The 200th episode celebration & a glaring absentee.

[Jock Og]

What were Michael Filerman and Lorimar thinking? They didn't invite core cast member Chao-Li Chi, to the 200th episode party at the Four Seasons Hotel, in L.A. on 11/02/1989. After all those years of Chao-Li's service it was a significant slip. Earl Hamner (the creator) wasn't there either. His omission was because he did not gel with Michael Filerman.

Over the bridge and into the wine country.

Twilight times.


Margaret Ladd (Emma Channing Cooley Cabot St. James) speaks about her co-star Chao-Li Chi; ('behind the scenes', from season 1 - 9, 1981 - '89):

"Chao-Li has been the philosopher of FALCON CREST. He's a brilliant man, who has been an inspiration. He's a kind, deep person and I adore him. He's also been a very good friend to me."

 

[Laura Avery-Sumner]

Filerman strikes again. I think he is the one that jettisoned my namesake from Knots Landing. Also a big mistake.

 

[Falcon Crest I]

What was the point of having a 200th episode celebration, if the party was not inclusive. The mind boggles.

 

[Bobby Southworth]

Was everyone else there? I mean, the new cast members from season 9? Literally, everyone, but Chao-Li-Chi was there?

 

[Toni]

Was everyone else there? I mean, the new cast members from season 9? Literally, everyone, but Chao-Li-Chi was there?

Wasn´t the actor sick at the time and this was written into the plot? Maybe he just went on holidays to rest.

 

[Jock Og]

Was everyone else there? I mean, the new cast members from season 9? Literally, everyone, but Chao-Li-Chi was there?

None of the new season 9 cast were present, as filming had not started at that point. Ana Alicia confirmed during an interview some years ago, about the negligence in not inviting Chao-Li Chi. She was very fond of him.

Wasn´t the actor sick at the time and this was written into the plot? Maybe he just went on holidays to rest.

I don't think so. Chao-Li was taken aback, about not being asked to the party.


Angela is making Chao-Li aware that Lance has married Pilar. This is despite his first wife Melissa and a great love of his being recently departed; (a scene from season 8, 1988 - '89):

Angela: "Now, also have Lance's room made up for him and his bride."

Chao-Li is surprised: "His bride?"

Angela: "Pilar Ortega. They were married. Put my best embroidered sheets on and have the room filled with flowers."

Chao-Li: "Of course Mrs. Channing! I'll tell Melody." Melody McCord is the maid.

Angela: "Well I want them to be very comfortable. I want this to be a very happy marriage, for as long as it lasts."

 

[Bobby Southworth]

None of the new season 9 cast were present, as filming had not started at that point. Ana Alicia confirmed during an interview some years ago, about the negligence in not inviting Chao-Li Chi. She was very fond of him.



I don't think so. Chao-Li was taken aback, about not being asked to the party.


Angela is making Chao-Li aware that Lance has married Pilar. This is despite his first wife Melissa and a great love of his being recently departed; (a scene from season 8, 1988 - '89):

Angela: "Now, also have Lance's room made up for him and his bride."

Chao-Li is surprised: "His bride?"

Angela: "Pilar Ortega. They were married. Put my best embroidered sheets on and have the room filled with flowers."

Chao-Li: "Of course Mrs. Channing! I'll tell Melody." Melody McCord is the maid.

Angela: "Well I want them to be very comfortable. I want this to be a very happy marriage, for as long as it lasts."

I must be misunderstanding something.. filming hadn't started yet in November of 1989 for the 9th season, or is November just when this aired, but it was from an earlier date?

 

[Jock Og]

I must be misunderstanding something.. filming hadn't started yet in November of 1989 for the 9th season, or is November just when this aired, but it was from an earlier date?

Sorry for the confusion @Bobby Southworth 11/02/1989 refers to the 11th February 1989, not the American way of stating the date. Filming for the 200th episode of the series; the 17th of season 8 entitled 'Resurrection' had completed that day. Ana Alicia started playing Samantha Ross (Melissa's doppelgänger) in this episode and she attended the party. Cesar Romero a.k.a Peter Stavros (guest star in season 5, main cast in season 6 and guest star in early season 8) was there on the night.

 

[Bobby Southworth]

Sorry for the confusion @Bobby Southworth 11/02/1989 refers to the 11th February 1989, not the American way of stating the date. Filming for the 200th episode of the series; the 17th of season 8 entitled 'Resurrection' had completed that day. Ana Alicia started playing Samantha Ross (Melissa's doppelgänger) in this episode and she attended the party. Cesar Romero a.k.a Peter Stavros (guest star in season 5, main cast in season 6 and guest star in early season 8) was there on the night.

Oh, now I feel foolish, but I did not realize you were from the U.K. This makes perfect sense now, ok. Yes, I did notice Susan still having her long hair, so it really did appear to be at some point during the 8th season. Thank you for the clarification.

To the original point, I too am surprised he wasn't invited. He had been there since the very beginning. He had been in the opening credits since the 7th season, and even if he had never been included in the opening, he should have been given an invitation. I can't believe no one but Ana-Alicia really thought about him.

 

[Bobby Southworth]

This sort of treatment wouldn't have surprised me as much with the new producers of the 9th season, where he was absent more than present, and then totally removed from the opening until Jane Wyman returned. They didn't seem to care much about anything but moving forward with the new people, whom I actually liked(outside of Lauren), but the point remains.. It was a crappy way to treat someone who had been there the whole time. My only guess would be that since Filerman wasn't really 'actively' involved in the series until the 8th season, it was possibly Jeff who decided to put Chao-Li-Chi in the intro with season 7, and maybe Filerman just overlooked him somehow, since he had never really been involved with the show. That's not in defense at all of Filerman. I mean, Filerman was involved with season 8, and Chao-Li-Chi was one of the stars of the show at the time..it just doesn't make sense, and I'm sure that had to be hurtful. I'm just speculating on Filerman, I don't really know who was actually handing out the invites, but..that's crummy.