February 17, 2009 is a day many Steve and Kayla fans won’t easily forget, as it was the last day they saw their beloved couple on the screen. To add insult to injury, Steve and Kayla didn’t even get an exit storyline. Kayla was in her hospital bed worried about the state of Bo and Hope’s marriage, and it was understood that the characters would still be in Salem even though they wouldn’t be seen on camera. After all the hard work these actors, Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans, have put into their heart-wrenching performances over the years, these two beloved vets, along with their many devoted fans, deserve better, and it’s past time this rant of mine was addressed.
Two months after Steve and Kayla’s non-exit storyline, their daughter Stephanie consummated her relationship with Philip Kiriakis at the Ambassador Hotel. Shortly afterwards, Stephanie’s happiness turned to horror after her beloved Philip was shot, and the DiMera hit man tried to shoot her as well. This was indeed the time when Stephanie needed her parents more than ever, but the best the writers could give us was the lame excuse that Steve and Kayla were “out of town” and had their phones turned off. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has noticed, but it's as if the names "Steve and Kayla" aren't even allowed to be mentioned anymore.
It is a travesty and insult to fans and actors when certain writers don’t bother to study the history of the characters, and know that characters such as Steve and Kayla Johnson would go to the ends of the earth and drop whatever they are doing to be there for their daughter. It was “nice” to see Melanie comforting Stephanie during this horrific time, and “nice” to see Bo stand in for Stephanie’s parents, but nice isn’t going to cut it on soaps.
In the April 21, 2009 issue of Soap Opera Digest, Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans give their first exclusive interview since their departure from the show. As fans recall, they were given the news that they had already shot their last show. The actors were surprised, but Stephen quoted, “That is vindictive of a writer who really does not want to write anything for you and a “cut-and-run” attitude that prevails. When they decide they are done with you, they don’t bother to give the characters the respect of resolving story.” Steve and Kayla fans have every right to be outraged, since an essential element in writing soaps is giving the fans some much needed closure. As of now, there is no closure whatsoever. Their absence has yet to be explained.
After Stephanie was horrified by Philip’s shooting, she became engaged to Philip and was soon kidnapped by Owen the Kiriakis gardener. Once again, Steve and Kayla were barely addressed, only to have the mention that they were “out of town.” What could they possibly be doing that was more important than trying to find their missing daughter? This whole storyline could’ve been ten times better with Steve and Kayla involved. Why the writers didn’t do it before our beloved couple was fired is beyond me. We know that Steve has a history with BOTH the Kiriakis and DiMera families. He worked for Victor when he first came to Salem many years ago, and it would’ve been great to see him warning Steph to stay away from the Kiriakis family, knowing good and well how protective he is of his little sweetness. We also know that Steve would’ve pounded on the door of the DiMera mansion, threatening E.J., threatening Stefano, grabbing Elvis by his shirt collar and demanding his daughter back, raging like a mad father, promising his sweetness that they would find their daughter. We would've seen Kayla slap somebody, as feisty as the beloved Brady heroine is during times of turmoil. It would’ve been must-see TV to see Steve kicking Owen’s behind, reuniting with Stephanie, and seeing Kayla cradle her baby girl like a protective mother hen.
As long-time DAYS fans may also recall, Stephanie was also kidnapped as an infant by the deranged nanny Sheila Salsbury. Steve and Kayla were practically all over the map trying to get their daughter back, and with Bo and Hope’s help, were finally reunited with their baby girl. Considering the history Steve has with BOTH the DiMera and Kiriakis families, the Johnson duo would’ve been a force to be reckoned with, tearing all of Salem apart until their little sweetness was safe and sound.
The whole storyline has been very difficult to digest without the two most essential characters around. It is completely out of character for Steve and Kayla not to be around while Stephanie is missing and in distress. As for Bo, it is also completely out of character for him NOT to call his sister and best friend and ask them if they’ve heard from their own daughter. If the writers are going to write a frontburner story for Stephanie, give the loyal fans what they deserve: closure. If the show feels the need to get rid of two of the most beloved characters, don’t write frontburner stories like this for their daughter. After Roman came to the Kiriakis mansion to warn Stephanie against marrying into the Kiriakis family, the last straw came for me when he said her parents are “not around.” What? And here we thought the characters would still be in Salem.
According to the Soap Opera Digest summer previews, Stephanie is going to get hooked on pills. Are Steve and Kayla still going to be “out of town” or simply “not around?” The fans deserve some valid answers in order to make this believable. Needless to say, it is very hard to keep tuning into a show that has very little respect for the characters and their fans, unable to give a valid explanation for the absence of two of the most pivotal characters. At least with former head writer Hogan Sheffer, he put a lot of research into the characters and watched the early shows from their first run. As Stephen quotes in his Soap Opera Digest interview: “He told Mary Beth and I that, to his eye, it was the best stuff ever on daytime.” Many fans undoubtedly agree.
The show may be able to take Steve and Kayla away from our screens, but they will never be able to take them away from our hearts.
