Shocking Shakeups At Days of our Lives

Days of our Lives is down yet another fan favorite…not to mention a co-executive producer and a story consultant!

Tamara Braun OUT At Days of our Lives

Tamara Braun took to her Instagram today to announce that she’s out as anti-heroine Ava Vitali. She wrote: “I wish this was an April Fool’s Joke but it’s not. This is Ava’s last week on Days. Last couple of days really. Sad but true. I’ve been gone since late July of last year but you can still catch Ava on your screens until April 3rd!”

Braun debuted in the role in 2008 following a four-year-turn as General Hospital’s Carly Corinthos. Six months later, the Steve Johnson-obsessed bunny boiler fled Salem and Braun netted the Daytime Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in 2009.

A stint in Pine Valley (as All My Children‘s Reese Williams) and a return to Salem (as a replacement for Natalia Langston who played Taylor Walker) followed before Braun reprised the role of Ava in 2015. A year later, the character was seemingly snuffed, enabling Braun to return to GH in the guise of Kim Nero, an MD nearly as tightly wound as Ava.

A few years and another Daytime Emmy for Best Supporting Actress later, Braun was back at DAYS as Ava.

Days of our Lives News Nuggets

* After nearly two decades of service, Ryan Quan has bid the writing team at DAYS adieu and jumped ship to GH where he will serve as a breakdown writer. His first effort aired on Tuesday, March 25.

Quan served as a writers’ assistant at Passions from 1999-2005 before joining DAYS in the same capacity in April 2007. He went on to serve as a scriptwriter, breakdown writer, and co-headwriter (alongside Dena Higley). He began his tenure as a story consultant in July 2017.

* Janet Drucker, the co-executive producer of DAYS since 2023, has announced she’ll retire effective Friday, May 2, 2025. Noel Maxam, who’s operated as the soap’s senior producer since August 2023, is on tap to replace her.

Drucker said in a statement: “It has been an honor and the pleasure of a lifetime to make my mark in Salem over the past 41 years. I will forever consider this show and everyone involved my second home, but it is time for me to focus on my family.”

EP Ken Corday said in his own statement: “Janet began her career with us as a production associate and steadily rose through the ranks, becoming an integral part of our leadership team. She has been a guiding presence behind the scenes, and her positive influence has left a lasting legacy. We thank her deeply for her dedication, talent, and heart.”

He added: “Noel brings with him an exceptional blend of creative vision, technical expertise, and leadership experience. His deep understanding of the genre and steady hand behind the scenes make him the ideal choice to help lead us forward.”

Drucker joined DAYS in 1984 as a production associate and advanced through the ranks: assistant to the producers, associate producer, coordinating producer, senior coordinating producer, producer, and senior producer.

In August 2023, she was elevated to co-EP following the dismissal of Albert Alarr. 

Maxam previously served as co-EP between 2011 and 2012. He penned scripts for As the World Turns and had a lengthy tenure as producer/director at The Young and the Restless.

What do you make of all the recent upheaval at the Peacock sudser? Let us know in the comments section below.

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