20161029

GLITTER

In September 1984, viewers went on a behind-the-scenes tour at "the hottest magazine on the newsstands", 'Glitter'. 'People Weekly' noted 'Glitter' "has virtually nothing to do with journalism" other than taking readers into the glamorous world of the rich and famous in search of their deepest secrets. The 2-hour ABC special premiered on Thursday night with guest star Linda Evans did well against 'Simon & Simon' (attracting 18% share of the audience) on CBS and the two reruns of 'Cheers' and 'Night Court' (22% share of the audience) on NBC. 'Glitter' attracted an average of 31% share of the audience in the 8 markets metered for overnight ratings by A.C. Nielsen. 

Anna Leigh London played the legs of the "mystery cover subject" (Linda Evans) in the 'Glitter' pilot movie. Quin Kessler played the actress posing as Linda Evans during the photo session. She told the press, "Two years ago (around 1982) I met Linda, and she agreed we looked alike." Anna Leigh begged to differ, "I have tiny legs and feet that don’t look anything like Linda’s. I have a size 4 foot. Linda is a beautiful woman, but I think her feet are a size 8 or 8½." 

It was reported 'Glitter' was developed through ABC's comedy division, not the network's drama division, hence a "laugh track" was initially intended to accompany the 2-hour movie until Aaron Spelling saw the finished pilot and decided 'Glitter' would be "straight" drama. The network then commissioned 13 more weekly episodes but after 2 episodes went on air, ABC shelved 'Glitter' until December 1984, though the series was still in production. However 'New York' magazine reported, "'Glitter' has gone back to the drawing board after the 2-hour pilot." 

After the network broadcasted 3 episodes in December 1984, ABC took 'Glitter' off the air with the remaining 8 episodes delayed until December 1985 to telecast in a late-night time slot. The first 6 episodes attracted an average 10.1 rating in the 1984-85 TV season. Automobiles on 'Glitter' were supplied by the Ford Motor Company. Nolan Miller designed costumes for the special guest stars such as Patricia Neal, Cyd Charisse and Ginger Rogers. 'Glitter' was filmed on location and at the Burbank Studios in California. 

Morgan Brittany told 'The Washington Post', "I play Kate Simpson, a Radcliffe girl who's had all the advantages of life and decides to get into the reporting business. David Birney - he plays my partner - is unkempt, eating all the time. We're an odd couple. They're always bantering with each other, putting each other down, but you can see the possibility of a romance.

"It's very scary. How many new shows from last year (1983-84 season) survived? We have Aaron Spelling going for us, and that's a plus. They have a tendency to move his shows around (on the schedule) until they find an audience. It's frightening in that the show revolves around me and David Birney. I come from an ensemble in 'Dallas.' (Hence) I'll be good on Thursday and bad on Friday."

Then 32 years old, Morgan made known, "My goal has always been to be like Lee Remick or Stefanie Powers. I did not want to be a sex symbol. When they wanted me to replace Kate Jackson on 'Charlie's Angels,' I said no. I never wanted to be a sex symbol. There are hundreds of blonds out there waiting to take your place. At 30 - pfft! It's over." 

In its report on the media business in 1994, 'The New York Times' spoke to Larry Gerbrandt of media research firm, Paul Kagan Associates. He made the comment, "Broadcast television is not going to go away. And if it's not going to go away and you're a studio, then you ought to own one. The main reason the networks are not going to go away is because of the advertisers. 

"Despite the erosion to cable, advertisers continue to spend most of their budgets on the networks because they have 100% penetration. As long as Madison Avenue stands behind network television, it is going to remain a very good business." An analyst with J. P. Morgan Securities, Larry C. Petrella,  added, "You don't have to read everything as cable versus broadcast. Time Warner believes in the 500-channel universe. But one of the best things to have in that universe is a brand name." It was pointed out, "The networks still represent the strongest brand names in television."

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