So growing up I was an avid ABC soap opera fan. All My Children, One Life to Live and General Hospital. Not by choice necessarily but because my mom watched them. She taped them every day. On a VHS tape. Watched them either during days she didnt work, or after work when I was home. It was a nice escape, but I always felt like I was into them because I had to be.
Then I start Freshman year of college, and all my dorm associates are watching Days of Our Lives in the common room. A show I had never watched, but I remember the first plot line when I started being around the time that Marlena was possessed my the devil. Then came lady in a cage. Then so much more genius. Kyle from the Real World started acting as Phillip. Bella changed. Shawn changed. Patch came back. Vivian left. None of this happened in this order, but I used to keep up for sure. Even after I moved to SF, I would TIVO it and watch it somewhat regularily. The great thing with soap operas is that they basically re-play the entire episode from the day before that day…nothing really ever happens.
Anyway long story short…Days of Our Lives for a brief 10 some-odd years was actually pretty important to me. I even read the updates daily if I missed the episode.
This blog is written with great sadness in news I just found out. On Wednesday, “Days of Our Lives” announced that it was firing two of the soap’s biggest stars: Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn. What the eff is Days of Our Lives without John and Marlena? I guess because of who they are, they require more money…so they got rid of them before they had to get rid of more newbies. But check out these stats according to imdb.com They are on the first page of credits, and have both played multiple roles. (ususally different versions of themselves.)
Deidre Hall- Dr. Marlena Evans. (581 episodes, 1976-2008)
Drake Hogestyn- John Black (466 episodes, 1986-2008)
For shame. Good thing I dont “really” care anymore anyway. I stopped watching years ago.
Im sure someone will miss you…i mean..they have their own wiki. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Black_and_Marlena_Evans
Too salty for my taste 