Berrenger's
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Berrenger's was an American primetime television soap opera created by Lynn Marie Latham and Bernard Lechowick that aired on NBC in 1985. The series revolved around the Berrenger family, a New York dynasty who owned the glamorous department store which bore their name.
Following in the tradition of Dynasty and Dallas, Berrenger's played up to the familiar motifs of 1980s soap operas - glamorous and beautiful characters, using money and power in games of love, business and betrayal.
The series was cancelled after 13 one-hour episodes had been produced. In North America, only 11 of the 13 episodes were screened. Because of studio television output deals it was screened in Europe and Australia, and has sustained a modest cult following.
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[edit] Marketing
Produced in the mid-1980s, Berrenger's bore all the hallmarks of the genre and the era - a lavish central set (in this case, the department store's main floor) and an expensive wardrobe budget, which dressed the cast, particularly the women, in current designer fashions.
The series was made by Warner Bros. subsidiary Lorimar, who were already producing Dallas, Knots Landing and Falcon Crest. The marketing material which accompanied the launch of the series sold it with the line "... elegant clothes... beautiful people ... a powerful clan ...".
Press advertisements said: "Step through the etched-glass, art deco doors of this opulent retailer, where anything and everything can be bought or sold - for the right price - Berrenger's."
[edit] Characters
The principal focus of the series was the Berrenger family, headed by widowed patriarch Simon Berrenger (Sam Wanamaker). Berrenger had three children - sons Billy (Robin Strand) and Paul (Ben Murphy) and daughter Barbara (Anita Morris).
Paul, Simon's eldest son and heir, was unhappily married to nasty New York socialite Gloria Brahms Berrenger (Andrea Marcovicci) but romantically involved with the department store's vice-president, Shane Bradley (Yvette Mimieux).
Paul's sister Barbara was a reformed New York party girl, an older woman who had - in her father's eyes, at least - failed the family because of her extravagant lifestyle, and her affairs with younger men.
In one of the series few story arcs, Barbara - or Babs, as she was known - was trying to put her life on track and struggling to make it in the fashion business, without her father's money to bankroll her. (Though she was, at the time, involved with a younger man.)
Barbara was divorced, with one adult daughter Melody Hughes(Claudia Christian), who was married to the ambitious Todd Hughes (Art Hindle).
The other characters typically worked in or around the department store: junior salesgirl Stacey Russell (Jonelle Allen) who was promoted to a boutique manager in the first episode, model Laurel Hayes (Laura Ashton) who charms the widowed Simon Berrenger, con man John Higgins (Jeff Conaway) who has his eye on the needy, vulnerable Barbara, and designer and entrepreneur Julio Morales (Eddie Velez) who partners with Barbara in a business venture.
One of the series key figures was the mysterious Danny Krucek (Jack Scalia), who was involved financially with Simon Berrenger, but romantically interested in Shane Bradley. The series production notes described him as a "Mafia-connected conglomerate chief ... who lives to destroy the Berrenger empire".
Though it was never clarified on air, it was implied that Krucek was the illegitimate son of Simon Berrenger, a story twist which would have made him a legitimate claimant to Paul Berrenger's position as the elder Berrenger's heir.
[edit] Episodes
A total of 11 episodes were screened between January 5, 1985 and March 9, 1985. The episode titles were Overture, For Gloria's Benefit, Of Boardrooms & Bedrooms, Fame & Misfortune, Seduction, Dangerous Ground, Power Play, Best Laid Plans, Roll Tape, Hidden Agenda and Maelstrom.
[edit] Trivia
The series had an unusually high theatrical pedigree among its cast - Yvette Mimieux was a successful film actress; Sam Wanamaker, Anita Morris and Andrea Marcovicci were all successful Broadway stars.
Berrengers was produced by Diana Gould (Dynasty), David Jacobs (Knots Landing) and Stuart Sheslow.
