The Woman Actually Throwing Those Punches on Dynasty Wasn’t Linda Evans
Every time Krystle Carrington and Alexis Colby tore into each other on Dynasty, there’s a real chance you weren’t watching Linda Evans at all.
Al Corley Quit Dynasty Because They’d Only Let His Character Shake Hands
Al Corley signed up to play one of American television’s first openly gay lead characters.
Diahann Carroll Thought Dynasty Was Just a Hoot, Then Made TV History Twice
Diahann Carroll had already changed television once by the time Dynasty came calling.
Catherine Oxenberg Spent Years Fighting to Get Her Own Daughter Out of a Cult
Catherine Oxenberg played the picture-perfect Amanda Carrington on Dynasty.
Joan Collins Says Dynasty Saved Her Life During Her Third Marriage
Joan Collins had already spent three decades in Hollywood, mostly in B-movies and pin-up shoots, before Dynasty turned her into one of television’s most iconic villains.
Dynasty’s Most Famous Feud Never Actually Happened
TLDR: Dynasty was built as ABC’s direct answer to Dallas, and it eventually beat its rival to the number one spot, despite nearly losing its … Read more
Amen’s Minister Was a Real One Before He Ever Got the Part
TLDR: Amen brought Sherman Hemsley back to network television just one year after leaving The Jeffersons, this time set in his own real hometown. His … Read more
Jayne Walton Sang in Spanish on Lawrence Welk Long Before Anacani Did
TLDR: Jayne Walton was singing with Lawrence Welk more than a decade before The Lawrence Welk Show ever aired on television, and she recorded a … Read more
Lawrence Welk’s First-Ever Champagne Lady Lied About Her Age at 13 to Enlist
TLDR: Roberta Linn was the actual first Champagne Lady on The Lawrence Welk Show, years before Alice Lon or Norma Zimmer ever held the title. … Read more
Gail Farrell Tapped Lawrence Welk on the Shoulder and Asked to Sing
TLDR: Gail Farrell wasn’t looking for a spot on The Lawrence Welk Show when she flew to Los Angeles for a work trip. She talked … Read more
SNL’s Lawrence Welk Parody Hid a Murder Behind All That Wholesomeness
TLDR: Saturday Night Live turned The Lawrence Welk Show‘s old-fashioned wholesomeness into a running joke, and the joke had teeth. Underneath the polka music and … Read more
Cissy King Got Her Big Break by Teaching Bobby Burgess to Do Lifts
TLDR: Cissy King wasn’t looking for a spot on national television when she met Bobby Burgess. She just happened to be a lifting expert at … Read more
Barbara Boylan Left Lawrence Welk to Marry a Costar, and It Lasted 50 Years
TLDR: Barbara Boylan met her future dance partner at 13 years old and ended up on national television with him before either of them had … Read more
A Chance Encounter With Donald O’Connor Led to Six Sisters on Lawrence Welk
TLDR: The Semonski Sisters were a genuine sextet, six real sisters from New Jersey who ended up on The Lawrence Welk Show after a chance … Read more
Jabari Banks Learned He Got the Role From Will Smith Himself, on Video
TLDR: Jabari Banks had never acted on screen before landing the lead role of Will in Bel-Air, a part he learned he’d won directly from … Read more
Bel-Air Started as a Fan-Made YouTube Trailer, Then Will Smith Called
TLDR: Bel-Air exists because one fan’s YouTube video got Will Smith’s attention within 24 hours of posting. Four seasons and one deeply emotional series finale … Read more