John Black (Drake Hogestyn) and Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) reunited on the docks after her presumed death on Days of Our Lives, Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) married Lola Rosales on Young and Restless, Avery Pohl made her General Hospital debut as Esme Prince, and other memorable soap moments that took place on August 16.
1.

NBC
In 1991, Days of Our Lives’s John Black (Drake Hogestyn), then thought to be Roman Brady, was stunned to come face-to-face with presumed-dead wife Marlena (Deidre Hall) on the pier. Marlena’s return from the dead was scripted when the show lured Deidre Hall back to Salem after her 1987 exit to focus on her prime-time series, Our House.
2.

ABC
In 1991, Alan and Monica Quartermaine (Stuart Damon and Leslie Charleson) remarried on General Hospital after he secured a divorce from Lucy Coe. The pair’s first marriage lasted from 1978-1990. Wedding No. 2 was performed by a justice of the peace at the Port Charles courthouse, with witnesses including AJ and Lila. After they exchanged vows, they enjoyed a celebratory dinner at the Versailles Room, and Lila invited all the other brides and grooms from the courthouse to come to the mansion for a reception.
3.

ABC
In 2007, One Life To Live’s Asa Buchanan (Phil Carey) passed away. The powerful patriarch was introduced in 1980 and became a mainstay of the show. On the sorrowful episode, Asa died in his sleep and his death was discovered by his loyal butler, Nigel.
4.

JPI
In 2019, Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) and Lola Rosales (Sasha Calle) wed on Young and Restless. Their guests included Jack, Devon, Elena, Billy, Victoria, Ashley, Abby, Mariah, Tessa, Traci, Nate, Rey and Celeste, the bride’s mother, who escorted her down the aisle. Adrian, Lola’s father, was a surprise arrival during the ceremony, which was presided over by a priest. Intoned the officiant, “Today we celebrate the creation of a new home and new family for you both. May you be fulfilled in each other’s love and friendship, and may the promises and commitments you make today be lived out everyday hereafter. Lola, Kyle, do you, with your family and friends as witnesses, present yourselves willing and of your own accord to be joined in marriage?” “We do,” they stated in unison. As he slipped Lola’s new jewelry onto her finger, Kyle said, “I give you this ring. Wear it with love and joy.” Replied Lola, “As this ring has no end, my love is also forever.”
5.

ABC/Craig Sjodin
DO
In 2021, Avery Pohl made her General Hospital debut as Esme Prince, the scheming girlfriend of Spencer Cassadine, who was ultimately revealed to be the biological daughter of serial killers Ryan Chamberlain and Heather Webber. Pohl shared with Soap Opera Digest soon after joining the show, “I think General Hospital was my third soap audition ever, so I am very new to the world of the soaps; I had never even watched an episode of one. At first, it was a little overwhelming, but I’m definitely getting into the swing of things and I’m having such a fun time. After submitting herself for the role of Esme on tape, she did an in-person callback at the studio, and two hours later, “I got a call that I was going to [screen-] test. I was like, ‘Oh, fantastic, cool! Testing for the soap was different from the testing experiences I’d had in the past. You actually get to be on set, you get your hair and your makeup done, you test opposite a character who is already established on the show. I tested with Eden McCoy [Josslyn]… Eden was so great to work with immediately and we just had some very fun banter and chemistry right off the bat. Pohl left the show in 2023, when Esme was presumed dead alongside Spencer, who gave his own life to save Trina Robinson from Esme’s murderous wrath.