India, June 20 -- Deidre Hall, on June 19, gave a staged slap to Today show host Craig Melvin during a live segment, celebrating the 50th anniversary of her role as Marlena Evans on Days of Our Lives. This moment was prearranged at Melvin's own suggestion.

During the interview, Melvin expressed to Hall that it would be "one of the greatest professional honours of my life" if she were to slap him.

Hall, who has executed this move several times over her five-decade career in daytime television, consented, saying: "You're a great slapper."

She advised Melvin to tilt his head to one side as she swung, later stating that she "meant to miss." Both shared a laugh as the studio audience reacted.

When Melvin inquired if she had ever tallied th...