Honestly. I looked everywhere for the articles I read earlier, Corday, Alarr, Carlivati interviews, I could not find them, but.......our headwriter seems happier that he will be having a much shorter time frame now to take advantage of fan reaction.
However, Corday said that to start (this month) they would be doing probably 5 shows per week, but would gradually increase to 6, then 7, claiming financial reasons. I also seem to recall him saying that one of those actors let go had a salary that made them decide to let go, but that person is returning...guess settled for a lesser amount.
And that has been the crux, in my opinion, of Days' problems. I know many of the cast has taken pay cuts, NBC keeps reducing or not increasing what they pay, costs increase, so Days has to scramble, cut corners, to keep afloat. We see it in sets, location shooting (which in now non-existent, & the influx of new, young actors, so glad to have the work, the experience. Maybe this is why characters get "rested" for long periods????