♥ Never Ending Story 1992 ♥ 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." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Death Takes A Holiday John's Love Saves Isabella From A Tragic End... The News: DAYS' Isabella Survives...But Can Her Relationship With John Do The Same? When we last left our dynamic DAYS duo, John (Drake Hogestyn) was being questioned by the police about the disappearance of the Landa codices, and Isabella (Staci Greason) was in a car that was about to swerve out-of-control and plunge into a river. Those cliffhangers are resolved this week when John gets away from the law and manages to arrive at the river just in time to pull his pregnant ladylove out of the raging waters. But this pair's troubles are far from over. "(The accident) focuses John's awareness on the fact that he does have a child," says Greason. "But I don't know that it brings John and Isabella that much closer yet. It's a strange dichotomy. She's really torn between the fact that she's pregnant and she's single and she doesn't know what's going to happen, and the (fact) that she loves John enough to want him to have the space to find out all the things he needs to, to find his answers. She doesn't want to push, yet she has her own issues going on that he's not helping her with. Things (between them) are very one-sided right now." The other women in John's life may also prove troublesome. Things are still icy between Isabella and Marlena (Deidre Hall), the woman to whom John was married when he thought he was Roman. A relationship was just starting to develop between Isabella and Roman's daughter Carrie (then Christie Clarke, now Tracy Middendorf) before Carrie moved to Europe. Now she's back, and even though Carrie's feelings for John are ambivalent - to say the least - Greason hopes she and Isabella "will get to pursue (their friendship) again, because Isabella really needs a friend." What Isabella doesn't need is for John to have another woman from his past re-enter his life. Although it appears that's the case, it may not be as bad as they thought when John and Isabella discover the ring he's been wearing may be an insignia, not a wedding ring. "John is hoping to discover something about that ring that will lead him to his identity," says Susan Lee, NBC's vice president of daytime programming. "As the jeweler begins polishing it, John's memory is jogged. Just then, the camera cuts to a woman in Italy wearing the same ring. She looks at a newspaper with John's picture on it, and it's clear to the audience that she recognizes him." That mystery woman's name is Danielle (Deborah Moore). While information about this character is being kept under wraps, Lee does reveal a few tidbits about her. "Danielle is someone who's very determined when she wants something," Lee notes. "Her scruples aren't as lily white as Kayla's (Mary Beth Evans). And I say that with great fondness. "Danielle won't confront John right away," Lee continues. "Her goal is to try and jog John's memory - make him remember her. She'll be a key person in John's discovery of his true identity. Once John learns who she is, he'll find the whole matter very difficult to handle. It will affect everything else in his life. "I'd like to think in time John and Isabella will be together, that they will be happy," concludes Lee. But Greason doesn't think that's the way it will be. "I don't know if this show likes happily-ever-afters," she says. "I think they feel that once a couple is happy, nobody wants to watch them, which is very sad. That says something about our society, if we're only interested in people because they're in turmoil. I think a couple can be happily married, and you can explore all the funny, strange, sad, happy things that happen when you're married. You have a whole set of other issues to deal with. You can only create obstacles to keep couples apart for so long. The show should grow with the times - (society's) sort of passed the point of this 'man is hero; woman is victim' stuff. Let's move on and explore what is today. Just because a formula was successful 20 years ago, that doesn't mean you have to use the same formula. Or that's what I would hope." The new writing team at DAYS (former Co-Headwriter Richard Allen is now head writing; Mel and Ethel Brez are Co-Headwriter) could make Greason's hope a reality. "I know they really want to explore the character of Isabella and find out why she loves John," says Greason. "In the last few months he has not given her anything or any reason to love him. So if Isabella really is dysfunctional, let's explore that - let's make her really dysfunctional; let's pick a direction and go with it. That's what we've been talking about, so I'm hoping it will happen." Greason is also hoping IzzyB will become less of a victim. "After a while it becomes kind of silly," she admits. "Let's stop having Isabella have accidents and start letting her have a life. It's very strange. I think there are people in life who always seem to be the victim, but the fact that she tries to rise above it keeps her from being one." Greason would also be pleased to "see a really exciting story for John and Isabella in the new year. We had a really great opportunity with the Roman and Marlena stuff, but John and Isabella didn't really have (their) own separate (storyline). I'd like to see a separate, strong story for us." Janet Di Lauro and Caelie M. Haines, SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 1/21/92 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Meet The Women Of NBC... DAYS OF OUR LIVES' Isabella Is Torn... Staci Greason (Isabella Toscano, DAYS OF OUR LIVES): "We need to find out who John Black is, and if John Black loves Isabella." Gene Palumbo (Headwriter, DAYS OF OUR LIVES): "Isabella is a girl who's really the Mafia princess. She's the daughter of a man with whom she has a real love/hate relationship. On the one hand, Victor is her father and she can never forget that. On the other hand, the private investigator in her sees him for the bas#### that he is, and the terrible man that he can be. And yet in the end, her love for John will get her through it all." DAYDREAMS, SOAP OPERA UPDATE SPECIAL EDITION, 3/2/92 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ DAYS OF OUR LIVES' John Black Loves Isabella But What About Marlena Gene Palumbo (Headwriter, DAYS OF OUR LIVES): "John is so complex. We've known him as Roman Brady. We have seen the sort of metamorphosis from a mummy to a character that we knew and loved. His life is now completely turned upside-down, and now for the next several months, we have to watch him, agonize with him, and discover with him...his identity. He's completely stripped of his identity. Here is a man with no name, no past, nothing, and he has to put the pieces of his life back together." Staci Greason (Isabella Toscano, DAYS OF OUR LIVES): "You know, this is a tricky situation for me. I used to watch the show when I was in college, and watched when John Black first came to Salem. In fact, Roman and Marlena were my favorite couple." Gene Palumbo (Headwriter, DAYS OF OUR LIVES): "Isabella's pregnancy will be a double-edged sword for John. He fears what that child will be born of because he doesn't know who he is. It's complicated." DAYDREAMS SOAP OPERA UPDATE SPECIAL EDITION, 3/2/92 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Salem Swamped By Secrets DAYS Of Deception John Discovers His Carly Connection... I've Got A Secret: Hidden Truths Begin To Surface Secrets can't be kept forever, as many DAYS citizens will find out this week... Starting this week we will see more of one couple's mysterious past when a delirious Carly (Crystal Chappell) calls Lawrence (Michael Sabatino) "James" and professes her love for him. "The back story here is that when Carly fell in love with Lawrence, he was passing himself off as James somebody," Executive Producer Ken Corday explains. "She fell in love with him thinking he was James and then later found out he was this guy she had been promised to at birth. Because he tricked her, she walked away from him to never see him again, but of course he popped up in Salem and she popped up in Salem many years later. There is still a lot in their past that has yet to be dug up, and I consider it one of the strongest - maybe the strongest - story of the year, along with the John Black (Drake Hogestyn) story." Speaking of John, this is also the week he discovers Carly is the woman with the birthmark in the charred picture that is a clue to his past. "There is a connection between Carly and John Black, but you'll have to stay tuned to see what it is," teases Corday. Caelie M. Haines, SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 3/10/92 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John And Danielle's True Identities Revealed On DAYS... Who Are You? Identity Mysteries Come To Light On DAYS: Salem's "who's who" games may finally come to an end this week when Danielle's (Deborah Moore) and John's (Drake Hogestyn) true identities are revealed on DAYS. Isabella (Staci Greason) is the first one to learn the truth about Danielle, but before she can warn John he figures out for himself that Danielle is actually Romulus. Remembering the love they once shared, John agrees to help Danielle escape, but not before she admits they were never married and gives him back the key to a safe deposit box that holds a locket - a clue to his past. John tells the very relieved Isabella that he's not married, and together they continue the search for his true identity, using the locket as their guide. Danielle unnerves Vivian (Louise Sorel) when she tells her the locket John found in the safe deposit box looks very much like the Alamain locket Danielle stole eight years ago. John tries to match his locket with the Alamain locket and finds it's a perfect fit, but he can't figure out what that means. Vivian knows - and she goes to see Lawrence (Michael Sabatino) to admit the reason for her anxiety: If John's locket is the other half of the Alamain locket, he may be Lawrence's supposedly dead brother, Forrest. "It sounds like there's a new Alamain in town," says Sabatino. "It's very interesting. It will be really hard for Lawrence, because I think before the death of his brother, or the supposed death of his brother, there was such a huge sibling rivalry there that it was not a big loss for him, except that, obviously, it was traumatic." (According to DAYS' back history, Lawrence was indirectly responsible for Forrest's death, because he panicked and did nothing to save his brother from drowning after Forrest fell into a pool.) "Dramatically, though, it's a wonderful setup because there's so much payoff for this," he adds. "It's like, 'Oh my God, the brother's alive!' and 'Who gets the fortune?'" Sabatino knows Lawrence won't easily accept his newfound sibling. "I think his first move will be trying to prove he's not (Forrest)," he theorizes. "Certainly, after all the things (that have happened) between Lawrence and John, it will be really hard for him to believe he's the brother. So I'm sure he's going to fight back. They're at such odds - it's really Cain and Abel - they just won't be able to see eye to eye or come together. But they're going to have to, somehow, because if it becomes legal they're going to have to share control of the (Alamain) empire." Caelie M. Haines, SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 4/21/92 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ The News Mr. And Mrs. Black (Not Boring) There's a curse that often befalls soap opera couples once they've married - they live boringly ever after. DAYS OF OUR LIVES' Staci Greason and Drake Hogestyn admit they're nervous about what lies ahead for their characters, Isabella and John, after they tie the knot. "The pattern after a couple gets married is the death of any exciting, interesting storyline," says Greason. "But there have been a lot of changes the past few weeks with the people who are in charge of the show, so we'll see. Being married and having a child could (create) a lot of interesting story." "The idea of marriage on a soap makes me a little apprehensive," Hogestyn admits. "The ideal situation for a male on daytime is to remain single and go from relationship to relationship, but that's not too feasible. I voiced my views to (the producers). My feeling about marriage is (that while) the chase is fun, it's after the marriage that things get interesting. That's when the real problems of everyday life turn up, when there are obstacles to overcome. The track record on this show has been (that relationships) aren't as tension-filled (after marriage) as they were when the couple were pursuing each other. Maybe we can break out of that mold." Executive Producer Ken Corday promises becoming Mr. and Mrs. won't be the kiss of death for the couple. "John and Isabella are one of our top three stories for this summer," he says. "With the discovery that he's Lawrence's (Michael Sabatino) brother and co-heir to a fortune, John must decide what to do. Should he turn his back on millions? Or should he use it, not only for his family but also to do better things with it? What will happen to his relationship with Isabella? Victor (John Aniston) will also be more prominent in their story in upcoming months. After all, we're talking about his grandchild and daughter." Perhaps the best is yet to come for the newlyweds. Greason and Hogestyn would like to think so. "Let's hope we'll set an example," says Hogestyn. "We're keeping our fingers crossed. I've been told things look good." Janet Di Lauro, SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 5/19/92 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Married: John And IzzyB Tie The Knot On DAYS... The News - Despite Unbelievable Obstacles, DAYS' John And Isabella Marry: A manipulative father (Victor, played by John Aniston) fought to separate them. A pair of "ex-wives" - Marlena (Deidre Hall) and Danielle (Deborah Moore) - nearly tore them apart. Even a bizarre case of mistaken identity threatened to crush their happily-ever-after dream. (For five years John believed he was really Roman; he recently learned he is evil Lawrence's supposedly dead brother, Forrest.) But this Friday on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, John (Drake Hogestyn) and a very pregnant Isabella (Staci Greason) finally reach the altar. "We're very excited about this wedding," says DAYS' Executive Producer Ken Corday. "This marriage isn't going to change John and Isabella's relationship. John is making a commitment to Isabella and to their child. They're both concerned about the legitimacy of that child. Regardless of who John may be, he knows in his soul who he really is and what he wants. It's a love-conquers-all story." According to Greason, DAYS fans have been pleading for months for Isabella and John to marry. "It's the only thing I'm ever asked about at public appearances," says Greason. "'When are the two of you getting married?' I'd always say, 'She'll marry him when he asks her. He just hasn't asked her yet. When he does, she'll say yes.' I had the feeling fans were getting tired of the story because it had dragged on for so long. They really want this wedding." Greason admits she's excited about the nuptials. "It's always fun to do a soap opera wedding. I just never envisioned being a pregnant bride," she laughs. If Greason had her way, Isabella would not only be slim and trim on her wedding day, she'd also be reciting her vows on location. "I think the perfect spot would have been Italy," she says. Hogestyn, on the other hand, would have preferred less pomp and more spontaneity - as in an elopement. "It's more fun to pull off a wedding like that," he says. "Personally, that's what Victoria (Hogestyn's wife) and I did. We went to the Justice of the Peace. It was low-key and very romantic." John and Isabella's ceremony is anything but low-key, but it certainly doesn't lack romance. Their DAYS wedding week begins with the pair deciding to marry immediately. When things start going awry, John suggests waiting a couple of days to get everything right. Isabella agrees, and they set the date for Friday. Plans are made for a traditional ceremony in a Catholic church. "It's the same church Caroline and Shawn (Peggy McCay and Frank Parker) were wed in years ago," notes Corday. Then they pick their best man and maid of honor - Bo (Robert Kelker-Kelly), and Carly (Crystal Chappell). Original story breakdowns called for Roman (Wayne Northrop) and Marlena to serve as attendants, an idea neither Greason nor Hall liked. "Dee and I went crazy," says Greason. "Marlena was married to John. It just didn't make sense. I think Jennifer (Melissa Reeves) should have been Isabella's matron-of-honor. She is Isabella's best friend. But who knows? Maybe (the writers) thought two pregnant women at the wedding would have been offensive." The nuptials almost take a nose-dive when John doesn't show up for rehearsal. Isabella is furious, until he reveals why he stayed away: He was trading his wolf's head ring (the one that was in John's satchel of past belongings) for an heirloom wedding band for his bride-to-be. (OOPS! This is wrong. It is true that John didn't show up for the rehearsal for his wedding, but it is because Lawrence paid him a visit at his loft to offer John an olive branch which John didn't accept, YAY! Isabella was in no way, shape or form "furious" with John, but she was very worried that something really bad might've happened to him. Last but not least, John did meet with a jeweler so that he could enlist this man's help in melting down his wolf's head ring in an effort to assure Isabella that his past with Danielle was dead and buried forever. He bought from the jeweler a beautiful, unusual, one-of-a-kind ring and tenderly gave it to an overjoyed Isabella, but it was before they were supposed to go to their wedding rehearsal together, not after like this article states.) The pair kiss and make up, and the wedding is on. Friday ends with John awaiting his bride, as Isabella prepares to walk down the aisle. But viewers should be prepared for a surprise. "There's a twist in store the day of the wedding," says Corday about the episodes that air May 18 and 19. Well, it wouldn't be a soap wedding without one. Izzy The Bride: Pretty In Peach DAYS OF OUR LIVES costume designer Richard Bloore faced a unique task in creating Isabella's (Staci Greason) bridal dress. "It's the first maternity wedding gown he's ever designed," Greason says. Bloore's challenge was to create a fashion statement that would also accommodate a protruding tummy. "Isabella's wedding gown is an empire-style dress with off-the-shoulder leg-of-mutton sleeves," he explains, noting that the style is particularly flattering for an expectant bride. "The bodice is of ivory lace over peach satin with iridescent beads, trimmed with heavily re-embroidered lace with similar beading. The skirt is two layers of silk organza, off-white over peach, on a heavy peach silk satin. The gown's sleeves mirror the skirt, with the same beaded lace treatment as the bodice at the top of the sleeve and at the cuff." Bloore pulled out all the stops for Isabella's headpiece. He started with the headband, made of rose and ecru satin rosettes, scattered rhinestones and a shallow ecru lace trim. The veil has ribbon-trimmed edges and lace appliqué threaded together with the same ribbon trim. The effect is a "pretty in peach" look for Isabella, but Greason admits she would have preferred wearing white. "It's Isabella's first wedding," she sighs. "But she's pregnant, so I guess (the show) didn't want to offend." Janet Di Lauro, SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 5/19/92 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ The News Here Comes The Bride And The Baby In typical soap fashion, the wedding of DAYS OF OUR LIVES' John and Isabella (Drake Hogestyn and Staci Greason) is interrupted before they have the opportunity to say "I do." For once the distraction isn't an attempted murder, a spouse returned from the dead, or another lover. It's the arrival of the couple's first child. When Isabella goes into labor in the middle of the ceremony, Carly (Crystal Chappell) and Marcus (Richard Biggs), both doctors, realize they're never going to make it to the hospital. Instead, IzzyB delivers a healthy baby boy in the bride's room of the church. But despite her eventful afternoon, Isabella still musters the strength to finish her wedding vows. Victor (John Aniston) comes to see his new grandson and convinces Isabella that he has given up his evil ways. Isabella shows her faith in him by choosing Victor as the child's middle name. John's "family" is also honored by the baby's moniker, and they happily welcome Brady Victor Black into their clan. John's newly discovered real relatives are not quite as excited about the addition. When Lisanne (Lynn Herring) clues in Lawrence (Michael Sabatino) and Vivian (Louise Sorel) that John (AKA Forrest Alamain) and his family are entitled to half the Alamain fortune, a desperate Vivian starts talking murder. But after Lawrence makes her realize they would be the prime suspects, they begin to plot other ways to bring about John's downfall. SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 5/26/92 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Triple Triumph for John Black A Wife, A Baby, A Real Name (Please Note: Our Australian friends have always been several years behind the United States and Canada in terms of storyline on DAYS OF OUR LIVES. We always make a conscious effort to arrange all of the articles on BASEBALL MEMORIES AND MALIBU DREAMS according to the issue date on the magazine, but because the Australian soap opera magazines like SOAP WORLD and TV SOAP are so far behind us on what they're seeing, we're going to list these articles by storyline instead of by publication date. Even though these articles might seem like they're not organized right because of the date "appearing" to be out of order, they are in order but it is according to the storyline going on in the United States and Canada, not in Australia.) Wedding Bells are ringing and he is about to become a Dad! Suddenly his world is turned upside down...meet Forrest Alamain! Salem's man of mystery lands a wife and baby - and his true identity...as the long-lost brother of his evil mortal enemy. DAYS fans are in for a triple treat when John Black (Drake Hogestyn) marries his ladylove, Isabella Toscano (Staci Greason) - and becomes a dad at the same time! And as if a wedding and baby aren't excitement enough, the tortured man of mystery finally discovers his true identity! The tears flow freely when Salem's star-crossed sweethearts at last tie the knot - and simultaneously experience the joys of parenthood. For the groom, it's one of the happiest days of his life. He finds true love with the woman of his dreams and welcomes his firstborn into the world. But, just days before, he also learns the shocking truth that he is Forrest Alamain - the long lost brother of the wicked Lawrence Alamain (Michael Sabatino). Disgusted by the revelation that he's a flesh'n'blood relative of his mortal enemy, John retains the moniker he picked off a war memorial wall plaque. He temporarily forgets his identity angst as he waits for his beautiful - and heavily pregnant - bride to walk down the aisle. Isabella is radiant in her off-the-shoulder maternity wedding gown, with a bead-encrusted bodice. Fans will be ecstatic to witness John and Isabella exchange vows - after all, it seemed this tumultuous twosome would never make it to the altar. In his quest to unravel his mysterious background, he distanced himself from the lovely brunette. Even when he learned she was expecting his child, he couldn't commit to her. But the identity crisis was just one of the major obstacles in John and Isabella's romance. What began as hate-at-first-sight - remember John, then known as "Roman," arrested Isabella for the murder of her sister, Marina (THE BOARD AND THE BEAUTIFUL'S Hunter Tylo) - soon developed into mutual passion. Drawn to each other by desperation and desire, John and "IzzyB." - as he called her - plunged into an intense, but slow, courtship. The first hiccup in their romance came in the form of Isabella's evil father Victor Kiriakis (John Aniston). The couple was shocked to learn Salem's crime boss was Isabella's biological dad. John could not accept the man he wanted behind bars would be his father-in-law! In a poignant scene John finally proposed to Isabella. They didn't know his "dead" wife Marlena (Deidre Hall) was watching through the window. The problem of loving two women was solved when the real Roman (Wayne Northrop) showed up and John was free to continue his romance with Isabella. Enter exotic Danielle Stevens (Deborah Moore), saying she was John's wife - which surprised Isabella. We've just seen John expose Danielle's lies - at last he and Isabella are free to get on with their lives. After all the trauma John and Isabella have endured, it comes as no surprise they want to marry...and quickly. But not quick enough, apparently - just as the couple is about to say "I do," Isabella cries "Oh, no!" and goes into labor! It's too late to go to the hospital - the baby won't wait - so the nervous mother-to-be is rushed to the vestry to deliver her child. Finally, the couple welcomes a baby...boy! He is named Brady Victor, and then, at last, John and Isabella can exchange their much-awaited vows...and now they're married. Vesna Petropoulos, Australia's TV SOAP, 6/95 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Season To Season We've Only Just Begun Love blooms in the summer months and, sometimes, even the most unlikely candidates find themselves caught up in the whirl. It's then that they might find themselves singing, "You Were Right There All The Time." Our couples are certainly discovering that their temperatures are rising along with the heat, and they're hoping that when the autumn frost hits, they'll still be keeping each other warm… DAYS OF OUR LIVES, John And Isabella While investigating the murder of Marina Toscano, John Black - then known as Commissioner Roman Brady - began falling for his prime suspect - the victim's sister, Isabella. (OOPS! This is wrong. His title was Commander, not Commissioner. Also, Marina Toscano was Isabella's half-sister not sister because evil Ernesto Toscano was Marina's father but Victor Kiriakis was Isabella's father.) Even though he was highly suspicious of the frail woman, John felt himself being drawn to her. Fortunately, Isabella was cleared of all charges and they began a romance. But their happiness was cut short by back-from-the-dead Marlena. At the same time, Isabella discovered she was pregnant. John was torn - but not for long. Shockingly enough, the real Roman surfaced in Salem. (OOPS! This is wrong. First off, John found out that Isabella was pregnant with his baby after he and Marlena had found out that the real Roman was alive. Isabella flew to Mexico and told him that he was going to be a father but this was after they saw that the real Roman was alive and well. Roman didn't first surface in Salem, he was found in San Cristobal by John and Marlena and had apparently been held hostage for years along with Marlena.) Suffering a total identity crisis, John was further jolted to learn he was actually Forrest Alamain, Lawrence's presumed-dead brother. Although John and Isabella were put through the wringer, their relationship survived and flourished. Marrying Isabella and raising their child is just what John needs to restore his sense of family. SOAP OPERA DIGEST EXTRA! SOAP OPERA SUPER COUPLES SPECIAL, Summer 1992 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Help Wanted: Characters Who Switch Careers - A Lot! Who hasn't daydreamed about a fantasy job as a surgeon, model, corporate mogul or high-powered producer? Soap characters make their dreams come true without benefit of any discernible qualifications. Real estate developer to talk show host? It's a snap when you're KNOTS LANDING'S Karen MacKenzie. Gardener to corporate kingpin? Contact THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS' Brad Carlton for advice. Aztec princess to ace bartender? Call GENERAL HOSPITAL'S Felicia Jones. Here are the resumés of versatile characters who succeed in business without really trying. John Black a.k.a Forrest Alamain Objective: Adventurous, loyal, perpetually misnamed hero seeks knight-in-shining-armor niche. Rescue missions a must. No late hours (baby at home). Experience: Stockholder/empire builder, Alamain Industries - in just three short months, completely restructured balance of power in this Fortune 500 family-owned company. Financed building of Salem's first authentic Irish pub. International jet-setter - in between identities, hopscotched from Mexico's Aztec ruins to a bank vault in Geneva, Switzerland. Made late-night withdrawals with a beautiful jewel thief. Police commander, Salem P.D. - posed as Roman Brady for five years. Apprehended felons (first-time offenders and those back from the dead). Survived Abe's coffee and Brian's bad jokes. Home improvement whiz - Kiriakis estate - rewired mansion and eavesdropped while searching for an identity. Special Skills: Coping with amnesia; obtaining passport and credit cards without a Social Security number; calling wives by cute nicknames (IzzyB, Doc). References: Brady clan, especially ex-wife/therapist, Marlena. SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 9/1/92 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ DAYS Preview: Heartbreak For John And Isabella... Late-Breaking News - Rocky DAYS Ahead: Love And Tragedy Will Hit Salem When kids go back to school and sweaters come out of storage, the autumn leaves won't be the only thing changing in Salem. DAYS OF OUR LIVES fans can expect a hefty dose of heartbreak this fall, as characters experience tragedy and transition. Isabella's illness will take center stage in the early part of autumn, but she isn't the only one who will turn out to be terminal. Rest assured, romance is a priority - sorrow will bring Salemites closer together, and hot couples will steam up those chilly fall nights. We asked Headwriter Sheri Anderson for a complete forecast. Goodbye, Isabella: Isabella, who suffers from terminal cancer, "will have the option of chemotherapy," Anderson reveals. "But she'll choose not to do it because it can be a very debilitating treatment." Isabella's fight for life will be touching but not melodramatic. "We won't be playing it constantly depressing and down," she assures. Doctor In Distress: As Isabella gets closer to death, Marlena will give John a shoulder to cry on. "This is not to say that John is free of Isabella," Anderson cautions. "Marlena is a comfort to John. You'll see an exploration of their friendship." Meanwhile, Marlena and Roman's marriage will continue along its rocky path. Will they stay together? "That all depends on whether (DAYS' spin-off), MANHATTAN LIVES, is picked up," she admits, adding that on MANHATTAN LIVES Marlena's "a single woman in New York." Man trouble won't be the only problem on Dr. Brady's chart: (OOPS! This is wrong. Marlena's title is Dr. Evans, not Dr. Brady.) "As Roger goes through rehab, Marlena will discover that Stella's the real dangerous one..." SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 9/1/92 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ DAYS: Isabella Collapses At Jennifer's Baby Shower... What's New - Isabella Collapses After Party: DAYS' dying heroine Isabella welcomes Jennifer back to Salem this week with a joyous baby shower - but the joy turns to sorrow when Isabella suddenly collapses after the party. Her collapse, indicating Isabella's disease is taking its toll, prepares viewers for her imminent departure. Staci Greason (Isabella) is leaving the show in late October. "Isabella planned the shower to celebrate Jennifer's return, their friendship, and to celebrate the impending arrival of Jennifer's baby," says DAYS Headwriter Sheri Anderson. "Isabella intends to live each day to the fullest." "Her husband John has finally come to terms with her illness. He realizes the best he can do is put aside his own grief and share with Isabella the celebration of their time left together." Staci is pleased with the way her character is being written out of the show. "It may seem strange to say it, but I feel there's an 'up' note. It's a good closure." Matt Ashford, who plays Jennifer's husband and father-to-be Jack, adds: "Words cannot describe how glad I am to have Melissa Reeves (Jennifer) back. This summer, I learned what happens to a character who has to go solo on a show dominated by couples. Now I hope we can get back to some interesting storylines for Jack and Jennifer." How will John react when Isabella is gone? What lies ahead for Jack and Jennifer and their baby? Stay tuned! Lorraine Zenka, SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE, 10/6/92