianne Zucker concludes filming as Nicole Walker
In January 2024, reports indicated that Arianne Zucker concluded filming in the role of Nicole Walker.
February 2024: Arianne Zucker files lawsuit against Corday Productions, Ken Corday, and Alarr
In February 2024, Arianne Zucker filed a lawsuit against Corday Productions, Ken Corday, and Alarr, alleging sexual harassment and wrongful termination. Zucker claimed she was subjected to nonconsensual sexual touching and inappropriate comments by Alarr.
July 19, 2024: Carlivati departed the soap as head writer on July 19, 2024
On July 19, 2024, it was announced Carlivati had departed the soap as head writer, with Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford named as his successors of Days of Our Lives.
August 8, 2024: Judge rules in favor of Arianne Zucker in lawsuit
On August 8, 2024, a judge with the Los Angeles County Superior Court ruled in favor of Arianne Zucker, allowing her to move ahead with her complaint seeking a formal order to bar Alarr from harassing behavior in any future workplace.
November 2024: Renewal of Days of Our Lives through 61st season
In November 2024, it was announced that Days of Our Lives had been renewed through its 61st season, ensuring its continuation through 2026.
March 28, 2025: Drucker would retire on March 28, 2025
On March 28, 2025, it was announced Drucker would retire from Days of Our Lives, with her last day on set being May 2; Noel Maxam was named as her successor.
April 2025: Report by Luminate
In an April 2025 report by Luminate, Days of Our Lives was named the second-top streaming program on Peacock.
April 23, 2025: Carlivati's material was seen through April 23, 2025
Due to the soap's advanced taping schedule, Carlivati's material was seen through April 23, 2025 on Days of Our Lives.
July 2025: Renewal of Days of Our Lives through sixty-third season
In July 2025, Days of Our Lives was renewed through its sixty-third season, which will occur during the 2027–2028 television season.
October 2025: Settlement filed in Zucker's lawsuit
In October 2025, a settlement was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Arianne Zucker's lawsuit.
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