Phew.

Amid speculation that dwindling ratings would cause Days of Our Lives to get canceled, the show has received a reprise: it recently signed a new 18-month deal with Sony Pictures TV.

The current deal was set to expire in March 2009, as fans panicked that the series would go the way of Passions. Now, however, those fears can be put on hold until at least September 2010.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.