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'Days Of Our Lives' Cutback Bursts Soap Stars' Bubble

The Associated Press

Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn play Marlena Evans and John Black on "Days of Our Lives." They've been with the soap for two decades.

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By WALT BELCHER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 20, 2008

TAMPA - "Days of Our Lives" fans got a shock this week when NBC announced the firing of the soap's biggest stars, Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn, both of whom have been with the show more than two decades.

Their characters' (Marlena Evans and John Black) on-and-off love story has been at the center of the fictional town of Salem for decades.

The firings came just days after NBC renewed "Days" through 2010. It's the only soap on the network and the only daytime drama that hasn't seen a drop in ratings during the past year.

NBC made the renewal on the condition of severe budget cuts, and the high-salaried Hall and Hogestyn likely won't be the last casualties.

NBC officials say the story will have the estranged couple reunited before their January exits.

Still, fans are upset. Thousands have posted protests on message boards.

Hall has played Marlena since 1976. The character has had some of the wildest story lines. She has come back from the dead, had an evil twin and been possessed by Satan.

Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813 259-7654 or wbelcher@tampatrib.com or wbelcher@tampatrib.com.

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