Fans Afraid Sands May Be Running out of the Hour Glass for 'Days of Our Lives'

Soaps She Knows is reporting that then entire cast of the NBC daytime drama Days of our Lives has been released from their contracts. A report from TV Line is reassuring fans that the program is not being cancelled. Days currently shoots scenes on an eight month schedule and the desire is to return to a schedule of shooting two months in advance. The popular soaps opera is going on hiatus and if the contract is renewed, should be up and running in March of 2020. Days premiered on November 8, 1965, and recently celebrated its 54th anniversary. The program revolved around Tom and Alice Horton and their family. Recently John Clarke who portrayed original cast member Mickey Horton passed away. Susan Seathford Hayes who plays Julie has been on and off the show since 1968. Suzanne Rogers who began on the program in 1973 as Maggie continues to on the show as well.

There have been many twists and turns on Days of Our Lives and they recently did something that was previously unheard of in the world of daytime drama. The show time jumped one year ahead and will use flashbacks in order to fill in gaps. Jennifer is in a coma and when she wakes up an entire year will have gone by. She will have to be updated on all that has transpired while she was sleeping. Chandler Massey, who portrays Will Horton tweeted that the show is not being cancelled but because they are so far ahead with taping, they want things to catch up. Even with his reassurance, loyal viewers know that the actors must renew their contracts with Corday Productions who answers to Sony. As the old saying goes, "It's ain't over till it's over."

Newsweek quotes NBC execs as confirming that their one remaining daytime drama is not being cancelled but the actors have simply been laid off until further notice. The change in filming is a cost cutting measure and Newsweek says Days of Our Lives is "most likely" to be renewed. This is why viewers are worried about the residents of Salem. "Most Likely" is not a definite yes. A few years back there were rumors that NBC was going to cancel the show, but to the delight of fans it was renewed. TMZ and Entertainment Weekly are both reporting that the cast just wrapped up production of season 55 and there are enough episodes to run through 2020.

The show will remain on hiatus while negotiations are being worked out and the actors will be free to pursue other projects during this time. It is being emphasized that the cast of Days of Our Lives knew this day was coming and are not concerned about the situation. Even so some fans are hoping against hope that the sands have not finally run out of the hour glass. The NBC daytime drama has been struggling and fighting an uphill battle for ratings since the 1990s. Viewership declined during the O.J. Simpson trial, and were also affected by the switch from VCR's to DVD players.

Days actually reached its peak during the 1980s when super couples like Bo and Hope, Jack and Jennifer and Shane and Kimberly reigned. Times have changed and so have the viewing habits of a younger generation. If things go as planned, Days of Our Lives cast as well as loyal viewers will have nothing to worry about. The situation will resolve itself and the show will go on. It is wise, however to keep in mind that everything does have an expiration date. For the sake of all involved let's hope that date is well into the future for the Days cast and crew. Continue to watch the Salem action each weekday afternoon on NBC at 1:00 PM EST. Be on the lookout for spoiler alerts and updates related to this current situation.