Fans of Days of Our Lives have been really concerned lately because the recent storylines have not been working and the proof has been in the dismal ratings. The most vocal fans have been rallying for change, as they have watched old favorite characters get phased out in favor of newer ones. Apparently the powers-that-be have listened and agreed because a swift change has been made in the soap's head writers. New head writers have been hired to save the soap from cancellation later this year.
Beginning Feb. 16, Dena Higley and Josh Griffith will be at the helm of what is happening in Salem, replacing Gary Tomlin and Christopher Whitesell. Both incoming writers are familiar to soap fans. Higley has served as Days's head writer on two other occasions and Griffith has worked on One Life to Live and The Young & the Restless in recent years.
The only negative thing is that due to Days's taping schedule, the new head writers's work will not be on the air until July! That means fans will need to be patient and suffer through several more months of lackluster storylines before they will see a real change onscreen.
The biggest concern of all is whether or not Days will be picked up for renewal once negotiations begin later this year. The show is currently under contract until September 2016, but there is real reason to fear that when Corday Productions goes in to negotiate again with NBC and Sony Pictures Television, the conversation may turn to cancellation rather than renewal. The show will celebrate its 50th anniversary this November, and if by then the ratings have not begun to rebound, then it could easily be sacrificed in favor of a different kind of programming.
Unfortunately, soaps have become a dying breed, and Days of Our Lives has been sitting in last place in the ratings race for a little too long.
Do you think Higley's familiarity with some of the core cast members will help the show return to its roots and reel longtime fans back in, or do you think the writing is on the wall for this soap? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.
