BRACKEN’S WORLD (1969-1970) FORGOTTEN TELEVISION

BRACKEN’S WORLD (1969-1970) – This one-hour drama has the dubious distinction of being the series that replaced Star Trek on NBC’s Fall Schedule for the 1969 into 1970 season. The program was set at fictional Century Studios in Hollywood and presented dramas about life in the film industry. Dorothy Kingsley created and produced the show and wrote several episodes.   

John Bracken ran Century Studios and in the first season all viewers got was his voice on the speakerphone, praising or crushing his employees. The voice was provided by Warren Stevens in the first season, then Leslie Nielsen took over the role and appeared in person as Bracken for the second season.

The episodes were sometimes self-contained with assorted guest stars at the center of each week’s backstabbing and maneuvering, but most revolved around a regular cast portraying figures who worked at or were under contract to Century Studios.

Appearing in all 41 episodes were Peter Haskell as producer Kevin Grant, Linda “Nova from Planet of the Apes” Harrison as ingenue actress Paulette Douglas, Elizabeth Allen as talent coach Laura Deane and Karen Jensen as established star Rachel Holt. 

Other recurring roles with a lengthy run were filled by Madlyn Rhue as Kevin Grant’s wife Marjorie, Dennis Cole as stunt man and later assistant studio head Davey Evans and Stephen Oliver as Tom Hudson, a talented but volatile actor.

THE EPISODES:

101. FADE IN – Brandoesque Tom Hudson tries to make his mark as an actor, Paulette Douglas is reluctant to do a nude scene in her first film, but her ambitious show-business mother (Jeanne Cooper) insists she do it. Producer Kevin Grant’s marriage is in trouble over his use of the casting couch. Tony Curtis, Omar Sharif and Raquel Welch make brief appearances as themselves to sell the supposed “star power” of Century Studios.

102. PANIC – Actress Diane Waring (Laraine Stephens), the actress involved in an affair with producer Kevin Grant, has a role that calls for horseback riding. An accident caused by Rachel Holt sends panic up and down the production line, so she tries to pin the blame on Diane. Edward G. Robinson was this week’s star playing himself at Century Studios.

103. KING DAVID – Carolyn Jones portrays Paula Shannon, a dimmed starlet making a comeback at Century Studios. She uses the opportunity to settle an old grudge with former studio head David Caldwell (Jay C. Flippen), the father of John Bracken’s executive secretary Sylvia (Eleanor Parker). She does that by airing his dirty laundry at a testimonial dinner. Zsa Zsa Gabor appears as herself, seriously eroding the supposed prestige of working at Century Studios. (I’m kidding!)

104. DON’T YOU CRY FOR SUSANNAH – Diane Waring beats out another actress, Susannah Ray (Diane Ewing), for a role. Susannah seems to be a good loser and signs on as the understudy for Diane, only to try poisoning her slowly. Angelique Pettyjohn guest stars and Ray Milland putters around in the background as himself. Casablanca‘s Paul Henried directed this episode.     

105. OPTIONS – Top studio accountant Johnny Churchill orders budget cuts, meaning the contract of one of Laura Deane’s acting proteges must be dropped. Paulette Douglas wants to do whatever she must to avoid being tossed out by Century Studios. Debbie Reynolds briefly appears as herself.   

106. CLOSED SET – A revered director (John Van Dreelen) comes to Century Studios to make his final film. His massive ego clashes with the only slightly less massive egos of the actors, especially Tom Hudson, who is upset that the director doesn’t want to work with him. He also wants to use Davey Evans in front of the camera rather than as a stuntman. The director is murdered, and the police are called in to solve the crime.       

107. THE SWEET SMELL OF FAILURE – On behalf of her boss John Bracken, Sylvia Caldwell looks up a fallen director (Ricardo Montalban) at a drug rehab center and tries to convince him to make a comeback at Century Studios. (Their motto: “Only SOME of our directors get murdered.”) The up-and-coming Tom Selleck IS Roj Haines, a minor supporting character. 

108. THE STUNT – Action star Brock Jordan (Gary Collins) puts the moves on his leading lady Paulette, angering her stunt man boyfriend Davey. Meanwhile, Davey is causing some anguish of his own to Brock, whose son is devastated to see that his father always has stunt men do his dangerous scenes. Brock is tempted to try a very hazardous stunt himself to impress his son. My favorite credit: “Ceil Cabot as the Ape Woman.”       

109. ALL THE BEAUTIFUL YOUNG GIRLS – Big-time actor Jason Forrest (Arthur Hill) is making a movie for Century Studios. He rekindles his romance with Laura Deane and tries to tempt her into returning to acting rather than coaching new talent AND to return with him to New York City. Laura’s decision is made for her when she sees that Jason still has an ugly tendency to chase young newcomers. Once again, Tom Selleck pops in and out as Roj Haines. Former Dead End Kid Billy Benedict appears.   

110. PACKAGE DEAL – Kevin Grant desperately wants a legendary actor (Harry Holcombe) for the new movie he’s producing, but the man forces him to sign his novice daughter (Shelley Fabares) as the film’s female lead. Her lack of talent causes plenty of setbacks. Tom Selleck completes his original “Roj Haines Trilogy” of episodes for this show.   

111. IT’S THE POWER STRUCTURE, BABY – Hot new black director Floyd Emmons (Booker Bradshaw) is signed by Century Studios. Actress Rachel Holt begins dating him and the public uproar over their interracial romance endangers both their careers. They each decide they value their Hollywood careers over their relationship and break up in the end. Terry Carter guest stars as one of Emmons’ actors. 

112. MOVE IN FOR A CLOSE-UP – Kevin Grant’s wife Marjorie tries to save their failing marriage by taking a job as an assistant script supervisor at Century Studios. This cramps Kevin’s style in all kinds of ways and makes their marital situation worse. Peter Donat guest stars and Angelique Pettyjohn is back as “Elle.” She’s no Roj Haines, but then who is? 

113. STOP DATE – Producer Kevin Grant comes under additional pressure as he struggles with his marital issues while simultaneously trying to complete a film in which he has invested a massive amount of his own money. Marie Windsor, Richard Anderson, Leigh Christian and Dane Clark guest star. 

114. THE CHASE SEQUENCE – Stunt master Davey Evans is tormented by his conscience when he permits a hungover stunt man to go through with the day’s stunt set piece and tragedy results. By popular demand Tom Selleck returns as Roj Haines for less screen time than it takes to say “Hey, isn’t that a young Tom Selleck there?” Marlyn Mason, John Alonzo, Steven Marlo, Gene LeBell and Abigail Kanter guest star. 

115. FOCUS ON A GUN – Diane Waring, her fling with Kevin Grant behind her, falls in love with Los Angeles gangster Nick Fontaine (Joe Don Baker). The public outrage over the actress dating a known mobster means she must decide between her career and her romance with an organized crime scumbag. Tom Selleck’s Roj Haines gets to sit in stony silence in the scene where Diane tells other cast members she is giving up acting for Nick. Another Dead End Kid, Billy Halop, appears. 

116. MONEY MEN – Studio Head John Bracken is voice-acting his tail off over the speaker phones as he tries to thwart a hostile takeover of Century Studios. Amid all that chaos, his executive secretary Sylvia has at last had enough of devoting her life to the studio. She quits and has plans to marry. Jan Sterling and Carl Betz guest star in this Roj Haines-less episode.   

117. “MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE STUDIO” – Kevin Grant’s attempt to get his next movie rolling is complicated by an Apache activist (Michael Baseleon as Arthur Thunderbird) who wants him to change Apache history in the film’s storyline. Uh. Yeah. As if Hollywood westerns were unerringly faithful to the real story of the west and those darn Indians kept getting in the way demanding distortions. James Hampton guest starred, so we’re lucky they didn’t use F-Troop‘s Hekawi Tribe. 

118. A PERFECT PIECE OF CASTING – Century Studios have bought the rights to a true crime story and Kevin hires newcomer Ray Wiley (Monte Markham) to play the perpetrator. When real criminals gravitate to the production, Wiley goes method and gets way too deep into character. Daniel J. Travanti plays “the Strangler.” Broderick Crawford, Johnny Haymer and Warren Berlinger guest star.

119. SUPER-STAR – When Kevin is forced to hire football star Frank Carver (Lee Majors) for the studio’s latest production he soon learns the man has no acting ability. Things get to the point where Kevin walks out on the project. Sam Elliott himself guest stars as Todd Skinner, while Andy Devine, Kathleen Hughes and Don Brodie also show up in the supporting cast.       

120. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HAPPY ENDINGS? – Last episode had Lee Majors, this one has Lee Grant as powerful gossip columnist Veronica Steele, who publicly badgers Century Studios into hiring a politically outspoken young actress. She continues meddling when the actress suffers a setback. Rest assured that Tom Selleck is back as Roj Haines in a role that amounts to simple loitering at this point.

121. FALLEN, FALLEN IS BABYLON – Actress Rachel Holt becomes the target of an obsessed fan played by John Boy himself, Richard Thomas. The fan is also obsessed with religion and feels he has been chosen to save Rachel from continuing her career of “sin”. He abducts her and holes up with her in a long-deserted section of the studio. Roj Haines would NEVER have allowed something like this to happen! Dabbs Greer and Pat Delaney guest star.   

122. PAPA NEVER SPANKED ME – In a premise bordering on science fiction, Martin “Eyes of a Rapist” Sheen plays a comedian. His character is trying to branch out into dramatic roles in the latest Century Studios effort. His old vaudeville veteran father (Jack Albertson) shows up on set and proves to be a distraction and a nuisance for his son. Betty Wand guest stars. 

123. A BEGINNING, A MIDDLE AND AN END – Kevin Grant ends up clashing with famous author Samson Wilkes (Joseph Campanella), whose novel Century Studios is adapting. The pair have conflicting visions about how the movie version should end. Dick “Please don’t squeeze the Charmin” Wilson guest stars to provide the beefcake missing without Tom Selleck around anymore.

124. DIFFUSION – The latest person to annoy Kevin Grant is the female lead of his latest production – Marian Harper (Anne Baxter). She holds up filming with her endless demands that lighting and other aspects of moviemaking be altered to reflect the good old days because she thinks she’s not looking as attractive as she should and blames it on modern processes. 

125. DAY FOR NIGHT – James Gregory and Olive Dunbar guest star as Leeson and Nan Fowler, Rachel Holt’s foster parents whom she thought were dead. They show up and try to cash in on her star status by insinuating themselves into her life, pushing her to the edge and causing her to get fired. Edward G. Robinson has a tiny appearance in an actual role this time – the movie’s sound mixer.

126. ONE, TWO, THREE … CRY – Paulette’s acting roles have dried up, prompting her to hire a personal drama coach (Barry Sullivan). He pushes for Paulette to quit the studio and to oink and boink with him. Susan Cabot, known for her roles in Roger Corman films, made her last on-screen appearance in this television episode. Also appearing were Jo Ann Pflug, Karen Carlson and Judith Baldwin. Lloyd Nolan popped up as well.     

SEASON TWO

201. LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT, CHANGE IT OR LOSE IT – Leslie Nielsen makes his first appearance as a full-bodied John Bracken and the Lettermen’s song Worlds debuts as the show’s opening theme song. Two actors, played by Forrest Tucker and Tony Bill, clash over left vs right politics, disrupting the film they are starring in for Century Studios. Harrison Page and Joe Morton guest star.

202. MURDER OFF CAMERA – Kevin Grant returns home after a night with Diane Waring to discover his wife unconscious and their son missing. Police are called in and the Grant family’s domestic problems are laid bare to the investigators. Stuart Whitman, Lane Bradbury and Lou Antonio guest star.

203. JENNY, WHO BOMBS BUILDINGS – John Bracken gets flack from various directions for casting a female political activist (Sally Field) in a movie about her own criminal activities bombing buildings. John McLiam and John Guardino are among the supporting cast in this episode.

204. TOGETHER AGAIN FOR THE LAST TIME – The star of Century Studios’ latest film production dies during filming. Bracken rather prickishly pressures the man’s widow to accommodate finishing the movie. Weird priorities, John. Janice Rule guest stars with Monika Henreid appearing as a nurse since her father Paul directed this episode.

205. A PREVIEW IN SAMARKAND – John Bracken and Kevin Grant become rivals for the affections of a talented new film editing student named Alex Hunter (Suzanne Charny). Angela Clarke and Ed Peck guest star.   

206. THE MARY TREE – Kevin Grant films a documentary about a famous writer, Elstyn Draper, played by Edward G. Robinson, who just could not stay away from this show. During the filming, Kevin gets disillusioned about the author, Keeper of the Flame style.

207. HEY GRINGO, HEY PONCHO – Kevin Grant wants actor Carlos Serrano (Ricardo Montalban) to star in a television series from Century Studios. John Bracken, who is friends with the actor, advises against it. Kevin casts him anyway, and Carlos’ fringe circle of activist friends begin making demands of the studio. Valentin de Vargas, Joe Renteria and Linda Dangcil guest star. 

208. A TEAM OF ONE-LEGGED ACROBATS – Director Gil Dobie (Tom Skerritt) and his screenwriter wife Amy (Kim Hunter) are making a movie for Century Studios. When Rachel Holt is given a role in the film, she and the director have an affair, ending the man’s marriage and his long-standing Hollywood partnership with his wife. Susan Stafford, the pre-Vanna White letter-turner on Wheel of Fortune, guest stars as Amy’s secretary.

209. THE ANONYMOUS STAR – Janet Leigh guest stars as Maggie Morgan, a very difficult actress who makes things tough for producer Kevin Grant on his latest film. He offers her a drink, which she accepts, but turns out to be a recovering alcoholic, unknown to Grant. She spirals. Ida Lupino and Marie Windsor also guest star. Edward G. Robinson continues his quest to out-Roj Haines Tom Selleck with another brief appearance, this time as a prop man.

210. INFINITY – Studio pass-around Diane Waring starts a relationship with Bracken’s top cameraman, Max Lassiter (Darren McGavin). That man is losing his sight but keeps trying to cover it up to avoid ending his career. Andrew Rubin, Carlos Rivas and Diana Herbert guest star.

211. THE NUDE SCENE – This time around the show looks at nude scenes from the point of view of both an actress (Lois Nettleton) AND an actor (Steve Ihnat). The pair are conflicted about going through with it. Vincent Van Patten, Craig Stevens and Byron Morrow guest star.

212. A SCORE WITHOUT STRINGS – Bracken hires an avant garde composer to score a new film from Century Studios. The composer (Jim McMullan) romances Paulette while clashing repeatedly with Bracken and Kevin Grant about the music for the movie. The temperamental man winds up quitting the film and dumping Paulette.

213. WILL FREDDY’S REAL FATHER PLEASE STAND UP? – Century Studios hires a black child (George Spell) as their newest star. After a time, the child’s birth father (Rupert Crosse) shows up and the young man feels torn between him and his stepfather, who has gotten him his show business opportunities. He holds up production for Bracken by running off to drift with his real father.   

214. THE COUNTRY BOY – Bracken signs a singer named Teek Hawkins (Tim Matheson), who wants to be an actor. While he is being trained by talent coach Laura Keane they fall in love with each other. Things get complicated and ultimately Bracken threatens to fire her. (But hey, there’s only one episode left, so no biggie.)

215. MISS ISABEL BLUE – A British actress named Isabel Blue (Sally Ann Howes from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) is hired by Bracken to play Susan B. Anthony in a biopic. She demands more realism in the script and galvanizes the studio workers to demand better conditions (even though they have a union for that). A bickering battle of the sexes romance develops between her and Bracken.   

*** And so ended Bracken’s World. Many critics write that it was already dated during its initial run because the studio system that it depicted had all but collapsed by the time the show hit the airwaves.  

FOR MORE FORGOTTEN TELEVISION CLICK HERE:   https://glitternight.com/category/forgotten-television/