One of daytime’s popular soaps has just been hit with two of the most dreaded words today: budget cuts.

In hopes of keeping Days of Our Lives up and running for at least another 18 months, the sudser’s producers have been forced to make a few difficult decisions. Unfortunately for fans, that means saying goodbye to two of the show’s longest-running characters: Marlena Evans and John Black.

Despite some work on other projects, actress Deidre Hall has been with the 43-year-old NBC program since 1976. Her on-and-off daytime husband, Drake Hogestyn, joined DOOL back in 1986.

In an interview with Soap Opera Digest, executive producer Ken Corday said there’s always a soap opera chance that the two characters could return. “It was a very tough decision to make. They have been wonderful for a long time. It’s not about their work. They’re obviously brilliant and have a large fan base. But there is never an end when a couple leaves happily ever after. They’re not dead. Characters have left and come back [before].”

Although this announcement may come as a huge blow to lifelong followers, there is one piece of good news: Marlena and John will finally be reunited before their departures in early 2009.

Let’s celebrate their work on Days a little early by taking a look back at a classic exorcism episode from 1995: