♥ Home Run 2000 ♥ Note on soap magazine publication dates and content of articles/interviews regarding multiple soap stars: Many of the monthly or every other month (and sometimes quarterly) magazines back in the 1980's would be on the newsstands a long time before the date on the actual magazine. We've noticed, for instance, that DAYTIME TV magazine did an interview with Drake in late 1986 about his upcoming wedding, which was scheduled for December 1986, yet the interview didn't appear until the July 1987 issue several months later. Therefore, it might be a bit confusing to read about his "upcoming" wedding in an interview dated July 1987 when you happen to know he was married in December 1986. We've tried to date the articles to match the date on the magazine, regardless of when the events talked about took place. Hopefully it will make sense as you go along! We've also edited some of the articles/interviews to just include John's storyline, since this is a Drake/John website. We've left out comments and sections about other actors or storylines unless they're involved with John's storyline. This too should be very apparent and clear when we've done that so it makes sense and you don't have to skim through a long article to find the "John parts." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Can't-Miss Chemistry: Who's Got It, Who Doesn't... Special Section - Chemical Reactions: Soap Actors Who Fuse With Everyone: Welcome to Soap Chemistry 101. Today, we will be examining the science of soaps and how certain actors have the right "elements" to set off a chain reaction in every scene. Talent is part of it, good looks help, but there's a mystery substance certain actors have that enables them to meld on a molecular level with their fellow performers, turning a hot scene up to the boiling point in no time. Pay attention, take notes, and remember: After you read the next several pages, there might just be a quiz... DAYS OF OUR LIVES - Reactive Agent: Drake Hogestyn (John) Sparks Fly! As Salem's emerging patriarch, two-time SOAP OPERA DIGEST award-winner Hogestyn's John Black interacts with just about everyone. He's as comfortable playing the romantic hero as he is doling out advice with a knowing grin to the lovelorn. Hogestyn's scenes with Deidre Hall (Marlena) sparkle so much that DAYS risked a fan uprising when they kept John and Marlena apart for six years. Nevertheless, just hours after pledging his troth to his doc, John hooked up with Gina and Hogestyn proved that he could crackle with Kristian Alfonso (Gina/Hope), an actress he'd only shared buddy scenes with before. PH Factor: Kristian Alfonso (Hope/Gina): "Drake is one of the kindest actors I've ever worked with, and that really comes across on-screen. I've enjoyed working closely with him over this last year. He is such an incredible family man and men like that are hard to find. When we did the love scene (on the submarine), it was so awkward, but Drake was such a gentleman about it that it made it better." Deidre Hall (Marlena): "I love and respect him personally and professionally. He makes my job easier than it has any right to be. His choices and values are exquisite. Both John and Drake are my heroes." Executive Producer Ken Corday: "He's magical. He gets to work with some pretty amazing people (like) Deidre, Kristian and Kirsten (Storms, Belle) and he does great things with them. Drake is a very easy person to be around and be with, so I think that kind of lends itself to his work." SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 2/1/00 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Thumbs Up! And Down! Best Of Show Or Worse For Wear? SOAP OPERA DIGEST Hands Out Blue Ribbons And Booby Prizes Thumbs Up! DAYS OF OUR LIVES - Father's Day: So John is the father of Hope's baby on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, as voted by the viewers. This is a good thing. Now, before Bo and Hope's fans start screaming, let's get something straight. In a perfect world, Bo would've been on the ballot and pronounced the proud papa so that the persecuted couple could've enjoyed five minutes of bliss before the babies were switched. But there were only two choices - John and Stefano. DAYS has done enough stories about Stefano's surprise offspring, who've crept out of the woodwork with alarming regularity. Having John be the dad sets in motion a heart-tugging plot in the best tradition of soap storytelling (even if its genesis is a fling between a brainwashed guy and a chick with a computer chip controlling her mind). In one corner, you have the oh-so-in-love John and Marlena, and in the other, the equally devoted Bo and Hope. When all four parties are finally clued in, there will be a lot to deal with. (Let's face it. John had many opportunities to tell Bo and Marlena that there was a chance he was the dad, but chose to keep mum.) And there are also delicate parenting issues to consider. (See cover story, page twenty six.) It's our hunch that this is the tale DAYS hoped to tell, trusting that there was no way viewers would let the devil incarnate triumph over a favorite hero. This may not be exactly what Bo and Hope fans wanted, but the situation is bound to lead to the kind of front-burner, character-driven story viewers adore. So bring on the fireworks! SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 9/26/00 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Memorable Moments - We Rate The Noteworthy Episodes In Soap Viewing... Star Shine - Drake Hogestyn (John, DAYS) - The Actor Takes On The Challenge Of His Career: Through the shocking jolts of his character, Drake Hogestyn shows there's still a loving and living soul in John! Actor Drake Hogestyn rises to the needs of the occasion as his character hits the depths of nastiness and rude behavior. Never before has hero John Black been so ruled by his human flaws as he is now. Sure, Stefano meddled with his mind, but it's not a brain chip making him behave so badly - just human nature. Like Marlena jostled from her pedestal, he's lost his balance and fallen from his high horse. His son Brady is a troubled and menacing teen. He fathered a child by a family friend Hope and his marriage to Marlena is in danger. He's a mercenary one day, and a priest or doctor or pilot the next. John doesn't know who he really is, but like the rest of us, he suffers the consequences of his actions - even those that he had been programmed to perform. This DAYS OF OUR LIVES super-hero is on overload, feeling frustrated and impotent. In other words, he's mad as hell and he's not going to take it anymore! This new John is an amazing character to play. It's a sheer acting challenge at every turn! And luckily, Hogestyn is well up to the challenge. John's lashing out at everyone. When he stops by Tuscany to have several drinks at the bar, the owner, his friend Maggie, cordially tries to make conversation with him. It's clear that he's had quite a few drinks and is uncharacteristically rude until she finally moves away. Then, he waves her back, and always kind-hearted Maggie thinks that John, as he normally would have, is going to apologize. Wrong! That's not the case at all. John wants to know why Maggie had been so upset with under-legal-drinking-age Brady when he was boozing at the bar several weeks back. Again, John is rude to Maggie when she gives him a run-down of Brady's behavior. He proceeds to drink and become more surly as Maggie voices her concern for her customer and friend. Even she finally gives up and walks away, stunned and disappointed. A powerful scene that shows John's lessening ability to cope, even the actor gave out a "WOW! That was something!" at the end of his scene. He was amazed as the audience was at home, watching this incredible transformation. John's actions and reactions even surprise Hogestyn these days. But through the jolts and nasty places, there's still a loving soul and a heart that Stefano could not alter. Those human parts of John, nurtured and expressed by Hogestyn through the worst times for John, make him shine. Bravo, Mr. Hogestyn! Update Exclusive - A Rave From A Co-Star... Castmate Suzanne Rogers (Maggie) was stunned to see Drake Hogestyn express John's darker side to her mild-mannered Maggie in a scene that showed not only her compassion, but her strength, business sense and responsibility. "Drake is having fun doing confrontational scenes. He's always great to work with, and watching him explore different, wild emotions is exciting. He really gets into it." SOAP OPERA UPDATE, 11/21/00