This month Days of Our Lives will place a spotlight on autism when it’s revealed that Salem police Commissioner Abe Caver (James Reynolds) and wife Dr. Lexie Carver (Renee Jones), will find out that their son has the illness.  This storyline has a great amount of sentiment for head writer Dena Higley especially since she too had a son that was diagnosed with autism at the age of three, just like little Theo Carver.  Days have paired with group Autism Speaks, the country’s foremost autism advocacy group in order to give an authentic and  accurate depiction as well as relaying information of families dealing with the disorder.

"We're telling the profound and life-altering story of a child with autism from his parents' point of view," said head writer Higley. "Their pain, their struggle -- and ultimately, their ability to find life-affirming hope in the midst of learning how to live day to day with this disability. This is a personal story for me...as my husband and I have walked in the shoes Abe and Lexie are now about to walk in."

 Background on Autism

Autism is a brain disorder that hampers a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and i a person afflicted by it has extreme behavioral challenges. Autism is  diagnosed in one in 150 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls. The diagnosis of autism has increased tenfold in the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis. There is no cure for autism.

"This storyline realistically portrays the emotional trauma that every family faces when a child is diagnosed with autism, yet it also opens a window for viewers to see the hope and achievements that are possible as a family pulls together," said Alison Singer, Executive Vice President of Communications and Awareness for Autism Speaks. "We are honored to work with 'Days of our Lives' and applaud the show's commitment to shine a bright spotlight on the autism crisis and its effects on the whole family." 

With all the crazy storylines that has been on DAYS since its inception I have to commend them with taking the time to build up a fantastic storyline in order to bring awareness to this growing crisis.

One of Days of Our Lives longest married couples Abe and Lexie Carver are taking a decidely realistic step for soaps-especially Days-by opting to go into couples therapy. Kudos to Days scribe Dena Higley for dusting off the talented James Reynold and Renee Jones and giving them something to do besides play BFF to everyone else in Salem.

While I am loving Tamara Braun as the fantastically-kookie Ava, Days fans know the show really didn't have to look outside itself to find a perfectly suitable bad girl. Lexie's turn to her DiMera darkside a few year's back was one of the best storylines in recent Days history.

After years of having been a boring talk-to, Jones ignted the screeen as Lexie schemed and connived to keep her precious Isaac away from his bio parents Bo and Hope, who happened to be her best friends. Lexie's stunts would have even impressed her adopted sister Kristen Blake. And then there was her classic rivalry with Sami. Let's hope this therapy storyline will bring some of the pop and sizzle back into Abe and Lexie's storyline. It wouldn't hurt to bring back Mama Celeste either. Tanya Boyd and James Reynolds oozed with chemistry when Celeste helped Abe, make that Abraham, care for Theo while Lex was missing in action. How about a putting this talented trio into a  triangle?

Wow, what a week it’s been for offscreen drama on Days of Our Lives.  The news about Tamara Braun joining Days, then the breaking news of Martha Madison (Belle) and Brandon Beemer (Shawn) being fired.  Is anyone safe in Salem?  Rumblings around the net are that no, noone is and watch out for more firings… seems it’s going to get worse before it gets better.  Plus, I’ve heard we should expect some sort of announcement on the future of Days, sometime in Feb/March.

So is it worth continuing to watch the show? Decide for yourself – this is what you can expect to see this week (apologies, yet again I have missed Monday’s show so I will comment from Tuesday on):

EJ/Sami – go into hiding with the twins; Lucas aint too happy hear about this, but there isn’t too much he can do about it from behind bars… or so you would think! Maybe having Stefano as a cellmate wont be so bad after all? Especially a Stefano who may have his own reasons for finding EJ and Sami… and little Giovanni. Is Lucas about to make a deal with the devil?

Marlena/John – after John got free on Monday’s episode, Marlena still refuses to give up on him (frankly I’d be disappointed if she had so soon).  She and Dr Carrington give John truth serum to find out exactly what Stefano and Dr Rolf did to him in the DiMansion Dungeons – unlike for everyone else, the serum doesn’t work (what modifications did Dr Rolf make to John so that truth serum doesn't work??); the mention of Stefano’s name apparently has John going mental.  Instead, they give him a psychiatric test, learning what seems obvious to me, that John is without emotions (a real DiMera soldier if you like). I’m just hoping what I’m reading as a spoiler is true for this next part… Marlena goes to confront Stefano, armed with more truth serum! Brooke pleads… please please please let scary Marlena stay!

Shawn/Chloe, Philip/Belle – are going to team up to investigate Claire’s kidnapping.  They research Rob’s tattoo and end up finding him in Crystal’s store.  Shawn the rookie cop demands his daughter back… Belle's still recovering in hospital, with Philip there to comfort her.  She wants to join the hunt for Claire of course, but is not allowed.

Sorority (and Billie) – More disagreement over whether to tell the truth about Ford’s death; Stephanie confesses her rape to the sisters in an effort to convince them to stay quiet, Chelsea has a normal teenage emotion/experience when she can’t convince the gals to talk and wonders if Nick will dump her because of her continued secret keeping.  Billie’s job is threatened by the Dean if he finds out she had any knowledge of the girls’ involvement in Ford’s disappearance, prompting Billie to continue to work on Nick to spill his guts, appealing to his goody goody nature and his love for Chelsea.  Meanwhile, Chelsea ends up cracking under the pressure and tells Crawford Decker his son is dead.  Oops.  Bo gets in on the action, meeting with a Dectective to discuss the case and Stephanie finally admits the truth about the rape to Steve.

Aaaand speaking of Steve, he and Kayla are still pursuing this baby making business – I’m sorry, but the only thing making me watch this s/l is how amusing I find Patch.

Next Week:

Holy moly! Next week looks freakin' awesome…

•    Return of the lost DiMera’s – Lexie (Renee Jones), Tony (Thaao Penghlis) and Anna (Leann Hunley)!

•    Adrienne (Judi Evans) says her goodbyes

•    John and Marlena start off the Ireland adventure

•    Colleen (Shirley Jones) reveals she faked her death

•    Max comes forward with Ford’s body (ewwwwwwwww)

In Other News:

First date onscreen: Tamara Braun – her character ‘Ava’ (another soap character named Ava? Is there no originality left in soapland?), will be seen from February 8th

NBC Text Message Spoiler: Hope to rejoin the Salem PD? She’s certainly been getting into everybody’s business lately