HUGE Shake-ups at Days!

In a move that producers hope will help with sagging ratings, Days of Our Lives is cleaning house, and many fan favorites have been given the boot.

Among those delivered the infamous pink slip are Julie Pinson (Billie Reed), Martha Madison (Belle Brady) and Brandon Beemer (Shawn Brady). At least for Shawn and Belle, this might mean that they finally will get their happily ever after, far away from Salem. And Billie hasn't really had all that much to do lately, and I was pretty much creeped out by her Mrs. Robinson turn with her one night stand with Nick a while back.

Also feeling the weight of the almighty ax is the ENTIRE writing team, including head writer Hogan Sheffer. Former Days writer Dena Higley will take over as interim head writer.

Former GH actress, Tamara Braun, has been added to the cast as Ava, a mysterious woman from Steve's past. She makes her on-screen debut tomorrow, Feb. 8.

Only time will tell if these shake-ups are able to shake the ratings up!

Tyra Banks Gets Schooled in Soaps

This should be a fun episode that fans of any soap would enjoy:

Talk-show host Tyra Banks graduates from soap opera school after getting lessons in cat fights, passionate kissing scenes and the inevitable death bed scene from The Young and the Restless’ Joshua Morrow and Michelle Stafford, General Hospital’s Rebecca Herbst and Greg Vaughan, Days of Our Lives’ Brandon Beemer and Martha Madison and Passion’s Heidi Muller and Adrian Bellani. This episode of The Tyra Banks Show airs on Friday, January 26 (check local listings for time/stations).

(photo credit: Warner Bros./Carin Baer)