Sami in happier times with mom, Marlena, and her twin, Eric.
As a side note, while I lay on the execution table, filming this incredibly dramatic scene, the crew took a five-minute break. Shooting temporarily stopped, and the director asked if I would mind just staying there, strapped down, until filming resumed. Well, claustrophobic or not, I agreed because it was so much work for the prop department to strap me back in. But it was traumatic to lie there with my arms and legs restrained, unable to move at all (not even to scratch an itch!). Bobby Bateman, one of the prop guys, brought me a glass of water with a straw, and held it while I took a sip. Then, sure enough, about that time my nose started to itch. Can you imagine what it’s like to have to ask someone to scratch your nose?
Well, if you’re a true Sami fan and just can’t get your fill of her wild and weird world, you probably remember the end to the execution story. Just as Sami was given the lethal injection, Lucas burst into the room (he had decided to give himself up to save Sami, and spent the whole episode trying to get there in time to stop the execution), and he confessed that he had murdered Franco. At that moment, the governor placed an urgent call and the execution was halted. Sami was saved—or was she? The deadly poisons were already moving through her veins. In an instant, she slipped into cardiac arrest. She was rushed to the hospital and nearly died. That’s right, nearly.
Of course, Sami did survive (both my agent and I are forever grateful!). She had a memorable reunion with Austin, and her obsession with him was resuscitated at about the same time that she was. Not long thereafter, she bumped into the Salem district attorney who had prosecuted her for the murder, who told her, “I’m really sorry about the whole execution thing; would you like to go out sometime?” Or words to that effect.
Can you believe it?!
Well, dear readers, that was my own near-death experience. While I could tell you that Sami and everyone else lived happily ever after, I think you know better. C’mon, this is Sami we’re talking about!
Chapter 7
Almost from the beginning, I learned just how important Days of Our Lives is to millions of Americans. And maybe their devotion to the show isn’t that surprising.
Just think of it this way: Days comes into your home for an hour a day, five days a week. If you’re a loyal viewer, my fellow actors and I probably spend more time with you than anyone but your closest family members and friends. So like part of the family, when our characters have one of those “I-can’t-believe-she-did-that” moments—saying something that you find absolutely crazy, or acting in ways that border on the absurd—you’ll probably let us know.
Fans usually write very positive letters, but I also get some correspondence from viewers who tell me quite bluntly how unhappy they are with the way my character behaves. “How could you do that?!” they ask. “What were you thinking?!” (The thing is, I’m not the master of Sami’s fate—I’ll leave that to Days’ writers.) Fans write detailed letters that describe how they handled situations in their own lives, and seem baffled that Sami could have managed the same circumstances so poorly. In the process, they sometimes reveal secrets about their personal lives that they may have never shared with anyone else (except perhaps a psychiatrist here and there, and maybe Dr. Phil!). On occasion, they even ask me for advice on how to regain custody of a child after a divorce, or how to make peace with their mom. They see Sami on TV every day, and if they don’t have anyone else in their life who they can trust, they sometimes turn to me.
The same goes for our hairstyles and our clothing on the show. If our physical appearance sends chills down their spine, we might hear from them about those issues. No problem! I love to hear what you’re thinking. Through letters and e-mails (and in the very active Days online message boards), fans often try to set us straight, and I’m so happy that viewers feel comfortable letting us know what’s on their mind, whether their comments are positive or negative. My favorites are the fans who pick apart each moment in a scene, analyzing and overanalyzing every expression, trying to figure out what the character was thinking and/or feeling. It only shows that Days means a lot to them; they feel a certain ownership of the show, and they want to be “part of the action.” These fans just can’t get their fill, and they’re very opinionated about how they want the story lines to unfold and the characters to behave. And I think that’s awesome!
Can’t Get Enough of Days!
At times, I’m actually amazed when fans tell me how dedicated they are to the show. Nothing, it seems, gets in the way of their watching Days and following their favorite story lines. If you think the Postal Service is committed to delivering the mail through rain, sleet, and snow, Days’ fans go the same extra mile to make sure they don’t miss even one line of dialogue or a single misdeed or sinful act. Some take later or extra long lunch breaks at work to make sure that they’re in the employee lounge when the Days hourglass appears on the screen. They’ll interrupt a shopping spree and rush to a row of televisions at an electronics or department store. They’ll watch in their cars on a TV plugged into their cigarette lighter. They’ll spend hours trying to make sense of the owner’s manual for their VCR, just to make certain that they properly record the show each day.
Some college students tell me that they select their courses each semester with Days in mind, making sure that their classes don’t conflict with their soap viewing. When I was at Harvard University a few years ago touring the campus, Days was playing on the television in a dormitory lunchroom, and sure enough, there was a large group of students perched around the TV set. (Even at Harvard, studying for finals can wait if Sami’s getting herself in trouble!)
When a major news event preempts Days, watch out! My advice for the network’s switchboard operators is to fasten their seat belts! They’ve been bombarded with angry phone calls from fans who can’t seem to live without their daily fix of the romantic adventures of Bo and Hope, the passionate drama of Marlena and John, or the greedy-on-the-outside-but-secretly-dreaming-of-true-love-on-the-inside Nicole Walker. Sure, the news bulletins may be important to the news desk, but fans seem to prefer reading about the floods, fires, and wars in the morning paper rather than having them take over afternoon television. Legend has it that back in 1973, when the show was preempted by live coverage of the Watergate hearings in Congress, many fans went absolutely ballistic, particularly when the episodes aired revealing the fate of one of the Hortons, Mickey (played by John Clarke), after he had suffered a massive heart attack. Mickey was in real trouble. He was in critical condition and close to flatlining. He was rushed into the operating room for emergency bypass surgery, and his life teetered in the balance. Fans across the country were holding their breath and saying a prayer.
Getting ready for one of my first photo shoots
But what did viewers see as they awaited Mickey’s fate? How about the latest testimony about the Watergate scandal? So many Days fans were seething. After all, they could find out about Nixon on the evening news. But they needed to know about Mickey now!
Fan Feedback
I’m so grateful for our fans and so moved by their commitment to the show. I love it when they recognize me on the street, and approach me for an autograph or just to say “hi.” I don’t mind sharing a few moments with them because that’s part of my job. So I try to be as generous with my time as possible. Also, I secretly like each opportunity to show fans that in “real life” I’m not at all like Sami.
Sometimes the circumstances of these encounters can be pretty funny. Fans may see me on the sidewalks of L.A., and they’re just not prepared for bumping into a TV actress. They don’t want to let me get away, but they don’t know quite what to say, either. They need a few seconds just to sort out their thoughts so they can say what’s on their mind. But in the meantime, they may stammer for a few seconds, or become just totally speechless! It always brings a smile to my face.
I really think it’s so cool when people just want to tell me that they like Sami—or even tha
t they don’t like her—and that they’re having so much fun watching the show. But before I have you believing that all of my encounters with fans are absolutely wonderful, let me set the record straight. Sometimes, they’re not interested in singing our praises. Fans have cornered me in restaurants or clothing boutiques, and have really let me have it when they’ve been so inclined. They might blurt out something like, “I watch Days all the time and I hate you so much!” Geez!
On occasion, I’m really startled by a comment like that. But after the initial shock, I realize that they’re talking about Sami—(at least I hope they are!!)—and they’re just taking me along for the ride!
I’ve gotta admit that there have been some incredibly awkward situations from time to time—but in retrospect, they’re usually pretty funny. Imagine being in a public restroom at a restaurant, and fans recognizing you and wanting an autograph? Picture coming out of a bathroom stall, and finding someone standing there, waiting for you, pen and paper in hand, and dying to get your autograph. Face it: That’s pretty uncomfortable!
At times, fans seem to forget that I’m a normal person just like them, and that I have a life and have feelings. At the same time, I understand that fans sometimes get excited when they meet an actor who they see on TV every day, and with very rare exceptions, they aren’t being intentionally inconsiderate.
I’ve also got to thank my husband, Dave. He is so patient when we’re together in public and fans approach me. He knows it’s part of being an actress, and he’s very supportive. It never seems to bother him—well, almost never. I remember once when a fan was particularly rude (probably unwittingly) and Dave became really irked. It was a few years ago when we were dating, and Dave and I were at a restaurant, waiting to be seated. We were having an “intimate moment,” standing no more than a foot apart from one another. There was plenty of eye contact and electricity between the two of us.
Then out of nowhere, a fan appeared. She literally stepped right between Dave and me, with her back to Dave, as if he didn’t exist! Not only did she start talking to me as if Dave weren’t there, but she called me a “bitch” and in a raised voice, proclaimed, “I just hate you!” Now, I realized almost immediately that she was just joking, telling me how she felt about Sami. But she was a bit impolite, don’t you think? Not to mention that Dave took a little longer to realize it wasn’t his girlfriend this woman was attacking, but rather a character on TV. It took Dave a while to get used to that kind of attention, but these days he’s an old hand at dealing with fans. In fact, now he helps ease a fan’s embarrassment and sets them at ease by offering up a pen for an autograph or suggesting that he take a photo of us together.
On other occasions, I’ve been out in public and really rushed, trying to get to a meeting or a doctor’s appointment. In those cases, I always feel uncomfortable having to tell people, “I’d love to talk, but I really have to go.” A few years ago, I remember being in such a huge hurry that I didn’t even take the time to explain to a fan that I couldn’t talk with her. I just headed for my car to dash to my appointment. Way to go, Ali!! Afterward, I felt just terrible. The fan seemed so disappointed! What would it have cost me to give her a smile and a very quick explanation of the appointment I had to get to? I really beat myself up about that one. As much as possible, I really make an effort now to give fans the time they deserve. If I only have five minutes, I’ll explain why I’m in a rush, I’ll take a moment to sign an autograph or take a picture, do my best to make it a positive experience for them, and then run along (in some cases, literally run along!).
I think I owe it to my fans to go the extra mile for them. With very rare exceptions, they’ve always been absolutely wonderful to me. More than 99 percent of the mail I get is from fans of Days who are totally supportive, and just want to reach out and tell me how they feel about the show and about Sami. I participated in an online chat not long ago, and more than 500,000 Sami-Fans logged on and took part. More than 25,000 unique new visitors access the Alison Sweeney website each week (for the uninitiated, check out www.alisonsweeney.com). I will never, ever take that fan interest and support for granted.
But fans do get caught up in the story lines, and sometimes they just have to get things off their chest. Earlier in the book, I told you the story of the woman who approached me on the street during the episodes in which Sami had kidnapped her baby sister—and she swung her purse at me and yelled, “Give the baby back!” That’s how emotionally involved people are in the show. To some of them, there doesn’t seem to be a line between fantasy and reality.
By the way, when people stop me on the street, and tell me that they’re big fans of Days, I often tell them that I’m a big fan of the show, too. I really am! When they describe what they love about the show, I often find myself nodding my head and thinking, “Me, too! I feel exactly the way you do!” I sometimes freak out, too, when I read the upcoming scripts and find out what kinds of predicaments the characters are getting caught up in next. It’s as exciting for me as it is for you!
Celebrating Days’ Fans
I think I can say the following not only for myself, but on behalf of every other actor on Days: You and all our other fans are so important to us, and we think it’s important to show it, not just say it. That’s why we hold an absolutely awesome Fan Weekend for Days’ aficionados in Los Angeles each spring—usually in May or June—and about 600 fans each year can’t wait to participate. There’s a lot of chatter, a lot of laughter, a lot of hugs, and a lot of fun for both the cast and the fans. It’s such a blast just hanging out with our loyal audience, in what turns into a very, very long party! I hope you’ll come to one of these fan events sometime, and if you do, you’ll not only be able to meet and talk with us, but you’re liable to see us sing and dance for you, too!
What can you expect? Well, in the last few years, the cast has gotten together and put on a live show for the fans, displaying talents that you never see on the TV show itself. In 2003, we put on a performance to remember—Kevin and Patrika’s “Last Blast”—in which all of us donned our dancing shoes and entertained the crowd (and without even one sprained ankle to show for it!). In earlier years, we staged our own version of Moulin Rouge, which was the brainstorm of Patrika Darbo (ex-Nancy) and Kevin Spirtas (ex-Craig). In those shows, some of us sang, some of us danced, and some did both (those of us who aren’t particularly stellar in either category gave it our best shot, and sure had plenty of fun doing it!). I remember how Ari Zuker (Nicole) and I—and a few other brave Days’ actresses—sweated and strained for weeks (it seemed like months!) to perfect two challenging dance numbers for Moulin Rouge. OK, as much as I love to dance, maybe I was in a little over my head, but we had such a spectacular time! The costumes were great, and Ari and I loved playing dress-up and dancing to those wonderful songs from Moulin Rouge.
What else do we do on Fan Weekends? There is an Official Breakfast for both the fans and the cast, some great raffles, a lot of Q & A sessions, and plenty of autograph signing and photo taking. In 2003, I took part in Lauren Koslow (Kate Roberts) and Josh Taylor’s (ex-Roman Brady) Fan Breakfast, and I think everyone could see how much Lauren and I enjoy each other’s company, which might come as a surprise because, on-screen, there’s certainly no love lost between our characters, who always seem to have their daggers drawn whenever they’re in the same story line. We joked with each other about hating the other’s character, and shared with the audience how much we actually enjoy our fight scenes together. Lauren and I get along so well personally and professionally, and trust each other enough to really put our all into the catfights. We feel as though that’s the key to the success of our vicious knock-down-drag-out confrontations: our friendship. Makes sense in a weird way, right?
We usually close out the Fan Weekends with a Jim Reynolds’ (ex–Abe Carver) Charity Basketball Game. Sometimes members of the Days cast have played against one another, or we’ve competed against actors from other soaps. Other times, our team has played a local
high school team (usually leading to a pretty ugly loss on our part—no surprise there!).
Now, I can be ridiculously competitive on the basketball court (although let me put Shaq’s mind at ease—you have nothing to worry about!). In 2003, I ended up with an unsightly bruise on my arm from a little too much physical contact on the court, and a couple years before that, I sprained my ankle in the final minutes of the game—and it hurt so much. The ankle swelled up to the size of a baseball—no, make that a softball!—and for the next few days back at work, I had to limp around on the set. It was such a pathetic sight! As I explained (in good fun) on my website in the aftermath of that “carnage,” in which a bunch of us ended up falling over one another, there was plenty of debate over who was to blame for that pile of actors stacked on top of one another at center court! Justin (Melvey, ex-Colin) insisted upon his innocence (yeah, right!), but there were witnesses who claimed that he got a little carried away playing rugby rather than basketball. I think Frank Parker (Grandpa Shawn), who ended up somewhere in the pile, and I bore the brunt of the melee.
I’m pretty “smiled out” by the end of the Fan Weekend. The fans are so incredible; many fly in from across the country (and in some cases the world!). We have such a blast! We’ll continue to have these weekend events for as long as our loyal viewers want them, and let me tell you, there’s not the slightest sign of any waning interest. (See you there next spring!)
Throughout the year, the cast of Days participates in other extracurricular endeavors as well, all of them aimed at meeting and entertaining our fans. I remember a trip to South Carolina not long ago where the Days cast got to meet with fans and play a softball game. As I said, I’m competitive and want to win, but I hadn’t picked up a bat since the seventh grade. I tried honing my “skills” by taking some last-minute batting practice before the game started, but here’s the truth: It really didn’t help much. Yes, I actually hit the ball during the game, but the New York Yankees didn’t come calling afterward! At least we won the game! (There I go, showing my competitive side again!)
All The Days Of My Life (so Far) Page 9