Dynasty (1981 TV series)

{{Further|List of Dynasty (1981 TV series) characters}}

Aaron Spelling, already well known for his successful ABC series, including Starsky & Hutch, Charlie's Angels, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Vega$ and Hart to Hart,{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/the-great-escape/2005/09/17/1126750167460.html|title=The Great Escape|last=Idato|first=Michael|date=September 19, 2005|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=SMH.com.au|access-date=February 25, 2009|archive-date=January 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130091807/http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/the-great-escape/2005/09/17/1126750167460.html|url-status=live}} took on Richard and Esther Shapiro's vision of a rich and powerful family who "lived and sinned" in a 48-room Denver mansion.{{Cite book |last=Schemering |first=Christopher |author-link=Christopher Schemering |title=The Soap Opera Encyclopedia |date=September 1985 |pages=80–81 |publisher=Ballantine Books |isbn=0-345-32459-5}} Esther Shapiro said that an inspiration for the show was I, Claudius, a fictionalized depiction of the Julio-Claudian dynasty of Roman emperors.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/the-good-the-bad-and-the-wildly-bitchy-2192378.html |title=The good, the bad and the wildly bitchy |work=The Independent |publisher=Independent.co.uk |first=Fiona |last=Sturges |date=January 24, 2011 |access-date=July 20, 2011 |location=London |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111070921/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/the-good-the-bad-and-the-wildly-bitchy-2192378.html |url-status=live }} Shapiro said in 1985, "We wanted to do something that would be fun, an American fantasy. We thought people had seen enough stories where families fell apart. We wanted a strong, nineteenth-century sort of family where people were in conflict but loved each other in spite of everything."{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KxMCAAAAMBAJ&q=pamela+sue+martin+leave+dynasty&pg=PA32|title=The Real Star of Dynasty|work=New York|first=Joe|last=Klein|author-link=Joe Klein|date=September 2, 1985|pages=32–39|via=Google Books|access-date=June 1, 2017|archive-date=September 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928142727/https://books.google.com/books?id=KxMCAAAAMBAJ&q=pamela+sue+martin+leave+dynasty&pg=PA32#v=onepage&q=pamela%20sue%20martin%20leave%20dynasty&f=false|url-status=live}}

Intended by ABC to be a competitor for CBS's Dallas,{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/06/arts/television/dynasty-reboot-cw.html|title=A Dynasty for Generation Gossip Girl (Mom Can Watch, Too)|first=Alexandra|last=Jacobs|date=October 6, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 6, 2017|archive-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327115049/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/06/arts/television/dynasty-reboot-cw.html|url-status=live}} the working title for Dynasty was Oil.{{Cite magazine|title= Charlie's an Angel Now: John Forsythe Dies at 92 |magazine=Time |date=April 3, 2010 |url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1977623,00.html#ixzz0yITk3bNe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404051508/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1977623,00.html#ixzz0yITk3bNe |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 4, 2010 |access-date=September 25, 2010 |first=Richard |last=Corliss |author-link=Richard Corliss}} Initially, the two main families featured in the series were known as the Parkhursts and Corbys. By the time production began, they had been renamed the Carringtons and Colbys. George Peppard was cast as series patriarch Blake Carrington, but ultimately had difficulties dealing with the somewhat unsympathetic role,{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|magazine=Filmink|date=29 December 2024|access-date=29 December 2024|title=Movie Star Cold Streaks: George Peppard|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/movie-star-cold-streaks-george-peppard/}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimatedynasty.net/autorizedbio.html |title=Portraying of Characters: Casting (Excerpt of Aaron Spelling/Douglas S. Cramer interview) |last=Hack |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Hack |work=The Hollywood Reporter |publisher=UltimateDynasty.net |access-date=February 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328064017/http://www.ultimatedynasty.net/autorizedbio.html |archive-date=March 28, 2010 }} and was quickly replaced with John Forsythe. Filmed in 1980, the pilot was among many delayed due to a strike precipitated by animosity between the television networks and the partnership of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Dynasty finally premiered on ABC as a three-hour event on January 12, 1981.

During its run, Dynasty explored issues such as rape, homosexuality, and racial integration,{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20087810,00.html|title=Diahann Carroll Dresses Up Dynasty|work=People|first=Scot|last=Haller|date=May 14, 1984|access-date=August 21, 2018|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402124228/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20087810,00.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNfz2xPMZgg| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211031/PNfz2xPMZgg| archive-date=2021-10-31 | url-status=live|title=Foundation Interviews: Diahann Carroll discusses Dynasty|publisher=EmmyTVLegends.org|date=January 20, 2011|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} and put middle-aged women in the forefront. Acknowledging that the show is, however, primarily entertaining, producer Douglas S. Cramer said, "We walk a fine line, just this side of camp. Careful calculations are made. We sense that while it might be wonderful for Krystle and Alexis to have a catfight in a koi pond, it would be inappropriate for Joan to smack Linda with a koi."

As Dynasty begins, powerful oil tycoon Blake Carrington (John Forsythe) is about to marry the younger Krystle Jennings (Linda Evans), his former secretary. Beautiful, earnest, and new to Blake's world, Krystle finds a hostile reception in the Carrington household—the staff patronizes her, and Blake's headstrong and promiscuous daughter Fallon (Pamela Sue Martin) resents her. Though devoted to Krystle, Blake himself is too preoccupied with his company, Denver-Carrington, and blind to Krystle's predicament. Her only ally is her stepson Steven (Al Corley), whose complicated relationship with Blake stems from their fundamental political differences and Steven's reluctance to step into his role as future leader of the Carrington empire. Meanwhile, Fallon, better suited to follow in Blake's footsteps, is (as a woman) underestimated by and considered little more than a trophy to her father. She channels her energies into toying with various male suitors, including the Carrington chauffeur Michael Culhane (Wayne Northrop). At the end of the three-hour premiere episode "Oil", Steven finally confronts his father, criticizing Blake's capitalistic values and seemingly amoral business practices.{{cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/columns/tropiano/030319.shtml |title=The Prime Time Closet: Outing TV's Heterosexual Homosexuals |access-date=February 25, 2009 |last=Tropiano |first=Stephen |date=March 19, 2003 |publisher=PopMatters.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030802143647/http://www.popmatters.com/columns/tropiano/030319.shtml |archive-date=August 2, 2003}} Blake explodes, revealing the secret of which Steven thought his father was unaware: Blake is disgusted by Steven's homosexuality, and his refusal to "conform" sets father and son at odds for some time.{{cite web |url=http://shoulderpads.net/guide/ |title=Dynasty Episodes Guide: Season One |publisher=Shoulderpads.net |access-date=December 29, 2008 |archive-date=January 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108095653/http://www.shoulderpads.net/guide/ |url-status=live }}

In counterpoint to the Carringtons are the Blaisdels; Denver-Carrington geologist Matthew (Bo Hopkins)—unhappily married to the emotionally fragile Claudia (Pamela Bellwood)—is Krystle's ex-lover. Returning from an extended assignment in the Middle East, Matthew quits and goes into business with wildcatter Walter Lankershim (Dale Robertson), and as Blake's behavior begins pushing Krystle toward Matthew, the men are set as both business and romantic rivals. Blake is further enraged when Steven goes to work for longtime friend Matthew, in whom Steven sees qualities lacking in Blake. Though previously in a relationship with another man, Steven finds himself drawn to Claudia, who is putting her life back together after spending time in a psychiatric hospital. Esther Shapiro later said in the DVD commentary of the first season, "The audience told us almost immediately: All they wanted to do was be in the mansion. [They] couldn't care less about the oil fields. They didn't want to see grubby rooms."{{Cite news |title=The Dynasty That Could Have Been |work=Slate |date=May 25, 2011 |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/television/2011/05/the_dynasty_that_could_have_been.html |access-date=May 29, 2017 |first=Alex |last=Mar |archive-date=August 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809150427/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/television/2011/05/the_dynasty_that_could_have_been.html |url-status=live }}

Fallon makes a secret business deal with Blake's old friend and more-powerful business rival Cecil Colby (Lloyd Bochner), marrying his nephew Jeff (John James) to secure Cecil's financial assistance for her father. When Blake stumbles upon Steven in an innocent goodbye embrace with his former lover Ted Dinard (Mark Withers), Blake angrily pushes the two men apart; Ted falls backward and hits his head, the injury proving fatal. Blake is arrested and charged with murder, and an angry Steven testifies that Ted's death had been the result of malicious intent. A veiled surprise witness for the prosecution appears in the season finale "The Testimony", and Fallon gasps in recognition: "My God, that's my mother!"

The series' first 13 episodes have been seen in retrospect to be Dynasty{{'s}} "arthouse" era, a brief period before its characters were flattened into the caricatures that came to define the prime-time soap genre thanks to "ratings pressures and the introduction of diva Joan Collins...[which] put an end to challenging story lines". The first season of Dynasty was "modestly popular" among viewers, ranking #28 with a 19.0 Nielsen rating, while #1 series Dallas achieved a 31.8 rating that season. ABC reran season one in summer 1981 at 10:00 PM on Wednesdays, the new time slot for season two, and initiated a media blitz to promote the series.

In the first episode of the second season, titled "Enter Alexis", the mysterious witness removes her sunglasses to reveal British actress Joan Collins as a new arrival to the series. Collins's Alexis Carrington blazed a trail across the show and its story lines; the additions of Collins and the "formidable writing team" of Eileen and Robert Mason Pollock are generally credited with Dynasty{{'s}} subsequent rise in the Nielsen ratings. The Pollocks "soft-pedaled the business angle" of the show and "bombarded viewers with every soap opera staple in the book, presented at such a fast clip that a new tragedy seemed to befall the Carrington family every five minutes." Alexis's testimony notwithstanding, Krystle is immediately put off by the former Mrs. Carrington's condescending attitude and manipulations; Krystle's subsequent discovery that Alexis had caused her miscarriage by intentionally startling her horse with a gunshot settles Alexis as Krystle's implacable nemesis. Other new characters of the season are the psychiatrist Nick Toscanni (James Farentino), who tries to seduce Krystle while bedding Fallon and plotting against Blake; and Krystle's greedy niece Sammy Jo Dean (Heather Locklear), who marries Steven for his money. The season finale sees Blake left for dead on a mountain after a fight with Nick. By that time, Dynasty had entered the Top 20.{{cite book|last1=Brooks|first1=Tim|first2=Earle|last2=Marsh|title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present|date=October 2007|edition=9th|pages=1689–1692|chapter=Top-Rated Programs by Season|publisher=Ballantine Books |isbn=978-0-345-49773-4}} Esther Shapiro lamented in the season one DVD commentary, "Had the series been left to us, and been a less huge hit, I think we would have seen these characters realized pretty much the way they are [in season one]. When Alexis came into it, it changed the tenor...And that's the way they are now on television: you have your traditional villain, and I think that plays to a different denominator."

In the third season (ranked fifth in the ratings), Alexis marries Cecil on his deathbed and acquires his company, ColbyCo. In the meantime, Adam Carrington (Gordon Thomson), the long-lost son of Alexis and Blake who had been kidnapped in infancy, reappears in Denver and almost starts an affair with Fallon before they discover they are siblings. Also introduced are Krystle's ex-husband, tennis pro Mark Jennings (Geoffrey Scott), and Kirby Anders (Kathleen Beller), the daughter of longtime Carrington majordomo Joseph (Lee Bergere). Kirby catches Adam's eye but weds Jeff after his divorce from Fallon. In the middle of the season, news that Steven has been killed in an accident in Indonesia comes to the Carringtons; he survives, but undergoes plastic surgery and returns to Denver (portrayed by Jack Coleman). In the third-season cliffhanger, Alexis lures Krystle to Steven's cabin and the two are locked inside while the cabin is set ablaze by an unseen arsonist, later revealed to be Joseph, who had meant for the fire to kill only Alexis and not Krystle.

With the show's popularity soaring in the fourth season (now the third-most-watched program of 1983–1984), former President Gerald Ford guest-starred as himself in 1983, along with his wife Betty and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1991/10/18/dynasty-reunion/|title=The Dynasty reunion|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Alan|last=Carter|date=October 18, 1991|access-date=September 4, 2018|archive-date=September 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904191945/https://ew.com/article/1991/10/18/dynasty-reunion/|url-status=live}} New characters included the charming and ambitious Farnsworth "Dex" Dexter (Michael Nader), the scheming public relations assistant Tracy Kendall (Deborah Adair), the unscrupulous playboy Peter De Vilbis (Helmut Berger), and Blake's illegitimate African American half-sister, Dominique Deveraux (Diahann Carroll).{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D--Y-uXjZc| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211031/7D--Y-uXjZc| archive-date=2021-10-31 | url-status=live|title=Diahann Carroll Interview: First Day on Dynasty Set|date=1984|access-date=August 21, 2018|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} The main story lines included a custody battle between Steven and Blake over Steven and Sammy Jo's son Danny, and a false accusation of illegal weapons dealings orchestrated by Alexis to ruin Blake's financial empire. In the season finale, Fallon disappears just before her second wedding to Jeff (now divorced from Kirby) as her car seemingly collides with a truck on a stormy night (to accommodate the departure of Pamela Sue Martin from the series), while Alexis is arrested for the murder of Mark Jennings.

Driven by the new head writer and producer Camille Marchetta, who had devised the wildly successful "Who Shot J.R.?" scenario on Dallas five years earlier, Dynasty hit No. 1 in the fifth season. In the story, Alexis is exonerated and her secret daughter Amanda Bedford (Catherine Oxenberg) comes to Denver and discovers that Blake is her father. Steven has married Claudia but leaves her for a man and Claudia starts an affair with Adam. The marriage of Blake and Krystle is in crisis after the birth of their daughter Krystina, Dominique struggles to be accepted as a Carrington and loses her husband Brady Lloyd (Billy Dee Williams) in the process, and Sammy Jo discovers she is the heiress to a huge fortune. At the end of the season, an amnesiac Fallon (now portrayed by actress Emma Samms) reappears while the rest of the family go to Europe for the wedding of Amanda and Prince Michael of Moldavia (Michael Praed).

During the season, Dynasty attracted controversy when Rock Hudson's real-life HIV-positive status was revealed after a romantic storyline between his character Daniel Reece and Evans's Krystle. Hudson's scenes required him to kiss Evans and, as news that he had contracted AIDS broke, there was speculation Evans would be at risk.{{cite journal |last=Jarvis |first=Jeff |date=August 12, 1985 |title=Desperate American AIDS Victims Journey to Paris, Hoping That a New Drug Can Stave Off Death |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20091479,00.html |journal=People |access-date=August 8, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923220231/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20091479,00.html |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |df=mdy-all }} The event led to a Screen Actors Guild rule requiring the notification of performers in advance of any scenes that require open-mouth kissing.{{cite news |last=Harmetz |first=Aljean |date=October 31, 1985 |title=A Rule on Kissing Scenes and AIDS |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/31/movies/a-rule-on-kissing-scenes-and-aids.html |newspaper=The New York Times |location=Hollywood |access-date=August 8, 2015 |archive-date=July 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714060832/http://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/31/movies/a-rule-on-kissing-scenes-and-aids.html |url-status=live }}

Over the run of the series, the rivalry between Alexis and Krystle is a primary driver for the melodrama. Alexis resents Krystle's role as Blake's wife and mistress of the Carrington household, and tries to undermine her at every opportunity, while Krystle makes increasingly bold efforts to keep Alexis from interfering in the lives of their mutual loved ones. The pair have numerous verbal spats that sometimes lead to physical altercations. "Unfortunately, the thing people remember about this show is the catfights," noted Collins in 1991.{{cite news|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20115641,00.html|title=Alexis Strikes Again!|last1=Gliatto|first1=Tom|first2=Vicki|last2=Sheff|date=August 5, 1991|work=People|volume=36|issue=4|pages=66–68|access-date=February 21, 2009|archive-date=March 18, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318195308/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20115641,00.html|url-status=live}} Entertainment columnist Sue Cameron said in 2018 that the catfights became so popular that the press were invited to watch the filming of them.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/dynasty-stars-linda-evans-and-joan-collins-enjoyed-filming-iconic-catfight-scenes-despite-risk-of-getting-hurt-book-claims/|title=Dynasty stars Linda Evans and Joan Collins enjoyed filming iconic catfight scenes despite risk of getting hurt, book claims|first=Stephanie|last=Nolasco|publisher=Fox News|date=August 23, 2018|access-date=August 23, 2018|archive-date=August 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823100149/http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2018/08/23/dynasty-stars-linda-evans-and-joan-collins-enjoyed-filming-iconic-catfight-scenes-despite-risk-getting-hurt-book-claims.html|url-status=live}} Krystle and Alexis famously brawl for the first time in Alexis's studio,Season 2 episode "The Baby" (March 3, 1982) and then later in a lily pond.Season 3 episode "The Threat" (April 13, 1983) They also hurl mud at each other at a beauty salon, and slide down a ravine together into a puddle of mud,Season 6 episode "Ben" (February 26, 1986) before having their final showdown brawl in a fashion studio in the 1991 miniseries Dynasty: The Reunion. Later in the series, Alexis also has a catfight with Blake's half-sister Dominique (Diahann Carroll),Season 7 episode "Fear" (December 31, 1986) and then her own cousin Sable (Stephanie Beacham).Season 9 episode "Blasts from the Past" (May 4, 1989) She even has a brawl with her on-again, off-again lover and one-time husband, Dex (Michael Nader). Krystle's niece Sammy Jo (Heather Locklear) also has her fair share of catfights, as she first engages in a slap fight with Claudia (Pamela Bellwood) before taking on Amanda (Catherine Oxenberg) in a brawl in a swimming pool.Season 6 finale "The Choice (a.k.a.) The Vendetta" (May 21, 1986){{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19860810&id=JdRHAAAAIBAJ&pg=4340,2677382&hl=es |title=Die-nasty! |work=New Straits Times |page=15 |date=August 10, 1986 |access-date=May 31, 2017 |archive-date=April 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406222614/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19860810&id=JdRHAAAAIBAJ&pg=4340,2677382&hl=es |url-status=live }} Sammy Jo later fights Fallon (Emma Samms) in a horse trough and the mud around it.Season 9 episode "Alexis in Blunderland" (December 15, 1988) Evans even battles with herself at the climax of a 1985–1986 storyline in which Krystle is imprisoned and replaced by a lookalike named Rita (also played by Evans); Krystle ends up battling Rita in order to escape.Season 6 episode "The Vigil" (January 22, 1986) In 2008, Entertainment Weekly termed Alexis and Krystle's catfights "the gold standard of scratching and clawing."{{Cite magazine |title=Girl-on-Girl Action |date=October 31, 2008 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |publisher=Issue #1018 }}

The so-called "Moldavian Massacre" occurred during the May 15, 1985 fifth-season finale. Amanda and Prince Michael's royal wedding is interrupted by terrorists during a military coup in Moldavia, riddling the chapel with bullets and leaving all of the major characters lying seemingly lifeless. Esther Shapiro later said, "It was a fairy-tale terrorist attack. It was beautifully shot, like a Goya painting." It was watched by an audience of 25.9 million.{{cite web |url=http://www.tvtango.com/listings?filters%5Bdate%5D%5Bmonth%5D=5&filters%5Bdate%5D%5Bday%5D=15&filters%5Bdate%5D%5Byear%5D=1985&commit.x=13&commit.y=6 |title=TV Listings for May 15, 1985 |website=TV Tango |access-date=November 19, 2019 |archive-date=November 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104170847/http://www.tvtango.com/listings?filters%5Bdate%5D%5Bmonth%5D=5&filters%5Bdate%5D%5Bday%5D=15&filters%5Bdate%5D%5Byear%5D=1985&commit.x=13&commit.y=6 |url-status=live }}E! True Hollywood Story: Dynasty (2001) In 2011, Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly named it one of the seven "Unforgettable Cliff-Hangers" of prime time dramatic television.{{Cite magazine |title=Unforgettable Cliff-Hangers |date=March 25, 2011 |first=Ken|last=Tucker|magazine=Entertainment Weekly |issue=1147 |page=12}}

When the series resumed on September 25, 1985, it was revealed that only two minor characters had died: Steven's boyfriend Luke Fuller (Billy Campbell), who was mortally wounded saving Claudia's life, and Jeff's love interest Lady Ashley Mitchell (Ali MacGraw). In the 2006 CBS special Dynasty Reunion: Catfights & Caviar, Gordon Thomson stated that it was the follow-up that was the letdown, not the cliffhanger itself. John James stated in the 2001 episode of E! The True Hollywood Story featuring Dynasty that the Moldavian Massacre was when the show "maxed out" and "overdosed" on outrageousness. Creator Esther Shapiro stated in 2001 that she thought the cliffhanger was "well produced" but that they "could've done something else".

Joan Collins was absent from the season six opener, as she was in a tense contract renegotiation with the show, seeking an increased salary.{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimatedynasty.net/archives/archives15.html |title=Behind Dynasty{{'}}s breakdown ... and recovery |work=TV Guide |via=UltimateDynasty.net |date=May 17, 1986 |access-date=November 20, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331192546/http://www.ultimatedynasty.net/archives/archives15.html |archive-date=March 31, 2010 }} As a result, the first episode had to be rewritten to explain her absence and many of Alexis's scenes were given to Krystle. Collins's demands were met (she reportedly signed a $60,000 per episode contract) and she returned to the series in the season's second episode. Despite her absence, the first episode of season six garnered a 28.1 rating (becoming the most watched episode of the series) as viewers wanted to see who had survived the season five cliffhanger.{{cite web |url=http://www.tvtango.com/listings?filters%5Bdate%5D%5Bmonth%5D=9&filters%5Bdate%5D%5Bday%5D=25&filters%5Bdate%5D%5Byear%5D=1985&commit.x=28&commit.y=21 |via=tvtango.com |title=TV Listings for - September 25, 1985 - TV Tango |access-date=January 22, 2013 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222025515/http://www.tvtango.com/listings?filters%5Bdate%5D%5Bmonth%5D=9&filters%5Bdate%5D%5Bday%5D=25&filters%5Bdate%5D%5Byear%5D=1985&commit.x=28&commit.y=21 |url-status=live }}

Although still a top ten series, Dynasty dropped from first to seventh place in the ratings for its sixth season, which featured a look-alike woman named Rita who poses as Krystle (with both roles played by Linda Evans), introduced Alexis's sister Caress (Kate O'Mara), and launched the spin-off series The Colbys.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/soap-opera-digest/20181019/282548724228324|title=The Colbys|via=PressReader.com|work=Soap Opera Digest|date=October 19, 2019|access-date=November 19, 2019|archive-date=December 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208223132/https://www.pressreader.com/usa/soap-opera-digest/20181019/282548724228324|url-status=live}} Spurned by Blake, Alexis finds his estranged brother Ben (Christopher Cazenove) and the duo successfully plot to strip Blake of his fortune. Steven's budding relationship with the closeted Bart Fallmont (Kevin Conroy) is ruined by Adam's business-motivated public revelation that Bart is gay. Amanda, who has divorced Prince Michael, fights with Sammy Jo for the favors of Clay Fallmont (Ted McGinley). The May 21, 1986, season finale finds Blake strangling Alexis while the rest of the cast is in peril at the La Mirage hotel, which has been accidentally set afire by Claudia.

As the seventh season begins in September 1986, Blake stops short of killing Alexis, whom he had been strangling in the previous season's cliffhanger, after learning she had bought his mansion and was evicting him and Krystle. Claudia has died in the fire she set, and Amanda (now played by Karen Cellini) is rescued by a returning Michael Culhane, Blake's chauffeur from the first season.{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1986/06/29/wayne-northrop-plans-a-return-to-dynasty/|title=Wayne Northrop Plans A Return To Dynasty|work=Orlando Sentinel|date=June 29, 1986|access-date=November 7, 2017|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107222528/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1986-06-29/entertainment/8606290316_1_wayne-northrop-emma-samms-northrop-plans|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-07-03-ca-1194-story.html|title=Wayne Northrup To Rejoin Dynasty|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 3, 1986|access-date=November 7, 2017|archive-date=September 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928142710/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-07-03-ca-1194-story.html|url-status=live}} Blake turns the tables on Ben and Alexis and recovers his wealth, but loses his memory after an oil rig explosion. Alexis finds Blake and, with everyone believing he is dead, perpetuates the belief that they are still married. Living with a clean slate, Alexis finds herself softening to Blake but ultimately tells him the truth as he reunites with Krystle. Krystina receives a heart transplant but is later temporarily kidnapped by Sarah Curtis (Cassie Yates), the mother of the dead girl from whom Krystina received her new heart; Sammy Jo's marriage to Clay crumbles and she falls into bed with Steven; Amanda leaves town; and Ben's daughter Leslie (Terri Garber) arrives. Adam's season-long romance with Blake's secretary Dana Waring (Leann Hunley) culminates in a wedding, which is punctuated in the May 6, 1987, season finale by Alexis's car plunging off a bridge into a river and the violent return of a vengeful Matthew Blaisdel. Although the first episode of season seven premiered with a high Nielsen rating of a 20.1, the competition with Magnum, P.I., now in the same time slot,{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-11-12-ca-29090-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Lee|last=Margulies|title=Soap Opera Ratings Story: Magnum, P.I. Overtakes Dynasty|date=November 12, 1986|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=August 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827053948/http://articles.latimes.com/1986-11-12/entertainment/ca-29090_1_dynasty|url-status=live}} and the constant storyline changes led to Dynasty falling out of the top 20 to No. 25.

With The Colbys cancelled, Jeff and Fallon return for Dynasty{{'s}} eighth season, their marriage falling apart again. Matthew, returned from the dead but troubled by headaches, holds the Carringtons hostage in hopes that Krystle will run away with him. Steven ends the siege by reluctantly stabbing his old friend to death. Alexis is saved by a handsome, mysterious stranger, Sean Rowan (James Healey). She later marries him, not realizing that he is Joseph's son and Kirby's brother, bent on revenge. Steven and Sammy Jo's reconciliation is short-lived, and the pursuit of children unravels Adam and Dana's marriage. Sean begins to manipulate and destroy the Carringtons from the inside, and he fights Dex to the death in the March 30, 1988 season finale. Blake, who failed being elected as governor of Colorado, comes home to find Krystle missing and their bedroom in shambles. For the first time since its debut, the show had dropped out of the top 30, to No. 41 in the ratings.

David Paulsen joined Dynasty as Executive Supervising Producer for its ninth season, and took over the plotting of the series.{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimatedallas.com/dallasinterviews/davidpaulsen.html|title=Exclusive Dallas interview with David Paulsen, Dallas producer|first=David|last=Massey-Goldlion|via=UltimateDallas.com|date=February 26, 2008|access-date=October 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211102712/http://www.ultimatedallas.com/dallasinterviews/davidpaulsen.html|archive-date=December 11, 2018|url-status=dead}} In a money-saving move, Evans appeared in only six episodes early in the season as an ailing Krystle seeks brain surgery in Switzerland but is left in an offscreen coma. Similarly to cut costs, Collins was contracted for only 13 out of the season's 22 episodes. Former The Colbys character Sable (Stephanie Beacham) was brought in as both a platonic confidante for Blake and a nemesis for Alexis, and Tracy Scoggins also reprised her Colbys role as Sable's daughter Monica. A storyline involving a murder and an old secret tying the Carrington, Colby, and Dexter families together spanned the season as Alexis and Sable sparred first over business and then over Dex. The series moved from Wednesday to Thursday, but ratings continued to decline and Dynasty was ranked No. 69 in the United States for the season. In May 1989, new ABC entertainment president Robert A. Iger cancelled Dynasty, making the last episode of season nine the series finale. The show ended on a cliffhanger with Blake, Fallon, Krystina, Alexis, and Dex in mortal peril.{{Cite web|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/47975/DYNASTY-CLIFFHANGER-IS-JUST-THAT.html|title=Dynasty Cliffhanger is Just That|first=Joseph|last=Walker|date=May 24, 1989|work=Deseret News|access-date=September 25, 2010|archive-date=October 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019071243/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/47975/DYNASTY-CLIFFHANGER-IS-JUST-THAT.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/05/21/the-real-life-fallon/ |title=The Real-life Fallon: Emma Samms Of Dynasty Is A Star On A Mission |work=Chicago Tribune |first=Barbara |last=Szul |date=May 21, 1989 |access-date=May 31, 2017 |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107144224/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1989-05-21/features/8902030021_1_samms-dynasty-sign-language |url-status=live }}

As an attempt to wrap up plotlines left unresolved by Dynasty{{'s}} cancellation, ABC produced a two-part miniseries titled Dynasty: The Reunion, which aired in October 1991.

Many of the cast members, including John Forsythe, Joan Collins, John James, Heather Locklear and Emma Samms agreed to reprise their roles in early 1991. It was unknown during pre-production which characters the reunion film would include. Linda Evans was brought back last-minute, just before the final script was penned, as was Kathleen Beller. Jack Coleman, who had played Steven Carrington from 1982 to 1988, was unavailable to reprise his role,{{cite web |title=Coleman's Nightmare Is Beginning |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-02-25-ca-2610-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |first=Rick |last=Du Brow |date=February 25, 1992 |access-date=February 10, 2015 |archive-date=February 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209142340/http://articles.latimes.com/1992-02-25/entertainment/ca-2610_1_nightmare-cafe |url-status=live }} so he was replaced with Al Corley, who originated the part in 1981. Gordon Thomson also originally agreed to appear in the film but ABC refused to align the shooting schedule with his work on the daytime series Santa Barbara, and replaced him with Robin Sachs.

Dynasty: The Reunion aired on October 20 and October 22, 1991. The first night averaged 23 million viewers,{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtango.com/listings?filters%5Bdate%5D%5Bmonth%5D=10&filters%5Bdate%5D%5Bday%5D=20&filters%5Bdate%5D%5Byear%5D=1991&commit.x=17&commit.y=5|title=TV Listings for October 20, 1991 (Sunday)|website=TV Tango|access-date=April 6, 2020|archive-date=May 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509001928/http://www.tvtango.com/listings?filters%5Bdate%5D%5Bmonth%5D=10&filters%5Bdate%5D%5Bday%5D=20&filters%5Bdate%5D%5Byear%5D=1991&commit.x=17&commit.y=5|url-status=live}} the second night averaged 20.3 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtango.com/listings?filters%5Bdate%5D%5Bmonth%5D=10&filters%5Bdate%5D%5Bday%5D=22&filters%5Bdate%5D%5Byear%5D=1991&commit.x=24&commit.y=17|title=TV Listings for October 22, 1991 (Tuesday)|website=TV Tango|access-date=April 6, 2020|archive-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921102318/http://www.tvtango.com/listings?filters%5Bdate%5D%5Bmonth%5D=10&filters%5Bdate%5D%5Bday%5D=22&filters%5Bdate%5D%5Byear%5D=1991&commit.x=24&commit.y=17|url-status=live}} Both parts ranked in the Top 20 for the week, and second place in their respective time slots, behind the World Series on CBS. Critical reviews were not favorable, with many feeling the script was poor and that the film was merely an attempt of ABC's wish to "cash-in" on an old series.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}

File:Filoli.JPG, used as the Carrington mansion on Dynasty]]

Dynasty was shot at Warner Hollywood Studios in West Hollywood, California. The Filoli estate in Woodside, California, was used as the 48-room Carrington mansion in the opening credits, establishing shots, and some outdoor scenes in the pilot episode. Some of the other exterior shots of the Carrington mansion (including the lily pond catfight) were shot at a 17-room Palladian house called Arden Villa in Pasadena, California.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvacres.com/homes_dynasty.htm|title=Real Estate > Homes & Mansions > Dynasty Mansion |work=TV Acres |access-date=February 27, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204200709/http://www.tvacres.com/homes_dynasty.htm|archive-date=February 4, 2013|df=mdy-all}}

Costume designer Nolan Miller designed approximately 3,000 costumes over the course of the series, saying "I never want to see them wearing the same outfit twice".{{cite web |first=Eric |last=Wilson |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/08/fashion/nolan-miller-designer-of-dynasty-looks-dies-at-79.html |title=Nolan Miller, Designer of Dynasty Power Looks, Is Dead at 79 |date=June 8, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2016 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=March 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304010912/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/08/fashion/nolan-miller-designer-of-dynasty-looks-dies-at-79.html |url-status=live }} His weekly wardrobe budget was $35,000.

John Forsythe was the only cast member to appear in all 220 episodes of the series. Linda Evans appeared in 204 of the 220 episodes, leaving the series after appearing in only six episodes of the ninth and final season. Joan Collins, who did not join the cast until the second season, also missed one episode in season 6 and nine episodes in season 9, and was consequently present for a total of 195 episodes. Forsythe and John James were the only two original cast members to appear in the final episode.

{{further|List of Dynasty (1981 TV series) episodes}}

{{:List of Dynasty (1981 TV series) episodes}}

Dynasty was a top 30 show from its first through seventh season, reaching No. 1 for the 1984–85 season with a Nielsen rating of 25.0 or an average tune-in audience of 21.2 million homes per episode.

Dynasty was initially syndicated in reruns by Metromedia Producers Corporation in September 1985, on stations such as KTTV in Los Angeles, and WNEW-TV 5 in New York City, while season 6 began airing on ABC. This initial syndication package consisted of all 117 episodes (originally 114 on ABC) that had been produced up to this point.{{cite web|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/85-OCR/BC-1985-07-01-OCR-Page-0075.pdf|title=Syndication Marketplace |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928142711/https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/85-OCR/BC-1985-07-01-OCR-Page-0075.pdf |archive-date=September 28, 2023|via=AmericanRadioHistory.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/85-OCR/BC-1985-08-19-OCR-Page-0036.pdf|title=How Murdoch's Production Pieces Will Fit Together |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928142710/https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/85-OCR/BC-1985-08-19-OCR-Page-0036.pdf |archive-date=September 28, 2023|via=AmericanRadioHistory.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-08-22-ca-2529-story.html|title='MERV GRIFFIN' MOVES TO NEW TIME|date=August 22, 1985|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=November 19, 2019|archive-date=May 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510142811/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-08-22-ca-2529-story.html|url-status=live}}

At the height of Dynasty{{'s}} popularity in 1985, Esther Shapiro said, "we've done important things for women with Dynasty. For middle-aged women. You know, to let them know that it's OK to want power and be romantic." Collins said in 2018, "Every single person on Dynasty was good-looking. You wanted to see rich, good-looking people fighting with each other."{{cite web|url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/joan-collins-dynasty-relationships-interview|title=Joan Collins Dishes on Dynasty, Her Diet, and the Monstrous Men in Her Past|first=Christopher|last=Bagley|website=W|date=December 11, 2018|access-date=January 18, 2019|archive-date=January 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123071724/https://www.wmagazine.com/story/joan-collins-dynasty-relationships-interview|url-status=live}} In 2012, The New York Times credited the popularity of Nolan Miller's costumes with "setting a trend for thick shoulder pads during a decade of power dressing".

Dynasty was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama every year from 1981 to 1986, winning in 1984.{{cite web|url=http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/award_show/golden_globe_awards/1984 |title=The 1984 Golden Globe Award Winners |publisher=RopeofSilicon.com |access-date=January 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308235946/http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/award_show/golden_globe_awards/1984 |archive-date=March 8, 2008 }} Forsythe and Collins were also nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress every year from 1981 to 1986, and Evans was nominated for Best Actress every year from 1981 to 1985. Evans won in 1982 (tying with Barbara Bel Geddes of rival series Dallas), Forsythe won in 1983 and 1984, and Collins won in 1983. John James and Gordon Thomson were also nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (James in 1985, and Thomson in 1987).{{cite web |url=http://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/dynasty |title=Winners & Nominees: Dynasty |publisher=Golden Globe Award |access-date=November 3, 2016 |archive-date=November 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111133950/http://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/dynasty |url-status=live }}

The series was nominated for 24 Emmy Awards over the course of its run, but only won once, for Outstanding Costumes for a Series in 1984. The show was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 1982. From 1982 to 1984, Forsythe received three consecutive nominations for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Evans and Collins were each nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Evans in 1983, and Collins in 1984); both actresses lost to Tyne Daly for her work on the CBS police drama series Cagney and Lacey.{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.org/shows/dynasty#awards |title=Awards & Nominations: Dynasty |publisher=Emmy Award |access-date=November 3, 2016 |archive-date=November 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104075331/http://www.emmys.org/shows/dynasty#awards |url-status=live }}

Dynasty was also an award winner at the People's Choice Awards. Evans won Favorite Female Performer in a New TV Program in 1982,{{cite web|url=http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/?year=1982|title=1982 Nominees & Winners|publisher=People's Choice Awards|access-date=October 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617180738/http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/?year=1982|archive-date=June 17, 2016|url-status=dead}} and Favorite Female TV Performer in 1983.{{cite web|url=http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/?year=1983|title=1983 Nominees & Winners|publisher=People's Choice Awards|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217055811/http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/?year=1983|archive-date=February 17, 2016|access-date=October 26, 2018|url-status=dead}} In 1984, she won Favorite Female TV Performer, and the series was named Favorite TV Drama in a tie with the NBC drama Hill Street Blues.{{cite web|url=http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/?year=1984|title=1984 Nominees & Winners|publisher=People's Choice Awards|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405024643/http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/?year=1984|archive-date=April 5, 2016|access-date=October 26, 2018|url-status=dead}} Evans and the series again won those same honors in 1985, with Evans sharing the Favorite Female TV Performer prize with her co-star, Collins.{{cite web|url=http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/?year=1985|title=1985 Nominees & Winners|publisher=People's Choice Awards|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617173731/http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/?year=1985|archive-date=June 17, 2016|access-date=October 26, 2018|url-status=dead}} Evans won the award again in 1986, and the series tied with Miami Vice for Favorite TV Dramatic Program.{{cite web|url=http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/?year=1986|title=1986 Nominees & Winners|publisher=People's Choice Awards|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617172202/http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/?year=1986|archive-date=June 17, 2016|access-date=October 26, 2018|url-status=dead}} In 1987, Dynasty tied with the CBS series Dallas for the award Favorite Nighttime Dramatic Serial.{{cite web|url=http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/?year=1987|title=1987 Nominees & Winners|publisher=People's Choice Awards|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304114033/http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/?year=1987|archive-date=March 4, 2016|access-date=October 26, 2018|url-status=dead}} Dynasty won Soap Opera Digest Awards in 1984 and 1985 for Outstanding Primetime Soap. In 1984 Forsythe, Evans and Collins won the awards for Outstanding Lead Actor, Actress and Villainess. John Forsythe won another award for Outstanding Actor in a Mature Role. Evans and Collins won the awards in the same categories in 1985, while Catherine Oxenberg won two awards, for Outstanding Supporting Actress and Outstanding Female Newcomer.{{cite web|url=http://www.celebratingthesoaps.net/soap-opera-awards-history.html|title=The Soap Opera Digest Awards History|work=Soap Opera Digest|via=Celebratingthesoaps.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415185708/http://www.celebratingthesoaps.net/soap-opera-awards-history.html|archive-date=April 15, 2016|access-date=October 26, 2018|url-status=usurped}}

A spin-off, The Colbys, debuted in 1985,{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/07/arts/abc-revises-fall-list-in-battle-for-ratings.html |title=ABC Revises Fall List in Battle for Ratings |work=The New York Times |date=May 7, 1985 |access-date=May 31, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731070801/http://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/07/arts/abc-revises-fall-list-in-battle-for-ratings.html |url-status=live }} as Fallon "returned from the dead" and ex-husband Jeff followed her to Los Angeles, where they became embroiled in the family intrigues of Jeff's wealthy California relatives. Pamela Sue Martin had been asked to reprise the role of Fallon but declined which led to the casting of Emma Samms in the role. Ratings for The Colbys were poor and the show lasted for just two seasons, ending in 1987. Both Fallon and Jeff returned to Dynasty after the series ended.

The cable channel SOAPnet aired repeats of all nine seasons. In January 2004, creator Esther Shapiro participated in a marathon of the show's episodes, called "Serial Bowl: Alexis vs. Krystle", giving behind-the-scenes tidbits and factoids.

On January 2, 2005, ABC aired a fictionalized television movie titled Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure, chronicling the creation and backstage details of Dynasty. It received poor reviews both for content and for historical accuracy, and was criticized by Forsythe, Evans, and Collins in separate press releases.{{Cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-12-29-dynasty_x.htm | work=USA Today | title=Dynasty stars disinherit film | date=December 30, 2004 | access-date=May 1, 2010 | archive-date=August 29, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100829143630/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-12-29-dynasty_x.htm | url-status=live }} Filmed in Australia, the movie starred Bartholomew John as Forsythe, Melora Hardin as Evans, and Alice Krige as Collins.{{Cite web|url=http://www.der-denver-clan.de/de/dynasty_behind.207.html|title=Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure: Credits|publisher=Der-denver-clan.de|access-date=February 27, 2009|archive-date=January 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119014716/http://www.der-denver-clan.de/de/dynasty_behind.207.html|url-status=live}} The film begins with a disclaimer noting the inclusion of "time compression and composite and fictionalized characters and incidents," and takes dramatic license with both the historical timeline and events, as well as the fictional storylines originally presented on Dynasty.

On May 2, 2006, a non-fiction television special named Dynasty Reunion: Catfights & Caviar aired on CBS.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/02/arts/television/02stan.html|title=A Look Back at Dynasty and the Excess of the 1980s|work=The New York Times|first=Alessandra|last=Stanley|date=May 2, 2006|access-date=May 28, 2017|archive-date=September 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903095336/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/02/arts/television/02stan.html|url-status=live}} It assembled former cast members from the series in John Forsythe, Joan Collins and Linda Evans, as well as the four original actors who played the Carrington children (Pamela Sue Martin, Al Corley, Gordon Thomson and Catherine Oxenberg). Heather Locklear, John James, and Diahann Carroll declined to participate,{{cite web |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-04-24-dynasty_x.htm |title=Forsythe rules his Dynasty |first=William |last=Keck |work=USA Today |date=April 24, 2006 |access-date=June 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107043853/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-04-24-dynasty_x.htm |archive-date=November 7, 2015}} but cast members Pamela Bellwood, Jack Coleman and Emma Samms were included in prerecorded interviews. The special showed various clips from the series, as the cast reminisced about their time on the show. The special was filmed at the Filoli estate, the location originally used for exterior shots of the Carringtons' mansion in the series.

On January 26, 2015, Home & Family hosted a Dynasty reunion for one episode on the Hallmark Channel. It assembled former cast members from the series, including Pamela Sue Martin, Al Corley, Gordon Thomson, John James and Pamela Bellwood. The reunion episode focused on the cast's memories of the show, both on and off-screen; a collection of gowns worn by the female characters; as well as members of the cast participating in several cooking, craft and fashion segments. The reunion episode also featured a new opening of the show's iconic theme song, which included Home & Family hosts Mark Steines and Christina Ferrare. Linda Evans did not participate on-air in the reunion episode, but sent a message to the cast, which was read on air.

The creations of series costume designer Nolan Miller became so popular that Dynasty spawned its own line of women's apparel called "The Dynasty Collection"—a series of haute couture designs based on costumes worn by Joan Collins, Linda Evans and Diahann Carroll. A men's fashion line followed. Esther Shapiro herself came up with the idea to produce licensed products that included sheets and towels, jewelry and furs, 'Forever Krystle' perfume, and 'Carrington' men's cologne. Linda Evans was hired as a spokesperson for the beverage Crystal Light due to her character's name.{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-10-20-tm-13799-story.html | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Bettijane | last=Levine | title=Those Eyes : Six Years Ago Linda Evans Was Considered Too Old to Cast. Today, She's Made Maturity a Sexy Commodity | date=October 20, 1985 | access-date=February 19, 2020 | archive-date=November 3, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103180825/http://articles.latimes.com/1985-10-20/magazine/tm-13799_1_linda-evans | url-status=live }}

Two novels were published, based on scripts from early episodes—Dynasty (1983){{cite book|last=Lottman|first=Eileen|title=Dynasty|year=1983|publisher=Bantam Books|isbn=0-553-17084-8}} and Alexis Returns (1984){{cite book|last=Lottman|first=Eileen|title=Alexis Returns|year=1984|publisher=Bantam Books|isbn=0-553-24431-0}}—written by Eileen Lottman. In 1984, Doubleday/Dolphin published the companion book Dynasty: The Authorized Biography of the Carringtons, which included an introduction by Esther Shapiro.{{cite book |title=Dynasty: The Authorized Biography of the Carringtons |url=https://archive.org/details/dynastyauthorize00shap/page/150 |url-access=registration |publisher=Doubleday/Dolphin |year=1984 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/dynastyauthorize00shap/page/150 150] |isbn=0-385-19525-7 }} The Authorized Biography featured storyline synopses in the form of extended biographies of the main characters, descriptions of primary locations (like the Carrington Estate and La Mirage) and dozens of photos from the series.

The first season of Dynasty was released on Region 1 DVD on April 19, 2005, by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. The rights to subsequent seasons (and Season 1 rights for other regions) reverted to CBS DVD (distributed by Paramount) in November 2006. Seasons 1 through 4 were made available on iTunes in May 2012.{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/dynasty-season-1/id521910721 |title=Dynasty Season 1 |website=iTunes |date=January 11, 1981 |access-date=August 22, 2014 |archive-date=September 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916154550/https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/dynasty-season-1/id521910721 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/dynasty-season-4/id526273272 |title=Dynasty Season 4 |website=iTunes |date=January 11, 1981 |access-date=August 22, 2014 |archive-date=September 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916160613/https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/dynasty-season-4/id526273272 |url-status=live }}

{{main|Dynasty (2017 TV series)}}

The Shapiros announced on January 12, 2011, that they had written a Dynasty prequel feature film script set in the 1960s, and were shopping it to studios for a possible film franchise.{{cite web |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/220158/shoulder-pad-alert-another-classic-prime-time-soap-is-headed-for-the-big-screen |title=Shoulder Pad Alert! Another Classic Prime-Time Soap Is Headed for the Big Screen |first=Marc |last=Malkin |date=January 12, 2011 |website=EOnline.com |access-date=March 1, 2014 |archive-date=March 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302025240/http://www.eonline.com/news/220158/shoulder-pad-alert-another-classic-prime-time-soap-is-headed-for-the-big-screen |url-status=live }} In a September 2011 interview, Dynasty actress Joan Collins chatted about a Dynasty television revival: "I've been in constant contact with Esther Shapiro, who wrote it, and apparently they've written a script."{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a338959/joan-collins-new-dynasty-script-has-been-written.html |title=Joan Collins: 'New Dynasty script has been written' |first=Catriona |last=Wightman |date=September 6, 2011 |access-date=March 1, 2014 |website=Digital Spy |archive-date=March 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302032953/http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a338959/joan-collins-new-dynasty-script-has-been-written.html |url-status=live }}

In September 2016, it was announced that a Dynasty reboot was in development at The CW, co-written by Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage, and Sallie Patrick.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/dynasty-reboot-works-at-cw-934334 |title=Dynasty Reboot in the Works at The CW |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first1=Lesley |last1=Goldberg |first2=Michael |last2=O'Connell |date=September 30, 2016 |access-date=October 6, 2016 |archive-date=October 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001151830/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/dynasty-reboot-works-at-cw-934334 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2016/09/dynasty-reboot-the-cw-josh-schwartz-stephanie-savage-1201829178/ |title=Dynasty Reboot Set At the CW With Josh Schwartz & Stephanie Savage |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=September 30, 2016 |access-date=October 2, 2016 |archive-date=October 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001144713/http://deadline.com/2016/09/dynasty-reboot-the-cw-josh-schwartz-stephanie-savage-1201829178/ |url-status=live }} The project received a series order in May 2017.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/dynasty-cw-1202422808/|title=Dynasty Reboot, Military Drama Valor Land Series Orders at CW|last=Holloway|first=Daniel|work=Variety|date=May 10, 2017|access-date=May 11, 2017|archive-date=May 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511001718/https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/dynasty-cw-1202422808/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-39882304|title=Everything we know about the Dynasty remake|first=Emma|last=Saunders|publisher=BBC|date=May 11, 2017|access-date=May 11, 2017|archive-date=May 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512022810/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-39882304|url-status=live}} With the Shapiros also producing, the new series finds heiress Fallon facing off against her soon-to-be stepmother Cristal, a Hispanic woman. The CW's Dynasty features Grant Show as Blake;{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/dynasty-grant-show-star-blake-carrington-the-cw-reboot-1202034650/ |title=Dynasty: Grant Show To Star As Blake Carrington In The CW Reboot Pilot |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=March 2, 2017 |access-date=March 3, 2017 |archive-date=March 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302224254/http://deadline.com/2017/03/dynasty-grant-show-star-blake-carrington-the-cw-reboot-1202034650/ |url-status=live }} Elizabeth Gillies as Fallon;{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/02/elizabeth-gillies-the-cw-dynasty-reboot-william-miller-cast-searchers-1201908469/|title=Elizabeth Gillies Joins The CW's Dynasty Reboot; William Miller Cast In Searchers|last=Petski|first=Denise|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=February 10, 2017|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=February 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210221918/http://deadline.com/2017/02/elizabeth-gillies-the-cw-dynasty-reboot-william-miller-cast-searchers-1201908469/|url-status=live}} Sam Adegoke as Jeff;{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/02/dynasty-sam-adegoke-cast-the-cw-reboot-1201911599/|title=Dynasty: Sam Adegoke To Star In The CW Reboot|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=February 14, 2017|access-date=May 11, 2017|archive-date=February 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214202647/http://deadline.com/2017/02/dynasty-sam-adegoke-cast-the-cw-reboot-1201911599/|url-status=live}} Robert Christopher Riley as Blake's chauffeur Michael;{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/02/dynasty-cw-reboot-cast-robert-christopher-riley-valor-charlie-barnett-1201970567/|title=Dynasty: CW Reboot Casts Robert Christopher Riley; Valor Adds Charlie Barnett|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=February 24, 2017|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=May 11, 2017|archive-date=February 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225020230/http://deadline.com/2017/02/dynasty-cw-reboot-cast-robert-christopher-riley-valor-charlie-barnett-1201970567/|url-status=live}} James Mackay as Steven;{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-ca-st-fall-preview-dynasty-reboot-lessons-20170908-htmlstory.html|title=The do's and don'ts of reboots: Dynasty edition|first=Yvonne|last=Villarreal|website=Los Angeles Times|date=September 8, 2017|access-date=August 27, 2018|archive-date=September 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908170252/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-ca-st-fall-preview-dynasty-reboot-lessons-20170908-htmlstory.html|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/08/02/dynasty-reboot-original-series-homophobia/|title=Dynasty Reboot Corrects Original Series' Homophobia|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Lynette|last=Rice|date=August 2, 2017|access-date=August 27, 2018|archive-date=August 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803042116/https://ew.com/tv/2017/08/02/dynasty-reboot-original-series-homophobia/|url-status=live}} Rafael de la Fuente as Sam Jones, a gay male version of Sammy Jo;{{cite web|url=https://daytimeconfidential.com/2017/03/09/empire-star-cast-as-dynastys-sammy-jo|title=Empire Star Cast as Hispanic, Gay Male Version of Dynasty{{'s}} Sammy Jo|work=Daytime Confidential|first=Jamey|last=Giddens|date=March 8, 2017|access-date=May 11, 2017|archive-date=March 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313182628/https://daytimeconfidential.com/2017/03/09/empire-star-cast-as-dynastys-sammy-jo|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://tvline.com/2017/05/31/dynasty-reboot-preview-pilot-cw-fall-lineup/|title=Fall TV First Impression: Dynasty|first=Matt Webb|last=Mitovich|website=TVLine|date=May 31, 2017|access-date=September 12, 2017|archive-date=June 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170601012550/http://tvline.com/2017/05/31/dynasty-reboot-preview-pilot-cw-fall-lineup/|url-status=live}} Alan Dale as Carrington majordomo Anders; Nick Wechsler as Matthew Blaisdel;{{cite web|url=http://crashdown.com/news/2017/05/nick-wechsler-cw-dynasty/|title=Trailer For The CW's Dynasty – Nick Wechsler|website=Crashdown.com|date=May 20, 2017|access-date=May 20, 2017|archive-date=June 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619081211/http://crashdown.com/news/2017/05/nick-wechsler-cw-dynasty/|url-status=live}} Brianna Brown as Claudia;{{cite web|url=http://tvline.com/2017/03/21/dynasty-pilot-brianna-brown-cast-claudia/|title=The CW's Dynasty Pilot: Devious Maids{{'}} Brianna Brown Guest-Stars as Claudia|first=Matt Webb|last=Mitovich|website=TVLine|date=March 22, 2017|access-date=May 11, 2017|archive-date=May 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507021141/http://tvline.com/2017/03/21/dynasty-pilot-brianna-brown-cast-claudia/|url-status=live}} Wakeema Hollis as Jeff's sister Monica Colby;{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/08/dynasty-the-cw-reboot-more-inclusive-gay-black-latina-1201862962/ |title=Dynasty: 4 Ways CW's Reboot Has Updated the Series to Be More Inclusive and Tolerant |website=IndieWire |first=Hanh |last=Nguyen |date=August 2, 2017 |access-date=October 12, 2017 |archive-date=August 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803001159/http://www.indiewire.com/2017/08/dynasty-the-cw-reboot-more-inclusive-gay-black-latina-1201862962/ |url-status=live }} Maddison Brown as Kirby,{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/08/14/dynasty-maddison-brown-kirby-anders/|title=Dynasty casts Maddison Brown as Kirby Anders|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Samantha|last=Highfill|date=August 14, 2018|access-date=August 6, 2019|archive-date=August 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814205221/https://ew.com/tv/2018/08/14/dynasty-maddison-brown-kirby-anders/|url-status=live}} Sam Underwood as Adam;{{cite web|url=https://hiddenremote.com/2019/03/22/dynasty-s2e15-recap/|title=Dynasty power rankings: Who's responsible for Alexis' departure from the manor?|website=Hidden Remote|first=Reed|last=Gaudens|date=March 22, 2019|access-date=August 6, 2019|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402235944/https://hiddenremote.com/2019/03/22/dynasty-s2e15-recap/|url-status=live}} and Michael Michele as Dominique.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/michael-michele-dominique-deveraux-in-cws-dynasty-1202580813/|title=Michael Michele to Play Dominique Deveraux in CW's Dynasty|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=March 22, 2019|access-date=August 6, 2019|archive-date=March 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322185658/https://deadline.com/2019/03/michael-michele-dominique-deveraux-in-cws-dynasty-1202580813/|url-status=live}} Nathalie Kelley initially appears as Cristal in season one,{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/dynasty-reboot-nathalie-kelley-star-970207 |title=The CW's Dynasty Reboot Casts Its Star |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Lesley |last=Goldberg |date=January 30, 2017 |access-date=January 31, 2017 |archive-date=January 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130221421/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/dynasty-reboot-nathalie-kelley-star-970207 |url-status=live }} but is replaced with Ana Brenda Contreras in season two,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/dynasty-ana-brenda-contreras-cast-real-cristal-the-cw-nathalie-kelley-1202440782/|title=Dynasty Surprise: Ana Brenda Contreras Joins the CW Series As 'Real Cristal'|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 6, 2018|access-date=August 6, 2018|archive-date=August 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806191252/https://deadline.com/2018/08/dynasty-ana-brenda-contreras-cast-real-cristal-the-cw-nathalie-kelley-1202440782/|url-status=live}} who is then recast with Daniella Alonso in season three.{{Cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2019/07/29/dynasty-recast-daniella-alonso-cristal-ana-brenda-contreras/|title=Dynasty Recast: Daniella Alonso Joins Season 3 as New Cristal Jennings|first=Andy|last=Swift|work=TVLine|date=July 30, 2019|access-date=July 30, 2019|archive-date=July 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730010941/https://tvline.com/2019/07/29/dynasty-recast-daniella-alonso-cristal-ana-brenda-contreras/|url-status=live}} Nicollette Sheridan plays Alexis in seasons one and two,{{cite web|last1=Swift|first1=Andy|title=Dynasty Promotes Nicollette Sheridan to Series Regular for Season 2|url=https://tvline.com/2018/05/15/dynasty-season-2-preview-nicollette-sheridan-series-regular-alexis/|website=TVLine|access-date=May 15, 2018|date=May 15, 2018|archive-date=May 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516041921/https://tvline.com/2018/05/15/dynasty-season-2-preview-nicollette-sheridan-series-regular-alexis/|url-status=dead}} and Elaine Hendrix steps into the role for season three.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/dynasty-new-alexis-elaine-hendrix-cast-cw-joan-collins-1202770394/|title=Dynasty Casts Elaine Hendrix As The New Alexis For CW Soap|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Dominic|last=Patten|date=October 28, 2019|access-date=October 28, 2019|archive-date=October 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028171221/https://deadline.com/2019/10/dynasty-new-alexis-elaine-hendrix-cast-cw-joan-collins-1202770394/|url-status=live}}

Season one of the new Dynasty premiered in the United States on October 11, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/06/the-cw-fall-premiere-dates-dynasty-valor-the-flash-1202109659/|title=The CW Sets Fall 2017 Premiere Dates For Dynasty & Valor And Returning Series|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=June 8, 2017|access-date=June 8, 2017|archive-date=June 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611132346/http://deadline.com/2017/06/the-cw-fall-premiere-dates-dynasty-valor-the-flash-1202109659/|url-status=live}} The series was later renewed for a second,{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/riverdale-flash-supernatural-10-cw-renewals-1098997|title=Riverdale, Flash, Supernatural Among 10 CW Renewals|last=Goldberg|first=Leslie|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 2, 2018|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-date=April 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402195748/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/riverdale-flash-supernatural-10-cw-renewals-1098997|url-status=live}} third,{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cw-renews-flash-charmed-riverdale-supernatural-6-more-1181714|title=CW Renews The Flash, Charmed, Riverdale, Supernatural, 6 More|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 31, 2019|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-date=March 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331222119/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cw-renews-flash-charmed-riverdale-supernatural-6-more-1181714|url-status=live}} fourth,{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/the-cw-renews-13-series-batwoman-nancy-drew-the-flash-riverdale-all-american-1202823557/|title=The CW Renews 13 Series Including Batwoman, Nancy Drew, The Flash, Riverdale, All American|website=Deadline Hollywood|first1=Nellie|last1=Andreeva|date=January 7, 2020|access-date=January 7, 2020|archive-date=January 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107231427/https://deadline.com/2020/01/the-cw-renews-13-series-batwoman-nancy-drew-the-flash-riverdale-all-american-1202823557/|url-status=live}} and fifth season.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/the-cw-major-renewal-move-new-seasons-12-shows-walker-1234686788/|title=The CW Renews 12 Series Including The Flash, Riverdale & Freshman Walker|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Peter|last=White|date=February 3, 2021|access-date=February 3, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214195643/https://deadline.com/2021/02/the-cw-major-renewal-move-new-seasons-12-shows-walker-1234686788/|archive-date=February 14, 2021}} In May 2022, The CW announced the fifth season would be Dynasty{{'s}} last.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/dynasty-will-end-with-season-5-on-the-cw-1235022456/|title=Dynasty Will End With Season 5 On the CW|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=May 12, 2022|access-date=May 12, 2022|archive-date=May 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512190341/https://deadline.com/2022/05/dynasty-will-end-with-season-5-on-the-cw-1235022456/|url-status=live}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|id=0081856|title=Dynasty}}
• {{TV Guide show | 1000005111 }}
• [http://www.der-denver-clan.de/de/home.cfm Der Denver Clan – German language Dynasty site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220123147/http://www.der-denver-clan.de/de/home.cfm |date=February 20, 2017 }}
• [http://dynastie.wifeo.com/ Dynastie – French language Dynasty site]
• [http://www.virginmedia.com/tvradio/soaps/soaptrivia/dynasty-where-are-they-now.php Where are the stars of Dynasty now?]

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