Michael Parks

[LoveLaura]

Why after making such a point that a character in this case Philip Colby is dead do they go to all the trouble to bring him back alive only to again kill him off. It wasn't based on audience response because from what I can tell viewers were thrilled with Philip and the fact it gave the insipid Flakie something to do other then destroy Jason and Sables relationship. Was it Michael Parks that was unhappy and wanted off the show? I mean he really started to make things interesting....

[Mayor Gregory]

Michael Parks is a damn-good actor too.

Don't remember this personally

[Jason!]

Why bring in Brady Lloyd? Peter DeVilbis? Sarah Curtis? Tom Carrington?

It propels the story.

[Dynastie c'est riche]

Except for Tom Carrington, it's quite different. Those characters weren't supposed to be dead.
LoveLaura is right, it's totally ridiculous to bring someone from the grave to kill him again 10 episodes later.
By the way, he wasn't dead in the last episode, he just disapeared. So maybe he would have been back later in season 3? We'll never know I guess.

[Jason!]

How about Matthew Blaisdel then?

It's an old soap trick, bringing someone back from the dead just long enough to screw things up. There's no logic to it. It's to propel the story and boost ratings.

[Matthew Blaisdel]

I am NOT DEAD !! The knife was a fake... if there had been the 10th season, i'd have been reappeared in switzerland already to once again take, what belongs to me...

[Jason!]

See?

And why does Krystle show up after a two episode break in season nine just to leave again?

Damn soap logic.

And how dare Krsytina grow between episodes! We didn't even see her take her first steps!

[LoveLaura]

Now you are taking the mickey out of me. There is a difference between moving the plot forward and destroying all credibility. I have no problem with Michael Parks reappearing as Philip in fact I was thrilled by the prospect and the excitement of another great actor on the Colbys and someone of interest giving francesca something interesting to occupy her time making her not only stomacheable but interesting as well for the first time on the show, so why I ask you why in all that is Holy would the powers that be screw that up? Because the creative team on the Colbys had so many missed oppertunities, could they not see what was in front of them or did they throw away the script from the week before go on a bender and write next weeks script? Can you explain that to me Jason? Because I would love to know what these people were thinking and you seem to have a firm grasp on the process.

[Dynastie c'est riche]

How about Matthew Blaisdel then?

I think the same than for Philip. It's even worst since he was back for only two episodes, and with a complete new personality.
Paradoxically , it lead to the worst episodes of "Dynasty" whereas the return of Philip lead to what are maybe the bests of "the Colbys".

[Doug]

Wow I'm amazed - it seems like I was the only one who thought Philip was the most dull character ever.. actually we should do a poll sometime on that! Nah the actor was awful he hardly moved his mouth and I though he was wooden.

[Jason!]

Can you explain that to me Jason? Because I would love to know what these people were thinking and you seem to have a firm grasp on the process.

If that's a demand, I don't do demands. I try to participate in conversations.

You cannot apply logic to ANY soap, past or present, especially to Dynasty and The Colbys.

Paradoxically , it lead to the worst episodes of "Dynasty" whereas the return of Philip lead to what are maybe the bests of "the Colbys".

Didn't the UFO follow Phillip's return?

Wow I'm amazed - it seems like I was the only one who thought Philip was the most dull character ever.. actually we should do a poll sometime on that! Nah the actor was awful he hardly moved his mouth and I though he was wooden.

Parks did his best work in The Bible -- where he was naked and didn't have to say anything.



Parks was good, but I'd still like to have seen William Shatner as Phillip, but I guess once he, Beacham, and Heston were there'd be no scenery left.

[Dynastie c'est riche]

Didn't the UFO follow Phillip's return?

That's why it's so ironical: the show was at last on tracks and at the very end, it left the rails. Sounds like to have dare thinking the show was improving a lot, we were punished with the worst cliffhanger that was possible.

[LoveLaura]

Jason it was a request because you appear to be very knowlegable about the televison industry as a whole and I find it interesting but if your gonna get touchey about it...Anyway eeeeewww William Shatner are you kidding me was he an option thank goodness that did not happen. Although I do like him as Denny Craine which shocks the hell out of me but Ricardo Montelbaum and William Shatner just would have been way too much cheese...

[Jason!]

Rumor has it that The Colbys originally had another ending, but Shapiro's brainstorm of a cliffhanger couldn't wait and things were changed. As I said, there is no logic to soaps.

I'll see if I can dig up the printed article on the Colbys' 3rd season and post it. Don't remember if Parks was officially out or not. If he was officially out, they would have had him dead in the cliffhanger and not have Phillip just missing. Missing, as with Fallon, only means a return.

[LoveLaura]

Agreed thank you Jason that would be cool, Do you have any info on Angels 88 and if thats why Yarlett was leaving ala Heather Locklear Stacy Sheridan on TJ Hooker...she may have made guest appearances as her Angels 88 schedual permitted? Or maybe gone to NY like Amanda left for Paris...so sad

[Jason!]

That I'm not sure of. It just seems like the writers didn't know what to do with Bliss. I'll dig out what I've got and post it here.

I think the Angels 88 was an afterthought, or a consolation. Spelling takes care of his people ... as long as they keep in line, don't ask for more money, or get pregnant.



She later showed up on daytime's Days of our Lives as Dr. Whitney Baker. She was really good in the role but Days was going through changes about the time with the arrival of JERK (James E. Reilly). (Ironically, she was replaced by Deborah Rennard in the role, whom Dallas fans remember as Sly Lovegren.)

[LoveLaura]

Is that an Angels 88 publicity shot? Wow she has an enormous signature!!!

[Matthew Blaisdel]

Indeed. Does anyone have all the signatures of the Colby-cast?
I have only one from Dynasty Season 8, with the group-pic on the front and on the back all the signatures.