kalbir

Maybe. I guess we could include Cally in that category. Did JR even have a genuine love? He started with long-suffering younger wife Sue Ellen, next there were numerous side pieces, then a considerably younger wife Cally, women from the past re-enter his life, and at the end of the original series he's all alone.

$$$$ JR was never a romantic leading man.

I agree. Sally made Chelsea redundant.

The charts have felt off for a long time. Sometimes I wonder if they are even still relevant in the streaming, Spotify, TikTok era.

Lets be real here, we don't watch an Aaron Spelling show for high quality writing and acting. When watching one of his shows you have to go in with the mindset that you are not going to get high emotional stakes character driven storytelling.

Dynasty was the epitome of Reagan-era excess and greed. It's quite telling that its run pretty much overlapped with the Reagan presidency. First episode January 12, 1981 was 8 days before Reagan took office and last episode May 11, 1989 was 111 days after Reagan left office.

25 years ago today (May 14) was a historical night for NBC. Seinfeld: The Clip Show, rating 33.6. Seinfeld: The Finale, rating 41.3. Highest-rated episode of the series. ER: A Hole in the Heart (season 4 finale), rating 28.8. Highest-rated episode of the series.

How does this board break down Dynasty's run? Mine is Season 1: Slow start but it does build the foundation as far as character relationships go. Season 2: Peak. Joan Collins arrives and Alexis is the breakout character that becomes a pop culture phenomenon. This season Dynasty becomes Dynasty as we know it and for me its the only season that works from a storytelling and acting standpoint. Seasons 3-5: Height of popularity but weaknesses are showing. To me it seemed Aaron Spelling's entire goal was to be bigger and better than Dallas and storytelling logic and acting ability went out the window. Season 6: Tanked in the aftermath of the Royal Wedding Shootout. Season 7-9: Off the rails. I'd rank the seasons as 2, 3, 4, 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. I recognize Dynasty's place in television history as Aaron Spelling's biggest hit and as Joan Collins's career resurgence that became her career-defining role, plus the influence Dynasty had on the rest of the primetime soaps and on the daytime soaps. The funny thing is, I loved the peak years of Beverly Hills 90210 and Melrose Place as a teen so I thought I would like Dynasty as an adult but on the whole I didn't like it very much. It must be an Aaron Spelling thing, that his shows are products of their time and haven't held up well (that's probably why I don't feel nostalgic for 90210/Melrose and long to rewatch them).

The Colbys came along Fall 1985 when Dynasty was the reigning #1 show so I guess the thought process was two Dynasties were better than one. Little did we know at the time that primetime soaps were about to enter the tanking era so the timing ended up being off. Perhaps if a spinoff was done a season or two earlier it might have worked.

Y&R Victor had five "deaths": 1983, 1993, 1999, 2012, 2020.

Deborah Adair left Y&R in 1983 and was cast on Dynasty that year in a one season and done role. Finder of Lost Loves began Fall 1984 and it was one season and done. Aaron Spelling clearly liked her as she also appeared on The Love Boat, Hotel, Melrose Place before returning to daytime w/ Days.

@soapfan770 @Khan Season 6 and 7 were a high-octane action-packed thrill ride. Season 6 was an improvement over Season 5 Dallas with grapes/Miami Vice hybrid, but Season 7 it started going off the rails. I can't pinpoint the exact moment but Season 7 the core families shrunk and I found the supporting characters and guest stars in short arcs didn't really work.

@Khan Dallas was always the more male-focused show, that's why it drew a larger male audience compared to the other primetime soaps. As I've pointed out before, Knots Landing was a spinoff done right because it carved its own identity apart from its parent show Dallas. When watching Knots Landing, you don't feel like you're watching a second hour of Dallas in a different setting.

When the Dallas writers came up with it was all a dream, it didn't occur to them that it would also be the end of any future crossovers with Knots Landing.

That's a testament to Bill Bell's skills as a writer. We hold Bill Bell to a higher standard, but even he wasn't immune to following 1980s trends and having missteps.

ABC was known for a long time as Aaron's Broadcasting Corporation. 1985 Brandon Stoddard became became president of ABC and that same year ABC was sold to Capital Cities. Fall 1985 was when Aaron Spelling started losing his clout with ABC as he was down to only four shows on the network (The Love Boat, Dynasty, Hotel, The Colbys). I have a feeling Brandon Stoddard was not a fan of Aaron Spelling and wanted the Spelling shows gone from ABC. 1989 Robert Iger became president of ABC and he got the Spelling shows off ABC with the Spring 1989 cancellations of Dynasty and HeartBeat.

Today (May 13) is the 30th anniversary of the final episode of Knots Landing.

Two messy wealthy matriarchs facing off and taking each other down with words and not with bitch slaps. Hells yes I am here for it.

Christopher was another that was more plot device than fully developed character. That lake scene, was Christopher trying to purify himself in the waters?

@Broderick Come to think of it, Y&R's action/adventure storylines were quite tame in comparison to the more outlandish action/adventure storylines on General Hospital and Days in that same era. I still feel those storylines didn't really suit Y&R and I wonder how much of it was Bill Bell's own choice or if it was mandated by CBS in attempt to compete with General Hospital and Days. Notice though that once Ed Scott becomes EP all the action/adventure storylines are gone and Y&R becomes more "corporate".

All three CBS primetime soaps started having budget issues around 1987, thus the salary dumpings of the long-time female cast members across the shows that began that year. Fall 1988 budget mode kicked in on-screen and lasted until the shows ended. Of course in that same era CBS was a mess in primetime (most of the drama line up was either aging or not showing growth and no hit sitcoms for many years) and Lorimar was a mess too (1986 merger with Telepictures, Les Moonves moving up the ranks from 1985 starting as executive in the movie/miniseries division to 1988 Head of Creative Affairs then 1990 President, 1989 takeover by Warner Communications).

Deveney Dixon, who was impersonating Angela Forrester.

What happened on the soaps and the two rookie hits that week. Dynasty - That Holiday Spirit: Amanda asks Dex to put a stop to his wedding plans with Alexis. Dominique joins the Carringtons for a Christmas gala, where Blake makes an important announcement. Blake strikes a deal with racehorse owner Daniel Reese. Dallas - Deja Vu: Bobby finds Jenna with Marchetta. Pam travels to the Caribbean to search for Mark. Cliff and J.R. work to keep Pam and Bobby separated. The Cosby Show - Father's Day (episode 13): The children surprise Cliff with unique Father's Day gifts in December. Knots Landing - Distant Locations: Karen finds out that Val went to the bus station, but when she was seen there, four busses left. Abby and Gary have lunch with Galveston, and Galveston notices that Abby's not happy with Gary's preoccupation with Val. Falcon Crest - Winner Take All: Greg threatens Cole and Melissa's impending marriage. Angela exploits Charlotte's gambling weakness. Lance and Joel race for $5000. Murder, She Wrote was a repeat on December 23.

Brad in a cage was sort of a redo of Michael Scott in the dungeon, but it wasn't one of Bill Bell's finest hours.

@YRfan23 Did you think it was SF in the segments I pointed out or are my eyes/ears playing tricks on me?