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DAYS OF OUR LIVES: “To John”

By Michael Fairman

Published

1 year ago

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Courtesy/Peacock

John Black’s wake on the Thursday, June 12th episode of Days of our Lives punctuated an emotional series of episodes that began with the three-part funeral for the iconic hero, and concluded with a walk down memory filled with perfect touches from the writers for longtime fans of the 59-year-old soap opera.

If anything this episode does, it reminds us of the hole that will be left in the viewers and cast members hearts for the character played with so much gusto by the late Drake Hogestyn. Sadly, Drake lost his battle with pancreatic cancer back in late September of 2024, and with his blessing DAYS was able to craft a story befitting John, by saving the life of another iconic hero, Bo Brady (Peter Reckell).

At the wake at the Brady Pub, it was the core group of: Marlena (Deidre Hall), Steve (Stephen Nichols), Kayla (Mary Beth Evans), Shane (Charles Shaughnessy), Roman (Josh  and Bo, that featured many toasts and remembrances for the man they all loved and revered.  Steve toasts, “To John Black. Without a doubt, the finest man I ever knew.”  Feeling grateful for everyone gathered together for John, Marlena offers up her own toast saying, “To all of us.”

Courtesy/Peacock

In flashbacks, that while sometimes short in length, they provided impact including: Bo recalling first meeting John in Miami, Steve thinking back to the Pawn showing up in Salem in bandages, and Kayla harkening back to how Marlena was helping John as a therapist figure out who he was when the two began to fall madly in love.

Next, the group recalls: finding out that John had plastic surgery, Marlena’s suspicion that she actually thought John was Stefano, and the white water rafting scenes featuring John and Marlena in an escape in West Virginia were shown. Then, Shane recalls helping give birth to his son, Andrew, who now is going to marry John’s son, Paul.

Courtesy/ABC

When the history of John Black turns to when John thought for years he was Roman Brady, the real Roman excuses himself from the table. Clearly uncomfortable by the discussion, Marlena goes to him and apologizes for those painful memories. Roman said he is just sad that he missed out on so much of that time of his life because of the machinations of Stefano DiMera.

Each of John’s friends and Marlena goes around the table taking a shot after naming one of John’s mortal enemies:. Roman says Stefano DiMera, Marlena goes with Orpheus, which Kayla agrees with. Next, there is a flashback of John and Marlena reuniting after tracking down Orpheus in Stockholm. In the present, Shane says they’re all family, and that blood or not, they will always have each other’s backs.

Eventually, Marlena notes all the times that John saved her including: Marlena’s original possession by the devil and John as a priest trying to exorcise her. Everyone recalls Bo and Hope sailing around the world, and Bo shares they may just do it again, which raises concerns from his sister, Kayla, because Bo just woke up out of a coma! Later, Bo asks Steve if he is really serious considering retiring from PI work, because he thinks he and Hope would be interested in joining forces with him. Steve said he will considerate it and get back to Bo.

Courtesy/Peacock

Now it’s time for the wake to end, and people to say their farewells to Marlena. Shane is the first to leave. In an emotional moment, Bo hugs Marlena and says he will never forget what John did for him. Steve and Kayla hug Marlena assuring her they will be there for her and for anything she needs.

Fittingly, that leaves just Roman and Marlena. Roman apologizes for earlier in the wake, but with tears streaming down her face, Marlena admits that not a day goes by that she doesn’t blame herself from breaking his heart. Roman says he has healed from it, has moved on with Kate and is happy that he and John were able to become good friends.

Courtesy/Peacock

Roman says he will drive Marlena home, but she says she needs some time alone. When she exits the Brady Pub. She stops outside of it, and flashes back to the greatest and most heart-tugging moment in the storied past of John and Marlena; when Marlena comes out of the fog in the famous pier scene, after “Roman” (John), believed she had died and is reunited with her. That scene featured one of Drake Hogestyn’s best performances in his DAYS career. In the present, after her memory, Marlena looks up to the sky as tears stream down her face.

Courtesy/Peacock

Meanwhile at Julie’s (Susan Seaforth Hayes), throughout the episode, Jennifer (Melissa Reeves) and Hope (Kristian Alfonso) reminisce (complete with flashbacks) to the iconic moments from the past between super couples, Jack (Matthew Ashford) and Jennifer and Bo and Hope and their everlasting love for each other. Jack arrives after visiting Abigail’s grave, but leaves the women to catch-up and heads to bed.

Later, in another heart-tugging moment, Hope tells Julie that she still can’t believe Bo’s going to walk through that door again. It’s like they’re starting all over again. Hope thanks Julie for loving her dad, Doug, for all those years. “Darling girl, says Julie, “To be my relative twice over, I’ve always known you were my gift from God.”

Courtesy/Peacock

What did you think of John’s wake and the final episode devoted to the memory of Drake Hogestyn? Did you reach for the hankies? Let us know in the comment section. In case you missed it, check out the Michael Fairman Channel’s tribute to Drake below.

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I felt my heart breaking for all of the cast. They have been through this saying good bye when Drake actually past on. How sad to have to go through it again. Sending love to all of them. They are amazing people and I see and feel the actual bound they have with each other in real life.

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Actually, Barbara, from what I understand these episodes were taped while Drake was in the final stage of his battle with the cancer.
In fact, I read he actually passed the weekend after these funeral episodes were taped in September of 2024.
If I’m wrong, someone please correct me…

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That’s what I’ve seen in articles as well. Means the episodes were likely written in July of 2024.

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sammy is a hypocrite he always treated him bad even though he raised her and eric and carry like his ow for the fist years of his life

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Beyond the Gates

53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Winners: ‘General Hospital’ Takes Drama Series, Tamara Tunie and Scott Clifton Top Acting Honors

Published

24 hours ago

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October 30, 2026

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The 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards have just concluded on Friday night, October 30, and it was ABC’s General Hospital who took home the top prize for Outstanding Drama Series for the sixth time in row. Executive Producer, Frank Valentini accepted the award on behalf of the show.

Beyond the Gates scored its first two acting honors in the young history of the show. Veteran actress, Tamara Tunie won her first ever Emmy for Lead Actress a Daytime Drama Series for her performances as Anita Dupree, while Ambyr Michelle took home the gold in the Emerging Talent category.

Scott Clifton won his fourth Daytime Emmy overall, and second Lead Actor Emmy for his heart-tugging performance as Liam Spencer, who believed he was battling an inoperable brain tumor, only for it to turn out to be medical ruse to bilk Liam’s father out of $1 million dollars.

Scott Clifton

Courtesy/NATASYouTube

DECADES BETWEEN BETH MAITLAND AND ROGER HOWARTH LAST EMMY WIN

In the Supporting Actor and Actress categories, Daytime Emmy history was made with Beth Maitland  (Traci Abbott, The Young and the Restless) winning her second Emmy 41 years since she won her first won, and Roger Howarth (Matt Clark, The Young and the Restless) following suit for the men with his coming 32 years after he won in 1994 for One Life to Live.

Roger Howarth

Courtesy/NATASYouTube

Jeff Kober picked up his second Daytime Emmy win for his role as Cyrus Renault on General Hospital in the Outstanding Guest Performer in a Daytime Drama Series category. He previously won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the role in 2022, following a nomination in the same category in 2021.

The Kelly Clarkson Show, meanwhile, won Outstanding Daytime Talk Series it its final year, while Sherri Shepherd won for Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host after finding out her talker had been canceled after four seasons.

Genie Francis

Photo: NATAS/YouTube

THINK OF LAURA

General Hospital star Genie Francis (Laura) received the Lifetime Achievement Award and shared from the stage, “I know 50 years sounds like an awfully long time, but it doesn’t feel like that to me,” she said. “As they say, if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.”

Overall, General Hospital, Beyond the Gates and The Kelly Clarkson Show received the most gold statuettes for the night with four wins apiece.

Here’s a look at the honor roll for tonight’s big winners below:

Outstanding Daytime Drama Series
General Hospital

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress
Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree, Beyond the Gates)

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor
Scott Clifton (Liam Spencer, The Bold and the Beautiful

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor
Roger Howarth (Matt Clark, The Young and the Restless)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress
Beth Maitland (Traci Abbott, The Young and the Restless)

Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series
Ambyr Michelle (Eva Thomas, Beyond the Gates)

Outstanding Writing Team for a Daytime Drama Series
General Hospital

Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series
Jeff Kober (Cyrus Renault, General Hospital)

Outstanding Casting for a Daytime Program
General Hospital

Outstanding Directing in a Daytime Drama Series
Days of our Lives

Outstanding Talk Series
The Kelly Clarkson Show

Outstanding Talk Series Host
Sherri Shepherd, Sherri

Outstanding Lighting Direction for a Daytime Program
Beyond the Gates

Outstanding Costume Design/Styling for a Daytime Program
The Young and the Restless (Episode 13273)

Outstanding Hairstyling and Makeup for a Daytime Program
Beyond the Gates, The Kelly Clarkson Show

So, who were you happy to see win a Daytime Emmy on tonight’s 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards? Do you think the right show and actors took home the gold? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section. In case you missed it, you can watch the replay of tonight’s livestream of the Daytime Emmy ceremony below.

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Beyond the Gates

Who Should Win Outstanding Daytime Drama at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards? (Poll)

Published

1 day ago

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October 30, 2026

By

Drama Series Daytime Emmys

Tonight at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards, the top prize is Outstanding Daytime Drama Series. This year four soaps are in the running, will the best show take home the gold? Now it’s your turn to let us know your pick!

Going into the night’s festivities, The Young and the Restless leads all nominations this year with 18. Meanwhile, the upstart Beyond the Gates, in its first Daytime Emmy appearance in its history received a record 15 nominations for a first time entry into the Emmy competition.

Then, there is General Hospital who could win its sixth Daytime Emmy in a row for Outstanding Daytime Drama series and its 19th overall. Will they continue the streak?

Meanwhile, Days of our Lives looks to prove just because they are on Peacock and not on network television that they continue to be relevant, especially in a year where we learned Ryan Gosling and John Oliver where big fans of the show.

To watch the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards live, you can catch it on the NATAS/Emmy official You Tube channel here beginning at  8pm ET/5pm PT.

Now it’s your turn! Take the Michael Fairman TV poll below and then let us know in the comment section, which show you are rooting for tonight to take home the gold statuette?

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Beyond the Gates

Who Should Win Outstanding Lead Actress at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards? (Poll)

Published

2 days ago

on

October 29, 2026

By

Lead Actress Nominees Daytime Emmys

Five leading ladies of daytime drama are getting ready to go for the gold on Friday night, October 30 at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards.

Will it be one of two women securing their first-ever Daytime Emmy nominations from the newest soap on the block, Beyond the Gates? Will Heather Tom become the winningest actress ever in Daytime Emmy history if she wins what would be her 7th gold statuette?

Could Michelle Stafford become a four-time Daytime Emmy winner? And, will Stacy Haiduk, win for Lead after previously being nominated in twice in the Supporting Actress category? Stay tuned.

In case you didn’t know, and to get you up to speed, the 2026 Lead Actress nominees are: Stacy Haiduk (Kristen DiMera, Days of our Lives), Karla Mosley (Dani Dupree, Beyond the Gates), Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers, The Young and the Restless), Heather Tom (Katie Logan, The Bold and the Beautiful), and Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree, Beyond the Gates).

Heather Tom

Photo: CBS

HEATHER TOM POISED TO BREAK TIE WITH ERIKA SLEZAK FOR WINNINGEST ACTRESS IN SOAPS

Heather Tom spoke with Variety on the potential of breaking the daytime actress tie for most wins with One Life to Live’s veteran Erika Slezak. The B&B actress, writer and director explained she is not in rivalry with Slezak.

“I don’t think I could be in a rivalry with Erika Slezak because she’s just iconic. It kind of floors me to think that I’m kind of in the same conversation as her, because I was such a huge fan. I had the honor working with her and I just loved every single second,” shared Heather. “She always just brought it. There was never a day where she phoned it in. I certainly cannot feel like I’m in the rivalry with her because I would just have to say that she’s already won.”

As previously reported, ahead of the big day, the annual Lead Actress Ladies Luncheon was turned into a dinner and a house party by last year’s Lead Actress winner, Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis, General Hospital).

Make sure to tune-in to the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards streamed live on the NATAS/Emmys You Tube Channel beginning at 8pm ET/5pm PT emanating from the Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, California tomorrow night!

Now below, vote in Michael Fairman TV’s poll and let us know which Lead Actress should win the Outstanding Lead Actress Emmy, and then let us know in the comment section who you 

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