Dallas vs Dynasty

[LMLDallas78]

Besides, Howard Keel and Alexis Smith and Mel Ferrer were all big names to appear in a soap opera.

None of these were billed as a possible saving grace for Dallas. There was so much hype surrounding PP's arrival and that of Christopher Atkins.

Apparently they were going to be the faces to change Dallas and pick it up out of the depths.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

None of these were billed as a possible saving grace for Dallas. There was so much hype surrounding PP's arrival and that of Christopher Atkins.

Apparently they were going to be the faces to change Dallas and pick it up out of the depths.

Priscilla Presley save Dallas, that's a laugh!

She was fine when she was introduced but by season nine and then season ten she was a liability to the show.

Her character and that of Charlie were relegated to be bland, whiny, blonde bimbo's! I'm sorry if that sounds sexist but I'm afraid it's true!

At least Christopher Atkins as Peter Richards was there to tackle a much better storyline where he became the younger lover to Sue Ellen foreshadowing the cougar type of female male relationship years before it was first coined.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

None of these were billed as a possible saving grace for Dallas. There was so much hype surrounding PP's arrival and that of Christopher Atkins.

Apparently they were going to be the faces to change Dallas and pick it up out of the depths.

Also, Keel and Smith and Ferrer were hired by DALLAS to be actors -- to play characters integrated in with the other characters. Not so much on DYNASTY, where it was shameless stunt-casting (even Philip Capice said in 1984 he hoped DALLAS was "never reduced" to that).

Not that major stars can't be brought into a show and used legitimately, but on DYNASTY it reeked of "oh, look who we've got now!"

In addition, DALLAS' Keel and Smith and Ferrer were stars of a certain ilk, established actors with a certain level of experience and name value, but they weren't iconic in the way DYNASTY's Hudson, Heston, Stanwyck or Billy Dee were (or, for that matter, their ideal wish list stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Cary Grant or Raquel Welch -- who all said "no!").

And when DALLAS did brazen stunt casting near the end -- with daytime maven Susan Lucci and I-Dream-of-Barbara-Eden -- it also didn't work.

People can tell when a legendary star is brought in for valid narrative reasons (which may also achieve publicity and a ratings bump) and when they're brought in just to achieve publicity and a ratings bump.

John Forsythe said circa 2000, that it's all well and good to have beautiful sets and clothes and great stars, but "we need stories."

That's why the hiring of Lana Turner for six episodes of FALCON CREST was so effective: they had a role for her, one who had a resonate backstory history that affected the present (and FC was still good at the time). Another icon well-used was Ava Gardner on KNOTS LANDING.

The perverse irony of DYNASTY was that the producers were all for that kind of icon stunt casting, but they didn't quite pull it together -- those sloppy bastards.

 

[LMLDallas78]

on DYNASTY it reeked of "oh, look who we've got now!

And audiences loved that. All the glitz and glamour that went with it left poor more realistic Dallas in the shadows.

stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Cary Grant or Raquel Welch -- who all said "no!")

I remember talk of Doris Day maybe being in one of the soaps namely Dallas. Now that I would have loved to see. I wonder who she would have been?

but "we need stories

That's where Dynasty managed to get away with it though, the viewers were used to it and didn't seem to bother about it as long as all those big sparkly names were in it and "rubbish" was happening.

It was never taken really seriously was it?

Dallas had great proper stories, bigger than life but more relatable so when they tried to out smart Dynasty it was no longer Dallas and it stood out so much more.

Another icon well-used was Ava Gardner on KNOTS LANDING

Yes I was going to mention her. I really enjoyed her part, but it didn’t seem too long? I can't quite remember but I recall feeling disappointed when she wasn't in it anymore.

Her character and that of Charlie were relegated to be bland, whiny, blonde bimbo's

I agree, she started off well, but goodness knows what happened. Writing for them became dire or did their acting become dire first?

At least Christopher Atkins as Peter Richards was there to tackle a much better storyline

And it was a really great storyline for a few of us which could have been so much better but as we know HE failed in that role AND the storyline failed.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

And it was a really great storyline for a few of us which could have been so much better but as we know HE failed in that role AND the storyline failed.

I don't think Chris Atkins failed in the role. He had a lovely storyline with Sue Ellen.

I really liked the resolution too where JR got the better of both of them and forced Peter to leave for New York and Sue Ellen back in his bed!

Great viewing the Peter Sue Ellen storyline.

 

[LMLDallas78]

Even Dack Rambo was brought in to be a replacement for Bobby. Just the word replacement doesn't work and that he would be a love interest of Pam's as was Christopher Atkins also teased.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

And audiences loved that. All the glitz and glamour that went with it left poor more realistic Dallas in the shadows.

No, audiences didn't love the forced shoe-horning of "faded name stars" when those characters were ill-conceived.

They really didn't. It generated publicity but irritated the fans. DYNASTY did not hit #1 in 1985 because of Ali Mac Graw or sickly Rock Hudson. It did so despite them.

I remember talk of Doris Day maybe being in one of the soaps namely Dallas. Now that I would have loved to see. I wonder who she would have been?

She would have been perfect as Krystle's aunt -- but Doris would never have tolerated the furs.

That's where Dynasty managed to get away with it though, the viewers were used to it and didn't seem to bother about it as long as all those big sparkly names were in it and "rubbish" was happening.

That's not really true, either. DYNASTY went into one of fastest two-year crashes in the ratings on record for a former #1 show.

The viewers cared. And they tuned out in droves.

Yes I was going to mention her. I really enjoyed her part, but it didn’t seem too long? I can't quite remember but I recall feeling disappointed when she wasn't in it anymore.

Leave 'em wanting more. The same with Lana Turner of FC.

 

[LMLDallas78]

I don't think Chris Atkins failed in the role. He had a lovely storyline with Sue Ellen.

Not many agree with us there.
He was paid a load of money because of his blue lagoon fame and was meant to be in it a lot longer.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure you're aware I too loved their story, but at that time so many viewers did not like it.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Not many agree with us there.
He was paid a load of money because of his blue lagoon fame and was meant to be in it a lot longer.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure you're aware I too loved their story, but at that time so many viewers did not like it.

I suppose in a way it was like the Wes Parmalee Jock Ewing storyline, that storyline wasn't well recieved either.

However both of those storylines were great in there own way even if the viewers at the time of original transmission in the USA didn't like them.

 

[LMLDallas78]

No, audiences didn't love the forced shoe-horning of "faded name stars" when those characters were ill-conceived.

They really didn't. It generated publicity but irritated the fans. DYNASTY did not hit #1 in 1985 because of Ali Mac Graw or sickly Rock Hudson. It did so despite them.



She would have been perfect as Krystle's aunt -- but Doris would never have tolerated the furs.

That's not really true, either. DYNASTY went into one of fastest two-year crashes in the ratings on record for a former #1 show.

The viewers cared. And they tuned out in droves.



Leave 'em wanting more. The same with Lana Turner of FC.

You've corrected all the preconceived ideas I had about Dynasty. Maybe they're just my own childhood ideas how I imagined Dynasty fared back then.

I was a bit of a weird rebel and when it was on I would sit there in protest reading my Dallas annual or looking at my newspaper cuttings. I resented it with a vengeance, but I was only young!

I shared this sometime ago over on the games thread and was dared by @Decorations and Frost Forever who found it hilarious to post it on the Dynasty thread so this is near enough!
It's embarrassingly funny now.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Dynasty never had a Miss Ellie type character either.

Krystle was just too demure to be a Miss Ellie type and besides she didn't keep a shot gun in the closet!

 

[LMLDallas78]

Krystle was just too demure to be a Miss Ellie

How could you use their names in the same sentence?

Krystal too demure? Mmm... I could think of another word. :09:

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

How could you use their names in the same sentence?

Krystal too demure? Mmm... I could think of another word. :09:

What's the word?

 

[DallasFanForever]

Definitely Dallas for me but Dynasty was always like one of those guilty pleasures that I just had to watch regardless. I found it highly entertaining and the faults never outweighed the fun for me. I loved all the glitz and glamour, the over the top storylines, the camp, the beautiful women, etc.

As far as prime time soaps go I can never put anything above Dallas and J.R. Ewing. Would’ve given just about anything back then for just one crossover scene or episode with him and Alexis but obviously that wasn’t going to happen. Regardless, I love both shows and I really wish Dynasty was remembered more fondly all these years later.

I was a bit of a weird rebel and when it was on I would sit there in protest reading my Dallas annual or looking at my newspaper cuttings. I resented it with a vengeance, but I was only young!

I shared this sometime ago over on the games thread and was dared by @Decorations and Frost Forever who found it hilarious to post it on the Dynasty thread so this is near enough!
It's embarrassingly funny now

Well, I didn’t think you were crazy enough to actually do it!

 

[LMLDallas78]

What's the word?

Oh I couldn't possibly be so catty!

I'll say Dull which isn't too meow-ish, I'm trying to be good, it's Christmas!

Well, I didn’t think you were crazy enough to actually do it!

All in the name of staying loyal to my Dallas, crazy, sad, whatever I am.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Oh I couldn't possibly be so catty!

I'll say Dull which isn't too meow-ish, I'm trying to be good, it's Christmas!

You obviously don't know the subject -- and if you did, you'd realize we tend to be very critical of Krystle. But our criticisms are more about how the character evolved/devolved, and I suspect your comments might be different in their nuance.

So you don't want to tell us the word? We might agree with it.

 

[LMLDallas78]

You obviously don't know the subject

I actually do, maybe not her drab storylines but drab her, yes!

But our criticisms are more about how the character evolved/devolved

That character didn't move, let alone evolve or devolve. One dimensional is being kind.

Why the hell was she so liked by viewers and won the awards that she did?

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

That character didn't move, let alone evolve or devolve. One dimensional is being kind.

Why the hell was she so liked by viewers and won the awards that she did?

Totally fair.

Linda's performance in the first two seasons of DYNASTY was actually quite good --it was like she was a real actress and stuff. And when she tied the great Barbara Bel Geddes for the Golden Globe in 1982, nobody laughed. Yet.

But DYNASTY changed by the third season, and so did Linda's acting. We've discussed it many, many times on the DYNASTY page.

Not only did the writing change, making less and less sense, the producers adopted a static acting policy where the stars were instructed to stand rigid during their delivery. It changed their performances markedly. And while John Forsythe navigated around it successfully (and Joan probably ignored it) Linda, not the most confident actress in the world, succumbed to it. And that was unfortunate.

Naturally, it hurt the show and, as the blonde nice white woman, Krystle was impacted the most, seriously damaging the character.

Luckily, when David Paulsen, DALLAS' best constructionist, took over DYNASTY in its ninth and final season, the maid finally said, "For years, (Krystle) hasn't been herself!" And that change was explained by Krystle's brain injury back when Alexis shot her off her horse years earlier.

Thank goodness for Paulsen. It almost allowed the viewer to forgive it all retroactively.

 

[LMLDallas78]

We've discussed it many, many times on the DYNASTY page

I'll have to make sure I have a read if I can put myself through it.

the producers adopted a static acting policy where the stars were instructed to stand rigid during their delivery

Now I'm really intrigued and must find out more, but I would say Linda Evans was way ahead of the producers and already doing that as was stiff lego haired Blake.

Krystle was impacted the most, seriously damaging the character

Interesting.

Can't bare to look at that photo of her with the amazing Barbara Bel Geddes. Different league.
And obviously I think that award should have gone to someone else.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Now I'm really intrigued and must find out more, but I would say Linda Evans was way ahead of the producers and already doing that as was stiff lego haired Blake.

No. Really. During the first two seasons she was just fine.