Sad Days, Indeed: A Fond Farewell to John and Marlena
Days of Our Lives' Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn
It's the end of an era, as daytime television says goodbye to Days of Our Lives' John Black and Dr. Marlena Evans on Friday, Jan. 23.
Drake Hogestyn and Deidre Hall, aka John and "Doc," have nearly 12,000 Days appearances between them over the past 32 years. As such, they will leave behind many memories for fans of NBC's long-running (and now only) sudser. The iconic couple will create another magical moment when they say goodbye to Salem and loved ones following this week's hospital bedside wedding ceremony.
John, having just recovered from amnesia, is heading to Europe with his lady love to receive medical treatment for his below-the-neck paralysis. In reality, Hogestyn and Hall were the first major casualties of the drastic budgets cuts which have been taking place across the entire daytime arena.
But pushing all that harsh reality aside.... What have been your favorite storylines for John (fka the Pawn, Roman Brady and even a priest) and/or Marlena? These two have been through a lot, having dealt with the, um, eyebrow-raising likes of demonic possession, the resilient Stefano (countless times) and the return of the real Roman (a twist I needed many Advil to process). But they have also occasionally enjoyed quieter lovey-dovey moments, including the occasional marriage (even sometimes to each other!).
I will always recall, with a smile, how John was able to pass himself off as a plastic-surgified Roman when he first hit Salem, even though Roman's original portrayer (Wayne Northrop) was markedly shorter. Soaps!
As Days and daytime send these two characters off into the sunset, we invite you to share with us, in the Comments section, the John-Marlena moments you will forever remember.
