'Grey's' Isn't Going Anywhere
'Red Widow' Gets The Axe
Days of Our Lives dumps another supercouple
by Allison Waldman, posted Feb 4th 2009 5:02PM
NBC seems determined to destroy Days of Our Lives, the last soap left on the network. After receiving a truck load of negative press for firing/letting go/dumping Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn, the producers are now dropping the axe on perhaps the most popular romantic couple ever on the show, Patch and Kayla. According to Soap Opera Digest, Mary Beth Evans and Stephen Nichols have been let go. This may seem like an economic necessity for Days of Our Lives, especially since the soap only has a year-and-a-half to prove to NBC that it's still viable -- that was the length of the pick up it received when it was renewed in 2008 -- but to fans this is just another slap in the face.
Patch and Kayla are seminal to Days, and getting Stephen back in 2006 was a big deal. Sadly, his return and reteaming with Evans didn't pump up the ratings. Good storytelling might have helped, because both actors are still excellent in their roles.
Patch and Kayla are second only to Bo and Hope in love story longevity on Days of Our Lives. They would have been third if John and Marlena hadn't been shipped out of Salem on a permanent sabbatical last month, and with that storyline, the employment for Hogestyn and Hall.
At that time, there was speculation that other actors would be dropped as well, but it is surprising that Nichols and Evans are the two that were chosen. In the most recently popularity polls, they were the favorite actor, actress and couple on Days. The only logical reason to let them go is money; they were making a lot more than the unknown newbies who have been getting more and more airtime.
What this really means for soap devotees like me is that the prospects of Days of Our Lives lasting past 2010 is growing dim. John and Marlena, Patch and Kayla ... these are the romantic supercouples that have kept Days interesting. If the next couple to go is Bo and Hope, as rumors suggest, then Days will really be calling it a day.
As for Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans, I fully expect them to pop up on other soaps. Mary Beth could return to As the World Turns where she was terrific as Sierra, and since General Hospital found a way to bring Laura back to life, maybe Nichol's Stefan Cassadine can be resurrected. In fact, how about this: Laura comes back from Paris and brings the recently discovered, not-really-dead Stefan with her! Explanations can be filled in later.
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