♥ Never Ending Story 2003 ♥ 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." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy Valentine's DAYS! Supercouple Celebrations... City Of Love: John and Marlena's marriage is put to the test when Marlena realizes that she may be Cassie and Rex's mother. This hits her after she discovers baby items on the DiMera island that deeply affect her. "Marlena has felt close to the twins from the moment she saw them," affirms Deidre Hall (Marlena). "We know that Stefano somehow manufactured them. We know that Tony is most likely their father, because of the blood markers. We know that their age coincides with when Marlena was held captive. By the process of elimination, you have to figure it's a possibility." John doesn't want to entertain that possibility, though. "John only looks at these twins as he looks at himself - as a product of Stefano DiMera," maintains Drake Hogestyn (John). "That's the only way he can approach them. Stefano put a microchip in John's brain and transformed him into anything he wanted. John knows the same exact thing could be happening to these kids." John and Marlena argue. "Marlena has asked John if he could care for the twins if they are her flesh and blood," recaps Hall. "He's said, 'Let's not go there.'" "John asks Marlena, 'What do you want to do with the twins, bring them into the penthouse and raise them, then in the middle of the night have them cut your throat?'" adds Hogestyn. "Yes, John respects the maternal instinct and that it's all about family. God knows, he spent his whole life looking for his family. But..." Finally, John suggests that they stop arguing and turn in for the night. "So they go to bed not in the best of moods," offers Hogestyn. "This marriage can always be saved," interjects Hall. "The foundation is solid. The love is solid. The trust is solid. They can get through anything." "John and Marlena are strong enough to survive this," agrees Hogestyn. "No one is more important in John's life than Marlena." SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 2/18/03 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John And Marlena's Top-Secret New Story The teen scene won't be monopolizing DAYS this summer. At his recent fan-club event, Drake Hogestyn revealed that the show has major plot plans for John and Marlena (Deidre Hall) beginning in July. "I've been told this story will have a tremendous two-year arc for John and Marlena," shared Hogestyn. "Steve Wyman (Co-Executive Producer) said, 'You're going to be questioning everything about yourselves, your lives...you'll be wondering, 'what is it all about?'" Wyman summoned Hogestyn and Hall to his office to clue them in about their upcoming story. "Steve said that the last couple of years DAYS ratings have dropped in September, and the-powers-that-be would like to stop the cycle," continued Hogestyn. "He explained that the writers have a story that they need to start telling by mid-July and be heavily into through August so that it will play into September." Hall, who usually takes off a large portion of the summer to spend with her children, was asked to curtail her plans. "Steve said it was imperative that the show have Deidre the last two weeks of July and all of August," noted Hogestyn. Hogestyn has his own ideas about what this top-secret story could be. "We're starting it right now with Marlena's memories of birthing twins," he teased. "John is not supposed to know what is going on, but Tony does." But are things really what they seem to be? Hogestyn, like John, doesn't think so. "John is saying, 'Well, wait a minute. Maybe this is all a setup. It's all a DiMera ploy,'" noted the actor. "This could have been subliminally implanted (in Marlena's mind) many years ago and never really happened." Viewers will have to wait, patiently, to find out. Janet Di Lauro, SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 3/4/03 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Wild Twists And Crazy Casting Rock Daytime! DAYS: The Surprise You Never Saw Coming... DAYS: The Twist Marlena Fans Never Expected: Brace yourself DAYS OF OUR LIVES fans. Marlena finally learns the whole truth about the twins this week - and you won't believe how she reacts. "You'll see some rage from Marlena," promises Deidre Hall. "She even swears - a first for Marlena." (OOPS! This is wrong. Marlena would often swear in the past, mostly at Stefano, so it certainly wasn't Marlena's first time swearing.) After Bart summons Marlena and Tony to the DiMera mansion, where he has Rolf tied up, the pair prepare to grill the mad doctor. Marlena suggests phoning John first, but Tony convinces her that they should speak with Rolf privately. "John has been outspoken about the twins and the Tony relationship," notes Hall, so Marlena realizes "there is inherent danger having John burst into that setting." Unfortunately, John shows up anyway, announcing that he tracked down Marlena via a bug he planted in her purse. "That is the most interesting twist I've played in years. When I read it, my mouth fell open," relates Hall. "John's invasion (of Marlena's privacy) threatens everything their relationship is built on, not to mention his basic and essential trust in her as a human being." But Marlena comes to terms with John's actions and "they join together to fight a mutual enemy," continues Hall. Finally, Marlena, John and Tony all start cross-examining Rolf. When Rolf clams up, Marlena takes over the interrogation, begging Rolf to reveal anything he can about Cassie and Rex's conception and birth. "It's an emotional scene," touts Hall. "Marlena's need to know is greater than anybody else's. And he responds to that." Rolf reveals that the twins weren't taken away from Marlena immediately after their birth. In fact, she nursed them. "Marlena is stunned," declares Hall. "At the end of the scene, she slaps Rolf. Marlena's outrage comes more out of the inhumanity of what (Stefano and others) did, and that Rolf, as a doctor and a scientist, used his skills in such a diabolical way. That's why she hits him." As Marlena's emotions escalate, she suddenly recalls the moment the twins were taken away from her and marked with their Phoenix tattoos. "Marlena is rocking the babies when two men come in and get the children," reveals Hall. "They take the babies to a room and tattoo their wrists, which greatly upsets Marlena." Rolf confirms that the twins were part of Stefano's plan to ensure the future of his family's name and create a more perfect DiMera. A furious John wants to get Marlena out of the mansion, but she insists on time alone with Tony. "Tony and Marlena carve an unlikely partnership," teases Hall. "They agree not to tell the twins what they've learned right away. It's too much information. They decide that the twins deserve a normal life...a mother and father who love and care for them. Tony puts out his hand, and Marlena takes it. The closer they get, the more they learn they are alike." Leaving John out in the cold. Janet Di Lauro, SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 3/25/03 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Short List - Jobs Held By John Black We thought it was very interesting the way they listed so many different jobs that John Black has had over the years. Can you think of any that were missed, by SOAP OPERA DIGEST or by us? Their List Our List Pawn - - Head, Hospital Security Ersatz Roman - - Police Commander Spy - ISA Agent - Mercenary - - "Martial Arts Expert" Priest - Jewel Thief - Art Thief - "Pilot" - "Surgeon" - - "Lawyer" Owner of Basic Black - THE ULTIMATE DAYS OF OUR LIVES FAN GUIDE BY SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 6/24/03 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Preview Big Changes On DAYS! Finally: A Storyline For John And Marlena! Cover Story - Finally! A Storyline For John And Marlena: (Please Note: Even though it isn't clear in this article since the editors of SOAP OPERA DIGEST just listed him as "Wyman," his full title is actually Co-Executive Producer Stephen Wyman.) It's been a long time since Marlena and John have had a storyline that satisfied their fans. Well, the drought is over, declares Wyman. When both return on-screen after their summer breaks, look for them to be front-burner. "They have some great story coming down. This isn't baloney; this is something that I know is going to happen," he says. "Fans can be more than hopeful - they can be certain. They are one of our great couples, as well as great characters individually, and the idea that we would tell a single great umbrella story and not include them in pivotal roles doesn't make sense. Of course, if we have one main story here that affects everybody and they're important players in our cast, they're going to be in that story and they're going to have good roles in it." So, look for them to play heavily in the serial-killer story. Deidre Hall (Marlena) admits she can't wait to see her scripts. "It gives me chills! I love it!" she enthuses. "I love it because I can feel the pace of the audience when there's not some real drama on the screen and every day we get drama, and yet Jim still manages to tell a nice, evenly paced, all dimensional story. He's not skipping beats, he's not adding stuff that's superfluous to catch us up to death. He's got it and it all goes forward. It's all there. His timing is impeccable. It makes it fun to play because you know the audience is going crazy watching it." Stephanie Sloane, SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 9/16/03 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Preview Big Changes On DAYS! Psycho Sami Returns! Cover Story - Psycho Sami Is Back! (Please Note: Even though it isn't clear in this article since the editors of SOAP OPERA DIGEST just listed him as "Wyman," his full title is actually Co-Executive Producer Stephen Wyman.) James E. Reilly introduced a teen Sami in 1993 and wrote her to be one of the most compelling vixens in daytime. Now, the bitch is back, going after John and Marlena, just like she did a decade ago. "With Sami, I think Jim has an extraordinarily good feel for the complexity of Sami's character, and also what's delicious about her character," smiles Wyman. "Her scheming is right at the core of what she does. Luckily, (portrayer) Alison Sweeney knows how to do this so charmingly and entertainingly and even humorously. It's a case of the right person for the job." Sweeney loves the new material: "Jim has such a good grasp of who Sami really is and doesn't leave out any of the nuances. I love that this storyline is bringing back what happened to her ten years ago because some of the fans didn't watch then and a lot of that storyline never really got resolved. The breakup with Brandon has been such a harsh, crash-landing for Sami that it brought to the forefront all of these old resentments and anger toward the people she really looked up to as role models for love and romance, and clearly, they weren't and she holds them responsible for her problems." As for fan criticism that it's a regression for Sami, Sweeney agrees, but doesn't mind. "It's definitely a regression, but I don't think that Sami ever moved on. With Sami, it's a case of one step forward and two steps back. She's one of those women who hates being alone, probably because she doesn't like herself. The key is when she's alone, she wonders why she's alone and unhappy, and the answer in her mind is the trauma she went through with her parents and with John and she can't forgive them. It's a step backward, but not uncommon. She is not going to blame herself!" Stephanie Sloane, SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 9/16/03 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Days' Full Of Suspicion John spirits Marlena away for a romantic vacation this week on DAYS, but their plans go awry when it starts to look like he might be trying to kill her. "The getaway comes about because Marlena is recuperating from a near-death experience," says Drake Hogestyn, who plays John. "She is weak and she needs a break from all of the chaos in Salem." John takes his wife to their favorite bed-and-breakfast, which is where she starts to question his intentions. "John and Marlena go for a walk in the woods, and he takes out a hunting knife," says Hogestyn, adding that his character's intention is to cut down a rare flower. "It blooms once a year. Legend has it that if you cut the bloom you can make a wish for everlasting love and you can endure anything with the person you love." Unfortunately, Marlena thinks John is going to cut her. "As he goes to cut the flower, which is over her shoulder, she feels he is going to attack her," says Hogestyn. "There is a line where I say, 'I can see it in your eyes.' She says, 'I'm scared' and I say, 'Hey, I'm scared, too. Because if there is any chance that harm could come to you because I am still in your life, then I would remove myself from the scene to keep you safe.' So there is also doubt in John's mind. You never know what lies beneath." Indeed, the Salem Stalker has already struck down Abe, Maggie and Caroline, and this week he or she will claim another victim. But smart money is not on it really being Marlena since Deidre Hall is one of the biggest stars of the show. (OOPS! This is wrong. They forgot Jack. Abe was the first one killed, then Jack, then Maggie and the fourth victim was Caroline.) "Sami has convinced Marlena beyond a shadow of a doubt that John is going to do her in," says Hogestyn, referring to Marlena's daughter, who hates John. And then, their idyllic getaway is cut short by something worse. "They get a phone call saying that Cassie has been murdered," says Hogestyn, with a sigh. "So they have to return to Salem." So much for getting away from it all. Carolyn Hinsey, NEW YORK VUE TV GUIDE, 11/30/03-12/6/03 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Story Shockers! DAYS: Sami Faces The Killer... The News - DAYS: Sami Takes On The Killer! Sami accuses John of being the Salem Stalker this week on DAYS OF OUR LIVES and vows to stop him from making Marlena his next victim. "This is another incident of leaping before looking, speaking without thinking," says Alison Sweeney (Sami). "Sami's main fear is that John is going to kill her mom. So she does and says whatever she has to and gets in his face. She isn't afraid for herself, she is afraid for her mother." Sami and John's confrontation takes place at the police station after Celeste tells Sami, John, Marlena and Roman about Caroline's warning that John will murder Marlena. "Sami freaks out," states Sweeney. "She completely believes that Celeste's premonition is going to come true." No one else believes it, though. "Sami is so frustrated that Roman won't jump on it and put John in jail," sighs Sweeney. "She is looking at her mother's life here, and her father is harping on technicalities about arresting someone." Roman thinks Sami may be on to something; however, when they attend a séance later at Lexie's house. Abe's ghost appears and repeats Caroline's premonition. (OOPS! This is wrong. Abe's ghost didn't appear to them. Abe's voice came out of Celeste's mouth but they didn't see Abe. Abe wasn't allowed to tell them who the killer was, so he used game pieces to spell out "John will kill Marlena!") Sami and Roman race to Marlena's penthouse and come upon a bloody scene: Marlena has been cut by broken glass and John is standing perilously close to her. "Sami absolutely thinks John is about to kill her mom!" shrieks Sweeney. "When she walks in, she thinks she's too late. When she realizes she's not too late, she wants John gone...out of the way...dead." Sami orders Roman to shoot John, but Marlena intervenes and explains that she sliced her hand picking up a broken wine glass. Sami pooh-poohs the explanation and tells her mother about Abe's warning. John volunteers to move out, but Marlena won't hear of it. "Sami is angry, and definitely thinks her mother is being foolish for not acknowledging the psychic predictions that have been made twice now," asserts Sweeney. "Sami is looking at this as: 'Abe came back-from-the-dead and Grandma came back from the dead to tell you John is going to kill you, and you are going to live with him? Support him?'" John tells Sami to put a sock in it, but she won't budge. And that's a shame, since Sami appears to have fingered the wrong man. Because next week, Sami comes face-to-face with the real killer! SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 12/9/03 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The DAYS Story That Has Fans In An Uproar! Trouble In Paradise: Marlena suspects John could be involved in the serial killings - and DAYS fans aren't happy! When fans got wind of the fact that Marlena would start thinking John might be a killer, the letters started coming. "The core of their relationship is trust," writes DAYS fan JLJ from Brooklyn. "From 1986 to now, Marlena has always believed in John when he didn't believe in himself. He could certainly believe that he is the killer; Marlena would never believe that." JLJ echoes the sentiments of a slew of other DAYS devotees who find it hard to imagine that Marlena would think that John is going to kill her, per Caroline's prophecy. This week, though, something else happens that adds to Marlena's fears. While at the cemetery for Caroline's burial, Marlena visits the grave of her late sister, Samantha, too. She then goes to Caroline's grave and imagines that Caroline's name on the headstone turns into her own. Startled, she falls into the open plot. She suspects someone pushed her, looks up and sees John. He saves her and once above ground, Marlena says she must have lost her balance. Unconvinced, John asks his wife if she thinks Caroline's prophecy may be true. Marlena confesses to her husband that she has been having doubts about him. "Marlena is not a believer in things supernatural, despite the fact that she was possessed," muses portrayer Deidre Hall. "However, things around her begin to happen that are hard to explain. I think when people are in a deep state of fear and uncertainty, you're able to go anywhere. It makes you question your own reality in the moment." "There are a lot of things going on in Marlena's mind right now, outside of even the killing," agrees Drake Hogestyn (John). "There's the relationship with Kate and Roman, and so she has a lot of different issues she's working on. She's very vulnerable right now in her approach to what's real and what isn't real." What is real is how devoted DAYS fans are to this duo. "I hear it all the time. I really understand it," Hall smiles. "I love John and Marlena, too. I love their constancy, and their unwavering faith and devotion to each other is an anchor for the show and an anchor for people." Addressing the recent fan outcry, she says, "When you put the couple on unsure footing, sure, it's upsetting. I don't know what to tell them. We're not told about where the story is going, so I can't help the fans out with how Marlena feels, where she's going next week or next month or next year. I can tell you what I see on the page now is a woman who is deeply in love with her husband and knows at the core of her soul that he would never hurt her for a moment." And Hogestyn urges viewers not to rush to judgment. "The story is young," he points out. "I think this part of the story, the serial killer, is just setting up for the big stories to come. That's the way I'm looking at it. Hopefully, I'll be a part of that. I don't know. No one knows. Conflict is always good. John and Marlena are very sure in their love for each other. I know that John loves her and would never hurt her." Things get more tense by week's end when Bo receives another PDA message from the killer that suggests Roman is the next victim. A worried Marlena will grow closer to her ex. But don't count out the Blacks, says Hall. "(Headwriter James E. Reilly) is telling an amazing story that has lots of twists and turns and surprises; we just don't know what they are," she says. "We're all flying blind a bit. Knowing his usual style, he will go far past what any of us ever dreams he'll do. He'll do something more creative, more startling, more extraordinary than what we thought. Everyone has their own guesses." Stephanie Sloane, SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 12/16/03