Q&A with Bill Hayes & Susan Seaforth Hayes
(Doug & Julie Williams, Days of Our Lives)

Days of Our Lives has tapped into its rich history by returning real-life married duo Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes to the show's canvas as supercouple Doug and Julie Williams. (Their first appearance was Sept. 3.) The Hayeses were the hottest thing on Days through the '70s and early '80s, and fans fell in love with the couple's real-life (and reel-life) romance. At a time when veterans are being shoved aside Days is rewarding its viewers with a walk down memory lane. The Hayeses recently took time out of their busy schedule to chat with TV Guide Online about what they've been up to. — Michael J. Maloney

Your fans are thrilled that the show's having you back for this run.

Susan: We're very pleased and surprised that we're back and working in a premiere storyline where we'll be participating in something more than nostalgia. It's very exciting. Peter and Kristian [Reckell and Alfonso, who play Bo and Hope] have grown so much as performers and as people. They always worked so hard, but now there's a different atmosphere. It's a pleasure.

Bill: The last few times we've been on the show, as Susan said, we've been used in a nostalgic way. Doug and Julie come on, there's a big hug and a hello and then we stand in the background while the plot goes on, and then we say good-bye. That's nice, but as Susan indicated, we're in a major plot this time. We have stuff to play and it's wonderful!

I hope, if not you two, that someone will be able to explain Princess Gina's connection to Hope.

Bill: Someone said the other day, which I thought was a good point, "[Doug and Julie coming back] helps give authority to the Princess Gina storyline." I think it's really right that Doug and Julie are here.

What have you two been up to since your last Days stint, which I believe was for Bo and Hope's non-wedding back in 1996?

Bill: We usually do one play and one musical a year. We did a wonderful premiere of a Bernard Slade play called Same Time Another Year which is a sequel to his huge hit Same Time Next Year.

Susan: We've also done A Christmas Carol and we're about to do a staged reading of I Do, I Do at our local church in Los Angeles.

Bill: I've also done some concerts with Ann Blyth. And Susan had a recent turn with a nice part on Sunset Beach.

Yes. Patricia Steele, your character, was a hoot, Susan. You looked like you were having a lot of fun.

Susan: I did, indeed. I was treated beautifully and they've led me to understand that they'd be happy to see more of Patricia.

You tapped into your real-life quick wit with your performances as Patricia.

Susan: There were many times that Julie was funny and quick, too. And when Doug was funny. There's a time for that and there's a time for fulfilling your role. I don't write 'em. Nobody has ever asked me to. I just act 'em.

Doug: You're right. Susan has a wonderful edge to her.

Susan: It was delightful to play and yes, she was an unusual part in that Patricia could stand just one step back from all the frenzy going on and make a comment.

Were you hoping for a trial?

Susan: [Laughing] Well, I'd never played a district attorney who was so close to a murder and not have a trial. It seemed too bad, but only to me. I'm sure the audience was happy to see the story tie up.

Bill, congratulations on completing your doctorate in education last year.

Bill: Thank you. I started in 1990. Every course was a challenge. They make you jump through a lot of hoops to get there. I had a certain idea that I wanted to do for my dissertation. I wrote a proposal and [university officials] turned it down. I re-wrote it, they turned it down again. This happened eight times. Finally, I figured out I should go their way, not mine. And I was able to write my dissertation.

Susan: It was nine years of work.

Bill: The premise of my dissertation is that the classroom study of family history is a very good educator's tool. There are a lot of people who are apprehensive of group study of family, but I am not. I think it's very helpful and gives people a sense of identity. It hooks them into nonfamily history and makes them better students.

Who have you stayed in touched with from the show over the years?

Bill: We've always been in touch with Frances Reid (Alice). We've worked with her a lot and with John Clarke, Suzanne Rogers, Deidre Hall, Drake Hogestyn and Josh Taylor (Mickey, Maggie, Marlena, John and Roman]. It's a great group.

Any upcoming travel plans?

Bill: We're going be working on a cruise ship where I'll do a presentation using tapes from Your Show of Shows.

Susan: Where Bill was the featured singer for several years.

Bill: It was the premiere variety show in the '50s and starred Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca. The show was weekly and ran for 90 minutes.

Susan: It was live.

Bill: Susan will also be doing a presentation about the soap genre.

Susan: It'll be lecturing, which will be something new for us.

And where will this be?

Susan: [Laughing] We'll be doing it through the Panama Canal.Bill: On a cruise ship called The Crystal Harmony.

Do you think today's soaps could benefit being done live?

Susan: I don't see how it could possibly be executed with the scope that the scripts have now. The shape of the scenes and the storylines would have to accommodate it. To produce scripts [live] that have 50 or 60 set pieces in them, I think could only lead to overacting. You have scenes today that are four lines and then you cut away to another scene. You'd have to start from a different type of show. It might be worth it. I've heard that the soap audience is changing, and shall we say, solidifying.

And, unfortunately, dwindling.

Bill: When Susan and I were first on Days, that's how it was done. It wasn't live, but...Susan: It was live on tape. There was no editing.Bill: It's true. We'd go straight through.

There's a big youth kick on soaps today in an effort to get younger people watching. I'm willing to bet, however, that when you two travel across the country that you're remembered and loved by many, many viewers who have fond memories of your time on the show.

Bill: It's true.Susan: Yes, [but] I don't know how that translates into the minds of the people making the creative decisions today. I don't know how much well-established affection for characters matters. The audience can develop affection for the new characters. A 15-year-old [viewer] can develop plenty of affection for another 15-year-old.

I think the disintegration of core families on soaps have turned a lot of viewers off to the medium.

Susan: The people who are turned off aren't necessarily the people that television [executives] are interested in reaching anymore. They will develop loyalty — if everyone is kept on the air long enough. Remember, people became loyal to a chimpanzee [J. Fred Muggs on The Today Show] in the early days of television because he was on the air a lot. I think the teenage viewers that executives are trying to reach can be loyal.Bill: I agree, but your point is well-taken. There are people who embrace us today as we go around the country because...Susan: We had all gone through so much together.

How long will you be staying this time?

Susan: We really don't at this point. I had a funny experience recently. Our agent came by to see us and asked us how long we thought we were going to be on the show. I said "We don't know." The next morning I went for a haircut and my hairdresser's mother called while I was there. She said, "I understand that Susan's doing 17 episodes." I asked how she knew that! She said, "Oh, I'd heard about it." I might add that this woman is not in the business and neither is my hairdresser.

How funny. Sounds like that old saying will have to be modified.