'Days of our Lives' Head Writer Switch: Tomlin & Whitesell Out, Higley & Griffith In

Days of our Lives has replaced the show's head writing team, according to Soap Opera Digest.

Head Writers Gary Tomlin and Christopher Whitesell are out and Dena Higley and Josh Griffith will be replacing them, effective February 16.

Griffith's writing credits include General Hospital, As the World Turns, One Life to Live, Santa Barbara, One Life to Live and, most recently, The Young and the Restless from 2012-2013.

Higley previously served as head writer at Days in 2003, and again from 2008-2011.

Based on social media buzz of late, Days needed a shot in the arm but is bringing Dena Higley back the right move? Weigh in below in our Comments section.

Gary Tomlin & Chrstopher Whitesell Named New DAYS OF OUR LIVES Head Writers; Lorraine Broderick Joins Team; Marlene McPherson & Darrell Ray Thomas, Jr. Out

DAYS OF OUR LIVES head writers Marlene McPherson and Darrell Ray Thomas Jr., who were hired last May to lead a reboot of the show, have been replaced by former DAYS Co-Executive Producer and one-time Co-Head Writer Gary Tomlin and former DAYS Co-Head writer Christopher Whitesell. Soap Opera Digest reported the news in their latest issue.

McPherson just tweeted the following: "Thank you DOOL fans. U r the best and we love you! NBC never let us tell our stories. They kept stopping us and changing our direction. Sad."

FLASHBACK: Establishing Soap No Day at the Beach 1997

Establishing a Soap Is No Day at the Beach

By Justine Elias
New York Times
February 23, 1997

When a fresh-faced Kansas girl ditches her husband-to-be in favor of a mysterious Southern California man she met on the Internet, she finds herself in a picturesque coastal town touched by romance, murder, misunderstandings and nefarious schemes in equal measure. Welcome to Sunset Beach, Miss K.C. Now, get busy. After a formidable publicity campaign to hype its Jan. 6 debut, it's time for SUNSET BEACH, Aaron Spelling's new daytime soap opera (weekdays at noon on NBC) to find a devoted audience.

In an industry in which shows are created and discarded by the dozens, a new daytime drama is a rarity. NBC's SANTA BARBARA, which survived for eight years, is considered the most recent success; GENERATIONS and THE CITY (which has its final episode March 28) were both canceled after little more than a year. NBC, whose current daytime lineup ranks last in the ratings, hopes its newest series is built for a long run.