DYNASTY

While perhaps not quite as consistently popular as Dallas, Dynasty still enthralled viewers from 1981 to 1989 with the exploits of the Carringtons, a wealthy oil family living in Denver. The high-camp scripts, (pulling every plot device imaginable from the soap operatic repertoire…cough… trip to Moldavia, anyone?) and La Joan Collins, were enough to depose the Ewing family in 1984 for Dynasty to take top spot in the ratings.

A flow chart would be required to accurately describe all of the family connections and disconnections and affairs and attempted/successful murders (well, we all have a few skeletons in our closets… and some relatives too! Aw snap!). But it seems more than a few viewers wanted to steep themselves in Dynasty culture, no matter how dysfunctional. The work of the series’ costume designer spawned its own line of women’s apparel. Later the show put out a men’s fashion line, sheets and towels, pantyhose, perfume, dolls and, in keeping with the nothing-is-sacred spirit of the show, wall-to-wall carpeting. So sayeth The Soap Opera Encyclopedia.