COUPLE: Jack Deveraux & Jennifer HortonSHOW: DAYS OF OUR LIVES
RANK: 40
PLAYED BY:
Jack: Matthew Ashford, Mark Valley, Steve Wilder
Jennifer: Melissa Reevees, Stephanie Cameron
YEARS: 1989-present (with breaks on screen when the actors were off the show)
STORY:
After Jack abandoned his political ambitions, he became controlling owner of The Spectator, Salem's local newspaper. This was where he first became involved with college intern Jennifer. Jennifer was involved with Emilio Ramirez (Billy Hufsey), but the more she demanded the truth from Jack and called him on the wrongs he committed, the more he secretly fall for her.
When Jennifer wanted to help a jail-bound woman named Sally, whose baby daughter was going to go into foster care. Jack concocted the idea of a fake marriage so they could take care of the baby. It didn't work out as planned but Jennifer ended up taking care of the baby for a while, and Jack's interactions with her endeared him to Jennifer and they ultimately fell in love. Many other complications ensued, including the return of Emilio, but Jack and Jennifer finally married. The story after the first five years or so became more inconsistent as the roles were recast (Ashford & Reeves being the actors who defined the roles), and the writing regimes changed with some in charge not favoring the couple (or the character of Jack). But those early years, and the still-to-this-day chemistry between Reeves and Ashford earned Jack and Jennifer their spot on this list.
IMPACT:
DAYS OF OUR LIVES worked the supercouple formula for all it was worth in the 1980s with Jack and Jennifer considered by some to be the last true successful "supercouple" from the show. Their story was unique in the sense that there was a tragic but comedic element at the forefront. Jack was tormented by his past (the rape of Kayla and learning he was really Billy Johnson) but wanted to be a better man thanks to Jennifer. We watched them match wits, and it was fun.
The couple won Soap Opera Digest Awards as Favorite Supercouple in 1991, and then Best Wedding and Best Love Story in 1992.
When DAYS OF OUR LIVES "re-booted" the show in 2011, they brought Matthew Ashford on to the canvas once again to play out Jack's story with Jennifer. The fact that the show has continued to bring Ashford back (despite always firing him later) is a testament to the power and impact of the original Jack and Jennifer love story.
CLASSIC CLIPS:
- Jack and Jennifer meet at The Spectator for the first time
- Jack kidnaps Jennifer from her wedding to Emilio
- Jack & Jennifer's weddings
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