As the classic 80s series Dynasty returns in a brand new revamp, actor Grant Show, who stars as billionaire Blake Carrington, gives us the lowdown
With its feuding families, infamous cat-fights and battles over billion dollar oil deals, long-running series Dynasty made compulsive viewing in the 80s.
Who could forget the bitchy warring between glamorous rivals Alexis Colby (played by Dame Joan Collins) and Krystle Carrington, (Linda Evans) or the lengths billionaire oil mogul, Blake Carrington (John Forsythe) would go to to protect his family fortune.
Now the iconic show which ran between 1981 to 1989, has been given a modern reboot for a new Netflix series. Melrose Place actor, Grant Show slips into the shoes of Blake while Vampire Diaries star, Nathalie Kelley, marries into the Carrington family as a young Cristal.
With the exciting new version about to premiere , TV & Satellite Week caught up with 55-year-old Grant Show in Los Angeles to find out what's in store and to get the gossip from behind the scenes....
Grant Show's TV & Satellite Week interview
TV & SATELLITE WEEK: How is Netflix’s rebooted version of Dynasty different to the iconic show from the 1980s?
Grant Show: "All the characters are essentially the same but it’s set in the current day, and times are different. Things are a lot faster, a lot slicker and a lot less naïve."
TVSW: How does it feel to step into the shoes of Blake Carrington?
GS: "Blake Carrington is such an iconic character. He’s one of the most complicated characters in soap opera history – although I'm not sure if he was a villain or not. That's what I'm continuing to strive for; those complexities, but in a modern era. Blake can't be homophobic in 2017 like he was in the 80s, but he can have problems with his son not being the son that he wants him to be."
TVSW: What motivates your version of the character?
GS: "My Blake Carrington will ruthlessly defend everything that's important to him. He will ruthlessly defend his family, his business and the longevity of his dynasty. He will crush anything that gets in his way. That's how I go after it."
TVSW: You’ve had a long career in Hollywood. Have you ever met John Forsythe, the original Blake, and were you a fan of the original show?
GS: "No, I never met John and I didn’t watch Dynasty. I watched a snippet on YouTube for the first time when I got the audition, and I thought to myself, ‘Oh, I can't do that, so what am I going to do?’ I did my own thing."
TVSW: Did you feel intimidated to play a world-famous role created by another actor?
GS: "It wasn’t intimidating at all. If I was close to him (Forsythe) and it felt like they were casting me so that I’d be like him, I’d be concerned – but I’m not. I'm totally different. I'm just in there doing my own thing."
TVSW: Have you managed to watch any episodes of the original series since your audition?
GS: "When we started to shoot the pilot, everybody was watching it. I wanted to be part of the water cooler talk, so I watched the very first episode. I have to tell you, I was immensely impressed with John Forsythe and his talent. The scene with him and Steven when he first confronts him about his homosexuality is an amazing scene. Where he says, “How can a man trust a man who has put his hands on another man?” It’s incredible."
TVSW: The original Dynasty didn't take off until Joan Collins arrived as Alexis Carrington in the second season premiere. Can we expect the iconic character to turn up in this reboot?
GS: "We refer to her a lot on the show. She’s mentioned by name in the pilot. If not in person, she is definitely there in spirit all the time."
TVSW: Does the new show feel a lot younger than the original series?
GS: "Well, I’m only about six years younger than Forsythe was. There’s not a huge difference in our age, but there are other differences. For example, the setting of the show."
TVSW: Why change the setting from Denver to Atlanta? And does this mean the Carrington family is no longer in the oil business?
GS: "We’re still in oil distribution, but I think Atlanta’s a better setting than Denver because Atlanta is really vibrant right now. There’s a big cultural movement in the city, a big music centre. It's got a great night life and it allows for a lot of flashier stuff to go on in the show."
TVSW: What do you like to do when you’re not working?
GS: "Sleep. I've never been number one on the call sheet before. This is a hard job, but I love my sleep."
TVSW: Are there fun things to do in Atlanta during any time off?
GS: "Generally, I like to play golf – but I haven't had time recently. I've got a three-year-old daughter, so I try to spend a lot of time with her whenever I can."
TVSW: Well, we look forward to watching the new show…
GS: "Thank you. I think you're going to love it. It's terrific."
Dynasty is on Netflix from Thursday 12 October
