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# 219 <9.14> Brotherly Love Since the new producers apparently have no more use for Chao-Li, CHAO-LI CHI is removed from the main title until he will return in # 225. This policy is also hard to understand for the actor. The current episode brings this season's weird writing to a climax: At the beginning of this episode, it seems Michael Sharpe does not know scrambled eggs. Where did he grow up?! Then, a both crazy and disgusting almost-incest-like storyline makes its way to the screen. It seems the writers had to rush to create an idea hastily and bring it to an end just at the end of this episode hastily again. Pilar and Lance's relationship to Sydney is presented as sort of parent-like — but they are just eight / eleven years older than her. Finally, this episode's trashy writing culminated in creating an affair between Richard and Genele in the original script draft (sex in the shower). Fortunately, DAVID SELBY refused to play the scene because he thought it was out of character for Richard. So at least that part of the script was changed. After one of the most troubled episodes of the season (# 211), the current episode is similarly bad, thus resulting in the show's loss of another 500,000 viewers.  Exterior and interior shots of Sharpe's new house are featured for the first time. It remains unanswered, however, if it is located in the Tuscany Valley, on the outskirts of San Francisco or maybe in Sausalito where his yacht is.Early script drafts had Sharpe live in a condo instead of this house. This idea was changed shortly before filming. Michael Sharpe's nickname for Lauren is "Earth Mother". Despite the odd small interior set built for Richard's home this season, Sharpe's conversation with Genele about Richard's "big ranch house" indicates that the producers actually meant for Richard to still live at his and Maggie's ranch (compare the notes in # 206, 207, 211 and 212). What an embarrassing job the art department did with this poor interior set! Michael Sharpe's favorite meal is lasagna. Cast background: WENDY PHILLIPS had her husband, SCOTT PAULIN, guest-cast as Joey Walts. The original last name for Joey Walts in early script drafts was Wald.   Interesting prop: As in # 215, the prop department dug up an old prop wine bottle for Michael to serve during dinner: A 1984 Falcon Crest Cabernet Sauvignon again.Detailed information about this wine label and many others is available in the Show – Production Office – Wine Label Gallery section. Previews are available for the general public; for DFCF members, the wine labels are available in high resolution. Real-life allusion: Lauren compares her brother's business wheelings and dealings with the Teapot Dome Scandal, the historic bribery scandal that involved the administration of U.S. President WARREN G. HARDING from 1921 to 1923.   Mistake: In the scene with Lauren and Joey in Sharpe's kitchen, Lauren has some teaspoons in both her hands first (filmed towards her); in the subsequent frame, however, her right hand is on the coffee pot (filmed towards Joey). These close-ups are from various takes that were combined in the editing process.Check # 001 (Chase and Maggie at the Gioberti Family Cemetery) for details about this troubled filming technique.   The coffee set in Sharpe's home are the same props that were used in season 7 as the tablewear in Richard's house (screen capture 1 from # 160) and later at Richard and Maggie's ranch.License plate number of Danny's dark gray Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC Coupé: 2MTW473. Early script drafts staged the conversation between Danny and Sydney, who arrive at Sharpe's home, in a hallway of the house. It was relocated to the driveway in front of the home when the filming location was selected — and it definitely made more sense to have the conversation outside where Sharpe could not overhear. Real-life allusion: Danny mentions band leader OZZIE NELSON. The episode is a bit evasive where exactly Micenzo's, the restaurant where Lauren and Joey have lunch, is situated. It seems to be in San Francisco though. Micenzo's was called Vicenzo's in early script drafts.
  The interior set for Micenzo's is the redressed set of the Del Oro Spa Restaurant (compare screen grabs 1 and 2 from # 188 and 187 respectively): The carpet is the same. Behind the double doors leading from the Del Oro front desk into the Spa Restaurant, a two-wall set (in pinkish color) was placed to hide the lobby (yellow arrow). The Del Oro's distinct wall elements were covered with trellises. The shelf unit with the lettering "Wines" at Micenzo's covers the Spa Restaurant's bar (green arrow). The stairs leading from the Spa Restaurant's ground level to the mezzanine was covered with trellises that have squares on top. Tables and chairs were replaced.It remains a mystery why the producers went to great lengths to redress the set although the scene could easily have been staged at the Del Oro Spa Restaurant also. It seems odd that the producing staff tried to trim down on location shots this season, but spent a considerable amount of money for an unnecessary set redress. The original first name for Joey Walts' fiancée in early script drafts was Cindy. The final version changed this to Anne. It seems strange that the show's creative forces always seem to use the same first names this season. Although the first draft of the script for # 222 (the episode when Anne Bowen will be introduced) was already written when the current episode was shot, they changed the name from Cindy to nothing else but Anne. This is even more awkward, considering that Dr. Michael Ranson's first wife's name was Ann also. Using practically the same combination of first names for another couple — Michael Sharpe and Anne Bowen — did not seem to be enough; by choosing Michael Sharpe as a character name while Michael Channing was already in the picture, the producers also violated the unwritten rule never to use the same name for two active characters in a series to avoid confusion.  Uncredited extra ROBERTA STORM appears in this episode again as Mrs. Winslow — this time as a patron at Micenzo's.It is her last appearance on the show. She was featured in the same rôle in previous episodes (compare # 035, 041, 042, 043, 044, 055, 058, 060, 062, 065, 066, 072, 073, 074, 075, 076, 090, 091, 092, 116, 123, 138, 182, 185, 193, 196, 198, 202 and 207). She is married to vintner Winslow and worked as a nurse at the Tuscany Valley Hospital first, but later became a press photographer. For details about the extra, compare # 035. Early script drafts staged Richard's attempt to talk to Lauren near the elevator to Sharpe's condo in a hallway of the apartment complex. It was relocated to the driveway in front of Sharpe's home when the filming location was chosen.   Mistake: In the scene with Danny and Lance in the Falcon Crest Winery Building office, several envelopes are on Danny's desk (filmed towards him) in one moment; in the subsequent frame, Danny holds these letters in his hands (filmed towards Lance). This happens several times during the scene. These close-ups are from various takes that were combined in the editing process.Again, this is the typical mistake caused by the close-up filming technique — check # 001 (Chase and Maggie at the Gioberti Family Cemetery) for details. In the background of all scenes in the Falcon Crest Winery Building, the bottling machine is running all the time — this will also be the case in the following episodes until the show ends. Ed Meyers' eye patch was not part of the script. It only became a part of the episode since PHILIP BAKER HALL actually had to wear it for medical reasons for a short time; Danny's short reference was added per stage direction to make it clear that it had no significance for the storyline. Product placement: Lauren mentions the TV game show "Wheel of Fortune".   Mistake: In the scene with Sharpe and Lauren having breakfast, Lauren puts her fork down and uses the napkin (filmed towards her) in one moment; in the subsequent frame, she holds the fork again (filmed from behind her). These close-ups are from various takes that were combined in the editing process.Check # 001 (Chase and Maggie at the Gioberti Family Cemetery) for details about this troubled filming technique. Joey and Sharpe have been friends since they were 12 — according to Joey, for 25 years. This has to be just a rough estimation because, as Michael stated, Joey is 39 years old. Or is the script writer unable to count and calculate?   Mistake: In the scene when Lauren leaves Sharpe's house, Lauren's right hand is in different positions on Sharpe's chest or shoulder in subsequent frames. These close-ups are from various takes that were combined in the editing process.Again, this is a result of the troubled close-up filming technique — check # 001 (Chase and Maggie at the Gioberti Family Cemetery) for details. ← Previous episode... → Next episode... |
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