THE COLBYS

[Sedrick]

Does anyone happen to know the real life name of the estate used in THE COLBYS as the main family's Bel Air mansion? I've seen the home used in various other movies and TV shows through the years, but I can't seem to find any info on the property...

[SFK]

It's the Hilton (yes, as in Paris and co.) estate.

Just web searched for more info. and learned that it was designed by a prominent black architect, Paul Williams.

From Wikipedia:

One notable home he designed was later used for exterior scenes of the Colby mansion on television's "The Colbys" (1060 Brooklawn Dr. Bel Air, Los Angeles, California|Bel Air) This is currently the home of Barron Hilton.

[Cat]

I just assumed it was Aaron Spelling's juggernaut mansion (complete with movie theatre, bowling alley and gift-wrapping room, apparently).

Both Dynasty and The Colbys had stunning exteriors. I will always remember when Alexis and Crystal had that fight in the Carrington fountain/lake feature. Bet that was filmed on somebody's gorgeous Hills estate.

[SFK]

Yeah, that was filmed at a home in Pasadena that doubled for the Carrington mansion, aka Filoli, in the bay area.

[Sedrick]

Thanks for the answer! I do remember years ago watching the very first episode of FOX's THE SIMPLE LIFE AND in it Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie were given a going away party, and I immediately realized the function was being held on the grounds of the Colby mansion...I never knew the place actually belonged to the Hiltons!

[DRW50]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6Uxl9yrWPs&feature=plcp

[Chris B]

I loved this show. The first season was legitimately good and I loved Barbara Stanwyck and Stephanie Beacham was a revelation. I find the two seasons of The Colbys better than most of what we saw on Dynasty around that time.

[DRW50]

I never did get around to watching most of it, perhaps because of some dud casting in key roles like Katharine Ross. I think they would have been better off not being tied to Dynasty at all.

[Chris B]

Katherine Ross was a HUGE casting blunder. Worse than Ali McGraw on Dynasty.

[DRW50]

I think Katherine, Maxwell Caulfield, and PodFallon were the biggest mistakes, although the biggest issue may have just been bad timing, since these were stories people had tired of on Dynasty. It's still amazing that Stephanie Beacham was cast and was so phenomenal right out of the gate.

[DRW50]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGzK2jpmqik

[dm.]

Just finished season 1, and yeah, Stephanie Beacham was pretty much the best thing about it. Jason I can't stand because he just seems so boring and confused all the time; same with Frankie. Jeff and Fallon are okay, but Maxwell Caulfield as Miles is laughable (not even that body can save him ).

Also, Connie was a bright spot. Everything else was okay, but nothing special really. I found it hard to care for Monica or Bliss' storylines. I also find Zach Powers very unappealing.

[Cheap21]

Beacham was a delight. Thank god they managed to salvage her after this was cancelled and transferred her over to Dynasty even if it was a year later

[SFK]

Funny to see this thread bumped as I've been rewatching the excellent Sable Colby Show and Sable VS Connie edits on YouTube off and on for the past two weeks. These two are wonderful together. Can we just take a moment to thank the soap gods for Stephanie Beacham's casting?

After Faye Dunaway and Angie Dickinson passed on the role, they could have gone with any number of the "usual suspects" in Hollywood, but they decided to mine the "exotical" talent of the UK, Australia, and South Africa before deciding on Stephanie. According to an old TV Guide article I have, Sable proved to be the hardest role for them to cast. I just think about how robbed we would have been had she not won the role, she is simply brilliant and she certainly deserves the special billing she gets in season two. Ricardo gets the "special guest star" after her "and" but I guess I can accept that, Fantasy Island and all.

@2:10, I love how she delivers this line all on one breath, turning on a dime mid sentence: "Jason Colby, rely on someone else's strength-that'll be the day-unless there's something you're not telling me Constance..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ2LmKxK58M

[SFK]

I think she looks stunning @9:10, her tan skin against that peacock blue:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXfon8yr1cI&feature=relmfu