Dynasty (1981 TV series) season 7

*Dynasty*
Dynasty
Season 7
No. of episodes	28
Release
Original network	ABC
Original release	September 24, 1986 –; May 6, 1987
Season chronology
	← Previous; Season 6 Next →; Season 8
	List of episodes

The seventh season of Dynasty originally aired in the United States on ABC from September 24, 1986, through May 5, 1987. The series, created by Richard and Esther Shapiro and produced by Aaron Spelling, revolves around the Carringtons, a wealthy family residing in Denver, Colorado.

Season seven stars John Forsythe as millionaire oil magnate Blake Carrington; Linda Evans as his wife Krystle; Jack Coleman as Blake and Alexis' earnest son Steven; Gordon Thomson as Blake and Alexis' eldest son Adam; Heather Locklear as Krystle's niece and Steven's ex-wife Sammy Jo; Michael Nader as Alexis' husband Dex Dexter; Karen Cellini as Blake and Alexis' youngest daughter, Amanda; Diahann Carroll as Blake's half-sister Dominique Deveraux; Wayne Northrop as Blake's former chauffeur Michael Culhane; Ted McGinley as Clay Fallmont; and Joan Collins as Alexis Colby, Blake's ex-wife and the mother of Adam, Fallon, Steven and Amanda. The season also features Christopher Cazenove as Blake's brother, Ben Carrington; Kate O'Mara as Alexis' sister Caress Morell; Terri Garber as Ben's daughter Leslie; Leann Hunley as Blake's secretary Dana Waring; and Cassie Yates as Sarah Curtis and old friend of Dex's. Though starring as Jeff Colby and Fallon Carrington on The Colbys, John James and Emma Samms each appeared in two episodes of season seven as these characters.

Development

Although the first episode of season seven, "The Victory", premiered with a high Nielsen rating of a 20.1,^[1] it was overtaken by Magnum, P.I., now in the same time slot on CBS.^[2] Dynasty ultimately fell to #24 in the United States for the season.^[3]^[4]

During the period between the production of seasons six and seven, Catherine Oxenberg vacated the role of Amanda Carrington,^[5] purportedly due to a salary dispute.^[5] Oxenberg's publicist insisted that the actress left Dynasty voluntarily, while several media outlets reported that she was fired.^[6]^[7]^[8] The role was immediately recast with Karen Cellini,^[7]^[8]^[9] who appeared for 13 episodes of the series' seventh season before the character was written out in the 1987 episode "The Rig".^[10]

Plot

As the seventh season begins, Blake stops short of killing Alexis, who has taken all of his assets, including the mansion. Claudia has died in the fire she set at La Mirage, and Amanda (now played by Karen Cellini) is rescued by a returning Michael Culhane, Blake's chauffeur from the first season.^[11]^[12] 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, the mother of the 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 arrives. Adam's season-long romance with Blake's secretary Dana Waring culminates in a wedding, which is punctuated in the May 6, 1987 season finale by a car Alexis drove plunged off a bridge into a river and the violent return of a vengeful Matthew Blaisdel (Bo Hopkins).

Cast

Cast notes

^ James appears only in "Romance" (ep. 7.6) and "The Test" (ep. 7.18).
^ Samms appears only in "The Victory" (ep. 7.1) and "Romance" (ep. 7.6).
^ a b c d McGinley, Cazenove, Northrop and Caroll appear on a semi-regular basis, missing the occasional episode. Northrop departs officially in "The Sublet" (ep. 7.25).
^ Garber is added to the opening credits from "The Rig" (ep. 7.13), although she does not appear in "A Love Remembered" (ep. 7.14 & 7.15).
^ Yates is added to the opening credits from "The Mothers" (ep. 7.19) to "The Affair" (ep. 7.27).
^ Hunley first appears in a recurring role from "Reward" (ep. 7.4) before being added to the opening credits from "The Surgery" (ep. 7.20).
^ Cellini departs in "The Rig" (ep. 7.13).
^ O'Mara appears in the opening credits from "The Mission" (ep. 7.7) to "The Letter" (ep. 7.10).
^ Montalban is added to the opening credits for "The Choice" (ep. 7.8) only, credited as "special guest star".

Episodes

Season two of The Colbys aired concurrently with Dynasty season seven.^[13]

Reception

In season seven, Dynasty was ranked #24 in the United States with a 17.2 Nielsen rating.^[3]

References

^ "TV Listings for September 24, 1986". TV Tango. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
^ Margulies, Lee (November 12, 1986). "Soap Opera Ratings Story: Magnum, P.I. Overtakes Dynasty". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
^ a b "The prime time show rankings for '86-87" (PDF). Broadcasting: 54. April 27, 1987. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
^ "List of Season's Top-Rated TV Shows (1986–87)". AP News. April 22, 1987. Archived from the original on September 21, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
^ a b Eder, Shirley (August 19, 1986). "Dynasty To Do Without Its Princess". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, United States: Knight Ridder. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
^ Swertlow, Frank (July 16, 1986). "Hollywood Freeway: CBS Gets Ready with New Focus on Bourke-White". Los Angeles Daily News. p. 1 Valley, L.A. Life. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2018 – via infoweb.newsbank.com.
^ a b "Dynasty Gives Actress The Heave-Ho". San Francisco Chronicle. July 16, 1986. p. 47. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2018 – via infoweb.newsbank.com.
^ a b Associated Press (July 16, 1986). "Dynasty Will Switch Amandas". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. C10, Television. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2018 – via infoweb.newsbank.com.
^ Buck, Jerry (August 5, 1986). "Landing role on Dynasty took sales job". Rome News-Tribune. Archived from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2017 – via news.google.com.
^ Zuckerman, Faye (January 7, 1987). "Ranching focus of show". The Gadsden Times. Archived from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2017 – via news.google.com.
^ "Wayne Northrop Plans A Return To Dynasty". Orlando Sentinel. June 29, 1986. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
^ "Wayne Northrup To Rejoin Dynasty". Los Angeles Times. July 3, 1986. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
^ "The Colbys". Soap Opera Digest. October 19, 2019. Archived from the original on December 8, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019 – via PressReader.com.
^ "NBC on a roll; wins first week of fall season". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 4. October 6, 1986. p. 48. ProQuest 1014719938.
^ "NBC goes 2 for 2 in prime time". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 15. October 13, 1986. p. 64. ProQuest 1016915015.
^ "TV Listings". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. October 8, 1986.
^ "TV Listings". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. October 15, 1986.
^ "Mets-Sox deliver NBC another win". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 18. November 3, 1986. p. 54. ProQuest 1016898182.
^ "Game seven, 'Cosby' lift NBC to victory". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 19. November 10, 1986. p. 73. ProQuest 1016910246.
^ "NBC rolls a lucky seven". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 20. November 17, 1986. p. 52. ProQuest 1285762482.
^ "NBC wins prime time and news in week eight". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 21. November 24, 1986. p. 52. ProQuest 1016917184.
^ "Nine in a row: NBC ties second-best season streak". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 22. December 1, 1986. p. 88. ProQuest 1014739802.
^ "NBC narrowly wins week 10". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 23. December 8, 1986. p. 102. ProQuest 1014720590.
^ "NBC stays undefeated". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 24. December 15, 1986. p. 91. ProQuest 1014742080.
^ "NBC juggernaut keeps on rolling". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 25. December 22, 1986. p. 75. ProQuest 1016910304.
^ "NBC continues winning ways". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 26. December 29, 1986. p. 63. ProQuest 1016911139.
^ "TV Listings". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. December 24, 1986.
^ "CBS wins the week, stopping NBC's streak". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 2. January 12, 1987. p. 130. ProQuest 1014721624.
^ "CBS wins its second in a row". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 3. January 19, 1987. p. 210. ProQuest 1016906203.
^ "NBC wins prime time and news". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 4. January 26, 1987. p. 58. ProQuest 1016900438.
^ "Super Bowl was super for CBS". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 5. February 2, 1987. p. 70. ProQuest 1016913996.
^ "NBC continues winning ways". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 6. February 9, 1987. p. 107. ProQuest 1014727700.
^ "Prime time and news go to NBC". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 7. February 16, 1987. p. 56. ProQuest 1016919377.
^ "'Amerika' premiere pushes ABC to second". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 8. February 23, 1987. p. 74. ProQuest 1016922703.
^ "TV Listings". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. February 18, 1987.
^ "NBC on another winning streak". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 10. March 9, 1987. p. 44. ProQuest 1016912824.
^ "'Manhattan' does well, but not well enough to beat NBC". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 11. March 16, 1987. p. 64. ProQuest 1016919049.
^ "NBC remains on top in prime time". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 12. March 23, 1987. p. 147. ProQuest 1014728499.
^ "Weekly Ratings Scorecard". Variety. Vol. 326, no. 9. March 25, 1987. p. 48. ProQuest 1286026601.
^ "NBC wins news and prime time". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 14. April 6, 1987. p. 89. ProQuest 1014739440.
^ "ABC climbs to second for week in prime time race". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 15. April 13, 1987. p. 88. ProQuest 1016917698.
^ "NBC wins another as season draws to a close". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 16. April 20, 1987. p. 60. ProQuest 1016914413.
^ "TV Listings". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. April 15, 1987.
^ "The TV Rate Race". The Hollywood Reporter. Vol. 297, no. 1. April 29, 1987. p. 12. ProQuest 2594640869.
^ "No prime time summer slump for NBC". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 19. May 11, 1987. p. 78. ProQuest 1016918442.
^ "NBC continues summer run". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 20. May 18, 1987. p. 96. ProQuest 1014717874.

External links

Dynasty at IMDb

[13] James appears only in "Romance" (ep. 7.6) and "The Test" (ep. 7.18).

[14] Samms appears only in "The Victory" (ep. 7.1) and "Romance" (ep. 7.6).

[semiregular-15] McGinley, Cazenove, Northrop and Caroll appear on a semi-regular basis, missing the occasional episode. Northrop departs officially in "The Sublet" (ep. 7.25).

[16] Garber is added to the opening credits from "The Rig" (ep. 7.13), although she does not appear in "A Love Remembered" (ep. 7.14 & 7.15).

[17] Yates is added to the opening credits from "The Mothers" (ep. 7.19) to "The Affair" (ep. 7.27).

[18] Hunley first appears in a recurring role from "Reward" (ep. 7.4) before being added to the opening credits from "The Surgery" (ep. 7.20).

[19] Cellini departs in "The Rig" (ep. 7.13).

[20] O'Mara appears in the opening credits from "The Mission" (ep. 7.7) to "The Letter" (ep. 7.10).

[21] Montalban is added to the opening credits for "The Choice" (ep. 7.8) only, credited as "special guest star".

[1] "TV Listings for September 24, 1986". TV Tango. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2019.

[2] Margulies, Lee (November 12, 1986). "Soap Opera Ratings Story: Magnum, P.I. Overtakes Dynasty". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2019.

[B+C-3] "The prime time show rankings for '86-87" (PDF). Broadcasting: 54. April 27, 1987. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2016.

[4] "List of Season's Top-Rated TV Shows (1986–87)". AP News. April 22, 1987. Archived from the original on September 21, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2016.

[Chicago_Tribune-5] Eder, Shirley (August 19, 1986). "Dynasty To Do Without Its Princess". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, United States: Knight Ridder. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2018.

[6] Swertlow, Frank (July 16, 1986). "Hollywood Freeway: CBS Gets Ready with New Focus on Bourke-White". Los Angeles Daily News. p. 1 Valley, L.A. Life. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2018 – via infoweb.newsbank.com.

[SFC-7] "Dynasty Gives Actress The Heave-Ho". San Francisco Chronicle. July 16, 1986. p. 47. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2018 – via infoweb.newsbank.com.

[SPI-8] Associated Press (July 16, 1986). "Dynasty Will Switch Amandas". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. C10, Television. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2018 – via infoweb.newsbank.com.

[Rome-9] Buck, Jerry (August 5, 1986). "Landing role on Dynasty took sales job". Rome News-Tribune. Archived from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2017 – via news.google.com.

[10] Zuckerman, Faye (January 7, 1987). "Ranching focus of show". The Gadsden Times. Archived from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2017 – via news.google.com.

[11] "Wayne Northrop Plans A Return To Dynasty". Orlando Sentinel. June 29, 1986. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.

[12] "Wayne Northrup To Rejoin Dynasty". Los Angeles Times. July 3, 1986. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2017.

[Pressreader_Colbys-22] "The Colbys". Soap Opera Digest. October 19, 2019. Archived from the original on December 8, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019 – via PressReader.com.

[23] "NBC on a roll; wins first week of fall season". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 4. October 6, 1986. p. 48. ProQuest 1014719938.

[24] "NBC goes 2 for 2 in prime time". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 15. October 13, 1986. p. 64. ProQuest 1016915015.

[25] "TV Listings". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. October 8, 1986.

[26] "TV Listings". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. October 15, 1986.

[27] "Mets-Sox deliver NBC another win". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 18. November 3, 1986. p. 54. ProQuest 1016898182.

[28] "Game seven, 'Cosby' lift NBC to victory". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 19. November 10, 1986. p. 73. ProQuest 1016910246.

[29] "NBC rolls a lucky seven". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 20. November 17, 1986. p. 52. ProQuest 1285762482.

[30] "NBC wins prime time and news in week eight". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 21. November 24, 1986. p. 52. ProQuest 1016917184.

[31] "Nine in a row: NBC ties second-best season streak". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 22. December 1, 1986. p. 88. ProQuest 1014739802.

[32] "NBC narrowly wins week 10". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 23. December 8, 1986. p. 102. ProQuest 1014720590.

[33] "NBC stays undefeated". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 24. December 15, 1986. p. 91. ProQuest 1014742080.

[34] "NBC juggernaut keeps on rolling". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 25. December 22, 1986. p. 75. ProQuest 1016910304.

[35] "NBC continues winning ways". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 26. December 29, 1986. p. 63. ProQuest 1016911139.

[36] "TV Listings". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. December 24, 1986.

[37] "CBS wins the week, stopping NBC's streak". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 2. January 12, 1987. p. 130. ProQuest 1014721624.

[38] "CBS wins its second in a row". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 3. January 19, 1987. p. 210. ProQuest 1016906203.

[39] "NBC wins prime time and news". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 4. January 26, 1987. p. 58. ProQuest 1016900438.

[40] "Super Bowl was super for CBS". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 5. February 2, 1987. p. 70. ProQuest 1016913996.

[41] "NBC continues winning ways". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 6. February 9, 1987. p. 107. ProQuest 1014727700.

[42] "Prime time and news go to NBC". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 7. February 16, 1987. p. 56. ProQuest 1016919377.

[43] "'Amerika' premiere pushes ABC to second". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 8. February 23, 1987. p. 74. ProQuest 1016922703.

[44] "TV Listings". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. February 18, 1987.

[45] "NBC on another winning streak". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 10. March 9, 1987. p. 44. ProQuest 1016912824.

[46] "'Manhattan' does well, but not well enough to beat NBC". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 11. March 16, 1987. p. 64. ProQuest 1016919049.

[47] "NBC remains on top in prime time". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 12. March 23, 1987. p. 147. ProQuest 1014728499.

[48] "Weekly Ratings Scorecard". Variety. Vol. 326, no. 9. March 25, 1987. p. 48. ProQuest 1286026601.

[49] "NBC wins news and prime time". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 14. April 6, 1987. p. 89. ProQuest 1014739440.

[50] "ABC climbs to second for week in prime time race". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 15. April 13, 1987. p. 88. ProQuest 1016917698.

[51] "NBC wins another as season draws to a close". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 16. April 20, 1987. p. 60. ProQuest 1016914413.

[52] "TV Listings". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. April 15, 1987.

[53] "The TV Rate Race". The Hollywood Reporter. Vol. 297, no. 1. April 29, 1987. p. 12. ProQuest 2594640869.

[54] "No prime time summer slump for NBC". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 19. May 11, 1987. p. 78. ProQuest 1016918442.

[55] "NBC continues summer run". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 20. May 18, 1987. p. 96. ProQuest 1014717874.