TELEVISION

"Pictures with sound" (also known as television) started in 1928. "Just sound" (or radio) started in 1920. "TV is a mass medium as well as an escapist one," it was explained. Mass medium because TV supplied "mass appeal visual entertainment". Parker Stevenson was one of the "mass-appeal stars" in 1977. He told Andee Beck of the 'St. Petersburg Times', "The problem is, being on 'The Hardy Boys', I feel I'm supposed to be setting an example for children. When I drove to Los Angeles from New York for new season (1977-78) shooting, I stopped in Las Vegas. But I was afraid if I went into the casino, I might be seen by young people."

Parker mentioned, "I went to Debbie Reynolds' charity party last July (back in 1977) and I suddenly became self-conscious about having pictures taken of me holding a drink in my hand. It could be 7-Up (the lemon-lime flavored soft drink) in the glass, but who would know? Sure, I can gamble and drink because I'm 25. But my series character, Frank Hardy, is 18 years old, so many people automatically regard me as a teenager." 

At the time, Pamela Sue Martin played Nancy Drew. It was noted on the TV series, 'The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries', Nancy Drew often "crossed over" and solved a mystery with the Hardy boys which never happened in the books. Pamela believed, "As an actor, just by living your life, you're constantly becoming more wealthy with what you're going to be able to do. It's all about expression, people's expressions. The more you see of that, the more you live it, the more you're able to put forth as an actor. The more we live, the more we have to share.

"I think as actors we learn to live a little bit more from moment to moment than in other careers because we go from job to job. Nothing ever stays the same. We all have our insecurities, but it's not something I like to dwell on or expound upon to the world." In 1984, "I feel good about my life as it is, and the foundation that it's on." At the time, "I don't think in terms of, 'Well, what about 15 years from now?' You have to believe that all you want will be there. I've always had so much that I don't spend much time wanting." 

Of television's mass appeal, David Hinckley of 'New York Daily News' made the comment in 2005, "Truth is, American popular culture has struggled its whole life against the seductive lure of 'dumbing it down.'" In the United States, TV programming had been described as "a tale of 2 cities (Hollywood and New York)." United Press International pointed out in 1972, "Hollywood's values, as expressed in movies, inevitably were closer to the mass Middle America audience partly because of simple geography. In New York, there was a strong European influence. A city of vibrant minorities, it was, and is (in 1972), like no place else on earth. Hollywood's geographical situation, in Los Angeles, where the heavy population influx over the years was from places like Midwest, the South and the Southwest. Its population makeup of the town was bound to have a major impact on the outlooks of those who produced movies here. In the early years New York City was the dominating influence because the chief creators were concentrated there."

Agnes Nixon created the mini-series, 'The Manions of America' in 1981, observed, "Guilt is the greatest motivator of mankind. The greatest essence of conflict and drama involves people doing the wrong thing for the right reasons." On 'Emerald Point N.A.S' in 1984, Michael Carven played Russian Lieutenant Alexi Gorichenko, "'Emerald Point' may be the only American TV show that provides viewers with an opportunity to see the 2 cultures clashing on a regular basis, giving both points of view." John James of 'Dynasty' remarked, "The excitement of the soaps should be in the plot lines, in the element of intrigue, instead of in the superficial fluff that a lot of them have become." Aaron Spelling insisted, "Style is the most important thing in television. I see myself as producing a certain style for television." 

Nolan Miller recounted, "When 'Dynasty' was first conceived in 1981, everyone agreed . . . the clothes were important." 'Dynasty' tried "to make clothes so important . . . and Aaron deserves much of the credit. He has a very strong feeling about how the show should look, as does Esther (Shapiro), who says this show is her fantasy as well as it is for those out there watching. The idea is that it mustn't look as if they are saying 'look how rich we are'. Visually, however, we want the characters to feel rich and important. To be everyone's fantasy." 

Between December 1980 and January 1981, Lorenzo Lamas co-starred in 'The Secrets of Midland Heights'. Lorenzo's secret: "When I was really young, I hated my name. You may not think that's much of a secret but it is in a way because now I'm comfortable with my name. But when you are a little kid growing up, you want to be like everybody else. You know, to be accepted by the gang and your friends. But with a name like 'Lorenzo' . . . well, I'd much rather have had a name like Larry or John or Bill. So, when strangers would ask me my name, I would say 'Larry', like it was my real name. 

"My father, Fernando Lamas, as you might know, is a famous actor and when I was born, he gave me a Spanish name similar to his. He used to take me to a street in Santa Monica Canyon, California, and point to a street sign that said Lorenzo Drive. Then he would say, 'Look at the sign, it doesn't say Larry Drive or John Drive, it says Lorenzo Drive because Lorenzo is a special name just like you are a special boy'. It was very touching for him to do that and he did make me feel very special, but I still wanted to be Larry or John. Anyway, I don't talk about that too much, so it's sort of a secret." 

On 'Dynasty', Pamela played Fallon, a character Pamela defined as a "product of the '60s." When 'Dynasty' premiered in 1981 it was hailed as a "literary effort". Of working on the series, John Forsythe made known in 2006, "It was a pleasurable, joyous good time. Those were good days, fruitful days." Soapnet re-broadcast 'Dynasty' in November 2002. "Since our network launched," Soapnet stated at the time, "'Dynasty' has become the show our viewers demanded the most." Esther had said, "We have 48 minutes, and we like to tell a lot of stories." 

"In my thinking, acting is an art," Pamela expressed. "You can't rush art. You have to take your time and let whatever happens, happen. I feel like when it comes to any kind of art form, you have to take your time. I rush all my life, but when it comes to my work, I don't like to be rushed." In the 1980s, night time soaps were considered "powerful TV entertainment" because they attracted 35% higher ratings than the average TV program, particularly amongst women viewers ages 18 to 49. 

"The process of film-making is an exciting process no matter how you slice it," Pamela made the observation. "Everyone who works in it is engaged by it, down to the last grip – everybody on stage. No matter how much they might gripe and groan about the hours and craziness of it, they are all there for a reason. There is a real spirit to it. It's got a life of its own. It's a living thing."