History of Days of Our Lives in Timeline
Days of Our Lives is a long-running American television soap opera that premiered on NBC on November 8, 1965, and moved to Peacock streaming service on September 12, 2022, after 57 years on NBC. Created by Ted and Betty Corday, with early storylines contributed by William J. Bell, the show is one of the longest-running scripted TV programs worldwide. Following the cancellation of Passions in 2007, it was NBC's only soap opera until its move to streaming. The show's transition to Peacock marks NBC as the only Big Three network without a daytime serial.
1952: Inspiration for theme music
In 1952, Charles Albertine's piece "Music for Barefoot Ballerinas" inspired the theme music for the show by adding a flute-and-bells broken arpeggio.
April 1956: As The World Turns aired at 1:30 p.m.
Since it premiered in April 1956, As The World Turns also aired at 1:30 p.m.
May 1964: Another World premiere
In May 1964, Another World, another NBC soap opera, premiered and was taped in New York City, unlike Days of Our Lives.
November 8, 1965: Days of Our Lives Premiere
On November 8, 1965, Days of Our Lives premiered on NBC, becoming one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world.
November 1965: Days of Our Lives Debut
Since the show's 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: Days of Our Lives Premieres
In 1965, Days of Our Lives premiered, revolving around the Horton family's tragedies and triumphs. Over time, the show introduced additional families to interact with the Hortons, leading to more dramatic storylines.
1965: Show Debut
In 1965, the show debuted with announcer Ed Prentiss speaking the opening phrase, followed by the notation "Days of Our Lives, a new dramatic serial starring Macdonald Carey."
1965: Series premiere episodes archived
SoapCity archived episodes dating back to the Days of Our Lives 1965 premiere.
March 1966: Ed Prentiss replaced
In March 1966, Ed Prentiss' opening phrase was replaced by Macdonald Carey, who had played Dr. Thomas Horton since the show's premiere.
April 1966: Macdonald Carey took over opening sequence
In April 1966, Macdonald Carey took over reading the opening sequence and added "This is Macdonald Carey, and these are the Days of Our Lives."
1966: Ted Corday's death and Betty Corday named executive producer
In 1966, Ted Corday died of cancer after being at the helm of Days of Our Lives for eight months and his widow and fellow co-creator, Betty Corday, was named executive producer.
1966: William J. Bell began writing for Days of Our Lives
William J. Bell started writing for Days of Our Lives in 1966 and continued with the show until 1975.
March 25, 1968: Days of Our Lives Broadcast on Nine Network
On March 25, 1968, Days of Our Lives was initially broadcast on the Nine Network in Australia.
December 1968: Susan Seaforth Hayes First Appearance
In December 1968, Susan Seaforth Hayes made her first appearance on Days of Our Lives as a recast of Julie Olson.
1968: Amnesiac Tom Horton Jr. Storyline
In 1968, Days of Our Lives featured the story of amnesiac Tom Horton Jr., who returns from Korea believing he is someone else and romances his younger sister Marie.
1968: Lost rights to Let's Make a Deal to ABC
In 1968, NBC lost the rights to the game show Let's Make a Deal to ABC, and in its wake, eight different shows were placed into the slot to little to no success.
1968: Start of Mickey Horton's storyline
In 1968, one of the longest-running story lines involved the rape of Mickey Horton's wife Laura by Mickey's brother Bill. This plot line was made even more complex with the presence of Linda Patterson.
1968: Susan Seaforth Hayes Joins Days of Our Lives
Susan Seaforth Hayes has played Julie Olson Williams on Days of Our Lives since 1968, with a few breaks in-between.
1970: Bill Hayes Joins Days of Our Lives
Bill Hayes has played Doug Williams on Days of Our Lives since 1970.
1970: Hayeses Meeting on Set
In 1970, Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes met on the set of Days of Our Lives.
August 1973: Suzanne Rogers Joins the Cast
Suzanne Rogers joined the cast of Days of Our Lives in August 1973 and is the longest-serving member of the program's current cast.
1973: Show matched soap ratings
By 1973, Days of Our Lives had matched the first-place soap ratings of As the World Turns and fellow NBC soap Another World.
1973: Suzanne Rogers Joins Days of Our Lives
Suzanne Rogers, who plays Maggie Horton, has been on Days of Our Lives since 1973.
1974: Hayeses Marriage
In 1974, Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes, who met on the show, married.
1974: Macdonald Carey Wins Best Actor
In 1974, Macdonald Carey, who played Dr. Tom Horton, won Best Actor.
1974: Sony Co-Production
In 1974, Sony Pictures Television began co-producing Days of Our Lives, handling international distribution after Screen Gems was folded into Columbia Pictures Television.
1974: Addie Horton's Death
In 1974, the storyline involving a love triangle between lounge singer Doug Williams, Tom and Alice's daughter Addie, and Addie's own daughter, Julie, culminated in the death of Addie.
April 1975: Show Expands to One Hour
In April 1975, Days of Our Lives expanded to one hour, increasing the cast to 27 actors.
April 21, 1975: Episode Length Expansion
On April 21, 1975, due to the series' success, daily episodes of Days of Our Lives were expanded from 30 minutes to 60 minutes.
July 7, 1975: Days of Our Lives Debuts in New Zealand
Days of Our Lives debuted in New Zealand on July 7, 1975, airing on Television New Zealand (TVNZ).
1975: End of Mickey Horton's storyline
From 1968 to 1975, the secret involving the true parentage of Michael Horton (a product of the rape of Mickey Horton's wife Laura by Mickey's brother Bill) and Mickey's subsequent health issues as a result of the revelation, spanned episodes.
1975: Mid-program bumper voiced
In 1975, Macdonald Carey began voicing the show's mid-program bumper, reading, "We will return for the second half of Days of Our Lives in just a moment."
1975: Awards in 1975
In 1975, Macdonald Carey won Best Actor and Susan Flannery won Best Actress.
1975: William J. Bell departure
In 1975, William J. Bell departed Days of Our Lives to focus on "The Young and the Restless".
1975: William J. Bell stops writing for Days of Our Lives
William J. Bell stopped writing for Days of Our Lives in 1975, two years after creating The Young and the Restless.
January 12, 1976: Time Magazine Cover
On January 12, 1976, Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes of Days of Our Lives appeared on the cover of Time magazine.
1976: Marriage of Doug and Julie
In 1976, the storyline involving a love triangle between lounge singer Doug Williams, Tom and Alice's daughter Addie, and Addie's own daughter, Julie, culminated in the death of Addie in 1974 and the marriage of Doug and Julie in 1976.
1977: Viewership for Days of Our Lives began to decline
In 1977, viewership for Days of Our Lives began to decline. Much of this dropoff was associated with ABC's expansion of its increasingly popular soap All My Children to a full hour.
1978: Daytime Emmy for Best Drama
In 1978, Days of Our Lives won a Daytime Emmy for Best Drama.
1978: William J. Bell stops as storyline consultant
In 1978, William J. Bell stopped as a storyline consultant for Days of Our Lives.
January 1979: Network decided to move the show ahead to the same 1:00 p.m./12 Noon timeslot
In January 1979, NBC decided to jump headlong against All My Children and moved Days of Our Lives ahead to the same 1:00 p.m./12 Noon timeslot.
1979: Suzanne Rogers Wins Best Supporting Actress
In 1979, Suzanne Rogers, who played Maggie Horton, won Best Supporting Actress.
1980: Days of Our Lives displaced Another World
By 1980, Days of Our Lives had displaced Another World as NBC's highest-rated soap.
1980: Days of Our Lives Begins in Barbados
In 1980, Days of Our Lives began airing in Barbados from the very first episode on CBC TV 8.
1982: Salem Strangler Storyline
In 1982, Days of Our Lives featured the "Salem Strangler" storyline, involving Jake Kositchek (nicknamed "Jake the Ripper") who stalks and murders women.
1983: Ratings revival due to "supercouple" era
The "supercouple" era of the 1980s, however, 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, Days of Our Lives featured a "Gone with the Wind" story line in which Hope Williams Brady and Bo Brady hide out on a Southern plantation and dress up as Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler, created to retain viewers during preemptions by ABC soaps due to the 1984 Summer Olympics.
1985: Betty Corday semi-retires and Ken Corday becomes executive producer
In 1985, Betty Corday semi-retired from showrunning duties and her son, Ken, became executive producer.
1985: John Aniston joined Days of Our Lives
In 1985, John Aniston began portraying Victor Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives.
1986: Betty Corday's Semi-Retirement
In 1986, Betty Corday relinquished showrunning duties upon her semi-retirement from the program, with Ken Corday taking over as executive producer.
1986: Leann Hunley Wins Best Supporting Actress
In 1986, Leann Hunley, who played Anna DiMera, won Best Supporting Actress.
1987: Death of Betty Corday
Betty Corday died in 1987, two years after she semi-retired from her executive producer role.
1988: Billy Warlock Wins Best Younger Actor
In 1988, Billy Warlock, who played Frankie Brady, won Best Younger Actor.
1989: Days of Our Lives Shifted to TV2
In 1989, Days of Our Lives which was originally airing weekdays on TV One was shifted to TV2 in New Zealand, where it was put in a 1 pm timeslot.
1989: Many head writer changes occur
In 1989, many head writer changes occurred after Laiman left the series and the role would not become stable again until James E. Reilly joined the show in that role in 1993.
1990: Ratings decline
By 1990, Days of Our Lives' ratings began to decline again, eventually falling back into eighth place.
1990: 25th Anniversary Cast Size
By the 25th anniversary in 1990, 40 actors appeared on Days of Our Lives in contract or recurring roles, which is the approximate number of actors the show has used since then.
1990: "The Cruise of Deception" Storyline
In 1990, Days of Our Lives featured "The Cruise of Deception" storyline, where madman Ernesto Toscano invites his enemies aboard the S.S. Loretta and holds them captive.
1992: Show retooled with new additions
In 1992, Days of Our Lives was retooled with additions such as refurbished sets, the debut of the Brady Pub, and the addition of new characters. Later that year, Days of Our Lives introduced its highly popular teen scene with new characters such as Carrie Brady, Sami Brady, Lucas Roberts, and Austin Reed to appeal to younger viewers.
January 1993: WPXI-TV Airing Days of Our Lives at 3:00 PM
Since January 1993, after the cancellation of Santa Barbara, WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh had aired Days of Our Lives weekdays at 3:00 pm.
1993: Eileen Davidson's original run on the show
Eileen Davidson's original run on Days of Our Lives was from 1993 to 1998, during which she played six characters.
1993: Days of Our Lives Broadcast on UK Living
From 1993 to 1994, Days of Our Lives was broadcast on UK Living weekdays at 14:00 and midnight.
1993: Eileen Davidson Begins Portraying Multiple Characters
From 1993 to 1998, actress Eileen Davidson portrayed several characters from the same family in the series.
1993: Sunset Variant Used for Closing Credits
From 1993 to 2001, a sunset variant of the CGI sequence was used for the closing credits and remains in use as Corday Productions' closing credit vanity card.
1993: James E. Reilly joined as head writer
In 1993, James E. Reilly joined Days of Our Lives as head writer.
1993: Orchestral arrangement debuted
In 1993, a more conventional orchestral arrangement of the instrumental theme (arranged by musical director Steven Reinhardt) debuted with the introduction of the CGI sequence.
1993: Vivian Alamain Buries Dr. Carly Manning Alive
In 1993, the plot where Vivian Alamain buried Dr. Carly Manning alive was a shocking and ratings-grabbing storyline.
April 1994: Macdonald Carey's Death
After Macdonald Carey's death from lung cancer in April 1994, the secondary part of the introduction was removed from the sequence out of respect for Carey and his family.
1994: Dropped After 12 Months
In 1994, Days of Our Lives was dropped from UK Living after only 12 months.
1994: Friends parodied Days of Our Lives
In 1994, the NBC sitcom Friends began a storyline in which Joey Tribbiani played Dr. Drake Ramoray on Days of Our Lives, as a partial parody.
1994: Town's Christmas Tree Burns Down
In the 1994-1995 storyline, the town's Christmas tree burns down.
1995: Marlena becomes possessed in Exorcist fashion
In the 1994–1995 storyline, Marlena becomes possessed in Exorcist fashion.
1997: Romantic dilemmas become focal point
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.
1998: Eileen Davidson Portrays Multiple Characters Until 1998
From 1993 to 1998, actress Eileen Davidson portrayed several characters from the same family in the series.
1998: Sky Soap Started Broadcasting Days of Our Lives
In 1998, Sky Soap started broadcasting Days of Our Lives weekdays at 12:00.
1998: Monica Lewinsky was a fan
In 1998, Time article mentioned that Monica Lewinsky was a passionate fan of Days of Our Lives, so much so that she wrote a poem about the series in her high school yearbook.
June 1999: Another World ended
In June 1999, Another World ended its run after premiering in May 1964, and was taped in New York City, unlike Days of Our Lives.
July 1999: Debut of Passions
In July 1999, Passions, a soap opera created by James E. Reilly, debuted on NBC and would later feature several supernatural-themed plotlines.
1999: Contract cast members with the show since at least 1999
At least twenty of the contract cast members have been with Days of Our Lives, off-and-on, since at least 1999.
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 Air
In 1999, Sky Soap, where Days of Our Lives was being broadcasted, was taken off air.
1999: James E. Reilly Leaves Days of Our Lives
James E. Reilly left Days of Our Lives in 1999 to start his own creation of Passions.
August 21, 2000: Kyle Lowder debuts as Brady Black
On August 21, 2000, Kyle Lowder first appeared as Brady Black, aged to his early 20s, a month following Eric Brady's exit.
2000: Days of our Lives bought by Channel 5
Following the end of Sunset Beach on Channel 5 in 2000, they bought Days of our Lives as its replacement, however, it didn't catch on, and was cancelled after a year.
2000: Writers Guild of America Award
In 2000, Days of Our Lives won a Writers Guild of America, East Award for Best Drama.
2000: Departures and Brady Black Re-introduction
In 2000, Louise Sorel as Vivian Alamain and Jensen Ackles as Eric Brady left the show. Kyle Lowder was cast as the new, aged-up Brady Black, first appearing on August 21, 2000.
November 2001: Hourglass Replaced with Split-Screen Credit Reel
In November 2001, the hourglass sequence used during the show's closing credits was replaced with a split-screen generic credit reel by the network to incorporate video promos for other NBC programs.
2002: Julia Roberts fan admission
At the 2002 People's Choice Awards, actress Julia Roberts admitted that she was a fan of Days of Our Lives and had asked to be seated near the cast.
July 2003: Episodes available on SoapCity
In July 2003, episodes of Days of Our Lives were first made available on digital platforms when SoapCity began offering same-day and archived episodes for streaming or direct download via its SoapCity Download subscription offering.
2003: Moved Back to TV One
In 2003, Days of Our Lives moved back to TV One in New Zealand, where it was shown at 2 pm.
2003: James E. Reilly returns to Days of Our Lives
In 2003, James E. Reilly returned to Days of Our Lives as head writer.
2003: "Salem Stalker" Storyline
In 2003-2004, the "Salem Stalker" & "Melaswen" storylines occurred, where several characters purportedly die at the hands of a masked psychopath.
March 2004: Agreement reached with Sony Pictures Television, cable network Soapnet began airing same-day rebroadcasts of Days of Our Lives
In March 2004, under an agreement reached with Sony Pictures Television, cable network Soapnet began airing same-day rebroadcasts of Days of Our Lives each weeknight at 7:00 and 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific Time.
May 2004: Grander orchestration introduced
In May 2004, a grander orchestration of the Days of Our Lives theme music was introduced, coinciding with the Salem Stalker storyline revelation. This version was only used in eight episodes.
September 13, 2004: Aired Special to Summarize Storylines
On September 13, 2004, the Nine Network aired a one-hour special titled 'Days of Our Lives: A New Day', which summarized four years of storylines to catch viewers up with the US pace, causing mixed reactions.
2004: "Melaswen" Storyline
In 2003-2004, several characters purportedly die at the hands of a masked psychopath; they are later revealed to have been kidnapped to the secret island of Melaswen (New Salem spelled backward).
2004: Julia Roberts comments on the show
In 2004, during the show's Melaswen storyline, Entertainment Weekly quoted Julia Roberts saying that "the show has gotten a little wacko."
2004: End of Friends parody
In 2004, the NBC sitcom Friends ended the storyline in which Joey Tribbiani played Dr. Drake Ramoray on Days of Our Lives, which began in 1994.
2004: John Clarke Leaves the Series
Original cast member John Clarke, who played Mickey Horton, left Days of Our Lives in 2004.
2005: Brady and Chloe 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, cast members from the 1980s and 1990s, such as Christie Clark, Stephen Nichols, Austin Peck, Mary Beth Evans, Joseph Mascolo, and Thaao Penghlis have been brought back 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.
2006: Hogan Sheffer becomes head writer
In 2006, Hogan Sheffer became the new head writer, but ratings failed to revive, leading producers to hire past fan favorites to stop the ratings decline.
2006: Matthew Ashford Comments on Supernatural Storylines
In 2006, actor Matthew Ashford commented on his character Jack Deveraux "coming back from the dead" for the third time, expressing concerns about the show becoming too unreal.
January 2007: NBC Suggests Possible Cancellation
In January 2007, NBC suggested that Days of Our Lives was unlikely to continue past 2009.
January 17, 2007: NBC Universal President Suggests End of Days of Our Lives
On January 17, 2007, NBC Universal Television president Jeff Zucker remarked that Days of Our Lives would most likely not "continue past 2009."
April 2007: Executive Producer Comments on Ratings Decline
In April 2007, executive producer Ken Corday commented on the precipitous ratings decline of Days of Our Lives following Jeff Zucker's remarks, noting the significant percentage drop.
June 2007: Episodes available on iTunes
In June 2007, episodes of Days of Our Lives began to be offered via iTunes.
December 2007: Frances Reid's Last Formal Appearance
In December 2007, Frances Reid, who played Alice Horton, made her last formal appearance on Days of Our Lives.
December 2007: Last Appearance of Frances Reid
Original cast member Frances Reid 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: Days of Our Lives Aired on Zone Romantica
During 2007-08, Days of Our Lives aired on Zone Romantica twice daily.
2007: Cancellation of Passions
Following the 2007 cancellation of Passions, Days of Our Lives became the only soap opera airing on NBC.
2007: "Bradys and DiMeras: The Reveal"
In 2007, "Bradys and DiMeras: The Reveal" told the story regarding how the Brady/DiMera feud started.
January 2008: Hogan Sheffer's last episode
In January 2008, Hogan Sheffer's last episode as head writer of Days of Our Lives aired.
April 23, 2008: Dena Higley's first episode as head writer
Dena Higley's first episode as head of the writing staff for Days of Our Lives aired on April 23, 2008; her co-head writer was Christopher Whitesell.
November 2008: Renewal Through September 2010
In November 2008, Days of Our Lives was renewed through September 2010.
2008: Substantial Increase in Viewers
Days of Our Lives experienced a substantial increase in viewers during 2008, finishing the 2008-2009 television season with 3.0 million viewers compared to 2.8 million in the previous season.
2008: Episodes available on Hulu
Recent episodes of Days of Our Lives were available on Hulu from 2008 until August 2015.
June 2009: Instrumental theme abbreviated
In June 2009, the instrumental theme was abbreviated to allow extra airtime for the episodic plot, shortening it from 32 to 17 seconds and commencing from the orchestral flourish.
August 10, 2009: Same-day episodes available on NBC.com
NBC began making same-day episodes of Days of Our Lives available for streaming on the show's NBC.com subpage on August 10, 2009.
October 2009: TVNZ Announced Ending Exclusive Contract with Sony Pictures
During October 2009, TVNZ announced that they were ending their exclusive contract with Sony Pictures.
2009: Awards in 2009
In 2009, Darin Brooks won the Emmy for Best Younger Actor and Tamara Braun won Best Supporting Actress.
2009: Ratings Comeback
In 2009, Days of Our Lives made somewhat of a comeback, with ratings increasing as the year progressed.
2009: Rise in Rankings and Viewership
In 2009, Days of Our Lives rose to the No. 3 spot in overall viewership and increased its average household rating to 2.4, consistently averaging over 3,000,000 viewers. It was also the No. 2 daytime program in the 18-49 demographic.
2009: Tony DiMera killed off
In 2009, the character of Tony DiMera was killed off.
2009: Predicted End Date by NBC Universal President
In January 17, 2007 NBC Universal Television president Jeff Zucker suggested that Days of Our Lives would 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.
March 2010: Renewal Through September 2011
In March 2010, Days of Our Lives was renewed through September 2011.
May 19, 2010: Days of Our Lives Ends on TVNZ
Despite a national petition from fans, Days of Our Lives ended on TVNZ on May 19, 2010.
June 2010: Returns of Jennifer Horton, Bill Horton, Shane Donovan and Kimberly Brady
In June 2010, Jennifer Horton (Melissa Reeves), Bill Horton (John H. Martin), Shane Donovan (Charles Shaughnessy) and Kimberly Brady (Patsy Pease) returned to Days of Our Lives for a short time, featured heavily in a tribute to Alice Horton.
June 2010: Past Characters Return to Honor Alice Horton
In June 2010, past characters returned to honor the passing of matriarch Alice Horton, whose character died on June 23, 2010.
June 23, 2010: Past Characters Return to Honor Alice Horton
In June 2010, past characters returned to honor the passing of matriarch Alice Horton, whose character died on June 23, 2010.
September 2010: Renewal Through September 2010
In November 2008, Days of Our Lives was renewed through September 2010.
November 8, 2010: 45th Anniversary and High Definition Broadcast
On November 8, 2010, which marked Days of Our Lives' 45th anniversary, the show was renewed for two more years and began airing in high definition.
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. This bucked the trend of declining viewership in daytime dramas.
2010: Death of Frances Reid
In 2010, Frances Reid, the actress who played Alice Horton since the show's inception, passed away.
February 2011: Christopher Whitesell leaves
Christopher Whitesell remained with Days of Our Lives until February 2011.
May 18, 2011: Dena Higley was fired
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: Sonny Kiriakis Introduced as First Contract Gay Character
On June 23, 2011, Days of Our Lives introduced Sonny Kiriakis, the show's first contract gay character, initiating the show's first gay story line.
September 2011: Renewal Through September 2011
In March 2010, Days of Our Lives was renewed through September 2011.
September 26, 2011: Show Reboot
On September 26, 2011, Days of Our Lives was officially "rebooted" to regain its audience and boost ratings. Former characters were reintroduced as part of the reboot.
October 2011: Brief Resurgence After All My Children Cancellation
In October 2011, the cancellation of "All My Children" on ABC and the return of several cast members led to a brief resurgence in viewership for "Days of Our Lives".
December 2011: New Lows in Key Demographic
In December 2011, Days of Our Lives recorded three consecutive weeks of new lows in the 18-49 female key demographic category.
2011: Days of Our Lives Season
In 2011 ChoiceTV picked up the series for the 46th season (2011-12).
2011: Mid-program bumper ended
In 2011, the show stopped using the mid-program bumper voiced by Macdonald Carey, which had been used since 1975.
January 26, 2012: Episode 11765: Tribute to Soldiers
On January 26, 2012, episode 11765 of Days of Our Lives paid tribute to soldiers who served in Afghanistan and previous wars with a PTSD therapy group for Jack Deveraux to talk over his time held captive there. This episode also discontinued the inline "Next On" promos in favor of an external weekly promo.
April 4, 2012: McPherson and Thomas fired as head writers
On April 4, 2012, Marlene McPherson and Darrell Ray Thomas Jr. were fired as co-head writers of Days of Our Lives, and would be replaced by Whitesell and Gary Tomlin.
April 2012: Continued Low Ratings in Key Demographic
In April 2012, Days of Our Lives recorded another consecutive three weeks of low ratings in the 18-49 female demographic group.
April 2012: Lorraine Broderick Hired
In April 2012, Daytime Emmy award winner Lorraine Broderick was hired as a member of the breakdown writing team.
June 2012: Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Writing Team
Days of Our Lives won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Writing Team in June 2012.
August 2012: Jack Deveraux's Fourth Death
In August 2012, the character Jack Deveraux, played by Matthew Ashford, was killed off for a fourth time in an explosion-related elevator failure.
2012: Days of Our Lives Ranking Among Soap Operas
As of 2012, Days of Our Lives generally ranked No. 3 in total viewers among the four remaining daytime soap operas but had the lowest ratings in the 18-49 female demographic.
2012: Reintroduction of Eileen Davidson as Kristen Blake DiMera
In late 2012, Eileen Davidson was reintroduced in the role of Kristen Blake DiMera – one of six characters Davidson played during her original 1993–98 run on the show – after a fourteen-year absence.
February 27, 2013: ChoiceTV Announces Decision to Pick Up Series
On February 27, 2013, ChoiceTV in New Zealand announced their decision to pick up the series, Days of Our Lives.
March 11, 2013: Days of Our Lives Series Begins Broadcasting on ChoiceTV
On March 11, 2013, Days of Our Lives began broadcasting on ChoiceTV in New Zealand, starting with the series' 46th season (2011-12).
April 2013: Episodes Behind US Schedule
By April 2013, episodes of Days of Our Lives airing on the Nine Network in Australia were 16 months behind the US schedule before the show was axed.
April 26, 2013: Nine Network Axes Days of Our Lives
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
Days of Our Lives won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series in June 2013.
June 17, 2013: Days of Our Lives Resumes on Crackle
On June 17, 2013, Days of Our Lives resumed to Australian viewers free and on-demand through Sony's Crackle service, picking up where the Nine Network left off.
August 19, 2013: KSNV-DT Stops Carrying Days of Our Lives
On August 19, 2013, KSNV-DT in Las Vegas stopped carrying Days of Our Lives due to a move to an all-news schedule, and the program moved to KVCW.
September 2013: Renewal Through September 2013
On November 8, 2010, Days of Our Lives was renewed for two more years through September 2013, with an option for an additional year through 2014.
December 2013: Days aired on Soapnet until its closure
Days of Our Lives aired on the cable network Soapnet until its closure in December 2013.
December 20, 2013: ChoiceTV Removes Show for Summer Hiatus
By December 20, 2013, ChoiceTV had removed Days of Our Lives from their schedule for summer hiatus.
2013: Awards in 2013
In 2013, Days of Our Lives won a Daytime Emmy for Best Drama and a Writers Guild of America, East Award for Best Drama.
2013: Debut of JJ Deveraux and Theresa Donovan
In mid-2013, the show debuted new characters such as JJ Deveraux (Casey Moss) and Theresa Donovan (Jen Lilley) to appeal to younger viewers.
January 2014: Renewal Through September 2016
In January 2014, Days of Our Lives received a two-year renewal that was set to last until September 2016.
January 20, 2014: Crackle Releases Five Episodes Weekly
From January 20, 2014, Crackle began releasing five episodes of Days of Our Lives each week in Australia.
February 10, 2014: Series Resumes Airing on Choice TV
On February 10, 2014, Days of Our Lives resumed airing on Choice TV in New Zealand from episode 11,880.
April 15, 2014: Arena Begins Airing Episodes at Same Pace as US
On April 15, 2014, Arena in Australia began airing episodes of Days of Our Lives at the same pace as the US.
April 2014: Days of Our Lives Returns to Australian Television on Arena
In April 2014, Days of Our Lives returned to Australian television on Foxtel's channel Arena, with catch-up episodes and featuring key storylines missed during the 11-month hiatus.
December 2014: Days of Our Lives Returns to KSNV
In late December 2014, Days of Our Lives returned to KSNV in Las Vegas as part of a change in the all-news plans.
2014: Channel Drops Days of Our Lives
In 2014, CBC TV 8 in Barbados dropped Days of Our Lives, which had been running several years behind the U.S. schedule.
2014: Eileen Davidson Wins Best Actress
In 2014, Eileen Davidson, who played Kristen DiMera, won Best Actress.
February 9, 2015: Tomlin and Whitesell ousted
On February 9, 2015, Tomlin and Whitesell were ousted as head writers of Days of Our Lives.
February 16, 2015: Higley and Griffith take over as head writers
On February 16, 2015, Dena Higley and Josh Griffith took over as head writers for Days of Our Lives.
April 2015: Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series
Days of Our Lives won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series in April 2015.
August 2015: Higley takes a leave of absence
In August 2015, Dena Higley took a leave of absence from Days of Our Lives, and Beth Milstein would help Josh Griffith with the transition.
August 2015: Days removed from Hulu
In August 2015, the streaming service Hulu abruptly removed Days of Our Lives from its NBC program offerings.
August 24, 2015: Pop began airing same-day rebroadcasts
On August 24, 2015, Pop began airing same-day rebroadcasts of Days of Our Lives as part of an early-prime-time soap opera repeat block.
2015: Albert Alarr Named Co-Executive Producer
In 2015, Albert Alarr was named co-executive producer. Allegations arose that his behavior, which had been present for years, only increased after he received this promotion in 2015.
2015: Cast members return for 50th anniversary
In 2015, in celebration of the soap's fiftieth anniversary, several cast members returned to the soap, including Peter Reckell (Bo Brady), Stephen Nichols and Thaao Penghlis (as Andre DiMera).
2015: Nielsen Share and Ranking
The 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.
February 11, 2016: Renewal for One Year
On February 11, 2016, NBC renewed Days of Our Lives for one year, with the option of an additional year.
February 2016: Griffith departs as head writer, Ryan Quan promoted
In February 2016, Josh Griffith departed as head writer of Days of Our Lives, and Ryan Quan was promoted to replace him.
April 15, 2016: Pop dropped Days of Our Lives
Pop dropped Days of Our Lives from its lineup after the April 15, 2016, broadcast.
September 2016: Renewal Through September 2016
In January 2014, Days of Our Lives received a two-year renewal that was set to last until September 2016.
January 2017: Renewal Discussions
In January 2017, NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt discussed the potential renewal of Days of Our Lives, stating that a decision would be made in a couple of months.
January 23, 2017: Higley and Quan let go as head writers, Ron Carlivati named as replacement
On January 23, 2017, Dena Higley and Ryan Quan were let go from their positions as co-head writers of Days of Our Lives, and Ron Carlivati was named as Higley's replacement.
February 2017: Official Renewal for One Year
In February 2017, NBC officially renewed Days of Our Lives for an additional year.
July 19, 2017: Ron Carlivati's first episode
On July 19, 2017, Ron Carlivati's first episode as head writer aired, and Sheri Anderson would return to the soap, sharing the role of creative consultant with Quan.
March 2018: Renewal Through Fall 2019
In March 2018, NBC announced their decision to renew Days of Our Lives through fall 2019.
April 2018: Two Daytime Emmy Awards
Days of Our Lives won two Daytime Emmy Awards in April 2018: one for Outstanding Drama Writing Team and another for Outstanding Drama Series.
December 2018: Jack Deveraux's Return from the Dead
In December 2018, Jack Deveraux, played by Matthew Ashford, was brought back from the dead once more.
2018: Airing Episodes from 2018
From January to December 2020, Days of Our Lives aired in the United Kingdom on the Sony Channel with episodes from 2018.
January 2019: Renewal Through September 2020
In January 2019, NBC renewed Days of Our Lives through September 2020.
February 11, 2019: Lawsuit Filed Against Sony
On February 11, 2019, Corday Productions filed a breach of contract and fraud lawsuit against Sony Pictures Television, alleging that Sony placed Days of Our Lives at a competitive disadvantage.
February 2019: Carlivati signs new deal, Anderson departs
In February 2019, Ron Carlivati announced he had signed a new deal to continue as head writer, and Sheri Anderson announced her departure from the writing team.
November 12, 2019: Cast Released from Contracts
On November 12, 2019, it was reported that the entire cast of Days of Our Lives was released from their contracts in preparation for a planned production hiatus.
2019: NBC Stations Aired Days of Our Lives
From 2019 until 2022, most NBC stations aired Days of Our Lives at 1:00 p.m. local time.
January 29, 2020: Renewal Announced, Production to Resume in March
On January 29, 2020, NBC announced that Days of Our Lives had been renewed, and production would resume in March.
February 3, 2020: Cast and Crew Return to Set
On February 3, 2020, it was announced that the cast and crew of Days of Our Lives would return to set.
March 2020: Production Suspended Due to COVID-19
In March 2020, production on Days of Our Lives was suspended pending "further notice" due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
July 2020: Greg Meng let go
In July 2020, Greg Meng was let go after more than 30 years with the soap and Corday Productions.
July 2020: Production to Resume September 1
In July 2020, it was announced that production on Days of Our Lives would resume on September 1.
September 2020: Renewal Through September 2020
In January 2019, NBC renewed Days of Our Lives through September 2020.
December 2020: Days of Our Lives Pulled from Schedules in UK
In December 2020, Days of Our Lives was pulled from schedules on the Sony Channel in the United Kingdom with no explanation given.
April 2021: Production Paused for Renewal Negotiations
In April 2021, production of Days of Our Lives was paused, with NBC and Sony Pictures Television entering into renewal negotiations.
July 2021: Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem ordered
In July 2021, Peacock ordered a five-episode limited series titled Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem, featuring original cast members.
September 6, 2021: Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem premiered
On September 6, 2021, Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem, a five-episode limited series, premiered on Peacock, featuring Lisa Rinna and Deidre Hall, among others.
September 2021: Show renewed through September 2021
Ten days after the cast was released from their contracts, Deadline Hollywood announced that Days of Our Lives had been renewed through September 2021.
November 2021: Days of Our Lives: A Very Salem Christmas announced
In November 2021, Corday Productions announced a spin-off holiday film titled Days of Our Lives: A Very Salem Christmas with Chandler Massey and Davidson starring.
December 16, 2021: Days of Our Lives: A Very Salem Christmas premiered
On December 16, 2021, Days of Our Lives: A Very Salem Christmas, a spin-off holiday film, premiered on Peacock, starring Chandler Massey and Davidson.
2021: Four Network Daytime Serials Remain
As of 2021, "Days of Our Lives" is one of only four remaining network daytime serials, having witnessed a steady decline in viewers due to the rise of cable networks and alternative genres like reality and talk shows.
2021: Lisa Rinna criticizes work environment during Beyond Salem filming.
In 2021, Lisa Rinna filmed the first chapter of the spin-off series, Beyond Salem. Following reports of misconduct on the Days of Our Lives set, Lisa Rinna spoke out in support of the report and described the work environment as "disgusting" when she filmed Beyond Salem in 2021.
April 2022: Second chapter of Beyond Salem announced
In April 2022, a second chapter of five episodes of Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem was announced, scheduled to premiere from July 11 to 15, 2022. The casting of Kristian Alfonso and Reckell were also announced.
June 2, 2022: Additional cast members announced for Beyond Salem
On June 2, 2022, it was announced that Davidson, Christopher Sean, Vince Van Patten, and Loretta Devine had also been cast in Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem.
June 2022: Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Writing Team
Days of Our Lives won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Writing Team in June 2022.
August 3, 2022: Move to Peacock Announced
On August 3, 2022, NBCUniversal announced that Days of Our Lives would relocate exclusively to its Peacock streaming service beginning September 12.
September 9, 2022: Final NBC Broadcast
On September 9, 2022, Days of Our Lives aired its final episode on NBC after 57 years on the network.
September 12, 2022: Peacock Streaming Debut
On September 12, 2022, Days of Our Lives began streaming new episodes exclusively on Peacock after leaving NBC.
2022: NBC Stations Aired Days of Our Lives
From 2019 until 2022, most NBC stations aired Days of Our Lives at 1:00 p.m. local time.
2022: John Aniston's Death
In 2022, John Aniston, who portrayed Victor Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives since 1985, passed away.
March 15, 2023: Renewal Through 60th Anniversary
On March 15, 2023, Peacock renewed Days of Our Lives for two additional years, through its 60th anniversary.
July 25, 2023: Investigation against Albert Alarr for misconduct
On July 25, 2023, Deadline Hollywood reported an investigation against co-executive producer Albert Alarr for misconduct based on allegations from 30-40 individuals, predominately women, interviewed, claiming Alarr's abusive behavior, present for years, increased after his 2015 promotion, leading to cast discomfort and humiliation, and bullying of male actors, and women leaving the show. Alarr was quoted making sexually inappropriate comments. Following a nine-week investigation, Alarr received a written warning but remained in his position.
August 4, 2023: Alarr replaced by Drucker as co-executive producer
On August 4, 2023, Alarr was replaced by Drucker as co-executive producer, following allegations of misconduct on the part of Alarr and internal investigations.
August 2023: Ken Corday and Drucker split show-running duties
As of August 2023, Ken Corday splits show-running duties with Drucker as co-executive producer.
September 2023: Renewal Through September 2023
In May 2021, it was announced that NBC and Sony Pictures Television had reached a deal, renewing Days of Our Lives through September 2023.
October 2023: Ken Corday offers Arianne Zucker a "take it or leave it" deal
In October 2023, Ken Corday provided Arianne Zucker a "take it or leave it" deal following her meetings with Sony and Human Resources. This was part of a lawsuit that Zucker filed in February 2024, alleging sexual harassment and wrongful termination.
2023: Suzanne Rogers' 50th Anniversary
In 2023, Suzanne Rogers celebrated 50 years on Days of Our Lives.
January 2024: Arianne Zucker concludes filming
In January 2024, Arianne Zucker concluded filming in the role of Nicole Walker. This event was mentioned in context of her lawsuit against Corday Productions, Ken Corday, and Albert Alarr filed in February 2024.
February 2024: Arianne Zucker files lawsuit against Corday Productions, Ken Corday, and Albert Alarr
In February 2024, Arianne Zucker, known for playing Nicole Walker, filed a lawsuit against Corday Productions, Ken Corday, and Albert Alarr, alleging sexual harassment and wrongful termination, claiming nonconsensual sexual touching and inappropriate comments by Alarr, and a "take it or leave it" deal from Ken in October 2023, following meetings with Sony and Human Resources. Zucker concluded filming as Nicole in January 2024.
July 19, 2024: Carlivati departs as head writer, Cwikly and Ford named successors
On July 19, 2024, Ron Carlivati departed Days of Our Lives as head writer, with Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford named as his successors.
August 8, 2024: Judge rules in Zucker's favor
On August 8, 2024, a Los Angeles County judge ruled in favor of Arianne Zucker, allowing her lawsuit to proceed with a disputed portion seeking a formal order barring Alarr from harassing behavior in any future workplace.
November 2024: Days of Our Lives renewed through 2026
In November 2024, Days of Our Lives was renewed through its 61st season, ensuring its continuation through 2026.
December 2, 2024: 15,000th Episode Celebration
Days of Our Lives celebrated its 15,000th episode on December 2, 2024.
February 2025: Premiere of Beyond the Gates on CBS
In February 2025, a fourth daytime soap opera, Beyond the Gates, premiered on CBS.
March 28, 2025: Drucker would retire
On March 28, 2025, it was announced Drucker would retire, with her last day on set being May 2; Noel Maxam was named as her successor.
April 2025: Days of Our Lives Named Second-Top Streaming Program on Peacock
In an April 2025 report by Luminate, Days of Our Lives was named the second-top streaming program on Peacock, behind the American adaptation of the Love Island franchise.
April 23, 2025: Carlivati's material seen through April 23, 2025
Due to the soap's advanced taping schedule, Ron Carlivati's material was seen through April 23, 2025.
July 2025: Renewal Through 2028
As of July 2025, Days of Our Lives has been renewed through 2028.
July 2025: Peacock renews Days of Our Lives through its sixty-third season
In July 2025, Peacock renewed Days of Our Lives through its sixty-third season, which will occur during the 2027–2028 television season.
2026: Renewal of Days of Our Lives Ensures Continuation Through 2026
In November 2024, it was announced the soap had been renewed through its 61st season, assuring its continuation through 2026.
2027: Days of Our Lives' sixty-third season
In July 2025, it was announced Peacock had renewed the serial through its sixty-third season, which will occur during the 2027–2028 television season.
2028: Renewal Through 2028
As of July 2025, Days of Our Lives has been renewed through 2028.
2028: Days of Our Lives' sixty-third season
In July 2025, it was announced Peacock had renewed the serial through its sixty-third season, which will occur during the 2027–2028 television season.
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