Q: I love the John and Marlena love story on "Days." I know Marlena has been a character on the program before John. Can you tell me about Marlena's previous loves? — Patti, Gates Mills, Ohio.

A: Deidre Hall created the role of Dr. Marlena Evans on "Days" in 1976; John did not arrive until 1986. When Marlena came to Salem, she was Mickey Horton's psychiatrist. Through Mickey she met attorney Don Craig (Jed Allan). After a whirlwind romance, the two were marching down the wedding aisle. Suddenly an ill wind brought a stranger to the wedding. A teenage girl was threatening to jump from the roof. Marlena stopped the ceremony to help save the girl. Don realized it was not a stranger, but his long estranged teenage daughter Donna (Tracey Bregman). In an attempt to stop her from jumping, Don fell off the roof. Don survived and eventually married Marlena. The couple had a premature son. At the age of six months the infant was a victim of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Don and Marlena's marriage could not survive the tragedy and the duo divorced. After that, Marlena became the target of a serial strangler. During the investigation, she got to know police officer Roman Brady (Wayne Northrop) Once the murder was solved, the couple wed. They had twins Samantha and Eric, then the evil Stefano arrived and it appeared he had killed Roman. Years later Marlena was working with a burn patient named John Black. She decided he was really her thought-to-be-dead husband Roman. The problem was that Northrop is shorter than Drake Hogestyn, who plays John Black. Perhaps while he was having his face redone by his captors the old Roman was also being stretched on a medieval torture rack. For years everyone thought John Black was Roman. Then the real Roman arrived (Josh Taylor), who is the same height as Hogestyn. For many years Marlena was torn between both men but eventually decided John was the man she wanted to spend her life with.

Q: My friend swears that Meg Ryan appeared on "As the World Turns." I say she is confused because the show has a character named Meg Ryan. Who is right? — Elissa, Portsmouth, Va.

A: Isn't it great when everyone can be right? In 1980 Meg Ryan joined the show as Betsy. Betsy and her boyfriend, Steve, were a romantic super couple. For several years Craig Montgomery tried to keep Steve and Betsy apart. Ryan decided to leave ATWT after two years, claiming she wanted to attend journalism school. Hey, we know the course — it is not that hard. You could keep your high-paying soap job and go to J-school. In truth Ryan was headed to L.A. and her high-powered film career. At present there is a character on ATWT named Meg Snyder Ryan. Meg is married to Paul Ryan, and is the once wayward daughter of Emma Snyder.

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

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