News
Y&R To Begin Taping Katherine Chancellor's Memorial Next Week!
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
Since the passing of the iconic Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor) of The Young and the Restless on May 8th, fans of the legendary actress have wanted to know how the number one soap intends on dealing with Katherine’s death on-screen.
As had been revealed on the CBS Daytime tribute episode in honor of Jeanne Cooper that aired on May 28th by Jess Walton (Jill), she addressed the audience and told them that the show was crafting a story to deal with the loss of Katherine Chancellor, who for 40 years was the Grand Dame of Genoa City.
Now comes word via Highlight Hollywood that next week on Tuesday July 16th, Y&R will begin filming Katherine’s memorial. Highlight Hollywood related, “On Tuesday, CBS begins filming Katherine’s memorial, which will tentatively air on September 3 and 4, 2013 … no details yet on how Cooper’s character will be written out, but it shall be emotional for fans, who have felt cheated for some time now, with no mention of Katherine in the current storyline.”
So how do you think Y&R will handle the passing of Katherine Chancellor? Are you glad the show is finally going to address what has happened to the character since Jeanne Cooper’s last on-screen appearance in early May? Comment below!
I hope Y&R just has Katherine pass in her sleep.
I hope this delay (I assume) means that Y&R was able to work out a deal to get Stephen Nichols back. Maybe they are going to be tight lipped about who is returning. I hope Y&R made an effort to get a lot of people, who worked with Jeanne in the past, there. Whatever the case, I’ll be watching. Y&R did such a wonderful job on Jeanne’s tribute, I hope the funeral is equally as classy.
I hope Y&R isn’t tight-lipped about who’s returning they should announce every one of them to remind old viewers to return and keep present ones engaged in wondering about what’s to come.
As far as Stephen Nichols goes Nelson Branco reported a few weeks ago that he demanded a full time contract and a raise to return for Kay’s funeral. That’s a pretty tall order to fill for a simple 2-day funeral appearance, so unless he’s become much more reasonable I can’t imagine he will be there. I’m all for lots of returning characters but I’d hate it if they spent too much cast money just to get one. I’d rather see more of OUR vets, they’ve been pretty scarce lately. Besides, if they are going to recast Tucker they could easily explain his absence by saying he’s recovering in the hospital from an accident. That way when he returns with a new face (from reconstructive surgery) it will be explainable.
Sorry, but I don’t take rumours seriously. Neither Y&R, nor Stephen Nichols has released a statement about what did or did not happen, or even if he was asked back. Too many unknowns here for me to give credence to this. Even if remotely true, there could be a number of factors at play in which being ‘unreasonable’ is not one of them.
It wasn’t a rumor, NB was given the info from 2 different reliable sources. “Issued statements” aren’t any more reliable then inside sources, often it’s just PR on someone’s part, or one sides view. I think Y&R stated that SN “wasn’t available” on the record, didn’t they? It really doesn’t matter anymore, I suspect Y&R released the info because SN fans were accusing Y&R of not asking him back for the funeral because JFP didn’t like him and they wanted to let everyone know that wasn’t the case at all.
From what I have gathered it seems Branco isn’t the most reliable source of info.
Two ‘reliable sources’ that he hasn’t named! Sorry, that’s not something I’m going to accept on NB’s word. No, Y&R never issued any statement, as far as I know, about SN’s availability. If Y&R wanted to give fans of Tucker and Katherine’s the facts, why didn’t they just officially put out a statement? Using nameless insiders (if in fact that’s what they did) to feed info to NB smells fishy to me. It actually leaves me with more questions than answers.
My God, you are such a hater. When will it end with you? How is this at all a bout SN, this article? This is a wholistic article about Kay’s exit and funeral. Please get yourself a life, because you are so freaking sad, and your lone voice saying the same thing over and over is getting so OLD.
I wasn’t responding to the “wholistic” article about Kay in that post Hilary ( I did so elsewhere), I was replying to another poster who brought up Stephen Nichols. She seemed to be wondering if Y&R made a deal, or had made the effort to get him back for Kay’s funeral. Since I had read that they did make the effort I shared my info & my thoughts on it, and I’m hardly a lone voice on the matter.
Re: saying the same thing over and over & being a hater….look in the mirror.
Its about time, I thought you all for got her. Couldn’t things have stopped sense thay are prefilmed and had this Iconic womans memorial? She deserves that.
Its taking 4 months? Come on, Technology has come along way, this womans family will have to relive her death again. Don’t mean to be so harsh, but I loved her so and I was so wondering when was this going to happen. The perfect time was her last scene walking up stairs saying good night, but I trust that the Y&R team will do it right. I do love this show.
I would hope that the delay has been to get it right and to work it into the storyline in such a way… to do it in the best possible way! I loved the tribute episode and I am confident that they will do a firtting storyline. I think the handling of her passing within the story with the characters will benefit by the delay. We know that she would have appreciated doing it right rather than just throwing together somthing. I am looking forward to seeing what they will do with it in the context of the story and the characters… I hope they do Katherine and Jeanne proud! It will be a difficult few episodes to watch as it was write and will be to shoot. We miss you Jeanne!!!
I don’t mind the wait either as long as it’s good. They can take all the time they need to get it right because it may be the last story many of us will be watching if they aren’t continuing with Jill & “the Chancellors” into the future. I’m hoping for a long story with lots of Y&R vets, past, & present.
Wouldn’t be great if Brenda Dickson and. Deborah Adair ( the 2 former Jill Foster Abbott)could make cameos as former Chancellor employees in scenes with Jess Walton discussing Katherine.
A grand dame deserves to go out in grand style…entire episode dedicated entirely to her. Still sad.
Because of Katherine’s advanced age it seems like she could have a unexpected Heart Attack…..or A Stroke..After all she has had a stroke in the past.. Of course Everyone will be Shocked with her untimely Death….But she has had a lot of Stress lately….& She’s not getting any younger……….
I’m sure there won’t be a dry eye in the house. They did a wonderful job with the tribute show and this memorial for La Chancellor will make everything so real and final. I think it’s really going to hit everyone on both sides of the camera hard. She was a great lady and character.
Was the character of Katherine ill prior to taping of Ms. Cooper’s final scene? I thought that was why Jill asked Katherine if she needed assistance.
I don’t watch Y&R. I have nothing against the show. I did watch when the show began airing. I was watching when the characters of Philip and Katherine were added. But I stopped watching after a while, so I am not familiar with any of the storylines and I don’t know most of the characters. However, I did watch the tribute (well done) and that’s why I thought Katherine had been ill.
Katherine has had a stroke in the past and I believe her health wasn’t 100% good. Her character had recently had surgery!
She’d come home from the hospital after having had surgery to remove a tumor in her brain, I think, right? That was her last scene, going up the stairs to rest. Clearly she’s been up and around since then off screen, but yes, she had a big health issue.
Katherine has been mentioned many times by other character’s over the past few months. While it might have been a very quick one in the dialogue, it has been stated that she and Murphy were off on a vacation/trip by both Jill and Cane. I think the show is doing the best that they could under the circumstances and at least came together quickly to put on the fabulous tribute episode for Ms. Cooper only a few weeks after her passing. What other soap has ever even done that when one of their stars has passed? I’m sure the memorial episodes and the story dealing with Katherine’s passing will be just as top notch and emotionally satisfying for all of the fans!
When I watch The Young and the Restless I keep looking to see her and now reality sinks in. I miss her already. I do believe that the Y&R will handle the storyline with grace and dignity and she will go out the way she came in (With a Bang) as well as having the final say as always. I can assure you that I will be watching it and having a box of tissues on hand too !!!!!! I will be crying !!
As a big fan of Y&R, I am already in tears on the emotional upcoming airing of the loss of Katherine Chancellor. I am sure everyone feels the same way. I know Y&R will do her the justice that she so richly deserves.
We’re looking forward to the ‘memorial’ episode(s) – – however long it takes the cast and crew to put it/them together. We think Ms. Cooper would approve because she always believed in ‘getting it right’ throughtout here incredible career.
It’s sad that we are going to have to see Mrs. C being written off of the show. Part of me wishes that the show could pull a Sally Spectra and just keep her alive on a hidden island with young men. But that wouldn’t be true to Katherine. I know that CBS and Y&R will truly honor the legacy of the character and the late Jeanne Cooper!
The tribute that they had for JC in June was my swan song for her it was very lovely! I can see her on You Tube. With her gone &MS leaving and SC probably soon no need I have my memories of her fine work.
I think it is way pass due she was on the show all these years and loved by many !!! I am glad they are not re casting the character of Mrs. Chancellor no one could do it justice she is still missed every day on the show!!
I do not like the fact that the memorial will not be aired until September. She passed away at the end of May and by now there should have been a memorial, actually in June. Its not going to make Y & R any more popular and again I think the writers are playing with the fans emotions. Since May there should have been something said in the stories leading up to the memorial and I think they are doing it all wrong. Quite a bit happening is not making this soap very popular and in fact boring…………..
Y&R took a day’s time out, and the actors did a truly lovely memorial episode for Jeanne Cooper. I hope you saw it. As for the passing of Katherine Chancellor, I would guess the episodes are written and taped well in advance, making a quick turnaround difficult. And unlike some of the grand dames of soapdom who have passed in recent years, Cooper’s Katherine was a core and integral character. Katherine’s death will have storyline repercussions and those I am sure needed to be thought through. Family, business, relationships, a husband, an estate… some much that could pivot on Katherine and her death. It needs care and thought to do right. I only wish they had not the faux funeral a couple years ago which was so rich with history. I hope JFP and team do not scrimp now that this is the real thing.
The EP and writer were BUSY figuring out Katherine’s exit and how to write it………..It takes time and hopefully her exit will go out in style. I do have faith in JFP and JG!!!
Actually they’ve been BUSY writing for Steve Burton and his completely pointless and boring character Dylan. Complete with *flashbacks* of his time in Iraq! Seriously, unless you are a HUGE Steve Burton fan (which JFP regrettably is) who CARES???
Murphy & Mrs C come home from their vacation as Mrs C became ill and the story goes on. ❤ You Mrs C
Not certain how Y&R will handle Jeanne Cooper’s (Katherine’s) passing. Certain they will do a great job. The reality of her death will REALLY hit us! She was such an integral part of the Y&R. She is missed!
IM HAPPY THEY DOING THAT…IK I BE CRIYIN……
ive heard they are not having thom bierdz return for the funeral…this is utterly so disrespectfull to the characters..i for one will not watch…i stopped watching when they fired genie francis and was actually looking forward to tuning in for the characters funeral,,but if they are not going to respect the hystory of story telling and the characters,,ill pass,,,rest in peace mrs chancellor….
I hope they do Jeanne/Katherine’s memory in the way she deserves. She has been the backbone of Y & R forever. I’ll admit that because of the timing I am disappointed Phyllis/Michelle will not be a part of it and apparently neither will Katherines son Tucker. I hope they have managed to get the rest of her family together. We rarely hear McKenzie mentioned these days and she is Brock’s daughter, Katherines granddaughter. Brock will surely be there. He and Katherine loved each other so much. I think I have read that Corbin will be a part of this. It will be hard for him but he is his mothers son. She has taught him well.
I hope the show doesn’t whitewash Katherine being a major antagonist on the show in the 70s, how she ruined Jill’s innocence and made her first born son with Phillip a bastard by having his name thrown out. My point is, Katherine and Jeanne became pretty much synoymous in the last decade wheras when Bill Bell was alive, Katherine was a very provocative and even grotesque character, especially in the early days. There’s a lot of trauma she inflicted on Jill which can’t be turned into some kind of sitcom rivalry. It was an ugly feud, a hatred.
It was a bitter feud for so many years. And while I understand the healing that took place between Jill & Kay due to having the same loved ones, family interests & years of the mom/daughter experience, they shouldn’t’ forget how it all started by a man being killed. No matter how much someone has grown or improved through the years they would never forget killing someone, but Kay seemed to quickly forget that soon after Bill Bell stopped writing. I guess I’m looking for Katherine Chancellor to take responsibility for her own actions in Phillip Chancellor 2’s death and making sure his heirs are given the chance to carry on his legacy upon her death. I doubt that will happen since she’s been made a martyr the last number of years & the Phillip’s aren’t cast, but it’s Chancellor that was in her gut for decades I don’t associate her with Devon at all, and never will.
I think they should have the two days only about Mrs. C and her passing. I hope all the old timers come back young and old.
i have only heard that katherine’s name has been mentioned once since her passing. i am glad that they r trying to figure out the best way to write her out of the story line and i hope it is a good one
Katherine’s name has been mentioned MANY times since her death.
This is going to be beautiful and sad………….JFP and JG will do a remarkable job writing out her exit!
Hope to see some of the classic vets return!
What evidence / storyline backs that statement up? Is a FOJ going to play Tucker Mc Call? Highly doubtful,as FOJ are expensive. Will she “woman up” and write a good storyline for the only one of Mrs. C’s children that can run C.I. (and has) ?? I don’t think she can… come on JFP, prove me wrong, I dare you.
JFP is NOT the writer, JG is. I do wish you guys get your facts straight! She does give JG ideas but doesn’t write it!
Her death hasn’t been shown yet and you guys are fussing already!
Derrick with all due respect you were the one to first say/imply that JFP was a writer with your sentence, “JFP and JG will do a remarkable job writing out her exit!” This makes it sound like they are penning the episode together.
Just sayin’.
Her ideas and JG’s writing! 🙂
That’s even worse. Her ideas suck.
The better not blow it.
Considering the very slow pace of the YawneR storylines, the memorial could
last 18 episodes!
I sincerely hope both Josh & Jill are thinking of this character & the characters who was in Katherine’s world and not to use Steve BurtonDylan or Cane somehow to further their story! This is a real test for myself on if I will once again continue to watch YR with this elephant in the room. The half hazardedly botched Summer’s paternity by rushing the outcome because MS’s departure but the performances with PB, MS, HK, JM were outstanding but the story ended up a big thug. Josh needs a co HW as Jill needs a Co-Ep.
I could care less if *Tucker* is there. He was Katherine’s *son* for about five minutes. The only son that matters is Brock/Beau Keyser, and he needs to be there.
I think Murphy will be written out with Katherine. There’s really no point to him now.
I am with you on that one– there should never have been a Tucker in the first place. MAB’s dumb invention. Neither should Jill have been made a Fenmore– But even if they wanted Tucker at the funeral, SN was a recast- why not simply get the guy who played Tucker in the first place if SN won’t or can’t do it. As for Murphy, I think the decent thing to do if they aren’t going to keep him around is to have the character die with Katherine in some kind of accident on their way home from vacation.
I would love for SN’s Tucker to be one of the returnees. He was Tucker for three years whereas the other actor was in the role for a month. SN and JC had some amazing scenes that could potentially have been used for flashbacks.
I would also love to see Beau Kayser, Tricia Cast, Michael Damian, Patty Weaver and many more return!
Add me to the list of who cares if Tucker is there. He was the worst chapter in the Chancellor story because he was never a part of the Chancellors, or anyone else who was close to Kay. I wish they would find him a fraud as Kay’s son. If crazy Sharon can pull off a DNA switch I’d think Tucker with all his shell corporation and billions of dollars could manage it. LOL
If they want Katherine to have another son, have a new man arrive at the reading of the will. They should start from scratch & build a decent character.
Tucker should be there, it makes no story or character sense for him not to be. Same with Brock and Phillip. I mean, it’s absolutely abhorrent from a character perspective to not have these three people from Kay’s life there. Keep the integrity of the characters we know. I am crossing my fingers that JFP gets this right.
It would be great to see a lot of the former characters come back. I know that some may not be available but they should try to have as many as possible. I have not seen anything on Thom Bierdz’s twitter page that indicates he is part of this. In my opinion, that is a shame – for both the character & the actor.
No lame excuses that her family cannot attend …. like Mackenzie, Brock, Philip, or Ashley (her god-daughter), even Amber who became very close to Katherine.
Ultimately, I am sure no one will be 100% pleased with how it is done. haha
Are you saying Ashley Abbott? If you are, Eileen Davidson is having too much
fun playing Kristen on Days of our Lives. They’ll have to get the other actress.
BTW, are you Chaz Bono?
I have heard her mentioned recently on the show. I think they should have her being out of town on vacation, or something, and she decides not to come back. I don’t think they should have her die in the show!!!
I’m sorry, but that’s completely ridiculous. Nobody would have any closure. People don’t go on vacation and never come back. Unless they DIE while on vacation.
Katherines son Brock and granddaughter McKenzie really have to be there. Then the Chancellor ‘s Philip (the real Philip, not Cane the wanna be Philip) Chance and Nina. The long time cast that have been the backbone of Y & R for years who’s lives have inter twined with Katherines.
I don’t mean Cane shouldn’t be there. Simply not as close family.
Just do a great lady and actress proud.
i think she should pass in her sleep and it shouldnt be anything big… she is no better than any other actor so it should be as plain as anyone else…she had fancy from her family as it should have been… but sure have older actors come back for the memorial but i woulnt do anything wow big
It should be the best daytime ‘send off’ ever with storylines developing post memorial….whats with the Mrs C tributes on holiday weeks?- first it was Memorial week, now its Labor Day week….I
Ever since JFP arrived, the Dylan Avery hour became nauseating.
I cannot watch a so called memorial to Katherine that ends with Cane usurping Chancellor. Katherine had 2 sons. Both of whom should be in attendance . It should be responded to that Tucker already owns 49% of Chancellor. Jill and Tucker should be the one’s to throw con man Cane out as is needed. Short of that and a real tribute to Katherine, her family and relationships Y&R is a waste of time now. The stories are pathetic and the character focus is all off. JFP killed GH and now is busily destroying Y&R. I can not be amongst the audience for any of this. It is so wrong.
I have been watching Y & R since the first day it aired (March 24, 1973), and Katherine Chancellor has been a solid pillar since that time. I have been expecting and looking for some type of recognition of Katherine’s passing for some time. The memorial that was aired on behalf of Jeanne Cooper was very touching and well done. I was very proud of Y& R on that production. All of the actors seemed very sincere. It was very nice to see Beau Kazer in the mix to be with the actors. I was wondering why Brenda Dickenson was not there, as she was the initial Jill Foster. But maybe that would be inappropriate. LOL We sure do miss Katherine. Genoa City will never be the same.
Brenda Dickenson the original Jill claimed she had an affair with Bill Bell and he blacklisted her so I do not think they would touch that ever. Who knows people always claim stuff when somebody passes away and they can’t give their side of the story.
If it were me calling the shots, I would write the stories all up to a great tense climax and then as Katherine Chancellor slipped into the great beyond, everything would seemingly stop as everyone in Genoa City, one by one, revealed their reaction and their response as they learned about Kay’s death. It would be “The Day Katherine Chancellor Died” – and explored in a way like when people learned about JFK, Princess Diana or 9/11 – and for several days after that, it would seem as if life in Genoa City had stopped as everyone reflected on her life and legacy. Just my 2 cents.
At the time of Jeanne Coopers death shows for Y&R had been taped into July air dates. The delay in airing and writing her death story line came from it not being possible to re shoot and re-write two months of episodes. Scripts for the next four weeks had already been written . They also wanted to give the cast and crew time to heal before having to film what would be very difficult scenes. I believe her son also stated that she had planned to take some time off when her then unknown last scene was filmed. That she had never fully recovered from her previous medical leave where Michael Learned filled in. That she had planned to take some time off and rest.
Remember most icons have long since retired from a show when they pass. With Ms. Cooper being an active cast member it makes it difficult to react to her death timely.
So happy that something is finally going to be aired!! Jeanne well deserves it and so does the cast and fans. She has been greatly missed for me on the show. I have been watching for 30 years and still can’t believe that she’s gone. I hope that the Y and R gives her a peaceful passing with the dignity and class her charactor deserves. I will be watching in september and be thinking of the cast during what I’m sure will be very difficult tapings.
I miss you Katherine. The show stinks without you and Phyllis
what did Beau Keyser die from? He played Brock so well. Why wasn’t he on the show more? everyone loved him.
This summer beginning on July 21, Netflix streams the return of WWE: Unreal for its third season. The behind the scenes docudrama series gives fans a glimpse of life in WWE and inside the writers room, as injuries, last-minute pivots, and career-defining decisions reshape WWE’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania 42.
WWE Unreal is taking fans deeper than ever inside World Wrestling Entertainment’s creative process, The hit docuseries will once again pull back the curtain on some of the biggest moments, boldest decisions, and unforgettable storytelling with some of the WWE’s greatest legends who’ve shaped the industry and new stars who are emerging as prominent parts of the future.
In the new season of ‘Unreal’ which consists of 5 episodes at 50 minutes each: John Cena says goodbye, a fan favorite returns, and the next generation of Superstars rise to the occasion.
Photo: WWE
The cast and WWE superstars featured include: the aforementioned Cena, plus Cody Rhodes, Liv Morgan, CM Punk, AJ Lee, Trick Williams, Lash Legend, Stephanie Vaquer, Oba Femi, Bron Breakker, Chelsea Green, Matt Cardona, Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.
As previously reported AJ Lee revealed on General Hospital star Maurice Benard’s (Sonny Corinthos) mental health series, State of Mind, that she was part of the cast of WWE: Unreal.
WWE: Unreal production credits include: Directors/Showrunners: Chris Weaver and Erik Powers Executive Producers: Peyton Manning, Jamie Horowitz, Ross Ketover, Keith Cossrow, Ken Rodgers, Jessica Boddy, Lee Fitting, Ben Houser, Marc Pomarico Sr. Producers: Harley Glantz, Brian Decker, Michael Flynn Producers: John Galiani, Dan Gati, Jeremy Lundblad Production Companies: Omaha Productions, NFL Films, Skydance Sports, WWE.
So, what do you think of the loglines for the new season of WWE: Unreal? Who are you most excited to see featured in the behind the scenes drama from the list of WWE superstars and the twists and turns leading into this past April’s WrestleMania 42? Let us know via the comment section below.
If you have ever tuned-in to the soap opera genre over the last 50 years, and witnessed some of the greatest romances, drama, classic and outlandish storylines of all-time, you would have seen Deidre Hall smack dab in the middle of it as longtime Salem heroine, Dr. Marlena Evans.
It was 50 years on this date, June 21, 1976 that Hall first appeared on DAYS on NBC which was its home for 57 years before it moved to its current streaming platform on Peacock in September of 2022.
In Hall’s first episode she was introduced as a psychiatrist treating Mickey Horton (John Clarke) at Bayview Sanitarium after he suffered a complete mental breakdown. Mickey learned that his brother Bill Horton (Edward Mallory) was the biological son of Mike Horton (Wesley Eure) with his wife Laura (Susan Flannery) and that he had been lied to for years and years. From that moment on, the rest is television and soap opera history. Days of Our Lives put Hall front and center.
Photo: NBC
There were so many heartbreaking and shocking story twists involving the beloved Marlena. One of the first was the historic crib death of baby DJ (Don Jr.) in 1980, Marlena’s infant son with Don Craig (Jed Allan). The story had never been told on daytime television and Hall’s performances received accolades from TV critics to fans when Deidre received thousands of letters from grieving mothers who had gone through the same thing in their own lives.
DAYS also brought Deidre’s twin sister, Andrea Hall Lovell to the show as her on-screen sister Samantha, who had a grudge and even locked Marlena up in a sanitarium and took her place! Fast-forward and in 1982, DAYS launched the Salem Strangler story where everyone believed Marlena was his next victim, only it turned out to be Samatha. Jake Kositchek (played by Jack Coleman) was revealed to be the actual serial killer.
Later, Deidre would assume the role of Marlena’s look-alike, Hattie Adams in 2004, once played by her sister, Andrea. Over the years, Hattie has come back to Salem and caused trouble giving Hall a chance to play a different type of character, then the always upstanding Marlena.
Photo: JPI
THE LOVES OF MARLENA
Deidre Hall struck gold with all her leading men: from the late Jed Allan, to Wayne Northrop as Roman Brady, and of course, her enduring love story with the late John Black played by the iconic Drake Hogestyn. In fact, Marlena’s 1986 wedding to John (who was believed to be Roman at the time) remains a favorite of fans to this day.
TOP MARLENA STORYLINES OF ALL-TIME
While the list is long, here are several that were some of the memorable during Deidre’s five decades in Salem!
The Possession (1994- 1995)
Considered one of the most ambiguous, outlandish and unforgettable story arcs in soap opera history, then Days of Our Lives head writer, James Reilly went there! Marlena was possessed by the devil! That included; the demonic eyes, hissing at father John (Black) the priest, morphing into creatures, and the classic levitating in her bed! It became a cultural phenomenon and cemented Deidre Hall’s status as a daytime television legend. Just ask Ryan Gosling!
Photo:JPI
The Affair with John Black (1993)
John and Marlena’s forbidden love could not be denied and they had passionate affair, while she was still married to the real Roman. Problem was her daughter, Sami (Alison Sweeney) caught her mother having sex with John on a desk that changed Sami forever.
The Salem Stalker Mystery (2003-2004)
In a shocker, Marlena was revealed to be a serial killer who bumped off several Salem favorites residents who were all alive on the island of Melaswen (spelled “New Salem” backward). Turns out, she was manipulated and gaslighted by Andre DiMera (Thaao Penghlis) to do the “killings” and had no memory of her actions.
The Pier Scene (1991)
This remains Michael Fairman TV’s all-time favorite Deidre Hall moment, which featured some of the best acting in the storied careers of both Hall and Drake Hogestyn.
In the story, a presumed-dead Marlena returns after four years. One foggy night on the pier, John is alone, and Marlena steps out of the fog to reveal herself, and is reunited with the love of her life. You can watch it any year, any decade, and in any moment, and it will have you reaching for the hankies again and again. (best music score fo a soap scene of all-time too!)
Photo: NBC
Kristen’s Secret Room Reveal (1997)
Marlena was caught in Kristen Blake’s (Eileen Davidson) elaborate web of lies, when she was held hostage in a secret wine cellar/room until John managed to track her down, leading to an iconic on-screen reunion. The classic catfight between Hall and Eileen Davidson was one for the ages.
It should be noted that Maison Blanche, Queen of the Night, Possession, Aremid and Lady in a Cage were all a part of classic DAYS storyline and all featured Hall at the epicenter of it from 1993-1996.
THE RECENT YEARS OF MARLENA
In recent years, DAYS brought back the possession 2.0 storyline under then head writer Ron Carlivati in 2021 where the devil leapt back in Marlena after taking advantage of a frail Doug Williams (the late Bill Hayes)
In 2025, viewers watched the end of the love story of John and Marlena, as John succumbed to injuries sustained in an explosion saving a vial of medication needed to bring Bo (Peter Reckell) back to life. Marlena has been a widow on-screen since June of 2025 as Hall as portrayed the good doctor struggling with her grief and to move on with her life since his death.
Photo: JPI
One story that never goes away is Stefano DiMera’s (the late Joe Mascolo) obsession with Marlena, his “Queen of the Night.” Even in death, Stefano is toying with her from the great beyond with the mysterious chess set and the missing “pawn,” that he had gifted John and Marlena in his will. The mystery is currently unfolding on all-new episodes of Days of Our Lives.
Tune-in to Days of our Lives on the Monday, June 22 episode as Marlena looks back at her 50 years in Salem.
Share your congratulations to Deidre Hall for this incredible 50-year milestone as Dr. Marlena Evans on Days of Our Lives in the comment section. Then let us know, what is your all-time favorite storyline or moment in the life of Marlena over the past 5 decades? And, just for kicks, and to celebrate this amazing milestone, here is Marlena levitating below circa Christmas Eve 1994.
General Hospital
Maurice Benard Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’ Writers; Teases Upcoming Sonny Scenes with Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric
With the highly-anticipated returns of Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) on this week’s June 24 episode of General Hospital, Steve Burton’s (Jason Morgan) upcoming return on July 13, which also serves as the ABC daytime drama’s 16,000 episode, things are about to fire on all cylinders in the story, as noted today by series star, Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos).
On Father’s Day, the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning actor and mental health activist took to his Instagram and expressed in a video that he has some unbelievable upcoming senes with the aforementioned Burton and Hughes. Add to that Nazneen Contractor (Justine Turner) and Rick Hearst (Ric Lansing), where Benard gave credit where credit is due to the GH writing team, which is led by co-head writers, Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten..
In this video, Benard said, “I just want to get on here and say that I did some work with Steve Burton, Finola Hughes, Rick Hearst, Nazneen Contractor, and they’re all just fantastic. Truly fantastic. But, I want to say the writing was just exceptional. It truly was. It was exceptional. So, thankful for that kind of writing. I know writers don’t get the credit a lot, but I just want to say to the General Hospital writing team, keep rolling!”
GENERAL HOSPITAL PREVIEW
So now the question becomes, with a major tease like that, what is about to go down between Sonny, Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric? Will we finally get to the end of the line for Sidwell (Carlo Rota), as previously teased by the GH co-head writers? Will we learn what happened to Jason and Anna, fully? Will Justine and Sonny becomes closer or stop their liaisons? And what of Ric? Will he be true blue to his brother or double-cross him? There is a lot at stake as we move further into the summer and one that looks like it could be one of the more exciting ones in years!
FINOLA HUGHES CONFIRMED AMAZING SCENES WITH MAURICE BENARD
As a punctuation point to his video, Benard also shared this written message in the post: “I just did some wonderful scenes with Steve Burton, Rick Hearst, Finola Hughes and Nazneen Contractor and and unbelievable writing, freaking amazing scenes that you will see in the near future on General Hospital.” In fact, Finola Hughes jumped in the post comment thread and responded, “I loved our scenes so much xxx”
Fans will most likely see all the scenes Benard referred to later in July, since GH tapes approximately six weeks ahead of air.
So, are you excited to see what Maurice is talking about? Are you hyped for what’s to come on GH? Any clue on what you think will go down between the main characters on the soap with the returns of Anna Devane and Jason Morgan to the mix? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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