‘Days of Our Lives’ Recasts Jennifer: How Long Will Cady McClain Replace Melissa Reeves?

Melissa Reeves Days of Our Lives Season 48 Jennifer
Chris Haston/NBC

Jennifer Horton is going to look a bit different on Days of Our Lives, but will it be a permanent recasting?

Due to the pandemic, Melissa Reeves did not head back from Tennessee to California when filming began at the beginning of September, and Cady McClain (The Young and the Restless, All My Children) has instead stepped in to take over the role — temporarily, Soap Opera Digest reports.

The recasting does come after Reeves was in the news following her costars and others speaking out against her anti-Black Matter Lives views on social media in June. A follower had noted, in a since-deleted tweet, that Reeves liked Instagram posts from right-wing activist Candace Owens that expressed a strong anti-Black Lives Matter movement stance.

This isn’t the first recasting reportedly due to the coronavirus pandemic (which caused production to shut down in March) since filming has resumed. On General Hospital, Lindsay Hartley briefly stepped in to play Sam McCall Morgan after Kelly Monaco had to quarantine for 14 days “after a breathing problem with [her] mask,” the actress’ mother explained on Twitter at the end of July.

Days of Our Lives was the last daytime drama to resume production this summer, due to the fact that the NBC soap has enough episodes banked to go into October.

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  1. R

    RedBulb

    they need to bring Melissa Reeves back to DOOL. The new one doesn't fit the character role. After losing all of the others especially Sami, Hope and Rafe it may be too much

    46 1

  2. C

    CyanBasketball

    Really don't like the new Jennifer at all. Hope they find someone better to fill in.

    43 2

  3. O

    OrangeBus

    I think it sucks that Melissa Reeves is gone. I've seen one episode with her replacement and as far as I'm concerned Cady McClain is a horrible replacement. She doesn't have the chemistry with Jack (Matthew Ashford) that Melissa had. I can live with the replacement of Claire's character. However, the loss of Victoria Konefal and Kristen Alfonso is huge. I also don't know how they are going to manage Nicole's story line without Eric (Greg Vaughan). I read somewhere that Gabi's absence is temporary so, I hope that's true. I would have liked to see a storyline with her and Jake.

    34 1

  4. O

    OliveBox

    I do NOT like Melissa Reeves replacement. Missing Jen in just these few episodes. Too many of our favorites are gone. The writers/producers need to beg Kristian Alfonso to come back. I’ve watched this show since I was a child with my mother and I am 61! This is the worst it’s ever been with the exception of Marlena being possessed! DOOL you need to do better....

    35 3

  5. B

    BlueProcessor

    The woman playing Jennifer just does not fit at all,I don't want to say anything against the actress as she may be ok on something else,But as Jennifer NO! for one thing and this is just my personal opinion-but she looks to old to play Jennifer. I just flinch everytime I watch a scene with her in it.

    31 3

  6. G

    GreenWrench

    Jennifer please come back.

    26

  7. O

    OrangeFries

    If Kristen Alfonso does not want to come back, which the writers should BEG her to; then they need to recast. Her story line has always been important to the 'big picture'.

    I want to see her and Rafe back together.

    Get some writers that understand the importance of the the Hortons and the core families. I really don't want to watch some teenage have a baby out of wedlock. It's boring.

    23 1

  8. O

    OrangeBus

    I think they should do new story lines and bring the actors who have left back, that is, if they want to come back. The new writers suck. My husband and I have been watching this show for a long time. He's getting tired of all this. We are about ready to quit watching this too. Writer's get your act together or I think your going to loose a lot of your viewers.

    20

  9. R

    RedBowtie

    The new Jennifer is horrible! I have watched the show for over 50 years. This *ust put me over the edge. I quit!

    21 3

  10. P

    PurplePuzzle

    It's great to see old faces we like, but in great story lines. Not like this pathetic Jack/Kate they pulled out of the garbage!

    16 1

  11. G

    GreenBulb

    I heard Melissa Reeves is coming back. I'm with you,, Cade Mclain doesn't fit the part. Sami is returning for a longer term this time andWill is suppose to stay for a while too.

    10

  12. P

    PurpleButterfly

    Been very disappointed with the goings and comings the past several years. This is not the same show I started watching. Some change is good but not when you take characters like Bo Brady and Jennifer Horton. These are true icons that should still be on the show. The new Jennifer is not appropriate. Jennifer (Melissa Reeves) must be brought back. Still hoping Rolf can bring Bo back as well. Otherwise this show is going downhill fast. Not worth watching you had a great show with all familiar faces. Of all things, you brought Ben and Ciara for such a short time and now they are gone. Someone directing this show is not doing a good job. It’s crazy. Don’t try changing something that was so good as it was and try to keep your seasoned characters that are doing a great job.

    6

  13. C

    CyanScissors

    I think no one can play that role but Melissa Reeves, Cady is too old for the role.

    7 1

  14. C

    CyanBike

    What ever happened to FREEDOM of SPEECH?.?? This is ridiculous that Melissa voices her opinion and the next thing she is not coming back to her job?? This is the United States of America. Pitiful!!!

    6

  15. G

    GoldScooter

    I’ve been watching DOOL since it’s inception & now with all the drastic changes I think I am done. I do hope that the producers & writers listen to the devoted fans. So sad!

    6

  16. G

    GoldMustache

    The new Jennifer is terrible!! The acting is bad and she has no chemistry with Jack.

    9 3

  17. B

    BlueSword

    Bring Hope,and Jennifer back!

    5

  18. O

    OrangePopcorn

    Mellissa is gone because she is apparently a Republican and Does not Support BLM like the other cast members. Shame on them.

    9 4

  19. O

    OliveBeer

    I think it's the writers fault, not Melissa Reeves. She has no control over where her story goes. No wonder she left, there is nothing to work with there. THE WRITERS SHOULD ALL BE REPLACED, THEY HAVE LOST THEIR MUSE OR SOMETHING, BECAUSE THEY SUCK!

    6 1

  20. P

    PurpleBug

    Please bring Melissa Reeves back her replacement is not a right fit with Jack and DOOL is already not the same without Hope and everybody else

    3

  21. G

    GoldButterfly

    Hate watching the new Jennifer. She is terrible. Need to bring back Melissa Reeves.

    4 1

  22. P

    PurplePuzzle

    Thank you for the new Claire!!!!! Can't wait for Missy Reeves to come back!

    3

  23. O

    OliveHelmet

    The new Jennifer is absolutely terrible. Please bring the old Jennifer back!! If not at least get someone that can act

    3 1

  24. O

    OrangeCoathanger

    Really unhappy with all the changes on DOOL. I'm hoping it's because of the pandemic; then I understand. The positives: Jake, the ex-girlfriend, now nanny and the girl playing Claire.

    2

  25. P

    PurplePuzzle

    Trip has got to be innocent!! Steve can't have 2 bad seeds in prison!

    2

  26. P

    PurpleBattery

    Melissa Reeves should be on Days as Jen is her creation and she does it best.

    1

  27. R

    RedHat

    I really wish they would bring Missy Reeves back as Jennifer. Her replacement is awful! No chemistry at all with Jack and her acting is terrible. I really miss Missy. She IS Jennifer and always will be. Please get her back!!

    1

  28. R

    RedElephant

    WAIT A MINUTE!!!...Dr. Rolf is my favorite character...(and Salem's population would be cut in half were it not for all the people he's helped return from the DEAD)...

    2 1

  29. B

    BlueUmbrella

    Been watching for 55 years...The changes lately aren’t good at all... It’s like story lines just drop off the face of the earth😢😢😢

    1

  30. P

    PurplePuzzle

    She will be back. She left because of Covid restrictions at the airport between Tennessee and California.

    1

  31. O

    OliveBoomerang

    Have been watching since a kid with my mom over 50 years. There have been too many changes to DOOL. Losing Melissa Reeves (Jennifer) maybe the final straw for me. The loss of Kristian Alfonso (Hope), Rafe, Gabby, Ciara, recasting of Claire too much. They keep bringing back characters like, Orpheus, Clyde, Dr. Rolfe, Vivian Alamain and others. I know of so many who have already stopped watching we just have not liked where the show is going. Ready to join them. Day I never thought I would see.

    1

  32. R

    RedApple

    Oh yeah cuz the one who replaced her is so good .... (I'm being sarcastic)

  33. R

    RedApple

    Yeah but they are violating her constitutional right to freedom of speech. She needs to sue them. And it's not just cuz she's republican, and doesn't support blm it's cuz she's white. N

  34. R

    RedApple

    She needs to sue them cuz u said it freedom of speech. She's not making threats towards blm she is entitled to her own opinion. Would they have cared if she was black making remarks about Maga no they wouldn't.

  35. O

    OliveSnow

    I think it's b/s that Melissa Reeves comes n goes as she pleases. She needed to be there when her n Jack's daughter Abigail died recently. Does she have issues not being able to handle such a dramatic scene. If so get rid of her for good. Cady McClain is twice the actress Melissa Reeves is. They are so lucky to find a replacement like Cady to do it on short notice. You all think that the role belongs to Melissa because we all got used to her over the years. But lately she's not into the role and I say fire her and get it over with. She shouldn't be allowed to come n go as she pleases. She missed out on a very very emotional time for her role and now Cady had to come in and play grieving Jennifer. I thought that was lame on Melissa Reeves part. With that fire her hire Cady permanently. That's what I say. It's unfair to do that to Cady and she nailed the grieving mother role. Melissa isn't in Cady McClain league as a soap actress anyways. If you know soaps and Cady you'd know what I'm talking about. I say can Melissa replace her permanently with Cady if she'll accept the role. Gonna take a big check to land her permanently and more story lines for her role. I used to really like Melissa too, she was a cutey pie. Now she's aged so much,( looks 70). Time to move on and hire Cady for the role permanently. Writers will agree. Cady is much easier to work with I hear over on DOOL.

  36. R

    RedCupcake

    I think Corday Production needs a b 12 shot. They have lost their zip

  37. R

    RedCupcake

    The acting has definitely gone downhill

  38. B

    BlueHelmet

    I miss our Jennifer.....please bring her back soon.....other girl is OK, but not right.....I have watched Days for 44 years.....yup 😱. I also miss Stephano, sorry for everyones loss with him.....but you CAN bring back

    Mellissa Reeves.....!!! Please.

  39. O

    OliveCactus

    Hurry and bring Melissa(Jennifer) back so she can control jack because his decisions when it comes to Gwen is getting on my last nerve. Jack is letting her control and guilt him. She is going to come between he and Abagail because Abagail will never forgive her and I do not blame her. The old Jennifer would not make the decisions that the new Jennifer is making. I want her gone.

  40. O

    OliveCactus

    Who is really not feeling Jack right now because of the way he is letting Gwen control him when it comes to Abagail? Jack and Abagail has always had a beautiful father and daughter relationship. He is now going to let this psycho stranger destroy their beautiful relationship.

  41. O

    OliveCactus

    Yes bring Melissa Reeves back (Jennifer) I been watching her since she joined Days of our lives and the show just isn’t the same without her and hope.

  42. G

    GoldAnchor

    I caught a faupah on today's Days. When Gabi is bad mouthing Kate to Roman, he says Kate is the mother of his children. To which Gabi says his twins!! Marlena is the mother of his twins.

  43. G

    GoldBottleOpener

    Bring back Melissa Reeves. You let her go because of her political beliefs. Who cares. We don’t watch days of our lives for the actors’ political beliefs but for their ability to bring a character to life.

  44. P

    PurpleBattery

    Happy Reeves is gone.

  45. P

    PurpleCar

    Although I love Cady as an actress loved her as Dixie she isn't a right fit for the role as Jennifer

  46. O

    OrangeFries

    Get a new Sara Horton and Eli Grant

    1 1

    1. R

      RedElephant

      I always found Sarah Horton to be tiringly serious/tense...but in her "rom-com" adventures with Xander...I really ENJOY the ditzy/goofy/kooky/frivolous/whimsical/flaky woman she becomes...(kinda' reminds me of Lucille's Balls)...

  47. G

    GoldSubmarine

    I think Melissa Reeves was great as Jennifer. I’ve enjoyed watching her in the role over the years. However, I think Cady McClain is doing a good job taking over the role. She is playing a stronger version of Jennifer with the new story line - so her portrayal works. I also think Cady McClain is a good fit with the new (returning) Abagail (not sure of her name). Melissa Reeves and Cady McClain are both talented actresses and I enjoy watching them both in this role. As far as recasts go, I think this was a good one given the circumstances.

    1

  48. B

    BlueRadio

    What has happened to days ? Since Melissa left I rarely watch anymore. Too many people have left and Nicole is barely appearing anymore. Is is time for days to end or will some of the favorites get better stories and how about a story for Roman brady? He’s hardly had anything in years! So sad how this show is going but it could be time for it to go.

    1

  49. P

    PurpleHammer

    We need something different for Jack and Jennifer. I think that Melissa Reeves version is sacramactious judgemental hypocrite dressing herself frumpy clothes like old motherly hag with no personality or backbone or spunk either. She is too wishy washy character. I don't see anything appealing about Jennifer/Melissa Reeves anymore she was good in the past. She needs to take long vacation away from the show. I don't want lose Jack/Matthew Ashford again he belongs on the show he has family on the show besides Jennifer and Abby and JJ. He should have scenes with Steve and Adrienne and others characters. I hope that Cady Mclain will bring some life into the character not wear 90 year old women carrying purse. Ken Corday and Albert Alarr need stop playing favorites on Melissa Reeves/Jennifer she complained about storylines that should not be on. She is not innocent victim herself either. She has too much personal baggage. If she does come back she needs major changes her character and personality and backbone and total makeover and haircut and wardrobe change too not dressing herself as 60 year old granny. Ken Corday and Albert Alarr need stop torturing Jack and Jennifer and Matthew Ashford interfering with writing too. That goes for NBC too. They are popular couple too and as individuals too. Matthew Ashford/Jack Deveraux should not be treated like fillers or propping other characters exist without Jennifer too. Days of our lives doesn't understand anything.

    1 21