<\/p>\n
Today<\/em> host Craig Melvin asked Deidre Hall to slap him on Friday \u2014 and the soap star obliged.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Hall’s character, Dr. Marlena Evans, is “a great slapper,” Melvin noted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Hall, who is celebrating 50 years on the NBC soap opera, initially turned down the role in 1976.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n After three decades in broadcasting, Craig Melvin<\/a> achieved “one of the greatest professional honors of my life” on Friday: getting slapped by Deidre Hall<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Days of Our Lives<\/em><\/a> star stopped by Today<\/em><\/a> to celebrate 50 years as Dr. Marlena Evans on the NBC soap opera. And in addition to memorable arcs like Marlena’s demonic possession and her multiple comas, Melvin pointed out another character quirk.<\/p>\n “Of all of the storylines that you’ve been a part of over the years, what I’ve always enjoyed is your ability to slap,” he told Hall. “You’re a great slapper.”<\/p>\n As a montage of Marlena’s iconic whacks played onscreen, Hall remarked she “couldn’t begin to imagine” how many she’s handed out over her five decades. But Melvin wanted to be the latest recipient.<\/p>\n “It would be one of the greatest professional honors of my life if you could slap me,” he confessed to the soap star.<\/p>\n “I would be privileged to slap you,” she obliged.<\/p>\n To keep it authentic \u2014 and painless \u2014 Hall gave Melvin some acting advice, after first making sure they had the right camera angle to save his “money maker” from a second take.<\/p>\n