Berrenger's was an American primetime television soap opera created by Lynn Marie Latham and Bernard Lechowick that aired on NBC in 1985. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic A soap opera is an ongoing episodic work of Fiction, usually broadcast on Television or Radio. Lynn Marie Latham is an American television writer and producer Bernard Lechowick is an American television writer and producer The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) The series revolved around the Berrenger family, a New York dynasty who owned the glamorous department store which bore their name. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous
Following in the tradition of Dynasty and Dallas, Berrenger's played up to the familiar motifs of 1980s soap operas - glamorous and beautiful characters, using money and power in games of love, business and betrayal. A dynasty is a succession of rulers who belong to the same family for generations
The series was cancelled after 13 one-hour episodes had been produced. In North America, only 11 of the 13 episodes were screened. Because of studio television output deals it was screened in Europe and Australia, and has sustained a modest cult following. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics.
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Marketing
Produced in the mid-1980s, Berrenger's bore all the hallmarks of the genre and the era - a lavish central set (in this case, the department store's main floor) and an expensive wardrobe budget, which dressed the cast, particularly the women, in current designer fashions.
The series was made by Warner Bros. subsidiary Lorimar, who were already producing Dallas, Knots Landing and Falcon Crest. Warner Bros Entertainment Inc (or Warner Bros, Warner Bros Pictures) is one of the world's largest producers of Film and Lorimar was an American Television production company that was later a subsidiary of Warner Bros Knots Landing is a Primetime Television Soap opera that aired for 14 seasons from December 27 1979 to May 13 Falcon Crest is an American primetime television Soap opera which aired on the CBS network for nine seasons from December 4 The marketing material which accompanied the launch of the series sold it with the line ". . . elegant clothes. . . beautiful people . . . a powerful clan . . . ".
Press advertisements said: "Step through the etched-glass, art deco doors of this opulent retailer, where anything and everything can be bought or sold - for the right price - Berrenger's. "
Characters
The principal focus of the series was the Berrenger family, headed by widowed patriarch Simon Berrenger (Sam Wanamaker). Sam Wanamaker ( June 14, 1919 &ndash December 18, 1993) was an American Film director and Actor, credited Berrenger had three children - sons Billy (Robin Strand) and Paul (Ben Murphy) and daughter Barbara (Anita Morris). Benjamin E Murphy (born March 6, 1942, in Jonesboro Arkansas) is an American Actor. Anita Rose Morris ( March 14, 1943 - March 2, 1994) was an American actress
Paul, Simon's eldest son and heir, was unhappily married to nasty New York socialite Gloria Brahms Berrenger (Andrea Marcovicci) but romantically involved with the department store's vice-president, Shane Bradley (Yvette Mimieux). Andrea Louisa Marcovicci (born November 18, 1948) is a Golden Globe -nominated American Actress and Singer. Yvette Carmen Mimieux (born January 8 1942) is a now-retired American movie and television actress
Paul's sister Barbara was a reformed New York party girl, an older woman who had - in her father's eyes, at least - failed the family because of her extravagant lifestyle, and her affairs with younger men.
In one of the series few story arcs, Barbara - or Babs, as she was known - was trying to put her life on track and struggling to make it in the fashion business, without her father's money to bankroll her. (Though she was, at the time, involved with a younger man. )
Barbara was divorced, with one adult daughter Melody Hughes(Claudia Christian), who was married to the ambitious Todd Hughes (Art Hindle). Claudia Ann Christian (born August 10, 1965) is an American actress writer singer musician and director Arthur Hindle (born July 21 1948) is a Canadian actor and director
The other characters typically worked in or around the department store: junior salesgirl Stacey Russell (Jonelle Allen) who was promoted to a boutique manager in the first episode, model Laurel Hayes (Laura Ashton) who charms the widowed Simon Berrenger, con man John Higgins (Jeff Conaway) who has his eye on the needy, vulnerable Barbara, and designer and entrepreneur Julio Morales (Eddie Velez) who partners with Barbara in a business venture. Jonelle Allen (born July 18, 1944) is an American Actress, Singer, and Dancer. Jeff Conaway (born October 5, 1950, New York City, New York, U Edwin "Eddie" Velez ( June 4, 1958 in New York City) is a Hispanic-American actor who stars in films and on television
One of the series key figures was the mysterious Danny Krucek (Jack Scalia), who was involved financially with Simon Berrenger, but romantically interested in Shane Bradley. Jack Scalia (born November 10, 1950) is an American actor He has appeared in Drama, horror, action, and thriller films The series production notes described him as a "Mafia-connected conglomerate chief . . . who lives to destroy the Berrenger empire".
Though it was never clarified on air, it was implied that Krucek was the illegitimate son of Simon Berrenger, a story twist which would have made him a legitimate claimant to Paul Berrenger's position as the elder Berrenger's heir.
Episodes
A total of 11 episodes were screened between January 5, 1985 and March 9, 1985. The episode titles were Overture, For Gloria's Benefit, Of Boardrooms & Bedrooms, Fame & Misfortune, Seduction, Dangerous Ground, Power Play, Best Laid Plans, Roll Tape, Hidden Agenda and Maelstrom.
Trivia
The series had an unusually high theatrical pedigree among its cast - Yvette Mimieux was a successful film actress; Sam Wanamaker, Anita Morris and Andrea Marcovicci were all successful Broadway stars. Yvette Carmen Mimieux (born January 8 1942) is a now-retired American movie and television actress Sam Wanamaker ( June 14, 1919 &ndash December 18, 1993) was an American Film director and Actor, credited Anita Rose Morris ( March 14, 1943 - March 2, 1994) was an American actress Andrea Louisa Marcovicci (born November 18, 1948) is a Golden Globe -nominated American Actress and Singer.
Berrengers was produced by Diana Gould (Dynasty), David Jacobs (Knots Landing) and Stuart Sheslow. Diana Gould is a Screenwriter for Television and a Short story Author. Dynasty is an American Prime time television Soap opera that aired on ABC from January 12 1981 to David William Jacobs ( April 30, 1888 in Cardiff, Wales – June 6, 1976 in Aberconwy, Wales) Knots Landing is a Primetime Television Soap opera that aired for 14 seasons from December 27 1979 to May 13