This is not a good time to be a soap star. The genre hasbeen on a slow march toward inevitable death for more than a decade, theratings blow, and the cost of mounting and producing a series that airs morethan 250 episodes per year is unreasonable in this lousy economy. And if youwant proof that nobody is safe, just look at Friday’s episode of Days of ourLives. Just two days after the series aired its 11,000th episode,stars Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn appeared for the last time.
John and Marlena’s saga spanned two decades and epitomizedthe supercouple phenomenon that helped soaps soar throughout the ‘80s. Aclassy, upstanding psychiatrist who had a knack for falling into the clutchesof madmen (hello, Stefano DiMera!), Marlena fell for the enigmatic John Blackwhen he first arrived in Salem wrapped in bandages, his memory all but erased.For the past 22 years, we’ve watched these two fight off every obstacleimaginable—hell, they even beat back the Devil himself: Days’ memorably campydemonic-possession storyline, which played out over the winter of 1995, remainsa watershed moment for soaps; it grabbed mainstream attention, and Hall’s steady,wink-wink performance—for which she memorably campaigned for a Daytime Emmy nod (she didn’t get it)—was a hitwith fans who’d never known her as anything but the mild-mannered, pragmatic “Doc.”(You can see a great clip of MarDevil in action right here.)
I could spend all day regaling you with my favorite John andMarlena moments, but if you were ever a Days fan, I’d rather hear about yours.Suffice it to say that the Days canvas—and daytime as a whole—will be a littleless dazzling when we tune in on Monday. Soaps aren’t likely to create genresuperstars like Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn anymore—for starters, I dare youto name one current soap actor whose life story would inspire a TV-movie! Days’sendoff for the pair was a rush job, a pathetic train wreck that all but wrappedup a year-long storyline in about 20 minutes, but I can’t say I was surprised.The series has always treated its departing cast members with astonishingflippancy, and we longtime fans have come to expect this sort of masochisticabuse each and every time. I’m especially peeved that the Days brass couldn’teven figure out a way to give Hall and costar Alison Sweeney—who has arguablybeen Hall’s strongest, most effective scene partner since her arrival in 1993—onefinal scene. What a disgrace.
If I sound resigned, well…soap fans will understand: Sayinggoodbye to characters who have been a part of your day-to-day life for morethan 20 years is, yeah, like saying goodbye to friends. The fact that thishappened to two of Days’ most pivotal, beloved characters and actors makes itfeel even worse—in essence, longtime fans like me are being robbed of a dynamiccoupling that’s a huge part of what has made Days endure for so long. I’veposted a shot of John and Marlena’s final scene below, but trust me—this is farfrom their best work. There are clips all over YouTube that give you a bettersense of their glory days. I encourage you to look them up.
In the meantime, do any of you Days fans have a favoriteJohn and Marlena memory? Will you still watch the show without them? And hey,what should Hall and Hogestyn do next?
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They definitely were the highlight of the show for me, and I’ll miss them. I guess it’s up to Alison Sweeney to carry the show, since she’s only reason I’ll continue watching.
They will be missed. I was obsessed with Days in the 90’s when I was in high school and they were a big part of it. I actually met Drake at a fan event when I was 13 and he was so nice and down to earth. I wish them luck in their next endeavors.
I had to tune in last night, even though I don’t watch anymore. Wow, what a gyp for these two actors. They could have filled a week with flashbacks and closure for these two, but instead, there was maybe 30 seconds of flashbacks and goodbye scenes plugged in between other ongoing stories? And the only people they could get to show up for their wedding were Kayla, Roman and some young guy I don’t know? It’s too bad Deirdre and Drake couldn’t have said to the producers “you know what? You don’t have time for us, we don’t want to take these crumbs from you.” It was criminal! One good thing – gotta love John doing his trademark eyebrow raise when Stefano waved goodbye. That made me smile.
I have been watching DOOL since I was 9 years old and remember John Black coming on the scene quite well~ As the post states, it is a shame that Allison Sweeney wasn’t able to tape with them in the last scene, it’s actually quite shocking. They were a classy on-screen couple and I will miss watching them on my t.v..
Hogestyn is the WORST actor ever. I laughed when I found out they were booting him. Hall isn’t as bad. Honestly, I don’t care for soaps, and what I have seen of DOOL has been awful. I hope he finds a career in anything but acting.
I can`t believe that they are doing this.I have watched for decades and decry the fact that the “soaps” are gearing themselves to a much younger audience.Did any one think that it is the older audience that actually has the opportunity to watch he soaps.The younger ones are in school or are working on their careers.It is also the older viewers who have the income to buy the stuff that the advertisers are hocking.Rethink your strategy,you are making a huge mistake.
Sincerely
Karen Ball ,Canada
Thank you, Shannon! I’ve watched Days my whole life (thanks, Mom), but Hogestyn is one of the worst actors I have ever seen. All he knows how to do is raise that eyebrow. He has no emotion, and every line reading is identical. Good riddance to him as an actor, but it was a shame the way the couple were sent off.
I’m disgusted by the lame send-off that Days gave John and Marlena. It was a cheap shot at their fans. I get the feeling that the brass at Days really doesn’t care about their audience at all. They feel they are on the Titanic and all they are doing is re-arranging chairs until the ship sinks. They aren’t even trying anymore. I watch this show, my mother watches it, my grandmother watches it. I’m sad that they aren’t even trying to keep it together for us.
I have been watching Days for over 40 years. I think Drake played some of his best stuff in the past year. The “other” John was hilarious and offered so much more than just the raised eyebrow. I agree that it was a travesty that Sami and other family members weren’t present to help see these two off. They couldn’t even scare up Maggie to rush to the hospital? I’ll miss them but I’m also enjoying the younger characters on the show. Just wish they’d get rid of Daniel….there are few females left that he hasn’t been in “love” with! But whatever happens, I’ll keep watching until they take it off the air. I’ve watched every NBC soap that has been on in the past 40+ except for Dark Shadows and I intend to see the genre out!
Godspeed John & Marlena! BTW, my favorite stories of Marlena were with the original Roman and her twin sister.
While I would say that John and Marlena have ever been my favorite couple on Days, it is a travesty that they are leaving the soap opera. If this is truly their last episode, they deserved a stand alone episode (anyone remember the Bo and Hope only episode a few Christmas’s back?) I LOVE Days of Our Lives, through good times and bad– I’ve been faithful since I was in elementary school! For at least fifteen years it’s been a staple in conversations with friends and family. I hope that the genre can be saved– I know many think it’s cheesy, but to me, there is nothing like the familiarity, warmth, and fun of it.
It just WON’T BE THE SAME…..eapecially without Deidre Hall…….she is a timeless beauty….as for Drake…..that “weird voice” they made him use for the last year of so…was ANNOYING…..but all in all, I will miss him too. Change is hard for all of the die hard fans of SOAPS……GOD BLESS them both and hope to see them down the road.
I’ve watched Marlena and Days since I was a young girl and have loved “Doc” every since. I thought the ending story was a travesty, however Deidre & Drake did their best to give the fans as much as they could. I won’t be watching anymore. And what should they do? Never go back to Days as they (& their fans) were treated like yesterdays news (btw, did you see the full-page ad the fans bought for them in Soap Opera Digest?). I hope they go somewhere much better, and the more I see of Deidre on screen the better! She will be missed!
I thought the way Days sent off John and Marlena was a shame. Wrapping their story in one day…in between the disgusting Chloe and Daniel stuff or more of the whole Sami and Nicole baby saga? On their final day, they got maybe a little over 14 minutes of airtime. Why didn’t J/M merit more after 20 and 30 years respectively?
I’ll keep watching for sure. There’s no way I’ll stop watching when Bo and Hope and Steve and Kayla are still around. At least I know and love those four…They’re what’ll keep Days alive for me.
I know there will come a time when Days is canceled. It’s inevitable that all the soaps will be unless they can find another way to thrive. But I’ll always be grateful to the show that gave me Steve and Kayla, Bo and Hope, Jack and Jennifer, and John and Marlena. I have my favorite couple amongst these pairs and there’s no question that each of them gave Days something special over the years.
John & Marlena have been my favourite TV or movie couple since the day I first laid eyes on them. I’m a devoted fan of Deidre Hall too. She’s just the epitome of classy – and she’s got more talent in her pinkie than any other daytime actress (excluding 1 other) or so called “starlet” of today has. I hope she goes to primetime and does a show or something there, at least a guest appearance or arc.
DAYS just insulted it’s main fanbase, then again, we’ve been steadily disappearing for the last 5-10 years, so I don’t know if there are truly any left.
Deidre and Drake have unmatched chemistry, and there will never be a soap or TV couple that’ll affect me the way they did. I grew up watching them, didn’t care about the teens my own age. They were it, they are magical.
DAYS should be ashamed of itself.
Favorite moment: the plane (1993). Totally hot. I won’t watch Days anymore. They actually fired Deidre Hall! How stupid are they?
For many years now, John and Marlena were the only reason I watched Days so now that they are gone, I have no need to tune in. I am very appreciative to Drake and Deidre for all the years they gave to the show and for bringing to life the characters I love so dearly. John and Marlena’s love story was the most beautiful love story ever told in daytime. Their send off was a joke. They should have been the only ones featured on their last episode and great effort should have gone into writing them the farewell they deserved. Ken Corday and Dena Higley should be ashamed of themselves for allowing these amazingly dedicated actors to be treated in such a way. Good bye Days, I’ll not have to waste an hour of my day on you anymore!
No Drake Hogestyn on DAYS anymore means that my days watching this soap opera have come to an end. My wish for Drake is that he’ll be picked up by a network that appreciates acting talent…he is about the only male actor on DAYS who shows REAL emotion that never fails to make me cry, he is AMAZING!
He deserves so much better than this show.
I’m upset that Drake is going (he is a great actor) but I don’t care about Deidre and don’t like her Marlena. DAYS is now off my DVR, I won’t be watching it now that Drake is gone.
Your kidding right? Dude can’t act to save his life. All eye-squints and whispery voice-readings. I was forced to sit through Days because my mother became obsessed during the whole Devil-possession thing, so this news makes me very, very HAPPY.
Favorite Days memory: the whole possession storyline. I remember programming the VCR every morning before school (this was long before SoapNet). Close second: their wedding after the whole Kristen/Susan/et al storyline was resolved. For years I wanted a wedding gown exactly like Marlena’s. I haven’t watched Days in several years, but I can’t believe they’re getting rid of John and Marlena. I think this is the beginning of the end for the show.
I’m not sure why this has been such a big deal… both actors have left the show before – sometimes because they wanted to… sometimes because the show wated them to – and they always end up back on the show.
Even if they don’t come back this time, I’m good with that. Realistically, their story ended ages ago and it’s time to move on. The handling of John’s character and story when Drake Hogestyn returned this last time was AWFUL so I’m glad it’s done and over with.
You have lost the best two actors on the show. Why not release the “can’t stand to see much more of” young actors you’ve recently acquired. If you have any “smarts”, you will try to get them back like you did Joseph Mascalo. I for one will no longer be watching.
First thank you so much for your article! It was very well written and said many of the things I have been thinking and feeling since yesterday. As for my favorite J&M memory, well it was actually RoJohn and Marlena. It is when she came back and they found each other on the Pier. Drake and Dee have such amazing chemistry that when they looked at each other on that Pier you could feel the electricity coming through the TV right to you at home. They are simply amazing and they are the only reason their final scene worked yesterday. D&D gave us their all and I for one will be forever grateful to them for playing my favorite couple of all time, John and Marlena!
The writing on Days has been really bad for some time now. This is how it SHOULD have been. Marlena things John was killed – then one day she sees him, or rather someone who looks just like him. Yes, John in fact was killed. But this other man who looks so much like him, is happily married. This storyline would have been so great. A couple like John and Marlena is not the type to cheat on each other and divorce. But something like this, they get to fall in love all over again and yet they do not want to hurt look-alive John’s wife. This would have been so great.
And you know – it still can happen. I will still watch the show, but I am going to boycott every sponsor that runs ads on Days. I will buy the products of their competitors and send the store receipt plus the label of the product to both the sponsors of Days and also the PTB at the show. And I will do this until John and Marlena come back.
I’m so disgusted with Corday, Higley and Tomlin’s mistreatment of Drake,Dee and J/M fans I can spit. The exit was the worse I’ve ever seen on a soap for a major couple. And some of the worse writing I’be ever watched on Days, which says a lot considering the show’s writing has stunk since Higley took over.
Some of my favorite J/M stories were the Possession, I loved the friendship and love interwoven in their scenes. I hated the Brady hating Marlena story and John defending Brady, but Drake and Dee played their scenes to perfection. I loved how you could see their love during the worst of time. Their love scene and friendship were their brand and that is what I’ll miss the most.
I have deprogrammed my dvr and will never tune in again to Days. I watched because of J/M, no J/M no me.
I’ve watched Days of Our Lives ever
since I was a little girl. I remember
when Deidre Hall first appeared as
Dr. Marlena Evans, she will be greatly missed. I think that it is
rediculous to let her instead of
some of the other characters go!
I’m not sure whether or not I will
continue to watch, without Marlena
(who was always one of my favorite
characters)gone, the show will never be the same.
What a ripoff to take John and Marlena off without us seeing him really back to his old self. Why not get rid of Daniel and Clhoe instead? He is NOT an asset to the show. Maybe if he cleaned himself up a little, he would be more believable.
i know its sad that my fave couple is gone they look so beautful getting married again but i will keep watching days of our lives i
like tony,ej,daniel
i watch it for them.
my fave memory is when john and marlena were on the jet with anna then with tony and anna.
This is why Days ratings will continually slip – they give the audience the exact OPPOSITE of what they want to see. Instead of giving characters like John and Marlena with tremendous fan bases the respect they deserve they relegate them to the back corner and flippantly send them off into the ether. Meanwhile, this show keeps adding 16 year old girl characters no one cares about. Its counterintuitive! Want a REAL cost-cutting and successful strategy, Days? Get rid of 80% of your cast and have front-burner storylines for Bo and Hope, Patch and Kayla, and John and Marlena! A toddler could have figured that one out!