View source for The Colbys

{{short description|American prime time soap opera}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2012}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = The Colbys title card.jpg
| alt_name             = ''Dynasty II: The Colbys''
| genre                = [[Soap opera]]
| creator              = {{ubl|[[Richard and Esther Shapiro|Richard & Esther Shapiro]]|[[Eileen and Robert Mason Pollock|Robert & Eileen Pollock]]}}
| developer            = {{ubl|[[William Bast]]|[[Paul Huson]]}}
| starring             = {{plainlist|
* [[Charlton Heston]]
* [[Barbara Stanwyck]]
* [[John James (actor)|John James]]
* [[Katharine Ross]]
* [[Stephanie Beacham]]
* [[Emma Samms]]
* [[Maxwell Caulfield]]
* [[Tracy Scoggins]]
* [[Claire Yarlett]]
* [[Ricardo Montalbán]]
* [[Ken Howard]]
* [[Joseph Campanella]]
* [[Michael Parks]]
}}
| theme_music_composer = [[Bill Conti]]
| country              = United States
| num_seasons          = 2
| num_episodes         = 49
| list_episodes        = List of The Colbys episodes
| executive_producer   = {{ubl|[[Aaron Spelling]]|[[Douglas S. Cramer]]|Richard & Esther Shapiro}}
| producer             =
| location             = 
| editor               = 
| runtime              = 45–48 minutes
| company              = [[Spelling Television|Aaron Spelling Productions]]
| network              = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1985|11|20}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|1987|03|26}}
| related              = {{ubl|''[[Dynasty (1981 TV series)|Dynasty]]'' (1981–1989)|''[[Dynasty: The Reunion]]'' (1991)|''[[Dynasty (2017 TV series)|Dynasty]]'' (2017–2022)}} 
}}

'''''The Colbys''''' (originally titled '''''Dynasty II: The Colbys''''') is an American [[prime time]] [[soap opera]] that originally aired on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] from November 20, 1985, to March 26, 1987. Created by [[Richard and Esther Shapiro]] and [[Eileen and Robert Mason Pollock|Eileen and Robert Pollock]] and produced by [[Aaron Spelling]], it is a [[spin-off (media)|spin-off]] of ''[[Dynasty (1981 TV series)|Dynasty]]'' and revolves around the Colbys, another vastly wealthy family who own a large multinational conglomerate and are connected to the [[Carrington family|Carringtons]] of ''Dynasty''. Intended to surpass its predecessor in opulence, the series' producers were handed an immensely high budget for the era,<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uO4vAAAAIBAJ&dq=colbys%20heston&pg=2027%2C2114269 |title=John James Hopes Luck Holds |via=[[Google]] |work=[[The Ledger]]|first=Kay |last=Gardella |date=November 20, 1985 |access-date=August 25, 2010}}</ref> and cast a handful of well-known movie stars among its leads.

''The Colbys'' stars [[Charlton Heston]] as tycoon [[Jason Colby]], [[Barbara Stanwyck]] as his sister [[Constance Colby|Constance]], [[Stephanie Beacham]] as his wife [[Sable Colby|Sable]], [[Katharine Ross]] as Sable's sister and Jason's lover [[Francesca Colby|Francesca]], and [[Ricardo Montalbán]] as Jason's business rival [[Zach Powers]]. [[John James (actor)|John James]] and [[Emma Samms]] also star as their ''Dynasty'' characters [[Jeff Colby]] and [[Fallon Carrington]]. ''The Colbys'' was ultimately a ratings disappointment, and was cancelled after two seasons.

==Premise==
{{Further|List of The Colbys characters}}
On ''Dynasty'', presumed-dead heiress [[Fallon Carrington Colby]] ([[Emma Samms]]) reappears alive, suffering from [[amnesia]] and using the name Randall Adams. Drawn to California after recognizing the name "Colby", she meets playboy [[Miles Colby]] ([[Maxwell Caulfield]]), not realizing that he is the cousin of her ex-husband, [[Jeff Colby|Jeff]] ([[John James (actor)|John James]]). A mutual business venture brings the Colbys of California to the [[Denver]] mansion of Fallon's father [[Blake Carrington]] ([[John Forsythe]]).<ref>Jason (Heston) and Constance (Stanwyck) are first seen in the ''[[Dynasty (1981 TV series)|Dynasty]]'' sixth season episode "[[The Californians (Dynasty)|The Californians]]" (October 9, 1985) and the rest of the Colby family are introduced a special two-part ''Dynasty'' episode called "[[The Titans (Dynasty)|The Titans]]" (November 13, 1985).</ref>

Set in [[Los Angeles]], ''The Colbys'' focuses on the extended Colby family as Jeff relocates to California to start his life anew—and comes face to face with Fallon, now married to his cousin Miles. A fierce rivalry is sparked between Jeff and Miles, and the love triangle spans the series. Miles' father, billionaire [[Jason Colby]] ([[Charlton Heston]]), has a rocky marriage to the manipulative [[Sable Colby|Sable]] ([[Stephanie Beacham]]), and a longtime attraction to Sable's sister [[Francesca Colby|Francesca]] ([[Katharine Ross]])—Jeff's estranged mother, and the former wife of Jason's deceased brother [[Philip Colby|Philip]]. Other characters include Jason's powerful sister [[Constance Colby]] ([[Barbara Stanwyck]]), Miles' twin sister [[Monica Colby|Monica]] ([[Tracy Scoggins]]) and their third sibling [[Bliss Colby|Bliss]] ([[Claire Yarlett]]).

In addition to Forsythe's Blake, ''Dynasty'' characters [[Adam Carrington]] ([[Gordon Thomson (actor)|Gordon Thomson]]), [[Steven Carrington]] ([[Jack Coleman (actor)|Jack Coleman]]), and [[Dominique Deveraux]] ([[Diahann Carroll]]) also made guest appearances on the show between 1985 and 1986.<ref name="Pressreader Colbys">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/soap-opera-digest/20181019/282548724228324|title=''The Colbys''|via=PressReader.com|work=[[Soap Opera Digest]]|date=October 19, 2019|access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref>

==Storylines==
The first season's storylines include the construction of an oil pipeline; Zach Powers' vendetta against the Colbys; the romance between Jason and his brother Philip's widow Francesca; the subsequent collapse of Jason's marriage to Sable; and eventually the revelation that Jason, not Philip, is in fact Jeff's father. There were initially a number of crossovers featuring members of the ''Dynasty'' cast, most notably [[Blake Carrington]], his sons [[Adam Carrington|Adam]] and [[Steven Carrington|Steven]], and half-sister [[Dominique Deveraux]]. At the end of the season, Fallon learns that Miles could be the father of her unborn child, Monica's plane crashes, and Sable has Jason arrested for assault and battery, claiming that he had inflicted the injuries she actually sustained by falling down a flight of stairs.

In the second season, Jason manages to divorce Sable and plans to marry Francesca, but the presumed-dead Philip reappears alive. Previously romantically linked to both Zach's nephew and former stepson, Bliss falls in love with a Russian dancer watched by the [[KGB]], the son Monica had given up eight years before re-enters her life, and Constance and Hutch are killed in a plane crash in India. At the end of the season, Miles' wife Channing phones to say she will abort their unborn baby; Sable kidnaps Monica's son; Francesca seemingly dies after a car crash involving herself and Philip; and Fallon, stranded in the desert, is seemingly abducted by aliens who land in a [[UFO]] in the finale.<ref name="Pressreader Colbys"/> The series' most infamous [[cliffhanger]] proved to be its last when the series was subsequently cancelled.

===Aftermath===
Following the cancellation of ''The Colbys'', the characters of Jeff and Fallon were immediately reintroduced into ''Dynasty'' during that series' eighth-season premiere, "[[The Siege - Part 1 (Dynasty)|The Siege – Part 1]]" in order for her to recover from her alien abduction experience, though Jeff disbelieves her.<ref name="Pressreader Colbys"/> Sable (now divorced from Jason, who was still involved with Frankie, who survived the car crash) and Monica (who no longer had contact with ex-lover Cash or their son Scott) also later reappeared on ''Dynasty'' for the series' ninth (and final) season in 1988–89.<ref name="Pressreader Colbys"/> During the final season of ''Dynasty'', it is revealed that Monica and her twin Miles might not have been Jason's children, as Sable had been raped around the time they were conceived. Miles (who refers to Jeff as his half-brother, leading to the assumption that Jason was his and Monica's father after all) later appears in the miniseries ''[[Dynasty: The Reunion]]'' (1991), reunited with Fallon, and participates in Jeff's rescue from the Consortium. The Jeff-Fallon-Miles love triangle is finally resolved, as Fallon leaves Miles for Jeff once again, and it is loosely implied that Miles becomes involved with [[Sammy Jo]] ([[Heather Locklear]]).

==Episodes==
{{further|List of The Colbys episodes}}
{{:List of The Colbys episodes}}

==Production and broadcast==
[[File:The Colbys cast photo.JPG|thumb|Promotional cast photo from ''The Colbys'']]
In early 1985, news outlets began reporting that ABC was developing a spin-off of ''Dynasty'', then the #1 rated show in the US.<ref name="Spokane">{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yQNMAAAAIBAJ&pg=7029,59510|work=[[Spokane Chronicle]]|title=ABC is looking to broaden ''Dynasty'' reign|first=Rick|last=Sherwood|date=January 16, 1985|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref><ref name="EI">{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19850225&id=ccJaAAAAIBAJ&pg=5060,2173180&hl=fr|work=[[Evening Independent]]|title=''Dynasty'' spinoff to rival ''Dallas''|date=February 23, 1985|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> ''Dynasty'' actors [[Rock Hudson]], [[Ali MacGraw]], [[Jack Coleman (actor)|Jack Coleman]], [[Heather Locklear]], and [[John James (actor)|John James]] were mentioned as potential stars of the new series, tentatively titled ''The Colbys'',<ref name="Spokane"/><ref name="EI"/> and ABC was purportedly wooing [[Pamela Sue Martin]] to reprise her role as Fallon Carrington.<ref name="EI"/> It was also reported that ''Dynasty'' stars [[John Forsythe]], [[Linda Evans]], [[Joan Collins]], and guest star [[Elizabeth Taylor]] would appear in the first two episodes of the spin-off, which would initially air after ''Dynasty'' on Wednesdays but would move to a time slot opposite ''[[Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]]'' on Fridays.<ref name="EI"/>

In March 1985, ABC announced that its rumored ''Dynasty'' spin-off had been greenlighted, to debut the following season.<ref name="TimesDaily Colbys">{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19850320&id=OGEeAAAAIBAJ&pg=3484,4929970&hl=fr|work=[[TimesDaily]]|title=ABC Finally makes ''Dynasty'' spin-off official|first=Rick|last=Sherwood|date=March 20, 1985|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> ''The Colbys'' would star John James as his ''Dynasty'' character Jeff Colby, with ''General Hospital'' actress Emma Samms as Fallon Carrington.<ref name="TimesDaily Colbys"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_REEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22emma+samms%22+%22dynasty%22+%22shapiro%22%22&pg=PA29|work=[[Orange Coast (magazine)|Orange Coast]]|title=Emma Samms: From Daytime Soaps to ''Dynasty''|date=January 9, 1986|via=Google Books|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref><ref name="1985 schedule">{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19850509&id=OK1NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1928,4090707&hl=fr|work=[[The Ledger|Lakeland Ledger]]|title=ABC going all out in fall to recoup ratings losses|first=Fred|last=Rothenberg|date=May 9, 1985|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> The project was originally titled ''Dynasty II: The Colbys of California'', which was shortened to ''Dynasty II: The Colbys'' and ultimately simplified to ''The Colbys''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.julienslive.com/m/lot-details/index/catalog/361/lot/144276/?url=/m/view-auctions/catalog/id/361?page=5|title=NOLAN MILLER THE COLBYS CUSTOM LEATHER BOUND SCRIPT|website=www.julienslive.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/44-dynasty-ii-colbys-tv-scripts-1892316566|title=44 DYNASTY II: The Colbys TV Scripts Original Script 1986 General Hospital LOT &#124; #1892316566|website=Worthpoint}}</ref> In May 1985, ABC unveiled its fall 1985 schedule, which placed ''The Colbys'' into the Thursday 9 pm time slot, preceded by ''[[The Fall Guy]]'' and followed by ''[[20/20 (American TV program)|20/20]]''.<ref name="1985 schedule"/>

In June 1985, ''Dynasty'' co-creator [[Esther Shapiro]] approached [[Charlton Heston]] about the role of patriarch Jason Colby, the brother of ''Dynasty''{{'s}} [[Cecil Colby]] ([[Lloyd Bochner]]).<ref name="Spokesman-Review">{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19850901&id=qbwzAAAAIBAJ&pg=5789,617526&hl=fr|work=[[The Spokesman-Review]]|title=Run for the United States Senate? Mr. Heston Would Rather Be Acting|first=Peter W.|last=Kaplan|date=September 1, 1985|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> [[Doris Day]] was considered,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19850626&id=t-8vAAAAIBAJ&pg=1312,3580675&hl=fr|work=Lakeland Ledger|title=Tipoff|date=June 26, 1985|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> and both [[Burt Lancaster]] and [[Katharine Hepburn]] reportedly turned down roles in the series.<ref name="Spokesman-Review"/><ref name="Gainesville Sun">{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19850703&id=ED9WAAAAIBAJ&pg=6885,685357&hl=fr|work=[[The Gainesville Sun]]|title=The Mitchum family makes a movie|date=July 3, 1985|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> In early July 1985, it was reported that in addition to Heston, ABC was pursuing [[Barbara Stanwyck]] and [[Faye Dunaway]] for starring roles,<ref name="Gainesville Sun"/> as well as [[James Coburn]] to play [[Ben Carrington]], the brother of ''Dynasty''{{'s}} [[Blake Carrington]] ([[John Forsythe]]).<ref name="Gainesville Sun"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19850704&id=iAxPAAAAIBAJ&pg=6760,6154106&hl=fr|work=[[The Blade (Toledo, Ohio)|Toledo Blade]]|title=''Miami Vice'' Star Takes Ego Trip to New Heights|date=July 4, 1985|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> On July 9, 1985, it was reported that ''The Colbys''{{'}} versions of ''Dynasty'' rivals [[Krystle Carrington]] ([[Linda Evans]]) and [[Alexis Colby]] ([[Joan Collins]]) were going to be called Anthea (later changed to Francesca) and Sabella (nicknamed "Sable").<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19850709&id=YQ1PAAAAIBAJ&pg=4464,143737&hl=fr|title=''Today'' leads morning ratings|work=Toledo Blade|date=July 9, 1985|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref>

Heston's casting was confirmed in July 1985, as producers were negotiating with [[Angie Dickinson]] to play his character's wife.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19850712&id=JZIcAAAAIBAJ&pg=5022,4555558&hl=fr|work=The Pittsburgh Press|title=Charlton Heston heads ''Dynasty'' spinoff|first=Barbara|last=Holsopple|date=July 12, 1985|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> Ultimately, Dunaway, Dickinson, [[Elizabeth Ashley]], and [[Diana Rigg]] all turned down the role of Jason's wife Sable.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/british-beauty-stephanie-beacham-sizzles-in-sable-as-consort-to-charlton-heston-on-the-colbys-vol-25-no-5/|title=British Beauty Stephanie Beacham Sizzles in Sable as Consort to Charlton Heston on ''The Colbys''|first=David|last=Wallace|date=February 3, 1986|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> In August 1985, producers cast British actress [[Stephanie Beacham]], "a household name" in the UK who had starred in the title role of the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] drama ''[[Connie (TV series)|Connie]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19850810&id=xNMbAAAAIBAJ&pg=2504,4621620&hl=fr|work=The Pittsburgh Press|title=British actress gets key role in ''Dynasty II''|date=August 9, 1985|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> Stanwyck and [[Maxwell Caulfield]] joined the cast in July 1985 as Jason's sister Constance and son Miles,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19850717&id=e6pNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2299,227879&hl=fr|title=Stanwyck to star in ''Dynasty II''|work=Lakeland Ledger|date=July 17, 1985|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> with Stanwyck having a clause in her contract that she would not be required to do press interviews.<ref name="The Day">{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19860625&id=vpZGAAAAIBAJ&pg=1716,5547959&hl=fr|work=[[The Day (New London)|The Day]]|title=Stanwyck not likely to return to ''Colbys''|date=June 25, 1986|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref> That month, Elizabeth Taylor made a statement that she would not be appearing on ''Dynasty'' or ''The Colbys'', then or in the future.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19850713&id=IOBOAAAAIBAJ&pg=6026,3590321&hl=fr|work=[[Star-News]]|title=Liz hushes ''Dynasty'' talk|date=July 13, 1985 |via=news.google.com|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref>

In August 1985, it was reported Heston would be paid $85,000 per episode ({{Inflation|US|85000|1985|r=-3|fmt=eq}}){{Inflation-fn|US}} and Stanwyck would be paid $75,000<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19850803&id=NVRIAAAAIBAJ&pg=6812,912617&hl=fr|work=Star-News|title=Tipoff|date=August 3, 1985|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> ({{Inflation|US|75000|1985|r=-3|fmt=eq}}).{{Inflation-fn|US}} The same month, [[Katharine Ross]] was cast as Francesca.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dGkaAAAAIBAJ&pg=3358,3067429|title=Katharine Ross gets role in 'Dynasty II'|last=UPI|date=August 23, 1985|work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|The Milwaukee Journal]]|access-date=August 10, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> In September 1985, it was reported that [[Ricardo Montalbán]] would appear as a "conniving shipping tycoon" described as "ambitious and scheming, but with a kind of charm that can allow him to get away with almost anything."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1899&dat=19850904&id=A4lGAAAAIBAJ&pg=4247,234748&hl=fr|work=[[The Lewiston Journal]]|title=Montalban to play conniving tycoon|date=September 4, 1985|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> The final cast included [[Tracy Scoggins]] and [[Claire Yarlett]] as Jason and Sable's daughters, [[Monica Colby|Monica]] and Bliss Colby.<ref name="LAT">{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-11-20-ca-8073-story.html|title=TV Reviews: From the Serene to the Ridiculous|date=November 20, 1985|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|first=Lee|last=Margulies|access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref>

The 13 bedroom, {{convert|15,110|ft2|m2|adj=on}}<ref>{{cite web|title=1060 Brooklawn Dr|url=https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1060-Brooklawn-Dr-Los-Angeles-CA-90077/20524044_zpid/|website=Zillow|access-date=8 Apr 2020}}</ref>[[Jay Paley House]] in [[Holmby Hills, Los Angeles|Holmby Hills]] (at the time owned by business magnate [[Barron Hilton]]) featured as the family palatial [[Bel Air, Los Angeles|Bel Air]] mansion, ''The Belvedere''. The 'masterpiece' gallery paintings in the mansion were painted by Lucia Vinograd. The attached stables were filmed at the [[Will Rogers State Historic Park]].{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

''The Colbys'' premiered at 10 pm on Wednesday, November 20, 1985, after ''Dynasty''{{'s}} eighth episode of the season, and was initially a ratings success.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvtango.com/listings/1985/11/20/colbys |title=TV Listings for November 20, 1985 |website=TV Tango |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19851123&id=RQ1PAAAAIBAJ&pg=6788,6153516&hl=fr|work=Toledo Blade|title=''Hell Town'' Bites the Dust, Herman Gets Host's Job|date=November 21, 1985|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref> The next episode of ''The Colbys'' was scheduled to air the next night, Thursday, November 21, in the show's own new time slot, but was preempted by a televised speech by US President [[Ronald Reagan]].<ref name="Reagan">{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19851121&id=uTUpAAAAIBAJ&pg=7189,2863752&hl=fr|work=[[Deseret News]]|title=Summit fouls up ''Colbys'' debut|date=November 22, 1985|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref> It was later reported that Heston, an old friend of Reagan's, had phoned the President to request the speech be rescheduled, to no avail.<ref name="Reagan"/> Episode two aired on Wednesday, November 27, 1985, before ''Dynasty'', and then ''The Colbys'' moved to its new night on Thursday, November 28, 1985.<ref name="TV Tango episodes">{{cite web |url=http://www.tvtango.com/series/colbys/episodes |title=Episode List: ''The Colbys'' (1985–1987)|website=TV Tango |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref>

Ratings for ''The Colbys'' dropped considerably in the new time slot,<ref name="TV Tango episodes"/> though a March 1986 episode featuring Jeff and Fallon's wedding garnered a high rating at a level not seen since the series' first two episodes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvtango.com/listings/1986/03/20/colbys |title=TV Listings for March 20, 1985 |website=TV Tango |access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref> In January 1986, it was reported that Heston had extended his stay on ''The Colbys'' from 17 to 24 episodes,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19860102&id=wn4xAAAAIBAJ&pg=1478,321153&hl=fr|work=[[Montreal Gazette]]|title=Heston extends stay on ''The Colbys''|date=January 2, 1986|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref> and Stanwyck ultimately extended from 13 to 24 episodes.<ref name="LL renewal S2">{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19860317&id=pqpOAAAAIBAJ&pg=6667,1047934&hl=fr|work=Lakeland Ledger|title=Everybody's quizzing Ted Danson about season's end of ''Cheers''|date=March 17, 1986|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref> ABC renewed ''The Colbys'' for a second season in March 1986, with Stanwyck stating she only wanted to appear in 6 or 7 episodes.<ref name="LL renewal S2"/> The same month, Ron Miller of the ''[[Evening Independent]]'' suggested that ''The Colbys'' "appears to be so prohibitively expensive that future payoff in syndication seems very chancy."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19860328&id=R-gLAAAAIBAJ&pg=6944,3419369&hl=fr|work=Evening Independent|first=Ron|last=Miller|title=Expect changes in TV programming|date=March 28, 1986|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref>

In June 1986, it was reported that Stanwyck would not be returning for season two.<ref name="The Day"/> She had purportedly complained for some time about her character's development, and in leaving suggested that Constance be killed.<ref name="The Day"/> In July 1986, [[Kim Morgan Greene]] was cast as magazine reporter Channing Carter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19860723&id=KUpOAAAAIBAJ&pg=6860,6226235&hl=fr|work=[[Star-News]]|title=Tipoff|date=July 23, 1986|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/tampa/article/Broadway-Theatre-Project-Announces-Kim-Morgan-Greene-as-Resident-Artist-20180215|title=Broadway Theatre Project Announces Kim Morgan Greene as Resident Artist|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=February 15, 2018|website=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref> In December 1986, it was reported that Heston had sent co-star Caulfield a letter admonishing him for unprofessional behavior on set, while calling the rest of ''The Colbys'' team "the best I've worked with in 30 years."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dEJYAAAAIBAJ&pg=6840,2679771|work=The Spokesman-Review|title=Max suffers public scolding from co-star|date=December 29, 1986|via=news.google.com|access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref> ABC cancelled ''The Colbys'' after its second season.<ref name="Pressreader Colbys"/>

==Ratings and criticism==
The [[Dynasty (1981 TV series, season 5)|fifth season]] of ''Dynasty'' was ranked No. 1 in the [[Nielsen rating]]s in the United States.<ref name="Directory Ratings">{{cite book|last1=Brooks|first1=Tim|first2=Earle|last2=Marsh|title=[[The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present]]|date=October 2007|edition=9th|pages=1689–1692|chapter=Top-Rated Programs by Season|publisher=Ballantine Books |isbn=978-0-345-49773-4}}</ref><ref name="Dynasty 1985">{{cite web|url=http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1984.htm|website=ClassicTVHits.com|title=TV Ratings: 1984–85|access-date=April 20, 2015|archive-date=August 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815052553/http://classictvhits.com/tvratings/1984.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''The Colbys'' debuted during ''Dynasty''{{'s}} [[Dynasty (1981 TV series, season 6)|sixth season]],<ref name="Pressreader Colbys"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/07/arts/abc-revises-fall-list-in-battle-for-ratings.html |title=ABC Revises Fall List in Battle for Ratings |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 7, 1985 |access-date=May 31, 2017}}</ref><ref name="auto"/> which saw ''Dynasty'' drop to 7th in the ratings.<ref name="Directory Ratings"/><ref name="Dynasty 1986">{{cite web|url=http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1985.htm|website=ClassicTVHits.com |title=TV Ratings: 1985–86|access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref> Although ''The Colbys'' garnered high ratings for its premiere episode and won a 1986 [[People's Choice Award]] for New Dramatic TV Program,<ref name="Pressreader Colbys"/><ref name="PCA 1986">{{cite web|url=http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/index.jsp?year=1986|title=People's Choice Award Winners: 1986|publisher=PCAvote.com|access-date=September 30, 2010}}</ref> the first season finished in 35th place, in part due to competition with [[NBC]]'s ''[[Cheers]]'' and ''[[Night Court]]'' on Thursday nights.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1986/05/01/cbs-is-in-trouble-despite-numbers/ |title=CBS Is In Trouble Despite Numbers |work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |date=May 1, 1986 |access-date=November 7, 2016}}</ref> ''The Colbys'' was renewed for a second season but, scheduled opposite ''Cheers'' and ''Night Court''—as well as a few weeks against rival soap ''[[Knots Landing]]'' on [[CBS]] -- ''The Colbys'' finished 64th for the year and was subsequently cancelled.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/8b88c811e8a46829a70e88d2d6b9cf9c |title=List of Season's Top-Rated TV Shows (1986–87) |publisher=[[AP News]] |date=April 22, 1987 |access-date=November 7, 2016}}</ref> ''Dynasty'' fell to No. 24 for its [[Dynasty (1981 TV series, season 7)|seventh season]].<ref name="B+C">{{cite journal |url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1987/BC-1987-04-27.pdf |title=The prime time show rankings for '86-87 |journal=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]] |date=April 27, 1987 |page=54 |access-date=January 4, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/8b88c811e8a46829a70e88d2d6b9cf9c |title=List of Season's Top-Rated TV Shows (1986–87) |publisher=[[AP News]] |date=April 22, 1987 |access-date=November 5, 2016}}</ref>

Like ''Dynasty'', the series employed the standard melodrama of soap operas and added well-known performers and elaborate sets and wardrobe.<ref name="LAT"/> Lee Margulies of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' wrote, "It's not a spin-off, it's a clone—as close a replica as ABC and the ''Dynasty'' producers could concoct, right down to the credits."<ref name="LAT"/> In their ''Directory To Primetime TV Shows'', television historians [[Tim Brooks (television historian)|Tim Brooks]] and Earle Marsh stated that the series likely failed because it was "too close a copy" of ''Dynasty''.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Brooks|first1=Tim|author-link1=Tim Brooks (television historian)|last2=Marsh|first2=Earle|title=The Directory To Prime Time TV Shows |edition=8th|publisher=[[Ballantine Books]]|date=2003}}</ref> Barbara Holsopple of ''[[The Pittsburgh Press]]'' compared the scripts to ''[[Dick and Jane]]'' books for children, and criticized the acting.<ref name="Holsopple review">{{cite news |title= ''Dynasty II'': Another Big Soap That Just Doesn't Wash|first=Barbara|last=Holsopple|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xt0cAAAAIBAJ&pg=7061,4456841&dq=the+colbys&hl=en|newspaper=[[The Pittsburgh Press]]|date=November 22, 1985 |access-date=February 3, 2012}}</ref>

When Stanwyck opted to end her contract and leave the series after its first season in 1986, she reportedly called the show "a turkey",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-04-05-ca-22-story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410161614/http://articles.latimes.com/1987-04-05/entertainment/ca-22_1_barbara-stanwyck/5|url-status=dead|title=Saluting Stanwyck: A Life on Film: 'When I'm Doing a Role, a Good Role, I'm Being Someone Other Than Me...'|date=April 5, 1987|archive-date=April 10, 2016|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> and told co-creator Esther Shapiro "This is the biggest pile of garbage I ever did" and that "It's one thing to know you're making a lot of money off vulgarity, but when you don't ''know'' it's vulgar—it's plain stupid."<ref name="Stanwyck">{{cite book |last= Madsen|first= Axel|title=Stanwyck |year=1994 |publisher=HarperCollins |location=New York City|isbn=978-0-595-19398-1|pages=357–359}}</ref> Conversely, Heston always supported the show and stated its cancellation "was premature" as "we were coming closer to being a creative production team that could make the kind of show we'd planned on from the beginning."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mcall.com/1987/09/27/heston-talks-of-many-things-including-the-colbys/|title=Heston Talks of Many Things Including ''The Colbys''|website=[[The Morning Call]]|first=Sylvia|last=Lawler|date=September 27, 1987|access-date=July 22, 2019}}</ref> ''Dynasty'' star [[Joan Collins]] categorically refused to make any appearances in ''The Colbys'' herself, believing it would have caused "massive confusion between the two shows".<ref>{{Cite book |first=Joan |last=Collins |author-link=Joan Collins |title=Passion For Life: An Autobiography |publisher=[[Constable & Robinson]] |date=2013 |edition=First |isbn=978-1472102355}}</ref>

==Home media==
On May 12, 2015, [[Shout! Factory]] released ''The Colbys: The Complete Series'' on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/offline.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130053506/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Colbys-The-Complete-Series/20698|url-status=dead|title=TVShowsOnDVD.com - Goodbye|archive-date=January 30, 2015|website=www.tvshowsondvd.com}}</ref>  The 12-disc set features all 49 episodes of the series as well as all new cast interviews with Stephanie Beacham, John James and Maxwell Caulfield.

On July 20, 2015, ''The Colbys'' was released in Germany (Region 2). The DVD is split in two, the first season and the second season. The DVDs have a German cover (''Die Colbys - Das Imperium'') but are spoken in English and dubbed in German. The series has also been released on DVD in Spain in four volumes (two per season).{{citation needed|date=July 2019}} In the UK, it was released as a single boxset of 12 discs (identical to the US release) by the DVD distributor MediumRare Entertainment in 2018.

The distribution rights to ''The Colbys'', originally owned by [[Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution]], transferred to [[CBS Paramount Network Television]] in 2006.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|id=0088496|title=The Colbys}}
* [http://www.ultimatedynasty.net/thecolbys.html ''The Colbys'' – UltimateDynasty.net]
* [http://www.der-denver-clan.de/de/home.cfm?p=549&CFID=639027&CFTOKEN=48574880 ''Die Colbys'' Der-Denver-Clan.de (German language)]

{{Dynasty}}
{{People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Drama}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Colbys, The}}
[[Category:Dynasty (franchise)]]
[[Category:1985 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:1987 American television series endings]]
[[Category:American Broadcasting Company soap operas]]
[[Category:American primetime television soap operas]]
[[Category:American television spinoffs]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Mass media portrayals of the upper class]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Television series by Spelling Television]]