Cover: Pics of ‘Ave”, “Shelle”, “Bo,” “Colleen” and “John”
Breaking News: Tamara Braun to Days. She’s only there short term but is excited to be working with SN and MBE.
“Madison and Beemer Axed from Days
In a shocking move, Brandon Beemer (Shawn) and Martha Madison (Belle) both have been dropped from ‘Days.’ ‘We were finishing up on Friday night and were asked to go up to Ed’s office, which is always a scary thing because it’s not normal,’ reports Madison. ‘I was actually making a joke on the way up the stairs like, ‘Hope we’re not getting fired’ because I just didn’t think that would be the case.’
Once inside, ‘He sat us down-both a the same time-and said, ‘We’ve decided to take you off contract,’ she continues. ‘It took a second for it to really sink in and I said, ‘Does that mean we’re going to be on recurring, like we’ll be here once in a while, or we’re done?/’ And he said, ‘Well, Shawn and Belle are going to get the happy ending they deserve and be written off to be a happy family, and I said, ‘Okay, so that mean we’re done. That means I can take another job if one came along,’ and he said, ‘Yes.’’
The actress admits she was surprised. ‘It just came out of left field,’ she says. ‘These kinds of things often hit the rumor mill at work before it happens and there is not one person in that building who saw this coming. None of us did. We’ve been working every single day for the last six months and we had just really opened Pandoras’s box of story possibilities with Belle, especially. I was really excited. This was absolutely lt’s the last thing I ever expected, but it is a business. This is what happens sometimes.’
Her castmates were equally stunned. ‘I think they were pretty shocked, but incredibly supportive,’ Madison notes. ‘Deidre Hall is my hero. I love her. She is the very first person I ran into after I got the news. I just felt so lucky to have a mom thre. She has been nothing short of awesome. I think we have a really special relationship; I’m going to miss her.’
Word hit the Internet immediately, prompting a passionate viewer outcry. ‘The fan response has been overwhelming,’ Madison marvels. “I looke at my Web site this morning and I have over 1,000 new members since yesterday. Things like that make me feel so happy and hopeful.’
She hopes to remain in soaps too. ‘I want to spend my career in daytime,’ she says. ‘I made that vow to myself a long time ago. Whether that means coming back to DAYS or going somewhere else. I am open to all possibilities. I think Shawn and Belle are going to be done in Salem for a while at least.’
As for when they’ll last air, the actress says, ‘I have schedules up until the middle of February so I don’t really know. Ed told us a few weeks to six weeks maybe.’
Article on Julie Pinson’s departure. She expected it.
Who’s going: 'Brandon Beemer and Martha Madison: The actors are leaving Salem. ‘Shawn and Belle’s storyline, like that of their parents, Bo and Hope, will be taking them of f camera for an extended cruise with their daughter Claire. We wish them all the very best,’ says Ken Corday. ‘As it was with Bo and Hope, their characters will return someday in the future. We will deeply miss both Martha and Brandon’s talent and dedication to the DAYS family'
