Jeff Freilich's FC.

FALCON CREST

"In a serial, every change has a domino effect. It was very much like running a marathon and being told a mile-and-a-half was cut out of th...

destinedtodenver.blogspot.com

In this blog on Jeff Freilich (season 6 and 7 executive producer, writer and producer) references are made to his talks with 'The New York Times', 'The Los Angeles Times' and super fan Marc Bradley about his vision for the show, along with his planning and the casting of guest stars.


Melissa and Angela are at loggerheads, over each other vineyards. Angela has flooded Melissa’s vines but then Mrs. Agretti Cumson Gioberti comes with her workers and a tanker. The tanker is full of water and they are going to flood the Falcon Crest mansion. Angela is in her study, with Chao-Li, (a scene from season 7, 1987 – ’88):

Angela: “Good morning Chao-Li!”

Chao-Li: “Good morning Mrs. Channing!”

He hands her the mail and she replies: “Oh thank you!”

Meanwhile with the doors of the study closed Melissa is with her vineyard workers in the foyer.

Vineyard worker #1: “Get that hose in there.”

Vineyard worker #2: “Give me a hand.”

Vineyard worker #1 gives Melissa another chance to change her mind: “Lady are you sure you want to do this?”

Angela to Chao-Li: “Did you hear anything?”

Chao-Li: “No.”

The vineyard worker #1, looks at Melissa: “Hey lady our insurance doesn’t cover this, you know?”

Melissa: “Mine does.”

She then gives the order to get the water flowing: "Hit it!”

Angela: “Chao-Li what in the hell is that noise?”

The water is now sipping through the study’s sliding doors. Chao-Li looks over: "Uh oh!”

Angela: “What on earth is that? Oh my god!”

Melissa meets them at the front of the mansion.

She says to Angela: "It was so kind of you to see that my fields got enough water. I’m just returning the favour.”

Angela is fuming.

Melissa gets her workers on the move again: “Send me a bill for the damage. Let’s go. Move it!"

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I was more or less okay with what Freilich did in Season 6.... kind of.

Season 5, Earl Hamner's last year on the show, was drab and beige-y (as all the shows felt, curiously, during the 1985-86 year). It felt cluttered, lacking the energy and relative focus of the first three or four seasons of the series... Excessive guest characters and "Babylonia" jokes still define that year for me... Ugh... The program probably needed a new murder mystery this season, but the only one we got was: 'who's murdering FC?'

I thought Freilich's entry into FC for Season 6 was, initially, a good thing. (All the nighttime soaps seemed refreshed for the 1986-87 season, with the sole exception of hapless DYNASTY -- but seventh seasons seem to be, by definition, rough periods, and that's where DYNASTY was at the time). FALCON CREST had a renewed energy during Season 6, an enhanced satirical humor which sometimes worked, and despite the new Lorimar video-editing look that was so shabby and introduced in 1986, FC looked the least low-rent of the bunch for some reason.

But there were problems, too. Didn't Freilich brag at one point that he'd never even seen the program before being made its show-runner? The show started to veer into abject silliness on too many occasions, and by the time they got to the CASA BLANCA scene at the airport near the end of the year, we knew the show was getting into trouble.

And the overly-synthesized score from Mark Snow, though interesting in places, was excessive and ultimately reductive for the show.

Then there was Season 7, which really went off the rails for me. I recall the Napa location choices were nice, but Freilich was now turning FC into an overtly-campy, quasi-gothic sitcom where crazed ninjas and self-conscious attempts to be "edgy" (like Richard saying "god damn!" in primetime TV -- and that couldn't last too long after viewer reaction and Miss Wyman's religiosity no doubt shot down the verbal blasphemy) defined the day.

Ratings dropped by the spring of 1988 and CBS reportedly called up executive producer Michael Filerman and demanded "fix it!". They brought in Camille Marchetta and ditched the synthesizer temporarily, but now invited to "go straight" again, it seemed FALCON CREST had simply lost its mojo and the new team was unable to get it back. And instead of fixing Melissa's writing for her, they just killed her, bringing her back as a double later in that year after vehement audience complaint.

Season 9, of course, saw the return of that synthesizer and the introduction of a new writing staff which changed the show further -- and I'm honestly not sure I ever saw the entire year.

Anyway, the arrival of Freilich for Season 6 seemed like it could be a renaissance for FALCON CREST but, ultimately, he just hastened its spiraling.

(If only the Season 7 which lives in my head had made it to the screen.)

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I take it, @Jock Og , that you didn't like my commentary.

 

[Jock Og]

It was fine @Snarky Oracle. I've the utmost respect for your opinions.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

It was fine @Snarky Oracle. I've the utmost respect for your opinions.

Well-played, Jock Og.

 

[Richard Denault]

Apparently several members of the team were very critical of the
In this interview the president of the German club asked William Schmidt, Falcon Crest story editor between 1984 and 1987, questions about his work on the set.
I had major problems with Jeff Freilich. He wanted me off the show. Earl asked him, as in favor, to keep me on. Which he did, only if he could “bust” my rank, so to speak. As that year progressed, however, Jeff apologized to me for his actions, and even asked me to come back to help write the bible for season 7. I declined, both because I was off writing TV-movies and because Falcon went from the most wonderful environment to a very bad one under Jeff. As for the cast and crew, they also hated the Freilich regime.
Was that also the reason why you left after Dead End, and was it in any way connected with the fact that Ernie Wallengren and Greg Strangis had already left after the season 6 finale?
We all left for the same reason — Jeff hated [and] feared us and we found him a most unpleasant person to work with

http://www.falconcrest.org/english/show/interviews/crew/schmidt-2006.pdf

Michael A. Hoey director
“I thought Jeff [Freilich] kind of dropped the ball himself. He became more interested in directing than in producing — and he was running the show,” the director emphasized that it is rather difficult, if not impossible, to do both jobs very well at the same time. “He was a really good writer, and that’s why Ernie [Wallengren] was still with the show, and Greg Strangis and Howard Lakin,” Michael particularly referred to season 6 when Jeff took over. “They were really good writers, and they were writing interesting stuff. But Jeff wasn't really there to supervise, he was too busy looking at how he was going to direct

http://www.falconcrest.org/english/show/interviews/crew/hoey-2011.pdf

 

[Richard Denault]

Apparently several members of the team were very critical of the
In this interview the president of the German club asked William Schmidt, Falcon Crest story editor between 1984 and 1987, questions about his work on the set.
I had major problems with Jeff Freilich. He wanted me off the show. Earl asked him, as in favor, to keep me on. Which he did, only if he could “bust” my rank, so to speak. As that year progressed, however, Jeff apologized to me for his actions, and even asked me to come back to help write the bible for season 7. I declined, both because I was off writing TV-movies and because Falcon went from the most wonderful environment to a very bad one under Jeff. As for the cast and crew, they also hated the Freilich regime.
Was that also the reason why you left after Dead End, and was it in any way connected with the fact that Ernie Wallengren and Greg Strangis had already left after the season 6 finale?
We all left for the same reason — Jeff hated [and] feared us and we found him a most unpleasant person to work with

http://www.falconcrest.org/english/show/interviews/crew/schmidt-2006.pdf

Michael A. Hoey director
“I thought Jeff [Freilich] kind of dropped the ball himself. He became more interested in directing than in producing — and he was running the show,” the director emphasized that it is rather difficult, if not impossible, to do both jobs very well at the same time. “He was a really good writer, and that’s why Ernie [Wallengren] was still with the show, and Greg Strangis and Howard Lakin,” Michael particularly referred to season 6 when Jeff took over. “They were really good writers, and they were writing interesting stuff. But Jeff wasn't really there to supervise, he was too busy looking at how he was going to direct

http://www.falconcrest.org/english/show/interviews/crew/hoey-2011.pdf

During the sixth season we kept good writers like Ernie Wallengren Greg Strangis and Richard Gollance who knew the characters.
There were a lot of good stories, Dan Fixx and his wife, Kim Marlowe and Tony. The kidnapping of Milchel the romance of Maggie and Richard. Emma and the Great Karlotti...
In the seventh most of the stories except Angel's key were boring and silly
Because Jeff liked Lauren Hutton, he hired her for Liz Mcdowell. No chemistry with Richard so Maggie's jealousy was pointless
Since he was friends with Ed Marinaro, he hired him as John Remick.
I also didn't like the story of him with Maggie
Maggie's drinking story didn't work, it didn't fit the character.
That Maggie became friends with Angela either
white slavery
Ask Cesar Romero to hire Rod Taylor to be Angela's new partner. This was an imposition from Jane
Rod would have functioned as Melissa's uncle advising her and supporting her outside of it. At first she was a focused ambitious woman with a business sense.
Jeff turned her into an unstable person who, jealous of Lance, loses his mind over her.

 

[Gioberti84]

I liked how Jeff presented the storyline for Kim Novak. It harked back to the years of 2, 3 and 4. Making Peter prominent was a plus. Having Jamie Rose instead of Dana Sparks would have been better and to have continued Abby Dalton, in a recurring capacity. Cole’s exit was done well. There were parts of season 7 that were way OTT e.g. the ninjas, the special effects guy and the white slavery but as a season it was more enjoyable than 8 and 9.

 

[Angela Channing]

Interesting to read that he built season 6 around his "ability to convince Kim Novak to return to the screen". It was a brilliant piece of stunt casting if you're only looking to attract publicity and curiosity but I felt her performance was kind of weak at times. I would have preferred a lesser known actor that was able to really put her mark on the role of Skylar than a former Hollywood star that, to me, seemed to put in a half-hearted performance. That aside, season 6 was a very strong season so it's hard to be critical of Mr Freilich's contribution to the series.

 

[Richard Denault]

Interesting to read that he built season 6 around his "ability to convince Kim Novak to return to the screen". It was a brilliant piece of stunt casting if you're only looking to attract publicity and curiosity but I felt her performance was kind of weak at times. I would have preferred a lesser known actor that was able to really put her mark on the role of Skylar than a former Hollywood star that, to me, seemed to put in a half-hearted performance. That aside, season 6 was a very strong season so it's hard to be critical of Mr Freilich's contribution to the series.

Kim Novack was never a great actress but I guess she attracted a lot of viewers
It worked very well with Toni. Jhon Saxon is a very good actor and gave a lot of humanity to his love story.
For me the story with Peter did not work more than a paternal affection there was a romantic interest between them

 

[Arlene Halloran]

I so much wanted to see Julia instead of Kit, particularly in the Tony scenes. Jeff really should have considered the possibility of a love triangle and kept Abby Dalton on board, to the last 6th season show.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I so much wanted to see Julia instead of Kit, particularly in the Tony scenes. Jeff really should have considered the possibility of a love triangle and kept Abby Dalton on board, to the last 6th season show.

Yes. They brought Julia back too fast in Season 4, and then they wrote her out too fast in Season 6... Of course, I want Julia, Emma and Melissa in Season 7 to repeat Maggie's brain tumor diagnosis and surgery from Season 3 as the result of that nuclear waste Jacqueline Perrault buried under the vineyards back in the early-'50s -- radioactive material which had leaked and a seeped into the chardonnay causing a wave of spontaneous human combustion events around the valley, including one that takes the life of Kit and her pilot, causing her plane to crash after take-off into the fields of Falcon Crest, followed by the plane sliding into the mansion -- ideally while Angela reads that letter revealing that Richard is her biological son -- which facilitates the need for the mansion's return to "architectural integrity".

But that's just me. My S7 is better than their S7, but no one cares.

 

[Chris2]

Jeff Frielich was a cheezy hack who ruined the show. And Kim Novak couldn’t act her way out of a paper bag.

 

[ChrisSumner]

I always have found it funny how this man completely changed the show and really gutted it, but people seem so much more forgiving than they are with season 9. I feel like many of the choices made in seasons 6 and 7 is why season 9 had to be the way it was. In terms of characters being written out and the budget being decimated. Jeff Freilich was a plot driven writer who cared about spectacle. All of the characters became one note under his tenure. I especially hated how he wrote my dear Emma like she was slow.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Jeff Frielich was a cheezy hack who ruined the show. And Kim Novak couldn’t act her way out of a paper bag.

Although Season 5 wasn't exactly brilliant either -- cluttered and drab, as I've said.... Season 5 needed a new murder mystery.

 

[Chris2]

Oh I agree Snarky. Season 5 needed improving, but it didn’t justify bringing in someone like FreIlich to bulldoze what had been there before.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Oh I agree Snarky. Season 5 needed improving, but it didn’t justify bringing in someone like FreIlich to bulldoze what had been there before.

With Hamner leaving after Season 5, I guess they thought they'd need a new show-runner.

I could tolerate Season 6, despite its quirks, better than I could Season 5, frankly. But Season 7 was indeed too stupid.

 

[auhin4]

I always have found it funny how this man completely changed the show and really gutted it, but people seem so much more forgiving than they are with season 9. I feel like many of the choices made in seasons 6 and 7 is why season 9 had to be the way it was. In terms of characters being written out and the budget being decimated. Jeff Freilich was a plot driven writer who cared about spectacle. All of the characters became one note under his tenure. I especially hated how he wrote my dear Emma like she was slow.

So true. 6 really was the end of classic Falcon Crest. They write out Cole and Chase to make more room for Richard and Lance, I guess, but then Tony leaves after s6 anyway so the whole father/son dynamic is gone and the masculine presence on the show drops off for a bit. Dan is ok but not really a strong character. Eric is pretty bland.

I enjoy season 5 and 6. I think 5 was great and not boring at all. 6 has a lot of energy in the beginning and I love the synth stuff. But forcing Chase into this badguy role is really bad and hacky.

I enjoyed 7 too. It was fun and crazy. I even enjoyed 8 and 9. If you're going to kill off people then you might as well go out over the top.

 

[ChrisSumner]

So true. 6 really was the end of classic Falcon Crest. They write out Cole and Chase to make more room for Richard and Lance, I guess, but then Tony leaves after s6 anyway so the whole father/son dynamic is gone and the masculine presence on the show drops off for a bit. Dan is ok but not really a strong character. Eric is pretty bland.

I enjoy season 5 and 6. I think 5 was great and not boring at all. 6 has a lot of energy in the beginning and I love the synth stuff. But forcing Chase into this badguy role is really bad and hacky.

I enjoyed 7 too. It was fun and crazy. I even enjoyed 8 and 9. If you're going to kill off people then you might as well go out over the top.

I think the problems started in season 5, but it didn't need as drastic a turnover as they did. You bring up Tony and with Julia back and now blind there was a clear story they could've told rooted in history. I didn't understand why they would write her off. They could've kept her and done a triangle with Kit. The character of Julia was so compelling and to drop her made no sense.

Then to bring back Vicki and make her so pathetic and have us watch her be brutally abused and just treat it like nothing was so disgusting to me. I think she only appeared in one episode of season 8, but I was shocked at how different she was. Calm, reflective. There was potential for THAT Vicki, but what they did with her in seasons 6 and 7 felt very sexist.

 

[auhin4]

Yeah it was really bad. I liked her storyline with Maggie and Jeff.