Ok, Joseph Campanella has a somewhat well known name, but come on...he was just in 8 episodes in the first season. He was rather a guest star.
What happened with him anyway? Was he fired or wanted he out?
And I´ve always wondered, why Ricardo Montalban was always credited as "Special Guest Star". He was in nearly every episode of the Colbys, so why "guest".
I believe Montalban was not a guest star but was a contract regular. However, I believe it was to distinguish him as having a prominent role. In the first season, the credits began with Charlton Heston and ended with Barbara Stanwyck. By designating Montalban as a Special Guest Star, it helped give him an extra billing as opposed to the regular cast. Aaron Spelling had done this on several of his other shows. On Melrose Place, Heather Locklear was designated as a Special Guest Star in the opening credits for most of her run, even though she became the female lead. And on Beverly Hills, 90210, when Luke Perry returned after a three-year absence in 1998, he was also designated as a Special Guest Star for the last two seasons of the series.
As for Campanella, I agree that he shouldn't have been included in the opening credits. I think perhaps maybe the writers might have had a bigger role for him in mind, but then changed their minds. I'm not sure when Barbara Stanwyck announced to producers she wanted off the show, but if it was early in the run, maybe producers dedided to get rid of Campanella.
When someone maintains the credit as 'special guest star' in the credits, they get a slightly higher pay than the rest of the cast, according to SAG rules. This is why Locklear (or her smart agent?) negotiated a 'special guest star' credit in her MP contract - so she could earn more money than the other cast members. Looks like Montalban had the same agent a decade earlier.
I prefer fantasy over reality TV - like Fox News. - B.Streisand
I seriously doubt Montalban got paid more than Heston or Stanwyck. Link to these SAG rules?
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