The Colbys is an American prime time television soap opera that originally aired on ABC from November 20, 1985, to March 26, 1987. Produced by Aaron Spelling, it was a spin-off of Dynasty, which had been the highest rated series for the 1984–1985 U.S. television season. The Colbys revolves around another vastly wealthy, upper-class family, who are relatives by marriage to the Carringtons of Dynasty and who own a large multinational conglomerate. It stars Charlton Heston as billionaire Jason Colby, Barbara Stanwyck as his sister Constance, Stephanie Beacham as Jason's wife Sable, and John James and Emma Samms as their Dynasty characters Jeff Colby and Fallon Carrington. Designed to be bigger than the original show, The Colbys was ultimately a ratings disappointment, and was cancelled after two seasons and 49 episodes.

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally releasedRankRating
First releasedLast released
124November 20, 1985(1985-11-20)May 22, 1986(1986-05-22)3515.50
225September 24, 1986(1986-09-24)March 26, 1987(1987-03-26)6411.90

Episodes

Season 1 (1985–86)

No. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateViewers (millions)
11"The Celebration"Jerome CourtlandWilliam Bast & Paul HusonNovember 20, 1985(1985-11-20)22.3
22"Conspiracy of Silence"Curtis HarringtonStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Dennis TurnerNovember 27, 1985(1985-11-27)19.3
Originally scheduled for November 21, 1985. On that day, The Colbys was preempted by a speech from President Ronald Reagan. As a result, this episode aired in Dynasty's usual timeslot at 9:00 p.m., while that night's episode of Dynasty, "The Proposal", aired at 10:00 p.m.
33"Moment of Truth"Nancy MaloneWilliam Bast & Paul HusonNovember 28, 1985(1985-11-28)13.0
44"Family Album"Don MedfordStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Rick EdelsteinDecember 5, 1985(1985-12-05)14.8
55"Shadow of the Past"Harry FalkStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Dennis TurnerDecember 12, 1985(1985-12-12)15.0
66"A House Divided"Don MedfordStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Frank FurinoDecember 19, 1985(1985-12-19)14.8
77"The Reunion"Jerome CourtlandStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Frank FurinoDecember 26, 1985(1985-12-26)15.9
88"Fallen Idol"Harry FalkStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Oliver ClarkJanuary 2, 1986(1986-01-02)14.6
99"The Letter"Don MedfordStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Doris SilvertonJanuary 9, 1986(1986-01-09)13.6
1010"The Turning Point"Gwen ArnerStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Charles Pratt JrJanuary 16, 1986(1986-01-16)13.9
1111"Thursday's Child"Kim FriedmanStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Rick EdelsteinJanuary 30, 1986(1986-01-30)16.8
The Colbys was preempted by the ABC Thursday Night Movie Grease 2 on January 23, 1986, which stars Maxwell Caulfield.
1212"The Pact"Harry FalkStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Dennis TurnerFebruary 6, 1986(1986-02-06)15.0
1313"Fallon's Choice"Curtis HarringtonStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : E. Doris SilvertonFebruary 13, 1986(1986-02-13)15.5
1414"The Trial"Robert ScheererStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Donald Paul RoosFebruary 20, 1986(1986-02-20)16.2
1515"Burden of Proof"Gabrielle BeaumontStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Dennis TurnerFebruary 27, 1986(1986-02-27)17.6
1616"My Father's House"Curtis HarringtonStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Frank V. FurinoMarch 6, 1986(1986-03-06)17.2
1717"The Outcast"Robert ScheererStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Donald Paul RoosMarch 13, 1986(1986-03-13)15.7
1818"The Wedding"Harry FalkStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Frank V. FurinoMarch 20, 1986(1986-03-20)19.0
1919"The Honeymoon"Gwen ArnerStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Michael Scheff & Maryanne KasicaMarch 27, 1986(1986-03-27)14.9
2020"Double Jeopardy"Harry FalkStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Doris SilvertonApril 10, 1986(1986-04-10)14.9
The Colbys was preempted by the ABC Thursday Night Movie Diner on April 3, 1986.
2121"A Family Affair"Jerome CourtlandStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Donald Paul RoosApril 17, 1986(1986-04-17)15.4
2222"The Reckoning"Harry FalkStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Dennis TurnerMay 1, 1986(1986-05-01)14.1
The Colbys was preempted by a repeat of the 1984 ABC Thursday Night Movie Invitation to Hell on April 24, 1986.
2323"Anniversary Waltz"Kim FriedmanStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Donald Paul RoosMay 15, 1986(1986-05-15)14.6
The Colbys was preempted by Part 5 of North and South Book II: Love and War on May 8, 1986, which stars Linda Evans from the shows' parent series Dynasty.
2424"Checkmate"Harry FalkWilliam Bast & Paul HusonMay 22, 1986(1986-05-22)15.9

Season 2 (1986–87)

No. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateViewers (millions)
251"The Gathering Storm"Harry FalkWilliam Bast & Paul HusonSeptember 24, 1986(1986-09-24)16.6
262"No Exit"Gabrielle BeaumontStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Donald Paul RoosSeptember 25, 1986(1986-09-25)10.2
273"Jason's Choice"Robert ScheererStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Frank V. FurinoOctober 2, 1986(1986-10-02)10.5
284"The Matchmaker"Harry FalkStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Dennis TurnerOctober 16, 1986(1986-10-16)9.2
The Colbys was preempted by Game 2 of the 1986 National League Championship Series on October 9, 1986.
295"Something Old, Something New"Don MedfordStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Donald Paul RoosOctober 23, 1986(1986-10-23)10.7
306"The Gala"Gwen ArnerStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Dennis TurnerOctober 30, 1986(1986-10-30)10.0
317"Bloodlines"Harry FalkStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Dennis TurnerNovember 6, 1986(1986-11-06)10.0
328"Deceptions"Curtis HarringtonStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Carol SaracenoNovember 13, 1986(1986-11-13)10.0
339"And Baby Makes Four"Gwen ArnerStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Mart CrowleyNovember 27, 1986(1986-11-27)9.9
The Colbys was preempted by NFL Football: Los Angeles Raiders Vs. San Diego Chargers on November 20, 1986.
3410"Bid for Freedom"Harry FalkStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Dennis TurnerDecember 4, 1986(1986-12-04)12.1
3511"Sanctuary"Don MedfordStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Carol SaracenoDecember 11, 1986(1986-12-11)11.8
3612"Reaching Out"Linda DayStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Donald Paul RoosDecember 18, 1986(1986-12-18)10.9
3713"Power Plays"Harry FalkStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : E. Jeffrey SmithJanuary 1, 1987(1987-01-01)11.9
The Colbys was preempted by The Love Boat: The Christmas Cruise on December 25, 1986.
3814"The Legacy"Richard KinonStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Dennis TurnerJanuary 8, 1987(1987-01-08)12.1
3915"The Home Wrecker"Curtis HarringtonStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Carol SaracenoJanuary 15, 1987(1987-01-15)12.0
4016"Manhunt"Bruce BilsonStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Doris SilvertonJanuary 22, 1987(1987-01-22)13.4
4117"All Fall Down"Kim FriedmanStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Dennis TurnerJanuary 29, 1987(1987-01-29)12.7
4218"Guilty Party"Roy CampanellaStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Dennis TurnerFebruary 5, 1987(1987-02-05)13.4
4319"Fallon's Baby"Harry FalkStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Frank V. FurinoFebruary 12, 1987(1987-02-12)13.0
4420"Answered Prayers"Robert ScheererStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Donald Paul RoosFebruary 26, 1987(1987-02-26)12.0
The Colbys was preempted by Part 5 of Amerika on February 19, 1987.
4521"Return Engagement"Harry FalkStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Elliott LewisMarch 5, 1987(1987-03-05)11.0
4622"Devil's Advocate"Robert ScheererStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Mart CrowleyMarch 12, 1987(1987-03-12)10.8
4723"Betrayals"Harry FalkStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Carol SaracenoMarch 19, 1987(1987-03-19)12.8
4824"The Dead End"Richard KinonStory by : William Bast & Paul Huson Teleplay by : Donald Paul RoosMarch 25, 1987(1987-03-25)16.0
4925"Crossroads"Don MedfordWilliam Bast & Paul HusonMarch 26, 1987(1987-03-26)13.6

Ratings

SeasonEpisode number
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
122.319.313.014.815.014.815.914.613.613.916.815.015.516.217.617.215.719.014.914.915.414.114.615.9
216.610.210.59.210.710.010.010.09.912.111.810.911.912.112.013.412.713.413.012.011.010.812.816.013.6

External links