Jon Erik Hexum as Dex?

[Tony]

We've often discussed what would have been if Jon Erik Hexum was cast as Dex following his appearance with Joan Collins in The Making of a Male Model.

But would he have worked opposite Catherine Oxenberg's Amanda?

I found this clip of the pilot of Cover Up with scenes between Hexum and Oxenberg at 30.50 mins

I'm not a big fan of Michael Nader, but watching the chemistry between Jon Erik and Catherine, I'm thinking maybe the producers made the right choice with going with someone older. Jon-Erik looks a tad too young.

 

[Willie Oleson]

But would he have worked opposite Catherine Oxenberg's Amanda?

As the prince, not as Dex. Jon-Erik as the gay Fallmont brother would have been a Dynasty fan's wet dream I suppose. Although Steven II didn't deserve a man like him.

 

[JeffUSA]

Michael Nader was a better choice than Jon-Erik, in my opinion. Jon-Erik seemed much too young.

However, Jennifer O'Neill would have made a much better Lady Ashley. I always wanted her to be cast in one of the primetime soaps after her role in Bare Essence. And she's been married nine times (to 8 different men) -- she actually has the soap opera marriage pedigree!

 

[Willie Oleson]

I always wanted her to be cast in one of the primetime soaps after her role in Bare Essence

Have you watched the series version? How was it?

 

[JeffUSA]

Have you watched the series version? How was it?

Yes, I watched it when it originally aired and at the time I loved it, but I was like 14 and I was obssesed with pretty much every primetime soap opera.

I have the last episode or two on a VHS tape stored away but haven't had a VCR in many years. I'm not sure that the series would hold up well today.

It did seem like a watered-down version of the mini series (Jamie Lyn Bauer instead of Donna Mills sums it up pretty well), but Jessica Walter in place of Lee Grant was actually inspired casting...she was just as good if not better than Grant. And Al Corley appeared (briefly) as Chase Marshall (replacing Bruce Boxlietner) before being killed off. He was fresh off Dynasty so it was probably a bit of stunt casting but he was completely wasted on the show and his chemistry with Genie Francis was lacking. The whole show just lacked something... nonetheless I was mesmerized.

 

[colbyco]

In the first scene with Catherine he looks like prince charming ...

 

[Willie Oleson]

and I was obssesed with pretty much every primetime soap opera.

It did seem like a watered-down version of the mini series

Uh-oh, and the mini-series wasn't so great to begin with.

The whole show just lacked something...

Maybe there's a reason why some soaps are super soaps, and others are not. But I could never resist watching them.
Of all the short-lived prime time soaps I think The Yellow Rose had the potential to become a long-running super-soap. It looked so beautiful.

 

[JeffUSA]

Maybe there's a reason why some soaps are super soaps, and others are not. But I could never resist watching them.
Of all the short-lived prime time soaps I think The Yellow Rose had the potential to become a long-running super-soap. It looked so beautiful.

It's interesting that you say that because The Yellow Rose was probably the one primetime soap that I just couldn't get into (I watched it because it was a soap) and it was the show that I was the least upset about when it was cancelled. At the time, I may have been too mesmerized the glamour of Dynasty and expected these serials to have the same glitz. I was also a little anti-NBC at the time because they had already cancelled Flamingo Road and Bare Essence (both of which I loved). I should try to track it down and watch it again. Perhaps I'd feel differently about it today.

 

[Willie Oleson]

I may have been too mesmerized the glamour of Dynasty and expected these serials to have the same glitz

Yeah, I may have had the same reaction back then, but I watched it for the first time when it was released on DVD. My "standards" and expectations have changed so much since the 80's, or maybe not changed but broadened.

that I was the least upset about when it was cancelled.

Story-wise it doesn't look very cancelled, but that's because the last 7 or 8 episodes were un-soaped i.e. these were stand-alone dramas/adventures. But apart from that it really captures the epic-ness of Family & Saga, and the occasional glamour dress really pops!

 

[Toni]

With Hexum the bubble baths would have been more interesting to see...Anyone else agree?

 

[Grant Jennings]

Hexum was too much of a boy-toy; I liked that Dex stood up to Alexis.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Hexum was too much of a boy-toy

He could have been Lady Ashley's "business associate".

 

[Toni]

He could have been Lady Ashley's "business associate".

You mean her gigolo?

I can see her on WC Dienasty. She could be somebody´s crazy grand-grandmother...​

 

[Willie Oleson]

I can see her on WC Dienasty. She could be somebody´s crazy grand-grandmother...

She could be Ashley's grandmother. And she could be NuDynasty's answer to Judith Ryland!

 

[Michael Torrance]

Well, Hexum himself decided against the role because of the three year contract it required. I actually really liked Michael Nader as Dex. I think he was the only good thing to come out of season 4, had a great story with the Alexis/Amanda triangle, and I hated when he was under-utilized around season 7. He got some more to do in season 8, and really became the lead male in season 9 by Paulsen. I think Hexum would have been great eye candy for sure, like Rambo on Dallas, but I think Nader brought a lot more to the role than just sex appeal. Plus, I found Nader's voice irresistible.

 

[Willie Oleson]

I think Snarky suggested that someone like Jon Erik could only belong to the family of heavenly people.

 

[Richard Channing]

Yeah, he wasn't really mature enough to play Dex but he could have made a good Fallmont.

 

[Michael Torrance]

Yeah, he wasn't really mature enough to play Dex but he could have made a good Fallmont.

Or King Galen's younger son, averse to Yankee influence and willing to take on the mantle as he would be the one the revolutionaries would want to bring to power as a puppet.

 

[Ked]

Imagine if Al Corley stayed on as Steven, that Luke didn't die in the Massacre, and Jon Erik was cast as Fox (formerly "Bart") Fallmont.

Any takers?

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Of all the short-lived prime time soaps I think The Yellow Rose had the potential to become a long-running super-soap. It looked so beautiful.

The later years of DALLAS should have looked like that IMHO.

Hexum himself decided against the role because of the three year contract it required.

Where did you hear that, may I ask?

I think Snarky suggested that someone like Jon Erik could only belong to the family of heavenly people.

Oh, yes. Krystle's knuckleheaded brother or something.

Jon-Erik wasn't confident enough as an actor yet. He did okay in snarky, earthy roles like VOYGERS and COVER UP, but soapy entanglement scenes weren't his forte, really.

Unless he was a Grant, of course.