Falcon Crest and the powers that be of Lorimar and CBS

[Monzo]

A surprising number of Flamingo Road actors stayed in the soap business, some like Kevin McCarthy only as recurring on The Colbys or like Gina Gallego in daytime, but what was Mark Harmon's career goal? Does anyone know if he has spoken about Flamingo Road in interviews and if there were any other soap offerings prior to St. Elsewhere? I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted to do drama instead of soaps, but maybe he didn't get an offer for soaps anyway. The only character I could think of for him on Falcon Crest is Christopher, but would he actually have been an improvement over Ken Olin?

 

[Richard Denault]

John Beck was of course in line to portray 'Tricky Dicky' Channing, after Michael Swan was cast as the very one dimensional Richard in the unaired pilot 'The Vintage Years'. When the fall of 1982 dawned the leading man of axed but inspiring FLAMINGO ROAD was handed the torch and so a character was introduced who brought carryover fans plus instigated fresh followers.

John Beck had great gusto as Pamela's other man in the oil/cattle show. If Patrick Duffy had not returned by some miracle after Pam's forty winks (enticed by a big return bonus, thanks to Larry's clout); I strongly believe we would have had John in the opening credits, before Barbara Bel Geddes.


Richard converses with Pamela about his mother's last will and testament (Jacqueline Perrault). The prodigal son digests the news that Chase has given away their $50,000,000 inheritance, (a scene from season 3, 1983 - '84):

"There is no inheritance! My dear brother gave the money to some nuns. Maybe he thinks they're going to make him a cardinal, maybe even pope."

David was not fired from Flamingo Road, the series was canceled
It was the PRESIDENT of Lorimar himself who encouraged him to play the role
It was a friend of mine, Lee Rich, who encouraged me to make the move: "Come to our house since you already have the costume." It was unknown at the time how long “Falcon Crest” would last. And my character a fortiori. It all depended on the reception of the public. However, I had been encouraged to be careful when playing the “bad guys”.
Gary Edwin was created to turn Knots Landing into a Dallas spin-off. They offered it to David but he preferred to continue working in the theater play "children's hour" with Joanne Woodward Oscar in 1958 great dramatic actress and wife of Paul Neman, the couple were very close friends with David

The filming of the second season was modified because David joined at the last minute. And falcon crest ratings went up
Marc was a very bland and stereotyped character. He was not a match for J.R. He was fired in 1982 and joined Dallas in 1983-1984 a year later.
When Patrick left, he returned for the 85-86 season as an emergency solution. He was not a match for J.R. They would have replaced him.

 

[WarriorsFan]

A surprising number of Flamingo Road actors stayed in the soap business, some like Kevin McCarthy only as recurring on The Colbys or like Gina Gallego in daytime, but what was Mark Harmon's career goal? Does anyone know if he has spoken about Flamingo Road in interviews and if there were any other soap offerings prior to St. Elsewhere? I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted to do drama instead of soaps, but maybe he didn't get an offer for soaps anyway. The only character I could think of for him on Falcon Crest is Christopher, but would he actually have been an improvement over Ken Olin?

I can't picture Mark Harmon on any of the 1980s big four primetime soaps. St. Elsewhere was his breakthrough role and NCIS was his late career resurgence. I also don't think Mark Harmon reached pop culture phenomenon level at the height of NCIS the way Larry Hagman did at the height of Dallas and to a lesser extent, George Clooney at the height of ER.

 

[Jimmy Todd]

I recall an interview with Morgan Fairchild and they asked about working with various actors on the prime time soaps. Her response to how it was working with Patrick Duffy was, "He's a doll." When it came to Mark Harmon her response was, "No comment." (Unfortunately, they didn't ask about Victoria Principal).
This makes me wonder if Mark may have thought the soaps were beneath him and wouldn't want to work on them, or if he did go to Falcon Crest, he'd behave in a manner similar to Robert Foxworth.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I liked David Selby on Flamingo Road and thought he was a great addition to the cast. However, because you like a particular cast member doesn't mean you have to hate on everyone else on the show. To say John Beck impressed no one is nonsense. Clearly he was liked well enough to get a significant role in Lorimar's most popular show, Dallas.


Again, I think this is nonsense. If Black and Stern were so "shocked and angry" about Jane's alleged homophobia on the Falcon Crest set, why would they return to the series to write for season 8 when she was still on the show?

When Jane was awarded a posthumous star on the Palm Springs Walk of Fame, Steve Black said "She was lovely; a real solid star and solid pro." Regarding the location of the star, he went on to say "This is where her star belongs". He and Henry Stern live in Palm Springs so why would they want a constant reminder of Jane in their home town if they hated her so much?

I really do question the source of some of the tosh you post on this forum.

The Desert Sun

Oscar-winner, philanthropist had valley roots

eu.desertsun.com

As good as McCullough was (and the show never recovered from his firing) it has emerged, somewhat credibly, that he tried to control the politics on the set and preserve his own power, by those clever old tactics of ingratiating himself with the star and going around telling people that other people had said things about them that were never said.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

When it came to Mark Harmon her response was, "No comment." (Unfortunately, they didn't ask about Victoria Principal).
This makes me wonder if Mark may have thought the soaps were beneath him and wouldn't want to work on them, or if he did go to Falcon Crest, he'd behave in a manner similar to Robert Foxworth.

I may be wrong but this may have had something to do with Morgan and Cristina Raines not getting along during Flamingo Road. Raines stated that they were “two very different individuals with two very different ways of viewing the world, two very different ways of going about things” and that one of the apprehensions she had about potentially going back for a third season was that she “didn't want to deal with Morgan or Michael Filerman anymore”. Mark Harmon and Cristina were a couple during this time, so I’m guessing that whatever issues Morgan and Cristina had with each other, overlapped into Morgan’s working relationship with Mark.

 

[Richard Denault]

As good as McCullough was (and the show never recovered from his firing) it has emerged, somewhat credibly, that he tried to control the politics on the set and preserve his own power, by those clever old tactics of ingratiating himself with the star and going around telling people that other people had said things about them that were never said.

Bob McCullough said in 2003
"After three years on a show in a very high-profile position where I had a tremendous amount of control and a high salary, the president of the studio began to resent me and my income from my writing on the show greatly… One thing led to another, I discovered that many “friends" were simply eager to take my job, and after the third season, my contract was terminated. It was personally very painful, financially very difficult, and creatively depressing as the show then took a turn to stories about buried Nazi treasure and such... Without characterizing those storylines, suffice it to say that I found the show difficult to watch once I was no longer involved.My personal relationships with cast and crew came to an end, simply because I was a bit of a pariah at the studio for some time thereafter. The nature of studio / show relationships is that while you're all together, you're the fastest of friends and collaborators. Once a show is canceled or people are fired / retired, people see m to move on to other relationships. It's an interesting phenomenon, but not necessarily an enjoyable one
Gadner Simmons writer and story editor said
"By season 3, Bob McCullough was in the midst of a real battle with the powers that be at Lorimar. So he sent me up to Napa with the cast & crew to make certain what was"
Lorimar's president was Dallas producer Lee Rich, who decided that Earl Hamner would make The Waltons.
Bob thought of leaning on Jane for this war. If not, what sense does he have in making war on the president of Lorimar

 

[Richard Denault]

I may be wrong but this may have had something to do with Morgan and Cristina Raines not getting along during Flamingo Road. Raines stated that they were “two very different individuals with two very different ways of viewing the world, two very different ways of going about things” and that one of the apprehensions she had about potentially going back for a third season was that she “didn't want to deal with Morgan or Michael Filerman anymore”. Mark Harmon and Cristina were a couple during this time, so I’m guessing that whatever issues Morgan and Cristina had with each other, overlapped into Morgan’s working relationship with Mark.

Morgan became a star after Flamingo Road
She seems to be a very intelligent woman.
Filerman was the producer of the show, and Morgan was the Alexis of Flamingo. Raines is expendable

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Bob McCullough said in 2003
"After three years on a show in a very high-profile position where I had a tremendous amount of control and a high salary, the president of the studio began to resent me and my income from my writing on the show greatly… One thing led to another, I discovered that many “friends" were simply eager to take my job, and after the third season, my contract was terminated. It was personally very painful, financially very difficult, and creatively depressing as the show then took a turn to stories about buried Nazi treasure and such... Without characterizing those storylines, suffice it to say that I found the show difficult to watch once I was no longer involved.My personal relationships with cast and crew came to an end, simply because I was a bit of a pariah at the studio for some time thereafter. The nature of studio / show relationships is that while you're all together, you're the fastest of friends and collaborators. Once a show is canceled or people are fired / retired, people see m to move on to other relationships. It's an interesting phenomenon, but not necessarily an enjoyable one
Gadner Simmons writer and story editor said
"By season 3, Bob McCullough was in the midst of a real battle with the powers that be at Lorimar. So he sent me up to Napa with the cast & crew to make certain what was"
Lorimar's president was Dallas producer Lee Rich, who decided that Earl Hamner would make The Waltons.
Bob thought of leaning on Jane for this war. If not, what sense does he have in making war on the president of Lorimar

There's always more than one side of any story. His writing speaks for itself and gives him some credibility, but his version of his conflicts at Lorimar makes less sense than those of his accusers.

So who knows?

And I liked the buried nazi/treasure storyline, but then I would.

 

[alexpaige]

Again, I think this is nonsense. If Black and Stern were so "shocked and angry" about Jane's alleged homophobia on the Falcon Crest set, why would they return to the series to write for season 8 when she was still on the show?

When Jane was awarded a posthumous star on the Palm Springs Walk of Fame, Steve Black said "She was lovely; a real solid star and solid pro." Regarding the location of the star, he went on to say "This is where her star belongs". He and Henry Stern live in Palm Springs so why would they want a constant reminder of Jane in their home town if they hated her so much?

I really do question the source of some of the tosh you post on this forum.

I think it's nonsense too. As mentioned on another post, Earl Hamner told me that it was McCullough who had told Black and Stern that Jane Wyman "hated fags" but that it was completely unfounded - McCullough was playing power politics and trying to unsettle Black and Stern. They took it back to Earl and the long and short of it is McCullough was fired. Ann Marcus alluded to this too (though she didn't mention names) in her Archive of American Television Youtube interview.

 

[Richard Denault]

I think it's nonsense too. As mentioned on another post, Earl Hamner told me that it was McCullough who had told Black and Stern that Jane Wyman "hated fags" but that it was completely unfounded - McCullough was playing power politics and trying to unsettle Black and Stern. They took it back to Earl and the long and short of it is McCullough was fired. Ann Marcus alluded to this too (though she didn't mention names) in her Archive of American Television Youtube interview.

Did you interview Earl? I thought you had read that story.
Jane sure tolerated homosexuals. Michael Filerman was
But the landing of personnel from Flamingo Road in Falcon Crest must not have pleased her.
The racetrack and Cartel plot was the idea of the new team and was a bit separate from the vineyard theme. I don't think Hamner would like it either.
So she was able to use the excuse of homosexuality to get Stern and Black out of the way.
By the way, they was one of the first couple to get married in California in 2013.

 

[Richard Denault]

I may be wrong but this may have had something to do with Morgan and Cristina Raines not getting along during Flamingo Road. Raines stated that they were “two very different individuals with two very different ways of viewing the world, two very different ways of going about things” and that one of the apprehensions she had about potentially going back for a third season was that she “didn't want to deal with Morgan or Michael Filerman anymore”. Mark Harmon and Cristina were a couple during this time, so I’m guessing that whatever issues Morgan and Cristina had with each other, overlapped into Morgan’s working relationship with Mark.

Christine Raines Talks About Her Flamingo Road Experience Talks Badly About Filerman. who liked this producer

Since You've Gone: An Interview with Cristina Raines

Establishing and maintaining a successful acting career usually represents the pinnacle of an actress' life and accomplishments, which is...

hillplace.blogspot.com

 

[Angela Channing]

But the landing of personnel from Flamingo Road in Falcon Crest must not have pleased her.

Why do you think it wouldn't have pleased her? I think she would have wanted what was good for the show and if they were good actors, she would have been all for it. She became close friends with David Selby so I doubt she had any resentment about cast from Flamingo Road joining Falcon Crest.

 

[alexpaige]

Did you interview Earl? I thought you had read that story.
Jane sure tolerated homosexuals. Michael Filerman was
But the landing of personnel from Flamingo Road in Falcon Crest must not have pleased her.
The racetrack and Cartel plot was the idea of the new team and was a bit separate from the vineyard theme. I don't think Hamner would like it either.
So she was able to use the excuse of homosexuality to get Stern and Black out of the way.
By the way, they was one of the first couple to get married in California in 2013.

I didn't read the story, Earl told me himself. I interviewed him in 2004 and the interview was published online. We then became friends and had many email and in-person conversations over the years from then until his death. You can see extracts from my original interview with him in the About section on his website earlhamner.com which is still up.

Yes, Michael Filerman was gay, but he had minimal involvement in Falcon Crest once the show was underway. Earl found himself unable to work with Filerman, so Filerman withdrew from active involvement in the production (he kept his percentage of the show and executive producer on-screen credit though). So he would have had little to do with Jane Wyman except in the early stages. It was Earl who wanted her for the role and who hired her.

I don't know why Wyman would have had a problem with personnel from Flamingo Road coming onto the show? You seem to think she had a lot of veto power but from what Earl told me that is untrue.

The cartel plot was something that Earl was actually very keen on.

Jane Wyman did not try to get Stern and Black out of the way. That was Bob McCullough who did that.

 

[Richard Denault]

I didn't read the story, Earl told me himself. I interviewed him in 2004 and the interview was published online. We then became friends and had many email and in-person conversations over the years from then until his death. You can see extracts from my original interview with him in the About section on his website earlhamner.com which is still up.

Yes, Michael Filerman was gay, but he had minimal involvement in Falcon Crest once the show was underway. Earl found himself unable to work with Filerman, so Filerman withdrew from active involvement in the production (he kept his percentage of the show and executive producer on-screen credit though). So he would have had little to do with Jane Wyman except in the early stages. It was Earl who wanted her for the role and who hired her.

I don't know why Wyman would have had a problem with personnel from Flamingo Road coming onto the show? You seem to think she had a lot of veto power but from what Earl told me that is untrue.

The cartel plot was something that Earl was actually very keen on.

Jane Wyman did not try to get Stern and Black out of the way. That was Bob McCullough who did that.

Are you referring to this article?A JOURNEY THAT CONTINUES TO ENOBLE

https://www.earlhamner.com/about.html.

Jane Wyman forced Lana Turner, Mel Ferrer and Cesar Romero to be fired. He also got Lorenzo Lamas not fired
In this clip

Earl talks about the cast of Falcon Crest but I'm surprised he didn't talk about David Selby.
I know they were good friends, they were both Virginian
Earl Hamner remenbrance

David Selby: The Official Blog – Page 13

In the Waltons, he already played a shy art teacher who falls in love with Olivia Walton.
I'm not clear if his joining Falcon Crest and his role in the Waltons were Earl's idea. Or suggestion from Lee Rich president of Lorimar
Earl I'm telling you about Lee Rich, president of Lorimar.

 

[Richard Denault]

Why do you think it wouldn't have pleased her? I think she would have wanted what was good for the show and if they were good actors, she would have been all for it. She became close friends with David Selby so I doubt she had any resentment about cast from Flamingo Road joining Falcon Crest.

Jane was unable to have a loving gesture with Richard in all seasons 7.8 and 9
Richard kissed her, hugged her affectionately and patted her back. Despite the fact that David was her firstborn, Angela's only affectionate gesture was on 8-02
The script indicates that Angela touches his cheek. Jane did it WITH THE GLOVE ON"

 

[Richard Denault]

This was another milestone in the development of the series.
Out of Earl Hamner in of Jeff Freilich
According to Jeff it was a decision of the president of Lorimar displeased with the course of the series
“Lee Rich, president of Lorimar, hired me to overhaul the series and change its direction. ‘The show needs a goose (American slang for pinch in the ass),’
Apparently the incorporation of Jeff did not like Earl and he left
Earl Hamner quit the series. He told alexpaige
"Well, I left at the end of the fifth season. I never even watched it again; I was not pleased with the direction it was going in. I also was not sympathetic to some of the people that were brought aboard. And I was tired, and being in charge with whatever happens on the show, you take the glory and the credit as well, but I had taken that for so long, about fifteen years with both The Waltons and Falcon Crest, so I was very tired, and I didn't feel that I was coping as I might.

 

[Angela Channing]

Jane was unable to have a loving gesture with Richard in all seasons 7.8 and 9
Richard kissed her, hugged her affectionately and patted her back. Despite the fact that David was her firstborn, Angela's only affectionate gesture was on 8-02
The script indicates that Angela touches his cheek. Jane did it WITH THE GLOVE ON"

Angela not Jane.

The character's reaction to Richard wasn't Jane's but that of the script writer. David Selby was probably Jane Wyman's closest friend in the Falcon Crest cast.

 

[Richard Denault]

Angela not Jane.

The character's reaction to Richard wasn't Jane's but that of the script writer. David Selby was probably Jane Wyman's closest friend in the Falcon Crest cast.

Touching David with the glove on was Jane's idea, it wasn't in the script.
In the sofa scene of the last episode of the seventh season -
According to the script Jane had to touch David and he had to be moved by the gesture.
Jane sat completely away from David and they didn't even touch. Poor Richard sitting on the edge Angela takes David's glass she touched the glass not even touching David. And the face is not that of an excited mother

 

[alexpaige]

Jane Wyman forced Lana Turner, Mel Ferrer and Cesar Romero to be fired. He also got Lorenzo Lamas not fired
In this clip

Earl talks about the cast of Falcon Crest but I'm surprised he didn't talk about David Selby.
I know they were good friends, they were both Virginian
Earl Hamner remenbrance

David Selby: The Official Blog – Page 13

In the Waltons, he already played a shy art teacher who falls in love with Olivia Walton.
I'm not clear if his joining Falcon Crest and his role in the Waltons were Earl's idea. Or suggestion from Lee Rich president of Lorimar
Earl I'm telling you about Lee Rich, president of Lorimar.

How do you know Jane Wyman got people fired?!

Earl and David Selby definitely were great friends. I don't know whether David joining FC was Earl's idea or Lee Rich's, but I know Earl was very pleased to have him on the show.

This was another milestone in the development of the series.
Out of Earl Hamner in of Jeff Freilich
According to Jeff it was a decision of the president of Lorimar displeased with the course of the series
“Lee Rich, president of Lorimar, hired me to overhaul the series and change its direction. ‘The show needs a goose (American slang for pinch in the ass),’
Apparently the incorporation of Jeff did not like Earl and he left
Earl Hamner quit the series. He told alexpaige
"Well, I left at the end of the fifth season. I never even watched it again; I was not pleased with the direction it was going in. I also was not sympathetic to some of the people that were brought aboard. And I was tired, and being in charge with whatever happens on the show, you take the glory and the credit as well, but I had taken that for so long, about fifteen years with both The Waltons and Falcon Crest, so I was very tired, and I didn't feel that I was coping as I might.

Yes you are quoting my interview now.

But you are misunderstanding the situation. Lee Rich hired Jeff Freilich to replace Earl after Earl resigned. Earl didn't leave because Freilich was brought into the show - he left before that. He had been thinking of leaving since season 4. When Earl says "I was not pleased with the direction it was going in. I also was not sympathetic to some of the people that were brought aboard" he is referring to the direction it went in AFTER he left. Remember that Earl was still involved as Creative Consultant for season 6, under which arrangement he was sent scripts of each episode and asked to provide his input. Also he had good friends who were still working on the show (Ernie Wallengren, William Schmidt) who kept him abreast of what was happening under the new regime of Jeff Freilich. Earl did not care for Freilich and especially his attitude to the writing staff. William Schmidt did an interview with the German Falcon Crest Fan Club where he talks about this too. In the original interview, Earl talked a lot about Freilich, but he asked me to remove those sections before publication.

Touching David with the glove on was Jane's idea, it wasn't in the script.
In the sofa scene of the last episode of the seventh season -
According to the script Jane had to touch David and he had to be moved by the gesture.
Jane sat completely away from David and they didn't even touch. Poor Richard sitting on the edge Angela takes David's glass she touched the glass not even touching David. And the face is not that of an excited mother

I think you are getting the character mixed up with the actor.

Jane Wyman played the scene the way she thought made sense for the character of Angela to behave. Changes from what is in the script are to be expected, they are made by the director in consultation with the actors. However Angela behaved gives no indication of Jane Wyman's feelings for David Selby.