Fire James Reilly from Days of Our Lives

  • Author:
    n/a
  • Send To:
    NBC, Ken Corday, and James E. Reilly
  • Sponsored By:
    all fans of the NBC show Days of Our Lives
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To Whom it May Concern:

We, the fans of the daytime NBC soap opera "Days of Our Lives", have signed this petition to terminate the employment of James E. Reilly from his position as head writer of "Days of Our Lives".

The foundation for our complaints include Reilly's lack of commitment to loyal long-time viewers of that show as indicated by not providing more substantial and compelling story lines for characters/actors over 30 years old. In addition, we believe he intends to replace loyal, experienced well-liked character actors who were let go from the show as victims in the current Fall 2003/Spring 2004 murder mystery storyline with younger actors for the sole purpose of improving the show's ratings with the "female 18-34" category (as stated numerous times in publications and to the press by Ken Corday and James Reilly). We consider this a blatant act of ageism and a true insult to the actors who were let go this year and to their long-time fans. Many of us have been watching "Days of Our Lives" since the first episode and/or make the choice to watch television not for the age of the actors playing each part but for the quality of a show's writing and the actors' performances. Solution: The shows cast should include actors and characters of all ages.

Another basis for our complaints is James Reilly's long history of giving very predictable and overdone story lines to the same favorite characters, which diminishes our enjoyment of the show due to lack of suspense. One example of this is the current murder mystery storyline, as the show has already used the concept of a "serial killer" or similar method numerous times to trim the size of the cast. We are frustrated with James Reilly's lack of imagination and rumors on spoiler web sites for the show that indicate Reilly intends to tie up the murder mystery plot with "someone gets kidnapped and replaced by an evil look-alike who turns out to be the killer". Even though Reilly has stated to the press that no one would be brought in to take the fall as the killer, it sounds from the spoiler web sites like thats exactly what will happen. This is a worn-out solution (given the character involved), and we feel he is trying to take the easy way out by re-using an old storyline over and over again, when he could instead utilize that favorite character in a new and original way (like making them the hero instead of a victim or killer). Solution: Utilize characters in new ways instead of relying on predictable outcomes to carry the show's story.

We believe the results of James Reilly's incompetence as a writer and disregard for our views stated here will only serve to alienate a large portion of the Days male and female viewing audience of all ages, and will subsequently cause the show's ratings to drop drastically. We submit this petition as warning to Ken Corday and James E. Reilly that if significant changes to improve the show are not made immediately to remedy the above complaints, we plan to stop watching "Days of Our Lives" indefinitely.

1992 Signatures

  • Karen Cusey
    • Comments
    • I am the author of this petition.
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • 32
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 15
  • Judy Riley
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 20+
  • Bonnie Robert
    • Comments
    • Mr Reilly has no real imagination. He seems to drag out storylines until people are tired of them. His latest escapades prove that he has no new ideas. He has been there, done that , and we are sick of it. Mr Corday and the other Powers That Be need to take a long look at what is going to happen once this storyline is over. Unless this turns out to be a dream to make Sami grow up, I for one will no longer be watching very many shows on NBC!!!
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • female
    • Age (number)
    • 59
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 30+ years
  • Megan
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • female
    • Age (number)
    • 20
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 8
  • E. Kitchen
    • Comments
    • I was shocked to find out that he was comming back. He does stupid things such as the Marlena possesion. He beongs on a show like passions, but even that is getting drawn out and rediculous. The same story line has been going on with that show since it first aired. I hope that DOOL does not end up going down hill under his insain direction.
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • F
    • Age (number)
    • 25
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 15
  • Cheryl Knapp
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • 35
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 20
  • Liz
    • Comments
    • Been watching since 1967, and this gory storyline is disgusting, not to metion the loss of some great actors. JER is a waste as a writer, so count my viewing of Day's in the future out! :(
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • 60 +
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 30 +
  • Alex Luciferi
    • Comments
    • I agree with absolutely everything that the undersigned petition has stated and I will endorse my signature onto this petition in hopes that someone in the NBC offices take notice and make some drastic changes to the show. And if those changes do not transpire under the regime of head writer James E. Reilly, then Mr. Reilly's duty as head writer should be terminated. If no changes occur and don't happen fast; then the show will most likely lose many many longtime viewers. Many of them have also been loyal viewers since day one. I would hate to see this show end this way in a matter of 6 months or so because of the incompetency of Mr. Reilly. We believe he has resorted to his repetitive and extremely predictable ways of writing storylines. He is doing to "Days of our Lives" as he has done to its' sister soap and Reilly's creation, "Passions". I, as a loyal and longtime viewer since 1982, do not want 'Days' to end up in the same peril as its' sister soap. I hope this gets enough signatures to take action.
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • male
    • Age (number)
    • 25
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 22
  • S Burger
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 25
  • Cheryl Mason
    • Comments
    • instead of losing fans, lose reilly!
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • female
    • Age (number)
    • 23
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 23
  • Froggie
    • Comments
    • My family has been watching the show since it first aired. My Gran watched the first episode, she had 11 children, and the last time I checked, they all watch the show, as well as most of their children. I've been watching since as far back as I can remember, as well as my sister, her daughter watches the show. I am not joking, all of us have agreed to not watch the show if this abuse of Days continues. It's sick, it's rude to the actors and actresses, and it is repulsive. I do not know how Reily got hired, (if you have ever watch Passions, you'll know why) Dragged story lines, stupidity of the characters, and not to mention a lot that doesn't even make sense. In my opinion, it's not the characters that are being murdered, it's the show. At this rate, Days will not last at all. There will be no one left good to watch. JERk is killing them all. There is one thing that will abruptly stop me from watching the show, and that would be Alice being a victim. IF that happens, you can stick the show.
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • female
    • Age (number)
    • 22
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 22
  • Millisa Gingerich
    • Comments
    • GET RID OF JERK
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • 27
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 12
  • Kimberly
    • Comments
    • Count me in..and if you kill Hope or Alice..you can kiss another loyal viewer goodbye. I will just be watching OLTL and GH
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • F
    • Age (number)
    • 27
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 18
  • AlesiaW
    • Comments
    • Please let keep the Good People of Salem safe and Axe James for axing them..
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • 34
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 18 years
  • melissa
  • Denise DiAntonio
    • Comments
    • Please stop the insanity before you lose all your viewers!
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • Over 50
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • Almost 40
  • Connie Caldwell
    • Comments
    • Too many beloved characters killed off at one time
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 28
  • Roxie
    • Comments
    • I think its really bad that James Reilly is killing of the best actors and actresses of the show!!
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • 14
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 8
  • Bonny Holder
    • Comments
    • This show has turned pathetic and is in no way entertaining anymore.
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • female
    • Age (number)
    • 55
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 25+
  • Susan Stanley
    • Comments
    • I am sick of all of my favorite characters being killed off!! This is getting to be insane & stupid!
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • 36
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 24 years
  • Josie Ferro
    • Comments
    • I am tired of losing so many great veteran actors. This storyline is absolutely sickening. This is suppose to be a daytime drama not a horro flick. I want to see interesting storylines that utilizes people of all ages, not the nonsense that is currently onscreen now. My days of watching are certainly dwindling because most of my favorites have been killed off.
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • female
    • Age (number)
    • 32
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 20
  • Teri Hiatt
    • Comments
    • I think JER has gone way out of the ball park firing these long term people. And another thing I don't understand why he doesn't want us to know who the killer is. So what I say half of us knows who it could be. Also what is the big deal anyways? Now we have about a week and half to find out by that time half of the US will know by then.
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • 43
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 18 yrs
  • Ruth M Miliier
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • female
    • Age (number)
    • 29
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 29
  • Jean Roark
    • Comments
    • I've watched Day's almost 34 yrs. and have never seen such a gruesome SL. Your show is heading straight down the toilet. I stopped watching 2 weeks ago, and could care less who the killer is. Too many good folks let go for gore and junk!
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • F
    • Age (number)
    • 41
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 34
  • Kristin Price
    • Comments
    • I love Days, I've been watching it with my Mom as long as I can remember. But the way it is lately is horrible.
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • 22
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 12 or more
  • A. Mahaffey
    • Comments
    • I hate the killing...the loss of all those wonderful astors..the stupid storylines and the inane dialogue..
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • 50
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 4years..since Kyle Lowder joined the cast.
  • marie
    • Comments
    • I am complete appauled by the writing and horid story lines that we the viewers have been barrated with lately and feel that JER is not taking into account the loyal fans of this show from the very start or the Actor/Actresses that have been a part of our lives and our families for years. It sickens me to turn on the tv to see someone being killed off every week in order to start a 20s something revolution on the show...we are not the 90210 generation who wants the teen dramas on our TVs. Had we been we'd be watching the teen shows already in existance. Get real here we just want the days of old back and rid of this slack sided writing that shuts out our favorites in favor of a kiddie based drama.
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • F
    • Age (number)
    • 29
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 20
  • Calinda Linds
    • Comments
    • How dare you, How dare you have the nerve to kill the long standing Cast of this show in the name of ratings, what a load that is. Ratings will only decrease by keeping on this passions loving story killing writer. I can not even stand to turn on my tv and see whats going on with this show as of late, the storyline has gone too far and i use to allow my daughter to watch with me and now i can not even do that as the gruesome madness that you all have written into this line is killing off your actors as well as the next generation of days fans because we wont allow our children to see this garbage. I grew up on days with my mom and grand and now my daughter will never know that as she use to..i can not even finish this because i will become far too offensive in my manner. My only statement here is how dare you??????
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • F
    • Age (number)
    • 41
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 35
  • Sharonda Najet
    • Comments
    • JER you have gone overboard, go back to passions where they may put up with this type of ruined garbage but we the loyal fans of days have vowed to stop watching this crap. I have not watched days in over 2 weeks now and will not watch again unless changes are made. YOU JER are destroying what was once a beautiful show.
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • F
    • Age (number)
    • 37
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 12
  • Lisa Menedin
    • Comments
    • You call this entertainment? You call this daytime television? I can not even allow my 8 year old in the room while this show is on anymore and therefor it doesnt come on in my home. If id not allow my child to watch then i dont as well and I can not even fathom where the people at days got the idea to allow JER to ellaborate on this wretched storyline. I have stopped watching and until there is a remedy to the writers on this show I nor anyone in my family will ever watch again, we have begun the days boycott so where are your ratings going with this? Down the drain along with the blood on your hands from the SSK storyline.
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • F
    • Age (number)
    • 31
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 18
  • Gwen
    • Comments
    • My daughter and I use to watch days faithfully, we have since decided we dont need to see this rubbish. She would call or I would call and we would discuss the SL or the Characters and now we dont even bother. You have lost so many faithful and longtime viewers over the madness that you persist in allowing to go on. I can tell you for sure you have lost more than 20 viewers in my family alone and thats not counting those in my community that will not go back to days until JER is gone from days. Someone needs to wake up and smell the coffee and see what you are allowing to go on and how Days will end up off the air after a wonderful run of more than 30 years if JER is allowed to remain in charge of the story.
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • F
    • Age (number)
    • 54
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 30 and then some
  • Sharon Hoff
    • Comments
    • Leave our beloved characters alone.
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 26
  • Stacey
    • Comments
    • Save Days Fire James E. Reilly
  • Heather Nelson
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • 19
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • since I was born, but in a few months I will be done with DAYS forever - JER has ruined it
  • Cody Ulrich
    • Comments
    • i don't like him at alll!!!!
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • male
    • Age (number)
    • 13
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 2 years.... did my research though!lol
  • Tammy Comstock
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • 39
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 15
  • Megan Sendt
    • Comments
    • why?????
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • female
    • Age (number)
    • 19
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 8
  • Beth Hayes
    • Comments
    • Mr. Reilly has shown absolutely no respect for the show's history! It deeply saddens me that Mr. Reilly is ruining this 38 year old soap icon and turning it into the latest "Passions"!! If fans want to see this supernatural crap, for instance, they can tune in to "Passions"!
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • 32
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 22 years
  • Michael Cleland
    • Comments
    • i hate rielly 4 what he has done
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • male
    • Age (number)
    • 16
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • all my life
  • Alice Perez
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • 58
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • Approximately 38 years
  • Diana Woodside
    • Comments
    • I've given up watching after 25 years! IT's a joke now!
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • 44
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • Since 1967
  • Carol Jones
    • Comments
    • He is the messenger of Death! Tony must stay, Reilly must go!
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • 33
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 15
  • P.Theison
  • Dalton Crook
  • E. Kerry
    • Comments
    • This is a joke, the killer is Marlena and he has fired our cast. Fire him, I say, or I will watch another show! Ken Corday, WE LOVE YOUR SHOW AND WISH ONLY THE BEST FOR IT! This man has intentionally made a mockery of Days of Our Lives, so as to serve his own greedy purpose, in my opinion. In my opinion, it looks as if he is trying to get more viewers to watch Passions by making DAYS a joke. Wake up and smell the coffee, Kenny! We are trying to help you!
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • 27
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 5
  • David F. Kovacs
    • Comments
    • Been watching since 1970s. This is the lowest point of the ENTIRE show. Killing an established character like Maggie?? A sad moment in daytime serials.
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Male
    • Age (number)
    • 48
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 35 years
  • Laurie Baker
    • Comments
    • DAYS might as well be cancelled under Reilly, because it is becoming unrecognizable.
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • 33
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 20
  • Brenda
  • JJ
    • Comments
    • The JERk is ruining DAYS
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 20
  • RN Perry
    • Comments
    • If JER wanted a soap with only younger actors, and one with far-out supernatural stories, he should have stuck with Passions. The truth is, this is all your fault Ken Corday. Fire yourself along with JER. Your parents would not approve.
    • Gender ("Male" or "Female")
    • Female
    • Age (number)
    • 39
    • Years you have watched "Days" (number)
    • 22