Berrenger's

Berrenger's is an American prime-time soap opera television series created by Diana Gould[1][2][3] that aired on NBC from January 5 to March 16, 1985. The series revolved around the Berrenger family, a New York dynasty which owned the glamorous department store which bore their name.[4]

Berrenger's
GenreSoap opera
Created byDiana Gould
StarringSam Wanamaker
Eddie Velez
Michael Hennessey
Neva Patterson
David Blackwood
Anita Morris
Yvette Mimieux
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes12 (1 unaired)
Production
Running time60 minutes
Production companiesRoundelay Productions
Lorimar Productions
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseJanuary 5 (1985-01-05) –
March 16, 1985 (1985-03-16)

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.

The series was cancelled after 13 one-hour episodes had been produced. In North America, only 11 of the 13 episodes were screened. It was also broadcast in the UK and Australia.

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 Lorimar, who were producing Dallas, Knots Landing and Falcon Crest. 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, the owners of the Manhattan department store that bore their name.[5] The family was headed by widowed, and somewhat devious, patriarch Simon Berrenger.

Berrenger had three children from his late wife, Sarah - sons Billy and Paul and daughter Barbara.

Paul, Simon's eldest son and heir, was unhappily married to nasty New York socialite Gloria Brahms Berrenger. Paul was a senior executive in the store, and is romantically involved with the department store's competent merchandising vice-president, Shane Bradley.

Gloria, who was quite the schemer in her own right and was only married to Paul because of his money and the Berrenger name, had her father in-law, Simon, on her side. He felt that Paul and Gloria being married brought him added prestige. Gloria and Paul also have a young son named David.

Billy, Simon's younger son, was more likable, in that he wasn't scheming. However, Billy had a huge drinking problem.

Paul and Billy's sister Barbara (Babs) 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, Babs 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.

Barbara was divorced, with one adult daughter Melody Hughes, who was married to the ambitious Todd Hughes, who worked as comptroller of the store, and had run afoul of Melody's family, especially Paul.

Paul tended to be quite protective of his niece, as was Simon, who clearly loved his family. Paul did not like Todd throwing around authority which he didn't really have.

The other characters typically worked in or around the department store: junior salesgirl Stacey Russell who was promoted to a boutique manager in the first episode; model Laurel Hayes who charms the widowed Simon Berrenger; con man John Higgins who has his eye on the needy, vulnerable Barbara; store clerk, Cammie Springer who shared an apartment with Stacey and Laurel; and fashion designer and entrepreneur Julio Morales, who called himself Julian Morelle, who partners with Barbara in a business venture.

One of the key figures was the mysterious Danny Krucek, who was involved financially with Simon Berrenger, but romantically interested in Shane Bradley. 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.

The location shots of Berrenger's was at a real-life department store, Barneys in New York.

Credits

Cast

Crew

Episodes
Episode number Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Overture"Larry Elikann & Nicholas SgarroDiana GouldJanuary 5, 1985 (1985-01-05)
2"For Gloria's Benefit"Lorraine Senna FerraraLynn Marie Latham & Bernard LechowickJanuary 12, 1985 (1985-01-12)
3"Of Boardrooms & Bedrooms"Barbara PeetersSusan BaskinJanuary 19, 1985 (1985-01-19)
4"Fame & Misfortune"Robert BeckerAlan L. GansbergJanuary 26, 1985 (1985-01-26)
5"Seduction"Nick HavingaRobert RabinowitzJanuary 27, 1985 (1985-01-27)
6"Dangerous Ground"Bill DukeScott HamnerFebruary 2, 1985 (1985-02-02)
7"Power Play"Nick HavingaLynn Marie Latham & Bernard LechowickFebruary 9, 1985 (1985-02-09)
8"Best Laid Plans"Philip LeacockScott HamnerFebruary 16, 1985 (1985-02-16)
9"Roll Tape"Linda DayBrad BaileyFebruary 23, 1985 (1985-02-23)
10"Hidden Agenda"Robert BeckerRobert RabinowitzMarch 2, 1985 (1985-03-02)
11"Maelstrom"Michael PreeceDiana GouldMarch 9, 1985 (1985-03-09)

References
  1. Variety, Jan 9, 1985.
  2. Kitman, Marvin. (1985). Newsday. February 3, 1985.
  3. “Berrenger’s.” Variety. January 4, 1985.
  4. Schemering, Christopher (1987). The Soap Opera Encyclopedia (2nd ed.). Ballantine Books. p. 43. ISBN 0-345-35344-7.
  5. Copeland, Mary Ann (1991). Soap Opera History. Publications International. p. 263. ISBN 0-88176-933-9.
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