The 6th season shock, without Angie Dickinson!

[Jock Og]

Did you think Angela discovering from Peter that Richard was actually her son and not her late husband’s love child was a good idea, for the show going into the late eighties?

Bearing in mind retrospectively what unfolded, in season 7 and 8. With her oldest daughter Julia now residing in the convent and nephew Chase presumably meeting his maker IMHO the show did need another real Channing or Gioberti offspring. Another alternative if Richard had remained Jacqueline’s son was Angie Dickinson playing the part of an estranged daughter, an extremely acerbic one (not at all like Emma).


Angela has a heart to heart with her close friend Fr. Curtis, about the revelation that her nemesis Richard is in fact her son and declares, (a scene from season 7, 1987-‘88):

“How can I love the baby I lost and hate the man he's become?”

[witchboy]

I thought Richard being Angela's son was brilliant, a huge game changer that made their dynamic even more fascinating and complicated than it had been before. The best decison the show made imo.
I'm not familiar with the Angie Dickinson rumor, was she going to play another daughter of Angela?

[tjp]

I think it was the best decision ever made on the show.

By the way, our latest fan club newsletter, "The Secret FALCON FILES" - Vol. 1 revealed that this shocking twist was actually based on early ideas in Earl Hamner's original bibles for "The Vintage Years" and season 1.

The alternative option for a daughter (to be played by Angie Dickinson, as the season 6 producers first discussed) was also one of the possibilities already outlined by Earl in the original creative process.

[ronald mascot]

I hated it and pretty much stopped watching the show after that, I thought it was ridiculous cheap gimmick.

[abbyisfc]

Good idea. Twist which took Angela and Richard to other level. Sad, no more Julia.

[adora]

It's an interesting idea; especially if this daughter managed to get away from her influence unlike her other daughters. I think it would have had to been another husbands child or there would have to have been an explanation as to why Douglas left her out of his will; then again her claiming some of Richards share of the Globe would have caused some problems.

[Chloe-Fusco]

Richard being Angela's son was one of the best FC plot twists. Then there was Angela's denial and Richard's denial. Did they ever really see eye to eye?

Richard arrives with Emma, to Lance and Melissa's wedding reception. Angela isn’t pleased. Falcon Crest 1986:

Richard: "Is the champagne free?"
Emma: "Actually she is pouring Chase's. She won't admit it but I saw her in there scraping off the labels. I'll go get us some."
Angela: "She's letting her imagination run away with her again. I'd rather serve soda pop!"

[Falcon Crest I]

At first I thought Angela as Richard's mother was OTT. Then Jane Wyman's old movie was played and somehow the plot began to work. A prodigal daughter would also have provided more story possibilities. A character like this though could have caused rifts behind the scenes, depending on Angie Dickinson's wants.

[witchboy]

Giving Angela a stolen daughter wouldn't have had the same emotional impact as it being Richard, her mortal enemy.

[Gioberti84]

The 6th season final plot of Richard now Angela's son was jaw dropping, after what both of them had been through for 4 years. An heir Angela Channing never thought she would have had, even in her nightmares. A real real nightmare.

[SnarkyOracle!]

Angie Dickinson had already turned down DYNASTY three times. Was she going to do FALCON CREST?

[willie oleson]

I didn't like how it completely wiped out Jacqueline's storyline, her shocking revelation in season 2 (one of Falcon Crest's finest moments) and all the dynamics that came from it.
Just for one short thrill. Very typical of Falcon Crest at that stage.
I may have disliked it a little less if it had been played out over a longer period (you know, like a plotline) but no, it came from a letter, narrated by Cesar Romero.

Like, when Melissa found another letter. "Hey, Falcon Crest belongs to me!"

Do you think the writers picked these letters out of a hat?

[Jock Og]

Snarky the contract negotiations between FC producers and Angie did not lead to what she wanted. She turned the Tuscany Valley show down too!


Angela is looking custody of her grandson Michael. Maggie has started to drink heavily and Richard is becoming affiliated with the 13. She and her lawyer Clarice Porter go to a poker casino, to see Nellie Maxwell, who specializes in custody cases, (a scene from season 7, 1987 – ‘88):

Angela: “You can deal me in!”

Angela puts down several hundred dollar bills.

Nellie: “Lady does her hundreds.”

Angela: “Let’s take a few back.”

Nellie looks up at Clarice and smiles, saying, “Sure thing Mrs. Channing. Five card draw nothing wild, jacks or better.”

Angela: “Oh that’s fine!”

Nellie: “Clarice.”

Clarice: “Not me! She cleaned me out last time.”

Nellie starts dealing the cards.

Angela: “I understand you specialize in custody cases.”

Nellie: “I love children and I like protecting their interests. Bet?”

Angela: “I’ll open for a hundred.”

Nellie: “Call.”

Angela: “2 cards.”

Nellie: “I’m also an under cover specialist. I do whatever is necessary to get what I’m after. If the parents are abusive I have no problem in playing an occasional dirty card. Bet?”

Angela: “100 dollars.”

Nellie: “I think you got lucky. I’ll burst you a hundred.”

Angela: “Well there’s your hundred and a hundred more.”

Nellie: “This I gotta see. Can you bet a flush?”

Angela: “Queens, all four of them.”

Nellie: “You’re a shrewd customer Mrs. Channing.”

Angela: “That I am and you seem to be the right employee for me. The job is yours if you want it?”

Nellie pushes all the chips and notes, over towards Angela.

Angela: “Oh no no no….! Just leave it there. Pretend it’s a retainer.”

Nellie looks astonished, as Angela and Clarice walk away.

[Angela Channing]

Richard being Angela's son was one of the best twists in any of the prime time continuing dramas of that era. It gave a fresh dynamic to the Angela-Richard feud which was a central and important part of the show once Chase disappeared.

[SnarkyOracle!]

Snarky the contract negotiations between FC producers and Angie did not lead to what she wanted. She turned the Tuscany Valley show down too!

I think Angie just wasn't interested in doing the primetime soaps with their large ensemble casts. She'd turned down the role of Krystle, and then the Ali MacGraw role (telling Aaron Spelling, "there are too many ladies on that show as it is!"), and then the Stephanie Beacham role, all on DYNASTY.

Rumor is, Angie had turned down Earl Hamner 15 years earier in an offer to play Olivia Walton once Patricia Neal chose not to do the WALTONS series after shooting the pilot TV movie, the part ultimately going to Michael Learned. Angie apparently wasn't looking to do a huge cast type of show.

[willie oleson]

I liked Ms Dickinson as the icy and snobbish mother-in-law in one of those glossy Danielle Steele mini-series (can't remember the title).
I also like Susan Sullivan as the icy and evil president's wife in one of those glossy Sidney Sheldon mini-series.

My point is