In light of the fact that the-powers-that-be have once again done the unthinkable and have fired our beloved Drake Hogestyn (John Black), one of their best actors and a MAJOR asset to Days of our Lives, I can't stress enough how important it is that we all join forces like we did in October of 2007 and let Drake's bosses know that it is NOT acceptable to treat a man who has given nearly 23 consecutive years to this show like a second-class citizen.

We Drake fans are feeling like we've just been trampled on by a thousand elephants. We're in total shock, feel sick to our stomachs and can't stop crying, which is more than likely how Drake still feels after getting a phone call at his HOUSE from Executive Producer, Ken Corday on what was clearly Drake's day off. Instead of doing the compassionate thing that a long-time friend of Drake's should've done, which is phone Drake and ask him to meet with him in a private location so they could talk face-to-face, Ken instead ruthlessly told Drake that he is being fired over the phone without even giving Drake an explanation besides "his character is being taken off the canvas because they have other stories they want to tell." OMG, what the heck is THAT supposed to mean? They fire a FABULOUS actor because Headwriter Dena Higley isn't capable of writing for more than three storylines at a time? Why does Drake have to leave a place that he considers his "second home" as well as leave cast-mates he loves dearly because Dena is an incompetent writer?

We're in total disbelief, furious and are outraged that this show sees NOTHING wrong with treating an actor that is an icon on DAYS so shabby, even though he has been nothing but loyal, supportive and the biggest team player and cheerleader for DAYS. Drake never once expressed any desire to leave DAYS for greener pastures, yet he has had his role terminated...what the hell is wrong with this picture? He also wasn't undergoing contract negotiations. Drake was already signed to a contract, so what they have done is let this wonderful man out of his contract once his cycle ends before the end of the year.

The bottom line is this didn't have to happen. I know that DAYS has budget constraints, but there are other ways to cut a budget without having to get rid of a VERY talented actor like Drake. They could've instead gotten rid of the newbie actors and that would've assured that Drake could remain on the canvas. Ken cries the budget blues but proceeds to hire more actors, which makes it really hard not to see him as a compulsive liar who is just saying that the show is in dire straits so that he can fire our vets and hire younger actors in their place in an effort to create the next generation of Salem. This sure sounds like age discrimination to me.

Speaking for myself, I'm going to write to the soap opera magazines (since they do care about soap opera fans) as well as write to EVERYBODY on the list below, and fax and call the NBC comment line and tell them how angry I am that Drake has once again needlessly been fired. IMO ALL fans of DAYS' veterans should use Drake's firing as an example of what could happen to any of DAYS' veterans, and I pray that you all will join us in showing the-powers-that-be the most MASSIVE fan outcry in the history of DAYS in an effort to get the-powers-that-be to REVERSE this lame-brained decision. I don't know how the-powers-that-be can justify a mistake of this magnitude. How can they do this? Do staying power, seniority and the fact that this gifted, charismatic and extraordinary actor has given two decades of his life to this show mean NOTHING?

If the-powers-that be go through with this travesty and ALLOW Drake to walk out the doors of NBC, I'll turn off DAYS and will be following Drake to any other network that will be very blessed to have him on their canvas.

Whatcha say team, are you guys with me? Not to be an alarmist, but it could be YOUR favorite next. I can't even express how much it would mean to us Drake fans if we have your support. We promise to write in support of your favorite if THEY are ever going through what Drake and his fans are, but I pray that they never have to.

Here is a list of people that we're going to contact. We've taken MANY people off the list and focused on the ones that deal with Drake on a regular basis.

Ken Corday
Corday Productions
3400 West Olive Avenue, Suite 170
Burbank, CA 91505
Telephone: (818) 972-0917

Gary Tomlin
Co-Executive Producer
Days of our Lives, c/o NBC-TV
3000 W. Alameda Avenue
Burbank, CA 91523

Noel Maxam
Supervising Producer
Days of our Lives, c/o NBC-TV
3000 W. Alameda Avenue
Burbank, CA 91523

Greg Meng
Executive in Charge of Production
Days of our Lives, c/o NBC-TV
3000 W. Alameda Avenue
Burbank, CA 91523
Email: gregmeng@dool.net

Dena Higley
Headwriter
Days of our Lives, c/o NBC-TV
3000 W. Alameda Avenue
Burbank, CA 91523

SONY in Burbank:
Michael Lynton
Telephone: (310) 244-5722

PHONES/FAXES:
Days Hotline in New York: (212) 664-2333
Days Production Office in CA: (818) 295-2820
Days Number in CA: (818) 840-2067
NBC Switchboard in CA: (818) 840-4444 (ask for the comment line)
Fax: (818) 840-4968 (for anyone at NBC or DAYS Burbank)

Online Comment: http://www.nbc.com/Footer/Contact_Us

William Bartlett
Manager, Editorial Services and Viewer Relations
Corporate Communications, NBC
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112

Soap Opera Magazines:
Lynn Leahey
Editorial Director
Soap Opera Digest
261 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016

Stephanie Sloane
Editor
Soap Opera Digest
261 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016

Soap Opera Digest
"Sound Off"
261 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Fax: 212-661-2560
Email: SODsound@sourceinterlink.com

Soap Opera Weekly
"Public Opinion"
261 Madison Avenue, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Fax: 212-661-1825
Email: SPWpubop@sourceinterlink.com

I'm on it!

I will have cards ready to go out tomorrow!

I'm on it.

I feel the same about Drake, but also Blake and Jay. Why do they continue to do stupid stuff?

I will do EVERYTHING in my power AGAIN like the last time,if not more,unlike last time far as I know anyways he hasn't shot a final episode so there maybe time to save him,I will send letters to magazines,email,fax,call,whatever is needed.

Count me in. I've already started writing.

i helped last time..but i will pass this time. i hope you succeed, but i just have no heart for it.

This is sad. I was hoping to see a complete John, and romance rediscover between him and Marlena.

Good luck guys.

Thank you BooMonster! YAY! YAY!

You can send a fax for FREE from http://faxzero.com/ okay?

THANK YOU for your help!

You guys are the BEST! Thank you Vicky4Mimi and Kym77!

Hey babyfaith, THAT is the question on everybody's mind but nobody has an answer. *sigh*

ICAM Hartleyfan! I'm not losing Drake without a fight! If they don't want him at DAYS, another show will be more than happy to have him on THEIR canvas. THANK YOU for your help!

YAHOOOOOO! It is great to CYA ILuvDrake!

Thank you for your good wishes Tishmanspeyer!

I still can't believe this is happening to Drake AGAIN! *MAD*









Thank you!

I've read that his official fan base will not be campaigning to get him back on Days this time. I wouldn't be shocked to learn that Drake has no interest in going back to Days after how they've treated him.

I wish you all the best of luck however

Thanks for the link,Corday is gonna get several from me.Cannot believe he didn't learn his lesson.

This is his second time being fired in the past 2 years. I doubt he would come back for a while. I wouldnt either if I felt unwanted.

I have made many phone calls, I will begin my writing campaign as well.
Im still hopeful that this is just a cruel rumor.. A Days insider said the Rumor was from last years link, But will look into the rumor tomorrow.
Keeping my fingers crossed.. But in anycase it is good to let TPTB know how we feel about Drake, and our Vets, and his cruddy Head Writer.

The one thing I do know for sure.. If Drake leaves, I leave with him.

I'm going to miss Drake. Good luck in your quest to save the show!

I found three addresses for Ken Corday. I'm checking phone numbers that I found.

1035 Santa Monica Blvd
130 LA CA 90025

10343 Valley Springs
Toluca Lake, CA 91602-2933

285 Ocean Park Blvd 300
Santa Monica CA 90405

Now Marlena is Fired

WTFFFFFFF

This is crap..first they destroy my Lumi and now they rip my Jarlena away from me..I am not a happy camper! If John is truly off the show and Marlena too then I am boycotting. Looks like I will not only campaign for Lumi but Jarlena as well. I totally love Drake. He was what I was still watching the show for...Give me my vets back..stuff the younger set except for Blake of course and write him better! Also give me back my JKJ..WHAT DA HECK.....I am all for helping with anything regarding Drake, let me know..my board and my friends although Lumis hugely support Jarlena..anything we can do we will...maybe a huge Jarlena campaign is in order....anybody got any ideas,,,I am willing to do whatever needs to be done to get Drake and Dee back...

I've faxed, emailed and called!!!! I am still in disbelief about this crap!!! Drake's last day is my last day!!!

Drake was talking about leaving the show before they fired him in 2007, but he was enjoying the show this year. But I wouldn't blame him if he didn't want to come back after the way they have treated him. Maybe he'll do another show, or get more involved with Malibu Health and Rehabilitation Spa if it's still around.

If he wants to come back, I hope the fans get what they want, and if he doesn't, I wish him all the best of luck in whatever he decides to do.

That's right...this is why this campaign is being done in an effort to get Ken to reverse his decision to fire Drake. If he doesn't, I'm done with DAYS. Many people are just calling, faxing, phoning, writing to give TPTB a big "FU" for what they did to Drake and Deidre.

Thanks mesagirl! ITA, I don't blame Drake if he doesn't want to go back to DAYS again. He is a VERY talented actor and will do well on any show but I hate it that he didn't WANT to leave DAYS yet he was fired anyway.

Thanks for your help Hartleyfan!

BlondeQTAngel007, I understand what you're saying but this is MORE about telling TPTB that we're as mad as hell that they've done this to Drake again. If everybody accepts this choice, what message is that sending to TPTB? That fans don't have the attachment to these actors that they once did. I mean we CRASHED phone lines last time he was fired. It is because of that firing that we only have ONE person on our email list but before Drake was fired last year, all of TPTB had a working email address but a day after Drake was fired we saw pretty fast that our emails were being blocked and now they've changed their email addresses. The outcry last year was extraordinary which is why Drake was brought back, so if the outcry now (for firing a super couple) doesn't even come CLOSE to last year, TPTB will pat themselves on the back for getting rid of both actors.

It doesn't matter to me if Drake DOESN'T want back on DAYS. What matters to me is standing up for HIS rights and making it clear that I am TOTALLY pissed off that they've fired Drake again. Also, I believe this is a test and TPTB are trying to see how much outcry there is if they ditch a super couple.

Thank you FRSTDAYZER for your help! I hear ya, I boycotted DAYS and NBC last year when they fired Drake and I'll do it AGAIN in a heartbeat.

Thank you!



WOW! Thank you!

Thank you bryandatillofan and the Lumi fan base! I can't say that enough!

Hugs to Drake_Cake! *hugs*

Thanks NewDaysFan! I'm behind Drake all the way but without Drake on it, I'm an ex-DAYS watcher.

I am not giving up on getting Drake and now Dee back either,now with them both I got extra work cut out for me,for me failure is not a option,lol.

LOL Hartleyfan, good for you!

Now is the time to boycott. It's sweeps. If the ratings suddenly crash. It's more likely to get NBC and GE's attention enough that Ken will have some explaining to do.

I agree and said the same thing. I have not tuned in Mon or Tuesday.. Why should I?
I want to send a clear message to Corday That I think He is unstable, and lost his marbles along with a hefty fanbase.

Pehaps in DEC when they write the (no doubt super rushed)reunion, and farewell I might tune in, but not now.
I dont care about Nick. I dont care about EJ, Nicole, Sami,Max, Stephanie, .. Dont give 2 figs about Kate's terribly written Cancer story, or Dr Dan. I dont care about the new Brady. I dont care about Abe being Mayor, and I certainly dont care about the"Autism story"
None of any of the above matter to me if Jarlena is not in Salem,And If I dont feel some inkling of hope for a future storyline with them.
Salem is an empty shell, and if I watch now its just a lie and sending a message that .. Its ok, Ill watch anyway, And I really wont.

I want to send my message now.. I see no reason to wait, and scrounge on glimpses of John and Marlena that have no meaning.