SFK

Not to speak ill of the dead, but I've read/heard/SEEN more than one account of him being an !@#$%^&*]. He wanted Blake to be less of a one dimensional villain (John Forsyth's Blake had some nasty lines, but the guy always seemed like such a teddy bear to me). Also, Peppard was driving everyone on set up the wall. Forsyth had less of an "artistic issue" playing Blake's villainy, and the whole situation was not unlike the deal with Larry Hagman and the original choice for J.R., Robert Foxworth.

Right, and daytime (shoot, even primetime) had done glitz before. Look at fortysomething rich neurotic bitch Iris Carrington. She was Lemay's creation but McKinsey said in interviews that TPTB championed the character because the women at home wanted to see the clothes and whatnot. It's also interesting how Esther (notice she does most of the talking ) talks about the fantasy element when in the beginning she seemed to be going for a more serious show. She often references I, Claudius, she wanted a modern American version of that.

For years I guess I kind of assumed that Dynasty was their one hit wonder, but yeah, I've seen a couple of their other projects. Richard is the real writer, he did that East of Eden mini with Jane Seymour that my mom loved, and I was surprised to see their names pop up as producers when we rented this quirky little indie flick The Motel. I watched the pilot movie for The Colony back in the day but then I remember it going on a loooooong hiatus and I'm not sure if it ever even came back for more episodes to tell you the truth. If so, I didn't catch them. I guess that's what Esther's referring to when she says they did The O.C. first (and besides it being Malibu and not Orange County, I really don't recall the similarities).

Yeah, I've read that as a matter of fact, "From the creators of Dynasty (*jet blasts off*)..." I dig the concept of the show, but it needs a B12 shot or something. Was watching more today and just when I think it's getting cooking (like Robert Loggia slapping the [!@#$%^&*] out of Jill St. John), it simmers down and has to build back up again. Richard and Esther talk a little about the show here: <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xzwzxdt0Ug&hl=en_US&fs=1&start=1223"></param><param'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xzwzxdt0Ug&hl=en_US&fs=1&start=1223"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xzwzxdt0Ug&hl=en_US&fs=1&start=1223" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> Earlier in the interview, they talk about how they were going to do Hotel before Hotel. There was a dispute because Aaron was doing the Arthur Hailey TV movie and their show idea was seen as a conflict. The Shapiros' Hotel was going to be a "young, hot" Dynasty spinoff set in Miami starring Fallon and Jeff. The Colbys came about two years later as sort of a settlemant of that earlier dispute. When Esther talks about The Colbys, she keeps calling Stephanie Beacham Stephanie Dunnam who of course is in Emerald Point N.A.S.

Well they were the executive producers so they continued to be involved, but I don't believe they got a writing credit beyond the pilot movie. The Dobsons among others handled story for the twenty subsequent episodes.

I'm still not done, but I enjoy Deanna so far, Jill's turning in a subtle, measured performance. However, she is at times handicapped by flat writing that makes it look like flat, not-so-great acting if you don't give her the benefit of the doubt. I'm trying not to unfairly judge her just because Deanna isn't exactly what I'd expected from a Bond girl playing a vixen on an '80s Shapiro primetime soap (i.e., Alexis clone more akin to Raquel Welch on CPW). Of course the Shapiros had high-tailed it after the pilot, and the show is more Knots in tone (tone I'm saying, not quality ) than Dynasty anyway, not a splashy OTT sudser at all. I think it isn't until episode 12 when things heat up (I know right, 12!? ) with the stuff. What did you think of Vaughn vs. O'Neal?

My mom loved that show, Payton, Reese, Lane, I'll never forget those oh-so southern names. And Dharma's mom, Mimi Kennedy, played a typical Susan Sullivan role on here as one of the girls' bitchy mother.

Been marathoning more of the show on this very windy, rainy day, and I think I was too impatient and unfair in the beginning. I still have a ways to go, and it's still not quite a Wednesday night Dynasty experience, but there is some entertaining stuff here. I know it's not everybody's style, but starting in the middle then working my way backwards then forwards was the best choice for me. Episodes 10/11/12 piqued my interest enough to go back and see what led up to , et cetera. Maud Adams and those chicken cutlet cheekbones. I love Patrick O'Neal in this, he's slick, a cool older dude. Of course I wouldn't replace Ricardo Montalban, but O'Neal would have done well in a role like Zach Powers on the more high profile Dynasty/The Colbys. And longtime AMC fans will recognize Charles Frank (Jeff Martin) who plays Susan Dey's husband in a triangle her and MacGyver, Richard Dean Anderson. Random observation, but the women wear a LOT of blue on this show.

This was the best part of that whole episode: <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02pIe-ZiEPs&hl=en_US&fs=1&start=348"></param><param'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02pIe-ZiEPs&hl=en_US&fs=1&start=348"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02pIe-ZiEPs&hl=en_US&fs=1&start=348" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> I've been skipping around, but a few things... no offense to the late Dennis Weaver, but I think Rock Hudson would have done better in this part (not that Thomas has much interesting to do anyway). Weaver comes across too soft and Mr. Rogers-like. Had he been healthy, Hudson and that deep voice would have added a certain gravitas to the character, the show even. Hilary (Sela Ward) is the most interesting character (which isn't saying much) to me, she is at least the most visually interesting thing about any given episode, she looks great on here. BTW, for an '80s show with the Shapiros' name on it, this show is sorely lacking in the glitz department, no Nolan Miller here. Deanna and especially Hilary doll up nice, I'm reminded a LOT of Sela's character in Hello Again. Thomas's daughters are a bunch of drips, and it's kind of hard to believe that Glenn wouldn't have boned Hilary when they were stranded out on that island. It's the hair, voice, and name similarity, but Jill St. John (Deanna) keeps making me think of Raquel Welch (Dianna) in CPW. I wonder what Jill would have done with the more fun material as Dianna, and if campy Raquel would have made what little Deanna's given more interesting. Deanna does have a cute line about this being real life not some James Bond movie, hardy har. The scenes Deanna has with Hilary are her best. I agree with Chris that Patrick O'Neal seemed like a better fit for Harlan, Robert Vaughn is sort of playing him as a stilted stuffed-shirt. O'Neal was more of a charming creep. Lloyd Bochner (Cecil Colby) played a primetime soap star on The Golden Girls named "Patrick Vaughn" and I've wondered if that was some sort of nod.

Oh totally, just depends on the play/musical and how much the soap is willing to accomodate the actor's theatre schedule. It happened more in the '70s and early '80s, I could write a lengthy list of names, but even in more recent times I've read about younger stars of today like JPL and Marcy Rylan having done plays on the side while they were on their soaps (Rylan met her husband doing Boys Life), Tom Pelphrey is actively involved in theatre as well. But these productions tend to be smaller off-/off-off Broadway and black box from what I understand. Now of course Brian Kerwin did August in Osage on Broadway, and I'm sure he found the swing of it, but that's pretty grueling stuff when you're also working the front burner as a tortured alcoholic by day. I do think that a lot of soap actors could do more theatre, but when someone suggests that so and so should switch from soaps and just "go do theatre", it's not quite that simple. A theatre actor is not going to work as steadily as a soap actor, it's just a much different employment reality. Actually, anyone who wants to do theatre could do it 365 days a year in New York, the fact is they probably won't get PAID for the bulk of those 365 days. And as you know, Broadway is about the big splashy musicals, Disney Disney Disney, and not as many plays go up as they used to. Then of course, they want to put their Hollywood stars in those plays and it's a treat when we see a daytime personality like Larry Bryggman pop up in a co-starring role. But yeah, if you were determined, you could be a NY-based actor who auditioned at Equity for shows in theatres across the country and if you were lucky you could be making $500-&1,000/week acting, just not necessarily in NY.

No, they most certainly would not, and frankly, that's a whole 'nother clique all unto itself. At least Broadway for that matter. I think a lot of soap stars could find theatre work regionally however. But I bet that a lot of the younger less experienced ones wouldn't even be interested in that, I'm sure they are more focused on landing that big TV/film gig out in L.A. But someone like Tom Pelphrey would actually appreciate and jump at the chance to work at the Guthrie or Steppenwolf, as theatre-trained soap stars twice his age would.

Yes, I remember, you were solely an AMC (then Loving) viewer for a long time. Does Finola still host those Style shows? It's sad, but casting opportunities for ALL soap actors are dwindling. Can you imagine that the day will soon come when many soap actors are literally unemployable as they've already done all of the soaps still on the air? Crazy.

Wait, you knew her as Blossom's stepmom before you knew her as Anna Devane? J/K, but do you also remember that her daughter on Blossom was the little brunette girl who played Sarah on OLTL, I wanna say her name is Courtney Chase but too tired to look it up. She did an abysmal British accent her first episode, and by her second episode they completely dropped it, hahaha... PP is also where I first remember Natalie Cigiluti (sp?), the last Anita Santos. I'm forgettng character names, but there was also the smarmy plastic surgeon who I immediately thought of the first time I watched Nip/Tuck.

I've been TRYING to watch Emerald Point on YouTube and I'm having a similar problem. zzzzzz I'd say that CPW will fly by rather quickly. At least the eight episodes of the revamp did for me.

Cool. Yeah, I haven't been able to find any clips. We found out about Liberty Street (yes, with "Joey" but in a different role) through our obsession with Degrassi which pretty much started as a joke. We enjoyed making fun of TNG over breakfast on Sunday mornings and to our surprise, we found ourselves totally getting into it and have since seen the original series (junior high and high) and even The Kids of Degrassi Street all on dvd. I've read mixed reviews about Riverdale, some saying it's the best drama CBC has ever produced. Would love to check it out. Full disclosure, Degrassi has birthed this interest in Toronto. I'm fascinated by what's going on up there in America Jr. (I kid, I kid!).

Eric, I feel like you mentioned it at one point but I'm not sure and too lazy to sift through this entire thread, but did you watch Riverdale? Or Liberty Street (aka X-Rated) from Degrassi's Kit Hood?

Trivia: Back when PP debuted, they reported in the soap mags that the original title was Brentwood, but with all of the O.J. mess going on, they went for another L.A. locale.

I don't want to spoil, but Joan Collins

Jill did get added to the credits, it used to be on YouTube, and I rather loved the shot of her. I'm not sure what episode it's from but she does a little thing with her fingers like she's saying, "Isn't he delicious?" re: Harlan.

Ha, I had read about that but I'd never seen it. Just checked some of it out on YouTube, looks like fun retro stuff. Soap, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and Fresno have been mentioned in this thread, I used to watch a soap spoof sitcom called The Powers That Be starring John Forsythe, Holland Taylor and David Hyde Pierce among others. Some clips I just found on YouTube: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value=" name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value=" name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value=" name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> There was another one from Susan Harris (Soap, Benson, The Golden Girls, et al) called Good & Evil starring Teri Garr. Some other familiar faces included Lane Davies, Seth Green, Brooke Theiss (Just The Ten of Us! haha) and Marian Seldes. Totally missed this one, didn't even know that it existed until a few months ago. Stiller & Meara promo and opening credits: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkdPEybbSQ8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkdPEybbSQ8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkdPEybbSQ8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Part 1 of the pilot: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value=" name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> The one that I've really wanted to see is Filthy Rich from Designing Women creator Linda Bloodworth-Thomason. It starred Delta Burke and Dixie Carter pre-DW and from my mom's and other online recollections, it sounds like it was a real hoot at the height of the Dallas craze, just witty, campy fun. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHUkqCreXyQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHUkqCreXyQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHUkqCreXyQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Re: Shelly in TBH YES! I especially like her Mashed Potato. And Steph in the black Lambo into her mini-recorder, "He pulled off her Halston gown..." Do you remember a cartoon called Beverly Hills Teens?

Oh my God, I was thinking about that movie just this morning in the shower! My niece has a birthday coming up and I was going to do a little '80s dvd thing, Troop Beverly Hills, She-Ra box set, Jem... "He's MY dad: James. 'The Jackhammer'. SHAkar. Now Daddy, SHAKE the man's hand and let's be ON our way!" They were definitely going for a Jackie Collins thing with Steph's character. ETA: Excuse me, STEPHANIE. She does not like to be called Steph since childhood ("Deaf Steph"). Eric, you're my age, you must remember Sister Kate.

Esther Shapiro was inspired by I, Claudius for Dynasty, she really wanted her show to be a smart, sophisticated modern take on a complex family drama about greed, power, secrets, ambition... I think a lot of people have been programmed to believe that the first season stunk, but as others have said, that isn't true. Alexis' contribution cannot be ignored however. What I find curious is that Esther was after an I, Claudius for the '80s, and yet she didn't have her Livia in play from the jump (or at least three or four episodes in). Of course networks weren't so cancel happy back then, DYN's creative team must have had faith, but the show could have very well been cancelled before "Enter Alexis" and boy would the '80s have been a different place.

Katharine Ross and Ali MacGraw might as well be the same person as far as I'm concerned. Undeniably beautiful in their day, but just dishwater dull. I think it's wonderful how all of those Hollywood names got upstaged by Stephanie. And Stephanie read against bigger UK names as well. That was a hard role to cast and they even scouted Australia and South Africa according to an article I have from an old TV Guide. Faye Dunaway and Angie Dickinson both turned it down, and though I could totally see Faye, Angie would not have worked. And I don't think Sable and Alexis would have been cousins had one of those ladies been cast, I think that plot point was an afterthought to really drive home the link as Stephanie was new to most of us. I'd still love to see her in her UK primetime soap Connie.

I read years ago that she said re: Rock Hudson, "If the disease hadn't killed him, the scripts would have." oooooohhh...