On the Sunday of January 2, 2005, the comedy drama 'Desperate Housewives' and 'Boston Legal' were preempted for the screening of the TV movie, 'Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure'. Filmed in Sydney, Australia in 2004 at the Fox Studios (opened since May 1998), 'Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure' took viewers on a behind-the-scenes look at the most watched drama on the ABC network and re-enacted the on-air antics of its most popular characters.
Some 5.52 million viewers out of 277.93 million potential viewers in the U.S. ages 2 and older were counted watching 'Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure' which attracted 2.0% households ratings and 5% audience share in the 18-49 age bracket. On the same night at the same time, 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' attracted 14.9 million viewers (4.8% households ratings and 11% audience share); 'Crossing Jordan' attracted 14.1 million viewers (4.6% households ratings and 12% audience share); 'Behind Enemy Lines' attracted 9.4 million viewers (3.0% households ratings and 7% audience share) and on Fox, 'True Lies' attracted 7.1 million viewers.
Some 5.52 million viewers out of 277.93 million potential viewers in the U.S. ages 2 and older were counted watching 'Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure' which attracted 2.0% households ratings and 5% audience share in the 18-49 age bracket. On the same night at the same time, 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' attracted 14.9 million viewers (4.8% households ratings and 11% audience share); 'Crossing Jordan' attracted 14.1 million viewers (4.6% households ratings and 12% audience share); 'Behind Enemy Lines' attracted 9.4 million viewers (3.0% households ratings and 7% audience share) and on Fox, 'True Lies' attracted 7.1 million viewers.
Gordon Thomson told 'Entertainment Tonight', "'Dynasty' epitomized the Reagan's decade without question. We were all good looking and rich and emotionally screwed up. The country sort of tapped into that. People would have 'Dynasty' party. You know, it's insane." In its review, 'Variety' remarked, "The nostalgia-pic 'Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure' doesn't quite connect the dots in linking 'Dynasty' with the Reagan years — but it does capture a specific moment in time, however spindled the history might be."
At its peak, more than 250 million viewers in 70 countries around the world watched 'Dynasty'. Diahann Carroll recalled, "They ('Dynasty') spent on one episode what we ('Julia' 1968-1971) spent on the entire year. Through the years when I look back and each period of time presents to me what I'd call a plateau. I really come full circle, I think (playing Dominique Devereaux).
"Well, there is a whole new generation, you know? We have to worry about that every 10 years or so. And a lot of them (the original fans) really missed 'Julia'. They (the next generation) don't know what 'Julia' is all about because 'Julia' has been off the air for 11 years now (to 1984). And (by appearing on 'Dynasty'), you are able to go back and sort of gather some of those ('Julia' fans) you've lost along the way and it's reintroduction to your old pals (producers and directors)."
'Dynasty' "touched a nerve at a time when people wanted to be glamorous, when people wanted to be powerful and people wanted to see people like that suffered," Pamela Bellwood believed. On the Tuesday of May 2, 2006, the CBS special, 'Dynasty Reunion: Catfights and Caviar' went on air. The show attracted 5.35 million viewers (about 1.6% households ratings and 4.1% audience share) against 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' (which attracted 5.3% households ratings) and 'Boston Legal' (which attracted 3.1% households ratings).
Catherine Oxenberg observed, "It's ('Dynasty') really was a prototype for a dysfunctional, wealthy people and that larger than life behavior is always fascinating." Esther Shapiro expressed, "We thought we would try to do a show that does everything you're not supposed to do on television. Let's write about the extraordinarily rich that people don't get to see." Joan Collins acknowledged, "I haven't really played a role like Alexis Carrington before. I haven't ever played anybody as rich as she is or with as much power or influence."
"Well, there is a whole new generation, you know? We have to worry about that every 10 years or so. And a lot of them (the original fans) really missed 'Julia'. They (the next generation) don't know what 'Julia' is all about because 'Julia' has been off the air for 11 years now (to 1984). And (by appearing on 'Dynasty'), you are able to go back and sort of gather some of those ('Julia' fans) you've lost along the way and it's reintroduction to your old pals (producers and directors)."
'Dynasty' "touched a nerve at a time when people wanted to be glamorous, when people wanted to be powerful and people wanted to see people like that suffered," Pamela Bellwood believed. On the Tuesday of May 2, 2006, the CBS special, 'Dynasty Reunion: Catfights and Caviar' went on air. The show attracted 5.35 million viewers (about 1.6% households ratings and 4.1% audience share) against 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' (which attracted 5.3% households ratings) and 'Boston Legal' (which attracted 3.1% households ratings).
Catherine Oxenberg observed, "It's ('Dynasty') really was a prototype for a dysfunctional, wealthy people and that larger than life behavior is always fascinating." Esther Shapiro expressed, "We thought we would try to do a show that does everything you're not supposed to do on television. Let's write about the extraordinarily rich that people don't get to see." Joan Collins acknowledged, "I haven't really played a role like Alexis Carrington before. I haven't ever played anybody as rich as she is or with as much power or influence."
John Forsythe added, "Any shows that show certain amount of opulence, show attractive people dressed well and these kind of surroundings have a high degree of interest. I think from the fantasy standpoint, I think most people would like to have what I (Blake Carrington) have – football team or airplane, numerous millions and Linda Evans. But I think it also adds to the interest of people who watched this show that they find that no matter what I have, no matter all the monies and all the material things I have, I still have the same problems they do. Problem with children, problem with wives, this every day problem of life."
'Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure' was a collaboration of productions Nitelite Entertainment, Once Upon a Time Films and Village Roadshow. Alice Krige played Joan Collins, Melora Hardin played Linda Evans, Bartholomew John played John Forsythe, and as Aaron Spelling, actor Nicholas Hammond. "In the world of prime-time soap operas, finding the perfect equation equals a hit," CNN explained at the time. "When you break down TV soap operas, you find many common plot points combine to create the ultimate guilty pleasure that have viewers setting their TiVo and chatting the morning after around the water cooler."
