This was not surprising to me, as I had speculated that the dead wasn't really dead and would be coming back sooner or later. It was just a matter of when they would be coming back. I just wonder how they will explain where they've been the last few months. Jim Reilly supposedly informed the cast about their co-stars returning last week. Sounds like the news is reliable and it will be in the upcoming issue of SOW.



From Soap News & Scoops:

In the upcoming issue of SOW the details will be revealed of the dead won't be dead and it will turn into a hoax. And I can also confirm the info is true.


From Google:

talk on the boards is that all the killings over at DOOL have been
a hoax and most of the dead actors are coming back as their old living selves. LOL. Matthew Ashford's website states that he will be coming back to DOOL so I guess that gives the rumor some credibility.

Also read that the cast was told on April 1 - I think Reilly realized he bit the hand that fed him one too many times.

innocent sentence for james e reilly- hang him.
guilty sentence for james e reilly- hang him.

either way, this is way stupid. hoax, daydream, fantasy, nightmare, whatever, the killing is stupid and should have never been done.

I'm not buying any of this. As much as I'd like for it to be true I just don't see that happening. Kiling off all these actors only to just bring them back would be totally pointless. Where would the show go from there? What about the other storylines that are taking place along with the serial killer storyline? Plus, James E. Reily said that this storyline is supposed to go well into 2005, hwo on earth can that happen if the dead start coming back supposedly beginning in May?

Sorry, guys, I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.

I don't know if I believe or not, I mean I do and then I don't. I dunno. But if it is true then I'm positive that Thaoo will not come back, and that Alexis will not come back. I also believe that it was all John's dream.

I'm certainly not buying any of this. The article in TV Guide months ago, had Reilly stating, that the real shocker he wants to keep under close wraps. I have serious doubts about this supposed hoax especially since he said he was not going to pull a Pam Ewing dream.

I think this may be an attempt by Reilly to guide us away from the truth. The truth of which I don't want to know until it actually happens.

Not to mention that cast was TOLD on April 1st. Uuuuh, hello, April Fools.

Here's some more news from various soap sites:



-The Matthew Ashford Homepage is confirming that he is returning to the show in May. Although it is not his official website, he is a huge supporter of it and its webmaster is well in-the-know about anything concerning Matthew and she said she would not post anything that she wasn't sure about, especially since this is a very sensitive topic to Jack & Jennifer fans, so if she has it in the news section it is true IMO.

-Lana, the webmistress for Bill & Susan Hayes, has confirmed that Bill Hayes will also be returning to the show in the form of a very much alive Doug.

-Dustin of Dustin's Days Page, is also stating that he too is hearing that this back from the dead thing is true.

-Brenda, the women who broke this news is saying that Matt Ashford, James Reynolds, Suzanne Rogers, Peggy McCay, Josh Taylor, Bill Hayes & Frances Reid will ALL be returning. No word on any of the others (Thaao, Alexis & John)

Dustin has not passed the news off as if it were true. He put everything under his Rumor Mill. He always tries to be careful not to lead people on.

I'm still not buying any of this.

I think it could be possible. After all, there are a billion ways they could bring them back supernaturally without it being a dream or anything like that.

I honestly don't know who to trust more these days -- the people with the often accurate scoops or Corday and Reilly. Corday keeps lying ('Bill and Susan Hayes are not going to be fired'...'Alice is not a victim!'...etc.), so it's hard to believe anything he says now, for me anyway.

Either way, I don't think Thaao or Alexis are going to be coming back. Thaao left on bad terms, and Alexis already has a new gig (Dark Shadows). Unless, of course, if she comes back to wrap up Cassie's story if it is indeed true. I hope John Aniston comes back, but I'm doubtful about that, too, since Jan killed him and not Marlena.

You're right Sean Snow, after all that's happened these past few months, anything is possible on DOOL. ClassicTVForever, seems like I posted something on here a while back and you didn't believe it either LOL I know you don't know me, but I would never lie to you or any of my fellow soap fans about information regarding our "stories":)
This news came from a couple of very reliable sources that I have never known to have been wrong in the past. If somehow this news turns out to be fabricated, then I apologize for posting it. However, I personally believe this news to be very true or I wouldn't have posted it here to begin with. I guess we'll have to wait and see if SOD or SOW reports this next week. Also be sure to check Delaina Dixon's column on TVGuide.com Friday morning. She usually is the first person (from the major publications) to post breaking soap news on the internet.

I'm in total disbelief about all this. If this is all a hoax, then why do the storyline at all???????? The "Salem Serial Killer" storyline was completely pointless. Yeah, it might have raised the ratings a bit, but pulling a hoax, that's going tooo far. This reminds me of Dallas and Sunset Beach. The whole series of SB was fake and one season of Dallas was fake. I'm glad this is happening, but Reilly must really be loosing his mind to pull a stunt like this.

Its all about ratings these days. They don't care if they drive a long-running show into the toilet as long as it gets good ratings. Even though no one seems to like the serial killer storyline, most DOOL viewers still continue to watch every chance they get just to see what happens next OR to see if this storyline is ever going to end.

I like the storyline. And I do believe you when you say that they all could return from the dead. I thought Jack was on another soap though?

Hey Brian, Matt Ashford just left One Life to Live (where he played a serial killer), he was killed off last week. Has anyone else noticed that Alexis Thorpe (Cassie) was one of the only actors that didn't return as a ghost and she is one of the only actors NOT slated to return from the dead. Coincidence? Alexis recently got a part on the new Dark Shadows series, so if they do decide to bring back Cassie, the role will more than likely be recast.

I'm wondering how Reilly is going to pull this off? I mean, is he going to rewind time in Salem and set the scene at a scene we saw months ago or what? This is going to be very interesting!!!!!
I can't wait to see how he pulls this off.

Originally posted by angel676
I'm wondering how Reilly is going to pull this off? I mean, is he going to rewind time in Salem and set the scene at a scene we saw months ago or what? This is going to be very interesting!!!!!
I can't wait to see how he pulls this off.

It will be interesting to see how Reilly does pull it off. I'm pretty sure that it won't be a dream but maybe something scifi will cause the victims to be alive again. Soap Opera Weekly is expected to confirm the return of the actors in this weeks edition. I don't get the magazine in the mail but I can find someone who does and when I do I'll be sure to post the article here.

SOW hasn't said anything, so we'll have to wait til next week for confirmation.

Now I'm wondering, why the sudden change of heart about this storyline and bringing back the dead? Does anyone know if anyone at Days has confirmed these happenings to be true, 'cause I don't want to get my hopes up.

Originally posted by I Dream of Jeannie
I don't know if I believe or not, I mean I do and then I don't. I dunno. But if it is true then I'm positive that Thaoo will not come back, and that Alexis will not come back. I also believe that it was all John's dream.

Really? I think it's all a dream of Marlena's. I think she's in some kind of a coma, and dreamed the whole thing, all this time she's been in a coma. that maybe Stefano did something to her and she lapsed into a coma, just a thought.....:)

Hmmm I do think it could work, I am wondering if Reilly and Corday are starting to realize that if they don't change things, then Days will probably be cancelled next year when this story was supposed to end, cause after all what was left for them when almost all the main characters are gone?

Here's a whole other spin to this news item.
Don't know if I would want this to happen or not, I don't think people can handle another JER show. LOL

This was posted by one of the reporters at Soap News & Scoops:


I usually don’t post rumors but people have been asking about the article in SOD refering to JER doing a new soap for NBC. But since many of the recently killed off characters are returning and will be alive, this article is pretty much bogus to me,lol.

I copied most of it word for word.

Rumors are swirling that JER is going to pen a soap for the Peacock network that will focus primarily on the characters that have been killed off of Days.
According to insiders JER’s contract with NBC includes the opportunity to create a new sudser. TV Guide reports that the project a “bizarre spin-off” of Days is currently under consideration with the network. “I can’t imagine how they would do that,” says one setsider. “They have had trouble getting actors back to tape flashback scenes!”
At Francis Reid’s “good-bye” party on set, Corday addressed the fact that the axed stars were returning as spirits. “I said , ‘You may think we’re doing a new show called The Ghosts of Salem, but we are not. That would be a one gag show,” he explained.
A spokesman for the network says , “No comment.”

Hmmm this is interesting. I personally would like it to be true but we'll just have to wait and see.


Oh and I Dream of Jeannie I LOVE your avatar!! Deidre must be having a ball with that character :D

Thank you. :) Oh I know she is, lmho, Monday's show is a RIOT, I'm probably going to tape it twice because I will probably wear it out. lol

To be honest, this storyline, as psyched as I was about, kind of wore me down. I became highly depressed.

That being said, the storyline did raise ratings. The death of Alice was horrible. The fact is, it raised ratings, which is what the network wanted.

Looking back on it, I find the news of the dead returing not at all surprising. We were given hints to this for months. Jack donates his organs? Impossible. Corday said Bill and Susan Hayes were not being brought back to have their characters killed off, yet Doug was murdered two months after he came back. Reilly also said, pretty nonchalantly in a TV Guide interview that, basically, there wasn't a reason to have Marlena redeemed. Of course not, because she didn't kill anyone! LOL. Throughout this storyline, all I could think was, it doesn't seem real, this isn't possible. The fact is, I don't think it will be a dream. I think everything that has happened will still be there when the dead return. And not all of them will, if this turns out to be true. Only Abe, Jack, Maggie, Caroline, Doug, Roman and Alice will be alive. Alexis Thorpe (Cassie) joined the cast of WB's Dark Shadows, Thaao Penghlis (Tony) burned so many bridges of course he isn't back, and John Aniston (Victor) probably would never return again.

IMO, it could come true, it might not. If it doesn't, it doesn't. I do have an ill feeling that Alice may remain dead and Frances make appearances as a ghost on a regular basis. The sad fact is, Corday is right in that Alice shouldn't just go up to her room and pass away off screen, she deserves a rightful send off.

And Corday did say "returns won't happen until mid-2004" ;) and this is obviously one of the big twists this May/Summer.

And to also add, Reilly never changes a storyline, unless he absolutely has to (such as on Passions when Josh Evans passed away). If they do come back alive, it was planned from the beginning.

To be honest, Doug and Roman are the only ones I want back! (Well, and Alice of course). I'd be quite happy to see the others stay dead. Abe had become so boring, Jack was just irritating; and he got such a good death scene, with the way he grinned at the camera. If they'd have left it that way, without getting him to come back as a ghost, that would have been one of the best send offs I've ever seen a character get in any show. Bringing these people back seems like a total waste of time.

I'm hoping the promised 'twist' is way better than that.

Posted by one of the reporters at Soap News & Scoops:


I'm going to copy this word for word instead of summarizing, so I don't misinterpret anything (please excuse any typos).

THE DAYS RUMOR EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT
From Soap Opera Digest, April 27th, 2004 Issue

Holy hoaxes! The internet is abuzz with rumors that the 10 actors who were killed off DAYS are being brought back next month --- alive and well.

It all started on April 1 (yes, April Fool's Day), when Executive Producer Ken Corday called a meeting with the cast and crew (that part we know is true). The exec addressed the crowd, then reportedly brought in all of the axed stars, from the first James Reynolds (Abe), to the last, Frances Reid (Alice). A posting on an unofficial web site devoted to Matthew Ashford (ex-Jack), www.mashfordpage.com, says that the actor was indeed returning, along with "several of the other fired vets."

The soap would not confirm whether the rumors are true, pointing out that many of the departed stars, like Alexis Thorpe (ex-Cassie) and Thaao Penghlis (ex-Tony), haven't appeared as ghosts. "We're very aware of the rumors, and of course we are not in the habit of commenting," says a DAYS spokesperson. "It is business as usual here. Anyone who has died of late in Salem continues to have a spiritual presence. We love to have them back as ghosts, and FOR NOW, that's what people have to hope that they're going to see of their dearly departed."


(Looks like the dead ARE returning. DAYS' spokesman is making it obvious by not commenting on it. Corday DID meet with all of the axed stars. Notice how the spokesman said "FOR NOW" they would be ghosts, but wouldn't comment on anything in the future. This article will appear in an upcoming Soap Opera Digest so you know its all legit.)



Dr. Jazz

I saw scenes where Marlena is possessed again by the devil. So I guess that explains why she killed all those people.

Originally posted by Brian Damage
I saw scenes where Marlena is possessed again by the devil. So I guess that explains why she killed all those people.

Um, and just where did you see these "scenes?" Sorry, bub, I don't buy it.

I read that they created this storyline so they could kill off all the older acotrs who had been there since the show began. They said the reason they wanted to kill them off was so they could attract a younger audience.

To bring these dead people back doesn't make sense but then again nothing makes sense in soap operas which makes it interesting.

Um, and just where did you see these "scenes?" Sorry, bub, I don't buy it.
They're in the Spoilers, but I think it's just flashbacks. John is hoping that she's possessed, and takes her to his priest friend to find out for sure.

As for killing all the old cast off; talk about shooting yourself in the foot! I certainly can't imagine the show without characters like Bo and John, and I don't want to! Given that John has been at the centre of every major storyline since 1986, they'd have nothing left to do without him. Plus there are always rumours of Stefano coming back - and he's one of the older characters too. So I doubt they'd get rid of all of them. I hope not, anyway!



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If you ask me Patrick has been hired by Jack to look after Jennifer, I think that's what he's doing, and that's why that weird dude was talking to him. I just get that feeling but then again, I sorta believe that somehow John and Marlena are going to go back in time before all of the murders began, and John's gonna save Marlena from whatever started this whole thing.

Originally posted by I Dream of Jeannie
If you ask me Patrick has been hired by Jack to look after Jennifer

I've been thinking that, too. I also think there's a possibility that he's working for Peter Blake and he's trying to go after Jennifer again.

Originally posted by I DREAM OF JEANNIE
I sorta believe that somehow John and Marlena are going to go back in time before all of the murders began
Surely if they start going back in time, they're going to realise that their children are all ten years older than they should be?! :lol:

Originally posted by Mickey
Surely if they start going back in time, they're going to realise that their children are all ten years older than they should be?! :lol:

Maybe they'll use Eugene Bradford's time machine :D Hell, maybe they'll even find Eugene himself :lol:

Whatever happened to Eugene and what was the name of his ditzy wife again?

Originally posted by Brian Damage
Whatever happened to Eugene and what was the name of his ditzy wife again?

I heard he disappeared in the time machine he invented. His wife was named Calliope (played by Arleen Sorkin).

Originally posted by Iloveroseanne
They said the reason they wanted to kill them off was so they could attract a younger audience.



I understand that they want an audience, which they do have, but at the rate Days is going, they might not have much of an audience. For the long time viewers, they grew up watching the veterans of Days. So.... by supposedly killing off the veterans, I would imagine they lost some/alot of long time viewers.

When you say "younger audience", I'm assuming you meant younger as in young teens, but I could be wrong, but let's be serious here, if Days thinks they can get by with all the young teen storylines, they got another thing comin'. Days isn't based upon teens, so how can they get by with all the lame and stupid teeny boppers and etc........ If Corday and Reilly wanted a younger audience, that doesn't mean they have to kill off all the wonderful and lovin veterans that we've watched over the many years. If they want a younger and fresher audience, then get better storylines, storylines that "everyone" will enjoy. JMO!!!!!

On a personal note, I remember watching Days when there were no teens on and they had great enticing(sp) storylines. But these days it's almost the opposite. I miss the old Days, instead of this garbage.

I'm almost positive that IF they are coming back it is all John's dream. He says something to that effect on todays show, he says something about this being a man's worst nightmare. Well I think it's his, I mean this is all stuff that would be his worst nightmare.

For those skeptics and non-believers out there, here is more reason to believe that the dead are returning and will be alive on DAYS. Passions is also mentioned in this article. This article is by TV Guide's Michael Logan, who is a very reliable source. Enjoy:

Here is a copy of the TV Guide article typed up by kellya on Todays Cofferooms.

Days of the Dead by Michael Logan

Life goes on at NBC's soaps
Five years of Passions history is about to go haywire. On May 14, Emmy winner Leigh Taylor-Young and soap vet Richard Steinmetz will join the NBC serial as Katherine Crane and Martin Fitzgerald.
Wait, aren't they six feet under? When Passions hit the air in 1999, viewers were told that Katherine, matriarch of the wealthy Crane clan, died after stressful childbirth back in the early'80s. We were also led to believe that Martin, the long-missing head of the working-class Lopez-Fitzgerald family, was the victim of foul play. Now they're not only alive and together, they're in love.
"They won't be instantly reconizable to their families because they've had an extreme makeover", cracks Passions creator Jim Reilly. "But when their true indentities are finally known, there is going to be some serious chaos in Harmony".

Apparently, the dead aren't staying dead at Reilly's other soap, either. On May 21, Days of Our Lives will reveal that Marlena's controversial serial-killing spree isn't what it seems. But Reilly swears viewers won't feel ripped off. "This has not been a hoax or a dream", he says. "This is only Act 1 of a much bigger story".
end of article
This is the article verbatim, minus any typos

I think it's an elaberate plan to catch Stefano now. lol From one theory to the next, sometime I'm bound to get the right one.

Originally posted by Dr. Jazz
But Reilly swears viewers won't feel ripped off. "This has not been a hoax or a dream", he says.

This is the good news! I certainly don't want to feel ripped off. No dreams for Days, even though they love dreams and put them in whenever they have a chance.

You know what's funny though, my favorite season of Dallas is the dream season (1985-1986 season), and I did feel cheated when Pam casually mentions, "Bobby, I just had a dream that you were dead" Geez.

With the exception of Alice and Roman (maybe Doug if I'm ina charitable mood), those people were killed because there was nothing else for them to do on the show. They were boring. Last thing the show needs is to have them all back. The cast is too big anyway.

Mind you, it's way better than the "John is really Roman. For real this time" theory, which would be the worst storyine ever.



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Originally posted by I Dream of Jeannie
I think it's an elaberate plan to catch Stefano now. lol From one theory to the next, sometime I'm bound to get the right one.

On Dustin's Rumor Mill (http://www.soapoperafan.com/days/rmill.html), there are rumors going around that the serial killer storyline is an ISA undercover operation to bring Stefano out of hiding, and there are other rumors that the "dead" are actually searching for Stefano and Tony got himself killed in the process. ::shrugs:: Anything's possible/

Why would Doug and Alice be out searching for Stefano? Surely it would make more sense to send John?! :)



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The dead are very much alive!

They are living on a Caribbean island made to resemble Salem! Salem Place is there, and so far, so is Alice's house.

Marlena is somehow transported there Monday (the 24th; was supposed to be today) and meets Alice in Salem Place! Then on Tuesday, Roman shows up, Wednesday Abe arrives and Thursday Doug shows up too!

So here it is!

Frances Reid (Alice): First airdate May 24th. (Never actually fired!)

Josh Taylor (Roman): May 25th. (back with a 2 year contract)

James Reynolds (Abe): May 26th. (same as Taylor)

Bill Hayes (Doug): May 27th. (recurring)

John Aniston (Victor): June 8th. (recurring)

Suzanne Rogers (Maggie): June 11th. (recurring)

And Alexis Thorpe (Cassie), Matt Ashford (Jack), Thaao Penghlis (Tony - first airs late June, early July? First TAPE date is June 8th, I think) and Peggy McCay (Caroline) are also back! But no first airdates. Thorpe probably gets a contract (undetermined now) Ashford is in negotiations, Penghlis has a 2 year deal and McCay is on recurring. But again, contracts mean nothing in terms of airtime... I think we'll be getting lots of triangles when the dead go back to Salem and I've heard it will be a while!

And also, speculation is that Victor and Caroline might rekindle their flame on the island...

Here is a screencap of a very alive Alice! This is the dialogue:

Marlena thinks she is dead but then Alice says: "Oh, no you're not. You're not dead. You're alive. I'm alive. We're very much alive."

I'm confused though, how did they get on the island, and if they didn't die, then was that all an illusion?

Victor died differently though. How can he be coming back? Not that I'd be sorry. Victor I like, or I do when he's being bad and ruthless, anyway. Abe... Oh dear. Sorry Abe, but you're just so boring. If he really has to come back for another two years, they better make him a lot more interesting.

I can't help thinking the much smaller cast these last few weeks has been better for the show.



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On Dustin's Page, Dustin brought up something that I never even thought of. He thinks that Ernesto Toscano is behnd all of this, and that might explain why Victor is there along with the others (and that also Patrick is working for him). Ernesto and Victor were enemies (Victor had an affair with Ernesto's wife and Isabella (Toscano-Black) was conceived from that affair). And he also tried to kill half of Salem once before by luring everyone onto a cruise ship and then planning to blow it up. It sounds very believable to me. I'd love to see Ernesto return.

As to finding out how everyone got to the island, I keep hearing that all of that will be explained by the end of the summer.

Isn't that a little bit obscure? When was the last time he appeared on the show?

Originally posted by Mickey
Isn't that a little bit obscure? When was the last time he appeared on the show?

Like 1990/1991, I think.