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Special recalls 'Dynasty'

Detroit Free Press

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Special recalls 'Dynasty'

Stars return with clips, commentary

May 2, 2006

BY MIKE DUFFY

FREE PRESS TV CRITIC

'Dynasty Reunion: Catfights & Caviar'

  • 10 tonight


    WWJ-TV, Channel 62, CBS

Holy Moldavian massacre, it's a festival of trash with flash memories.

There could not possibly be a more cheesily pleasing May sweeps title than "Dynasty Reunion: Catfights & Caviar." It is the whimsically campy name given to a celebration of the shamelessly excessive 1980s prime-time soap, strolling into view at 10 tonight on CBS.

The grandly overwrought tales of the filthy rich and their scheming dreams, "Dynasty" challenged "Dallas" for guilty pleasure honors in glittery, mindless escapism.

Now "Dynasty" stars John Forsythe, Linda Evans and Joan Collins reunite with other castmates to hop aboard the Wayback Machine for reminiscences and classic clips of their over-the-top soap opera shenanigans.

They gathered at the Filoli Mansion, a lavish northern California estate that served as the onscreen Colorado home of Denver oil billionaire Blake Carrington (Forsythe), the debonair, frequently embattled hero of "Dynasty."

Blake's flamboyantly mixed-up, glamorously shook-up family most prominently included blond former secretary and hot wife No. 2 Krystle (Evans) and devious ultra-diva Alexis (Collins), the wickedly twisted ex-wife.

The other "Dynasty" players who return include Pamela Sue Martin, Al Corley, Catherine Oxenberg, Gordon Thomson, Pamela Bellwood, Jack Coleman and Emma Samms. Series creators Esther and Richard Shapiro and "Dynasty" fashion designer Nolan Miller also join the retro soap party.

Alas, Sammy Jo's a no-show.

Heather Locklear, who played notorious vamp Sammy Jo, chose not to participate in "Catfights & Caviar." Perhaps Locklear opted out because she still has a career and a fair share of contemporary celebrity. Or maybe she's just too embarrassed about dating David Spade.

So why is "Dynasty," which aired on ABC from 1981 to 1989 and was TV's No. 1 show in 1984-85, being embraced for reunion fun by CBS? Well, CBS does appeal to a somewhat older viewing audience than ABC. And 25 years after their show's debut, Forsythe (88), Collins (72) and Evans (63) certainly fit the network's more venerable viewing profile.

But a little bit of trash with flash is fun at any age.

My favorite "Catfights & Caviars" flashback wish? Please show us the classic goldfish pond throwdown between Alexis and Krystle. Pretty please.

Contact MIKE DUFFY at 313-222-6520 or mduffy@freepress.com.