Diahann Carroll Joins "DYNASTY" (1984)

ABC touted the arrival of Diahann Carroll who joined "DYNASTY" - America's #1 TV series in the 1984/85 season - as series regular Dominique Deveraux in their "Love Boat Fall Preview Party" (aired in September 1984).

The Aaron Spelling soap began its 5th season on the network several days later.

Carroll of course appeared in the final 2 episodes of season 4 earlier that year as part of the May cliffhanger, but the writers had kept her connection to the Carrington family a secret.

According to early rumors (from April 1984) four different versions of the revelation who she was were shot, but in the end fans learned they had to wait till fall to find out.

One of the rumors was that she would be the long-lost mother of the deceased major domo Joseph's daughter Kirby (Kathleen Beller).

The press reported at the time she would be "the first major black performer on a network prime time soap opera."

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=euUVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IhQEAAAAIBAJ&d...

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[shacks29]

What a brilliant Idea Dynasty party @ Love Boat Set, Aaron was a genius!

Do you have the whole special?

[LBColby]

No, I don't. Just the clip. And it wasn't a Dynasty party. They previewed the entire ABC fall line-up with a special focus on new shows. I guess they used the Love Boat set, because Spelling was still the network's top producer, although this was the season when his influence began to wane. I believe he still had 7 hours of programming on the ABC line-up that year. After that, he would have fewer and fewer hours each year, until "Dynasty" remained his only ABC show in the 1988/89 season.

[49jubilee]

Diahann Carrolls real name is Carol Johnson, Lewis carroll real name is Charles lewiston....carroll is a cool name and rare, even among the irish

[Bujinas]

@TheGemini90 : I added that in their too, but i just covered by saying they are loved by MainStream America...because i didn't want to offend anyone. Because of Diahann Carroll a.k.a. Carroll Diahann (i wanted to throw in her real name) I'll be placing my order for Dynasty's seasons 1-2, & 4-7 (skipping 3 and the seasons after 7 didn't have Diahann).

[TheGemini90]

@Bujinas not also mentioning both instances having a black actress joining a mainly white show.

[Bujinas]

@TheGemini90 : I feel that ABC is doing that with Vanessa as well. She also sings in her career like Diahann has and is also a Household name. Sidenote...she's also very Mainstream.

[TheGemini90]

I think ABC is now revisiting this move with Vanessa Williams joining the cast of Desperate Housewives this fall (great move!)

[TheGemini90]

I think ABC is now revisiting this move with Vanessa Williams joining the cast of Desperate Housewives this fall (great move!)

[hardrein101]

why is DC singing this tired song??...she is a very good actress because she tryin to do her damndest to look like she is havin fun with it.

[Adamek834]

Thank you LBColby! :)

[hardrein101]

good to know thnks so much.

[LeonAcord]

man, where do you keep finding all these wonderful clips?