What a big week for the television industry. For starters, TV’s
titular Aaron Spelling died at 83 in his Los Angeles mansion last
week, leaving behind a legacy that may never be matched.
What a big week for the television industry. For starters, TV’s titular Aaron Spelling died at 83 in his Los Angeles mansion last week, leaving behind a legacy that may never be matched. Spelling was certainly one of television’s most prolific producers. With more than 3,800 hours of programming under his belt since he landed in the field in the mid-’50s, the TV giant understood trends and was able to deliver shows that viewers could easily embrace. Sure, many of them were balked at by critics, but no other producer managed to capture what television viewers loved most: to simply be entertained – and without having to weave through a mine field of creative complexities.
That isn’t it to say Spelling’s shows weren’t deep, save for those occasional epiphany-induced moments on the WB’s (now the CW’s) “7th Heaven,” which is the last series in Spelling’s remarkable TV catalogue. The bottom line? Most of Spellings shows were guilty pleasures. Note the standouts:
The show: “The Mod Squad” (1968-73)
Who was in it: Michael Cole (Pete) Clarence Williams (Linc) and Peggy Lipton (Julie).
Why it worked: Soul. Three young, groovy outsiders sporting bell-bottoms, solving crime-undacovah, and digging the “peace and freedom” spouting vibe of the times. What’s not to like?
The show: “The Rookies” (1972-76)
Who was in it: Georg Stanford Brown (Terry), Sam Melville (Mike), Danko, Michael Ontkean (Willie through ’74), Bruce Fairbairn (Chris Owens (’74-’76) and Kate Jackson.
Why it worked: Chemistry. The principal players gelled. Supported by the everywoman sensibilities of Kate Jackson, the series had heart as it explored the lives of eager rookies looking to get ahead.
The show: “Charlie’s Angels” (1976-81)
Who was in it: Kate Jackson (Sabrina), Jaclyn Smith (Kelly) and Farrah Fawcett (Jill); later Cheryl Ladd (Chris), Shelley Hack (Tiffany) and Tanya Roberts (Julie).
Why it worked: Jigglevision. This female troika of private eyes were easy to embrace because no other show at the time featured three women getting along and working as team to get something done. Still, the show flourished, in part, because of all the behind-the-scenes antics talking place. Who can forget how Spelling legally forced a then contract-breaking Farrah Fawcett-Majors to return for six guest appearances? Or Jackson’s departure after three seasons? Of Hack’s axing only after one? Devilish indeed.
The show: “The Love Boat” (1977-86)
Who was in it: Gavin MacLeod (Capt. Stubing), Bernie Kopell (Doc), Fred Grandy (Gopher), Ted Lange (Isaac) and Lauren Tewes (Julie) in a post-modern Love American Style at sea.
Why it worked: Love. It was exciting and new.
The show: “Dynasty” (1981-89)
Who was in It: John Forsythe (Blake), Linda Evans (Krystal), Joan Collins (Alexis), Pamela Sue Martin (Fallon), Pamela Bellwood (Claudia), Al Corley (Steven), Heather Locklear (Sammy Jo) and bevy of other stars in later years.
Why it worked: Shoulder pads. Money. High drama among scene-stealing bitch-slappers. How could it not work? It was one of the ’80s most successful series and proved that Spelling could successfully keep his fingers on the pulse of America’s most delicious guilty pleasure: Soaps.
The show: “Beverly Hills 90210” (1990-2000)
Who was in it: Tori Spelling (Donna), Jason Priestly (Brandon), Shannen Doherty (Brenda), Luke Perry (Dylan) and a gaggle of others.
Why it worked: Darren Star. As creator, he fueled the series with hot storylines chronicling the young rich. True, the successful series felt like Baby Dynasty on most occasions, but it did give Heather Locklear another lovely launching pad for …
The show: “Melrose Place” (1992-99)
Who was in it: Heather Locklear (Amanda), Josie Bissett (Jane), Doug Savant (Matt), Grant Show (Jake), Andrew Shue (Billy), Courtney Thorne Smith (Allison), Marcia Cross (Kimberly), Daphne Zuniga (Jo), Jack Wagner (Peter) and a rotating cast of other beautifully sculpted creatures.
Why it worked: Just add five years to the ages of the “Beverly Hills 90210” cast, toss in a swimming pool and stir. Collectively, “90210” and “Melrose” gave Spelling his most bankable decade. The show also reflected the growing number of Gen-Xers (remember them?) entering the workplace.
The show: “7th Heaven” (From 1996)
Who’s in it: Stephen Collins (Rev. Camden), Catherine Hicks (Annie), Barry Watkins (now headlining What About Brian), Jessica Biel (Mary) Ashlee Simpson (2002-04) and a happy, sometimes conflicted, gang of other actors with great dental plans.
Why it works: God. While it nearly went 6 feet under, the show saw a second coming when the new CW scraped it off The WB’s cancellation floor. Expect more miracles to happen in fall.
Spelling had other notable series and TV movies: “S.W.A.T.” (1975-76), “Starsky and Hutch” (1975-79), “Vega$” (1978-81), “Hart to Hart” (1979-84), “T.J. Hooker” (1982-87), “Charmed” (1998-2006) and perhaps the most memorable John Travolta teleflick, “The Boy in the Plastic Bubble” (1976). Cable giant TVLand plans to tribute Spelling July 1 with a series of special programming. Check local listings.
What to Watch This Week
TNT’s “The Closer” (9pm Monday) continues to win waves – and ratings. This week: Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) turns 40. Wonder how she will hide that fact from her investigative posse? Following “The Closer” is “Saved,” a show I haven’t fully warmed up to yet, even though its lead, Tom Everett Scott, does a fine job playing a befuddled EMT.
Keep your eyes on that show. While it’s already being heralded as the most-watched new cable series of the summer, it still has to prove itself – at least in my book – by successfully developing its characters without watering them down to soap opera stereotypes. Stay tuned.
Elsewhere, two network shows that showed promise, ABC’s “The Evidence” and The WB’s hilarious “Pepper Dennis,” starring a remarkably engaging Rebecca Ramijn, get a final send-off – the nets shoved the shows aside from its May Sweeps lineup and into summer programming, where their demise would be less noticeable.
“The Evidence,” a curious investigative series that showed viewed all the evidence to a crime before its players discovered it, bows at 10pm July 1. “Pepper Dennis” signs off – with a romantic twist – at 9pm July 4. Talk about your “independence” day.
Greg Archer is an entertainment writer based on the Central Coast. He writes about the TV, film and being human. E-mail him at ga*****@**********rs.com or visit www.greg-archer.com.
