Can either of you shed some light onto why Days is keeping Reilly? From purely a business point of view, he's not doing a good job. When he first started writing there was excitement over the story and the ratings were high with Days often in the #2 spot and viewers were intrigued.

However since Marlena was revealed as the killer and the dead found to be undead, the ratings have gone down while viewer dissatisfaction has gone way up. None of the promised twists have brought back the viewers and if I were Reilly's boss I would fire him. He's had time to fix this and its not working. What's worse is that there seems to be no excitement over the stories once people are back in Salem. Nobody wants a show full of triangles.

So my question is, does Reilly have that good of a contract that keeps him safe from being fired or does NBC just really not care about the show and are just biding their time before they cancel it?

Thank you.

I'm not Alex B, but I was wondering the same thing.

Either his contract is written in cement or ...... hmmmmm - don't know why he is still writing this show. It's gone from bad to worse. I fast forward most of the show now.

I've wondered the same thing.

Ever since Marlena was revealed as the SK, the writing has gone downhill. It's as if the writer has completely checked out, and is letting a bunch of high schoolers write the show.

You know I don't post here much but it has beccome obvious that this show could be written my high schoolers and a much better job could be done. At least these kids could come up with more original ideas.

Another thing, I wish we could all get along on this board. This is a board that Kim has set up for enjoyment and not the constant bashing because someone left off a link, they misspelled words and just being nasty along with the name calling. Kim you have a good site and if you begin to get rid of those who are constantly causing rifts between those who post here. I don't consider myself as someone who betlittles and bash but because of this I had to post my opinion. Like the old song says, Come on everybody, smile on your brother,everybody get together and try to love one another right now. And the time is now!

From what I understand, JER's contract is pretty iron clad. They pay him whether he remains the headwriter or not. That is why I don't think you will see him dumped anytime soon no matter the ratings.

How long is the contract? Anyone know?

All the talk about Jack getting a storyline. However, folks saw Matt yesterday and he said he will not be seem much in the future, at least until December. He told one fan to write, because last time it got him airtime and Jack a story. So, this seems to negate all the spoilers from insiders who said Matt had a storyline coming up, and that it centered around Steve, because if there was such a storyline it would be occurring during Sweeps and during Jack's second -- sorry, correct that THIRD believed dead -- story. Since Matt will not be on, I think that pretty much dooms any story of Jack looking for Steve. He just will be gone, and I am more certain than ever that Jack will return to find Jennifer with Patrick. Then he will spend the next year plus trying to get back to her.

Anyone with a speck of business sense knows that when you enter into a contract with someone, you always have a provision to terminate the contract. The actors have their 13 week cycle during which they can be let go, so if what you are saying is true and NBC has to pay Reilly the same amount regardless of whether he is working for them or not then they should all be let go. That is bad business, plain and simple. It shouldn't matter how much they believed Reilly was going to save the show, not having fair provisions to terminate him is irresponsible and bad, bad business.

I do remember that when Thomas Langan was fired in the dual role of Ex. Prod. and HW, they had to buy out the remaining time of his contract.

ABC has the same contract with Guza at GH.

If they made that mistake with Langan, they must be drooling morons to do the same thing with Reilly.

Frankly, I don't know why producers, or writers get these types of contracts.

I would not be surprised if JER asked for it, and the Kalouria agreed thinking that JER would write a show which would bring in the lusted after teen demographics. If it is true, then I do not see Kalouria paying JER's contract, which should be for a few more years, plus a contract for a new HW or a new HW team.

The actors sure are not as fortunate since most of those fired last year still had time on their contracts, and from all reports I have read on the net, they returned but had to take a pay cut.

I can understand, although I don't agree with NBC thinking Reilly could save the show but in any business when you enter into contract with someone you have in that inital contract, term for terminating the contract. Its business 101 and I cannot believe that NBC would be so naive to not have that written into Reilly's contract.

Perhaps you are correct and they have to pay Reilly his full salary whether he writes or not but again, that is also irresponsible and naive.

Can't NBC just blackmail JER? If he askes for money to terminate his contract NBC will bump off Passions? :D

If they are keeping him on just because they may have to pay him even if they fire him, that is just plain stupid. It is already a spent cost. Suck it up and hire somebody else. If they can get someone who can write and get the ratings back up, they'll recoop the money they spent on the new writer. What kind of businessmen are running this show???!!??

I agree with Anonymous. I also have heard that Reilly's contract is iron clad.

Have either of you heard that Lucas is being written out of Days. That rumor won't go away.

Hey neither will the rumor that Cook is leaving.

I have herd the same thing. Is there any truth to lucas or shawn being written off?

Just my take on the contracts with the head writers. Sounds to me much like football coaches contracts at colleges. They are guaranteed so much for 3 years for example (plus perks etc above and beyond the guarantee) and if they choose to leave the school doesn't have to pay them. If the school chooses to fire them then the contract has a buyout clause which is usually for the guaranteed amount. Assistant coaches (assistant writers) don't get the same gold plated deal.

That's the entertainment industry for ya! Of course they followed big business example's for hiring CEO's on the same basis too, they just don't do it for the peons.