Should John Saxon have been main cast?

[Chloe-Fusco]

Julia had left early in season 6. Her exit should not have stopped John Saxon as Tony joining the main cast. A good idea
or not? He was there for most of that year, if not completely in the Kim Novak storyline.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I want Julia back for Seasons 7 & 8, so, yes.

Although Saxon seemed fonder of Susan Sullivan, from what I've heard. You could have a quadrangle between Richard/Maggie/Tony/Julia.

 

[Jock Og]

Indeed he should. Lance's father deserved promotion, as John Saxon could act very well. Too bad he didn't get that spot. His scenes with Julia in the early days, when he was treated like an outcast tested him. However in season six he really showed his worth.

Those were the days.


Tony Cumson has just bought a new vineyard. It is ‘Keys Creek’. Chase arrives with him in a Jeep Wrangler; (a scene from season 6, 1986 - ’87):

Tony opens a bottle of champagne, as he looks at his new purchase: "Looking better every time.”

Chase: “Yeah beautiful!”

They both raise their champagne flutes.

Tony: “To our new partnership.”

Chase: “You bought this vineyard. Let’s make this your special project. What do you think about starting a new blend of brandy?”

Tony: “Why not?”

Chase: “We’ve got the means. That new line of credit we applied for came through.”

Tony: “We got it?”

Chase: “100 million dollars.”

Tony: “You think we’re in over our heads?”

Chase: “There are always risks but the lawyers have squared it away. Let’s go for it!”

Tony: “My grandfather never spent more money than he had in a mattress.”

Chase laughs: "Yeah well we have come a long way Tony.”

The two new brandy producers have another drink, as they look across ‘Keys Creek’.

 

[TJP]

In the production documents of season 6, John Saxon was considered a regular. Therefore, he was not listed in the usual sheets about "supporting cast billing information", which were per-episode listings for various purposes, such as for post-production (i.e. for appearance and position of the on-screen billing) and accounting (i.e. for paying the talent). Instead, he was listed in the big ensemble cast sheet among the regulars.

I know from the documents in our archives that John's salary was above Brett Cullen's (who made it to the main titles) and a little less than Margaret's.

Keep in mind that compensation for talent is a mixture of various aspects, not necessarily the salary alone and not the position in on-screen billing and terminology (such as "special guest star", "special appearance by", etc.) alone. Compensation is usually something the talent's agent and the production company negotiate. Some actors and actresses prefer top billing and care less about the money, others demand more money and care less about the position of their name. It's a matter of negotiation.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I would have explained that Robert Loggia was "Tony's brother."

 

[Arlene Halloran]

Tony certainly got a raw deal, in the early years. It was sad Julia did not get her happy ever after, with him. Could she not just have stayed in Tuscany, appeared occasionally and helped Fr. Bob with parish duties? At the very least Tony and her could have maintained their friendship. The big question - would she have got jealous, seeing him court Kit? I think we all know that answer.

 

[Falcon Crest I]

I want Julia back for Seasons 7 & 8, so, yes.

Although Saxon seemed fonder of Susan Sullivan, from what I've heard. You could have a quadrangle between Richard/Maggie/Tony/Julia.

That's interesting. Maybe Tony could've made a play for Maggie in season 7 and with Richard in the 13 things might have turned nasty.

 

[ClassyCo]

I've never really thought about it, but John Saxon should've been officially promoted to series regular. He was great as Tony, and he had good chemistry with Lorenzo Lamas, too. Bringing Tony in could've given them something else to write about for Lance instead of throwing him into one short fling after another, and maybe it could've saved us having to sit through Pilar.

 

[Falcon Crest I]

Tony would've been a great father had he been given the chance and without the spell Angela had cast over his pairing with Julia, in the early days. Funny with Julia out of the picture in season seven she at least had the decency to contact him, when Lance was going through a difficult time.