"Dynasty" (1981) TV series 1981-1989

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Creators:

Esther Shapiro
Richard Shapiro

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Release Date:

12 January 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Synopsis Greed. Seduction. Betrayal. Revenge. Dynasty has it all and more!

Plot:

The saga of a wealthy Denver family in the oil business: Blake Carrington, the patriarch; Krystle, his former secretary and wife; his children: Adam...

Plot Keywords:

Oil | Ex Wife | Colorado | Intrigue | One Word Title

Awards:

Won 5 Golden Globes. Another 15 wins & 68 nominations

Cast

John Forsythe	...	Blake Carrington (217 episodes, 1981-1989)
Linda Evans	...	Krystle Carrington / ... (201 episodes, 1981-1989)
Joan Collins	...	Alexis Carrington Colby / ... (193 episodes, 1981-1989)
Gordon Thomson	...	Adam Carrington (182 episodes, 1982-1989)
John James	...	Jeff Colby (168 episodes, 1981-1989)
Michael Nader	...	Dex Dexter (151 episodes, 1983-1989)
Jack Coleman	...	Steven Carrington (149 episodes, 1982-1988)
Heather Locklear	...	Sammy Jo Dean Carrington / ... (134 episodes, 1981-1989)
Pamela Bellwood	...	Claudia Blaisdel / ... (125 episodes, 1981-1986)
Pamela Sue Martin	...	Fallon Carrington Colby / ... (87 episodes, 1981-1984)

Runtime:

47 min (218 episodes) | Germany:45 min (220 episodes) | Argentina:60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 (video rating) (some episodes) | New Zealand:M (season 1) | Australia:PG | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Aaron Spelling Productions

Trivia:

Originally, the name of Blake's ex-wife was supposed to be Madeleine, not Alexis.

Quotes:

D.A. Jake Dunham: Where did you meet?
Stephen: We were at a party.
D.A. Jake Dunham: What kind of a party?
Stephen: I - I don't understand the question.
D.A. Jake Dunham: Well, was it a gay party? Gay, not as in happy, but as in homosexual.
[Everyone laughs uproariously]
D.A. Jake Dunham: The intent of the question was not to amuse! The intent was to get a direct answer from the witness!
Stephen: No! It was not a GAY party. It was a reception after an art opening.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Dynastia ala ellinika (1986) (V)

happy memories of the '80s

Dynasty was a huge favorite of myself and my friends, and I have many memories of discussing the show with them either over the phone as it was happening or the next day. The Carringtons were created to compete with the highly successful Dallas and Ewings of South Fork, but Dynasty was never a copycat show. While Dallas certainly focused on the soap opera elements common to all these programs, J.R.'s sliminess in business was a focal point. Dynasty was about obvious, over the top luxury and family with some camp elements included that made it special. What I loved about Dynasty was that, at least in the beginning, it was never camp for camp's sake - the camp was part of the show. For instance, when the casting of Fallon changed, the portrait of the old Fallon that hung over the fireplace was quietly replaced with a painting of the new one, Emma Samms, that looked like a paint by the numbers from Woolworth's. And of course, Joan Collins' Alexis had camp built right into the character. And there was Steven's plastic surgery...so many happy moments.

And no other show could boast the wardrobe of Dynasty, or the beauty of Linda Evans. I can still see her, bedecked in diamonds, walking toward Blake in a blue gown slit all the way up her thigh.

For me, once they had Alexis disguised as a nun and the whole Moldavian thing started, the show became self-conscious camp, as these shows often do, and I lost interest. But certainly Dynasty was a bright spot in the '80s and for a time, you couldn't beat it.