DAYS Exclusive: Carson Boatman On Johnny And Chanel’s Adoption Plans

Now that Johnny and Chanel have offered to adopt Tate and Sophia’s unborn baby on Days of our Lives, all they have to do is meet Mrs. Choi’s standards — namely, by proving that they’re a religious couple who will raise the child in a home with Christian values. But how easy will that be, particularly since Johnny is a member of the disreputable DiMera family? Soap Opera Digest chatted with Carson Boatman (Johnny) to get his take on the story turn, as well as his thoughts on Johnny and Chanel’s reconciliation.

 

Soap Opera Digest: First of all, were you happy to see Johnny and Chanel reconcile after Johnny’s dalliance with Joy?

Carson Boatman: I am always very pro Johnny and Chanel. I love working with Raven [Bowens, Chanel]. She’s a close friend. We get along great, and I think we work well together. So I’m always happy when Johnny and Chanel find their way back to each other.

Digest: What do think the pair has learned from their latest separation?

Boatman: They get better and better with each separation and reconciliation because they understand and appreciate each other a little more every time. There’s more life experience. They’re more supportive and understanding of one another. Johnny’s learned to trust in his spouse a little more. I think that’s the main takeaway from his last mistake. Johnny’s realized that Chanel is the person he wants to be with and [for them to be together] it’s going to require change on both of their parts. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to make it work and be supportive of Chanel, rather than question her motives and her decisions.

Digest: No sooner did the couple reconcile than they decided to start a family. Did that decision catch you off guard?

Boatman: No, it didn’t catch me off guard, because if you think about it, Johnny and Chanel have always wanted to start a family. They’ve just had bad luck. They lost their first baby during the pregnancy. But they’ve always wanted a family.

Digest: Do you think the timing is right for baby to make three?

Boatman: It’s probably a little sudden and maybe a little impulsive, but at the end of the day, they both see each other as their respective partners for life. So I don’t think it’s too impulsive.

Digest: In an interesting twist, Johnny and Chanel have now offered to adopt Tate and Sophia’s baby.

Boatman: Well, Chanel is still worried about [being able to carry a baby to term]. I’m sure there’s PTSD going on from the last go-round. Then Johnny and Chanel [learn that Tate and Sophia] are looking for a family to adopt their baby. Johnny and Chanel kind of see it as serendipitous and a cool opportunity that just fell into their lap. I saw where Tate and Sophia’s storyline was going as we’ve been taping. As it started to unfold, I had a pretty good idea that that might be the route we’d be going down.

Digest: Of course, Mrs. Choi is adamant that her biological grandchild be raised in a good Christian home, but Johnny’s DiMera roots don’t exactly fit that bill. Does Johnny worry that his family ties could sabotage the whole thing and perhaps question if he should even bring a child into the fold?

Boatman: Mrs. Choi is not thrilled at the idea of her grandbaby becoming a DiMera, potentially… And that’s been Johnny’s whole thing and why he’s scared to be a father. I remember Chad and Johnny had a moment, it must have been when Johnny and Chanel were about to get married, [talking about how] being a part of the DiMera family is dangerous. That’s something that Johnny struggles with as far as bringing a child into that mix.