In honor of Valentine's Day, some of the cast of DAYS share their favorite romantic moments. Find out when your favorite actors were swept off their feet in this stroll down memory lane!

DAYS Insider: What is the most romantic thing you believe your character has ever done?

Kate Mansi: Abby fights for Chad's acceptance into her family because they judge him unfairly because he is a DiMera. Fighting for what you love/believe in is romantic!

Molly Burnett: I loved when Mel was a candy striper and she completely opened herself up to Nathan in the park and asked him for a second chance.

Christie Clark: Set Austin free, so my DAD wouldn't arrest him.

Sarah Brown: Agreeing to stay with her husband to protect someone she loves.

Matt Ashford: When he sang "Wonderful Wonderful" to Jennifer. Neither liked to sing nor cared to sing but he sang all the way to the end for her and didn't wimp out.

Patrick Muldoon: Boxing match from the '90s (Carrie).

DAYS Insider: Who do you think takes the cake as the most romantic on-screen DAYS couple?

Kate Mansi: Maggie and Victor.

Molly Burnett: Alice and Tom. Hands down. Don't think I haven't done my research and watched their scenes.

Christie Clark: Strawberries and Cream - Marlena and John.

Sarah Brown: Brady and Madison for sure! We're all romance all the time.

Matt Ashford: Doug and Julie. They got nothing else to do unfortunately. Romance is really in the eye of the beholder. I thought Jack and Jennifer were pretty romantic when they were working side by side at the Spectator.

Patrick Muldoon: I would love to say Austin and Carrie, but unfortunately, things have been pretty rough, so I'm gonna go with the Strawberries and Cream, aka John and Marlena.

DAYS Insider: Describe your most romantic date.

Kate Mansi: Weekend in the wine country!

Molly Burnett: For me, romance doesn't come with wine and strawberries... It comes when you're at your most vulnerable and the guy you're with notices and puts his arm around you.

Christie Clark: Wine, live music and pizza.

Matt Ashford: Meeting at the top of the Empire State Building.

Patrick Muldoon: I don't date. I just somehow wake up one day and I'm in the middle of yet another long-term relationship. I'm not sure how it happens... It just... happens!

DAYS Insider: Describe your most memorable Valentine's Day.

Kate Mansi: My dad took my sister and me on a daddy/daughter date and we got to skip school!

Molly Burnett: Casey and I snuck away to Vegas at the last second.

Christie Clark: Pizza at home. (Do you see a trend?)

Matt Ashford: First one with Emma and Grace. There was candy and strawberries everywhere.

Patrick Muldoon: Valentine's Day is more of a thing you better not mess up as a guy... It's not romantic for us. It's a job... a performance you better not screw up... They all kind of blend together... You know? Stress, flowers, reservations, chocolate, champagne, stress. Lol.

DAYS Insider: What is your favorite romantic movie?

Kate Mansi: "Notting Hill" and "Harold and Maude"

Molly Burnett: "The Notebook." So cliche, but who's more epic than Allie and Noah?!

Christie Clark: "The Notebook"

Sarah Brown: "Love Story"

Matt Ashford: "To Kill a Mocking Bird" is the most romantic movie. My favorite scene is when he misses his wife hearing his kids talking about their mother.

Patrick Muldoon: "The Notebook." In fact, characters in that movie are a lot like Austin and Carrie.

DAYS Insider: What is your favorite romantic song?

Kate Mansi: Paolo Nutini, "Loving You"

Molly Burnett: "We Will Meet Again" by Pierce Pettis

Christie Clark: "I Only Have Eyes for You" by the Flamingos

Sarah Brown: "I'll Stand By You"

Matt Ashford: "Black Bird" - The Beatles

Patrick Muldoon: "I Only Have Eyes for You" - The Flamingos, or "My Girl" - The Temptations

DAYS Insider: What is your idea of the "perfect date"?

Kate Mansi: Hiking with my dogs and my date.

Molly Burnett: Take me to a sports game, or a Drake concert. I'm yours.

Sarah Brown: I think the perfect date is when you are completely focused on the other person. The world could explode around you, and you wouldn't look away from your lover's eyes.

Matt Ashford: One with the beginning, middle and end. One with a great story to it!

Patrick Muldoon: Hmmm... I don't care where we are or what happens... I like to laugh... Enjoy the moment... whatever the night brings... Perfect date is all about who you are with not where you are... Someone who can dig that. Feel me?

As part of the continuing arc of Jack's struggle with PTSD, DAYS had the opportunity to feature a number of U.S. Veterans who were kind enough to share their experiences on the show. One such Veteran, Leslie Nicole Smith, shared her story with us below in an exclusive interview.

DAYS Insider: Tell us a bit about yourself. In which branch of the military did you serve?

Leslie Nicole Smith: I served in the U.S. Army and Army National Guard. My last rank held was Captain.

DAYS Insider: Where/when were you deployed?

Leslie Nicole Smith:I was deployed to Bosnia from September 2001 - March 2002.

DAYS Insider: Are there any personal stories you'd like to share?

Leslie Nicole Smith: I volunteered to deploy to Bosnia where I served as a Public Affairs Officer in the Joint Visitors Bureau. My primary duty was to plan and execute itineraries for all of the distinguished visitors, including politicians and celebrities. I also had the incredible opportunity to work with the other multi-national forces stationed in Bosnia. However, the most meaningful aspect was the rewarding experience I had working right alongside the Bosnian people. They were so gracious and appreciative of our help to restore their towns and communities. Everyday, they would thank us for coming to help them rebuild their lives. This made such an impact on me I decided I wanted to stay for a second deployment. I truly did not want to leave.

Everything was just about set to remain for an additional tour. Two weeks before the end of my original deployment, I developed a blood clot in my left leg. I was informed that I would have to depart Bosnia. I was devastated and tried to convince the Commanding General and the Brigade Surgeon that I was fine and could at least return with my fellow service members in the Division. Unfortunately, I lost that argument and had to leave a country I had come to admire greatly.

When I arrived back in the States, I was admitted to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where I was diagnosed with a blood disorder. Even though I was placed on medicine, my condition took a sudden turn for the worse. My situation became so dire that the Army retired me immediately, and I was placed on imminent death status with only 24 hours to survive. My family was told to say goodbye to me at 10:00 p.m. as I would not live through the next morning. The social worker was called in to discuss funeral arrangements and asked my parents directly if they wanted me buried at Arlington National Cemetery or would they prefer to take my body home.

Luckily, the doctors and staff at Walter Reed continued to search for a cure and consulted other medical professionals around the country. They could not find a similar case, but presented my family with a final option in attempt to save me. The doctors explained there was a medicine to try as a last resort. However, there was no guarantee and could end my life immediately or cause a stroke or heart attack. Either way, I was going to die as my body was shutting down. My family decided to have the medicine administered and they waited.

My body responded and I improved slowly. I was rushed to surgery, but the doctors were not able to save my leg and my left leg was amputated at the knee. The first words I spoke upon waking up after the surgery that was going to change my life forever were, "I used to be a cheerleader." My Mom responded, "Yes and now you can be the coach."

Naturally, I went through the ups and downs with having lived through such a trauma. There are so many questions about how you will live your life and will you ever be normal again. So many times I said why me. Then I realized why not me. We are all on the same playing field and anything can happen to anyone at any time. It was at this very moment I realized I had a choice. I could roll over, give up and become a victim or I could make the best of my new challenge. I became determined to find the good and the purpose in everything that had happened to me.

It did not take long. I was still a patient when the injured troops started to return from Iraq and Afghanistan, most of them amputees. I would approach them in physical therapy and introduce myself. Often times they said they did not want anything and then I would pull up my pant leg exposing my prosthetic leg. At that very instant, we connected and I was able to answer questions and provide support.

Even though I was no longer able to wear the uniform and fight the fight, I had found a new mission in serving that was greater than I had ever expected. Finding this meaning gave me new strength and has empowered me to continue helping and inspiring others. I finally had understood my Mom's words and what it meant to be the coach.

I know this inner fortitude helped me overcome further complications from the blood disorder. Over the last several years, I have had significant vision loss leaving me legally blind. The only sight that remains is a small sliver across the top of my right eye. Little did I realize that the challenges from having lost my leg had actually built a foundation of courage and perseverance that has pulled me through this major life change. Still something was missing, and I did not want to go it alone anymore; so I applied for a service dog with Canines for Veterans. I was ecstatic to learn I would receive Issac, a yellow Lab and Golden Retriever mix, who had been only one day away from being put down at the shelter before being rescued as a potential service dog. Luckily for me, he was saved and started the training program. Issac graduated and was waiting for his special person. I was his special person.

We bonded immediately and have been inseparable since. Issac is my best friend and has changed my life by opening up my world and giving me renewed confidence. Issac provides unconditional love and emotional support that always makes me smile. He is always there for me especially when I drop something and he picks it up for me. He is truly my special guy, and I can not imagine life without him. I believe we were brought together, both of us having been given second chances. We make the perfect team, and it was so memorable for me to have Issac with me on the episode right by my side.

DAYS Insider: Do you feel that having a role in this episode might help reach some vets who struggle with PTSD?

Leslie Nicole Smith: You can imagine how honored I was to have a role in the Days of our Lives Veterans PTSD episode along with the other real deal veterans. Playing myself really allowed me to open up and honestly express my true feelings and experiences. By sharing my own struggles with PTSD, I feel strongly that veterans also struggling with PTSD were able to connect and relate to what each character represented and shared as well. I personally have used my local Vet Center and currently participate in both individual counseling and a support group for veterans. I always encourage others to utilize such available resources as they have helped me through so much. Unfortunately, many veterans suffer in silence and fear the stigma associated with seeking help for PTSD. This special episode can serve as a platform to start breaking the stereotype that veterans who seek counseling are perceived as weak. Bringing this much-needed topic to the front lines has exposed the reality of PTSD and created a national awareness that so many veterans and their families struggle daily with PTSD. I am so proud to have been a part of this Days of our Lives episode that took a step forward to create positive change by reaching out to encourage and inspire others.

DAYS Insider: We wish to thank Leslie and all veterans for their service to our country. This episode is available for viewing until Sunday, February 12th. Click here to watch!

Also, you can view a gallery of images from this storyline. Just click here!

Not even the thought of a torrential rainstorm could keep dedicated Days of our Lives fans from flocking to Universal City Walk for the annual Day of Days Fan Event. Starting at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 5th, bright-eyed and coffee-clutching fans lined the red carpet outside of the Hard Rock Cafe hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite Salemite. At around the same time, the actors munched on bagels and fueled up on coffee in the press room. Griffin and Aaron Kunitz, the adorable six-year-old twins that play Johnny DiMera, were spotted asking everyone in the room, "Who do you play? I play Johnny!"

The die-hard Days viewers were given an exclusive Days of our Lives gift bag upon arrival, complete with all of the Days' necessities: autograph cards for each actor, a schedule and map for autograph signings, a "I <3 Days of our Lives" bumper sticker, a list of scavenger hunt tasks and other fun Days' swag like Countess Wilhemina chapstick.

Red carpet introductions of each actor and beloved Days couple kicked off the festivities. James Scott, who plays EJ, got the loudest screams from all of the ladies who came to see the handsome actor in the flesh. After introductions, fans clad in "EJ for Mayor" and "I Love Days" T-shirts lined up and waited in line for close to an hour to get autographs and photos with their favorite Days' actors. One super lucky fan got a chance to sit on Drake Hogestyn's (John Black) lap for a once-in-a-lifetime photo op.

The actor meet and greets were the highlight of the day, but attendees also enjoyed other fan-centric activities throughout the event. The first 25 people to finish the scavenger hunt, which included tasks like taking a photo of their favorite Days' couple, won another gift bag with Salem University merchandise. Other prize packages, including a Sony digital camera, a signed Days of our Lives script and other fun Days' swag were also raffled off to two lucky fans.

Meanwhile, in the press room, actors did their press rounds in pairs and fielded questions from reporters, including our own Days of our Lives Fan-bassador, Kayla Cagan. Days' followers tweeted questions to Kayla, and she tweeted answers and exclusive photos throughout the event. Galen Gering (Rafe Hernandez) and Eric Martsolf (Brady Black) both said that doing the interviews was one of the best parts of the event... second only to connecting with all of their fans, of course.

Speaking of fans, we asked these surreally handsome guys if they had any fun fan stories to share. Eric once had a fan at a bar in his hometown send him 10 drinks - five for Brady and five for Eric. He drank one for Eric and one for Brady, then gave the rest away. Galen is grateful when fans tell him that they schedule their lives around watching him on TV and that "...it's amazing when people say they've loved me since 'Passions.' It's really flattering."

Gift bags weren't the only treats for these devoted fans. The Days of our Lives band covered their favorite pop songs for a special concert during the lunch break. Molly Burnett, who plays Melanie Jonas, showcased her beautiful singing voice with The Band Perry's "If I Die Young" before everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to Days. Eric hit the stage with a natural rock star swagger for "Bad to the Bone" before introducing Kyle Lowder (who previously played Brady Black) as "The Artist Formally Known as... well... as me!" Kyle covered Kings of Leon's "Sex on Fire" before handing it off to Bill Hayes, who closed the show out with "I'm Too Sexy" complete with Molly and Kate Mansi (Abby) as his back-up dancers.

The Q&A session at the end of the day allowed fans to get cozy with the stars. Questions were answered but hug requests were all unfortunately denied. Suzanne Rogers (Maggie Horton) received a marriage proposal from a woman, on behalf of her father. (We wonder what Victor thought of that?) Galen spoke about his hope that the "Dirty Soaps" reality show would draw more attention to Days and broaden their fan base. Young Terrell Ransom, Jr. (Theo Carver) was quite the charming gentleman. When a fan asked which cast member he liked to share backstage time, he answered that he liked spending time with his co-star, Lauren Boles (Ciara Brady).

Days devotees couldn't let a Q&A session go by without getting their character questions in. Should Daniel play the field? Shawn Christian responded that his mother (Maggie) will probably reel Daniel in and keep him from straying. Some fans voiced concern about the difficulty of following the family tree, at which John Aniston quipped, "I am my own grandfather."

Fans started the cold Day of Days event empty-handed and scared of the rain and left with armfuls of Days swag and memories that will last them for the rest of the days of their lives.

We caught up with Drake Hogestyn about the exciting return of his character, John Black, to Days of our Lives. Read the full interview below!

Days Insider: What did you miss most about being on DAYS?

Drake Hogestyn: The actors and creative process -- studying, rehearsal, performance and result.

Days Insider: How (if at all) do you feel your character has changed since we last saw him?

Drake Hogestyn: He's more determined than ever to establish his own identity as John Black.

Days Insider: Whom are you most excited about working with again?

Drake Hogestyn: Marlena (the love story continues), Stefano (the battle continues), Brady. I'm embracing the opportunity to reconnect with my son. Eric [Martsolf]'s great.

Days Insider: How does your bridge between the Bradys and DiMeras affect the way you approach your character? Do you see John as a peacekeeper among the families?

Drake Hogestyn: Keep friends close, enemies closer. John will not start the fight, but he'll finish it.

Days Insider: What do you think makes Marlena and John a couples for the ages?

Drake Hogestyn: Loyalty, trust, and undeniable sexual chemistry.

Days Insider: What can we expect from the relationship between Stefano and John?

Drake Hogestyn: There is much unfinished business between the two. The chess match is continuing until the pawn wins.

Days Insider: Any steamy love scenes on the horizon for John and Marlena?

Drake Hogestyn: Just finished one...

We caught up with Deidre Hall about the exciting return of her character, Marlena Evans, to Days of our Lives. Read the full interview below!

Days Insider: What did you miss most about being on DAYS?

Deidre Hall: The sex - now that I have your attention. That's only part of the answer. Doing any TV show means being touched by everyone in your environment. I definitely missed makeup, hair and wardrobe, and not to mention the gorgeous, sexy leading men and being made love to ("kinda") by them.

Days Insider: How (if at all) do you feel your character has changed since we last saw her?

Deidre Hall: Having spent two and half years fighting for John's very survival, the couple has become closer than ever before and capable of facing anything together. There is an added element of humor in their relationship that grew out of the need for playfulness and fun during John's recovery.

Days Insider: Whom are you most excited about working with again?

Deidre Hall: Johnny Handsome, Big Mike and the Chief (the men who stand and serve).

Days Insider: What is your favorite storyline from the past?

Deidre Hall: Possession.

Days Insider: What do you think makes Marlena and John a couple for the ages?

Deidre Hall: They have grown closer and stronger with time, and let neither people nor circumstances tear them apart.

Days Insider: Sami has changed so much. How will Marlena reunite with her daughter and her growing grandson, Will?

Deidre Hall: I know that Marlena has an incredibly close tie to Will; they will continue to be a strong force on the landscape.

Days Insider: Do you think Marlena's character will accept her son-in-law, Rafe, with open arms?

Deidre Hall: Absolutely.

Days Insider: Any steamy love scenes on the horizon for John and Marlena?

Deidre Hall: The strawberries are chilling as we speak!

Click here to watch an exclusive video interview with Deidre Hall!

We caught up with Matthew Ashford about the exciting return of his character, Jack Deveraux, to Days of our Lives. Read the full interview below!

Days Insider: What did you miss most about being on DAYS?

Matthew Ashford: The families.

Days Insider: How (if at all) do you feel your character has changed since we last saw him?

Matthew Ashford: He's had experiences that have really caused him to re-examine his life.

Days Insider: Whom are you most excited about working with again?

Matthew Ashford: Billy Jack Johnson Harcourt Deveraux!

Days Insider: What is your favorite storyline from the past?

Matthew Ashford: Working side by side with Jennifer in the early days of the Spectator newspaper.

Days Insider: How do we see Jack's return affecting the relationship between Jen and Dan?

Matthew Ashford: Dan who?

Days Insider: Do you think Jack deserves to be forgiven by Jennifer?

Matthew Ashford: You mean because he wasn't there when she had her heart removed and replaced? Yes, his bad. But she has a big heart... now that it's back in place. I'm hoping she'll have room for him in it.

Days Insider: How is Jack's relationship with his daughter, Abigail, who is now a young woman?

Matthew Ashford: Well, it could use a little repair/tune-up.

Click here to watch an exclusive video interview with Matthew Ashford!

We caught up with Christie Clark about the exciting return of her character, Carrie Brady, to Days of our Lives. Read the full interview below!

Days Insider: What did you miss most about being on DAYS?

Christie Clark: Acting, hair, wardrobe, all the fun stuff we get to do while on set! Haha!

Days Insider: How (if at all) do you feel your character has changed since we last saw her?

Christie Clark: Stronger and complete - everything is going well for her, and she knows who she is.

Days Insider: Whom are you most excited about working with again?

Christie Clark: Patrick! I missed working with him, especially with our history of playing Carrie and Austin. But, of course, I am also glad to be back with all my co-stars as well.

Days Insider: What is your favorite storyline from the past?

Christie Clark: When I was playing an extra on a movie and set the whole set on fire!

Days Insider: Will the return to Salem push Austin and Carrie into conflict?

Christie Clark: Absolutely! They are definitely going to fight to stay together!

Days Insider: Are there any plans for Carrie and Austin to have a baby?

Christie Clark: I sure hope so; I'd love to play that part!

Days Insider: Will half-sisters Sami and Carrie be able to put aside their differences and reconcile?

Christie Clark: Yes, I think so; I really hope that they do. I'd like for them to be very close.

Days Insider: What challenges did you face portraying Carrie as a hard-hitting lawyer?

Christie Clark: I think it was knowing that I could do that. I definitely had to go and character study; I shadowed a friend of mine who is an attorney to prep for that. It was interesting for me to play that role seeing as how it is so far from my true personality.

Don't forget to read the Q&A with Patrick Muldoon, too! Read now!

Click here to watch an exclusive video interview with Christie Clark!

We caught up with Patrick Muldoon about the exciting return of his character, Austin Reed, to Days of our Lives. Read the full interview below!

Days Insider: What did you miss most about being on DAYS?

Patrick Muldoon: The people I get to work with. Cast and crew. What can I say? I always had a great time when I went to work on DAYS. I can't say that about every gig I've had. But I can say it about DAYS. We do have fun together.

Days Insider: How (if at all) do you feel your character has changed since we last saw him?

Patrick Muldoon: He grew up. I didn't... but Austin did - haha. He's married. He's got a real job. He seems together and grounded when he comes back to Salem. Good luck with that Austin.

Days Insider: Whom are you most excited about working with again?

Patrick Muldoon: Of course Christie since we are great pals in real life. Drake makes me laugh like no one else; and Ali somewhere along the way became a woman, so that's been a trip. I remember her screen test! I think she was 16?

Days Insider: What is your favorite storyline from the past?

Patrick Muldoon: That's a tough question. I loved the whole story of Reed's and Brady's. But I'll never forget the moment where Austin discovered Kate was his mother.

Days Insider: Will your return push Carrie and Austin into conflict?

Patrick Muldoon: They definitely will have their work cut out for them.

Days Insider: What's in store for Sami and Austin, given their torrid past?

Patrick Muldoon: All the history is there between them. They could be talking about the weather, but it's always just under the surface with them. But Sami seems to have pulled it together having a family now. Potentially anything can happen when Sami is involved.

Days Insider: How will Austin deal with his mother Kate's close involvement with the crime-ridden DiMeras?

Patrick Muldoon: How will he deal with it? He hates it! And so does Patrick! I mean... Come on, Mom!! Stefano DiMera!!?? Are you @#$%^&* kidding me!!!?????

Don't forget to read the Q&A with Christie Clark, too! Read now!

Click here to watch an exclusive video interview with Patrick Muldoon!

In the 4th of July special, the characters of Days imagine themselves playing out a scene from a 2010 Oscar-nominated movie. We caught up with the actors to learn a little more about the experience of switching out their Days persona for a completely unique experience.

How did you prepare to play your character?

MOLLY BURNETT: Peter and I watched "True Grit"!

KATE MANSI: My character was one of the more minor roles, so I didn't have to do too much research. I watched the films I was portraying characters from ("The Fighter" and "The Social Network") and a few others I felt were in the same vein ("Gone Baby Gone," "The Town" and "Up in the Air").

JUDI EVANS: I watched "The Fighter" a few times and attempted to speak with a Boston accent for a few weeks in my downtime around the house.

How was shooting the scene different for you than working on a regular Days episode?

MOLLY BURNETT: I've never worn anything that hot in my life! Wool is a very uncomfortable fabric!

KATE MANSI: It was different in one major way: I was coming in and out of playing my character on Days, Abigail Deveraux, and one of the sisters from "The Fighter" and a lawyer in "The Social Network."

JUDI EVANS: I was a little more nervous than usual. So much pressure... so little time... lol.

What was your favorite part about shooting your scene?

MOLLY BURNETT: When all the girls were in their blond wigs for "The Fighter"! That was hysterical!

ERIC MARTSOLF: The best part of my shoot was the steak. Needless to say, I didn't have to visit the commissary that day, since we did four takes of my consuming "meat."

KATE MANSI: It's always exciting to play a new character and it presents a bit of a challenge as well, so my favorite part was the opportunity to switch into a new role as well as the opportunity to practice the Boston accent.

JUDI EVANS: Watching Eric Martsolf... he is sooooo funny.

Did you feel at all personally connected to the character you were playing?

MOLLY BURNETT: Well Mattie from "True Grit" is a little spitfire, which I'd like to think I connect to. :)

ERIC MARTSOLF: Playing "The Fighter" wasn't a stretch... Brady seems to be having his fair share of brawls these days! This episode actually marked the first line swapping I shared with Judi Evans. What can I say... The woman is not inhibited in the least. Reminds me of myself. Love her.

KATE MANSI: I made it personal by creating a full character although she was one of the minor roles in the whole flashback scenarios.

JUDI EVANS: Oh yes. I come from a long line of trailer park folk.

Was it a strange experience playing a character other than your Days persona?

MOLLY BURNETT: Well sure but every character is strange and different and fun!

KATE MANSI: It was not strange to play a character other than Abigail; however, it WAS strange to switch between the two simultaneously. But strange in a fun way!

JUDI EVANS: Not really. Days has allowed me to play more than one character, so that was comforting.

Of all the movie spoofs, which one was your personal favorite?

MOLLY BURNETT: I think "The Fighter" is hilarious!

KATE MANSI: "The Fighter" was my favorite because for the entire day since our wigs went on us ladies were talkin' smack and living the lives of those tough females.

JUDI EVANS: I haven't seen the others, so I'll have to say "The Fighter."

Did anything funny happen on set that you'd like to share?

MOLLY BURNETT: Peter kept walking into the chickens hanging in the "True Grit" set. Those things are dangerous!

KATE MANSI: We all had a blast doing this episode because we were challenged to go outside our comfort zones to try on a new role. In "The Social Network" scene, I accidentally pulled the chair out from Judy and she fell on her bum! I was mortified! But she stayed in character like a pro! All in good fun - she forgave me, thank God! But I didn't hear the end of that one for a couple weeks! It was fun to see the little one - Lauren - dressed up like one of the sisters from "The Fighter" - she was like a tough little lady and fit right in; but we all had so much fun in hair and makeup being those characters (sisters), accents included - all day long!

JUDI EVANS: Eric Martsolf was in the scene... nuff said!

View more photos from this episode! Click here.

"DAYS OF OUR LIVES" REVITALIZES WITH SWEEPING CHANGES TO BRING BACK ROMANCE AND BELOVED CHARACTERS

NBC's Longest-Running Scripted Series Hits the Reset Button with a New Writing Team, Cast Additions and a New Producing Team

(Los Angeles, CA) Thursday, June 14, 2011 - Executive Producer Ken Corday is resetting "Days of our Lives" with the simple yet successful formula of centering the show around romance and the characters fans know and love. "It's time to make a more positive, romantic, and intriguing show driven by the power of heroic love. I'm very excited about the new adventure we are about to take which is based on the show that my parents created 45 years ago."

"Days of our Lives" initiated a strong direction of change by appointing a new head writing team consisting of Marlene McPherson and Darrell Ray Thomas. The successful writing duo plan to change the direction of the show as they tell contemporary stories based on the solid foundation of the "Days" history of family, romance, and intrigue. McPherson and Thomas commented, "New fans will find many reasons to stay, and longtime fans will find many reasons to return."

Launching with a grand event in the fall, big surprises will be coming to Salem.

Co-Executive Producer Noel Maxam, who has been a producer on the show for four years, and Co-Executive Producer Greg Meng, who has been Executive in Charge of Production for over ten years, will work together as a team. "The new writing team has already generated much excitement with the compelling stories they have written, and we plan to translate those stories to the screen with a refreshed look," commented Greg Meng.

Ken Corday commented, "I am confident these changes will bring back excitement and anticipation to our family of fans as they tune in each day to see what happens. You won't want to miss a single episode of the new 'Days' ahead!"

Days fans fondly remember Miss Calliope Jones, the fashionable doyenne of Salem. With her often over-the-top hats and colorful style, she was a fan favorite during her run on Days of our Lives. We got a chance to catch up with the talented actress who portrayed Calliope, Arleen Sorkin. She was kind enough to field a few questions from the fans.

What's your all-time favorite episode of Days?
Being a beatnik with MacDonald Carey. Who, by the way, told me that children fans of his used to think he said "this is my dumb old carrot and these are the 'Days of our Lives.'"

What was your favorite episode to shoot? Favorite Calliope plotline?
When Calliope played a robot. I got paid for playing two parts.

What are you doing now?
I'm a writer, producer, and happily married to the co-creator of Modern Family, Christopher Lloyd. I have two children, both of whom bare an uncanny resemblance to John Delancie. One is 12 and one is 16.

Which do you enjoy more, voice-over or live acting? How are they different?
Voice-over. Because you don't have to comb your hair.

Did you have a hand in designing Calliope's wardrobe?
Yes, with the creativity of the late Lee Smith and the entire wardrobe department. And the fans that used to send me earrings. And of course, Lunch at the Ritz, that made my finest ones.

What helped inspire or influence your interpretation of Calliope's character?
Sherry Anderson wrote me and named me. And Shelley Curtis, now Shelley Litvak, the producer, told me that she saw Cyndi Lauper and she was my inspiration. Which was perfect because later Cyndi Lauper gave an interview where she said that she wanted a wedding dress like this girl she saw on a soap, whose dress sparked with lights when the groom kissed her. That was Calliope's wedding dress on New Year's Eve when she married Eugene. And Cyndi Lauper just happened to be home that day, watching TV.

Do you still like strawberry soda and beef jerky?
In the script, I was supposed to have strawberry soda and bananas. I hate bananas. So I switched it to beef jerky.

How did you like acting with John de Lancie?
I loved it. His two roommates at Juilliard were William Hurt and Mandy Patinkin. And even though I kept telling him that he was having more fun than them on Days of our Lives with me, I don't think he believed me until we left the show.

Do you keep in touch with John de Lancie?
Yes. At his birthday party, I told the story of how I once went into his dressing room and he was sitting on the toilet reading the paper, unembarrassed. And I screamed at him, "We're not really married. Shut the door!"

Did you form any lasting friendships with the other actors on the show?
Yes. Leann Hunley was one of my many friends on the show. On my very first day of work, she came up to me quietly. And I thought she was going to say, "Stay out of my light, don't step on my lines..." But instead she said, "When you come onto the set, bring a sweater. It gets cold." And I felt very protected.

What do you think is the future of daytime soaps?
My grandmother used to cook to the soaps. She'd say, "I put the brisket in before 'Guiding Light,' I taste and flavor the sauce during 'Secret Storm,' and I take it out after 'The Edge of Night.'" I still have the recipe she printed. I once heard Joanne Woodward say that daytime soaps are our country's repertory theatre. It would be a shame to lose it. Which is why I would like to tell the fans that anything they see advertised on their shows, buy it. Because if they don't, all we will have are talk shows, judge shows, and other shows with people behaving badly.

What happened to the android that Eugene built of Calliope in 1989?
She's in features now and too big to talk to you.

For more Arleen Sorkin images, check out the "Something About Calliope" photo gallery. CLICK HERE!

I recently visited the set of Days of our Lives and had a nice interview with the always charming Shawn Christian. He's always a pleasure to talk to and seems to always have smile on his face when I bump into him. In this interview, I wanted to get to know how he feels about his character, Dr. Daniel Jonas, and the recent changes his character is going through.

Days' Insider: So, diving right in. Should we talk about your current storyline on the show?

Shawn: My character has taken some very crazy and wild turns recently. Somebody texted, Tweeted, or emailed me to point out that I have managed to get every fan base of the show to hate me. The Phloes hate me, the Broes hate me, the Carbos hate me, even the Bopes hate me because I can't get Carly away from Bo so he can be with Hope. So, I guess Daniel is just a big loser.

Days' Insider: But you did take out a heart and save Jennifer Horton's life!

Shawn: I did! I'll be winning a Nobel Peace Prize for that action. What can I say; Daniel has his own unorthodox techniques. Look, he had to make do with what he had inside that prison cell. The place was archaic. At least we had smocks and a cooler with a heart!

Days' Insider: How did you feel when you first heard about this heroic action?

Shawn: When I imagined it in my mind. I had the sense of this Frankenstein-like set. It wasn't that bad, but the technique itself was very Frankenstein. And I got to perform the surgery on Jennifer with my own daughter. Look, I think it's fantastic, that's the beauty of the part. I can do an eye surgery on a little boy, while his wife is losing her mind; my daughter's getting pregnant by the guy who knocked up my fiancée. It's a wonderful and colorful and unpredictable character. I love playing Daniel because there's always a challenge of the day, and then all of my storylines get woven together. It's like juggling chainsaws, you know, if I really juggled chainsaws.

Days' Insider: It seems like Daniel has a lot of female friends in Salem. He's really trying to be the stand-up guy when women need him most. Would you agree?

Shawn: I'm not going to pat Daniel on the back or anything. The man is no angel and definitely has his demons for sure. What's interesting is now he's discovering a part in his daughter's life and not be self-righteous with Philip or Chloe, because he, himself, has never made apologies for his own behavior. It's part of that nature with playing Daniel. You don't know what his behavior will be like on any given day because he throws himself into these situations. All of his actions come with a price, and with me, I take the good and the bad.

Days' Insider: I think as long as fans are buzzing about you, that means you're doing a good job.

Shawn: Yeah, definitely. The complexity that the writers have given my character makes me so grateful.

Days' Insider: Can you give fans a hint of what's to come for your character in Salem?

Shawn: What can I say? Expect the unknown. Daniel's going back into the unknown himself. He really is treading new waters and that's his state of mind. He's going to throw himself into wherever he's needed and not really concern himself with his surroundings. After all, how much worst can it get for this guy?

Days' Insider: Well, don't ask that question in Salem.

Shawn: You're right, I shouldn't! (Laughs)

Any time spent with Shawn is time well spent. As always, I'm appreciative of his taking the time to sit down and talk to me. I can't wait to see what's next for. Dr. Daniel. After all, think of the possibilities he has with some very lucky ladies in Salem.

By now, I'm sure many of you Days fans are getting used to seeing Natalia Livingston's character, Taylor, hanging out in Salem. I interviewed Natalia during her first week on the show and she was as nice as one can be. I wanted to do a follow-up interview with Natalia, now that she's settled into her new role in Salem, and see how she feels about playing Nicole's younger sister.

Days' Insider: Now that you've had a few weeks to adjust to your new character on Days, how are you feeling?

Natalia: It's been great. I love it here on Days. It's been great getting to know everyone. There really are some very wonderful people I see every day. And I'm really enjoying the character of Taylor. Slowly I'm figuring her out.

Days' Insider: Do you like playing a part in the EJ/Nicole/Taylor triangle?

Natalia: I think it's incredible. I really like working with James Scott, he's a great actor and very passionate about what he does. I'm thinking if Taylor and EJ continue on this road they're going down, it will create some great conflict with her sister Nicole. I think Taylor really does love her sister so much, and she really wants to make a relationship work with her.

Days' Insider: I find that relationship amusing because everybody seems to encourage Taylor to stay in Salem except for Nicole, who treats her like a stray dog.

Natalia: (laughs) I know, I know!

Days' Insider: So, besides James and Arianne, are there any other actors you've been working with on the show?

Natalia: I really love Renee Taylor and Jim Reynolds who play Abe and Lexie. They are the sweetest pair of actors you can find. They really like to rehearse and we spend a lot of time in our dressing rooms going over our scenes.

Days' Insider: For fans that are wanting to know how your storyline will develop, can you give them a little hint?

Natalia: I think my character will fall in love. I won't tell you with whom, but I can tell you she'll fall head over heels for someone in Salem.

Remember, we're talking about Days of our Lives. So, we may have our guesses on who Taylor's love interest will be, but Salem is known for its many twists and turns, so I guess we'll have to tune in and find out! Hope you enjoyed my interview with Natalia and all share my enthusiasm for watching this new character interact with other favorites in Salem.

You can watch Natalia's video interview here.

I recently had the job of heading over to the land of Salem and hanging out with the always-entertaining Galen Gering. We chatted about his current storyline and what fans can expect.

Days Insider: Are you having fun with your new storyline?

Galen: It's such a blast. I mean to play a total opposite character. Seriously, everyday, I love feeling challenged as an actor. It's a great opportunity for departure from the everyday Rafe. It's funny, all the crew guys around here are commenting, "This new guy is great. He's such a dirty hound dog."

Days Insider: What did you first think when you picked up the script?

Galen: Our Executive Producer Gary Tomlin told me a few weeks prior and I was super excited. I had done a similar storyline over at "Passions" for about a week, so the scope of this was familiar. As I dig into these two characters deeper, I get to know them better. I think we'll see more and more of this Rafe imposter's personality and that allows me to explore him more and more as an actor.

Days Insider: Do you see yourself in any of the two characters you're playing?

Galen: I see myself in both characters. Rafe 2 is definitely mischievous and has a wicked sense of humor. I think Rafe has his funny moments, too, but he's not as abrasive, more refined. Then again, they both are very different than me, too.

Days Insider: Do you welcome a challenge like this as an actor?

Galen: Definitely. Especially, the pace we move here on the set, you know sometimes I feel like shooting myself. It's one of those situations, be careful what you wish for, but so far, my work has been really well-received and it's been an incredible rollercoaster ride. One of the things I'm saying is, that I've been playing the Rafe 2 character for so long, it's going to be a fun challenge to get back into Rafe's shoes and make him more significant in the love story. This new Rafe 2 has no filter, so in the meantime, I'll just have fun with him.

Days Insider: Going back to the love story, I think "SAFE" fans are the most vocal fans, along with Ejami fans. Why do you think the Sami and Rafe love story appeals to fans?

Galen: Well, fans are invested in the characters. It's always a great thing. The Ejami fans are the same way. The SAFE fans follow what Sami and Rafe have gone through. These two got together, had some great times, then had some very serious drama to deal with. Whether it was a child passing away, to a son having eye cancer, or a sister dying in a car accident. The scale was always tipped against them and they were never able to really have their moment of fun. Keeping in mind, this was very hard for us as actors to segue these moments where we can show the chemistry between these two characters. Certainly, I believe Sami and Rafe have incredible chemistry, so it works and the fans are willing to fight for it and we appreciate that, too.

Days Insider: Is it always surprising to see how far Rafe would go for love?

Galen: Yeah, totally. Especially, when he was seducing Nicole to get information about Sydney's kidnapping. I think Rafe is somebody who will forgive the people he loves, but not the people that he despises and I think Nicole is one of those people he despises for all the pain she's caused to Sami. Rafe also feels Nicole is partially responsible for being a catalyst for a lot of bad things that have happened to Sami. Rafe is the guy who will always stand by the woman he loves to no end.

Days Insider: One last question, what can fans tune in for in the upcoming weeks on Days?

Galen: Oh wow! They can tune in for this incredible, crazy, emotional rollercoaster ride with this new Rafe imposter. I would say in all the years as an actor, figuring out what storylines are going to work and how it's going to affect people, I think this is really exciting and fun and certainly I hope it translates to the screen.

Days Insider: Well, you are doing a great job and you are definitely making this storyline fun and entertaining.

Galen: Thank you!

I hope you enjoyed my interview with Galen. I'm eager to hear your thoughts on the two Rafes. I don't know about you, but I can tell he's having the ride of his life with this storyline. Can't wait to see how it plays out!

Some of you may think you recognize the actress playing Lee, another prisoner serving time alongside Hope, and you should! Robin Mattson has been actively working in daytime television for over 30 years since she starting out on "Guiding Light." Since then, she's played everything from sweet to downright nasty characters on "General Hospital," "Ryan's Hope," "Santa Barbara," "All My Children," "The Bold and the Beautiful," "As the World Turns," and now "Days of our Lives."

I had a chance to catch up with Robin and talk about her latest role on Days.

Days Insider: How has your time been so far on the set of Days?

Robin: Oh, it's been good. I mean, the process is kind of shocking. Things go so quickly and you hope you land something you want on the first take 99 percent of the time, and if you wish you did a little more of this or a little more of that, well... maybe next time! But, Kristian [Alfonso] and Gina [Gallego] are so great about rehearsing.

Days Insider: Are you working with any actors you've worked with before on other soaps?

Robin: Gina! Gina is wonderful, we have a similar way of working and it's a very compatible relationship. When you put that together with Kristian, it's great. They both love to run lines, so that's been great. When it comes to shooting the scene, you don't even have to think about your lines, you know them. It's all there.

Days Insider: Are you more of a fan of playing the bad girl character or the sweet girl character?

Robin: Well, I think they don't let me play nice anymore! The character I am playing now is pretty quirky and offbeat and she's seen it all and she's irritated. I put my own personal spin on my characters, but believe me, that doesn't mean I use personal experiences! Looking at my character, she has her own special point of view. She's certainly very personified. My husband is great at running lines with me at home and helping me explore this character.

Days Insider: Do you ever get tired of the orange jumpsuit every day?

Robin Mattson: Oh, I accepted that on day one. I was over it the first time I stepped into wardrobe. It's okay!

Days Insider: Do you have a favorite overall character that you've played?

Robin Mattson: I would have to say Gina on "Santa Barbara," particularly playing opposite Justin Deas, was probably as good of a time that you can have on daytime. Not as many people probably saw this character compared to Heather on "General Hospital" or Janet on "All My Children" but the bizarre things they let Justin and I do on the show and the fact that in my opinion he's so damn funny... I learned a lot about comedic timing that I didn't really get before. He was really interesting to work with and he gave a lot. Of course, also working with Kin Shriner was one of my all-time great memories on "General Hospital," when Scottie and Heather were wreaking havoc. Working with him is always a great time.

There you have it! My wonderful interview with the one and only Robin Mattson. Can't wait to see what twists and turns are in store for her character and for Hope in the near future! Keep watching, we are all in store for a great December!

Mark Hapka also joined Jay Kenneth Johnson, Eric Martsolf, Shawn Christian and Arianne Zucker in Philadelphia for the Habitat for Humanity build. I sat down with Mark to talk to him about it.

Days Insider: I was hoping you could talk a little bit about the Philadelphia trip?

Mark: Should I tell you EVERYTHING!? (Arianne Zucker was in the background during this question, shaking her head and laughing.) In between eating amazing guacamole and Philly cheesesteaks, we went out to Philadelphia to also help Habitat for Humanity, which was a lot of fun. We framed a lot of walls and doors for this family. The kids helped out, too. We didn't realize how much work we were doing, because we were having such a good time. I can't wait to do this even more. Made us realize we were capable of doing things we didn't think we could really pull off.

Days Insider: What did you take away from this experience as the importance of it all?

Mark: They were giving us the statistics with how many vouchers they have given out for Habitat for Humanity and how many applications they received and it's alarming. I'm aware people need homes, but did not realize it's as bad as it is. But, when you see everybody helping out, you see this is what really matters.

Days Insider: What was the impact of actually meeting the family that this house for?

Mark: It was great, it made me want to do a better job. To really know you're building this family a home so their kids can have warm memories that can remain for the rest of their lives. The little three-year-old girl that will be moving in jumped into my arms and didn't let go. We saw what some of these houses look like after completed and it's cool to think I'm going to be part of this one.

Days Insider: Are you a natural-born handyman?

Mark: I was, but I think I lost it along the way when I found a job that pays without having to do this kind of labor. I always have been. Growing up, I would sit in my room and want to invent things and create things. When I was five years old, we'd always go to my nani's for Thanksgiving and I wanted to bring something. So, I took one of my red blocks and found a hammer and a nail, I hammered holes into the edges of the block, then took the nails out, and placed toothpicks in the holes and took a piece of paper and wrote Happy Thanksgiving (misspelled, of course!) and it was a napkin holder. And my Nani still has it in her china cabinet. And now I build houses, during my weekends.

Days Insider: Do you plan on doing more of these builds?

Mark: I hope so!

I hope you enjoyed my interview with Mark. It's great seeing so many Days actors getting involved with giving back to the community. With the holiday season upon us, I see a lot more of these kinds of interviews taking place.

For more with Mark Hapka, check out my interview with him and Shelley Hennig at this year's Day of Days. Go now!

Great news coming out of the Days of our Lives 45th anniversary party on Saturday night! Check it out in the latest press release from the show here.

NBC PICKS UP 'DAYS OF OUR LIVES' FOR TWO MORE SEASONS AS ICONIC DRAMA CELEBRATES ITS 45TH ANNIVERSARY TODAY

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - November 8, 2010 - NBC has picked up its daytime drama "Days of our Lives" - which is celebrating its 45th season today on NBC -- for two more years through the 2012-13 season. The announcement was made today by Jeff Gaspin, Chairman, NBC Universal Television Entertainment.

"'Days of our Lives' remains vitally creative through the years as it continues to draw new generations of viewers, especially among its loyal female audience" said Gaspin. "NBC salutes the series on its 45th anniversary and we look forward with great anticipation to working with the production team for the years to come."

"This important and enduring series is an iconic part of NBC's history as well as that of daytime drama," said Bruce Evans, Senior Vice President, Current Programming, NBC Entertainment. "The creative team, cast and crew work hard each day to ensure that 'Days' continues to remain fresh and relevant to its legions of devoted fans across the country."

"With great joy, I am pleased to announce the best news any soap opera could receive. 'Days of our Lives' has been picked up through September of 2013," said Ken Corday, executive producer of "Days." "We extend our greatest gratitude to NBC for blessing us with the gift of such an amazing commitment."

"We continue to be big believers in the serialized daytime drama and we're thrilled that our great partners at NBC have renewed 'Days of our Lives,'" said Steve Mosko, president, Sony Pictures Television. "An iconic global brand, 'Days' entertains millions of loyal, engaged viewers, on television and online, in the US and around the world."

"Days of our Lives" (Monday-Friday, 1-2 p.m. in most markets; check local listings) first premiered as a half-hour drama in 1965 and expanded to an hour 10 years later. Today, it remains a consistent favorite among viewers of daytime television serials and is currently tied for #4 for the season among all daytime dramas in women 18-49, tied for #2 in women 18-34 and tied for #1 among girls 12-17, according to Nielsen Media Research. Through six weeks of the 2010-11 season, "Days" is averaging 2.6 million viewers.

In its 45 years, "Days of our Lives" has garnered numerous Emmy Awards and nominations, as well as multiple Soap Opera Digest and People's Choice Awards. "Days of our Lives" is set in the fictitious Midwestern town of Salem. The core families are the Bradys, the Hortons and the DiMeras, and the multi-layered storylines involve elements of romance, adventure, mystery, comedy and drama.

"Days of our Lives" is produced by Corday Productions Inc., in association with Sony Pictures Television. Executive producer Ken Corday is following in the tradition of his parents, Betty and Ted Corday, who co-created "Days of our Lives" and helmed the series for many years. Gary Tomlin is also executive producer. Dena Higley is the head writer and Christopher Whitesell is co-head writer.

My second interview for Days Gives Back is with Eric Martsolf, who also traveled to Philadelphia with Shawn Christian, Mark Hapka, Jay Kenneth Johnson and Arianne Zucker on behalf of Habitat For Humanity. I don't know about you, but I love seeing these Days actors give back to the community.

Days Insider: Want to tell me about your recent trip to Philadelphia?

Eric: We were there to build a home. It was my understanding we would hammer a nail here and there, but we literally got dirty. We did a majority of the framing of the home. I don't think any of us knew what we were getting into until we met the family who would be moving into this home. The look of appreciation on their faces was invaluable. We built a home in downtown Philadelphia on a street that needs a lot of help. There is so much more work that needs to be done, but in Philadelphia alone, Habitat for Humanity has done close 200 homes - and 300,000 internationally. I get to say, selfishly, I'm part of this organization.

Days Insider: Since you were in the state you grew up in, Pennsylvania, I understand you had two special guests join you. Is that right?

Eric: Yes! Thank you NBC, for allowing my parents be a part of this. I got to see them, which was nice and they had a great time. They hung out with my cast members, until the wee hours in the morning. It was nice seeing them. Being in Philadelphia, there was sentimentality attached to the trip. Giving a little back to my home area. I'm technically from Harrisburg, but I grew up going to Phillies' games. I even got to go to a game during this visit. It was a great down-to-the-wire kind of game you love to watch.

Days Insider: Do you have a background in construction?

Eric: I grew up with a dad who showed me what a hammer was when I was 18. If there was ever another problem, he'd show me a roll of duct tape. He'd say, "This will fix anything." I'm the master of my home, but I have to look at my wife and say, "I have no idea how to fix the sink or fix the garbage disposal." I usually say, "You need to call somebody, I have no idea what do." It's very emasculating. But now, I can build a new garage if needed. It was a charitable and educational trip. If this acting thing doesn't work out, I'm getting into construction. Maybe I'll build my own sarcophagus!

Days Insider: Why do you think it's important for actors to get involved in community projects like this?

Eric: We're blessed. We say lines on camera and get compensated very well for it. It humbles you greatly to see a majority of people who do nothing but give back to their community - it makes you want to be a better person. It makes you want to give more. This feeling is contagious. I came home with a very different perspective about what I have, because so often we concentrate on what we don't have. I realized that after this trip with Habitat, I have more than most, so you keep that in perspective. It's healthy.

Days Insider: As a father, did this trip touch you on a personal level?

Eric: Absolutely. The family we built the home for in Philadelphia had two little girls. They were about my sons' age, and they ran up to me and gave me a hug. I started to lose it a little. It was a beautiful moment. That's my primary concern right now, providing for my little boys and that's paramount stuff. So, when you can do that for another family, even if they're complete strangers, it feels good all over the place.

That seemed like such a wonderful way to end my interview with Eric. Talking to him about this trip made me happier to know he's showing his twin sons the importance of giving back. I can easily say those two boys have an excellent role model when it comes to their father.

Recently, Shawn Christian, Eric Martsolf, Arianne Zucker, Jay Kenneth Johnson and Mark Hapka traveled to Philadelphia to team up with Habitat for Humanity. I was able to catch up with the actors and ask about their trip. I first sat down with Shawn Christian, who is no stranger to giving back. He was part of the Days' team that went to Detroit and volunteered his free time with helping improve their community.

Days Insider: Tell me about your time in Philadelphia.

Shawn: What happens in Philly, stays in Philly. Except the houses! Wait, the house is the one thing that does really stay in Philly. I had never worked with Habitat for Humanity before, and I do like building something from nothing. That's pretty cool, but even more so was actually meeting the people who will be living in this home. I had a wonderful time talking to them and learned they have to put in 350 hours of work before they can even move in. The particular woman who will be moving into the house we helped with works over 40 hours a week, attends night school, and is volunteering her 350 hours. That's commitment!

Days Insider: How was the experience rewarding to you, personally?

Shawn: I think the biggest thing for me was meeting the people who are moving into this home. The woman I was talking about earlier had literally not stopped smiling since we met and I took that smile back with me. To know that I helped make life better for someone less fortunate is powerful.

Days: How was it sharing this experience with your co-stars, Arianne, Mark, Jay and Eric?

Shawn: We all had an amazing time working together. We all get along on set, but when you get to go and hang out with them while doing something like this, it makes it even more fun. I don't really work with these actors on an everyday basis, so it gives us time to catch up on what we're each up to.

Days Insider: Are you going to follow up with your house in Philadelphia?

Shawn: Absolutely! I've heard a lot of wonderful things from the people at Habitat for Humanity about the key ceremony and I asked the owner and her little girls to send me a photo of the final project if they could. I would like to go back and see the final project, with the family sitting on the porch of their brand-new home. When you look around the neighborhood, you see the homes that this great organization has helped build. You see the change happening in these people's eyes. I even told one neighbor, "Next Halloween, you're going to have the kids running around in costumes, running around their own neighborhood playing and having fun!"

Days Insider: Why do you think it's important, as an actor, to give back?

Shawn: When I was volunteering in Detroit, I was in the Red Wings' locker room and above the door, there's this saying, "To Whom Much is Given, Much is Expected." Essentially that's the idea. We've been blessed with many great things and I think, personally, it's right to share it.

I hope you enjoyed Part 1 of my Days Gives Back interviews for the Days Insider. Shawn made some great observations and hopefully, once again, proved just how big his heart really is when it comes to giving back.

Hello kids! Hope everyone had a fantastic Labor Day weekend! Can't believe that summer is over... or supposed to be over. The sun certainly hasn't left Los Angeles, which gets me thinking about sunscreen. I hope you're all practicing safe sun. Even you, Beka. ;)

I love sunshine as much the next girl, but it's important to remember to safeguard your skin. I introduced a few of my friends to my favorite sunscreen this summer: mineral powder sunscreen. Several companies are now making them, and they're incredibly effective and leave your face feeling clean and not greasy. Colorescience "Sunforgettable" is a great brand; so is Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral Powder SPF 45, also available in a bronzing version or for oily skin. Though I think all the powder versions are great for oily skin. I recommend the translucent versions because it won't mess with your make-up, or your natural skin tone.

Now I'm gonna talk lips. As a woman you can own 40 lipglosses or lipsticks and STILL not be perfectly happy with the shade. I know, it's a sickness, but I'll gladly help add to your pursuit of perfection by mentioning my favorites of the moment: AKA what Chloe wears on Days. Right now I am LOVING Make Up Forever's Aqua Lip Waterproof lipliner pencils! They glide on smoothly and really stay put.

Chloe has been rockin' this for a while now. Specifically the shade 1C. The best nude beige ever! Until I'm proven wrong! It's a great color on it's own, or you can layer gloss on top of it. I like to layer Lancôme Juicy tube in Simmer or MAC lipglass in Elaborate. But my favorite glosses of the moment are Smashbox's Naked Beauty Mini Lip Gloss Kit. The colors are all really subtle nudes, pinks and reds, but are not sticky at all! The boyfriends (or girlfriends) always approve of non-sticky lipglosses and so do the co-stars. ;)

Another Chloe favorite (okay, mine, too) is Lise Watier waterproof lip crayon in the shades Ginger and Soft Plum. Soft Plum is definitely a shade I wear A LOT on the show. I like to top it off with a little Chanel Glossimer in Giggle.

Well, now, all this talk of luscious lips makes me wanna go find Mr. Beemer... ;)

Love you all and keep the questions coming! Write me at: NadiaBeautyBlog@gmail.com

The fans have spoken! I've recently noticed that you all are taking a strong liking to Salem's latest romance between Victor and Maggie. So naturally, I wanted to catch up with the two actors who play them, John Aniston and Suzanne Rogers, and ask them how it's been being involved in a front-burner storyline on Days of our Lives. Not surprisingly, these two were hilarious, gracious and all-around entertaining to hang out with.

Days Insider: What has it been like being part of this new summer romance storyline?

Suzanne: First of all, I didn't see it coming. I love it! I don't think I've ever been part of a popular couple. It's been really nice. Well, John here has had a few relationships on the show.

John: I'm trying to get this relationship moving up to Victor speed as fast as I can. You know Suzanne is no help at all.

Days Insider: What do you think the appeal of this Victor/Maggie relationship is to fans?

John: I think they are two characters that endear themselves and the audience just wants to root for them and it's nice to see them get together.

Suzanne: I agree. There are so many other characters on the show that you just love to hate, or ones who have had their ups and downs that it's nice to see our characters blossoming. Fans always love the beginning stages of a romance on the show.

John: Uh-oh, if Victor doesn't call Maggie, I'm afraid they'll get pissed off.

Days Insider: Are we in for a nice rollercoaster when you throw Vivian into the triangle?

John: I don't know what's coming.

Suzanne: I don't either. They like to keep us on our toes around here. I think on purpose they hold scripts back from us. We'll get them on a Friday and be ready to shoot on that Monday.

Days Insider: Do you think Victor is going to bring out Maggie's feisty side and vice-versa, we may even see Victor start acting more nice?

John: I just used that line the other day that Maggie is sounding more and more like a Kiriakis.

Suzanne: I know, I know! It's true. But it's refreshing, because I think the ladies in Victor's life have been on the crazy side and Maggie is a little less crazy.

John: Yeah, we'll work on her crazy side.

Days Insider: We are approaching the 45th anniversary, do you have any favorite storylines from the past that you care to share?

Suzanne: I love the red shoes storyline, but I also love the Maggie/Victor stuff we are shooting now. I can appreciate it more now that I'm older.

John: I love how Victor is now. He gets to be more fun and gets in more one-liners. And what you hear on the show compared to what you hear in rehearsal is totally different.

Suzanne: Sometimes, I have to turn away when John delivers those great one-liners just to keep myself from cracking up. It's all in his delivery.

There you have it! These two have been on fire lately on screen and I can't wait to see what happens when Vivian gets tossed into the mix. And Victor thought being married to Nicole was bad! I guess we'll have to wait and see what new and exciting stuff awaits Salem's latest "it" couple.

Well, we survived another year! I'm writing you all from the Las Vegas Hilton, where last night's Daytime Emmys were held. I have to say, this year's ceremony was all about glitz and glamour. I was fortunate enough to hang with the cast just before they hit the red carpet and smile for the cameras. It was complete pandemonium here between the flashing bulbs of cameras from the fans to the red carpet madness that awaited everybody just a short walk away.

Despite Arianne Zucker, James Scott, Molly Burnett and Shelley Hennig losing in their categories, it was still a great honor for them to be centered out among their peers for their acting.

After the ceremony, we all poured into the banquet for dinner and champagne. It was so great to see Days actors mingling with so many familiar faces from other shows. It really did feel like a reunion of sorts. Louise Sorel was having a wonderful time and simply gushing about how great it was to present with Peter Reckell. After our conversation, I was able to grab a photo of her, Peter, and Leann Hunley, who were all sitting together.

Our official Days of our Lives after party was when everybody was able to really cut loose. Outstanding Supporting Actress winner Julie Pinson and her husband, Billy Warlock, even stopped by to tell Arianne Zucker what an amazing job she did this year.

Just from being at the party for a few minutes, you feel an amazing closeness with the entire cast (a bond that you don't see often in this business).

I couldn't imagine anything better than ending my Las Vegas adventure at four in the morning at the craps table with Judi Evans, Crystal Chappell, Michael Sabatino and Shawn Christian.

With great storylines on the horizon and the Days actors delivering those storylines in top form, I expect Days of our Lives to be a fierce competitor in next year's Daytime Emmys. Now I want to know what you thought! From the hottest Emmy moments to the best-dressed, leave me your comments below!

And for more photos from last night's event, Click Here!

Hello Days Fans!

I have some great news. I'll be covering the event for you this Sunday in Las Vegas!

Make sure to come back to the Days site Monday to get your fill of everything you didn't see on Sunday night. We'll have red carpet photos, a new Days Insider blog, party photos and more!

In the meantime, lets wish the best of luck to all of our Days of our Lives nominees this Sunday at The 37th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards!

I have to say I've really been enjoying this amazing tribute that "Days of our Lives" has been delivering for Alice Horton, as well as for Frances Reid. It's been made so clear how many lives Frances touched both on and off the show. Recently, fan favorite Mary Beth Evans was nice enough to take the time to talk about reuniting with familiar faces while filming the tribute to Alice. Here's what she had to say.

Days Insider: What was it like reuniting with so may familiar faces on the set of "Days of our Lives"?

Mary Beth: There were a lot of us who had returned for the tribute. There were faces I haven't seen in 20 years. It was so much fun reuniting with everybody. Two of my real favorite people are Charlie Shaughnessy (Shane) and Wally Kurth (Justin), and they were both there. We had so much fun. We just laughed our heads off. All of us realized we really are family and that's why it felt like such a family reunion - to all be together for Frances, who we all adored. She made such an impact on all of us. It was sweet, it gave us a chance to honor her and send our love up to her; also, sadness, to talk about memories. You know it was funny, because during the filming, the show was also selecting flashback scenes to see how some of us were 20 years before. The shoulder pads, the hair, the fake fingernails, the blue eye shadow!

Days Insider: What are fans going to get out of watching this touching tribute to Alice?

Mary Beth: One thing I thought was really cool about the tribute was it wasn't just people coming by and standing in for Alice's funeral. Head writer Dena really wrote some great storylines for everybody. Kayla gets to sit down with her brother Bo and listen in about his latest escapades; Kayla has to give Hope encouraging words during her heartbreak; and Kayla has to give advice to her daughter, Stephanie. So it was great to come in and have to play scenes like that. I think everybody who returned had some scenes where they had to put out some fires before they left.

Days Insider: How important was Alice Horton's role for the citizens of Salem, as well as the role Frances played on Days - for the actors who worked with her, as well as the fans who watched her?

Mary Beth: She was the matriarch of the entire show. She was the big mama and we all looked up to her. But Frances was also a pistol, which is so funny and irreverent but it's true. We all looked up to her. She was such a pro. I think Frances represented family, and I think the fans got that from her, as well.

Days Insider: Do you keep in touch with actors from the show?

Mary Beth: Usually I run into them at some kind of event and we catch up. Stephen Nichols and I do talk and go to lunch a lot. It's funny, with daytime schedules, when you're gone and return, some people don't realize how long you've been gone or if you're back, they don't realize how long you've been back. When we had this reunion, we didn't know who had really left the show and who was still on the show. I guess that's a good thing. When you work with these actors for so many years, they're your family. Stephen and I have been really great friends for 25 years, for as long as I've been married to my husband. I met Stephen right after I met my husband.

Days Insider: And finally, do you have an all-time favorite storyline that you participated in throughout the years?

Mary Beth: I loved the whole Gideon storyline we did a long time ago. We filmed on location in South Carolina. We had these elaborate costumes and had to pick up Southern accents. It was a very big deal. You know, in the 80s, we did location shoots like that. It made it seem more like a little movie and it was a love story. I loved it! I thought it was great. I actually watched a cut of it a year ago, and I still find it so sweet.

There you have it! I hope you enjoyed my interview with Mary Beth Evans. She'll always be one of my favorites. I can't wait for Kayla to have scenes with Bo, Stephanie and Hope! Feel free to share some of your favorite Kayla Brady memories throughout the years with me.

With Father's Day on the horizon, I thought what a great time it would be to ask some of the real life fathers of "Days of our Lives" questions about their big day, starting with Eric Martsolf. Brady Black may not play a father on the show, but in real life, Eric is the father of twin boys!

Days Insider: What's been your most memorable Father's Day?

Eric: That would have to be my very first Father's Day. Having never really known if I would be a dad, I simply was in shock that I was included in the actual holiday.

Days Insider: What's the best Father's Day advice you have ever received?

Eric: Don't sweat the small stuff. I still work very hard on that one!

Days Insider: How has fatherhood changed you throughout the years?

Eric: I'm a shadow of my former self. I define myself through them, not work or success. They've never asked to see my resume. My sense of tolerance is also extremely heightened!

Days Insider: Do you have any Father's Day traditions in your household?

Eric: Everyone has to be really nice to me!!

Days Insider: Any famous television or movie father you would compare your parenting styling to?

Eric: Robin Williams in "Mrs. Doubtfire." I'm the dad putting chopsticks up his nose to get a cheap laugh from my boys.

There you have it! I hope you enjoyed my fun Q&A with Eric. He seems like such a cool dad, doesn't he?

With the Alice Horton tribute about to air on "Days of our Lives," I wanted to take the time to talk to a few of the actors about what it was like reuniting with some of the returning actors, as well as sharing what viewers can expect from the show in upcoming days. My first interview was with the very talented Susan and Bill Hayes, who play Doug and Julie.


Days Insider: What has it been like reuniting with some of the actors returning to the show?

Susan: It's been wonderful. We had a moment when Ken Corday was on the stage, and he had been watching the scenes being filmed. He's usually not on the set, but this time he was. He begin snapping photos of all of us, and the more photos he took, the more actors gathered around to be in his photos. Ken kind of felt like a dad taking a photo of all his kids. It was a sentimental and emotional moment.

Bill: This whole experience, which has now been 40 years for me is like a family. It may be cliché to say, but it really is a second family. To have all of these actors back for the memorial, it's like seeing some of the closest people in your life. So many wonderful characters back on the show, it was great to see. I love the fact the writers brought them back for this special tribute.


Days Insider: What are fans going to get from this very touching Alice tribute that was filmed for Days?

Susan: I have one key fan that lives next to me and we run into each other about once a week. And she told me she was in tears from just watching the promo. I think it's going to be very satisfying for the viewer. It will be emotional and uplifting. We could not have done it in a more tasteful way than it has been done. We were all very pleased with the final outcome.

Bill: The fans will eat this up. This memorial was done so emotionally and tastefully well. Reminds me of when McDonald Carey passed away and we did a tribute to him and when different characters were talking about Dr. Tom Horton, we really were talking about McDonald. These instances, when the characters are talking about Alice Horton, we, as actors are really talking about Frances Reid. Actors are emotional people, but when you do a show, you work with someone for a few weeks or months, but in daytime, you work with these people for years. I spent 40 years with Frances Reid; you can't help talk about Alice Horton, without thinking Frances. I look forward to seeing the final product on screen. I know they've selected some great older scenes; I just can't wait to see which ones.



Days Insider: You can really see the type of bond you and Kristian have on screen. Are you two just as close off screen?

Bill: There's a strong bond between Kristian and me. She's as close to me as a daughter. I have three daughters and I've always considered Kristian my fourth. In addition, she's an incredible actress. With these recent scenes she's shooting, it hurts to watch. She's so good and to watch her play Hope going through so much pain, it hurts to watch. It pains me as a father to watch what she's going through.


Days Insider: Are you just as close with the cast off the set as you are on the set?

Susan: Kristian Alfonso and Suzanne Rodgers and I are very close. Bill (Hayes) bonded with Kristian almost immediately from day one. The upcoming scenes we have together really show our closeness. Suzanne and I have been shoulder to shoulder on the show for almost 30 years now. We have shared so much in our private life and with the life on the show. We have a very unspoken, deep, sisterly relationship. There is so much mutual respect for one another.


Days Insider: Has there been a memorable storyline you've worked on?

Susan: When my character had her face burned and she divorced Doug because she felt so hideous. I enjoyed those experiences working with Doug as crime solvers. I loved that. It was so much fun.


I hope you enjoyed my interview with the always entertaining Susan and Bill Hayes. What great memories they both must share of working with the talented Frances Reid. Now, feel free to share some of your favorite Grandma Alice moments.

Well, I'm still in recovery mode after getting quite the workout at last Sunday's Habitat for Humanity Women Empowerment Build for the San Fernando/Santa Clarita Valleys of North Los Angeles Chapter. The entire event was filled with hammering, lifting, piling and more hammering. I was part of Team Days at the event, with Arianne Zucker as our fearless leader.

Arianne wasn't the only woman from Days of our Lives to get her hands dirty by helping with the build. Nadia Bjorlin, Molly Burnett, Judi Evans and Crystal Chappell also put in long hours of manual labor.

Before we were actually put to work, Team Days did a walkthrough of a home that had just been completed on the property. We realized the impact these homes have on the community and we all came together for a good cause.

In the end, with all of our hard work hammering, framing, measuring and sandbagging, we helped save Habitat for Humanity $44,000. It was a great day, despite the sore muscles and dirty clothes afterwards.

If you want to know about upcoming events or how you can make a donation to Habitat for Humanity, please visit http://humanityca.org/events/20

Now, what do you think the odds are of getting Jay Kenneth Johnson to give me a back massage?

For more photos from our event, check out the photo gallery. Click here!

To all of the moms out there reading the blog, I want to wish you a very Happy Mother's Day this weekend.

This week, Eric Martsolf, Judi Evans, Molly Burnett and Mark Hapka share with you some of their favorite Mother's Day memories. Eric was sweet enough to include a photo of the mother of his twin boys, his wife! Molly included a fun photo from her and Casey's double dates with their moms. I hope you enjoy!

Days Insider: What has been your most memorable Mother's Day?

Molly: Any Mother's Day that I get to spend with my mom is the most memorable.

Eric: My wife's first Mother's Day, undoubtedly. It felt surreal that this crazy dancer who I met a decade ago had actually become a mother of twin boys!

Mark: I have yet to be a mother L

Judi: After my son, Austin was born; being his mother on Mother's Day was a monumental moment for me.

Days Insider: Has your mother ever given you any advice growing up?

Molly: Don't listen to anyone that tells you "no." And to put my shoulders down when I have a beautiful dress on.

Mark: It was never direct advice, but a trait of hers that I've always tried to follow... is to put everyone before myself. She has done this subconsciously for at least as long as I have been alive. There's nothing more pure in my eyes, and for me it never fails, to be followed with a strong sense of elation.

Judi: Always be true to yourself. Don't worry what others think of you. Be yourself and be honorable and people will either like you or they won't. Don't sweat it!

Days Insider: Does your mother watch Days of our Lives and offer any feedback?

Molly: OMG! She is obsessed now! She watches it every night at dinner with my dad and is always trying to get storyline.

Eric: My mom watches religiously and gives me numerous critiques weekly. I appreciate it because I can always count on her to be a straight shooter!

Mark: My mom watches religiously now that I'm on the show! All of my parents watch - my mother, stepdad, my father, stepmom and they are undoubtedly my biggest fans!

Judi: My mother watched the show when she was alive. She always said positive things and especially liked it when there was something I did or a particular way I looked reminded her of her mother (my grandmother).

Days Insider: Do you have any Mother's Day traditions?

Molly: Last year, I gushed over her on NBC.com and I'm doing it again, this year, it's become my new tradition! J

Eric: This is important... be incredibly attentive and present on that day! This is not a great day to schedule golf!

Mark: I try to shower my mom with more love than I usually do. This takes some effort!

Judi: My son, Austin and my husband, Michael usually make a scrumptious breakfast and make sure I don't lift a finger the rest of the day!

Days Insider: Do you have a favorite memory of you and your mom?

Molly: My mom took me to my first musical so I can thank her for igniting the acting bug!

Eric: My mom and I have similar sense of humor. Our belly laugh sessions are historic and I look forward to sharing stories with her all the time as a result.

Mark: Many, but one tends to stick out that we always have a good laugh about. I was (still am) what we call ADD and more than often, I would get a little out of control as a kid... I mean REALLY give my mother a run for her money. She was always very patient and very against zombie medication so she refused to let me take Ritalin. I challenged her one time in a True Value parking lot, arrogantly thinking she wouldn't do anything about it. To my surprise, she rose to the occasion, and swiftly took my ass down to the ground like a ninja. She held me there, smiled, and said, "Don't mess with your mother!" I wish I could say I learned from that experience, but it's something neither of us forgot!

Judi: There are so many! It's more than a special memory- I have a special feeling whenever I think of her. We were so close and spent so much time together and laughed so much together. Thinking of her makes me feel warm and peaceful.

I visited the Days of our Lives set recently and sat down with Peter Reckell, who was nice enough to grant me an interview in between shooting scenes. First off, it's always a trip for me to interview actors I remember watching when I was growing up. I can say this, Peter hasn't aged a day since then. He still has the piercing eyes and the 100-watt smile and on top of that, he's charming and talkative. These are the things that make my job so easy when interviewing an actor. Did I mention how Peter's just as good-looking in person as he is on the show? Well, you get the point. Hope you enjoy his answers.

Days Insider: How has it been working with Crystal Chappell again?
Peter: The storyline, itself, started out really cool. Bo and Hope have had some troubles and it just happens that Carly comes into the picture, during all of this turmoil. Carly was kind of like the port in a storm and I think that's why things hit off so quickly between the two of them. I mean Carly and Bo have had an intimate relationship that goes beyond friendship. It's just been so comfortable to work with Crystal during this storyline from the very beginning.

Days Insider: The message boards are very passionate when it comes to being pro-Bo and Hope and pro-Bo and Carly. What do you think the appeal of both of these relationships is to fans?
Peter: The interesting thing is that the two relationships are very different. Bo and Hope go way back. Bo came from the wrong side of the tracks and he fell in love with the good girl, Hope, who he called his "princess." They shared a multi-layered relationship and share a love for family, friends, and their town. The relationship between Carly and Bo first happened during a pretty tumultuous time for Bo. Their relationship is different because they are very similar types of people. It's nice as an actor to have these two different relationships to participate in and it's nice as a man to have two beautiful women competing for your attention. What can I say? Life doesn't suck when I come to work. (flashing grin)

Days Insider: Would you like to talk a little about the Alice Horton tribute you're currently shooting here for Days of our Lives?
Peter: Obviously, it's been very hard. There are no words to express how much I miss Frances Reid. Not only personally, but the show misses her, too. I just attended a cast memorial for her here and it was hard to get through. Even to talk about it, it's hard. We aren't just saying goodbye to her in storyline, but the episodes will be dedicated to her, as well. I'm very proud of the show to be giving her what she deserves. She's made a huge difference in my life, as a person and as an actor. The integrity, the humor, the honesty, the ways she lived her life. When I joined the cast, it was easy to see that she and I were so similar the way we worked. Except maybe she dealt with things with a little more humor and after all these years, I am learning to do the same.

Days Insider: Can you give us any hints on what to expect in Bo Brady's future?
Peter: I'm not really sure, to tell you the truth. There are so many options for Bo right now, dealing with two relationships. I have no idea. I pick up each script with excitement to see what's coming up next for my character.

Days Insider: With Earth Week fast approaching beginning April 19th, I know you are very involved with green living. Do you have a message you would like to get across to readers?
Peter: I heard a statement the other day, recycling is amazing, but for the amount we throw into the garbage, it takes seven garbage cans to make the stuff we are throwing away. Consume less. Recycling has been in our vocabulary for decades, but now what is more important is to use less stuff. We all have too much stuff. This is something my wife and I are working on, especially for our daughter's future.

There you have it, fans! I hope you enjoyed my interview with Peter. He's been doing one heck of a job on the show and I hope you are just like me, when I say I look forward to seeing what the future holds for Mr. Bo Brady.

I'm so happy to read all the positive feedback from my latest blog. It's a great satisfaction to me knowing I'm doing my part to help you get your questions answered. Now I have a new batch of your submitted questions that I've got answers for from another executive from the show. I hope you enjoy!

TV Cat 1: What is your particular role with the show?
Executive #2: I guess you could say I help manage the relationship between NBC and DAYS. I help make sure the show is delivering creatively in order to keep the audience (and NBC) happy. On the other side, I supervise the marketing and publicity efforts made by NBC to promote DAYS. I do everything from giving feedback on story and production to helping plan photo shoots and the annual fan event. I've had a lot of crazy days in my time here, but it's always been fun and rewarding.

Volleyball and TV Girl: On average, how long does it take to film one episode?
Executive #2: It's hard to say exactly, as the scenes from an episode are usually shot over a few days instead of all in a row. However, if you added it all up together, maybe about four to five hours an episode. Special episodes -- anything that involves a stunt, or big group scenes -- tend to take a little longer.

Blessed Angel: Do the younger actors have a teacher on set?
Executive #2: Yes. The younger actors have a teacher on set and take classes. When they turn 16, though, they can earn a high school equivalency degree.

Sodie 215: Do you have a particular storyline that you are most proud of, since working on Days?
Executive #2: It's hard to choose, but I think the Sami/Nicole "baby switch" storyline has been so well done. It was a great example of how our talented writers took a concept that's been seen before, and gave it a fresh, exciting spin. Also, though a smaller story, I think Theo's autism diagnosis was very important and touching and true.

Sodie 215: Are you aware of the audiences' opinions?
Executive #2: I'm VERY aware! In addition to our standard research, I get letters from fans. I read the message boards and the Facebook posts. I get emails or calls from family and friends who watch! It's extremely important to know how the audience feels about storylines or characters. The audience keeps DAYS on the air!

Earlier, I had asked fans over at the message boards to submit questions they would love to have answered by the people behind "Days of our Lives." I had the pleasure of getting some your questions answered by one of the programming executives at NBC and here is what he said.

From TV Cat 1: What is your role with the show?
NBC Exec: My role with the show is to make sure it is living up to the creative expectations that NBC has, day by day and week by week. For that matter, I am very involved with the creative direction of the show and with how it moves forward.

From Red Hat 10017: Do storylines change if there is a bad fan reaction?
NBC Exec: Unfortunately we are so far ahead, sometimes it's prohibitive to change anything, since we have already filmed so many episodes in advance. When we can, we try to make course corrections, but sometimes, it's not possible to make dramatic corrections when a storyline isn't sitting well with fans.

From Volleyball and TV Girl: Who decides which characters should be paired up?
NBC Exec: The writers usually come up with the ideas of who they want to see paired up and they pitch the ideas to us. Sometimes we agree and sometimes we don't. Sometimes there is a chemistry on-screen that the fans can see and they let us know it. We listen to the fans and check on their reactions. And if they enjoy a particular couple, we let the writers know. If we all agree, we certainly try to go with the flow and make the fans happy.

Those are just some of your questions answered, but please make sure to check back to see if your question will be answered next!

As you already know from reading my recent interview with Shawn Christian, Days of our Lives had a casting call in Detroit earlier in the year. Now it is time for those two very lucky actors to make their debut in Salem. I caught up with the two winners, Gary Clayton and Henri Franklin.

First up is Gary Clayton.

Days Insider: Can you describe a little bit of your character on Days of our Lives?

Gary: I'm a guy from high school who has always had a crush on Mia from afar and he runs into her in the Java Café and she plants a kiss on him to stir some jealousy. I'm just excited I already have a kiss on my first day shooting.

Days Insider: Tell us a little more about the casting call in Detroit.

Gary: The whole thing really started when I joined a random Facebook group to get details. Then I went to school (I attend a school for performing arts) and more people were talking about the casting call. A friend and I went to the casting call and I auditioned, after waiting in a line with over a thousand people. The next day, they called 24 back and I was one of them. They were originally going to only choose one actor, but they ended up choosing two!

Days Insider: Which actors have you interacted with since arriving on set?

Gary: I have met Chandler Massey and Taylor Spreitler, since we have scenes together. And of course, I met the actors that helped cast me in Detroit: Shawn Christian, Nadia Bjorlin, and Shelley Hennig.

Days Insider: How has the general reaction been from your family and friends?

Gary: They were all very surprised. They are big fans of the show. Here's hoping they'll bring me back.

My next interview was with Henri Franklin. I caught up with him after he literally just finished shooting his scenes.

Days Insider: Want to tell us a little about your character on the show?

Henri: I play a character named Greg who is a nurse at the hospital who hates his job. He can't stand the sight of blood and gets queasy being around sick people.

Days Insider: How has Los Angeles been treating you, so far, compared to Detroit?

Henri: Los Angeles is very fast-paced compared to Detroit. But, the people here at NBC and Days of our Lives have been phenomenal. It's like being welcomed into a huge family and I really enjoy that atmosphere.

Days Insider: Describe a little of your experience from the casting call in Detroit?

Henri: My background is theater and I studied it in college. After college, I stuck around Detroit and opened up my own theater company with two friends of mine. We write, act, and direct our own shows. I also mentor students. From that, I had up to five different people approach me and tell me about this Days of our Lives audition in town. Typically, a giant "cattle call" is not my scene, but I had a good feeling and tried it and here we are.

Days Insider: Has the entire experience been pretty memorable?

Henri: Most definitely. This is my first television experience and so far, all I can say is that it's been pretty cool. It was an easier adjustment to have a theater background coming to television. Everybody has made me feel very comfortable and that helps a lot.

Days Insider: Who have you interacted with on-set?

Henri: My scenes are shared with Nadia Bjorlin and Louise Sorel. It's been a lot of fun. I get to share scenes with the conniving and sneaky Vivian and then get to share scenes with a very beautiful Chloe. I'm not complaining. It was especially cool catching up with Nadia, since she and I first met in Detroit. All the actors on the show have been very friendly and accommodating. Overall, it's been a very rewarding experience.

I hope you enjoyed my interviews with these two very talented actors. I decided to post a few photos of them in action as well, so you know who to look out for on your television screens in the near future. Thanks for reading!

This week, I had the pleasure of hanging on the set of Days of our Lives and interviewing Shawn Christian. Sure, we all know he plays the good-looking Lothario with a past, Dr. Daniel Jonas, but did you also know about Shawn's recent trip to Detroit?
Shawn filled me in on the work he and Nadia Bjorlin did while back in the Midwest and now he shares his story with you, the readers.

Days Insider: Do you mind giving a brief introduction on why you were in Detroit, recently?

Shawn: I was back in Detroit; initially back in November, along with Bryan Dattilo, Nadia Bjorlin, James Reynolds and Shelley Hennig to bring some good to the community. We were thinking, Detroit needs a little shot of adrenalin and we wanted to bring them positive spirit. We went to the VA, and the Detroit rescue mission, Genesis House III. A local company had donated bedding to those places, which we helped deliver and set up. We were looking around and thinking this is a lot of progress, but we still need to do so much more. We came back to Los Angeles and I heard about Art Van Furniture in Detroit wanting to make a sizable donation of items to the rescue mission. A phone call was made and Art Van wanted Nadia and I to return to Detroit and help deliver mattresses, end tables, and dressers to the Genesis House III. I was so moved by the personal stories I had heard while there, I was blown away. Here we are thinking, we'll go to Detroit and help lift their spirits, when in fact, the citizens of Detroit had given us a gift much bigger.

Days Insider: With your ties to Michigan, did it make this trip more personal for you?

Shawn: Yes, I am originally from Michigan and I have family and friends who have lost jobs in the automotive industry in Detroit. I've always tried to do what I can, where I can. This was an opportunity that presented itself and it gave me a chance to step up and represent my home state.

Days Insider: What was the general reaction to your arrival in Detroit? Was there a big difference between the first trip in November and this last trip?

Shawn: The first trip we immediately witnessed an overwhelming gratitude that just radiated from each and every face as soon as we walked into a room. People welcomed us with hugs and created these beautiful banners. We were just blown away. It had nothing to do with the fact that we were actors on Days of our Lives, it was the fact that someone had taken the time out of their lives to help. That's what I think made the gratitude so overwhelming. The second time we came back, we had already heard their stories, so now it was more of a personal connection we shared.

Days Insider: If you could give a general summary of your trip, what would you say?

Shawn: It was a great trip and it wasn't your typical charitable black-tie dinner, we didn't just drop a check off and leave. We went to the Genesis House III and sat down and ate lunch with these people, we shared personal time with them. Like I said, it was a two way street, we both exchanged a wonderful experience.

I hope you enjoyed my interview with Shawn. It is always very refreshing to hear stories of actors taking the time to give back. Don't forget to check out our photo gallery with more of your favorite stars from Days of our Lives doing their share to help make their community a better place. Click here.

I hope you found part one of James Reynolds' blog entry as inspiring and moving as I did. This is the season to be giving and that's exactly what James and his castmates did in Detroit. I hope you enjoy part two of James' blog about Detroit and the talent search that led them there to begin with.

"Shelly Hennig completed our starting five, as we began our search for an undiscovered talent to join us on the show and one fan that would epitomize the tremendous fan support of our program. Our casting director, Marnie Saitta and her associate, Susanne Robbins, would be holding the auditions for the newest member of Days of our Lives. The cast members would eventually read with each of the 40 people who would be brought in for the final callbacks.

"In the meantime Bryan, Nadia, Shelly, Shawn, and I signed autographs, took pictures, and had a chance to talk and have fun with the more than 1,200 people who showed up. Gushing wives, hesitant husbands, and shy children shared space with giddy teenagers and fans of each description. I have long advocated that daytime drama and sports are the only forms of legacy entertainment. Each interaction with fans confirms that. Almost all began watching the show with mothers, fathers, grandmothers, and grandfathers. It is the ultimate in family entertainment passed on as cultural inheritance from generation to generation."

"The talent show was a revelation. The callbacks were the 40 most talented and interesting of the hundreds who showed up to audition. They ranged from teenagers to those well into middle age. There were those who were trained as actors and those who simply dreamed of being on their favorite TV show. When we read with them, we were pleased and surprised by their dedication and abilities.

"The talent level was so vast that two winners were picked instead of one. Gary Clayton's youthful charm made him an early leader. The Dearborn, Michigan native's appeal grew stronger throughout the process. Henri Franklin brought a confidence and humor to his audition that was seen in few others. Trading his Detroit home for Hollywood was a dream come true for him.

"Of course, we could not leave Detroit without finding the number one fan from the city. The fans came in every form: bodybuilders, beauty queens, small and large families, people with jeans embroidered with the names of every character on the show, fans shaking with nervousness, and some screaming in excitement. Our winner was an attractive housewife from Monroe, Michigan: Christina Jones. Although chosen by chance, there was something about her genuine love of the show that indicated she would be the perfect representative of the millions of Days fans around the world."

"Detroit is now in our hearts. Yes, our visits to Motown and the Henry Ford Museum were tremendous. The MGM Grand was a host nonpareil. But with us forever, will be the kindness of the people of Detroit. We will cherish the hugs and smiles we received from the heroic folks at the VA and the hopeful women at Genesis House III. When Hollywood met Detroit the stereotypes melted, in its place was nothing but goodwill."

I look forward to seeing the big debut from the talent "Days" found in Detroit and as always, I look forward to reading your comments on the Days' Insider blog. Feel free to share your own personal stories of how you are giving back during this holiday season.

Kristian Alfonso and James Scott comment on their experience of being in the 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade...

Kristian: "Being a part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is always such a joy to experience. I can remember, as a young child, waking up so excited to watch it on TV but to actually be in it was a wonderful tradition that I never imagined I would be a part of."

James: "It was such an honor being a part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year. I had heard about the parade from American movies and TV but being there live was like nothing I had ever experienced. It was a VERY American day for me!"

I recently had the pleasure of sharing my blog with the always gracious and humble James Reynolds. He was kind enough to share his story of traveling to Detroit, along with other cast members, to participate in the recent "Days of our Lives" talent search, as well as volunteer time with local charities in the city. Here is his story and I hope you enjoy.

"There are no absolutes in this world. Stereotypes are nothing more than an excuse for prejudice. Assumptions are... well, you know the homily about the word "assume." So when five actors board a plane bound from Hollywood to Detroit, the assumptions and the stereotypes stick like syrup. This is obviously going to be a self-serving public appearance, a grip-and-grin photo opp. No?

"Detroit's difficulties are well-chronicled: High unemployment, an aging auto industry, decaying educational systems, and the annual arson of Devil's Night. When Greg Meng, the Executive in Charge of Production for Days of our Lives, read a Time magazine article about the struggles of Detroit, he saw a way to get beyond the glitter of Hollywood and reach out to the show's viewers in that distressed city. The question became how do you do this without seeming to be self-serving and hypocritical. The answer was obvious: be sincere.

"When I was first asked to be part of this trip, I immediately wanted to know if we could include a visit to the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Detroit. There was no hesitation... of course we can. For more than a year, I have been the Department of Veterans Affairs National Spokesperson for Hospitalized Veterans. It is a long title for someone who is charged to visit and listen to the thousands of hospitalized veterans in the U.S. from the age of 18 to well over 100. I have been to many hospitals around the country, but the chance to bring my castmates with me was very exciting."

"Nadia Bjorlin and Bryan Dattilo accompanied me that first morning as we began to visit the various patients' rooms at the Detroit VAMC. Watching Bryan and Nadia invest themselves in bringing a kind word, a touch or a joke to these men and women, who have so selflessly given of themselves, filled me with pride that they were my friends and co-workers. The first sight of Nadia's beautiful face could have caused a heart attack or a miraculous healing. Healing seemed to be the effect of Nadia's smile."

"Shawn Christian joined us the next day, fresh from shooting a film in Canada. The four of us began our day unloading food from Gleaner's Food Bank at Genesis House III, a local rescue mission. The women and children of Genesis House III are a microcosm of Detroit's troubles. Unemployment, undereducation, drugs, crime, and violence are all part of the story of each of the inhabitants of Genesis House III. However, there was one overpowering feeling when one walked into the sprawling complex, and that was hope. Each of the women at Genesis House III had made a commitment to grab a bit of hope and set aside a life that kept them from circling back to despair. Genesis House III touched us all deeply. The ladies of the house were extraordinary fans of Days of our Lives. They knew the characters and the histories. But it was their character and history that left us often in tears, more in awe of them, than they were of us.

"The visits to the VA and Genesis House III made us realize that the highest quality of celebrity is the ability to bring joy by your presence. As a student of history, I remember Winston Churchill saying, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." What a great thing it is to give a moment of joy, surprise, and pleasure by merely showing up and showing you sincerely care."

As you could tell, Detroit touched James heart, as well as the other cast members who joined him. Please come back later this week to read part two of James' blog about Detroit and the results of the "Days of our Lives" talent search.

By now, I hope you are enjoying my Days Insider interviews with the cast of Days of our Lives. This was my second year covering the event and I had just as much fun. This year, I had first-year actors, returning veteran actors, and even a few pint-size actors.

This year's fan event had sunny weather and happy fans from all over the world. I can't begin to tell you how many actors were so touched by their interaction with all you devoted fans. I even think some of the newbie actors were floored with just how big this event was.

Day of Days is also a great opportunity to bring the cast together. A lot of people don't realize that unless there is a storyline that brings their characters together, a lot of these actors don't see each other on the set. It allows the cast to catch up with one another.

Backstage was abuzz with the actors who were busy going in and out, grabbing food and drinks before heading off to their next interview or autograph-signing. But, despite all the craziness, there were a lot of laughs going on. Events like this are never seen as work, but as opportunities for the actors to say "thank you" for all of your support. Days of our Lives would not be what it is today without the fans.

I hope you all continue checking back for my latest Day of Days interviews with the cast, actors' Q & As, and more!

I hope you enjoyed the first part of my interview with the one and only Louise Sorel. I can easily tell that you are all very happy to have her back and so am I. There is something about this actress's presence that lights up the television screen. Now, I hope you enjoy the second part of my interview.

Days Insider: What do you think fans are in store for with the return of Vivian?

Louise: You know I haven't seen that many scripts in advance, so the fans are in for as much of a surprise as I am! I mean, I can tell you the obvious, that Vivian is going to set her sights on getting her revenge on Carly. Which is interesting, because Vivian is being woven in with characters I've worked with before. Then again, I'll have some interaction with the younger crowd on the show. I'm just kind of winding my way as I turn each page. I honestly don't know where my story line is going.

Days Insider: Is it as much fun as it looks playing the bad girl?

Louise: It is always so much fun! I've never been good playing the kind of nice girl. Don't get me wrong; I'm a nice person in real life. But, when you play the bad girl, you are given liberties to do things that you would be either shot at or knocked out if you did in real life. It's always fun to be a sort of hell-raiser.

Days Insider: Well, you do such a good job at playing the bad girl.

Louise: Well, thank you. I look forward to seeing how it appears on TV in the upcoming weeks on the show.

Days Insider: We all are looking forward to seeing how it will play out with Vivian's return to Salem. Welcome back!

As always, I love reading your comments. Please share with me some of your favorite Vivian Alamain moments and what you are looking forward to most with her return to Salem.

If you have been a longtime fan of "Days of our Lives," like myself, you are probably just as excited as I am to be seeing Louise Sorel back on your screens. It's been a long time since Days has had a villainess who could pull off such a wicked role as Vivian Alamain. I just can't wait until she starts sharing more scenes with Carly and Victor.
I wanted to be one of the first to welcome Louise back into the world of Salem and I hope you enjoy part one of my interview with her.

Days Insider: How has it been being back on Days?

Louise: One thing I can say is that it has been very intimidating working so fast and trying to keep up. But, at the same time, the biggest coup for me is Gary Tomlin (executive producer). I just think he's incredible. Every time I feel like I'm going to fall apart, I know he's there in the corner watching and being so supportive of me. He's always on top of everything. To be honest, I don't know if I could have just jumped back into this role so easily, without knowing he's there for me.

Days Insider: With your return being so highly anticipated, what do you think makes Vivian so appealing to fans?

Louise: I'm just guessing here, but I'm sure naturally, she's kind of like the wicked witch. She's never invited anywhere, but always shows up and has this way of being so sure of herself. I think everybody likes that kind of character because secretly it's how they would like to be. Vivian is so fearless, sticks her nose in places where she's not wanted. I think she's funny and I think besides her side of evilness, she is also impossible and eccentric. I also have to think there is something likable about her, to make people care about her.

Days Insider: Who has it been most fun being reunited with on the set?

Louise: Obviously, I love working with John Aniston again. I can't wait to start working more with Crystal Chappell. We've been friends for so long. She's always a pleasure to share scenes with because she's just so good. And of course, it's great working with Lauren Kolsow, again. It has also been great seeing Kristian Alfonso.

Days Insider: So, is this the first time you've working with your onscreen son, Jay Kenneth Johnson?

Louise: I was thinking about that and I think Jay was so young back then and our scenes were so quick together. Well, now, I can say I'm just totally and madly in love with him. I just can't believe that face of his, those dimples! I'm sure I embarrass him when I gush about him, but I can't help it. He's just darling and he's also a very good person.

Make sure you visit the Days Insider later this week for part two of my wonderful interview with Louise Sorel as she talks more about what fans can expect from the return of Vivian Alamain.

I hope you enjoyed the first half of my interview with Ari and I'm sure by now, you can see why she's such a great person to sit and talk to. She's just as friendly as she is beautiful and even when playing the woman you want to hate, there is a little part of you that can't help but sympathize with her character and her quest for love and family. Now on to the second part of my interview:

Days Insider: Are you getting any advice here about motherhood? (For the few of you who do not know, Ari is pregnant in real life.)

Ari: Yes, yes, yes! I really enjoy the advice, too. I love being around children, but still haven't had one of my own, yet. I used to work at a mommy and me-like gymnastics class when I was 17, my high school sweetheart got me the job, and talk about a rewarding job. I taught four month olds to seven year olds in different levels of classes. I felt that gave me a good boost into a little of what motherhood is like. I have my personal ideas of what kind of mother I'd like to be and I've talked to my girlfriends on their own mothering skills. I'll lift ideas from them on certain things. I do know for sure I believe in setting your kids up to succeed. I try to be as positive of a person as I can, already, when I wake up day to day, and I want to inject that into my daughter and future children, you know, in case if I have a litter; then again, I don't know how work will feel with me carrying a litter! It's always great to ask for advice, because how else are you going to learn anything?

Days Insider: Are there any secrets to handling such emotionally heavy scenes like the ones you have been dealing with recently?

Ari: I don't know if it's as much of a secret, as it is just being prepared as an actor in this kind of genre. We have film actors come here and say to us they don't get how we can do this level of acting day to day. It's easier when you have a short stint on our show. I think the only secret is to know your lines every day. If you have to keep thinking about what your next line is going to be, how are you going to be able to pull an emotion in, too? As tough of a teacher as he was, I got that from Stephen Book, who is a really great teacher and he's so right. You think about memorizing your lines and sure, as an actor, of course you have to do that, but he always said, "If you don't know the words, you CANNOT play." That's been stuck in my head since his classes. Then, here, when you start doing the scenes it all comes together. The group of actors I work with are wonderful, we go to lunch together, we hang out after work together, and the trust has been established; I think that's when those tough scenes really take off. That's the secret, I guess. It was a long story and don't know if there was a definite answer in there, but there you go!

Days Insider: We have seen your character evolve throughout the years in Salem, do you have a favorite storyline of all time?

Ari: The run right now is by far my favorite. But, if I was to go and look back at storylines, I can say I loved working with John Aniston. I loved our scenes. Once we established who we were, those fighting scenes were great. His one-liners were classic and the constant bickering was so much fun. John is such a funny man and he delivers the best funniest jokes as Victor Kiriakis, while keeping a straight face. I couldn't tell a joke as good as him to save my life, because he's so good at it. Looking back, I think our characters were married for four years, so anything that had to do with John Aniston is one of my best times. During those years, I loved when Nicole was trying to sneak out through her bedroom window and Victor catches her and walks up to me and I'm thinking he's going to yank me back in, but instead he pushed me right out the window. All of this rehearsed, of course, but the look on his face when he does it was priceless. I felt like a cartoon character in that scene.

As always, thanks for checking out the blog and leaving your comments about the interview. As promised, you are in for some fabulous scenes involving Ari, James, and Alison that will keep you glued to your television screens for days to come.

If you're as much of a "Days of our Lives" fan as I am, you've been enjoying what you are seeing on your television screens. That is mostly to the credit of James Scott and Arianne Zucker. These two actors have been on fire with their scenes and I can promise you all that they are just going to get better.

I wanted to sit down and chat with Ari and talk about her current heavy storyline and how much her character has evolved throughout the years in Salem. Keeping in mind that Ari is one of the most sincere actresses I've ever met in this business, it's always a pleasure to sit down and catch up. She's always welcoming and while interviewing her, you can't help but forget that you're there doing a job and not just having a conversation with a friend you haven't seen in awhile. Hope you enjoy the first half of my interview and look forward to the second half next week!

Days Insider: Do you prefer emotional storylines like the one you are currently working with or more of the lighter stuff that you had earlier?

Ari: I think it depends on what the story is and how you are going to take it and run with it. I love a challenge, but the fluffy stuff is fun and it's a nice comedy relief for us, because we don't get to do a lot of comedy on soaps. But, as an actress, throw whatever you got at me. Challenge me.

Days Insider: The scenes that you and James have been shooting have been amazing. Do you do a lot of rehearsing beforehand, or just go with your emotions as soon as you start filming?

Ari: I think now that James and I have worked so much together, we have earned a certain amount of trust with one another. We'll discuss certain things about the scenes, because we both come in with strong ideas. We try not to tell each other what we will do, just go with it. Not a lot of actors are like that, they like to be more prepared. Of course, when the scene calls for something physical, you have plan ahead. But, when it comes to emotional fights, I'd like to think we both like to surprise each other. There have been times when I'm like, "Woah, I didn't see that coming," and then I throw it right back at him.

Days Insider: How have has it been acting with the babies? (Sydney is played by twins.)

Ari: You have to make sure you have a connection with them outside work, and I spend time with them. I play with them beforehand, just to get them comfortable with me. That really helps, because now whichever baby I have a scene with, she just comes to me. Boy do they let us know when it's time for a break, but most of the time, they are a dream to work with and I feel fortunate that they like me.

Hope you enjoyed the first half of my interview with the always-lovely Arianne Zucker. Make sure to check back next week as Ari talks more about dealing with emotional scenes and one of her favorite storylines of all time. In the meantime, feel free to share with me your favorite Nicole Walker DiMera moments throughout the years on Days of our Lives.

I had the pleasure of sitting down and talking with Emmy Award-winning actress, Crystal Chappell. We met up in her Days of our Lives dressing room and I was immediately made to feel at home. Just moments before, she was shooting some pretty emotional scenes along side Peter Reckell and her real-life husband, Michael Sabatino. But, like the professional she is, as soon as the scene was finished, she hopped out of character and became Crystal again. Our question-and-answer sit-down was short and sweet. I got some great answers to my questions that I'm sure you fans are dying to hear. Crystal even managed to get some laughs out of her husband, who was also chilling out in her dressing room.

Days Insider: Now that you are back in Los Angeles...? (Crystal moved back to L.A. after she wrapped up "Guiding Light," which was filmed in New York.)

Crystal: Well, it's been great being back. Michael is from here, so it's been nice for him, as well. I totally forgot that it's sunny here all the time. When you get used to New York weather, especially lately, it's a bit of shock coming back to L.A. and seeing sunshine in your daily forecast.

Days Insider: What has it been like being back on Days of our Lives?

Crystal: I've been having so much fun and I'm working with such a great story. I love my character, she's evolved and she's edgier. She even has a sense of humor, thank God! I'm having a blast working with Peter again, and Michael, and sharing scenes with Kristian. I'm just having a lot of fun.

Days Insider: Is there a certain direction you would like to see Carly Manning take?

Crystal: You know, I just like characters that get in trouble. I think Carly is very passionate about things and sometimes that leads to getting herself in trouble and in return, I think that is a lot of fun.

Days Insider: Is there an actor or character that you look forward to having more scenes with, this time around?

Crystal: Well, I'm mostly coming back to the show with a new cast, so I look forward to sharing scenes with a lot of new people. With Peter, it's like trying on a pair of comfortable shoes, I enjoy sharing scenes with him. And I have never gotten to work with Kristian, so I look forward to working with her. Then we have Louise Sorel coming back as Vivian and I expect some great stuff with her and that will be a blast.

Days Insider: Looking back, do you have a favorite storyline from Carly's past?

Crystal: I was given lots of good ones, but the big one that people recognize me most for is the buried alive story. I mean, how often do you get to do that, as an actress? I am also a fan of all the romantic stuff. I think that's what I like most about Days is they are great with telling US stories. It was also great to do the Bo and Carly love story back then. I remember our Aztec wedding that we actually really shot in Mexico, which was fun. I have a lot of good memories from back then.

Days Insider: Well, welcome back! I'm glad you are having a lot of fun and I'm sure fans will be eager to see what they can expect with Carly's return.

Crystal: Thank you!

I am sure you are anticipating Crystal's return on Days as much as I am. As always, leave comments on where you'd like to see Carly's storyline go and whom you would like to see Crystal share scenes with. I have a feeling we should expect a lot of shake-ups in Salem when October rolls around.

So, here we are on the day after the 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards and everybody is still standing. It was a very fun evening of celebrating, especially for our Emmy winners, Tamara Braun and Darin Brooks.

Keep checking back with the Insider blog for fun updates about the ceremony, the dinner and more importantly, the after-party.

Hope everybody enjoyed the show. Let me know what you thought about the winners, the fashion, and seeing your favorites at the ceremony!

This is Tamara's Emmy from last night. I didn't expect it to be so shiny, but it made for an awesome centerpiece at our banquet dinner after the ceremony.

I hope everybody is enjoying my "Road to the Emmys" blog feature. I find it so interesting to see how much work goes into making "Days of our Lives" look so great on my television. It makes it even more rewarding to know those people who put in all their time and effort also get rewarded with an Emmy nomination.

My last interview is with Ted Polmanski and Mark Levin, nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction for a Drama Series.

How did you find out you were nominated for a Daytime Emmy?

Ted Polmanski: I was in the control room and we got a call from the production office telling us who was nominated. It was exciting to hear all 13 nominations the show had garnished.

Mark Levin: I found out about my nomination from the supervising producer of the show. He had just downloaded the information off the Internet and told me about it as I was walking past him.

How long have you been with "Days of our Lives?"

Ted Polmanski: I've been with "Days of our Lives" since 1992. Prior to that, I did "Santa Barbara" and "Generations." I also have done various primetime and daytime shows.

Mark Levin: I have been working with "Days of our Lives for almost seven years. Prior to "Days," I spent 20 years as a director of photography for primetime television series and specials. During the 1980s, I was one of the lighting directors for "General Hospital," during the Luke and Laura period.



Sounds like these two guys have enough experience with daytime drama to know what the fans want to see on television. It's nice to finally see them be rewarded with an Emmy nomination. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for Mark and Ted, as well as all the 12 other categories "Days of our Lives" is nominated in, and I know you will, too!

My latest Road to the Emmys feature introduces you to the very talent crew who were Emmy nominated for Art Direction/Set Design/Scenic Design for a Drama Series. When you think back on all the major storylines that happened on "Days of our Lives" last year, it's easy to see the importance of this category and why these artists were nominated.

How did you find out you were nominated for a Daytime Emmy?

Dan Olexiewicz: I was working on the stage when the news came that our department was nominated for an Emmy. It was a pleasant surprise.

Tom Early: I heard from Dan Olexiewicz.

Danielle Mullen: I found out the news from Dan.

How did you start your career on "Days of our Lives?

Dan Olexiewicz: I actually worked for the show on two separate periods during my career. The first time I joined the Art Department was after working as art director for a TV commercial. The second time I rejoined after working on several feature films.

Tom Early: I began my career at "DOOL" 18 years ago. Before my time here, I freelanced as a decorator in films and decided to find something more stable.

Danielle Mullen: After working as an interior designer, I worked at a prop house for a couple of years and met a previous decorator on "Days," who referred me to the production designer, Dan Olexiewicz.

Did you always have aspirations to work in entertainment and design?

Dan Olexiewicz: I was hooked after watching the first "Indiana Jones" movie. I was impressed by the way the designer created a visual world within the context of the film and I knew I had to be part of this fascinating process.

Tom Early: Yes, I have always wanted to work in the arts. My major in college was illustration. I continue to draw and paint and I view decorating as an extension of my training.

Danielle Mullen: I went to school for interior design and worked in that field in Dallas and Atlanta. I moved to Los Angeles and found out about the Art Department and knew it would be perfect for my personality.

What is life like on the set of "Days of our Lives?"

Dan Olexiewicz: It is very fast-paced and exciting and every day brings a new design challenge or goal that must be accomplished.

Tom Early: It's stable, there is always something happening. The spirit on the set is truly like a family, a great group of people.

Danielle Mullen: Each day at "DOOL" has its own new challenge filled with tons of interesting moments.

There you have it. Life as an artist on the set of "Days of our Lives." I would love to have a job that allows me such creative freedom to do the job that I love. And clearly this crew is doing something right, they received an Emmy nomination. Remember to check back for my next installment from the Road to the Emmys.

With the Daytime Emmys only weeks away, I wanted to introduce the fans to the nominees from the show that you don't see every day on your television screens.

To kick off my Road to the Emmys blog feature: the Emmy-nominated makeup team from the show. I can't imagine how the makeup team can make all these beautiful actors even more beautiful, but they manage to do it. Besides that, they also manage to make actors look like they've been shot, in a plane crash, and beat up, just to name a few.

How did you first find out you were nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Makeup for a Drama Series?

Deidre Decker:
I was working on "The Biggest Loser" and Alison Sweeney got a phone call informing her of all the nominees. She immediately told me the great news of my nomination and the entire crew was very congratulatory.

How did you start your career on "Days of our Lives?"

Glen Alen Gutierrez:
One day I got an exciting call from the head of makeup and hair for "Days of our Lives," Gail Hopkins. She said they needed help with the makeup for extras that were going to be in a Halloween party scene. I made up a glittery fairy, a sultry geisha girl and a shimmering genie. It was a very fun introduction into the world of daytime drama.

How long have you been working in makeup? Any inspirations?

Joleen Rizzo:
Do I dare say it's been 29 years!?! Where has the time gone?! I get inspired almost every day. The beauty of makeup is that it is always changing. There are new products always coming out and there really are no rules. There's always something new to learn, which makes our job pretty fun and exciting.

Any particular stories that stick out among your greatest achievements in makeup that you care to share?

Gail Hopkins:
I have been so lucky and honored to work with some of the most talented makeup artists and hair stylists during my 25 years (15 years as department head) at "Days of our Lives." I feel this is my greatest achievement, to be able to say I learned from the best. Those who have shared their fabulous talent include, Keith Crary, Lucia Bianca, Corina Duran, Ed French, and Richard Snell. Last year, our hairstylists Margie Puga and Matthew Holman and their team won the Emmy and I thought that was a great achievement for all their talent and hard work. Being able to see Margie and Matthew take home that Emmy was a wonderful experience, and I would love to see our talented makeup team win this year for all of their hard work.

Care to share any amusing stories involving the cast?

Nina Wells-Orme:
On one quiet morning in the makeup room, all of a sudden something rolled across the room and it was a fake eyeball! We all screamed, the actor grabbed the eyeball and popped it back in his eye socket. He said we thought he knew he had only one eye, but how the heck would we have known! Wow!

They seem like such a fun crew. Let's all wish them the best of luck this year at the Daytime Emmys for of the wonderful work they do to bring out the best in your favorites from "Days of our Lives." Make sure to check back for more of my interviews from the talented crew of your favorite daytime drama.

With summer fast approaching, it's time to start thinking of ways to usher in the warmer weather and fun activities. For most of us, we think pools, vacation, and barbeques, but when you work at "Days of our Lives," you also think summer photo shoots.

I had so much fun covering the latest photo shoot for the soap, mostly because all the cast participating was so entertaining. The shoot had great weather, which is so important when dealing with lighting and time as an issue. Of course, when everything works out so well on a photo shoot, it naturally puts everybody else in a great mood. Check out the picture I took of James and Ari below as an example. I love working with these two because they always know how to have fun while patiently waiting for their call time.

On top of great weather, I also was able to hang out and get to know two of the newer faces to the show, Casey Jon Deidrick and Mark Hapka. Both guys were more than outgoing and seemed to fit right in with the seasoned pros on the set.

Casey was cool enough to let me do a quick interview with him using my FlipCam and then I was able to talk to the never shy Bryan Dattilo in between photo takes. I'll make sure to upload all of my video footage from the photo shoot this week, so you can see for yourself.

Hope you enjoy some of the photos I took while covering the shoot. As you can see for yourself, great weather, great timing, great attitudes and great faces always make a photo shoot like this a lot of fun to work with.

My last interview for my Father's Day feature is with none other than the hilarious Bryan Dattilo. I have always admired Bryan's relationship with his son, Gabe. As many are aware, Gabe has autism, which requires more attention and patience as a parent. But whenever I see Bryan out with Gabe, the two are always smiling and joking around, as if they are just two kids hanging out on a schoolyard. I thought Bryan's mom did a wonderful job describing their father-and-son relationship in my interview with her for Mothers' Day. Hope you enjoy my Father's Day interview with Bryan as much as I did.

Below is a photo taken from this year's Annual Walk Now For Autism in Pasadena, an event Bryan and Gabe participated in, along with other "Days of our Lives" actors, families, and staff.

Any Father's Day traditions that go on in your house?
Every Father's Day, we have the Father's Day Basketball Challenge which is a one-on-one basketball game between us. It's father vs. son. He has beaten me for the past three years.

What is the best fatherhood advice you have received and who gave it to you?
The best fatherly advice I have ever received came from my brother. The advice is to spend as much time with your kids as possible, be their best friend, tuck them in every night, tell you love them everyday, and always have time to listen.

What advice would you give to other fathers out there on raising an autistic son?
Patience. Understanding. Never compare your son to the norm because there is no norm.

What has been your most memorable Father's Day?
My first one, of course, because I could finally refer to myself in third person as "Daddy."

How has having Gabe changed your perspective on life?
It's made me financially smarter, emotionally deeper, and physically heavier.

I recently had the pleasure of attending the "Days of our Lives" day at Dodger stadium, where Eric Marsolf sang the National Anthem flawlessly and Nadia Bjorlin sang "Gold Bless America" to perfection for the crowd. It was a great way to bond with the cast over Dodger Dogs, peanuts, and laughs.

Galen brought one of his sons, Dillon, as well. The father and son were adorable as they watched the game together. Galen would point out different players, and you could tell the game meant something special for Dillon. With that introduction, I hope you enjoy my Father’s Day interview with Galen, and enjoy the very dry sense of humor that can only make you love him even more. Not to mention, how adorable is the photo below of Galen, with Dillon and Jensen? You can just tell how much Galen enjoys fatherhood.

Any Father’s Day traditions that run in your house?
None as of yet, but that's a good idea. Maybe, when they're a little older, I can turn the tables and make them my slaves for the day.

What is the best fatherhood advice you have received, and who gave it to you?
Set them up for success, not failure. In other words, don't give your two year old a full glass of orange juice and expect him not to spill it. My wife, Jenna, told me that one. Also, I like to give them choices whenever I can. That's hers, as well.

How has being a father changed your perspective on life?
I've found that the clichés are true in that the love you have for your kids is like nothing else. Additionally, I don't think I do as many crazy things as I used to. It's cool for kids to have a father.

What traits do your sons get from you?
Hopefully, only the good ones; not exactly sure which ones those are...

Do your sons hang out with any of the other actors' children during your off time?
We try to limit their exposure to actors and their kids, as they are usually an arrogant bunch of pompous ninnies. No, but seriously, we don't see them often, 'cause we live on the rich side of town. Ha- I'm kidding.

I don't know about you, but whenever I look at how Jim Reynolds portrays Abe Carver when it comes to being a father, it's easy for me to look at him as a father in real life. He's got such a calm demeanor about him when you watch him in scenes with Terrell Ransom Jr. ("Theo"), you really feel like they could be father and son. So, when I wanted to do this Father's Day feature for my blog, I thought Jim would be the perfect candidate. Jim was kind enough to answer my questions and submit a photo of him with his real-life son, Jed.

Do you have any Father's day traditions in your family?
No, not necessarily. I get to sleep in. Quite often I'm taken to a movie that my wife and son want to see. That's what fathers do.

How are you similar in parenting to your character on the show, and how are you different?
I think I'm patient. I'm not a screamer. I believe in being firm and consistent. We share the fun things: table games, sports, travel, reading and a lot of laughing.

What has been the best fatherhood advice you have received and who gave it to you?
I remember reading somewhere that being a parent is a responsibility and a privilege. I always remember that.

Do acting aspirations run in the family?
Apparently, it does now. I was the first and only actor in my family, but now my son wants to follow.

What has been your most memorable Father's Day?
My family took me to San Francisco for the weekend. That is always memorable.

Thanks so much for all of your wonderful feedback from my last blog entry. I looked at your comments and decided who better than Eric Martsolf to kick off Father's Day right by answering a few of my questions. Hope you enjoy!

Any big Father's Day plans?
Nothing too specific, but my hope is to simply spend the entire day engaging with my boys in whatever it is they happen to enjoy doing in that particular moment. Their interests change at the drop of a hat lately! One day it's trains, the next it's transformers, then it's soccer! They're three, so I'm sure girls are right around the corner.

What is the best fatherhood advice you have received and who gave it to you?
"Don't give in to short-term solutions for long-term issues." In other words, don't always give in to their immediate wants/desires -- stand your ground as a parent and keep your eye on the light at the end of the tunnel. Anyone with kids will understand what the heck I'm yacking about!

Has it been easier or harder than you imagined, raising twin boys?
Surprisingly easier. I'm sure my overworked wife would say differently since she has them the majority of the time, but the beautiful thing about twins is that they have one another to entertain themselves -- literal built-in playmates! It allows mom and dad that occasional window of happy hour time.

How has being a father changed your perspective on life?
Crazy changes. I pray now before my plane takes off. I tend to get overly sensitive during news stories and movies that involve harm to children. I have a heightened respect for parents in general, and a heightened intolerance for traffic that keeps me from kissing my boys goodnight.

Do you have any advice to other fathers out there who have twins?
Love them as individuals, not as twins. My boys may have come from the same place at the same time, but there is nothing similar about them. They have different needs and wants, and should be tended to accordingly. But mostly, just enjoy the gift you've been given. You're a lucky guy.

Eric was kind enough to share a family photo with his fans. He looks like such a fun family man, doesn't he? And I feel old because I remember when those boys were born! Looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree where looks and charm are concerned.

I am so happy about the warm reaction I received when I brought to you those heart-warming Mother's Day blog entries, that I decided to do the same with Father's Day. So, as the weeks continue and as we get closer to Father's Day, check back regularly, because I'll have new entries from some of your favorite men on "Days of our Lives," who happen to be experiencing the real-life joys of fatherhood.

I hope you enjoy what some of your favorites have to say about life as a dad. Check back to see who the next featured father will be. And as always, I love when you leave comments, so let me know who some of your favorite "Days of our Lives" real-life fathers are, and why.

I first met Suzanne's mother Edna at one of Suzanne's photo shoots. She couldn't have been sweeter and you could tell how proud she was of her daughter. We chatted a bit about life in New York City compared to Los Angeles and all the incredible storylines Suzanne has had on "Days of our Lives." I instantly thought of these two women for my Mothers' Day feature, mostly because they have such a sweet friendship, above anything else. Hope you enjoy! Suzanne was the first to answer my questions.

Do you and your mother have any Mothers' Day traditions?
We go to lunch at the Bistro Gardens, only on special occasions like Mother's Day, Birthdays and Valentine's Day.

Is there one thing you can never go wrong buying your mom for Mother's Day?
Roses and beautiful cards. I usually buy her a new outfit as well, even though she tells me not to.

Does your mom offer any feedback about your work?
Yes. I always get critiqued on my hair and wardrobe. There are certain actors she likes me to work with.

What important life lessons has your mother taught you?
1. Never go out in public unless you are well groomed.
2. Never go to bed without washing your face, brushing your teeth, and thanking God for a wonderful day.

Now for Edna's answers.

What has been your most memorable Mother's Day?
My first Mother's Day in California in 1997. Suzanne has made all my Mother's Days special.

Do you watch Suzanne on "Days of our Lives?"
Absolutely – every day she is on and also when she isn't. I have enjoyed Days since Suzanne first came onto the show in 1973!

What would be something fans would be surprised to know about Suzanne?
She and her sister, Loretta, own some horses. She likes to play golf, but her passion is clipping recipes and cooking.

We all know what a lovable goofball Bryan is off the set of "Days of our Lives," but did you know he is also a doting son to his mother, Peggy? After reading his answers to my Mother's Day questions, I'll guarantee you will fall in love with him all over again.

Do you have any Mother's Day traditions?
Calling her is definitely one of them. I also have to call my grandma because she’s a mother. My mom likes lilies, so that’s what she gets. I used to make her cards, and sometimes I do that just for kicks. I try to make it look very adolescent.

Does your mom offer any feedback from your work?
Yes, she nitpicks me with a fine-toothed comb.

What important life lessons did your mom teach you?
She always says, "Success is when preparation meets opportunity." Nothing just happens. Everything is earned. So, if you want success, you have to prepare and be ready when the opportunity is presented. She also says not to be a selfish lover; women love generosity.

Don't forget to check out what Peggy has to say about having Bryan as a son, as well.

Do you have a favorite childhood story about Bryan?
I guess one of my favorite, but most exasperating stories about Bryan, is the time he and his older brother, Brent, made us miss a plane because they were having too much fun with some pretty Italian girls they met in Paris.

Bryan was only 15 at the time, and his brother Brent was 18. I had managed to save up enough money to take the boys, and their sister Kristin, who was 16, to Paris for three weeks one summer. We met a group of Italian students who were also on summer vacation, and we ended up spending a lot of time together.

The last day of the trip rolled around, and we were due to fly out of Paris at 4:00 pm. on a plane bound for London, then home to LA. By this time, the boys had both fallen for a couple of the Italian girls, and they begged me to let them have one last morning at the Louvre Museum with the ladies. I agreed, but told them they had to be back at the hotel NO LATER THAN 1:00 pm. Well, needless to say, at 3:00 pm. the boys were still not back. My daughter Kristin and I were waiting outside the hotel with the suitcases -- and there was no site of the two Romeos. They finally showed up at about 3:30 -- way too late to make the flight, saying they lost track of time because no one had a watch. And I was supposed to believe there weren't any clocks at the museum. Anyway, we went to the airport, and it took me forever, and a lot of real tears, to convince the ticket agent not to charge me extra to put us on the next flight. And while I stewed all the way back to London, the boys laughed and carried on about what a great time they'd had with the ladies during their last memorable moments in Paris.

Do you watch Bryan on "Days of our Lives?"
I watch Bry on Days whenever I have the chance. I usually try and plan my lunch around "Days," but since I still work, it's not always possible. Now that I've moved back to the Midwest, it's nice to see him on the show because it's my only way of checking in on him. I love it when his face comes on screen, and I can't help but remember how, when he was young, I used to tell him he was "soap opera handsome." He used to laugh and say that I only thought that because I was his mom; guess I was right!

What is your most memorable Mother's Day with Bryan?
There have been a lot of memorable Mother's Days for me. Being a single mom since my kids were 2, 3 and 5, I had lots of Mother's Days where it was them and me. The thing about Bryan is he has always been the most thoughtful and generous son a mother could ask for... all my kids have. When Bryan was young and didn't have a job, he always made sure he at least made me a card. The first year he worked on "Days," he wanted to make my Mother's Days special and he took me out to brunch and gifted me with a beautiful ESQ watch! That was 15 years ago and I still wear the watch every day... too bad I didn't have it when he was 15 -- I could have loaned it to him and we wouldn't have missed the plane!

What is one thing that fans would love to know about Bryan?
One thing I think fans would like to know about Bryan is he is an excellent father to his nine-year-old son, Gabe. It has been a real challenge having a son who is Autistic, and being a divorced dad, but Bryan has been incredible. He has Gabe 5-6 days a week, and he has turned their home into a terrific boys' playground! They have a basketball court, a pool, a Jacuzzi, and lots of Playstation video games! They cook out together, play with the dogs, and have a ball. Bryan also coaches Gabe's basketball and football teams, and they love going to Laker games together. I remember one Saturday, Bryan phoned to tell me he'd just had one of the best nights of his life. I thought for sure he was going to tell me a story about a night at the Playboy mansion, but instead he told me how he and Gabe had gone to a Lakers game and how they ate hot dogs, shouted at the ref and talked over all the plays together after the game. I was really touched at how much he loves his son and how he counted a night with his child as one of the best nights of his life.

The first time I met Darin's mom, Susan Brooks, was last year at the Daytime Emmys. Darin had brought his mom as his date and we were all seated at the same table. She couldn't have been more proud of her son, who was nominated for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Daytime Series. She was such a delight, as was Darin that night, that they were the first two to come to mind when I thought about doing this Mother's Day feature. I hope you enjoy their answers!

P.S. Just when I thought Darin couldn't get any more charming, just read his answers. Sons everywhere should take notes!

Do you have a favorite childhood story about Darin?
Taking a crash course in drumming! Darin had to learn to play the drums, so his older brother, Adam, could perform at his high school project grad party. I was involved in the PTA, and we needed free entertainment for Adam's graduation party, so I volunteered their band; however, they didn't have a drummer. I drove Darin to drum lessons for eight months, so he could perform with his older brother. We named their band Will Play For Food (my suggestion)! Later, Darin went on to make it to the finals in a state-run talent contest called "Brown Bags Stardom" with his own band.

I always encouraged the boys in music since I'm tone deaf! They took ukulele in grad school in Hawaii (everyone learns that in school there), piano, guitar, and then drums. We used a spare bedroom for practice, so we put mattresses up along the walls to muffle the noise in our quiet neighborhood.

Do you watch Darin on Days?
Of course! I blush when he has naked scenes.

What is your most memorable Mother's Day with Darin?
The first time he made me breakfast in bed with a favorite orchid from our garden.

What is one thing that fans would love to know about Darin?
He can dance. I teach art lessons at my gallery (Arts of Paradise Gallery), so we bartered. Every Sunday afternoon, we would roll up the carpet and learn ballroom, tango, and swing. His father and I are terrible, but Darin could do well on "Dancing with the Stars"!

"Well, my mom got on a roll and answered ALL the questions, so I thought I'd just go with it! She got all the answers I would've said anyway -- she knows me so well!"
-Darin Brooks

Do you have any Mother's Day traditions?
Breakfast in bed and chocolate for dinner.

Does your mom offer any feedback from your work?
Not my acting, but my hair. She even told our award-winning hair stylist on Days (Matthew Holman) how she likes my hair: surfer cut -- long on top, short in back, blonder, etc. He disagreed! He did her hair for the Daytime Emmys red carpet; she was my date.

What important life lessons did your mom teach you?
Honesty. Attending Catholic school, you learn moral values and not to lie. She always said the she may not know what I've done, but I would and would be punished for all my sins!

The next actor I interviewed for my Mother's Day feature was newcomer Dylan Patton and his mother, Debi. I always wondered what it was like for Dylan to launch into a character like Will, who has Sami for a mother. I also wanted to get to know Dylan's mom Debi because I had met Dylan before, and he was such a well-mannered young man. Hope you enjoy the latest interview from the Days' Insider. And P.S., how adorable is the photo that Debi sent to us?

Do you have a favorite childhood story about Dylan?
I would have to go with his birth date story. About a month before he was born, I saw the number 713 on the ceiling above my bed. I was wide awake, and it was as though someone had flashed a camera at me. The image was kind of on the back of my eyelids for a few minutes. Dylan was actually due on July 4th, but he ended up coming almost two weeks late. He was born on July 13th (7/13/92) AND he was born at 7:13 PM AND he weighed 7lbs. 13oz. That is the absolute truth.

Do you watch Dylan on Days?
Of course! I record it and try to watch what I can on the weekends. I am really into the storyline now and like to watch even if Dylan isn't on.

What is your most memorable Mother's Day with Dylan?
The first one. Dylan is my oldest, so he was the reason for my first Mother's Day. That one holds a very special place in my heart.

What is one thing that fans would love to know about Dylan?
He is a phenomenal snowboarder.

How are you different from Dylan's onscreen mom, Sami Brady?
Well, I am not as patient with him as she is. Also, Dylan and I have always had a close relationship -- unlike Sami and Will.

Do you have any Mother's Day traditions?
Not really. We usually just go to lunch somewhere nice.

Dylan's questions:

Does your mom offer any feedback from your work?
Not that often. When I was little she used to, but not so much now.

What important life lessons did your mom teach you?
She taught me good work ethics: Be on time and be prepared.

How is your relationship with your onscreen mom, Sami Brady, different from your real life mom?
It's actually not too different. I think Will is a typical 16-year-old. My real mom is not lying and manipulative like Sami, but we still have our disagreements -- only it's about real life stuff like curfew and chores.

With Mother's Day fast approaching, I thought it might be fun to see how some of your Days of our Lives favorites celebrate the holiday. I am going to start off the interview with Molly Burnett and her mom, Katie.

We all know that Molly's character Melanie can be quite the troublemaker in Salem, but what's a better of way getting to know the real Molly? Asking her mother, of course!

Do you have a favorite childhood story about Molly?
When Molly was very young, she would watch the original Peter Pan (with Mary Martin) over and over again. She loved it! So I made her a little Tiger Lily costume. She was so small that I only used two American Indian print bandanas from the craft store and then sewed them together down the sides. I added some beads and some tiny bells to the bottom and then made matching hair ribbons, ankle bracelets and wristbands, also with the beads and bells. She wore it constantly. The moment she woke up in the morning, she wanted to watch Peter Pan in her tiny costume and dream that she was Tiger Lily. Truly, I had to take the costume off of her while she slept in order to wash it. It eventually became so threadbare that I had to make another. I think she went through at least three incarnations of the same little outfit until she finally moved on to another movie she liked as much!

Do you watch Molly on Days?
Yes, of course I watch her on "Days of our Lives"!! I set it for the DVR and sometimes, when she has a particularly great scene, I watch it two or three times. It's also become a favorite show for our local neighborhood -- teenagers, moms, dads, kids she grew up with -- everyone's hooked on the show now!

What is your most memorable Mother's Day with Molly?
One Mother's Day when Molly was about seven or eight years old, our family was visiting one of her grandmothers for the day. Across the street from Grandma's house is a beautiful city park. It's the kind of city park with the old-fashioned, huge, metal swing sets -- the type that really swing high up into the air. We had an especially snowy, wet spring that year and finally, near Mother's Day, the weather began to warm. We all walked to the park where Molly jumped on one of the swings. She swung so high! The warm wind was blowing through her long hair, and she had such a joyful look on her face that she captured the attention of a photographer from The Denver Post. He took one memorable shot of her and the next thing we knew, we were signing print releases, and her photo appeared in the paper! She seemed to represent the happiness the whole city was feeling on that "picture perfect" Mother's Day!

What is one thing that fans would love to know about Molly?
Fans may not know that Molly is very smart, especially in math and science. Yet, she equally loves art and anything creative. She is such a diverse person, with diverse interests. In high school she was both a homecoming princess and a regular trophy winner on the speech and debate team in the humor interpretation category. She honestly makes no personal judgments of others, but rather enjoys all kinds of people, from the popular and hip to the bookish and nerdish! She is equally at home climbing a 14,000 ft. mountain peak here in Colorado as she is curled up in an oversized chair reading Harry Potter.

I have always joked that I want to be just like her when I grow up!!!

Now, let's ask Molly some questions about her mom!

Do you have any Mother's Day traditions?
My dad, brother and I used to make mom breakfast in bed, and then we'd all jump on the trampoline outside. My dad would always tackle my brother and I, and my mom would sit in the middle of the tramp. If my brother and dad got too rough with me, she'd smack 'em; I'd jump down by her and she'd protect me.

Does your Mom offer any feedback from your work?
My mom looks at it from a mother's point of view. To this day, she can't figure out why everyone is being so mean to Melanie. We'll be watching the show and Max will yell at Melanie, so my mom will yell at the screen at Max, and I'm always like "Mom, Melanie deserves it! She locked Stephanie in a vault!" And she's always says, 'No Molly, Melanie's just troubled; her brother needs to be nice to her.' Our TIVO is stuffed with Days of our Lives episodes because she can't bring herself to delete them. I feel bad for my brother because there's never any room to tape anything else!

What important life lessons did your mom teach you?
Point blank, my mom has taught me how to be a better person. She's just so extremely selfless, and is such a beautiful person. I don't want to sound cheesy, but I'm pretty sure I hit the jackpot in the mom department. She absolutely is the most amazing woman on this planet. Both of my parents are unbelievable people, but it's my mom that would always let me get away with the stuff dad said no to! If I can be half the person my mom is, I will consider myself a lucky girl.

I am glad you all seemed to enjoy my interview with the very charming John Callahan. While I was visiting the photo shoot that featured him, I was also able to sit down and talk to two of the newest faces in Salem: Taylor Spreitler who plays Mia, and Dylan Patton who is playing the returned Will Horton Roberts. Both actors were awaiting their first "Days of our Lives" photo shoot when I got a hold of them and asked them what it was like to be on the show.

I approached Dylan first, who was everything he appears to be on screen. Cool, calm and relaxed. He doesn't seem too phased that he's about to participate in a big photo shoot and before that begins, he's sharing a wardrobe room with "Days'" superstar Ari Zuker and seasoned daytime veteran John Callahan. Here's what went down with my first sit-down interview with Dylan Patton.

Days Insider: How has it been sharing scenes with Alison Sweeney and Bryan Dattilo?

Dylan: Well, I did my screen test with Bryan, so I felt a little more comfortable acting around him. He's hilarious. Always making people crack up. He's great. Still looking forward to sharing more scenes with Ali.

Days Insider: Are there any particular scenes you're looking forward to?

Dylan: Well, I don't know as much as people think I know when it comes to upcoming storylines. The scripts that I do have in my hands right now, I can't share. It's super top-secret. I just want Will's story to go somewhere so I can stay on the show and people can stay interested in what my character is doing.

Days Insider: So far, has it been a lot of fun over there on the set in "Salem"?

Dylan: It has been fun. I have only been here for a handful of episodes. But, I want Will to stick around and who knows, maybe start a few relationships and break a few hearts. (laughs)

Days Insider note: It was hard not to notice Dylan glancing over in Ari's direction when delivering that last line in the interview.

Next up, I sat down and interviewed Taylor Spreitler, who was just as cool and collected. It must be a teenage thing.

Days Insider: Are you having fun so far with your character, Mia?

Taylor: She's kind of the role I always wanted to play. This character is giving me the leeway to be very dramatic, then very sad, then very happy. I am really looking forward to more scenes with "Will" because I get to go from being in this big adult scene being pregnant, to then acting like a teenager on the show.

Days Insider: Has it been fun being in scenes with Ari?

Taylor: I love Ari! She was there on my first day and helped me out so much. She always comes down to my dressing room to go over lines and she always just wants to get things done. She's great at giving pep talks right before a heavy scene.

Days Insider: Are there any characters you look forward to Mia having more scenes with on the show?

Taylor: I think Will's going to be fun to have scenes with. Look at him, he's so cute! He's also so nice. I am also looking forward to when Mia has to meet Will's parents.

Days Insider: Anything you can tell the fans to look forward to?

Taylor: Lets be honest, those fans know everything I already know, they probably know more! I can say watch out, because there is a lot of cool stuff about to happen in Salem, so keep watching!

I don't know about you, but I think Salem is long overdue for a classic teenage love storyline. I can't wait to hear what kind of advice Lucas dishes to Will when it comes to the opposite sex. I think we are in for some very fun scenes. I also included some behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot for you enjoy.

I know I haven't posted a blog in a while. I am sorry! The truth was I was waiting for the perfect opportunity to meet some of the new faces of "Days of our Lives." Well, my patience paid off. When I found out that soap veteran John Callahan was participating in a photo shoot, I grabbed my recorder and headed over.

When I first met John, I found him to be polite, outgoing and very funny. I also think he's been doing a great job playing Dr. Baker. I don't know about you, but I'm really enjoying this character. He's slimy, but charming and has great on-screen chemistry with Ari Zuker, don't you agree?

In between photo takes, I managed to ask a few questions to John Callahan and as always I will share with you his answers.

Days Insider: You have quite a nice fan base over at the NBC.com message boards. How does that feel?

John Callahan: Really? That's great news. I think they (the writers) are writing very interesting things for me and I think they are seeing the chemistry between Nicole and Dr. Baker, hopefully they will run with that.

Days Insider: Do you like playing a shady character like this, as opposed to your last big role on "'All My Children" as good guy, Edmund Grey?

John Callahan: Well, this isn't the first time I have played shady. I was on "Santa Barbara" as Greg Hunt in the '80s and he was kind of shady and a gangster's right-hand man. Before that, I was on "Falcon Crest" and there, I was a playboy son. So, this role is kind of a throwback of what I did 20 years ago. At this point, in one's career, you aren't exactly defusing bombs and saving the girl, it's nice to have a character so interesting. You are not really rooting for him, but you can't wait to see what he does next. It's really all you can ask for.

Days Insider: I feel like they are just scratching the surface with Dr. Baker. What do you think?

John Callahan: From your lips to God's ears! I hope so. Dr. Baker the Baby Maker has a nice ring to it. I don't know what they will do with me. The writers are very mum about it and play their cards close to the vest. I really, honestly, don't know where they are going to go with the character, but they do have some talented writers on the show and Gary Tomlin is a great executive producer. I am looking forward to reading what is next! I hope you and the fans will be pleased with what comes next.

Days Insider: Well, I can definitely say that fans feel like you are a breath of fresh air on the show and can't wait to see what comes next.

John Callahan: Like I said before, I am touched. It's not like I am computer illiterate, but I don't usually really read reviews. But, I am glad the fans like what's going on with my character and I hope Dr. Baker can give the fans more to write about on the message boards. I am doing a photo shoot, that's got to be a good sign!

Days Insider: Is there a character you look forward to Dr. Baker sharing more scenes with?

John Callahan: I really like working with Ari. If I say she is one of the most talented actors working in daytime, do I risk insulting others? Well, you know, you got to be able to give a compliment. What can I say? This show has some talented young men, too and great veterans of the daytime world. I would love to work with great Joe Mascolo. My biggest struggle would be sharing a scene with him and then breaking out into a Zorba the Greek impersonation. He's got such a great voice.

So, now it is your turn to tell me where you would like to see Dr. Baker's next move be? Which actors do you think John Callahan should share more screen time with? Do you have your own ideas what's next for Dr. Baker? Let me know! I love reading your comments.

I just recently had the joy of working closely with "Operation Gratitude," an organization that helps put together care packages for troops overseas. This was a big weekend for the 1,000+ volunteers who showed up to help, because they wanted to deliver the care packages before Christmas. Not only did "Operation Gratitude" celebrate putting together their 400,000th care package that weekend, they were able to do it with a couple of familiar names in attendance, as well.

"Days of our Lives" very own Jay Kenneth Johnson and Leann Hunley were there, volunteering their time to fill up care packages.

Both, Jay and Leann, were so friendly to fans that approached them for pictures afterwards. It's always refreshing to see celebrities take the time to give back to their community. Don't you agree?

Deidre Hall showed up earlier in the week and brought boxes of items to donate to care packages.

Happy Holidays!

- Days Insider

What can I say? I survived my very first "Days of our Lives" fan event. If I had one word to describe the day, it would be "pandemonium." I knew the show had fans; to actually see the most dedicated of them lined up in the rain was unreal. Keep in mind that this all took place in sunny Los Angeles. I can't even remember the last time it rained here, but low and behold, it decided to rain on that particular day of the event. Even the grey skies couldn't tear down the spirits of these fans. They were just all anxiously waiting to see their favorites and I can personally say, I don't think the fans were disappointed!

I had the pleasure of covering the event for NBC.com and had the time of my life. The fans couldn't have been nicer and more dedicated. In fact, we had fans from Canada, Florida, and even Maine there! And the actors were such a delight. They truly were touched to see how many people came out to support them.

I was also lucky enough to be given my own little room that came with a couch, where the actors could chill out while I asked them questions. I didn't really know how this was going to go, since the entire day seemed to be thrown off a bit because of the rain. I was completely surprised to see just how smooth everything ended up being. Alison Sweeney was the first person to walk up to my little interview station to talk. She was as sweet as can be and just radiant as a pregnant woman. You will have to make sure to catch her interview when it goes live in weeks to come!

Now, I know a lot of you are fans of James Scott and let me tell you, the man is just as dreamy as he appears on your television screens, if not more. He sat on the couch and talked about how genuinely flattered he was with the response he was getting from the fans just outside my room. I hope you all enjoyed my interview I did with him. Here's a sweet photo James took with me after our interview. He sure fits the category of tall, dark, and handsome, doesn't he?

As the day progressed, I was able to take a few breaks, go outside and talk to the fans, hang out more with your favorite actors and the come back and continue my interviews. Personally, one of my favorites to always talk to is Jay Johnson. He and I go back to last year, when he was my chosen "first" hunk to interview for Ask the Hunk. He's always as sweet as can be with his Missouri-bred charm, and those dimples attached to that killer smile aren't bad, either. I hope you all enjoy his interview, as well.

The best part of these interviews from the Day of Days event is that the viewers at home can see firsthand how humble the actors are and how tremendously touched they truly are for having all the fans' support. So, keep up the great work. Your presence is noticed!

Thanks for tuning in to the interviews and please give me your feedback. I appreciate it all! Remember, new interviews from the Day of Days event will be going up every Tuesday and Thursday, so keep watching. Don't forget to browse through the latest photos from the Day of Days event.

Until next time, enjoy the show and tell us what you would like to see going on!

I had the recent pleasure of hanging out with two of "Days of our Lives" latest stars, Eric Martsolf and Galen Gering.
Both guys may look familiar because they used to be on the daytime drama "Passions." This may explain why they were so comfortable with one another, joking around and even giving me a joint interview over their lunch break.
I'll start with just a few of the questions I got answered by sitting down with Galen, while Eric ate his lunch.

Days Insider: How has your time been so far over here at "Days of our Lives"?

Galen Gering: I am having a blast. I am playing a fun character. It's a fun relationship I am working with. I play a character by the name of Rafael, or "Rafe," which is my grandfather's name in real life. So, this character has a little extra special meaning for me. You get the heartfelt stuff here. Anyway, I play a cop who is assigned to protect Sami and she's a pain. But, what she doesn't realize is that her game is not tight enough to take on RAFAEL HERNANDEZ!

Eric Martsolf: That's all you got! I am all ready to walk down the aisle with Chloe and Nicole. Apparently, Brady is off the drugs and ready to take Salem by storm.

D.I.- What has it been like sharing scenes with Alison Sweeney?

G.G.- Awesome! I have known Ali for a long time; while working at "Passions," we have done press stuff together. We actually even hosted some stuff together. Besides having fun working with Ali, I am having fun working with her character. She's spunky and throws it right back you. We play off each other very well. She and I were just talking about how much fun we are having with our characters.

D.I.- Eric, how does it feel to come into a role as a re-cast?

E.M.- This is not the first time I have been in this situation. When I was on "Passions," I came in mid-scene as Ethan. My first scene was my face smashed up against plexiglass. I think my transition here will be a lot easier.

D.I.- Are you ever surprised with just how dedicated your fans are?

G.G.- Totally. There are pictures of me out there as a child that I haven't even seen, myself.

E.M.- There are wedding photos of mine that were taken in the compounds of my home, that all of a sudden made an appearance in some mash-up video made by a fan in Virginia.

D.I.- Do you have a craziest fan encounter story?

G.G.- I have a really good one! This woman who was incarcerated in West Virginia kept writing me over and over and with things like, "We're soul mates," and "I am getting go out soon and we'll be together." It started freaking me out. So, anyway, I searched and found out the exact date she was getting out and it turned out I really did have an autograph signing in that area at the exact same time. I was really freaking out. I alerted security and everything and she never showed up. Maybe she really never got out, who knows.

E.M.- I once had a woman start screaming at me in a grocery store that I was an idiot for still being with Gwen and not Theresa, then she just walked away.

So, there you have it. My short time spent with the newest additions of "Days of our Lives." I hope you look forward to their appearances as much as I do.

In fact, give me your thoughts. Who would you like to see Rafael and Brady share more scenes with? What do you think is in store for these two very different characters?

Just recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with two "Days of our Lives" veteran actresses, Peggy McCay and the Daytime Emmy award-winning actress, Suzanne Rogers.

I met up with Peggy as she was waiting for her photo shoot to begin. She is so full of life and immediately began sharing stories of growing up in New York. She's just as warm and friendly as she appears to be while playing the matriarch of the Brady family, Caroline. I was able to ask her a few questions that fans would love to get answers to.

Days Insider: What would you say your favorite storyline has been?
Peggy McCay: I would say this current storyline is my favorite one. Being accused of Trent Robbins' murder and being caught with the murder weapon by my own son who's part of the Salem police department. You cannot get more dramatic than that.

D.I.: How does it feel to be sharing more scenes with John Aniston?
P.M.: I like working with John very much. He's a lovely guy, a pleasure to work with, that's for sure and what can I say, he's very handsome. Maybe he can be your next "Ask the Hunk." To Caroline, he's definitely a hunk!

Next, I sat down with Suzanne Rogers, who has played the character of Maggie Horton for over 34 years. When she first told me that, I had to reply with a "wow"! She doesn't even look old enough to be considered a veteran actress of the show. She considers "Salem" her home away from home.

The Virginia native was sweet enough to sit down with me and answer a few of my questions.

Days Insider: Are there any storylines that stick out for you as favorites?
Suzanne Rogers: Of course the red shoes storyline, I know everybody is thinking the red shoes. That movie was my favorite when I was a little girl, of course the show did not know that at the time. My first storyline was when my character was on crutches, and my husband at the time gave me a pair of red shoes to help encourage me to learn to walk and those magical red shoes worked. You know I still have those red shoes in my wardrobe closet. The next favorite storyline was when my character lost her adopted daughter. Of course, that was the storyline that won me my Emmy.

D.I.: Speaking of, where is that Emmy now?
S.R.: It's on my mantle in my den. It's the first thing you see when you walk into my house. I don't understand when people put them in their bathroom or hide them. What can I say? I want other people to see it, too!

D.I.: You are going to be at the "Day of Days" fan event, right?
S.R.: You better believe it! I can't wait to meet all of our fans that have been so loyal to us. They love our show and we do our best to keep it good. There may be some storylines that fans don't like, but as long as we keep things interesting, the core will always still be there. The core of our show is the romance. Let's bring back even more romance in daytime!

Here's a lovely photo of Suzanne behind the scenes of her latest photo shoot.

Remember to stay tuned to my blog next week when I have a chance to sit down and talk to the latest hunks to grace the town of Salem: Eric Martsolf and Galen Gering.

James and Meyghan thank all of you so much for your thoughts and suggestions on their new puppy's name. After much deliberation they've decided that they will call her "Wombat" so thank you to Mimi for that suggestion.

We hope to post a family photo of James and all their dogs soon! Thanks again!

I told you all about the fun I had with my photo shoot over at the "Days of our Lives" set last week and as promised, I am back!

In between taking photos and wardrobe changes, I had the chance to sit down in the NBC commissary and talk to Roscoe Born about taking on the recent role as the mysterious man with a past, Trent Robbins.

First off, I can honestly say that it was truly an honor to sit down and talk to such a talented daytime vet. It's refreshing to see him back and playing such a menacing role in Salem. Don't you all agree?

Here's Roscoe checking out the photos from his shoot.

Days Insider: What does it take to play a great villain?
Roscoe Born: It takes knowing yourself and all the facets of your personality and then you bring those facets to life.

D.I.: Do you have fun playing the bad guy?
R.B.: Yes, I do. The bad guy is the guy who makes things happen. Everybody else has to react. He's the one who moves the story along.

D.I.: Any particular actor on "Days of our Lives" that you are looking forward to sharing more scenes with?
R.B.: I can tell you that great stuff is happening. I am working with Stephen Nichols next week and I have more stuff coming up with Deidre Hall. I look forward to sharing more scenes with the "vets" of the show. But, for the time being, I am having a lot of fun with the young people, too. I love working with Ari (Zucker). She's got a great sense of humor, she's real smart, and she's real quick-witted. She listens and we react to each other very well in scenes. If I say something that wasn't originally in the script, she plays along and adapts very well.

So, what do you all think? Who would you like to see Roscoe share more scenes with? I don't know about you, but I am really looking forward to those scenes with Deidre!

I had the joy of joining Darin Brooks, Blake Berris, Molly Burnett, and Roscoe Born on a "Days of our Lives" photo shoot near the set the other day.

Now, working in the business, I know that photo shoots take a long time. It's easy to say actors have it easy, they just have to sit and look pretty, but that really is not the case. There are wardrobe changes, lighting changes, hairstyle changes, and different poses. What might look good on an actor in plain view isn't always the best look on camera. Just look at the clothes brought from wardrobe.

Believe it or not, Blake still had to have wardrobe run back to the set to grab more clothes.

During various breaks, I had a chance to talk to the actors at the shoot. The first being feisty newcomer Molly Burnett, who plays Max's long lost and trouble-making little sister, Melanie. I can assure you, she's just as much fun as she appears to be on-screen. The chemistry she has with Darin is undeniable. They play off each other like real-life brother and sister. She also gave off great chemistry with Blake.

I had a chance to chat with Molly while she was walking to the set of "Days of our Lives" to get back to work and she was kind enough to answer a few of my questions.

Days Insider: How does it feel to be doing a Days photo shoot?
Molly Burnett: It is so cool. I am big into taking pictures, but to be invited to this big of a photo shoot, now that's a lot of fun. I had to arrive at 6:30 this morning just for hair and make-up and we wrapped up at noon. It's a lot of work. And my smile muscles are hurting now. But, I love smiling, so it's all worth it!

D.I.: How has it been being the newbie on the set?
M.B.: I know I am a newbie, but I don't feel like one. Everybody has been so nice. It feels like I have been here forever.

D.I.: How did you get the role of Melanie?
MB: It was a process. It took awhile. It was filled with a lot of screen testing. There were ten girls in the end and I was very nervous, but I got the part.

D.I.: What kind of direction would you like Melanie take?
M.B.: I see her as being tough and funny. I would love to see her bring more humor to the show. Yeah, she's messed up, but she's working through her issues.

D.I.: Is there any particular actor you are looking forward to sharing more scenes with?
M.B.: I just want a chance to work with everybody. I want to test my chemistry out with all the actors, to see what we can bring to the show. But, I have loved working with Darin, Shelley, and Blake, so far. They have been a blast!

Make sure you come back to the Days Insider Blog next week when the interviews continue with Salem heartthrob Blake Berris, and the seasoned professional Roscoe Born.

The Days Insider is here, barely, after surviving yet another round of Emmy season. But this was no ordinary awards season; "Days of our Lives" received four acting nominations this year. That was a first in a very long time and the show was very proud of that accomplishment.

I had the honor of sitting with nominees Darin Brooks and Rachel Melvin during the ceremony. I also noticed it was a great opportunity for a lot of the cast to get reunited with actors who had been on the show in the past. It's easy to forget that there is a special bond that actors form with one another when working together on a day-to-basis. Farah Fath stopped by to say "congratulations" to Darin for his nomination and play catch-up, and Kyle Lowder snuck in visits with his wife Arianne Zucker at her table, and had a chance to play catch-up with some of his old co-stars.

After the ceremony, the real action began. The "Days of our Lives" after party had everybody dancing and mingling all night long. Here are just some of the photos from the party. I think we can all agree that everybody had a great time.

My camera went missing for a second and then I found out that Bryan had taken it. He gave me a nice surprise photo when I got my camera back.

Brandon and Nadia showed up and it was nice to see Brandon join up with his old co-stars Jay, Blake, and Bryan.

And because I read your comments on the Days Insider Blog almost daily, I also know you all wouldn't be satisfied without a nice picture of James at the party, so here you go. Don't say I never treat my readers well!

Hello Everybody!
After reading your comments, I can clearly see that you want more from your favorites at Days of our Lives. Well, you are clearly in for a treat, because I am bringing you not only your favorite stars but also bringing them to you from the beach!

You can imagine my delight when the show invited little ol' me to the very exciting and very big promo shoot down in Santa Monica. I arrived there to not only find the charming Darin Brooks clowning around with Shelley Hennig, but also a shirtless Jay Kenneth Johnson getting prepped and ready for his photos to be taken. All in a "Days" work, I guess. Sigh.

Here's a great picture of Kristen Renton showing me what's what. Now, I officially know who has the greatest job in this industry, the person assigned to polish Jay's chest!

Here's Darin showing you the wardrobe selection from the photo shoot. A small trailer usually means a small selection for clothes. It's a good thing it was a beach shoot, meaning not a lot of clothes were necessary. I personally was hoping Darin would take the time to change into some Speedos I had picked out for him, but no such luck :(

At end of my day, I went up to the Santa Monica Pier to say a quick hello to longtime favorites Kristian Alfonso and Peter Reckell. After looking at this picture, it's no wonder why these two are such fan favorites. Their chemistry continues to shine after all these years.

The promo shoot was an all-day event and unfortunately, I didn't get to stay long enough to see Ali, Bryan, Nadia, James, and Arianne's arrival. But, I promise you, there are a lot of very fun things coming your way, courtesy of me, your Days Insider!

Make sure to come back and see what happens when I turned Darin, Kristen, and Shelley loose on my video camera!

Thanks so much for the wonderful feedback on my first Insider Blog entry. I enjoyed all of your comments and am taking all of your suggestions into consideration. Trust me, the more time I have to spend face to face with dreamboats like James Scott and Jay Kenneth Johnson, the better. Sigh.

But, back to my fun interview with Ari Zucker. Ari does share something in common with her alter ego Nicole; they are both full of surprises! I asked Ari what would be the most surprising fact her fans could find out. You ready for this? Ari knows how to change her own car's oil. I have to admit that when she told me this, I laughed. Can you all imagine Nicole in coveralls with grease on her face, changing the oil under a car? I couldn't help but ask if Ari would help me out when my oil change date comes around. She happily obliged!

Ari was also sweet enough to give me a rundown of some of her favorite things. Do you share some of the same?

Favorite Movie: "Young Frankenstein" and "Blazing Saddles." Anything Mel Brooks, for that matter!
Favorite TV Show: She admits it, she's a "Grey's Anatomy" fan.
Favorite Song: Anything by Tim McGraw.
Favorite Actor: Daniel Craig (How can you disagree with that one after seeing the latest James Bond?)
Favorite Actress: The one and only Madeline Kahn.
Favorite Book: Any of the classics by Ernest Hemmingway.
Favorite Guilty Pleasure: A nice glass of wine with her husband.
Favorite Cocktail: A dirty (very dirty) martini.

Hello Days Fans!

I am what they call the Days Insider. My one and only job is to be your NBC.com backstage guide to Days of our Lives!

For my first post, I had the amazing honor of sitting down and chatting with one of the most down-to-earth, (not to mention beautiful) actresses in the business, Arianne Zucker.

Now most of you recognize Arianne (Or "Ari" as she is called by her friends and colleagues) for playing Salem's resident bad girl, Nicole Walker. But after having the great pleasure of hanging out with Ari, I was quick to realize she is nothing like her character; in fact, she is refreshingly the exact opposite.

I met up with Ari on the set where she had just gotten done filming a scene with Tamara Braun's character, Ava Vitali. It was easy to find Arianne backstage. I just followed the trail of laughter and that led me straight to Tamara's dressing room. Arianne was still dressed in character and politely asked if it was okay she change into something a little more comfortable and joked that she was convinced the dress "Nicole" had to wear in the scene shot that day was really just a tank top and a belt. She met me in a room that on-set calls the "library." The room doesn't resemble a library at all, but it met our needs.

I asked Ari a bit about her background and with a perfectly pitched Legally Blonde accent, she responded, "Well, like, I grew up in the Valley." Ari grew up in Southern California, the home of the sun, beach and fun. Her parents also had a house an hour and a half outside of Los Angeles as an escape from the busyness of the city life. It was that escape that made Ari appreciate the beauty of the outdoors even more.

Ari's career took off during her first year of college, when she won a local modeling contest that took her all around the world. Ari lived the jet-setting life of a model from age 18 to her early 20s. She calls that whole time a blur because she was so busy with work and travel. Sounds pretty glamorous to me. I wish somebody asked me to be an international model when I was 18! Sigh.

When Ari returned home, she took classes to be a veterinarian. Then, after taking theatre classes and improv classes while in college, the Days audition came her direction and the role of Nicole was created! Not only that, but she beat out 2,000 girls for the role! I couldn't imagine any other actress playing Nicole Walker, could you?
If you believe in horoscopes, it shouldn't be a great shock to find out that Ari is a Gemini to the core. She admits that she fits the description to a "T." Between being chatty, friendly, spontaneous, artistic, and unpredictable, Ari is also fun to hang around with.

At first I thought I was going to be completely thrown off just talking to her because she really is just as beautiful in person as she is on screen (trust me, not always the case with actors in Hollywood). I also thought I was going to be intimidated by the stunning 5'9" beauty, but by the end of the interview, I was prepared to ask if her if she wanted to grab a margarita at happy hour.

Come by next week to check out my continued interview with Ari, where we talk about the one skill that most of her fans are surprised to learn she has, as well as just a few of her favorite things.

Now you tell me: Who else would you like to see the Days Insider cover? What kind of questions would you like me to ask your favorites on Days of our Lives?

I'll be reading your answers and hoping I can bring you even closer to your favorite Days of our Lives stars. Keep checking back, I promise a lot more fun!