Talent Jug - Casting Calls and Auditions

Executive Producer Ken Corday says, “The couple will be happily reunited after a long period of angst and separation and will be off-screen after January for an unknown period of time. It was a very tough decision to make.”

What, no fiery explosions, long-lost evil twins, or deathbed monologues to look forward to? We thought this was a soap opera.

Days of Our Lives was renewed for another 18 months last week, but since that is at a reduced fee from the show’s previous five-year renewal, fans probably shouldn’t get too excited just yet. In addition to cutting Hall and Hogestyn, Jay Kenneth Johnson (Philip) will also be leaving the show after negotiations between the actor and the show broke down.

From Soap Opera Digest’s “DAYS Casting Shocker!”:

Money is said to be the main issue. “Everyone is being asked to take a paycut,” reports an insider. Sources say the show is looking for a potential recast and actors are being brought into the studio today to read. A DAYS spokesperson says, “No comment.”

We have to admit, even though we’re not soap opera followers (thanks to Vulture for the tip on this one), this is pretty shocking. We used to think that a soap opera gig was about the steadiest work an actor could find. Seems like no one is safe when the economy comes tumbling down…

– Daniel Lehman

Article Source: http://backstage.blogs.com/blogstage/2008/11/days-of-our-lives-hit-with-budget-cuts.html