Fresno (miniseries)

Last updated
Fresno
Fresno (TV miniseries).jpg
Written by
  • Mark Ganzel
  • Barry Kemp
  • Michael Petryni
Directed by Jeff Bleckner
Starring
Theme music composerJohn Morris
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes5
Production
Producer R. W. Goodwin
CinematographyRobert Steadman
EditorAndrew Chulack
Running time360 minutes
Production company MTM Enterprises
BudgetUS$12 million[ citation needed ]
Original release
Network CBS
ReleaseNovember 16 (1986-11-16) –
November 20, 1986 (1986-11-20)

Fresno is a 1986 American television comedy miniseries that parodied prime time soap operas of the time such as Falcon Crest , Dallas , and Dynasty . Fresno was directed by Jeff Bleckner. [1] The series featured high production values, including lavish haute couture gowns by leading costume designer Bob Mackie, a main cast including Carol Burnett, Teri Garr, Charles Grodin and Dabney Coleman, and supporting cast including Charles Keating, Pat Corley, Louise Latham, Tom Poston and Henry Darrow. [1] It was noted at the time as being the first American satirical TV comedy to be made in the then-popular miniseries format. [2]

Contents

Plot

In 1581 conquistadors exploring California name a valley "Fresno" after the bitter taste of its grapes. In present-day Fresno, the raisin-growing empire of the once-wealthy Kensington family are locked in a struggle with their former business partner Tyler Cane. The Kensingtons are pinning their hopes on a new grape variety they have developed. Foreman Juan is charged with getting the prototype raisins to the patent office in Sacramento, but on the way is ambushed by Cane's men, who destroy the shipment. Juan is saved by a stranger, Torch. He accompanies Juan back to the ranch, and is hired as a ranch-hand. As Charlotte shows Torch around the ranch, she explains how, 20 years earlier, her late husband Yancey fell out with Cane, and then died in a "bizarre dehydrator accident". Torch begins to investigate the Kensingtons' affairs, awakening suspicions in Charlotte about Yancey's death, and her interest in finding her real parents.

Attempting to save the business, Cane Kensington strikes a deal with Mr. Acme, owner of Acme Toxic Waste. He pays Cane to allow him to dump toxic waste into Duke Lake, a private dam owned by Cane's neighbor Ethel Duke, and main water source for both the ranches. Suspecting that their meeting may have been overheard by the maid, Bobbi Jo Bobb, Cane decides to get send her to Bakersfield. However, Cane's patronage upsets Bobbi Jo's husband Billy Joe, leading to tragic consequences.

Duke's water rights are crucial to Cane and the Kensingtons. Cane visits Duke, offering to buy the water rights, but she refuses. Later that day, in Fresno, Charlotte is outmaneuvered by Cane, who takes control of the annual Raisin Festival and vows to erase the Kensington name from Fresno forever. That night, Billy Joe listens to Bobbi Jo on the radio, and becomes enraged when she makes a dedication to Cane. He shoots the radio, but the bullet ricochets off it, killing Ethel Duke. Billy Joe is arrested and charged with murder. Public defender Desiree DeMornay is assigned the case.

Nature-loving Kevin finds dead fish floating in Duke Lake, and soon discovers a leaking Acme Toxic Waste drum at the bottom of the river. Kevin confronts Mr. Acme, who orders his henchmen to kill Kevin, but they blow up Acme's truck by mistake. Juan confronts Charlotte and demands a raise at gunpoint, but instead Charlotte cuts his wages in half. Cane makes an anonymous phone call to the police, implicating Kevin in the death of Duke, and Kevin is also arrested and charged with murder.

Duke's death triggers a struggle between Cane and the Kensingtons to buy the water rights from Duke's husband, Earl. Tyler bribes Earl, but Cane learns of Tyler's bid, and outbids him. That night, Charlotte goes to Earl's to seduce him, but her plan is ruined when she discovers that Tyler has sent Candy Cane, who emerges from Earl's bathroom clad only in a towel.

Charlotte visits Kevin in jail, where she learns his bail has been set at $250,000. Cane blackmails Mr. Acme into paying him an additional $300,000, so he can buy the water rights. He rushes to the bank to clear the check, but Charlotte arrives just after he leaves, and withdraws most of the money. Tiffany meets Torch at a Fresno restaurant and asks for his help in finding her real parents. Back at the jail, Kevin and Billy Joe deduce that Cane is behind the entire conspiracy. Bobbi Jo arrives, but when she learns of Talon's attempt to seduce her husband, she suspects the worst and rejects him.

Rushing back to Earl's, Cane tries to stop Tyler from buying the water rights, but when Earl phones the bank to verify Cane's check, he learns it is worthless because Charlotte withdrew money to pay Kevin's bail. Ethel's attorney arrives: he explains that Earl cannot sell the water rights because Earl will not inherit Ethel's estate until the reading of the will at 2p.m. tomorrow.

Cast

Starring
Also starring
Special guest appearance by
Guest starring

Production

Fresno was created and co-written by Barry Kemp, Mark Ganzel, and Michael Petryni, and was produced for CBS by Mary Tyler-Moore's MTM Productions. The miniseries was directed by Jeff Bleckner, who had previously directed episodes of some of the shows parodied in Fresno, including Dynasty , Knots Landing , and Falcon Crest . [3]

The miniseries starred Carol Burnett and Dabney Coleman, with Charles Grodin, Teri Garr, Valerie Mahaffey, Bill Paxton, Anthony Heald, Gregory Harrison, Luis Avalos, Jerry Van Dyke, Charles Keating, Pat Corley, and Jeffrey Jones. [3]

The production shot for two days in the city of Fresno, California, in July 1986, completing its remaining 53 days in Los Angeles. [4] The music was composed by John Morris, and the Emmy-nominated gowns worn by the female leads were designed by Bob Mackie. It was executive produced by Barry Kemp.

Fresno was screened three times in the United States in 1986, 1987 and 1989. It premiered at 8 pm on Sunday, November 16, 1986 with a two-hour series opener, followed by four further one-hour episodes over the next four days. [2]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUS viewers
(millions)
1"The Raisin Basket of the World" Jeff Bleckner Mark Ganzel, Barry Kemp & Michael PetryniNovember 16, 1986 (1986-11-16)19.7 [5]
Raisin Baron Tyler Cane seeks to cut off the Kensington Ranch water supply so he can control the raisin crop of Fresno, but Cane Kensington will fight him for every last drop.
2"Episode 2"Jeff BlecknerMark Ganzel, Barry Kemp & Michael PetryniNovember 17, 1986 (1986-11-17)15.2
The Kensingtons need the Duke tract of land for access to the water they need, and Charlotte uses her female wiles to get it. Charles frames his brother Kevin to cover up his own foul deed.
3"Episode 3"Jeff BlecknerMark Ganzel, Barry Kemp & Michael PetryniNovember 18, 1986 (1986-11-18)12.8
Tiffany finds a kindred spirit in Torch, a drifter without a shirt, and their search reveals the identity of her true parents. Tyler uses Juan as a spy to get the goods on Cane.
4"Episode 4"Jeff BlecknerMark Ganzel, Barry Kemp & Michael PetryniNovember 19, 1986 (1986-11-19)12.5
Skeletons come out of the closet at the Annual Raisin Festival Masquerade Ball, and an attempt to kill Cane goes wrong.
5"Episode 5"Jeff BlecknerMark Ganzel, Barry Kemp & Michael PetryniNovember 20, 1986 (1986-11-20)12.7
The identities of two killers are revealed amid courtroom pandemonium. Cane has to be in two court rooms at the same time and tell two different stories.

Awards and nominations

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References

  1. 1 2 "Fresno". Turner Classic Movies . Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner. Archived from the original on October 10, 2016. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  2. 1 2 O'Connor, John J. (November 16, 1986). "TV VIEW; 'Fresno'- A Comedy That Must Read Better Than It Plays". The New York Times . New York City. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Richard Zoglin (November 17, 1986). "Video: A Raisin in the Fun: Fresno". Time . Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  4. ↑ Steve Harvey (July 17, 1986). "TV Film Crew Gives Fresno Day in the Sun". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 2012-11-07. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  5. ↑ Bruce B. Morris, Prime Time Network Serials: Episode Guides, Casts and Credits for 37 Continuing Television Dramas, 1964-1993, McFarland and Company, 1997.
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