I was anxiously awaiting this past week myself. Should have known better. I was sick of John & Marlena & was glad they were gone; am sad to see them back. Still tired of his flinty eyed expressions & her sappy expressions too although I haven't heard her whine "oh John" much yet.
It was great to see some old favorites. Now it's my turn to whine because I'd like more old favorites...Kayla, Steve, Anna (too bad Tony was killed off), Kim, Shane, Billie (either Julie Pinson or Lisa Rinna) to name a few. If Billie comes back in the form of Lisa Rinna, then they can give Peter R a vacation & recast him with Robert Kelker-Kelly who was Bo when his character was with Billie. I loved them together.
Soapnet, well, I don't bother with that channel much these days. It's easier to tape DOOL since the timing was changed to watch the show as reruns. I miss some of the original shows soapnet used to have, mainly the contest to find "a new soap opera star". Guess the last strike put the kibosh on it as the last winner, who won a spot on DOOL didn't get very far & no more contests since then.
ETA: I'm sure they've both had "work" done as others have suggested. Just look at her hands; gives away age every time! Both have to be in their 60's somewhere, right?