♥ Never Ending Story 2002 ♥ Note on soap magazine publication dates and content of articles/interviews regarding multiple soap stars: Many of the monthly or every other month (and sometimes quarterly) magazines back in the 1980's would be on the newsstands a long time before the date on the actual magazine. We've noticed, for instance, that DAYTIME TV magazine did an interview with Drake in late 1986 about his upcoming wedding, which was scheduled for December 1986, yet the interview didn't appear until the July 1987 issue several months later. Therefore, it might be a bit confusing to read about his "upcoming" wedding in an interview dated July 1987 when you happen to know he was married in December 1986. We've tried to date the articles to match the date on the magazine, regardless of when the events talked about took place. Hopefully it will make sense as you go along! We've also edited some of the articles/interviews to just include John's storyline, since this is a Drake/John website. We've left out comments and sections about other actors or storylines unless they're involved with John's storyline. This too should be very apparent and clear when we've done that so it makes sense and you don't have to skim through a long article to find the "John parts." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Exposed John And Hope's Guilty Secret "We Were Lovers!" Cover Story - DAYS Outrage! Salem Long-Time Favorites John And Hope Discover Their Secret Lives As...Secret Lovers! (Please Note: Our Australian friends have always been several years behind the United States and Canada in terms of storyline on DAYS OF OUR LIVES. We always make a conscious effort to arrange all of the articles on BASEBALL MEMORIES AND MALIBU DREAMS according to the issue date on the magazine, but because the Australian soap opera magazines like SOAP WORLD and TV SOAP are so far behind us on what they're seeing, we're going to list these articles by storyline instead of by publication date. Even though these articles might seem like they're not organized right because of the date "appearing" to be out of order, they are in order but it is according to the storyline going on in the United States and Canada, not in Australia.) John and Hope were once lovers - loyal, devoted and totally inseparable! This is the shocking discovery made by Hope when she digs further into her puzzling past on DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Trying to take her mind off problems with true love Bo, Hope instead discovers she was once deeply in love with John! In a storyline sure to outrage fans, Hope (Kristian Alfonso) learns for the first time that Bo (Peter Reckell) may not have been the only man to claim a special place in her heart - and bed. Meanwhile, John (Drake Hogestyn) is rocked to think that for years there was another woman in his life besides Marlena (Deidre Hall). It's not the first time there have been hints of romance between John and Hope. John once deliriously demanded Hope make love to him in the jungle, while Hope was obsessed with keeping him safe as they searched for a cure for Roman (Josh Taylor). So, will we see John and Hope get together? And, if so, how will this affect Bo and Marlena? It would surely be one of the show's most controversial love stories! Recently in the United States, fans were ready to storm NBC studios where DAYS is shot when Hope seduced John and made love to him in shameless scenes. The two characters are embroiled in a bitter custody battle over the baby whom John sired during their wild weekend abroad. (OOPS! This is wrong. John did not fight Hope for custody of Johnny. In fact, John stepped back from being a father to the baby and instead took a place behind Bo as Johnny's Godfather.) Although these intense love scenes are two years away from local screens, we'll soon witness the pair's chemistry as they work to fill the gaps in their shrouded histories. In coming months, John and Hope leave their partners in Salem as they head to distant Switzerland to hunt for the truth. Hope depends increasingly on John who uses his detective skills to spot clues she missed. He tracks down an old lady who knew "Princess Gina" intimately during her time in Europe. Hope is elated and grateful to John for finding this link to her past. But her gratitude turns to horror when the old lady reveals that "Gina" was the "envy of all women but faithful to one man." When "Gina" asks who the love of her life was, she secretly believes she's about to hear Bo's name, reaffirming their deep love. But poor Hope is shaken to the core when the woman says: "He's right beside you, dear..." John immediately refutes the idea, claiming he was in Salem for the entire time Hope was missing. He suggests it's a case of mistaken identity. But he's in turmoil, remembering the photos of him at a great party he and "Gina" allegedly attended together. Viewers get a further hint that the old woman may be right through a flashback. It shows John saving Hope from Stefano's (Joe Mascolo) clutches a few kilometers from Maison Blanche, four years after she was presumed dead. Maybe, in hindsight, it's a little too convenient to have been a spontaneous rescue? Perhaps John was with Hope the whole time, right up until Stefano tired of using them and turned them out? Hope has long wondered what happened during her four-year disappearance from Salem. She'd been declared dead after Bo saw her fall into a vat of acid, but she later reappeared with no memory of where she'd been or her life as Hope. For many months, Hope insisted she was a Russian princess named Gina, until her family and friends convinced her otherwise. But her real identity is again questioned in Switzerland as former acquaintances insist she's "Gina." Certainly, John can empathize with Hope - his own history is eerily similar. When John first arrived in Salem, he was covered in bandages and unable to speak. Months later when his injuries healed, he couldn't recall his name or his past. Although many now accept that John is really Forrest Alamain, nutty Vivian's (Louise Sorel) nephew, he's never been able to recall a single memory. Indeed, he's probably the only person in Salem who can truly relate to Hope's anguish. (OOPS! This is wrong. John has recalled some memories of his life as Forrest. He remembered thrashing in water while under hypnosis; this lead to him remembering that he 'drowned' in a swimming pool as a child. He was revived, but his death was faked and he was taken from his family. He also remembered dancing with a masked woman at a masquerade ball, who later turned out to be Danielle Stevens. He also remembered being given a baseball signed by Mickey Mantle. It came out that the ball was a gift to Forrest from Buddy Rose, a janitor that Forrest befriended in a New York City boarding school.) So what will this new bombshell mean for John and Hope's legendary romances with respective partners Bo and Marlena? For now, neither intends to take it too seriously. They can't remember the affair and don't have any solid evidence to back the claim. But one thing is certain - neither can look at each other again in quite the same way. Vanessa Mace, Australia's TV SOAP, 1/02 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Paternity Shocker! The News That Changes Everything... Hope Learns The Devastating Truth: There's another twist in DAYS' elaborate baby-switch storyline this week: Hope confirms she is Isaac's mother...but neither John nor Stefano is his father. As Bo and Hope prepare for Glen's first visitation with Johnny, John and Marlena, who now know John isn't the father, arrive under the pretext of offering their support. However, they are really there to obtain a DNA sample from Hope to prove she isn't Isaac's mother. "Marlena's job is (being) at her husband's side, no matter what the task or what the consequences," asserts Deidre Hall (Marlena). "She will do what she needs to satisfy his needs in the equation, not so much Hope's or Bo's or the child's. She's on her husband's team, and she will help him do whatever he must do." After Marlena snares a strand of hair from Hope's brush, she and John head to the lab. "For his own peace of mind, John wants to put all the pieces together," explains Drake Hogestyn (John). "He wants to know, 'What is going on here? What was all this about?' He wants to clean up the mess." When Hope is a conclusive match, Marlena checks Stefano's hospital records. A blood-type comparison could eliminate Stefano as Isaac's father. Marlena unlocks the files, retrieves the information and cross-checks it with Isaac's and Hope's data. Meanwhile, back at the Brady house, Hope is experiencing weird "whiteouts." Bo blames the spells on the stress of Glen's impending visit, but Hope believes she might be starting to remember something. "She's fearful, but she also wants to know," offers Kristian Alfonso (Hope). "It's, 'What is this? Now what is happening to me? How much more can I take?'" Not much, obviously. John and Marlena arrive with the results of their recent undercover work: Hope is Isaac's mother, but John is not the boy's father. "Finding out that Isaac is her child with 100% certainty...Hope is shocked, excited, all those emotions," previews Alfonso. "But when John reveals he's not the boy's father, Hope thinks, 'Oh, my God! It's Stefano!' She's scared to death she could have possibly slept with Stefano." So is Bo. "Finding out that John was J.T.'s 'father' was traumatic and hurtful, because of all the lies. But there was a security there," points out Peter Reckell (Bo). "John is somebody Bo and Hope love and trust and have a certain respect for. Finding out that John isn't Isaac's father makes things shaky for Bo, because the possibility of Stefano being the father is 1,000 times worse." John and Marlena finally reveal the results of the Stefano/Isaac blood work: The Phoenix is not Isaac's father either! So who is? While Hope is relieved Stefano didn't sire her son, "she also carries the guilt of, 'Oh my god! Who else could I have been with!'" Alfonso says with a shudder. "Hope is very frightened of who could be the father." Things get worse when Glen and Barb arrive to take J.T. "This is tearing Bo up, knowing that he may have to give up this kid he has learned to love and who is a huge part of him," says Reckell. "But Bo has to keep it together so that Hope doesn't lose it. He has to be her strength. You have to wonder: Is he ever going to crack?" "To see J.T. go off with this stranger...it's just very distressing," laments Alfonso. "Bo and Hope are J.T.'s family. He needs them, trusts them. At the same time, Hope will probably be doing to Abe and Lexie what Glen and Barb are doing to her." That, and solving the pesky question of who fathered the boy. Janet Di Lauro, SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 2/26/02 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John's Big Surprise Marriage Shocker: DAYS John and Marlena renew their wedding vows this week on DAYS. John creates the romantic scenario after the couple discuss their long history together. "Marlena mentions Hawaii and their honeymoon, and John does a little turnaround," previews Deidre Hall (Marlena). John is flooded with memories of betraying Marlena with Hope/Gina on the submarine. "John says something about not deserving her love." But Marlena won't hear of it. She reassures her husband eloquently, reminding him they must use the past to help them grow and move forward as a couple. "With Marlena's dialogue, more often than not, (the show's scriptwriters) are able to write things that are succinct, clear and profound. This is one of those times," says Hall. John gets an idea, and he races out the door. Later, Marlena finds him in the hotel lobby, and he whisks her away to a Medieval Chapel, where they re-pledge their love. "It's a moment of reaffirmation and recommitment," Hall adds. "It's powerful and sustained; John talks about the sense of betrayal. She talks about them always finding their way back to each other, how she loves John more now than she ever did before, and that that is where she will always be - with him. It's a wonderful set, very romantic. John looks dashing, as always, in the medieval costume he has on," Hall smiles. After the ceremony, John has another surprise for his bride. He takes her to his private jet, which he has redecorated to look exactly like it did on their first honeymoon. "John is the What's-Behind-Door-Number-3? man," laughs Hall. "He is the character who fulfills all women's fantasies. It's the right thing, the right time, the right way to say it." Janet Di Lauro, SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 4/2/02 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Most Romantic Moment... Wedding Bells For John And Marlena: They Do - Again! Sami and Austin, as well as Colin and Elizabeth, aren't the only couples set to wed. John and Marlena get caught up in the romance and take another walk down the wedding aisle! Better Luck This Time! The last time Marlena and John exchanged vows, everything went beautifully - until the honeymoon. Hope, as Princess Gina, kidnapped the groom. While Marlena was sick with worry, "Princess Gina" made love to John. By the time he was safely returned to Marlena, the memory was wiped from his mind and Hope later learned she was pregnant. Thanks to Stefano, it was believed that John had fathered the baby. But recently, a second DNA test ruled him out as the dad. The Gang's All Here: Several Salemites converge in Las Vegas for Sami and Austin's wedding. Besides John and Marlena, they include Roman, Kate, Philip, Belle, Brandon and Jennifer. For unrelated reasons, Jack and Greta are also Vegas bound, but may turn up at the ceremony if Jack gets wind of it. Tribute Of Love: With weddings on the brain, John is inspired to create a lovely surprise for his wife. While Marlena is busy with Sami's wedding, John makes preparations for their unique wedding. He comes up with a truly original idea: John gets costumes from the medieval period and holds the ceremony at an Excalibur-type hotel's Medieval Chapel. John's gesture causes Marlena to weep tears of joy. His romantic plans don't stop with the wedding. Later, he whisks Marlena off to his private jet, where the couple enjoys an evening of wild, passionate lovemaking. They should make the most of their interlude of happiness, because a surprising turn of events will shift their focus in a different direction. SOAP OPERA UPDATE, 4/9/02 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DAYS: Will John And Tony's Final Battle Destroy Marlena? Cover Story - Good Vs. Evil: DAYS' John and Tony square off. Will Marlena be the ultimate prize? DAYS OF OUR LIVES' Tony orchestrates an elaborate dinner party for the reading of Stefano's will. But the presence of an unexpected guest threatens to overshadow the surprises that will be revealed in Stefano's will. It could lead to an ultimate battle between John and Tony over Marlena - and her offspring! Thaao Penghlis (Tony) previews, "It's going to be an interesting battle of wits, without having to resort to gun-play." The intrigue begins when John interrupts a private encounter between Marlena and Tony. Both Marlena and Tony anticipate an explosive reaction from John. Instead, he's surprisingly cordial, which stuns both of them. "John is being counseled by his wife and Kate Roberts to change his approach with Tony," explains Drake Hogestyn (John). "In order for John to get what he wants, Marlena and Kate have suggested that he not be so confrontational." In fact, John displays amazing restraint as he struggles to give Tony the benefit of the doubt regarding a troubling incident from their past. "It's a different shift in John's attitude toward the DiMeras. Hopefully, in allowing for the benefit of doubt in this particular situation, he also stays focused on the fact that the DiMeras are still bad people." Tony also puts up a curious front when he invites John and Marlena to an upcoming dinner party. In a show of good sportsmanship, they accept, which pleases him tremendously. Later, Tony confides to his secret co-hort, Colin, that his primary intention is to get closer to both John and Marlena. "It's going to be an interesting triangle," previews Penghlis. "There's a sense of maturity in their behavior. It's about people who are using their minds. So there's an intelligence, which I like. There's also an element of humor. We'll see what kind of dance is played." Soon after, Tony becomes preoccupied with an empty cobalt blue box. He vows to win back the key to the box from John. Moments later, John arrives to present Tony with an unexpected gift. That evening, Tony makes an appearance at the hospital blood drive, with his sister Lexie by his side. After delivering a very sincere speech on behalf of Chloe's plight, Tony donates a large check to the Leukemia Foundation. The move inspires John to match Tony's donation. Meanwhile, Sami arranges a secret meeting with Tony in the alley outside the hospital. Their hushed meeting is interrupted by John, who demands to know what is going on between them. "John's facade slips when he shows his disapproval of Sami and her relationship with Tony," reveals Hogestyn, who also notes, "In the past, we haven't explored a lot about John's relationship with Sami or Eric. When Marlena was presumed dead, he raised them for years as a single parent. He will always consider Sami his daughter. Now that he is aware that there is a dynamic between Sami and Tony, John will be very watchful of Sami." Though Tony offers what he thinks is a logical explanation for why he and Sami are meeting in the alley, John is skeptical. "He may be tipping his hand," observes Hogestyn. "Instead of showing even the slightest hint of disapproval, John might be better off steering Sami in a different direction." After John exits, the true nature of the meeting between Sami and Tony is revealed. In the process, Sami is tempted to make a deal with the devil when she negotiates an arrangement with Tony. Shortly after, the guests for Tony's dinner party gather at the DiMera mansion. The occasion also marks the reading of Stefano's will. The arrival of Tony's mystery guest stuns everyone. "We're moving into a whole new chapter here," teases Hogestyn. "It's going to be played closer to the vest than before, with a lot more twists, turns and nuances. It's also going to bring a lot of characters into the story. This isn't just between John and Tony." The Missing Pieces: For those of you who have recently started watching the show, here's a bit of back history to help you understand the dynamics between Tony, John, Marlena and Roman, and it'll help you see how Tony's return has spun the feud between John and the DiMeras into an exciting new direction. Years ago, Tony fell in love with Roman's ex-wife Anna, who is the mother of Roman's daughter, Carrie. He raised Carrie as his stepdaughter. Then he came back to town, fell in love with Stefano's adopted daughter Kristen, who then fell in love with John. Now, John and Marlena are together and Tony is with neither Kristen nor Anna. We are excited about what is about to develop between John, Tony and Marlena, but it's hard not to imagine how the story would unfold if three other important characters in Tony's life also made a return: Stefano, Anna and Kristen, played respectively by Joseph Mascolo (Massimo, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL), Leann Hunley and Eileen Davidson (Ashley, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS). "I miss them," concurs Penghlis. "But this is a new road. I think, in some ways, we're not going to anticipate what's going to happen next, because there has been a break in the story, at least between Tony and John. The only thing for certain is that they will try to outdo each other, with some humor added this time around." But even if there is humor, let's never forget that Tony is a DiMera through and through and the DiMeras have always been out to destroy all that is good - and Marlena and her family are good through and through. Robert Waldron, SOAP OPERA UPDATE, 7/30/02 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ DAYS Risks It All Marlena And...Tony? The News - DAYS John + Marlena + ...Tony? John and Marlena have managed to stay together through Stefano, Roman/not Roman, Gina and the Gemini twins. But will Tony ultimately be the one to tear them apart? "In John Black's universe, the mere presence of Tony DiMera in Salem is always going to be a threat to his family," insists DAYS OF OUR LIVES Co-Headwriter Peter Brash. "It is (not) overtly romantic trouble...but it is still threatening to John's happy family life," especially since Marlena has been giving the twins therapy. This week, when the twins are in trouble, Tony offers his assistance (see sidebar). "From the beginning, Tony has seen these twins as a conduit right to Marlena," maintains Brash. "We will see him quickly volunteer to (help). That puts Marlena in Tony's sphere, and that is threatening to John." What about her 'lost' years? As Marlena gets drawn more into DiMeraland, she starts to delve into her past. "It becomes a race in time with John and Marlena trying to answer questions about her missing years (on Stefano's island) and Tony trying to answer questions about his, and what that will mean for John and Marlena and Tony and Marlena," hints Brash. How come every time Tony goes into a catatonic state he mutters Marlena's name? "Tony seems to be programmed to think that Marlena is the answer to his problems and, perhaps, the key to his destiny," shares Brash. "It's sublimated right now. It's not conscious after he comes out of those states. Tony has to be told that he says Marlena's name. Those are mysteries that Tony must solve. He is trying to solve it for himself, and Marlena is trying to solve it to find out what is up with Tony and her. As they get pieces of the puzzle and put them together, it draws Tony closer to Marlena and it does threaten John and Marlena. But at the same time, John and Marlena are committed to working together against Tony. It's a triangle of sorts in that they're ganging up against him, and he wants to get a wedge in between them." Ultimately, Tony realizes "Marlena has what he wants. It makes him more drawn to her," interjects Co-Headwriter Paula Cwikly. "She becomes even more of a goal," adds Brash, noting that an unusual triangle is brewing. "It's got heavy psychology running below the surface." What Our Readers Want: The answer to our Viewers' Voice Issue Thirty-Nine poll question - With whom should Tony be paired? - didn't sit well with some John/Marlena fans. We shouldn't have implied that all respondents who don't want Tony to have a love interest want him to "concentrate on ruining John and Marlenas' lives." There's a big difference between Tony being an antagonist in the John/Marlena story and Tony destroying their relationship, pointed out several readers. Janet Di Lauro, SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 10/8/02 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ The News Double Trouble The battle for custody of the Gemini twins erupts this week on DAYS. Thanks to Marlena, the government agrees to release them - but on one condition: Someone must assume legal guardianship. Marlena desperately wants to care for the twins herself, but John refuses. So good ol' Tony steps in and offers Cassie and Rex a place to call home: the DiMera mansion. "It has been established that these twins are human," points out Deidre Hall (Marlena). "They have done what was expected of them [by the government], and they have measured up. Since they're not a danger to themselves or to anyone else, there is no reason to keep them there." When Spector claims he has no authority to release the twins, Marlena plays hardball. "She says 'Either find somebody who can authorize it or I'll contact a civil rights attorney.' Kind of saucy for Marlena, huh?" laughs Hall. After making a call, Spector announces that the government will release Cassie and Rex...if someone steps in to be their guardian. Marlena wants them, John doesn't. He "doesn't want the twins in his house," asserts Drake Hogestyn (John). "He even says, 'Over my dead body. No, I take that back. There will be no dead bodies. That is the point.' There is no way he is going to allow this to happen." Hall and Hogestyn agree that there is relevance to both positions. "As an audience, you need to feel pulled in both directions," Hall reasons. "You need to feel that Marlena has an attachment, a kinship and a caring for these twins that John doesn't connect with. And he has a sense of protecting his home and his family that is a primitive drive on his part. They're both right. Marlena wants the twins close to her to protect them and oversee their growth. John is frightened for everyone's safety. John and Marlena truly come to a place where there is no equal ground." Tony Intervenes: Soon, Tony arrives and offers the perfect solution - or so he thinks - to the question of Cassie and Rex's guardianship: He offers to take the twins to the DiMera mansion. Thaao Penghlis (Tony) insists his character's motives are altruistic, though Tony doesn't mind sticking it to John in the bargain. "Because these twins could be connected to his father, to his family, Tony would like to have them on his ground. He wants to protect them. Also, there is the fact that John and Marlena have children and they are a bit of a mess. Their example of upbringing hasn't been terrific." With their backs against the wall, John and Marlena put up a united front. "John is like, 'I don't want them, but I'll be damned if I want you to have them,'" declares Hogestyn. "So what can he do to [prevent that] from happening? He's back to square one." "Marlena says, 'I won't allow it,'" relates Hall, adding that Tony's interest in Cassie and Rex "reignites Marlena's concerns about them being Stefano-controlled. [She wonders], Why does Tony want them? Is this part of a bigger plan? It's very alarming. When Tony shows interest, John's concerns become more profound to Marlena. It's a bad sign that Tony wants these twins." Next week: The twins move into their new digs, but will that be the DiMera mansion or John and Marlena's penthouse? Janet Di Lauro, SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 10/8/02 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Must See Moments On DAYS! Brothers! Search And Rescue: Oh, Brother! John And Tony Are Siblings! This week picks up after the shocking revelation that John and Tony are half-brothers. Come again? "Paula and I looked at that whole story with Lawrence Alamain and John being (brothers), but it doesn't really have anything to do with what we're doing now," explains Co-Headwriter Peter Brash. "I give Paula Cwikly (Co-Headwriter) a lot of the credit here, being such a great historian and also a facile storyteller. Obviously, we need John to have ties with Tony. We need this triangle to heat up, and if they're half-brothers and sworn enemies, that's great storytelling. I think we found a way to pay tribute to our history without saying, 'Oh, forget that, that never happened.' Paula and I are really against that, and the fans, hopefully, respect the fact that we do care about the history of the show. If we can mix things up and change it and still pay tribute to what the history was, then it's a win for everybody." Cwikly agrees: "For John to be related to his sworn enemy is just delicious." Not for John, though, who will find it hard to believe that he shares blood with a DiMera. "He thinks it's a plant to distract him from the investigation," says his portrayer, Drake Hogestyn, "so he doesn't buy it at first. It's just more manipulation of John Black's life." John will, of course, turn to his wife Marlena for support. "It's great to see their love and commitment to each other, and the strength of this pairing, while they go through this situation together," notes Brash. "It's not the kind of thing that pulls them apart, although there are elements of conflict. They will work together and weather the storms." And John will continue to watch over his family. "John doesn't want Marlena, Belle and Brady to go through the tortures he's been put through by the DiMeras, and he's put in a position of having to protect them," says the scribe. "Yet, now it's having to protect them from his own family, from his own brother. Everybody will have a different take on it." Keep in mind that just because Daphne's letter reveals that the men are brothers, that doesn't necessarily make her their mother. Could Stefano be John's father? "This will be explored more in December," previews Cwikly. "John does have to give some serious thought to this. Being Stefano's son could be the worst thing in the world for him, but as far as he's concerned, it does answer the sort of unspoken nagging question that has plagued John Black for most of his adult life, which is, of all the people on Earth, why did Stefano single him out to brainwash and control? It's frightening that the answer could be, 'Because I was his.'" "Looking at the whole picture, why was Stefano so interested in John?" queries Hogestyn. "We did play it as sort of a father/son relationship." So, says Cwikly, stay tuned. "The other half of this story is even more delicious for me," she smiles. There has been some confusion over Tony's true parentage. In the 1980s, it was revealed that he was the product of an affair between Daphne DiMera and one of Stefano's servants. But history changed along the way... "Things got a little murky because (former Headwriter) James Reilly rewrote history and said that Daphne had lied and Tony was Stefano's son," explains Paula Cwikly. "When it was all played out in Aremid, there was a story point that re-established that Tony was indeed Stefano's son." "We're taking that as the word on it," allows Peter Brash. "We do know that Tony is Daphne's son, and we're led to believe that he is Stefano's son, probably because he seems so much like Stefano. Even if that were proven one day not to be true, I think it could be said that Tony inherited the mantle of Stefano in a way that John Black hasn't. Regardless of who the biological mother and father are, we see the Stefano spirit of The Phoenix running through Tony and not through John. Character-wise, we know that Tony has a tie to Stefano that John doesn't have. That's not to say that one is the son biologically or not. It's a tangled web." Stephanie Sloane, SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 12/3/02