Frivolity Break: Dynasty With Special Guest Stars

Back in the early 80s, my best friend Keith turned me on to a show called Dynasty, a tawdry, trashy series about rich people in Colorado. I was hooked from the first episode I watched. Though I missed the (fairly tragic) season 1--only to catch in reruns a few years later--I never missed an episode after that. I even hung on after the fantastic Moldavian Massacre, and the unsatisfying resolution.

Krystle's evil twin couldn't scare me away. The fact that each Carrington offspring was played by two different actors couldn't do it. Stephen's "I'm gay!" "I'm straight" "I'm gay again!" storylines couldn't shake me. I watched until the bitter end, and beyond to the reunion movie. Aaron Spelling was the master of the "so bad, it's good" TV series, from Charlie's Angels to Love Boat, to Fantasy Island, T.J. Hooker and Hart to Hart, I was there. His shows are a huge part of my childhood. And it didn't stop there. Spelling recreated the trashtacular Dynasty in the 90s with Melrose Place, another show I watched until the (again) bitter end.

This re-imagining of the intro to Dynasty had me in stitches. I was literally in tears by the end. It just gets funnier and funnier. Given Dynasty's bombastic opening music, and lavish credits, the juxtaposition of different "stars" just hit my funnybone. Maybe you had to be there.



Source: TV Squad

Charlton Heston Dead at 84

Photo from source, AFP

Despite the fact that Charleton Heston was (in his later years) firmly in the opposite political camp from me--to say the least--I always liked him as an actor. I'll always remember "Take your stinking paws off of me you damn dirty ape!" and "Soylent Green is people!" Oddly, I'll remember him best for his performance in the 80s shlock-fest, Dynasty II: The Colbys.

Aaron Spelling's 70s and 80s shows, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Hotel and Dynasty were havens for old Hollywood stars and starlets, and The Colbys was no exception. In addition to Heston, they employed Katherine Ross, Joseph Campanella, Ricardo Montalban and Barbara Stanwyck of all people. It was dreck, but it was fun dreck, all the way up to Emma Samms' Fallon being abducted by aliens from outer space (a storyline that was hurriedly dropped when she returned to Dynasty)!

So, while I disagreed with his politics, Charleton Heston did have an impact on my life. He will be missed.

[Excerpt]

Hollywood movie legend Charlton Heston dead at 84

Charlton Heston, the chisel-jawed Hollywood icon best remembered for his Oscar-winning performance in the 1959 epic "Ben Hur" died Saturday at his home, his family said. He was 84.
Heston's family said in a statement that the actor famed for his heroic roles and portrayal of historical figures ranging from Moses to Michelangelo died with his wife of 64 years, Lydia, by his side. . .

Read more at: AFP

UPDATE: Interestingly, this is The Drudge Report's glamorous shot of Heston, reporting on this story. I think Drudge has a crush. . .