♥ Home Run 1996 ♥ 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." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Special Report Ten Daytime Stars Who Could Make It Big In Films Move over, Streep and Cruise...these performers could take Hollywood by storm! Lindsay Price (Michael, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) Joseph Barbara (Joe, ANOTHER WORLD) T. W. King (Danny, THE CITY) Vanessa Marcil (Brenda, GENERAL HOSPITAL) Maura West (Carly, AS THE WORLD TURNS) Kamar De Los Reyes (Antonio, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) Heather Tom (Victoria, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) Sydney Penny (Julia, ALL MY CHILDREN) Kurt McKinney (Matt, GUIDING LIGHT) Drake Hogestyn (John, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) Though Drake has found a home on daytime, it's easy to see him starring in action-adventure films or as a romantic lead on the big screen. With those intense, hypnotic eyes of his, he'd make the perfect Bond...James Bond! Pierce Brosnan, look out! SOAP OPERA UPDATE, 1/9/96 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Forty-Page Souvenir Golden DAYS... Best And Worst Couples Best And Worst Of DAYS: DAYS has had more shining moments than we have room to mention - and a few that have left the show's devoted fans crying "Foul!" See if you agree with our picks for what and who's made Salem sizzle - and fizzle! If you disagree, write and tell us, and we'll print the best (and maybe even some of the worst!) letters. Best Supercouples: John And Marlena Come hell (and it did, with Satan in Salem) or high water (several times), and everything in between, this couple has a love that just keeps going and going and going! Best Love Stories: John And Isabella Another love story that ended tragically with Isabella's untimely death. It later offered the hope of love eternal when Isabella returned, in angelic form, to John when he needed a soul mate most. Best Heroes: John Black John has rescued more damsels in distress than Superman. Best Weddings: John And Isabella (1992) After all they went through to get to the altar, who could blame their baby, Brady, for wanting to be there, too?! It was a beautiful ceremony and a terrific family affair! Best Recasts: Drake Hogestyn As Roman Brady (1986) Granted, some people still chuckle over how plastic surgery and brainwashing resulted in permanently changed hair color, added inches of height and an altered body type and personality when Drake Hogestyn, succeeded Wayne Northrop as Roman Brady. But the recast worked - for Marlena and DAYS fans - and the difference in actors brought a new dynamic while preserving the heartwarming memories of a beloved character. It also established a viable new character (John Black) with new problems, a new story and new conflicts when the old Roman returned. Best Triangles: John/Marlena/Stefano Proves love doesn't just grow old and die. SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE, 9/3/96 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SOAP OPERA DIGEST'S Performer Of The Week Drake Hogestyn has worn many hats during his decade on DAYS: brave amnesiac, crusading cop, brainwashed prisoner, grieving widower, confused Alamain heir, wayward priest. But this year, the actor met his greatest challenge. Just five months after John survived the gas chamber in Aremid, he again faced death when The People of The Night ordered him to die on the guillotine in Paris. On paper, it sounds outrageous. But in reality, it was classic, successful soap plotting, because it kept the audience coming back to find out what would happen. And Hogestyn played this story, as he always does, with such conviction that we were swept right along. DAYS' secret is that when they take us for a wild ride, there's a destination (no gimmicks here), and John's brush with death brought the John/Marlena relationship to a new level. After receiving his sentence, John got on his knees, alone. Positive he couldn't cheat death twice, it was time to reconcile with God. In a quiet prayer, he unselfishly thought of his kids, Brady and Belle, and the love of his life, Marlena. Playing it simply, Hogestyn conveyed John's heroism and his purity. The other knockout moment came when the blade was about to fall. John looked up and stared at Marlena, as if trying to memorize every feature of her face. She cried, "I will see you in heaven." Of course, they escaped (body parts intact), but we saw the bond - and incredible chemistry between Hogestyn and Deidre Hall - in those seconds. Come to think of it, Hogestyn is the only leading man we can think of who has chemistry with just about everyone; he's there every moment. Which may be why no matter where the story takes him, viewers are there, too. SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 9/24/96 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Best And Worst - 1996 A Year You'll Never Forget! The Best And Worst Of 1996: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was 1996, and despite some storytelling that ranked with daytime's finest ever, this was one wildly uneven year. The best stories were consistent, character-based tales about people we cared for. The worst reminded us that when a show veers too far off course, it can go downhill fast. Here's what worked, and what didn't, in the roller coaster ride that was 1996… Best Hero: John, DAYS OF OUR LIVES How do you spell relief in Salem, Paris and Aremid? 1-800-JOHN BLACK. Other heroes save their damsels in distress; John saves ANYONE in distress. He fought the devil and won. He survived the gas chamber. He was rescued in the neck of time from the guillotine. He climbed the Eiffel Tower to save his aunt. And he did it without a trace of ego, or a moment of asking, "What's in it for me?" John is a hero in the purest sense of the word: He always tries to do what's right, whether it's dropping everything to rescue a friend or being true-blue to one woman when he's in love with another. Although John can be fooled - he's just too good to believe someone he loves can be bad - he can't be defeated. (Stefano may die, again, trying.) Unfortunately, while John was dividing and conquering, Kristen was faking her pregnancy. Poor guy - that's what happens when heroes stare into hypnotic mirrors for too long. SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 12/31/96