Falcon Crest

[Khan]

 

I agree.

Then, in season 8, you saw FC getting back to basics, but in re-assuming control of the show, Michael Filerman made the biggest, most fatal error: he allowed Melissa to be killed off, just as she was poised to be Angela's greatest threat yet.

[te.]

Season 6 was refreshing after the soap opera drabness of season 5. It's funny that the season ended with one of the most memorable cliffhangers, the earthquake, when overall season five just isn't very good. Season six works because it's brighter, faster paced and slightly unhinged. It doesn't work quite as well on subsequent rewatches, but the first time it *is* quite a thrilling ride as long as you just let yourself go with the flow.

Season 7 took all the worst tendencies from season 6 and amphiphiled them to the max. Too many guest stars, no real story arcs and just moving incredibly quickly. Maggie's alcoholism storyline where she acts a bit sleepy for a few episodes sure is something. 

And yeah, season 8 is an attempt to ground the show again, but they just went too far with it. Filerman hadn't been actively involved with the show since the early days and had no feeling for what worked and what didn't. 

[kalbir]

I can't pinpoint the exact moment season 7 went off the rails, but the core families shrunk and the supporting characters and guest stars in short arcs didn't really work.

 

Seasons 8 and 9 were the off the rails plus budget mode seasons. Season 8 was a chore to get through and season 9 had a darkness and sadness surrounding it that made it painful to get through. The final two seasons were not necessary and I feel they only happened because CBS was in their third place primetime mess era.

[Khan]

ICAM!!

I still crack up over Terry's last words - "Richard, what about MEEEEEEEE!?" - and the shot of the back of her stunt double's head in the next season's premiere, confirming she had died.

Edited 18 hours ago by Khan

[kalbir]

@Khan Keeping it real here, after watching Falcon Crest episodes I was surprised it made it past season 5 and season 7 should have been the end.

Falcon Crest may not have been a pop culture phenomenon, but it's place in television history is that of being Jane Wyman's late career comeback which pretty much overlapped with her ex-husband's presidency. It's also notable that Falcon Crest had the longest run of a CBS primetime drama series that premiered in the 1980s which was not named Murder, She Wrote.

 

[Khan]

Of course, that could be attributed at least partly to the fact that CBS itself was in terrible shape throughout the mid- and late-'80's; but I think Jane Wyman and Angela Lansbury, along with the cast of NBC's "The Golden Girls," helped to reshape the image of older people on TV.

[kalbir]

Look at the list of CBS primetime dramas that premiered in the 1980s which were not named Murder, She Wrote and had 5+ season runs: Falcon Crest; Magnum, P.I.; Simon & Simon, Cagney & Lacey, Jake and the Fatman. They all lasted as long as they did because CBS was in their third place primetime mess era.

Remember that episode of The Golden Girls where Sophia referred to Jane Wyman as "that old crow from Falcon Crest"? Funny thing is Jane Wyman was only 6 years older than Estelle Getty.