"Days of Our Lives" continues

With CBS' "Guiding Light" having been extinguished last year and its "As the World Turns" due to end in September, there was at last a modicum of reassuring news for daytime soap opera fans Friday: NBC said it had renewed "Days of Our Lives" through the 2010-11 season.

The serial is due to celebrate its 45th anniversary Nov. 8. Executive producer Ken Corday is the son of the show's creators, Betty and Ted Corday.

NBC said its decision was based on improving ratings for the program. Through 25 weeks of the current season, "Days of Our Lives" is averaging 3.3 million viewers, the network said, a 10% improvement from the same point a year ago and its best showing in the past three years.