Days of Our Lives

An American daytime soap opera that premiered on NBC in 1965, following the intertwined lives of residents of the fictional town of Salem.

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Salem (Days of Our Lives): The fictional Midwestern town where Days of Our Lives is set. Salem anchors the show’s recurring family stories and dramatic conflicts.
Irna Phillips: An American radio and television writer and producer who helped shape the soap opera genre. Phillips advised creators Ted and Betty Corday as they developed the series.
Serial fiction: Narrative fiction released in installments, with stories continuing across successive episodes. The show’s overlapping plots unfold through daily installments rather than self-contained episodes.
NBCUniversal: An American media and entertainment company that owns NBC and produces television programming. Its corporate decisions shaped the show’s production and distribution.
General Hospital: An American daytime soap opera that premiered on ABC in 1963. It is a long-running network rival with a distinct fictional setting and cast.
Horton family: A central family in Days of Our Lives, present since the series began. The Hortons established the show’s multigenerational family focus.
Ted Corday: An American television producer who co-created Days of Our Lives with Betty Corday. Corday helped launch the series on NBC in 1965.
Cliffhanger: A storytelling device that ends an installment at a moment of suspense or uncertainty. Episode endings encourage audiences to return for unresolved Salem storylines.
Television syndication: The licensing of television programs to broadcasters or other distributors. Syndication helped circulate episodes beyond their original NBC broadcasts.
The Young and the Restless: An American daytime soap opera that premiered on CBS in 1973. Its later launch offers a comparison with Days of Our Lives’ earlier NBC run.