Gabriela Rodriguez OUT!!!

According to Soap Opera Digest, Gabriela Rodriguez will no longer be playing Gaby Hernandez. Camila Banus (ex-Lola, OLTL) will be taking over the part.

Mark Hapka in BEYOND THE MAT

INDIE HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING PIC BEYOND THE MAT PUMPED UP BY SOME LORDS OF THE RING

These days, the web buzz around Beyond The Mat, the high school wrestling drama starring John Wynn and Days of Our Lives' Mark Hapka, is steadily building into the roar of the crowd as the film is granted some extra heft from pro wrestlers Kurt Angle and Ken Shamrock. The Olympic Gold medalist and UFC champion, respectively, will be appearing in pivotal scenes in the indie pic based on the Tribeca fest-winning screenplay. The film, the feature directorial debut of Van Pham, is executive produced by L.A.-based Catch 22 Entertainment.

See 411.com link for more info.

James Scott and Galen Gering respond to Hartley firing

As reported by Soaps She Knows, James Scott and Galen Gering reported and responded to the news of Lindsay Hartley's firing at the recent Days Into Night event:

James Scott (EJ): "I thought for a while that there might be something there [chemistry between EJ and Arianna], and it would be nice. It’s been a long, long, long, long time since EJ has had any physical action! A long time! Lindsay is a great person and a wonderful actress. I’m sure she will be working again very soon."

Galen Gering (Rafe): "In these times and the economy the way that it is, they are only going to invest in characters that really connect with the audience. It’s unfortunate because her character (Arianna) had a rough start with the storylines, but it seemed to be taking off recently. That’s just how it goes in this business though."

Matt Ashford Statement about THE BAY

Via Matt Ashford's Facebook Page:

Okay, the word is already out, but to confirm ... I'll soon be appearing on the new web series, "The Bay." I look forward to joining Mary Beth Evans and the rest of the cast and crew. The show will be coming to the web this Fall. Filming for my character doesn't start until sometime next month. I'll keep you posted. -Matt

Matthew Ashford joins THE BAY

What started out as a rumor is now confirmed as fact. Matthew Ashford joins the cast of THE BAY in Chapter 7 of the series. The five-time Soap Opera Digest Award winning actor will be playing Sara Garrett's (Mary Beth Evans) prisoned rapist, Steve Jensen, who also happens to be the father of her oldest child Brian Nelson.

Hmmm, Matthew Ashford playing Mary Beth Evans' rapist. What is it about this that sounds familiar?

Ty Treadway cast on DAYS

On the heels of the firing of Lindsay Hartley, Soap Talk host Ty Treadway (ex-Colin/Troy, OLTL) will be coming to Salem as Dr. Jason Walters. The actor begins taping next month and will appear in several episodes.

Lindsay Hartley Out at DAYS

Lindsay Hartley (Arianna) has been let go from DAYS. Whatever the reason, I applaud this decision. The character of Arianna frankly isn't that interesting. She was a bore from the start when Felisha Terrell played the role. Nicole has her beat in the chemistry factor with Brady. On PASSIONS, apparently Lindsay and Eric Martsolf had good chemistry; but it just doesn't translate in Salem. I can only hope that maybe this is the beginning of the end of the PASSIONS-fest that DAYS has become for the last two years.

Charlotte Ross Block Party

Charlotte Ross (ex-Eve, DAYS; NYPD Blue, Glee) will be posting on the Nickelodeon ParentsConnect Block Party all day on Wednesday, July 21st. Go this link to participate.

John and Jennifer Aniston records children's book

John Aniston (Victor, DAYS) teams up with his famous daughter, Jennifer, to record a new recording of a children's classic, Growing Up with Loukoumi. The story is of a child who turns to her father for insight on how to be a success when she grows up.

The recording is going to accompany the book Loukoumi’s Good Deeds -- $2 from every purchase will be donated to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

To hear a part of the recording, go this link at Us Magazine.

Roark Critchlow the Facebook Friend

If any one needs proof that Roark Critchlow (Mike Horton, DAYS) has a warped and delightful sense of humor, check out this crazy mvid he put up called "Facebook Friend". It will put a smile on your face!

Also, if any "Blogger" experts know how to shrink a YouTube embedded video, please send me a note because as you can see, I'm obviously challenged that way!

Mark Hapka in Savvy and Mandy music video

Check out the making of Savvy & Mandy's new music video, Words, with an appearance by DAYS' own Mark Hapka. Words will hit YouTube on July 27th.

Catherine Mary Stewart talks with HORROR SOCIETY

Before there was Mary Beth Evans as "Kayla Brady", there was Catherine Mary Stewart. After Catherine left DAYS, she starred in a lot of of those guilty pleasure 1980s miniseries such as Sins and Hollywood Wives; and since then, she has achieved quite a following for her work in sci fi and horror film.

Check out Catherine's recent interview with Horror Society. In it, she has the following hysterically funny quote about her work at DAYS:

"An hour show a day is difficult. My very first day on the set was humiliating. It’s my very first scene as Nurse Kayla Brady and I had to name every single character. I got everybody’s name wrong! Everyone was like No, I’m Maggie and this is Hope!" And, as for the most exciting thing that happened during her tenure on the long soap? "I lost my virginity to my brother! Josh Taylor was playing Chris Kositchek at the time and I lost my virginity to him. Now he’s back on the soap, playing Roman Brady, Kayla’s brother. So, I lost my virginity to my brother!"

To keep up with what Catherine Mary Stewart is doing these days, check out her website and Facebook page.

Congrats, John de Lancie!

John de Lancie (Q, Star Trek; Eugene, Days of Our Lives) is nominated for Best Actor for his role of "Santa Claus" in the animated film, Elf Sparkle Meets Christmas the Horse in the Alaska International Film Fesitval. The awards will be handed out during the film festival in Anchorage, Alaska today (July 15th). Good luck, John!

Nadia Bjorlin hosting ACME

As per Nadia's twitter page:

"Ok, kids, get ready! I'm hosting ACME Saturday night on August 14th! Who knows what will happen."

Eric Martsolf has hosted there a couple of times as well. Check the ACME comedy club website for more details.

Daphne Bloomer on THE BAY

As per Lanyfilms Productions' FB Page:

Best known for her role as Sami's nemesis Eugenia Willans on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, now joining the cast of THE BAY is DAPHNE BLOOMER. Bloomer will be playing Colleen Givens a woman from Vivian Johnson's past. She begins taping on July 17th, playing opposite Réal Andrews (Dr. Keith Campbell).

Bloomer's real-life son Aiden Matthew McVay ...will also make an appearance on the show as Tony and Marly's son, R.J. Foster.

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After being on a week-long break, a lot of stuff happening with DAYS news right now which I'm sure everyone already knows about. Eric Martsolf's appearance with ACME, Deidre Hall's new nutrition book coming out, Jessica Tuck leaving DAYS and Charles Shaughnessy appearing on THE BAY and on stage in SPAMALOT were the main events from last week.

DAYS OutTakes on hiatus

Not going to be posting much this week on the blog, but looking forward to some exciting stuff to come.

Deidre Hall tweets about book

As per Deidre's tweets today:

Proofed my book cover today. Gorgeous!! It's unbelievably exciting. I'll keep you posted!!
3:21 AM Jun 24th via web

Yippee!! My book is coming off the presses this week!!!! I'm beyond thrilled with the way it turned out.
about 8 hours ago via web

So this is all very intriguing. I've heard rumors that she was planning on writing a tell-all book about DAYS. Not sure what other book she could be referring to. If anyone is in the know and wants to share, I'm all ears.

Secrets, Scandals and Lies

As per TV Guide:

Cool news for fans of Days of Our Lives' John and Marlena...they're coming back! Only you won't find 'em on your TV. The legendary supercouple — played by Drake Hogestyn and Deidre Hall, who were axed in 2008 to cut production costs — will be among several MIA Days characters who appear in a new potboiler novel called Salem's Secrets, Scandals and Lies (Sourcebooks, Inc.). Due in November, just in time for the soap's 45th anniversary, the book is by former Days head writer Sheri Anderson, who will reveal what's been happening to Jarlena since the characters split town. She'll also bring us up to date on such other Salem expats as Belle, Shawn, Patch and Eric.

"I love this kind of writing because it gives me total freedom with the characters," says Anderson. "I can take them to any lavish locale in the world and I don't have to worry about budget restrictions or actor contracts!" She'll focus the book — the first of at least three — on a brand-new character, teen heiress Charlotte "Charley" Gaines, who is the daughter of a notorious Bernie Madoff-type crook. Or so she thinks. After her mother dies in a car crash in Monaco, Charley finds out that her true birth parents hail from Salem. "Charley is gorgeous, spirited, independent and still a virgin —for the moment anyway," Anderson says.

The books will take place in the same basic time frame as the current Days plots. "I keep the show up to speed on what I'm doing so I don't contradict their storytelling," she says. "As a fan of soaps, it drives me crazy when continuity is wrong." Might Charley actually appear in the flesh on Days some day? "I would love it," says Anderson. "But I understand as well as anyone that head writers don't want to be told that they have to use a character. If they read my books and decide they'd like to use Charley I'm all for it. The needs of the show come first."

Anderson doesn't consider her sexy tomes to be romance novels. "Those tend to be a bit on the soft side," she says. "These books are a little more daring and edgy than that." And they may get a rise out of certain Days fans. Case in point: Anderson will have Charley develop an attraction for the very married Shawn!

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My thoughts:

I'm always leary of books that take off from a popular series or movie and have original characters put into them. This reminds me of Alexandra Ripley's sequel of Gone With the Wind that practically made Scarlett and Rhett unrecognizable and had a lot of extra original characters in it that I could have cared less about. So this Charley chick better have a lot of charisma to win me over. Can't imagine when John and Marlena managed to have this love child come out from nowhere. She had the "alien twins" during her missing years...so it probably wasn't then unless she truly was a baby-making machine.

Also, I wonder how well John and Marlena will do on paper without Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn to give them life. Soap characters, in my opinion, often become popular through the skill of the actors that play them combined with good story. While most DAYS fans know that Sheri Anderson is an excellent headwriter, her skills will really come to the test as a novelist to make this work.

At any rate, you will be sure to find a book review here on DAYS OutTakes.

Charlotte Ross strips for PETA

Charlotte Ross (Judy, GLEE; Connie, NYPD Blue; ex-Eve, DAYS) once again strips for the sake of animal rights. As part of Urban Outfitters’ action to go fur free last March, now they are doing a trial sale of T-shirts featuring Charlotte both fur-free and clothes-free posing with a rabbit. To show your support for PETA and fur-free fashion, check out the following link and go shop at your local Urban Outfitters.

Next year will also be the release of Charlotte's film, Drive Angry, starring Nicolas Cage.