About
"I think you have to love what you're doing. I'm a big football and baseball fan, but I can't remember the name of the firstbaseman of the Dodgers, but I can tell you that you didn't get that shot or you trimmed that shot of the man at the bar. I don't know. But it's kind of fun to make sure. That's why you have to read these scripts and get an imprint in your mind of what the show is."
In his three-hour interview, Aaron Spelling (1923-2006) speaks of his career as an actor, appearing on Dragnet and I Love Lucy, among other shows, before turning to writing and producing. He describes the role of a producer and discusses the creation of such programs as Charlie's Angels, Dynasty, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Beverly Hills 90210, and Melrose Place. He details his production companies with various business partners -- Danny Thomas, Leonard Goldberg, and Doug Cramer -- and reflects on producing the films And the Band Played On for HBO and Mr. Mom for theatrical release. Spelling also contemplates the future of television and discusses the success of many of his programs in syndication. Henry Colman conducted the interview in two sessions on November 18 and 29, 1999 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Aaron Spelling on the catfights on Dynasty
Aaron Spelling on coming up with the main title sequence of Charlie's Angels
Aaron Spelling on what made Beverly Hills, 90210 a hit
Aaron Spelling on the premise of Starsky and Hutch
Aaron Spelling on the "jiggle TV" label placed upon Charlie's Angels
Aaron Spelling on the three story format of Love Boat
Aaron Spelling on "Julie" in his scripts
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on his love of books as a child; on serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II and why he never flies; on attending college at Southern Methodist University (SMU); on his first impressions of television
On moving to Los Angeles; on writing plays; on his big break with Preston Sturges and acting on Dragnet and I Love Lucy; on being in movies; on his first gigs as a writer for Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater, Fireside Theatre and Playhouse 90; on what he learned from Dick Powell; on dealing with network interference
Chapter 2
On doing shows that dealt with important issues; on telling people on 5 sets of JFK's assassination; on writing and producing for June Allyson; on what it takes to be a good producer
On Four Star Productions; on creating his first dramatic series, Johnny Ringo; on writing and producing Burke's Law and the show's amazing guest stars; on the Hollywood Blacklist; on co-creating The Smothers Brothers Show; on leaving Four Star Productions
Chapter 3
On partnering with Danny Thomas in Thomas-Spelling Productions and producing Rango and The Mod Squad; on forming Aaron Spelling Productions
On the television movies he produced - Over the Hill Gang, And the Band Played On, and The Boy in the Plastic Bubble; on partnering with Leonard Goldberg for Spelling-Goldberg Productions; on on producing The Rookies, S.W.A.T., and Family;
Chapter 4
On the genesis and production of Starsky and Hutch; on the creation and cast of Charlie's Angels;
On the genesis and production of Fantasy Island; on the guest stars on Fantasy Island; on selling Spelling-Goldberg to Columbia Pictures; on the development and casting of Love Boat; on Vega$
Chapter 5
On producing Hart to Hart and Dynasty; on Joan Collins joining Dynasty; on Dynasty going off the air
On T.J. Hooker; on movies he produced - Mr. Mom; on developing Hotel; on taking Aaron Spelling Productions public and the subsequent merger; on producing Life With Lucy with Lucille Ball
Chapter 6
On producing Life with Lucy (contd.); on the end of his association with ABC and doing Nightingales at NBC; on producing Beverly Hills, 90210; on producing Melrose Place
On career regrets; on using guest stars in anthologies and dramas; on why TV is so popular; on the future of television; on his family and how he proposed to his wife; on his house
Shows
7th Heaven
Aaron Spelling on discussing issues on 7th Heaven
And the Band Played On
Aaron Spelling on producing the HBO movie And the Band Played On
Beverly Hills, 90210
Aaron Spelling on what made Beverly Hills, 90210 a hit
Aaron Spelling on his daughter, Tori Spelling, joining the cast of Beverly Hills, 90210
Aaron Spelling on producing Beverly Hills, 90210
Boy in the Plastic Bubble, The
Aaron Spelling on producing The Boy in the Plastic Bubble
Burke's Law
Aaron Spelling on writing and producing Burke's Law
Charlie's Angels
Aaron Spelling on Charlie's Angels
Colbys, The
Aaron Spelling on spinning of The Colbys from Dynasty
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Aaron Spelling on writing for Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater
Aaron Spelling on working with Dick Powell
Dynasty
Aaron Spelling on fighting the network to get storylines on Dynasty
Aaron Spelling on Dynasty
Aaron Spelling on Dynasty going off the air
Family
Aaron Spelling on producing Family
Fantasy Island
Aaron Spelling on storylines on Fantasy Island
Aaron Spelling on the development and casting of Fantasy Island
Fireside Theatre
Aaron Spelling on writing for "Jane Wyman Presents" on Fireside Theatre
Hart to Hart
Aaron Spelling on producing Hart to Hart
Hotel
Aaron Spelling on developing Hotel
I Love Lucy
Aaron Spelling on acting in I Love Lucy
Johnny Ringo
Aaron Spelling on creating his first dramatic series, Johnny Ringo
Life With Lucy
Aaron Spelling on producing Life With Lucy with Lucille Ball
Aaron Spelling on his regrets about producing Life With Lucy
Love Boat, The
Aaron Spelling on the development and casting of Love Boat
Love Boat, The: The Next Wave
Aaron Spelling on The Love Boat: The Next Wave
Melrose Place
Aaron Spelling on producing Melrose Place
Mod Squad, The
Aaron Spelling on executive producing The Mod Squad
Nightingales
Aaron Spelling on Brandon Tartikoff of NBC wanting to speak with him about a series commitment
Over-The-Hill Gang, The
Aaron Spelling on producing one of the first TV movies, Over the Hill Gang
Playhouse 90
Aaron Spelling on writing for Playhouse 90
Rango
Aaron Spelling on creating Rango
Rookies, The
Aaron Spelling on producing The Rookies
S.W.A.T.
Aaron Spelling on producing S.W.A.T.
Smothers Brothers Show, The
Aaron Spelling on co-creating his only sitcom, The Smothers Brothers Show
Starsky and Hutch
Aaron Spelling on the genesis and production of Starsky and Hutch
T.J. Hooker
Aaron Spelling on T.J. Hooker
Vega$
Aaron Spelling on the success of Vega$
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Aaron Spelling on network interference when writing for Sammy Davis, Jr. on Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater
Aaron Spelling on fighting the network to get storylines on Dynasty
Aaron Spelling on creating one of TV's first regular gay characters on Dynasty
Characters & Catchphrases
Aaron Spelling on Joan Collins joining Dynasty
Emmy Awards
Aaron Spelling on winning an Emmy for the HBO movie And the Band Played On
Historic Events and Social Change
Aaron Spelling on hiring the cast of Charlie's Angels
Hollywood Blacklist
Aaron Spelling on the Hollywood Blacklist
JFK Assassination and Funeral
Aaron Spelling on telling people on 5 sets of JFK's assassination
LGBTQIA+
Aaron Spelling on believing that you can teach and entertain at the same time
Aaron Spelling on creating one of TV's first regular gay characters on Dynasty
Representation on Television
Aaron Spelling on believing that you can teach and entertain at the same time
Television Industry
Aaron Spelling on network interference when writing for Sammy Davis, Jr. on Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
Aaron Spelling on writing for and production of Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater
Women
Aaron Spelling on the scarcity of female writers and directors in the '50s and '60s
Aaron Spelling on hiring the cast of Charlie's Angels
Aaron Spelling on the "jiggle TV" label placed upon Charlie's Angels
Professions
Producers
Aaron Spelling on what it takes to be a good producer
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
Aaron Spelling on writing for and production of Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Aaron Spelling on Charlie's Angels
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Aaron Spelling on Joan Collins joining Dynasty
Drama Series
Aaron Spelling on producing Beverly Hills, 90210
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Aaron Spelling on producing the HBO movie And the Band Played On
People
June Allyson
Aaron Spelling on writing and producing for June Allyson
Aaron Spelling on writing and producing for June Allyson
Lucille Ball
Aaron Spelling on producing Life With Lucy with Lucille Ball
Aaron Spelling on his regrets about producing Life With Lucy
Gene Barry
Aaron Spelling on writing and producing Burke's Law
Anne Baxter
Aaron Spelling on developing Hotel
Meredith Baxter-Birney
Aaron Spelling on Meredith Baxter-Birney starring in Family
William Blinn
Aaron Spelling on the genesis and production of Starsky and Hutch
Charles Boyer
Aaron Spelling on starting Four Star Productions
James Broderick
Aaron Spelling on the cast of Family
James Brolin
Aaron Spelling on developing Hotel
Joan Collins
Aaron Spelling on Joan Collins joining Dynasty
Tim Conway
Aaron Spelling on creating Rango
Bob Cooper
Aaron Spelling on producing the HBO movie And the Band Played On
Bette Davis
Aaron Spelling on developing Hotel
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Aaron Spelling on network interference when writing for Sammy Davis, Jr. on Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater
Barry Diller
Aaron Spelling on partnering with Leonard Goldberg for Spelling-Goldberg Productions
Aaron Spelling on hiring the cast of Charlie's Angels
Aaron Spelling on producing Beverly, Hills 90210 upon Barry Diller's request to do a high school show
Farrah Fawcett
Aaron Spelling on hiring the cast of Charlie's Angels
John Forsythe
Aaron Spelling on fighting the network to get storylines on Dynasty
Aaron Spelling on creating Dynasty
John Frankenheimer
Aaron Spelling on writing for Playhouse 90
James Garner
Aaron Spelling on meeting James Garner
Paul Michael Glaser
Aaron Spelling on the genesis and production of Starsky and Hutch
Leonard Goldberg
Aaron Spelling on partnering with Leonard Goldberg for Spelling-Goldberg Productions
Leonard H. Goldenson
Aaron Spelling on forming Aaron Spelling Productions and getting a deal with ABC
Fred Grandy
Aaron Spelling on the development and casting of Love Boat
Alex Haley
Aaron Spelling on developing Hotel
Bill Hayes
Aaron Spelling on forming Aaron Spelling Productions
William Holden
Aaron Spelling on why he never flies
Kate Jackson
Aaron Spelling on Kate Jackson coming up with the title of Charlie's Angels
Bernie Kopell
Aaron Spelling on the development and casting of Love Boat
Alan Ladd
Aaron Spelling on writing a feature, One Foot in Hell, starring Alan Ladd
Ted Lange
Aaron Spelling on the development and casting of Love Boat
Abe Lastfogel
Aaron Spelling on leaving Four Star Productions
Peggy Lipton
Aaron Spelling on casting The Mod Squad
Heather Locklear
Aaron Spelling on creating Dynasty
Aaron Spelling on T.J. Hooker
Aaron Spelling on producing Melrose Place
Alfred Lunt
Aaron Spelling on touring with Alfred Lunt
Ida Lupino
Aaron Spelling on starting Four Star Productions
Gavin MacLeod
Aaron Spelling on the development and casting of Love Boat
Martin Manulis
Aaron Spelling on writing for Playhouse 90
Kristy McNichol
Aaron Spelling on the cast of Family
Ricardo Montalban
Aaron Spelling on the development and casting of Fantasy Island
Mike Nichols
Aaron Spelling on Mike Nichols joining the writing/producing staff of Family
David Niven
Aaron Spelling on starting Four Star Productions
Dick Powell
Aaron Spelling on his first big writing job
Aaron Spelling on writing for and production of Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater
Aaron Spelling on Dick Powell
Aaron Spelling on starting Four Star Productions
Aaron Spelling on creating his first dramatic series, Johnny Ringo
Aaron Spelling on writing and producing Burke's Law
Aaron Spelling on leaving Four Star Productions after Dick Powell's death
Stefanie Powers
Aaron Spelling on casting Hart to Hart
Elton H. Rule
Aaron Spelling on forming Aaron Spelling Productions and getting a deal with ABC
George Schlatter
Aaron Spelling on meeting George Schlatter
Connie Sellecca
Aaron Spelling on developing Hotel
Esther Shapiro
Aaron Spelling on fighting the network to get storylines on Dynasty
Aaron Spelling on creating Dynasty
Aaron Spelling on creating Dynasty
Richard Shapiro
Aaron Spelling on creating Dynasty
William Shatner
Aaron Spelling on T.J. Hooker
Fred Silverman
Aaron Spelling on getting Charlie's Angels on the air
Jaclyn Smith
Aaron Spelling on hiring the cast of Charlie's Angels
Dick Smothers
Aaron Spelling on co-creating his only sitcom, The Smothers Brothers Show
Tom Smothers
Aaron Spelling on co-creating his only sitcom, The Smothers Brothers Show
David Soul
Aaron Spelling on the genesis and production of Starsky and Hutch
Tori Spelling
Aaron Spelling on his daughter, Tori Spelling, joining the cast of Beverly Hills, 90210
Barbara Stanwyck
Aaron Spelling on spinning of The Colbys from Dynasty
Darren Star
Aaron Spelling on producing Beverly Hills, 90210
Aaron Spelling on producing Melrose Place
Brandon Stoddard
Aaron Spelling on the development and casting of Fantasy Island
Preston Sturges
Aaron Spelling on the moment that changed his life
Brandon Tartikoff
Aaron Spelling on Brandon Tartikoff of NBC wanting to speak with him
Lauren Tewes
Aaron Spelling on the development and casting of Love Boat
Danny Thomas
Aaron Spelling on leaving Four Star Productions
Aaron Spelling on partnering with Danny Thomas in Thomas-Spelling Productions
Aaron Spelling on telling Danny Thomas about The Mod Squad
Sada Thompson
Aaron Spelling on the cast of Family
John Travolta
Aaron Spelling on producing The Boy in the Plastic Bubble
Lana Turner
Aaron Spelling on the 500th guest star of Love Boat
Herve Villechaize
Aaron Spelling on the development and casting of Fantasy Island
Robert Wagner
Aaron Spelling on casting Hart to Hart
Andy Warhol
Aaron Spelling on Andy Warhol being a fan of Love Boat
Jack Webb
Aaron Spelling on meeting Jack Webb and acting on Dragnet
Orson Welles
Aaron Spelling on the network wanting to cast Orson Welles as the lead in Fantasy Island
Jill Whelan
Aaron Spelling on the development and casting of Love Boat
Jane Wyman
Aaron Spelling on his first big writing job