DYNASTY, EMPHASIS ON "NASTY"

INSIDE THE IDIOT BOX

April 30, 2006

It’s been so long since the ‘80s that even the pop culture nostalgia for the decade – punctuated by ‘80s-themed parties and those I Love The ‘80s VH1 shows where Z-list comedians cracked wise about subjects like big hair and Pat Benatar – has all but disappeared into the pop ether.
But though ‘80s nostalgia may be all but dead, TV reunion shows are impossible to kill. And this week features a juicy one, bringing back the cast of Dynasty, perhaps the quintessential ‘80s TV show. The decade was, after all, called the Greed Decade, and Dynasty was a weekly cavalcade of conspicuous consumption. The show, which chronicled the sudsy melodrama of the Carrington family, led by oil tycoon patriarch Blake (John Forsythe), ran from 1981-1989. How’s that for perfect?
The show revived the careers of several actors, including Linda Evans and Joan Collins, who provided much of the show’s catty center as Blake Carrington’s current and ex-wife, respectively. The two actresses also abandoned all dignity in what became the show’s most famous scene, when they grappled with each other in a highly-promoted catfight. Dynasty was also notable for launching the TV career of Heather Locklear, and it featured the final public appearance of Rock Hudson, who had a recurring role just before his highly-publicized death from AIDS in 1986.
In fact, the list of notable actors who made appearances on the show is pretty impressive: Ali McGraw, Billy Dee Williams, Ken Howard, George Hamilton and Catherine Oxenberg. Oxenberg, you’ll remember, is the member of the royal family in the former Yugoslavia who briefly dated Sen. John Kerry. Yes, that was during the ‘80s, too.
Just how much of a phenomenon was Dynasty? Well, consider this: Ted McGinley, the patron saint of the Jump The Shark concept and an actor who was reliable Kryptonite to even the most powerful of TV shows, appeared on the show during the 1985-1986 season. And then the show continued for three more years. Any Idiot Box Addict worth their salt knows that a show that can survive McGinley can survive anything.
Except, alas, the passing of the decade. By the time the 1990s arrived, Dynasty was over. Its exit was timely, and fitting. And even this week’s reunion show has some drama around it, which only makes sense. Though the show aired on ABC for its entire run, Tuesday night’s reunion will be at 10 p.m. on CBS, because the Eye Network is now owned by Viacom, which owns Aaron Spelling’s production company, which owns Dynasty. Got that? How perfect, that to find out where to find the Dynasty reunion, all you have to do is follow the money.
Dynasty Reunion: Catfights and Caviar airs Tuesday night at 10 on CBS.

THE WASTEBASKET: First, a note to readers: Don’t let the sub-title fool you. This isn’t news pulled from the circular file. It’ll be a weekly grab bag of interesting TV odds ‘n’ ends, with the name pilfered from my grandfather Bill Hogan, who used to deliver a comedy routine of the same name at the annual Clover Club Dinner in Boston. And off we go…During May sweeps, the Lifetime Network will be airing a new movie every night of the month. I’m not sure if that qualifies as a promotion or a threat, but I guess we’ll find out. The month-long extravaganza will be hosted by country diva Martina McBride and kicks off tomorrow night with The Ties That Bind, starring Nicole de Boer and Brian Krause. New movies will premiere Monday – Saturday at 9 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m….In an early sign of confidence, HBO has given a quick renewal to Big Love, its latest drama about a polygamist (Bill Paxton) juggling three wives in Utah. The show has performed well in its post-Sopranos Sunday night slot this spring. Filming on the second season will begin in August, and the new season will premiere in 2007…As if anyone needed another reason to watch Deal or No Deal, the Howie Mandel-hosted game show that puts the “best” in dumbest show ever, here’s one: The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders will be making an appearance on tomorrow night’s show. Call me a child of the ‘70s, but I remember when the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders really meant something: Something lurid, yes, but something. These days, with every pro team (even the Celtics!) trotting out scantily clad dancers at games, their impact is diminished. But only a little. Howie Mandel + Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders = Must-See TV…Those of us rooting against Barry Bonds to break Hank Aaron’s all-time Home Run record should check out Up for Grabs on Tuesday night at 11 on Spike TV. The 2005 documentary tells the story of the battles, legal and otherwise, between two fans who both claimed to have caught Bonds’ record-breaking 71st home run in 2001. Supposed to be good, and proof that you don’t have to be a steroid-injecting millionaire to act like a cretin.