A number of online media reporters and I had the opporunity to listen and participate in a group chat with Days of Our Lives stars Crystal Chappell and Peter Reckell (Carly and Bo) on November 2, 2009. The two talented actors discuss their complex characters, their current storyline, the challenges of playing Bo and Carly, and much more. Read what they had to say.

Pictured: Peter Reckell and Crystal Chappell (Bo and Carly)

Mitchell Haaseth / Copyright 2009 NBC Universal

Crystal Chappell and Peter Reckell Online Media Chat originally appeared on About.com Days of Our Lives Fans on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 23:55:08.

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Days of Our Lives stars from the past and present celebrating a birthday this month include the following:

• November 3, 1930: Peggy McCay (Caroline Brady)
• November 3, 1983: Shayna Rose (ex-Stephanie Johnson)
• November 7, 1967: Julie Pinson (ex-Billie Reed)
• November 12, 1982: Heather Lauren Olsen (ex-Jan Spears)
• November 14, 1974: Matt Cedeno (ex-Brandon Walker)
• November 24, 1950: Roscoe Born (ex-Trent Robbins)

Happy Birthday to all of our November stars!

Pictured: Peggy McCay as Caroline Brady

Mitchell Haaseth / Copyright 2008 NBC Universal

November Birthdays originally appeared on About.com Days of Our Lives Fans on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 08:20:01.

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Rafe sneaks into Sami's townhouse this week in order to get DNA samples and prove that Sydney is Sami's biological daughter. Sami is surprised to find him there, and the two end up having a passionate reunion. However, Rafe decides to keep his baby switch theory to himself until he has proof. How much longer until Sami learns that Sydney is indeed her baby? More spoilers for next week include:

• Victor tells Brady that Arianna is a drug dealer.
• Hope goes home to find Carly in her bed.
• Carly is arrested by the Feds as she tries to leave the Brady house.
• Melanie is unable to get Philip out of her head.

Coming up in November:

• Vivian reconnects with Victor.
• Nicole goes to jail for her crimes.

Pictured: Galen Gering and Alison Sweeney (Rafe and Sami)

Trae Patton / Copyright 2009 NBC Universal

Updated November Spoilers: Rafe and Sami are Reunited originally appeared on About.com Days of Our Lives Fans on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 12:44:51.

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I recently had the pleasure of speaking with former Days of Our Lives star Kevin Spirtas, who portrayed Dr. Craig Wesley from March 1998 until September 2005. Many fans were delighted when he returned for three episodes in late August, but felt that his stay in Salem was just too brief. Not only is Kevin a talented actor who has taken on many different roles in television, film, and theater, but he's also a Broadway performer who still promotes his one-man energetic and tuneful show Night and Days.

Kevin has recently landed the role of Patrick in the new play called Loaded and talks to me about his new play and his character, his time on DAYS, and his debut just this month as a Broadway producer for Finian's Rainbow. Kevin was very fun and easygoing to talk to, and by the end of our chat, I felt as though I was talking to an old friend. Read what Kevin had to say.

Pictured: Kevin Spirtas (ex-Dr. Craig Wesley)

Jeff Katz: Copyright 2001 NBC Universal

Interview With Kevin Spirtas originally appeared on About.com Days of Our Lives Fans on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 08:49:25.

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Days of Our Lives star John Aniston (Victor Kiriakis) will guest star on CBS's Cold Case this Sunday, November 1 at 10 p.m. ET, according to a CBS press release. In this episode, the team looks into the 1944 murder of the top pilot from the WASP program, a pioneering group of civilian women who volunteered to fly non-combat missions during World War II for the U.S. Army Air Force. The beloved DAYS vet will play a World War II Army Air Force Veteran on the episode titled "WASP."

Cold Case is a drama which centers on a dedicated Philadelphia female detective named Lilly Rush, played by Kathryn Morris. Lilly is in the homicide squad and is assigned to "cold cases," or crimes, which have gone unsolved after a certain period of time. She interrogates witnesses whose lives and circumstances have changed since the crime and makes good use of today's scientific methods to solve cases from the past. Danny Pino, John Finn, Thom Barry, Jeremy Ratchford, and Tracie Thoms also star in the CBS Sunday night drama.

In addition to John Aniston, multiple Emmy Award-winning actress Michael Learned, Deanna Dunagan, and Chad Faust also are guest starring in the Sunday, November 1 episode. Daniel Baldwin returns to his recurring role as Moe Kitchener. Be sure to set your DVRs or tune in to CBS this Sunday night at 10 p.m. ET.

Pictured: John Aniston as Victor Kiriakis

Mitchell Haaseth / Copyright 2009 NBC Universal

John Aniston Guest Stars on Cold Case originally appeared on About.com Days of Our Lives Fans on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 20:09:24.

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As previously reported, Daytime Emmy Award-winning actor Darin Brooks (ex-Max Brady) is starring in a new half-hour comedy for Spike TV called Blue Mountain State. If you've been waiting to catch him in his new series, it will premiere on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 10 p.m. ET on Spike TV.

The half-hour scripted comedy is comparable to the 1978 movie Animal House and revolves around three incoming freshman attending Blue Mountain State in the Midwest. The three men find that they must quickly adapt to college life while juggling football, girls, classes, and even hazing.

Darin's character of Alex is a second-string quarterback on the team. He's a new freshman at the college who wants to play football, party, have fun with his friends, pull pranks, and get lucky with the ladies. Chris Romano, Sam Jones III, Alan Ritchman, and Gabrielle Dennis also star in the series. Ed Marinaro stars as the football team's coach.

You can watch the trailer of Blue Mountain State on the Spike TV website. Don't miss the premiere of Blue Mountain State on Tuesday, January 12 at 10 p.m. ET.

More on Darin Brooks:

• Days of Our Lives Wins Two Daytime Emmy Awards!
• Interview With Darin Brooks
• Darin Brooks Aligns With Tag the World

Pictured: Darin Brooks as Max Brady

Mitchell Haaseth / Copyright 2008 NBC Universal

Darin Brooks in Blue Mountain State Premiere originally appeared on About.com Days of Our Lives Fans on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 23:01:56.

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Bo is surprised this week when the intruder in his house turns out to be none other than his old flame Carly Manning. Carly's timing couldn't be better, since Hope has just moved out. She tells Bo all about Lawrence and why she killed him, and Bo promises to protect her. Will Carly's presence drive the Bradys even further apart? More spoilers for this week include:

• Mia vows to stop Chad from fighting for custody of Sydney.
• Nicole tries to come clean, but Sami unknowingly stops her from telling the truth about Sydney.
• Vivian Alamain receives Lawrence's ashes and vows revenge on Carly.
• Rafe contacts Arianna and explains who Sydney's real mother is.

Coming up in November:

• Rafe and Sami are reunited, and Sami finally learns that she gave birth to Sydney.
• Arianna finally confesses to Brady that she's working undercover.

Pictured: Peter Reckell and Crystal Chappell (Bo and Carly)

Mitchell Haaseth / Copyright 2009 NBC Universal

Updated October Spoilers: Carly Moves in With Bo! originally appeared on About.com Days of Our Lives Fans on Saturday, October 24th, 2009 at 16:40:15.

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After a sixteen-year absence, Daytime Emmy Award-winning actress Crystal Chappell returned to DAYS as Dr. Carly Manning. Carly came back with quite a bang when we saw her stab and kill her husband, Lawrence Alamain. From that moment on, she boarded a plane headed to Salem and tried to contact Bo and Justin. After her plane made an emergency landing, her friend Omar took her on his boat and she tried to save Rafe's life, even stealing antibiotics from the hospital. With Bo and Hope's marriage already in trouble, the Bradys are seemingly destined to grow further apart with Bo's ex-flame back in town seeking his help. Take a moment to vote on how you feel about Carly's return.

Pictured: Crystal Chappell as Dr. Carly Manning

Mitchell Haaseth / Copyright 2009 NBC Universal

Carly Manning's Return originally appeared on About.com Days of Our Lives Fans on Saturday, October 24th, 2009 at 10:12:30.

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DAYS star Bryan Dattilo (Lucas) will have an opportunity to think back and remember what he was taught in school when he participates in the FOX syndicated series Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? Bryan will be among the soap stars who appear on the show for "Soap Week" on Monday, November 2 at 5:30 p.m. ET. Former DAYS star Gloria Loring (ex-Liz Chandler) is also scheduled to make an appearance.

Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? is a game that challenges adults to see if they remember the lessons taught in elementary school. Fifth-graders are on hand to help contestants answer questions and earn cash.

The game is hosted by Jeff Foxworthy and debuted in February 2007, but went to a syndicated half-hour game show in September of this year. CMT airs repeats of the series five nights a week, and MyNetwork TV runs it throughout the week in primetime. Please check your local listings for dates and show times. Mark Burnett, John Stevens and Barry Pozniuk are the executive producers. To learn more about the new syndicated series of this game show, read About.com Guide Carrie Grosvenor's exclusive interivew with co-executive producer John Stevens.

Good luck to Bryan, Gloria, and the other soap stars participating on the show for "Soap Week." Be sure to catch them on Monday, November 2 at 5:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

Pictured: Bryan Dattilo (Lucas)

Mitchell Haaseth / Copyright 2007 NBC Universal

Bryan Dattilo on Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? originally appeared on About.com Days of Our Lives Fans on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 04:53:53.

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DAYS stars Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe) and Galen Gering (Rafe) have both joined Venice the Web series. According to Soap Opera Digest, Galen will be playing Gina's brother in the series and was asked by Crystal Chappell (Carly) to do it. Word is that Galen's character name is Owen and he replaced Jeff Branson (ex-Shane, Guiding Light) in the role. Gina is of course played by Daytime Emmy Award-winning actress Crystal Chappell, who is also producing the series with Kim Turrisi.

Nadia posted on Twitter the following: "I'm thrilled to announce that I'm joining "Venice" the series. Stay tuned.