DAILY EXPRESS - April 19, 2006 © by Mark Jagasia
Reunion of a Dynasty - Stars recreate the look - and the bitchiness - of legendary soap

The show was know for its shoulder pads, gravity-defying hairdos - and the astonishing cattiness of its lead characters.  And while the shoulder pads might have been consigned to the fashion dustbin, a televisions reunion of the cast members of Dynasty proves the bitchiness hasn’t faded a jot over the years. In fact, Joan Collins is still smarting over a remark by actor Michael Nader, who played her husband Dex Dexter.  He appeared to suggest she was a diva who preferred sipping champagne and eating caviar in her trailer while “real” actors did the work.

He said it 17 years ago. But Joan has a long memory. And the comment has been enough to get him uninvited to the American TV reunion show, Dynasty: Catfights and Caviar. According to a producer, Joan who played super bitch Alexis Carrington - is still sensitive about Nader’s comments. Reunion insiders were determined to get her on board and made sure Nader would not be part of it. Producer Michael Levitt said:  “Ms Collins is so important to Dynasty, so we chose not be include Mr Nader.” While John Forsythe, who played billionaire Blake Carrington, is taking part along side Joan and Linda Evans, who played Blake’s wife Krystle, several cast members have either not been invited or have pulled out in solidarity with other actors. British actress Emma Samms, who played Blake’s daughter Fallon, was left out. Then John James (Jeff Colby) refused to take part. So did Diahann Carroll, who played Dominique.  Actress Heather Locklear (Sammy Jo) also turned the show down.  Gordon Thomson, who played Adam Carrington and is in the new show, said “The big lack for me is John James.  he was integral.”

The Reunion show is being made for CBS, but is likely to be show in Britain late in the year.  Dynasty, like Dallas, featured absurd plots and scarcely believable characters, but the story of an oil tycoon and his dysfunctional family won millions of viewers in more than 70 countries. The show placed great emphasis on style, with 10 designer dressed created for every episode.

Apart from Miss Collins, now touring Britain in a one-woman show, the cast did not generally prosper after leaving Dynasty. Forsythe became a recluse after losing his wife of 63 years, Julia Warren, in 1994. He reprised his TV role as the voice of Charlie in Charlie’s Angels for the 2000 film version. Miss Evans has only two acting credit since 1989.  She owns a chain of fitness centres. Nader starred in another long running American soap, All Our Children. His career survived a drink driving arrest in 1997 but he was sacked in 2002 for having cocaine. Stephanie Beacham, who played Sable Colby, spend an obscure decade after Dynasty. But ITV’s Bad Girls won her new young fans.

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THE SUN - April 19, 2006 - Bitch Is Back © by Emily Smith

DYNASTY rivals Joan Collins and Linda Evans are reunited for a TV special - looking YOUNGER than they did in their heyday.  Joan Collins who played super bitch Alexis Carrington - joined blond Linda, telly’s Krystle Carrington, to spill the secrets of the Eighties hit.

John Forsythe, famed as Blake Carrington was also in California to film Dynasty Reunion: Catfights and Caviar. The trio were previously reunited for a 1991 special. A spokesman said: ‘It was a joy getting them together again.”

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DAILY MAIL - April 19, 2006 - The Durable Dynasty © by Clemmie Moodie

SHOULDER pads and bouffant hairdos may have fallen out of fashion long ago.  But it seems that glamour, Dynasty style, has not gone away.  The stars of the 1980s soap have been brought together for a one-off television special called Dynasty Reunion: Catfights and Caviar.  Judging by their updated publicity shot, they will have not trouble recreating the scheming, larger-than-life characters who last appeared on our screens 17 years ago.

Chief among them, of course, is Joan Collins, who played Alexis Carrington, doyen of soap super bitches. Wearing a white satin dress and diamond drop earrings, Miss Collins looks as alluring as ever. As does her co-star Linda Evans. Her once silver hair now a rich shade of blonde, Miss Evans appears to have resisted the ravages of time. And in a jewel-encrusted sapphire blue gown, she has clearly retained her size 8 figure.

Immaculately turned out, their co-star John Forsythe show that grooming and style have nothing with age. The original publicity show was taken in 1985. The trio are currently filming the reunion show which  will be aired in American next month and show in Britain later this year.

The phenomenally popular series, which ran from 1981 to 1989, centred on the Carrington family, heaed by the oil magnate Blake Carrington, played by Forsythe.  Miss Evans played Krystle, Blake’s former secretary and second wife, and Miss Collins made her name as Blake’s scheming first wife. Joining the soap in its second series, her famously bitchy put-downs and over-the-top outfits made her an instant hit with fans.  One character not involved in the reunion is Dex Dexter, played by Michael Nader.  The actor, who starred as Miss Collins’s on-screen husband, was banned by producers from appearing due to a long-running feud between the two stars.

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DAILY MIRROR - April 19, 2006 - The Alexir of Youth © by Nicola Methven

Dynasty’s stars are reunited to mark its 25th anniversary - but beauties Linda Evan and Joan Collins don’t seem to have aged a bit. Joan and Linda seem younger than they wre in the 1980s when the US soap was a must watch.  As for John Forsythe - oil baron Blake Carrington - he’s definitely looking his age. They are all starring in a TV special about Blake, wife Krystle and Ex-wife Alexis.  An producers of the one-off show Catfights and Caviar are hoping ot persuade the two leading ladies to reenact their famous pool side brawl. There have already been tantrums off set with Joan refusing to take part in former co-star Michael Nader was in the show. She was miffed after the claimed the real actors did all the work while the divas sipped champagne in their trailers.

Producer Michael Levitt said: “ Ms Collins is so important to Dynasty and we value her participation, so we chose not to include Mr Nader in the group portion of the reunion.”

Emma Samms (Fallon) and Diahann Carrol (Dominique) aren’t in it either. The show, shot at the old Dynasty set, Filoili Mansion in California, will be screened in the UK later this year.

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