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Once upon a time, the soap opera genre ruled daytime television. However, in recent years the ratings for soaps have been declining. So far, two of daytime’s longest running soaps have been a casualty of these declining ratings and a bad economy.

There was a time when ABC, CBS, and  NBC had countless numbers of soaps on the air, although that has all changed. In 2009, Guiding Light, the longest running soap which began on radio, was cancelled after 72 years on the air. Now, after 50 years on the air, CBS has decided not to renew As the World Turns, the second longest running soap opera.

If you’re a fan of the soap opera genre, these cancellations may have you asking, is my favorite soap next? While some soaps have seen decreasing numbers, such as One Life to Live, All My Children, and General Hospital, others such as The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, and Days of our Lives have continued to draw viewers.

But, out of all these soaps, the one that has seen the largest growth in ratings has been Days of our Lives, which was on the verge of cancellation this time last year after 44 years on the air.

If there’s one thing you can say about Days fans, it is that they are one of the most loyal fan bases around. But, as a Days fan, I think we stay so loyal in the hope that Days will return to the soap we once loved.

In recent years, the storylines on Days have been lukewarm, and it’s because viewership has declined. But, if you were a fan of Days, who perhaps stopped watching because of the awful storylines – and I do mean awful – now is the time for you to return. Why, you ask?

In the last several months, Days has undergone many changes that have improved the series. For instance, three fan favorite characters returned: Crystal Chappell as Dr. Carly Manning, Wally Kurth as Justin Kiriakis, and Louise Sorel as Vivian Alamain. The return of Carly and Vivian, in my opinion, has rewnewed life into Days.

And then there was also the addition of three former Passions actors: Lindsay Hartley as Arianna “Ari” Hernandez, Galen Gering as Rafael “Rafe” Hernandez, and Eric Martsolf as Brady Black.

What has improved most on Days is the storylines. The year ended on a high note, with the storyline that brought Carly (Chappell) back to Salem, and having her character kill her husband (Lawrence Alamain) to protect her unborn child (Melaine Layton) has given her character more depth. Now, Carly's characters is the force that is tearing up Bo and Hope's marriage.

But, what would the return of Carly (Chappell) be like, if Vivian (Sorel), her archenemy – the women who buried her alive – was not far behind? Vivian’s return to Salem is brought about by her need to exact her revenge against the woman (Carly) who killed her beloved nephew. But, as of right now, one of the most interesting storylines on Days is the death of Mickey

Horton, whose character has been a part of the series since its debut. Since the original that portrayed Mickey Horton (John Clarke) retired, Days has recast the part three times. But none of those actors seemed to click with viewers. However, Mickey’s death may be a blessing for two reasons. First, it finally gives Suzanne Rogers, who plays Maggie Horton, a decent storyline. And, second, it’s possible this is a way to refocus the show on the Hortons, who were the first family of Salem, even though I do not believe that will happen.

However, I do know that much like the characters on Days, the drama never dies!

And if you are one of those fans who can’t get enough of Days of our Lives, then I have great news for you. The show has landed a publishing deal. You can expect the books “The Days of our Lives: The Untold Story of One Family’s Dream” and “True History of The Days of our Lives” to be released in May.