Richard and Esther Shapiro

Richard Allen Shapiro (born June 27, 1934)[1] and Esther June Shapiro (née Mayesh; born June 6, 1928)[2] are an American married couple who work as television screenwriters and producers, through their Shapiro Film Corporation.[2] They are best known as the creators of the long-running 1980s prime time soap opera Dynasty, its spin-off series The Colbys, and the 1991 miniseries Dynasty: The Reunion.

For the fictional character Esther "Esty" Shapiro, see Unorthodox (miniseries).
Richard Shapiro
Born
Richard Allen Shapiro

(1934-06-27) June 27, 1934
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Television writer, screenwriter, television producer
Known forDynasty, The Colbys, Dynasty: The Reunion
SpouseEsther Shapiro
Esther Shapiro
Born
Esther June Mayesh

(1928-06-06) June 6, 1928
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Television writer, screenwriter, television producer
Known forDynasty, The Colbys, Dynasty: The Reunion
SpouseRichard Shapiro

In 1984, Doubleday/Dolphin published the companion book Dynasty: The Authorized Biography of the Carringtons,[3] which included an introduction by Esther Shapiro.

Dynasty

The Shapiros created and produced the prime time soap opera Dynasty, which debuted in 1981.[4] Written as the Shapiros' creative response to the 1979 oil crisis,[5] and intended by ABC to be a competitor for CBS's Dallas,[6] the series ranked #28 its first season.[7] Ratings steadily grew, with Dynasty reaching #1 for the 1984–85 season.[8][9] A spin-off, The Colbys, debuted in 1985,[10] but was cancelled after two seasons.[11] Dynasty was cancelled in 1989, with the Shapiros writing and producing a reunion miniseries in 1991.[12][13][14]

During Dynasty's run, the Shapiros also co-created the prime time soap opera Emerald Point N.A.S., which lasted for one season from 1983 to 1984,[15] and the medical drama HeartBeat, which ran two seasons from 1988 to 1989.[16]

At the height of Dynasty's popularity in 1985, Joe Klein of New York called Esther "the ABC network's most valuable asset ... and perhaps the most influential woman executive in television".[5] Dynasty producer Aaron Spelling and others compared Esther to her creation, Blake Carrington (John Forsythe).[5]

Dynasty legacy

In January 2004, Esther Shapiro participated in a marathon of the show's episodes on SOAPnet, Serial Bowl: Alexis vs. Krystle, giving behind-the-scenes tidbits and factoids.

In 2005 Ritchie Singer and Pamela Reed portrayed the Shapiros in Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure, a fictionalized ABC television movie based on the creation and behind the scenes production of Dynasty.[17]

The first season of Dynasty was released on Region 1 DVD an April 19, 2005 by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. This edition includes audio commentary by Esther Shapiro.

The Shapiros announced on January 12, 2011, that they had written a Dynasty prequel feature film script set in the 1960s, and were shopping it to studios for a possible film franchise.[18] In a September 2011 interview, Dynasty actress Joan Collins chatted about a Dynasty television revival: "I've been in constant contact with Esther Shapiro, who wrote it, and apparently they've written a script."[19]

In September 2016, it was announced that a Dynasty reboot was in development at The CW, with the Shapiros attached as producers.[20][21] The project received a series order in May 2017,[22][23] and premiered in the US on October 11, 2017.[24] Dynasty ran for five seasons, ending in September 2022.[25][26]

Personal life

The Shapiros are Jewish, with Esther's family being Sephardic Jews from Greece and Turkey.[27]

Credits
Year Project Position Notes
1962 Route 66 Co-writers (story credit only, as Richard Shapiro and Esther Mayesh; teleplay by Stirling Silliphant) Episode: "A Long Piece of Mischief"
1964 Bonanza Co-writers (as Richard Shapiro and Esther Mayesh) Episode: "A Dime's Worth of Glory"
1966 Combat! Writer: Richard Shapiro only Episode: "Gulliver"
1966–1967 Iron Horse Co-writers (2) episodes
1968 Tarzan Co-writers (3) episodes
1968 Garrison's Gorillas Co-writers: Richard Shapiro & Shimon Wincelberg Episode: "Run from Death"
1969–1970 Land of the Giants Writer: Richard Shapiro only (4) episodes
1971 Medical Center Writer: Richard Shapiro only (1) episode
1975 Sarah T. – Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic Co-writers Television film
1976 The Great Scout & Cathouse Thursday Writer: Richard Shapiro only Film
1977 Intimate Strangers Co-writers/Co-producers Television film
1977 Minstrel Man Co-writers Television film
1979 The Cracker Factory Writer/producer: Richard Shapiro only Television film
1981 East of Eden Writer: Richard Shapiro only Miniseries
1981–1989 Dynasty Co-creators/Co-executive producers (220) episodes
1983–1984 Emerald Point N.A.S. Co-creators/Co-executive producers (22) episodes
1985–1987 The Colbys Co-creators/Co-executive producers (49) episodes
1987 Free Spirit Co-writers Television film
1988–1989 HeartBeat Co-creators/Co-executive producers (18) episodes
1989 When We Were Young Co-writers Television film
1991 Dynasty: The Reunion Co-creators/Co-executive producers Miniseries
1991 Blood Ties Writer: Richard Shapiro only
Co-executive producers		 Television film
1996 The Colony Co-writers/Co-executive producers Television film
2017–2022 Dynasty Co-creators/Co-executive producers (64) episodes

References
  1. "Library of Congress Authorities: Shapiro, Richard, 1934–". Library of Congress. Retrieved August 31, 2018 – via lccn.loc.gov.
  2. "Esther Shapiro Biography 1934–". Retrieved August 31, 2018 – via Filmreference.com.
  3. Dynasty: The Authorized Biography of the Carringtons, 1984, Doubleday/Dolphin, 150 pg. ISBN 0-385-19525-7.
  4. Schemering, Christopher (September 1985). The Soap Opera Encyclopedia. pp. 80–81. ISBN 0-345-32459-5.
  5. Klein, Joe (September 2, 1985). "The Real Star of Dynasty". New York. pp. 32–39. Retrieved June 1, 2017 – via Google Books.
  6. Jacobs, Alexandra (October 6, 2017). "A Dynasty for Generation Gossip Girl (Mom Can Watch, Too)". The New York Times. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  7. Rothenberg, Fred (July 24, 1981). "Prime-time soap opera Dynasty trying old whodunnit technique". The Register-Guard. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  8. Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (October 2007). "Top-Rated Programs by Season". The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present (9th ed.). Ballantine Books. pp. 1689–1692. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4.
  9. "ClassicTVHits.com: TV Ratings > 1984–1985". Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  10. "ABC Revises Fall List in Battle for Ratings". The New York Times. May 7, 1985. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  11. Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (2003). The Directory To Prime Time TV Shows (8th ed.). Ballantine Books.
  12. Gliatto, Tom; Sheff, Vicki (August 5, 1991). "Alexis Strikes Again!". People. Vol. 36, no. 4. pp. 66–68. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  13. Walker, Joseph (May 24, 1989). "Dynasty Cliffhanger is Just That". Deseret News. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
  14. Szul, Barbara (May 21, 1989). "The Real-life Fallon: Emma Samms Of Dynasty Is A Star On A Mission". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  15. Handler, David (June 1, 1999). "Relevancy tarnishes Emerald's glitter". Indiana Gazette. Pennsylvania, Indiana. p. 10. Retrieved September 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  16. Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present (9th ed.). Ballantine Books. p. 596. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4.
  17. "Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure: Credits". Der-denver-clan.de. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
  18. Malkin, Marc (January 12, 2011). "Shoulder Pad Alert! Another Classic Prime-Time Soap Is Headed for the Big Screen". E! Online. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  19. Wightman, Catriona (September 6, 2011). "Joan Collins: 'New Dynasty script has been written'". Digital Spy. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  20. Goldberg, Lesley; O'Connell, Michael (September 30, 2016). "Dynasty Reboot in the Works at The CW". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  21. Andreeva, Nellie (September 30, 2016). "Dynasty Reboot Set At the CW With Josh Schwartz & Stephanie Savage". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  22. Holloway, Daniel (May 10, 2017). "Dynasty Reboot, Military Drama Valor Land Series Orders at CW". Variety. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  23. Saunders, Emma (May 11, 2017). "Everything we know about the Dynasty remake". BBC. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  24. Andreeva, Nellie (June 8, 2017). "The CW Sets Fall 2017 Premiere Dates For Dynasty & Valor And Returning Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  25. Petski, Denise (May 12, 2022). "Dynasty Will End with Season 5 on The CW". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  26. Swift, Andy (May 12, 2022). "Dynasty Cancelled After 5 Seasons". TVLine. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  27. Miller, Gerri (October 5, 2017). "'Dynasty' Creator Esther Shapiro Dishes on '80s Soap's Reboot". Jewish Journal.
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