Days of Our Lives (Page 18)

Singer Shirley Jones will join the cast of Days Of Our Lives in February.

The Oscar winner (for Elmer Gantry in 1950) will play the role of Colleen Brady, complete with an Irish accent.

The role marks Jones' first foray into daytime television, and while we have no Days of Our Lives spoilers right now regarding any story lines, the singer/actress did say:

"It's hard work! I didn't want to do it - but they gave me more money than ..."

We'll let you think of the four-letter word Jones used to end that sentence.

Julie Pinson will leave Days of our Lives in the next few weeks.

According to a source on set, the actress is being written out as part of the show's continued efforts to trim its budget. The move is controversial, however, because the decision to write out Billie was made by the show's interim writers, who are substituting for the show's regular writers while they strike.

In 2004, Pinson appeared for three months on The Young and the Restless before beginning her stint on Days of Our Lives.

A final airdate has not yet been announced for the actress, as a series spokesperson said:

"Julie is still at work. We do not comment on contracts."

Hearken back to 1984, Days of Our Lives fans.

You may not be aware of it, but you're intimately familiar with the Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie Louisiana, approximately 45 minutes outside of New Orleans.

It was here where Bo (Peter Reckell) and Hope (Kristian Alfonso) first made love, beautifully setting up the relationship that led to one of television's all-time great weddings.

Refresh your memory of the moments leading up to this event at Oak Alley below:

Now, let's take a look at the plantation today. I ventured to this gorgeous locale with my girlfriend last week - and could practicaly see Bo and Hope frolicking on the front lawn as we posed in front of the picturesque oak trees...

Did this writer and his lovely ladyfriend sneak off into a bedroom and emulate the actions of those classic Days of Our Lives characters? Like a true gentleman in the mold of Bo Brady, A.C. Powers will never tell.

What can you look forward to next week on Days of Our Lives? Here are a few spoilers...

• Chelsea tells Nick everything. Yes, everything!

• Kate and Phil attempt to help a jailed Lucas (Bryan Dattilo, pictured).

• Marlena threatens Stefano.

• EJ finds out what it means to be on Stefano’s (Joseph Mascolo)bad side.

• Belle is suspicious of Phillip!

Alison Sweeney is more than just content that Ed Scott is now a writer on Days of Our Lives. Regarding Scott, the actress recently told Boston Now:

“It's fantastic.  We're so lucky.  He's such an amazing producer. He made such an impression on the set from the moment he got here with his enthusiasm and his work ethic and his strive for perfection, and that's what I admire so much because that's my mentality…

He wants it to be right, he wants it to be good, he wants it to be perfect.  He is someone you can look up to and someone you can work hard for.”

And Sweeney is used to working hard, especially since she has to juggle her successful television career with taking care of her family: husband David Sanov and two-year-old son Benjamin Edward.

“It's not easy,” she said of balancing family with work, which includes hosting NBC's The Biggest Loser.  “I couldn't do it if I didn't love all the jobs; I love being a Mom, I love my son, and my husband.  I am so lucky to have such a supporting, loving family, and they are with me as much as they can be.  We do stuff together and have quality family time as much as possible.”

Sweeney added: “[Days of our Lives] is a part of my life.  I've been doing it for almost half my life and everyone here is my family.  I care about the show so much and want it to succeed; I wan

Days of Our Lives just got a lot cuter.

Alina Foley, the four-year old daughter of Dave Foley, will join the show on January 3 in the role of Claire.

Days of Our Lives will not air a new episode on Tuesday, January 1. But here's what you can look forward to on other days next week:

• Lucas admits to Sami that he shot EJ (James Scott). What will be the consequences?

• Belle finally reveals the truth to Shawn (Brandon Beemer, pictured) about her and Phillip.

• Roman finds information on the necklace in the photograph of John and his mother.

• Chloe tells Phillip about what happened to Brady.

This season's I Wanna Be a Soap Star winner, Ashlee Holland, makes her debut in Salem on December 26.

The new Days of Our Lives actress was awarded a 13-week contract after winning the aforementioned reality show. Previous seasons have produced two current cast members on other shows:

• Mykel Shannon Jenkins just turned up on The Bold and the Beautiful as Charlie Baker.
• On One Life to Live, BethAnn Bonner has fit in nicely as Talia.

How long will Holland remain on Days of Our Lives? It will all depend on her performance.

On December 15, cast members from Days of Our Lives volunteered their time for "Operation Gratitude" at the California Army National Guard Armory in Van Nuys, California. K

Kristian Alfonso, Jay Kenneth Johnson, Kam Heskin and Charlie Koznick all joined in to assemble care packages that will be sent to U.S. troops overseas.

Prepare for the holidays with this look ahead at next week's Days of Our Lives episodes...

Monday
Philip (Jay Kenneth Johnson) rejects Chloe; EJ vows to be a better man... if he could only have a chance with Sami.

Tuesday
Belle publicly denounces Philip in front of her friends and family; Stephanie is honest with Kayla about her rape.

Wednesday
A psychic tells Marlena that John is still alive; Sami (Alison Sweeney, pictured) finds a goodbye letter from Lucas.

Friday
Lucas has second thoughts about running away; Max and Chelsea remove Ford's body from the house.