Days of Our Lives - NEWS ROOM

My Day of Days Event day started out with me leaving very early, at 6:00 AM, skipping breakfast in order to get there early enough to get freebies. I hope this is my first of many, Day of Days events and it was a gorgeous, sunny morning. I made it there early. I think there were only about 20 people in line when I arrived. We received a blue Days of Our Lives tote bag, a cool autograph book with pictures of all the stars, a temporary tattoo of the Days of our Lives logo, a magnet, and a raffle ticket. Off to the side where they had the stage set up, there were props where fans could take pictures. There was a sign that read: "Welcome to Salem" and another place where we could take a "mug shot" (with mug shots of the characters who have gone to jail in Salem surrounding it).

I immediately started making friends with the fans. Everyone was so excited and so friendly. It was definitely a party-like atmosphere. The place filled up pretty quickly and I had made the decision to sit at the end of the front row, rather than sit right in front because I wanted to be able to get away quickly soon after the stars came out so I could be sure to get a good spot in the line for my favorite actor on the show, James Scott (EJ). I had met him before at other events and didn’t want to miss another opportunity.

Before the stars came out, there was a guy walking around with a microphone talking to the audience, warming up the crowd. Just before the stars came out he gave out very specific instructions: One autograph per fan, but no pictures "with" the actors. The stars were called out one by one and the crowd erupted. It was a lot of fun sitting amongst people who love the stars as much as I do and the stars looked as though they were enjoying the event as much as we all were. They were waving at fans and there was a lot of excitement in the air. Once they sat down and I took a good look at them and took off to stand in James' line, which was also for Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe), and Wally Kurth (Justin). I was less than 100 people away from the start of the line. When James, Nadia and Wally came up about a half hour later walking by the line, everyone cheered and applauded them and after they took their seats, it took a little less than an hour for me to get up to the front of the line in order to talk to them. When I got to James, he asked in that wonderful English accent if we had met previously. I told him I was at the Boston Days Charity Event. He was very sweet and allowed me to take his photo.

I spoke with Nadia who I have also met at the other two events where I had met James, and felt pretty familiar with her. She asked me for my name with a big smile. I told her my name and that I had tweeped to her and Brandon a lot on Twitter and she nodded and signed my book. When I got to Wally Kurth (Justin), he wasn't looking up and just signed my book quickly. When I told him that although I'm not familiar with his work I was enjoying him on the show, he smiled and seemed very casual and nice. Meeting the actors was done in under a minute but I enjoyed it and went to the next line still feeling really excited.

The line for Lauren Koslow (Kate), Louise Sorel (Vivian) and Joe Mascolo (Stefano) was of course long as well and I waited about an hour again in line to meet the actors. Lauren is the most charming Days of our Lives actress I have ever had the pleasure to meet. She is bubbly, sweet, fun and just an absolute sweetheart. When I came up to her, I said, "Uh-oh this is the scary table". She laughed and looked over at Joe and Louise who were busy and said something like, "Oh we're not that bad," and she signed my book and let me take her picture.

Louise was freezing cold and didn't seem to be able to focus on what or who was in front of her, so I just said hello and gave her my book for her autograph. I felt bad for her because she looked so uncomfortable.

When I got to Joe his handler offered to let me take a picture with him after he signed my book. I told him how much I loved his character and his story. I couldn’t help think while taking this picture with him, that I was close to the guy who has kissed and been kissed by James Scott.

I felt pretty good about the morning, I met 6 stars and was ready to take on the afternoon and meet more, but unfortunately that didn't pan out very well. The line for Alison Sweeney (Sami), Galen Gering (Rafe) and Taylor Spietler (Mia) was so monstrous that an NBC representative let us know we really didn't have any chance at all to meet these stars. I could have left the line and met Molly Burnett (Melanie) or Lindsey Hartley (Arianna) but I stayed in line and I never made it to the table. The only saving grace was while standing in this line is that I was able to stare into the restaurant where all the Days stars were being interviewed. I saw James Reynolds (Abe), Renee Jones (Lexie) and Theo (played by Terrell Ransom Jr.) as well as James Scott, Ari Zucker (Nicole), and so many others while I stood waiting in line. Lauren Boles (Ciara) came out holding her dad's hand and seemed to really enjoy meeting the fans. She signed autographs for them and took pictures with them. Casey Deidrick (Chad) came out and autographed for those of us in line from the patio of the restaurant - such a sweetheart - and also while standing in this line, Eric Martsolf (Brady), Lindsay Hartley (Arianna) and Jay Kenneth Johnson (Philip) were throwing autographs over the balcony to us, creating quite a frenzy to the point that security guards came to investigate. It was funny and everyone enjoyed it.

After standing in Ali's line for about 3 hours, we were finally given the boot with autographed photos of both Galen and Ali. I went back to the main area for the Q&A event just as it was getting cold and dark. They called the stars out again as one big group. Fans cheered and screamed and still seemed excited. At this point I realized I hadn't even eaten anything at all that day but it was such a whirlwind, exciting day I never felt hungry. The stars took to the stage again and some questions fans asked the stars ranged from "Who do you like kissing more, Rafe or EJ?" to Alison Sweeney who said it was impossible to answer that question. Renee Jones was asked what skin products she uses to keep her skin so beautiful and she answered that it's all about what you put in your body and discussed some of the things she eats such as fresh fruits and vegetables. I kind of wish they asked each actor a question and then open up to the audience at the end because I felt we didn't get to hear much from the newbies on the show such as Molly, Casey, Taylor, or Dylan (Will).

The funniest thing that happened during the Q&A was when Bryan Datillo (Lucas) finally had to cave into the pressure of a running joke and take off his shirt. He finally did it, and challenged some guy to a nipple twirl. It was really funny. Some girls begged him to come over to us as Bryan was walking around and letting some of the females in the audience touch him and hug him. He is such a ham and the crowd really seemed to love it.

My favorite part of the Q&A though was when Julie Williams (Susan Hayes) talked about when she fell in love with Doug Williams (Bill Hayes) and how she knew when she wanted to be with him. It was when he started playing a certain song on the piano during a scene on the show, as Doug that wound up and ended with them breaking out in song. It was so sweet. Bill said that Days of our Lives is so wonderful. It brings people together and how the cast and fans are like family. I really loved that. Somebody asked after Francis Reed (Alice Horton) and her health was discussed. Apparently she’s living in the lap of luxury in a retirement home and that she has her good days and bad.

At the very end of the Q&A they played the preview for next week and the crowd's reaction to Sami finding out about Sydney being her baby by slapping Nicole was electric. There was cheering, screaming and applause as they showed the other characters and storylines in the previews. It was so much fun to share something like that with such a huge crowd of people and their reactions really topped off the day for me. Any fan of Days of Our Lives really must experience this event because if you're a fan, you belong there and you owe it to yourself!

- Traci Jones