Where does Dynasty take place?
In the late 70s, CBS struck TV gold with "Dallas," leaving ABC executives frantically searching for their own piece of the primetime soap pie. Their solution? If you can't beat 'em, clone 'em. Enter "Dynasty" in 1981, a show so similar to "Dallas" that calling it a "homage" would be like calling the Grand Canyon a little ditch.
Let's count the ways "Dynasty" played the imitation game. Oil tycoons? Check. Family feuds? Double check. Scandalous affairs? Let's just say they had enough to fill a season of telenovelas.
But here's where it gets interesting. "Dynasty" creators Richard and Esther Shapiro didn't just want to copy "Dallas" – they wanted to outdo it. Where "Dallas" had the Ewings, "Dynasty" gave us the Carringtons and the Colbys. J.R. Ewing was a scheming oil baron? Hold my champagne, said Blake Carrington.
And when Joan Collins joined the cast as Alexis in season two, it was like ABC had found their secret weapon. Suddenly, "Dynasty" wasn't just keeping up with the Ewings; it was outpacing them in shoulder pads and scandal.
The show quickly carved out its own niche in the primetime soap landscape. By 1985, "Dynasty" had clawed its way to the top of the ratings, proving that while imitation might be the sincerest form of flattery, it can also be a path to success – if you add enough sequins and catfights.
But let's not forget one key difference between these dueling dynasties: the setting. While "Dallas" was all about that Texas swagger, "Dynasty" took us to a whole different landscape. The location became as much a character as any Carrington or Colby, providing a unique backdrop for all the scheming and dreaming.
While the Ewings were raising hell in Dallas, in what city were the Carringtons turning family dinners into contact sports?
