MovieChat Forums > Dynasty (1981) Discussion > Should the series have been given a diff...

Should the series have been given a different title other than DYNASTY?

posted 9 years ago by PrometheusTree64
14 replies | jump to latest

The creators originally were going to call the show "OIL" -- obviously a terrible title by any measure.

Then, in 1980, they ran a contest to re-title the show. Not surprisingly, "OIL" came in 50 out of 50. And there were also predictably soapy titles like "Forever Love" and junk like that.

Reportedly, the title which won -- coming in 1st -- was "MILE HIGH," a perfect name because Denver's nickname is 'the Mile High City' and, metaphorically, the Carringtons are living way above the rest of us socially, economically, and even geographically.

But rumors circulated that the network was foolishly afraid that viewers might think "MILE HIGH" was a highschool show, or that it was a Cheech&Chong drug reference, or that it was one of those Charlie's-Angels-in-the-air, late-'70s shows about crime fighting stewardesses (like FLYING HIGH) which all bombed immediately.

However, everyone liked the name "DYNASTY" (which had come in 4th or 5th) and that's what they went with.

At first, it probably seemed like a brilliant choice. In 1981, the word "dynasty" was rarely used in the context of contemporary families of power and influence; it was still used predominantly to describe ancient rulers. After the series began, "dynasty" was used much, much more often in a modern fashion.

But did DYNASTY doom the show with its post-hypnotic suggestion of "die nasty"? Because that's sure as hell what the program did --- it started out with incredible potential and initial success, and then gradually slid into jaw-dropping crap, almost unstoppably so as if by design, incompetence overtaking the show by its middle years and no one could seem to arrest it.

Was this fated, self-defeating, as dictated by the title DIE NASTY?

Would, in retrospect, "MILE HIGH" have been better? The post-hypnotic suggestion it provides is a very positive one. Yes, I like the sound of "DYNASTY" but it has failure scrawled in code all over its meaning.

Would a title card like this have reflected better karma for the show?:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b78/Marky888/milehigh_zpsc6fb8b8c.jpg

[–] radrobd 9 years ago

However, everyone liked the name "DYNASTY" (which had come in 4th or 5th) and that's what they went with.

Not everyone. Richard and Esther Shapiro, the husband-wife team who created the show, hated the title. They thought the title would make viewers think the show was about ancient Chinese rulers. The network insisted on "Dynasty." (Interestingly enough, the recent ABC prime time soap, "Blood & Oil," was originally titled "Oil," as well, before it was retitled.)

Mile High is a dumb title. The most obvious alternative title would have been "Denver." But as the show was already a "Dallas" rip-off, "Denver" might have re-inforced that nation.

But did DYNASTY doom the show with its post-hypnotic suggestion of "die nasty"?

Doom the show? A show that ran for 9 seasons, was one of ABC's most popular series of the 1980s and which ranked #1 for the 1984-1985 season? NO, the title helped the show.

[–] PrometheusTree64 9 years ago

Not everyone. Richard and Esther Shapiro, the husband-wife team who created the show, hated the title. They thought the title would make viewers think the show was about ancient Chinese rulers.

No, the Shapiros didn't "hate" the title DYNASTY. They were merely concerned about the possibilty of it being miscontrued.

Mile High is a dumb title.

Although those contest voters didn't think "MILE HIGH" was dumb -- it came in at #1 as their top choice.

Doom the show? A show that ran for 9 seasons, was one of ABC's most popular series of the 1980s and which ranked #1 for the 1984-1985 season?

Yes, yes, we all know DYNASTY was a "hit" and ran a long time. That's not in dispute. But it went into an almost unprecedented slide, dropping faster in a two-year period in the Nielson ratings for a former Number One show on record.

And it became infamous for having started out in its early seasons with immense promise, and then becoming an abject mess, a show soon ruled by Dumbness of the most pandering kind.

Regardless of how long it ran or where it peaked in the ratings.

--
LBJ's mistress on JFK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcXeutDmuRA

[–] radrobd 9 years ago

Yes, yes, we all know DYNASTY was a "hit" and ran a long time. That's not in dispute. But it went into an almost unprecedented slide, dropping faster in a two-year period in the Nielson ratings for a former Number One show on record.

Why do you put "hit" in quotations marks? It was a HIT for ABC, no questions. The network made A LOT of money off the series. As for the show's decline, a big part of the reason had to do with the spin-off, The Colbys. Dynasty ended the 1984-1985 season as the #1 series, but the following season, the writers' attentions were divided between the parent series and the spin-off. Some castmembers, notably Joan Collins, voiced their frustrations that the parents series was being neglected in favor of the spin-off.

[–] PrometheusTree64 9 years ago

The network made A LOT of money off the series. As for the show's decline, a big part of the reason had to do with the spin-off, The Colbys. Dynasty ended the 1984-1985 season as the #1 series, but the following season, the writers' attentions were divided between the parent series and the spin-off. Some castmembers, notably Joan Collins, voiced their frustrations that the parents series was being neglected in favor of the spin-off.

You're dispensing cliches. The spinoff is not what killed DYNASTY, despite cast assertions to the contrary.

Anyone who really knows the show understands the seeds for its destruction were sewn well before that, and that destruction came from the inside, not some largely-external threat like a spin-off.

Before and after THE COLBYS, incompetence quickly came to rule DYNASTY.

--
LBJ's mistress on JFK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcXeutDmuRA

[–] Niv-1 8 years ago

Dallas ratings went down just as fast as dynasty. It's not like only dynasty fell from its 1984-85 ratings Mark. Dallas did to and the culprit for both shows falling dramatically was the sitcom explosion.

[–] Withrow68 9 years ago

Dynasty does capture Blake's inner driving goal as the series begins as it is what he wants his wealth to become. Just like the Colby family has a dynasty with their wealth going back to 1812, he wants to start this for his family. However, by his standards, he does not have an heir. So, no Dynasty. Steven being gay and his disdain for Blake's business disqualifies him. Fallon being a woman disqualifies her. See, I never said Blake was perfect, just dead on about Krystle/Matthew.

So, Blake has hopes that he and Krystle will produce another Blake and also hopes Fallon will produce a blue blood heir from both family bloodlines.

Cecil, knowing of Blake's problem, and having the same issue himself, hopes to grow his Dynasty by positioning Jeff as his and Blake's heir. He is angling for a post-death merger.

Unlike Falcon Crest and Dallas, which constantly use the title in the dialogue, nobody uses the title in this series, but it is Blake's inner pain. Although, he had two kids, and we would have 5, as far as heirs go, he felt that he had none and no Dynasty.

[–] radrobd 9 years ago

Although, he had two kids, and we would have 5, as far as heirs go, he felt that he had none and no Dynasty.

I disagree. Blake knew Steven had a homosexual affair in New York, but refused to believe Steven was gay. He thought Steven could "straighten" out and thought of him as his heir.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWFxhtp0KBc @ 4:30

[–] pvd295 9 years ago

Was this fated, self-defeating, as dictated by the title DIE NASTY?

Of course, DIE NASTY was the title in the MAD MAGAZINE satire back in the mid-80s. (The caricatures were spot-on, but the satire itself fell flat - a rarity for MAD back then.)

Maybe the title should have been 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous'? More appropriate than the program which actually took that title.

I prefer fantasy over reality TV - like Fox News. - B.Streisand

[–] PrometheusTree64 8 years ago

Yes, "Die Nasty" is a self-dooming title.

"Mile High" invites great things.

I like the title "Dynasty" but its use may have been unintentionally destructive.

--
LBJ's mistress on JFK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcXeutDmuRA

[–] jarrodmcdonald-1 8 years ago

Unlike Falcon Crest and Dallas, which constantly use the title in the dialogue, nobody uses the title in this series

That's a great observation. It would have been tough to put the title into the dialogue. It was meant to be perceived in a symbolic sense. Sort of like how 'St. Elsewhere' was symbolic (because the name of the hospital was really St. Eligius).

[–] theworldastage 9 years ago

Unlike Falcon Crest and Dallas, which constantly use the title in the dialogue, nobody uses the title in this series, but it is Blake's inner pain.

Maybe you meant "almost never" as opposed to "never", because on rewatching I did hear someone use the word DYNASTY in regards to Blake having one or building one. It stood out so much to me that I can't believe I don't remember who said it. It was in one of the middle seasons. This is going to bother me now...

[–] paranoja 8 years ago

It's always hard to re-title popular shows in hindsight, but from an international point of view Mile High sounds like something set in a high school. Dynasty is instantly catchy in that respect.

[–] jarrodmcdonald-1 8 years ago

It's always hard to re-title popular shows in hindsight, but from an international point of view Mile High sounds like something set in a high school. Dynasty is instantly catchy in that respect.

Yes, and 'Dynasty' sounds more powerful.

[–] PrometheusTree64 8 years ago

It's always hard to re-title popular shows in hindsight, but from an international point of view Mile High sounds like something set in a high school. Dynasty is instantly catchy in that respect.

Yeah, I mention that in the OP, that the network was concerned about it sounding like a highschool show. Among other feared misperceptions about that title.

Although MILE HIGH still won the contest.

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