NBC seems determined to destroy Days of Our Lives, the last soap left on the network. After receiving a truck load of negative press for firing/letting go/dumping Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn, the producers are now dropping the axe on perhaps the most popular romantic couple ever on the show, Patch and Kayla. According to Soap Opera Digest, Mary Beth Evans and Stephen Nichols have been let go. This may seem like an economic necessity for Days of Our Lives, especially since the soap only has a year-and-a-half to prove to NBC that it's still viable -- that was the length of the pick up it received when it was renewed in 2008 -- but to fans this is just another slap in the face.
Patch and Kayla are seminal to Days, and getting Stephen back in 2006 was a big deal. Sadly, his return and reteaming with Evans didn't pump up the ratings. Good storytelling might have helped, because both actors are still excellent in their roles.
Patch and Kayla are second only to Bo and Hope in love story longevity on Days of Our Lives. They would have been third if John and Marlena hadn't been shipped out of Salem on a permanent sabbatical last month, and with that storyline, the employment for Hogestyn and Hall.
At that time, there was speculation that other actors would be dropped as well, but it is surprising that Nichols and Evans are the two that were chosen. In the most recently popularity polls, they were the favorite actor, actress and couple on Days. The only logical reason to let them go is money; they were making a lot more than the unknown newbies who have been getting more and more airtime.
What this really means for soap devotees like me is that the prospects of Days of Our Lives lasting past 2010 is growing dim. John and Marlena, Patch and Kayla ... these are the romantic supercouples that have kept Days interesting. If the next couple to go is Bo and Hope, as rumors suggest, then Days will really be calling it a day.
As for Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans, I fully expect them to pop up on other soaps. Mary Beth could return to As the World Turns where she was terrific as Sierra, and since General Hospital found a way to bring Laura back to life, maybe Nichol's Stefan Cassadine can be resurrected. In fact, how about this: Laura comes back from Paris and brings the recently discovered, not-really-dead Stefan with her! Explanations can be filled in later.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-04-2009 @ 6:05PM
Galley said...
I watched Days religiously from '83 to '90, and I was the guy who swore he would never watch a soap opera. Patch and Kayla were THE couple.
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2-04-2009 @ 6:23PM
Jennifer said...
This news just CRUSHED ME yesterday when it came out, I am still upset about it. I hold on to this show JUST for Stephen/Mary Beth and Peter/Krisitan (Bo& Hope), but this is IT for me. After 25 years of watching I just can not take it anymore. Goodbye Days AND NBC! Even IF I did hang on just for Bo and Hope, who are they going to interact with? Corday and TPTB there WANT this show to fail, there is NO other explanation. I don't care how Corday wants to spin this decision like he did when Drake and Deidre were fired, he lies to everyones faces. We have even heard they will not even be getting an exit story at all, they just won't be seen anymore. WTH is that about? But, I want to urge the readers here that have any love or care for this Supercouple, PLEASE call the studios and let them know how disappointed you are. We are trying to get them there at Days to realize what a HUGE mistake this is. Thanks!
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2-04-2009 @ 7:42PM
Anita said...
Seriously, half of the point of soaps is their generational history. Why can't they just lower the salaries of stars/producers, lower overhead production costs/costumes, or limit the amount of soaps to 4x/wk or something? On the other hand, Patch is looking kind of rough. If they shaved his man-fuzz and touched up his hair, I would probably be angrier. Anyways, cutting stars is a short-term solution for dealing with the budget -
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2-04-2009 @ 7:53PM
Pinwiz said...
WHAT?
I'm not even a big Days fan but this is just shocking. Stories like this make me happy that I've switched my Soaps allegiance to EastEnders. AFAIK there's no major budget problems there.
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2-04-2009 @ 7:57PM
Cyantre said...
I really hope the show last past 2010, but they need to keep these super-couples on board. With the storyline for Steve and Kayla picking-up, I thought it was because they (along with Bo & Hope) were going to pick-up the slack left by John & Marlena.
*sigh* There are people at NBC that need to be let go, and it's not the actors.
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2-04-2009 @ 8:23PM
mel said...
GH needs to capitalize on this and bring Mary Beth and Stephen to Port Charles like they did in the 90s!!!!!
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2-04-2009 @ 11:42PM
yourstarla said...
I don't watch Days, just GH, but I'm appalled anyway. I've been a soap watcher since I was born and what makes me tune in every day is knowing that there will be faces I've seen almost every day of my life - the familiarity, the knowing those people will always be there.
This is the kind of stuff that is killing soaps. Keep the new "hot" people and ditch the veterans that we adore - what a waste.
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2-04-2009 @ 11:57PM
Mike said...
I haven't watched Days in a long time... Is Sammy still there and Austin? Who was the woman that was with Bo awhile...then she was in a movie... is she back... she was WAY more attractive then hope.
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2-05-2009 @ 1:58AM
Cyantre said...
Sami is still there. Austin is on another soap last I checked. The woman you are referring to may have been the actress cast as Billie.
2-05-2009 @ 9:59AM
Kimber said...
I have been a faithful viewer of the daytime drama "Days of our Lives" for over 30 years. I'm disgusted and outraged by the treatment of the shows veterans by Ken Corday, Dena Higley, Gary Tomlin and Bruce Evans. The firings of Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans have me more then just hurt, I’m mad!
They join the other vets, Drake Hogestyn, Deidra Hall and Thaao Penghlis that have been fired all within the span of less then 3 months from each other.
Why is he (Corday) removing the older demographic age groups from the show? Does he not realize that it is us that hang in there to watch our soap day after day to see our favorite couple(s) go thought the good the bad and the ugly, and NOT the near porn we have to fast forward through time and time again!
At the rate he is going there will be nothing left of this show.
There is no reasoning in his actions!
I'll no longer be a viewer of this show or any NBC program.
I am not alone in my feelings or the actions I am taking……we are a huge fan base and he has pissed off the wrong people!
Thank you,
K. Malone
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2-05-2009 @ 12:29PM
Susan said...
I just wish they would end the show now rather than kill it off in bits and pieces. Awful.
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2-05-2009 @ 3:51PM
Leslye said...
Sadly, I'm not surprised. It's clear that Corday has absolutely no idea of how to run the show. It's so sad that he has virtually ruined the show that his parents entrusted him with. I only watch for Bo and Hope and if Peter and Kristian go, I go. I could care less about the younger set and Sami is WAY over used. I love Alison, but we need a break from the *Days of Sami's life*.
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2-06-2009 @ 3:29PM
P.w. said...
I have watched Days since it's inception......I just wish they would cancel it rather than cut it to pieces. With the cuts they are now making, it's just not the same......and no longer worth watching. Nice job NBC!!!
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2-08-2009 @ 4:09PM
AM said...
This sucks. Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans were the only reasons I started watching Days again. If they're gone, I'm done.
I hope these writers realize they aren't saving Days this way, they're ensuring its demise, because the people who have been watching for years aren't going to hang around for the group of actors in Salem right now...
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2-16-2009 @ 1:06PM
Norma said...
I've watch days from the beginning some come some go this time I must go the good part is I can take this time for me to read .
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2-19-2009 @ 1:57PM
kathy said...
This sucks big time, I have been watching days of our lives for years, patch and kayla still have alot of storyline left, if the producers would just use their heads!!! They just had a baby together for god sake!!! Before you just handed steve,kayla,john,marlena, and tony their walking papers, did they even get asked if they were willing to take less money??? How would the producers like it if someone did that to them? guess its different when your the one on the throne calling all the shots!!!!
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2-20-2009 @ 12:28PM
kathy said...
I LOVE DAYS, PLEASE TELL ME YOUR NOT GOING TO TAKE IT OFF. SOMEONE PLEASE REPLY AND EXPLAIN TO ME, WHY THIS HAS TO BE DONE?
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3-15-2009 @ 6:30PM
patricia said...
Im36 and ive watched "DAYS OF OUR LIVES" as long as i can remember. All ive got to say is.......if they keep letting our favorite couples leave the show.....their wont be a show anymore. Or maybe they dont care what us "LONG TIME WATCHERS" think,they know that theirs a younger generation of fans out their to keep interrested. So much for loyalty!
If ABC and CBS can keep their soap stories interresting and not fire/let go their key actors,why cant NBC??
Maybe its the writters for "DAYS" that need to be let go,not our favorite actors.In the end......isnt all about a good story line anyways???
patricia out of SPRINGFIELD,MO
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4-17-2009 @ 2:15PM
Bab940 said...
I have been a Days Fan since time and I tape the show now so I don't miss it. Also so I can fast forward through the comercials and the porn scenes. The writers need to get their brains out of their pants and write better story lines with out all the sex. Their is more to life than bed hopping and the emagination is a good tool. I have always been impressed by the way Alice was worked in the show. I will stop watching once Kayla and Steve and/or Bo and Hope are gone. I like Sami and her story line but how long can that go on? Get some good writers......
4-01-2009 @ 10:29AM
ADickkey said...
I have watched DAYS since it first started. I even Tape the shows every day so I wont miss a single episode.
I am very dissapointed with it lately. I don't like the story line of today. Now that my favorite acters are leaving 2x2 I doubt if I will be watching as faithfully as before. I am very disapointed. The people who make this program at its BEST are gone or going. I hate that!!!
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