Just a couple of weeks ago, all was fine and dandy in Days of Our Lives-world. Or so it seemed. The big fan shindig at Universal in Hollywood seemed to signal that the status quo was holding that the lone NBC soap still in production would be able to use the 18-month renewal granted by NBC to climb in the ratings and return to past glory. Now comes the shocking news that NBC has fired Days of Our Lives' two biggest stars, Deidre Hall (Marlena) and Drake Hogestyn (John). By the way, Deidre and Drake were at the fanfest. You think they knew the pink slips were on the way? Um, no.This is all about money, folks, and instead of seeking other ways to trim costs, Executive Producer Ken Corday and company have used a hatchet and chopped off the top salaries. Don't be shocked to hear that more is coming. That could be Peter Reckell and Kristian Alfonso -- Bo and Hope -- the other iconic romantic couple on the show, right after Marlena and John.
In a statement, NBC said, "Days of Our Lives' has decided to rest the characters of John Black and Dr. Marlena Evans. After a year of separation, John and Marlena will finally reunite before exiting the canvas in early 2009." Well, isn't that nice. They're going to get a happy ending. There has even been talk of them returning some time in the future.
That, I'm sure, will probably not happen. I'm sorry to say this because I love the soaps, but Days of Our Lives is on shaky ground and it's getting shakier. NBC pretends to support daytime drama, but it's a facade. They canceled Passions last year and Days of Our Lives, despite being on the air since 1965, is the next to go. The only hope for Days is finding a new home, perhaps if SoapNet were to expand into production. NBC would rather expand another hour of Today than continue to support Days. This 18-month reprieve will be like a death march.
Back to Deidre and Drake. I'm really ticked about this for a number of reasons. Deidre Hall is the face of Days of Our Lives. She earned the right to leave on her own terms. Firing her is a colossal smack in the face, and considering her loyalty to the show, completely uncalled for. As for Drake, this is the second time Days has fired him. They did it in 2007 and then had to bring him back when the fans revolted. He deserved a better fate. He's a great ambassador for the show and always has been. This is indicative of how cold show business can be. NBC has shown no respect to these stars. There were other ways to save money; for starters, the cast could be cut from the bottom up. Dropping the big stars is a mistake.
The fans will revolt again, you wait and see. Days fans are among the most passionate in daytime and they will be heard. As for Deidre and Drake, I predict they both will be employed again very soon. They're too popular for another soap not to snatch them up. Drake could fit in nicely with the testosterone-driven storytelling at General Hospital and Deidre could find a happy home at The Bold and the Beautiful or The Young and the Restless.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-21-2008 @ 3:33PM
Anita said...
I agree that this is stupid. The best thing about TV is that there's supposed to be a show for everyone. Soaps have had their niche for awhile. I don't blame them 4 canceling Passions, but Days is something else. What I liked about Days was their attention to history. Having Alice Horton around helped ground the show. I thought Hope & John would serve as the anchor for the future, which firing cuts off. Fans probably won't revolt too much, but this is a stupid move for NBC -
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11-21-2008 @ 4:35PM
Pinwiz said...
Oh, I blame them for canceling Passions.
This is just plain shocking. My jaw's on the floor.
11-21-2008 @ 3:39PM
Mike K. said...
"Bo and Hope -- the other iconic romantic couple on the show, right after Marlena and John"
For all the history and the fan support, Bo and Hope will always be THE classic couple on Days.
For soaps, the more things change, the more they NEED to stay the same.
Days Christmas tree-trimming will be coming soon. With all on the frontier, it should be cause to look on, maybe for the last time...
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11-21-2008 @ 3:48PM
Leslye said...
Stupid, stupid, stupid. It's bad enough Deidre and Drake have been let go, but if he fires Peter and Kristian, Corday won't have a show. The ratings are horrible now with the *Sami show* and the idiot teens, the vets are the only ones keeping most of us around. Without them, we're gone.
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11-21-2008 @ 3:50PM
mel said...
DOOL's loss SHOULD be GH's gain... I would LOVE to see that!!! Maybe a new MOB connection, or dare say, love interest for LAURA... from that Clinic in Paris!
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11-21-2008 @ 10:19PM
Carly said...
STEVE AND KAYLA left DOOL and the actors went on to play opposite each other on GH (CATHERINE BELL & STEPHEN CASSIDINE!) and it was a successful move and shifted a fan base!
Deidre & Jake would be great on GH!
11-21-2008 @ 4:04PM
Gena said...
This totally sucks. I have watched Days since the beginning and letting the long time super couples go to keep the kids that aren't very interesting is really wrong. Don't know if I will keep watching.
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11-21-2008 @ 4:21PM
Blair Mitchelmore said...
I haven't watched days of our lives in years, but I remember hating marlena and finding john black hilariously bad. If I were still watching it, I'd take their departure as a blessing.
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11-21-2008 @ 4:41PM
Jennifer said...
I'm sorry, but maybe I'm in the minority here, but I absolutely hate John and Marlena. Actually pretty much everyone I know who watches/has watched Days hates those characters. Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn cannot act. It's like they've stopped even trying. Watching them is worse than watching a 3rd grade play when the teachers are more concerned that everyone has a line.
Bo and Hope are just annoying. Dealable- but annoying nonetheless.
Please let Hall and Hogestyn stay away from the CBS soaps where the acting is much better- please?!?!
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11-21-2008 @ 4:51PM
Jimmy said...
I haven't watched Days since college (almost 20 years ago!), but I can't help but think this will spell the end of the show. Why would they keep producing soaps if they can throw up a game show or syndicated sitcom?
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11-21-2008 @ 4:56PM
Jason said...
Ah Marlena, my Queen of the Night...
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11-21-2008 @ 5:24PM
Melissa said...
Marlena and John? Good grief. I can't imagine Days without them. And I don't even watch it!
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11-21-2008 @ 5:27PM
Cyantre said...
Soaps are always a revolving door. Sure they might leave for a while, but they'll come back. Honestly their storyline has been kind of dry, so taking them off for a while could be a good thing. I highly doubt they will be off permanently, because that rarely happens in daytime, especially with staple characters.
As for Bo and Hope, now that Bo is the new commissioner of police, I think they're going to be around for quite a while.
However I do agree if both power couples were axed the show would fall into a downward spiral.
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11-21-2008 @ 5:51PM
denise said...
this has to be the worst thing on soaps today we are all haveing bad times and now your takeing our only sane thing in this world right now come on people if ford can afford 5 jets then you can afford John amd Marlana. give me a brake
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11-21-2008 @ 7:29PM
Jennifer said...
I've watched Days for a long time. It hasn't been written well at all in past years, and they show keeps reducing screen time for the characters I enjoy, but I've kept watching for John and Marlena. They are Days to me, or were.
I was always hoping tptb would realize how wonderful these veteran characters are and get back to good storytelling, but it seems they only want young people on the show, and they don't write good stories for anyone, young or old. I'm still sad to see something special end.
John and Marlena were a perfect example of love and friendship at it's finest. I'll miss them.
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11-21-2008 @ 9:17PM
Jennie said...
Everything today is geared to the young. However it is us older folks who are the loyal fans. There are so many other actors on Days of Our Lives that are expendable; like Chloe, Brady, Sami's bodyguard, Caroline, Melanie, Nick, just to name a few. Get back to the days of before and stop making us watch stories that are realistically stupid. While it may be true that "Life Goes On," it's the long time tried and true couples like John and Marlena, Bo and Hope, and Steve and Kayla that keep the show going. I think the folks in charge of running things should take a long, hard look at what they are doing and reconsider their choices.
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11-21-2008 @ 10:24PM
Pam Germeroth said...
WOW! I just wanted to check my emails. I didn't realize this had happened. I've been watching Days since I was 12 years old. I won't tell you how old that makes me, but I was "12" when Days started. I watched it with my mom, and my daughters watched it with me. Even with his over-acting, Drake is one of my favorites, and the most entertaining character on the soap. Either you hate or love John and Marlena, but either way, "Days of Our Lives" will not be the same.
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11-21-2008 @ 10:55PM
Marcia said...
I can't believe what I just read that NBC has fired Marlena and John, are they crazy? Most of the main story line revolves around them and always has. I have been watching Days since it first came on and this is just plain stupid.
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11-22-2008 @ 1:50PM
willy the impeached said...
They're old. They were old 10 years ago. Its time to move on.
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11-22-2008 @ 10:14PM
John said...
John and Marlena are just as iconic as Bo and Hope. One only has to look at the reaction this story has gotten.
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