Dynasty (TV series)

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Dynasty
Dynasty title card.
Genre	Soap Opera
Creator(s)	Richard & Esther Shapiro
Starring	John Forsythe Linda Evans Pamela Bellwood Pamela Sue Martin John James Al Corley Gordon Thomson Jack Coleman Heather Locklear Diahann Carroll Michael Nader Catherine Oxenberg Emma Samms and Joan Collins as Alexis
Theme music composer	Bill Conti
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	9
No. of episodes	220 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time	44 Minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	ABC
Original run	January 12, 1981 – May 10, 1989
Links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Dynasty was an American primetime television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 12, 1981 to May 10, 1989. The series revolved around the Carringtons, a wealthy oil family living in Denver, Colorado.

Dynasty epitomized an era of glamour and decadence that later became the hallmark of the American primetime soap operas of the 1980s, and at its height was the talk of the nation.

Contents 1 Beginnings 2 "Enter Alexis" 3 Krystle and Alexis 4 Cliffhangers and the "Moldavian Massacre" 5 The end of the Dynasty 6 Dynasty spin-offs and television events 7 Main characters 8 Pivotal characters 9 Behind the scenes 10 Dynasty in popular culture 11 Dynasty commercial tie-ins 12 DVD release 13 See also 14 References 15 External links

[edit] Beginnings

The working title for Dynasty was Oil, and the starring role originally went to George Peppard. In early drafts of the pilot script the two main families featured in the series, the Carrington and Colby families, were written as Parkhurst and Corby respectively.

Peppard, who had difficulties dealing with the somewhat unsympathetic role of Blake, was replaced with John Forsythe. In the final production drafts the names Parkhurst and Corby were changed to Carrington and Colby, and their rivalry was written to emulate the Montagues and Capulets of Romeo and Juliet, that is, crossed in love and war.

The first season, filmed in 1980, was delayed by animosity between the networks and the partnership of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, which caused a strike. Many new shows were delayed for months, and Dynasty did not see the light of day on ABC until the first weeks of 1981.

As the series opened, tycoon Blake Carrington (Forsythe) was about to marry Krystle Jennings (Linda Evans), a younger woman whom he met when she took a job as a secretary at his company, the monolithic Denver-Carrington.

Krystle was young, beautiful and vulnerable, described by the show's creator Esther Shapiro as "an American Aphrodite." She found a hostile reception in the Carrington household — the staff patronised her, Blake's daughter Fallon (Pamela Sue Martin) resented her, and her husband was too preoccupied with his work. Krystle's only ally in the Carrington house was her stepson, the sexually ambivalent Steven (Al Corley). The young adults of the Carrington dynasty had their own problems. Steven was uneasy about fitting into the mold cast for him as Blake's successor and was constantly in conflict with his father, who refused to accept his son's homosexuality. The decadent, ruthless Fallon was Blake's natural heir but unable to enter the Denver Carrington boardroom because she was a woman; she channelled her energies into toying with various male suitors, such as the Carrington chauffeur Michael Culhane (Wayne Northrop), and being unfaithful to her husband Jeff Colby (John James), whom she had only married as part of a business deal with Jeff's uncle Cecil (Lloyd Bochner).

The first season also heavily featured Matthew Blaisdel (Bo Hopkins), Krystle's first love, who worked for Blake Carrington as a geologist and was unhappily married to the emotionally fragile Claudia (Pamela Bellwood), who had recently spent time in a psychiatric hospital.

[edit] "Enter Alexis"

In the first episode of the second season, titled "Enter Alexis," the mysterious stranger removed her sunglasses to reveal English actress Joan Collins as a dynamic new addition to the series. Alexis Carrington blazed a trail across the show and its storylines and the program quickly shot up in the ratings. By the end of the 1981-1982 season Dynasty entered the Top 20 in the Nielsen ratings, and eventually hit #1 in 1985. First Lady Nancy Reagan appeared as herself in one 1983 episode, and even former President Gerald Ford guest-starred as himself, along with his wife Betty and Henry Kissinger.

With Alexis settled as Krystle's implacable nemesis, stepmother and stepdaughter Fallon settled their differences, forging a bond which riled the displaced and resentful Alexis even further.

Collins would become the most celebrated female television star of the 1980s, and Alexis its most infamous clotheshorse. The on-screen adversarial chemistry between Collins and Linda Evans, most evident in the early seasons, set tongues wagging very quickly; 'Alexis and Krystle' would become metaphorical for women, opposite in nature, battling over a man, a bank-balance, a legacy.

[edit] Krystle and Alexis

In the seasons that followed, the rivalry between Blake Carrington's current and former wives became a driver for the melodrama. Alexis resented Krystle's supplanting of her position as mistress of the Carrington household and tried to undermine her at every opportunity.

Alexis caused Krystle's miscarriage and tried repeatedly to ruin her marriage, most notably by finding Krystle's former husband (Samuel) Mark Jennings (Geoffrey Scott) and proving that their divorce was never finalized (and that, consequently, Krystle's marriage to Blake was invalid).

They had many verbal confrontations. On one occasion Krystle overheard Alexis gossiping about her in an adjoining cubicle at the beauty parlour. Krystle appeared and announced that she too could "throw mud", and tossed a bowl of face mud over Alexis.

But their rivalry is best remembered in a handful of trademark catfights, beginning with one in Alexis' art studio on the Carrington estate (in which Krystle won soundly, destroying Alexis's art studio and a painting of Blake in the process. After the destruction, Krystle calmly left after telling Alexis, "If you want a rematch, just whistle...if you can!"), another in the lily pond (this was spoofed in the Robert Townsend Partners in Crime comedy series on HBO), one in a mud pool in a park and a final spat (in Dynasty: The Reunion) in a fashion studio. The verbal spars between Krystle and Alexis also marked one of the first times the word "bitch" was used on US television; the series made the use of the word more socially acceptable.

'Krystle and Alexis' would quickly become perhaps the ultimate classic feminine television rivalry, fueled by the crackling anti-chemistry between actresses Linda Evans and Joan Collins.

In the television special Dynasty Reunion: Catfights & Caviar, Joan Collins noted that all of her stunt work, including the fight sequences, was done by a body-double.

[edit] Cliffhangers and the "Moldavian Massacre"

Perhaps the most memorable aspects of the series, outside the high camp scripts from writer/creators Richard and Esther Shapiro and writers Robert and Eileen Pollock, were a stream of infamous cliffhanger storylines.

The second season cliffhanger saw Blake left for dead on a mountain after a fight with Nick Toscanni (James Farentino), the third involved Alexis and Krystle being lured to Steven's cabin one night and locked inside while the cabin was set ablaze by an unseen arsonist (later revealed to be Joseph, the butler and Kirby's father.) The fourth saw the disappearance of Fallon just before her second wedding to Jeff (to accommodate the departure of Pamela Sue Martin from the series) and Alexis being accused of murder and imprisoned in a cell full of "ladies of the night".

The most famous Dynasty cliffhanger is the so-called "Moldavian massacre", when Blake's youngest daughter Amanda Carrington (Catherine Oxenberg) married Prince Michael of Moldavia (Michael Praed) on the eve of a military revolution in his country. Although the massacre itself (ironically, arrived at by writer Camille Marchetta, who had devised the wildly-successful 'Who Shot J.R.?' scenario on "Dallas" five years earlier) had superb production qualities and became the most talked-about episode of any TV series during the calendar year of 1985, it is nonetheless largely remembered for its disappointing resolution four months later.

Nearly every character was in attendance at the royal wedding in the season's final episode which aired in May 1985. At the conclusion of the wedding, revolutionaries stormed in, apparently gunning down everyone in the chapel. The scene gave the impression that anyone could have died, and in the summer that followed many magazines published stories speculating about which characters would survive the massacre.

When the series resumed in the fall viewers quickly learned the outcome of the fifth season finale. The underwhelming resolution disenchanted fans who felt the storyline had built to nothing, and it is frequently cited as the moment when the series "jumped the shark". In the 2006 CBS special Dynasty Reunion: Catfights & Caviar, Gordon Thomson reiterated that it was the follow-up that was the letdown, not the cliffhanger itself. Joan Collins had been conspicuously absent from the season six opener; she was in a tense contract renegotiation with the show, seeking an increased salary. As a result, the first episode had to be rewritten to explain her absence and many scenes were abandoned or given to other characters. Collins' demands were met (she reportedly signed a $60,000 per episode contract) and she returned to the series in the season's second episode, though a planned storyline to make her Queen of Moldavia was scrapped.

Aside from the glamour and campy drama, the show's later years were remembered for the controversy surrounding a storyline involving former matinee idol Rock Hudson as Daniel Reece, a character who enjoyed a romantic interaction with Krystle Carrington. Hudson's scenes required him to kiss Linda Evans and, as news that he had contracted AIDS broke, there was speculation Evans would be at risk. (Miss Evans, as it would turn out, was fine).

[edit] The end of the Dynasty

The lackluster reaction to the 1985 Moldavian conclusion at the onset of season six, combined with a poorly-received dual role for Evans (as Krystle and as Rita, an actress impersonating Krystle for 11 episodes) that same year, the difficult recasting of key character Fallon (now played by Emma Samms), and excessive time spent introducing characters to be spun off onto The Colbys, instigated a ratings slump.

Other factors perhaps account for the fast ratings decline. These include the revival of situation comedy series, especially on NBC, whose Cosby Show took the number one position from Dynasty in the 1985-86 season. Another comedy, Cheers, which was consistently in the top ten from 1985 until 1993, aired opposite Dynasty in the 1988-89 season after Dynasty was moved to a new Thursday night timeslot. The late 1980s also saw realistic, low-key dramas such as thirtysomething gaining favor.

After the characters returned from Moldavia, Blake spurned Alexis and in retaliation she found his long-departed brother Ben (Christopher Cazenove) and they swindled Blake out of his fortune. An enraged Blake tried to strangle Alexis to death at the Carrington mansion (which now belonged to Alexis) as the season cliffhanger, just as the hotel La Mirage burned down, killing Claudia. In the next season, Blake recovered his money, but was rendered an amnesiac in an explosion. Alexis found him and convinced him they were still married, but felt guilty and told him the truth. Blake and Krystle also had to deal with their daughter Krystina (Jessica Player) being kidnapped. Other stories in that season featured Adam's romance with Dana Waring (Leann Hunley), Sammy Jo's doomed marriage to Clay Fallmont (Ted McGinley) and reconciliation with Steven (who had recently broken up with closeted politician Bart Fallmont (Kevin Conroy). The season ended with Matthew Blaisdel and a gang of gun-toting South American guerillas gatecrashing Adam and Dana's wedding reception and taking the family hostage.

When The Colbys was cancelled, Fallon and Jeff returned for the 1987-1988 season. Blake and Alexis each ran for governor of Colorado (they both lost to a third-party candidate), Alexis married Sean Rowan (James Healey) (who planned to kill her due to her part in the death of his father, Joseph, the former Carrington butler), and Steven's reconciliation with Sammy Jo collapsed due to her affair with drug-addicted football player Josh Harris (Tom Schanley).

In the 9th and final 1988-1989 season, despite the introduction of a new executive producer who rejuvenated the show and a team of writers who improved the story quality arguably for the first time in years, the ratings plummeted for good. Linda Evans departed the series within a few weeks; Krystle Carrington was sent to Switzerland for emergency surgery, where she fell into a coma, with the door left open for Evans to return at a later stage. In a money-saving move, Joan Collins was contracted for only 13 out of the season's 22 episodes. Former Colbys cast member, Stephanie Beacham, was brought in to reprise her role as firecracker Sable Colby (Tracy Scoggins also returned to her role as Sable's daughter Monica), written into Dynasty as a new antagonist for Alexis to battle against. Beacham's bravura performance helped to cause many to deem the final season as the best of the series' later years.

Joan Collins and Michael Nader both announced that they would leave Dynasty at the end of the ninth season while it was rumored that Diahann Carroll was asked to return to the series for a potential tenth season. But after moving the series to a new Thursday night slot which proved unsuccessful, ABC pulled the plug in 1989. Fittingly, the show ended on a cliffhanger, with both Blake and Alexis in mortal peril (Blake being shot in the chest and Alexis and her long-time love Dex Dexter (Michael Nader) falling off a hotel balcony guardrail) and the rest of the cast in similar life-threatening situations.

[edit] Dynasty spin-offs and television events

A spin-off, The Colbys, debuted in 1985 as Fallon "returned from the dead" and ex-husband Jeff followed her to Los Angeles, where they became embroiled in the family intrigues of Jeff's wealthy California relatives. Pamela Sue Martin had been asked to reprise the role of Fallon, but declined; the unpopular show lasted for just two seasons, ending in 1987, and both Fallon and Jeff returned to Dynasty.

A miniseries, Dynasty: The Reunion, aired in October 1991. Billed as a wrap-up for the dangling plotlines left by the series' abrupt cancellation 2 1/2 years earlier, The Reunion wasn't produced by the same team as the final season and created more loose ends.

On January 2, 2005, ABC aired a TV-movie, Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure, purporting to tell of the creation and backstage details of Dynasty. The movie received mixed reviews both for content and for historical accuracy, and was criticised by all three of Dynasty's leads, John Forsythe, Linda Evans, and Joan Collins, in different press releases. The movie was filmed in Australia (rather than Los Angeles) and a good majority of the cast members were non-Americans. Forsythe was played by Bartholomew John, Evans by Melora Hardin and Collins by Alice Krige. Much dramatic license was taken with the script of Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure, so the show is not an accurate guide to either behind-the-scenes events nor the on-screen storylines of Dynasty. Misleading events include Al Corley being written out in the oil-rig explosion (Corley had already long left the show when the explosion was devised as a way to reintroduce the character of Steven and to explain his change in appearance), Sammy Jo at the Moldavian wedding massacre (she was actually in New York, involved in a separate storyline) and Amanda being written off when her portayer asked for a raise (Catherine Oxenberg did allegedly leave the show over salary demands, but the role was recast with Karen Cellini). Furthermore, the TV movie made no reference at all to long-running characters Fallon Carrington, Adam Carrington, Jeff Colby, and Claudia Blaisdel.

The cable channel SOAPnet aired repeats of all nine seasons. In January 2004, creator Esther Shapiro participated in a marathon of the show's episodes, "Serial Bowl: Alexis vs. Krystle", giving behind-the-scenes tidbits and factoids.

On May 2, 2006, Dynasty Reunion: Catfights & Caviar aired on CBS. It reunited for the first time all the original actors who played the Carrington children (Pamela Sue Martin, Al Corley, Gordon Thomson, and Catherine Oxenberg), who reminisced about making the show with other former cast members, including John Forsythe, Joan Collins and Linda Evans. The special was filmed at the Filoli mansion.

[edit] Main characters

Blake Alexander Carrington (John Forsythe)(original cast)

The son of Tom and Ellen Carrington (referred as Fallon in one early episode) who became the self-made CEO of Denver-Carrington. The husband of Alexis Morell Carrington (with whom he fathered Adam, Fallon, Steven and Amanda), and Krystle Grant Jennings Carrington (with whom he fathered Krystina). Initially a ruthless man in both business and family matters, the character soon softened into a more benevolent patriarchal figure due to the influence of actor John Forsythe.

Krystle Grant Jennings Carrington (Linda Evans)(original cast)

The wife of Blake Carrington, former wife of tennis pro Samuel Mark Jennings (known as Mark) and the one-time lover of Matthew Blaisdel (Bo Hopkins original cast), a married geologist who worked for Denver-Carrington. Krystle was the mother, with Blake, of Krystina (Jessica Player), and the aunt of Sammy Jo Dean (see below), the only child of her late sister Iris and her husband Frank. Evans left the show midway in the final season (in the story Krystle began to unravel mentally, had to have delicate surgery, and lapsed into a coma), but she returned for Dynasty: The Reunion.

Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan (Joan Collins)

Former socialite turned businesswoman, married to - in order - Blake Carrington, Cecil Colby, Dex Dexter and Sean Rowan. She famously held a torch for Blake, though she later fell deeply in love with Dex Dexter. Her marriage to Colby was ordered on his deathbed, and intended to enable her to ruin Blake after Colby was gone, while her wedding to Rowan was on a whim. Mother, with Blake, to Adam, Fallon, Steven and Amanda Carrington. Alexis was romantically attached to a number of men, including Carrington architect and estate manager Roger Grimes (J. Eddie Peck), tennis pro Mark Jennings, oilman Rashid Ahmed (John Saxon), King Galen of Moldavia (Joel Fabiani), and shipping tycoon Zach Powers (Ricardo Montalban).

Fallon Carrington Colby (Pamela Sue Martin (original cast), 1981-1984; then Emma Samms, 1985, 1987-1989, 1991)

The eldest daughter of Blake and Alexis, the wife of Jeff Colby and the mother, with Jeff, of Blake Carrington Colby (known as LB) and Lauren Constance Colby. As a young woman, she was famously indiscreet and enjoyed affairs with chauffer Michael Culhane (played by Wayne Northrop) (original cast), playboy Peter de Vilbis, tennis pro Mark Jennings, doctor Nick Toscanni, and Colby heir, Miles Colby, whom she married briefly. When Pamela Sue Martin left the series in fourth season, the story had Fallon fleeing in her car on the eve of her remarriage to Jeff. Her wrecked car was later found by the road however there was no sign of Fallon. She was absent for much of the season that followed, a period in which Amanda Carrington surfaced. At the end of the season Fallon was reintroduced: suffering from amnesia and now played by Emma Samms, with no on-air explanation given for Fallon's change of appearance. Soon afterwards she and Jeff left Denver and their characters were switched to the spin-off series The Colbys. That series was cancelled after two seasons, and Fallon and Jeff were returned to Dynasty in 1987. In the storyline, Jeff found Fallon unconscious in the desert (after being dropped off by a UFO), and they returned to Denver where Fallon fought with Sammy Jo over Jeff before dropping Jeff for good and becoming involved with cop John Zorelli (Ray Abruzzo) who helped her unlock her memories of Roger Grimes' murder. Samms was unpopular with many viewers, due in some part to the writing, which presented Fallon at this time as a teary-eyed, put-upon victim. In the show's final season, Fallon was written more like the feisty original character, and Samms rose to the challenge.

Steven Daniel Carrington (Al Corley (original cast), 1981-1982, 1991; then Jack Coleman, 1983-1988)

The sexually confused, third born, and younger son of Blake and Alexis who, despite his conviction that he was homosexual, married-at times, happily-Sammy Jo Dean and Claudia Blaisdel. With Sammy Jo, he fathered Steven Daniel Carrington (known as Danny). At different times, the lover of Ted Dinard, Luke Fuller and Bart Fallmont. He was accused of having an affair with his friend, lawyer Chris Deegan (Grant Goodeve), but their relationship was never clarified. (And Steven denied it.) The role was recast during the series run, and the change of appearance was explained by plastic surgery after an oil rig explosion.

Adam Alexander Carrington (Gordon Thomson, 1982-1989; later Robin Sachs, 1991 only)

First born, kidnapped at birth and raised as Michael Torrance in Billings, Montana, Adam Carrington did not learn of his true identity until adulthood, at which point he returned to the Carrington home. Married to Claudia Blaisdel and Dana Waring, he was a ruthless schemer — constantly plotting to enhance his position in the dynasty. His only lasting relationship was with Kirby Anders. The character of Adam was not seen nor mentioned in the first season of Dynasty, and was introduced in the third season as a replacement son for Blake and Alexis to squabble over after the character of Steven was written out of the series. Steven was later returned to the storyline, though the character of Adam had proved to be a success and was retained in the series until its close. Adam was also featured in the 1991 Dynasty reunion movie, however the role was recast as Thomson could not get out of his contract with Santa Barbara.

Amanda (Bedford) Carrington (Catherine Oxenberg, 1984-1986; then Karen Cellini, 1986-1987)

Amanda was not seen or heard-of in the series until the fifth season; the character was devised as a replacement for the departing Fallon. Amanda was the second daughter (last born of four) of Blake and Alexis, raised in London as Amanda Bedford by Alexis' cousin Rosalind Bedford (Juliet Mills). She was hidden from her father Blake out of spite by Alexis, who discovered she was pregnant after she separated from her husband. Married to Prince Michael of Moldavia, and onetime lover of Dex Dexter (on whom she had a crush), Clay Fallmont and chauffeur Michael Culhane (again played by Wayne Northrop). The role was re-cast after Oxenberg left the series when her demands for a payrise were not met, and no on air explanation was given for Amanda's change in appearance. The replacement actor, Karen Cellini, proved to be unpopular and partway through Cellini's first season in the role the character was abruptly written out of the series; Amanda was never heard from again. In Soap Opera Digest dated December 16, 1986, Cellini revealed that killing off Amanda was planned, although the scene was never shown.

Jeffrey Broderick Colby (John James (original cast), 1981-1985, 1987-1989; 1991)

The nephew and protege of Cecil Colby. Born to Philip and Francesca Colby, he was raised by Cecil on the Colby estate in Denver, Nine Oaks (which neighbored the Carrington estate) because his father died before coming into his inheritance. Married to Fallon Carrington and briefly to Kirby Anders, he was the father of Blake Carrington Colby (known as LB) and Lauren Constance Colby. At different times, he was involved with Nicole Simpson (Susan Scannell), Lady Ashley Mitchell (Ali MacGraw).

Claudia Barrows Blaisdel Carrington (Pamela Bellwood (original cast), 1981-1986)

The emotionally fragile wife of Matthew Blaisdel, mother of Lindsay, and at one time a close friend of Krystle. Dynasty creator Esther Shapiro felt Blaisdel was the "everywoman" of the show. Claudia died in a fire she accidentally set at Fallon's hotel, La Mirage.

Samantha Josephine "Sammy Jo Dean" Reece Carrington Fallmont, (Heather Locklear, 1981-1989, 1991)

Greedy, trouble-making yet beautiful niece of Krystle Carrington, wife of Steven Carrington and Clay Fallmont, and mother of Danny Carrington. It was later revealed that she was the daughter of Daniel Reece, played by Rock Hudson. Sammy Jo was the show's secondary villainess for much of the show's run, though she was an amateur compared to the far more polished Alexis. Locklear split her time between Dynasty and another Spelling-produced series, T.J. Hooker.

Dominique Deveraux (Diahann Carroll, 1984-1987)

Successful and wealthy chanteuse (birth name Millie Cox), illegitimate daughter of Tom Carrington and Laura Matthews, making her a half-sister to Blake and Ben Carrington. Carroll joined the cast at the end of the fourth season as a foil for Joan Collins' Alexis, though when the character was originally written, the producers had not decided how to use her. A number of scenes were filmed to introduce her (to circumvent any chance the storyline would leak to the press) including alternative lines that revealed Dominique to be the mother of Kirby Anders, and also the former wife of Cecil Colby. Dominique was initially conceived as a strong, tough schemer and fighter who loved going toe-to-toe with Alexis, but after reconciling with the Carrington family she mellowed considerably. Dominique eventually left town in 1987, and was not mentioned again until Season 9, when many references to her left the door open for her return in a never produced Season 10. Dominique also appeared in many episodes of Dynasty II: The Colbys.

Farnsworth "Dex" Dexter (Michael Nader, 1983-1989)

Alexis' third husband, and arguably the second great love of her life, after Blake. Dex carried on a brief affair with her daughter Amanda, which strained the relationship between mother and daughter. Following the dissolution of his marriage to Alexis, Dex was involved with Leslie Carrington and Sable Colby. At the conclusion of the original series, Dex and Alexis fell off a balcony while fighting. In Dynasty: The Reunion a minor character explained that Alexis managed to turn in mid-air and land on top of Dex. It was left unclear whether Dex survived the fall.

Dana Waring Carrington (Leann Hunley 1986 - 1988)

Blake' beautiful and loyal assistant at Denver-Carrington. Adam used her to obtain confidential Denver-Carrington information when he was working for Alexis at ColbyCo; the pair soon fell in love, and was revealed that she had followed Adam to Denver from Billings, Montana, where she had loved him from afar. They married, but Dana's inability to conceive a child placed a strain on their relationship. She struggled to keep the secret that her infertility was caused by an abortion in her teens, the result of a one-night stand with Adam when he lived as Michael Torrance (he had been too drunk to remember the encounter).

Benjamin "Ben" Carrington (Christopher Cazenove, 1986 - 1987)

The vengeful brother of Blake, who was cut off by Blake after the death of their mother. Blake blamed his brother for her death because Ben was supposed to be caring for her at the time (he was, in fact, having an affair with Emily Fallmont (Pat Crowley). Alexis lured Ben to Denver to help her destroy Blake, but Ben eventually reconciled with his brother and his estranged daughter Leslie, and then left Denver.

Sabella "Sable" Scott Colby (Stephanie Beacham, 1988 - 1989)

The ex-wife of Colby Enterprises magnate Jason Colby and the cousin of Alexis. Sable left Los Angeles and came to Denver, where she supported Blake after Krystle's departure to a Swiss clinic and became a formidable opponent of Alexis by getting her hands on the Carlton hotel, Alexis' oil tankers and her former husband Dex (and even becoming pregnant with his child). Former top bitch of Dynasty spin-off, The Colbys, Sable was written into the final season of the series due to the great popularity of the character. It was also later revealed that her twins Miles and Monica were the product of a rape suffered soon after she had married Jason Colby. She passed the children off as Jason's; Alexis found out, and decades later betrayed her cousin's trust and revealed the truth. This resulted in a catfight rivaled only by the famous lilypond encounter between Alexis and Krystle.

Monica Scott Colby (Tracy Scoggins, 1988 - 1989)

The half-sister of Jeff Colby and the daughter of Sable Colby, Monica followed her mother to Denver, helping her in her efforts to fight Alexis. Monica had previously been a popular character in the Colbys spin-off.

Leslie Saunders Carrington (Terri Garber, 1987 - 1988)

Daughter of Ben Carrington and Melissa Saunders. At one time the lover of Clay Fallmont, Michael Culhane, Dex Dexter and Sean Rowan. Leslie was introduced with some fanfare in 1987, thought by the producers to be the perfect replacement for her cousin Amanda, who had left Denver that year. However, Leslie never clicked with the audience and was quietly written out after little more than a year and a half.

[edit] Pivotal characters

Matthew Thomas Blaisdel (Bo Hopkins (original cast), 1981, 1987)

Geologist who worked for Denver Carrington and a former love of Krystle Carrington. Now married to the emotionally fragile Claudia with a teenaged daughter Lindsay, Matthew left Blake Carrington's employ and attempted to go it alone on an oil well project with wildcatter Walter Lankershim. Although caring for Claudia, Matthew was unable to shake his feelings for Krystle and the two nearly embarked on an affair.

Cecil Baldwin Colby (Lloyd Bochner (original cast), 1981 - 1982)

Blake Carrington's sometimes friend and business rival who ran the oil company ColbyCo. He had raised his nephew Jeff on his Denver estate and arranged a marriage between him and Fallon Carrington as part of a business deal where Cecil would help Blake out of financial difficulty if Fallon married Jeff. Cecil later became involved with the vengeful Alexis Carrington and the two plotted against Blake.

Michael Culhane (Wayne Northrop (original cast), 1981, 1986 - 1987)

Blake Carrington's shady chauffeur, secretly having an affair with his daughter Fallon. When Blake found out, he had Michael beaten up. Michael left Denver, but returned a few years later.

Joseph Arlington Anders (Lee Bergere (original cast), 1981-1983)

The Carrington's major-domo at the mansion who ran the household, staunchly loyal to his employer Blake Carrington. Joseph took an immediate dislike to Blake's new bride Krystle, feeling that she didn't belong in the mansion and later enjoyed a teasing, antagonistic relationship with Alexis, the former mistress of the house.

Walter Lankershim (Dale Robertson (original cast), 1981)

Veteran wildcatter in conflict with Blake Carrington during the first season. Later went into a business partnership with Matthew Blaisdel.

Lindsay Blaisdel (Katy Kurtzman (original cast), 1981)

The sensitive teenaged daughter of Matthew and Claudia.

Dr. Nick Toscanni (James Farentino, 1981 - 1982)

Psychiatrist and surgeon who is out for revenge against Blake Carrington and comes close to having an affair with Krystle in the process.

Kirby Alicia Anders Colby (Kathleen Beller, 1982 - 1984, 1991)

The daughter of Joseph Anders, the Carrington major-domo. She was schooled in Europe at Blake Carrington's expense, but returned to Denver in 1982, eventually securing work as LB's nanny.

Samuel "Mark" Howard Jennings (Geoffrey Scott, 1982 - 1984)

Handsome tennis pro and former husband of Krystle Carrington brought to Denver due to the machinations of Alexis, who wished to break up Blake and Krystle's marriage. He had a brief fling with Alexis, before becoming Alexis' bodyguard.

Tracy Kendall (Deborah Adair, 1983 - 1984)

Employee of Denver Carrington, who worked in public relations. Scheming and ambitious, Tracy sought to advance her career either by subterfuge or by sleeping her way to the top. She resented Krystle working at the company as Head of Public Relations, a job she had wanted for herself.

Peter De Vilbis (Helmut Berger, 1983 - 1984)

Devilish playboy who seduces Fallon while trying to exploit the Carringtons for his own financial advantage.

Brady Lloyd (Billy Dee Williams, 1984 - 1985)

Former husband of Dominique Devereux, who follows her to Denver.

Daniel Reece (Rock Hudson, 1984 - 1985)

Wealthy businessman and the real father of Sammy Jo, Daniel falls in love with Krystle and nearly succeeds in taking her away from Blake.

Lady Ashley Mitchell (Ali McGraw, 1984 - 1985)

American-born widow of British diplomat Lord Maynard Mitchell and renowned photographer for World Finance Magazine who has romantic feelings for Blake Carrington and assists him in battling Alexis for the control of valuable South China oil leases. She later becomes involved with Jeff Colby towards the second half of season 5.

Prince Michael of Moldavia (Michael Praed, 1985 - February, 1986)

The heir to the (fictional) European kingdom of Moldavia, and widely regarded as a playboy prince. Prior to his engagement to Amanda Carrington, he was linked to Elena, the Duchess of Brana (Kerry Armstrong). His wedding to Amanda Carrington, at the conclusion of the show's fifth season, was interrupted by machine-gun-wielding rebels in what was widely regarded as the series most ostentatious cliffhanger. It is also the point at which TV critics consider the series jumped the shark.

Joel Abrigore (George Hamilton, January, 1985 - February, 1986)

Film director who plots with Sammy Jo to arrange the kidnapping of Krystle and her substitution in the Carrington household with a doppelganger Rita Leslie (also played by Linda Evans).

Miles Andrew Colby (Maxwell Caulfield, 1985 - 1986, 1991)

The spoilt, hot-headed son of Jason and Sable Colby and twin brother of Monica Colby. Miles was a major character in the spin-off series The Colbys but was introduced in Dynasty in a storyline that had Miles meeting and marrying the amnesiac Fallon, calling herself Randall Adams. The story was then played out in The Colbys when Jeff Colby moved to California and realised that his cousin had married his former wife. Miles later returned in Dynasty: The Reunion, and the ongoing storyline of the Miles-Fallon-Jeff love triangle was finally resolved.

Cassandra "Caress" Morell (Kate O'Mara, 1986)

The manipulative sister of Alexis, rescued from a South American prison by Dex Dexter, and reunited with her sister in Denver. She wrote a muck-raking biography about Alexis entitled "Sister Dearest", but Alexis discovered the plan, bought the publishing house and scuttled the project. Caress left town to find dirt on Ben Carrington, and was never mentioned again. Preferring to be called "Caress", when Alexis wanted to rile her she called her "Cassie", her birth name.

Clay Fallmont (Ted McGinley, 1986 - 1987)

The illegitimate son of Ben Carrington and Emily Fallmont, who engaged in affairs with Amanda Carrington, Sammy Jo Reece and Leslie Carrington. The last relationship ended, and he left Denver, when it was confirmed that Leslie may have been his sister by blood. (Although it was never clarified, Ben Carrington may have been his biological father.)

Sarah Curtis (Cassie Yates, 1987)

Friend of Dex Dexter, whose husband and daughter die in a car crash. Sarah is persuaded to allow her daughter's heart to be transplanted into Blake and Krystle's critically ill young daughter Krystina. After the operation, Blake and Krystle invite Sarah to stay at the mansion and she shows increasing signs of an unhealthy obsession with Krystina after the loss of her own daughter.

Sean Rowan Anders (James Healey, 1987 - 1988)

Handsome stranger who saves Alexis from drowning after a car accident, whom Alexis falls for and marries. It turns out that Sean is the long-lost son of the Carringtons' major-domo, Joseph Anders, and is out for revenge for Alexis' treatment of both his father and his sister Kirby, eventually attempting to kill her. This was her last husband on the series.

[edit] Behind the scenes

The mansion that appeared as the Carrington mansion in the opening credits, establishing shots and some outdoor scenes is not actually in Colorado, where Dynasty was set; it is the Filoli estate in Woodside, California. The mansion can be seen with the same decor as it had in Dynasty in Warren Beatty's 1978 film Heaven Can Wait. Many exterior shots of the Carrington mansion (including the Lily Pond catfight) were shot at a house called Arden Villa. It has also been used in films, television series, and music videos.

John Forsythe was the only cast member to appear in all 220 episodes of the series, and both Forsythe and John James were the only two original cast members to appear in the final episode. Linda Evans appeared in the next highest number of episodes, for a total of 204 of the 220 episodes. She missed two episodes from the 1981-1982 season, and appeared in only six episodes of the ninth season before leaving the series.

[edit] Dynasty in popular culture

Dynasty has inspired a rash of parodies, imitations and homages. A sequence in the mid-1990s the sitcom The Nanny featured Fran (Fran Drescher) and her rival CC (Lauren Lane) as Alexis and Krystle with Maxwell Sheffield (Charles Shaughnessy) as Blake. This scene quickly degenerated into a catfight between the two women. Collins herself appeared in another episode as Maxwell's stepmother, a maid who had married her boss with hints she may have been somewhat of a gold-digger. The sitcom Roseanne featured a storyline about a prince from Maldavia (played by Jim Varney) who dated Jackie for a while. Joan Collins would also appear in the series, playing Roseanne's nouveaux riche cousin Ronnie. Dynasty was also referenced in an episode of American Dad!, where it was Roger the Alien's favorite TV show. The characters did nothing but slap each other and hurl insults (Bitch! Slut! Bitch! Slut!). Finally, in an episode of Histeria! about the history of China, Miss Information mistakenly refers to this program when defining the word "dynasty".

In the 1988 film Big Business, one of Bette Midler's characters is obsessed with Dynasty. She rehearses a speech by imitating Alexis in a scene from the show, and later quotes Alexis in the film's denouement. Some drag queens in the 1990 documentary Paris is Burning stated that they wished to be and live like the female leads on the show.

A much-discussed MAD Magazine parody, Die-Nasty appeared in Issue #256, in July of 1985, and pop musician Prince mentioned the series ("You don't have to watch Dynasty to have an attitude") in his hit 1986 song "Kiss", from the album Parade.

[edit] Dynasty commercial tie-ins

Series costume designer Nolan Miller unveiled "The Dynasty Collection" — a series of haute couture designs based on costumes worn by Joan Collins, Linda Evans and Diahann Carroll. Female fans of the show could also wear "Forever Krystle" perfume, marketed in 1985; a men's fragrance, "Carrington", was also released.

In addition, the Crystal Light beverage hired Linda Evans as a spokesperson due to her character's name on Dynasty.

Two fictional novels were published, based on scripts from early episodes — Dynasty^[1] and Alexis Returns^[2] — written by Eileen Lottman. In 1984, Doubleday/Dolphin published the companion book Dynasty: The Authorized Biography of the Carringtons^[3], which included an introduction by Esther Shapiro. The Authorized Biography featured storyline synopses in the form of extended biographies of the main characters, descriptions of primary locations (like the Carrington Estate and La Mirage) and dozens of photos from the series.

Glamour, Greed & Glory: Dynasty ^[4] by Judith A. Moose was released in 2005 and included facts, stories, episode guides and photos. Author Moose claims that through research at Spelling Entertainment, she discovered the middle names (unused on air) of some key characters: Alexis Marissa, Amanda Kimberly, Blake Alexander, Claudia Mary and Fallon Marissa^[5].

[edit] DVD release

The first season of Dynasty was released on Region 1 DVD in 2005 by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. This edition includes all 13 episodes of the first season, interviews with original cast members Pamela Sue Martin and Al Corley and audio commentary by creator Esther Shapiro and Corley. There were no plans by Fox to release further seasons of the show, and the rights reverted to Paramount Home Entertainment in November 2006.

According to TVshowsonDVD, the unofficial site for DVD news, the second season will be released on June 19, 2007. ^[6]

[edit] See also

List of Dynasty episodes

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Dynasty at the Internet Movie Database
• Official Site
• Ultimate Dynasty
• Der Denver Clan ~ German language Dynasty site
• The ScorpioFiles: MinaL's Dynasty Page
• SOAPnet Dynasty Page