Sir Aaron Spelling Gets Emmy Tribute

By Joal Ryan
Wed Aug 23, 7:21 PM ET

Aaron Spelling made a lot more TV than he won Emmys. Sunday night,
he'll be remembered for doing the former--and the TV Academy will make
up for not helping him much with the latter.

Rhino...

[snip]

So, why does the subject line mention "Sir" Aaron Spelling? I hadn't heard
anything about the Queen of England knighting him....

GarondoMarondo...

So you want me to call him Lady?!!?

..
Garondo Marondo!

The late producer of Charlie's Angels, Fantasy Island, Beverly Hills,
90210 and many, many more bags of popcorn TV will be celebrated during
Sunday's Emmy telecast, show organizers announced Wednesday.

kilroybass...

that's cool and all, but i didn't know him. so i'll pass.

The statement ended speculation that Spelling family tensions, pitting
daughter Tori against widow Candy, would prevent the clan's patriarch
from receiving a special onair tribute.

On Wednesday, the publicist for Candy Spelling called such stories "a
misconception."

"There was not hold up of any tribute of the Emmys," rep Kevin Sasaki
said.

In its announcement, NBC, which is airing the Emmys, said "stars from
some of Spelling's numerous hit series" would participate. It named
Dynasty's Joan Collins, 7th Heaven's Stephen Collins (or, as the
network I.D.'d him "Steven Collins"), and Melrose Place, T.J. Hooker
and Dynasty's Heather Locklear. It did not name Tori Spelling, who
starred on 90210.

Sasaki said Candy Spelling played no role in deciding which stars from
the Spelling stable would participate in the tribute. He also said no
one from 90210, the signature Spelling hit of the 1990s, would be
taking part.

"The [Emmy] producers decided on certain shows," Sasaki said. "And
90210 was one of the ones they decided not to do."

Emmy invites have been extended to all main-cast Spellings (Tori, Candy
and brother/son Randy), Sasaki said. He did not know if all or any were
planning to attend. A message seeking comment from Tori Spelling's

manitou...

Tori and her Canadian hubby were seated together, and notably not with
tearful mama Candy who sat with bro Randy.

evwill...

The seating was purposely arranged in advance to keep Tori and the
other relatives on opposite sides of the auditorium.

Everett W.

For anyone who read Joan Collins' memoirs circa 20 years ago, I'm
wondering what efforts were made to keep her away from Cloris Leachman?

Anim8rFSK...

I read them, but like you said it was 20 years ago. What's the dish
with her and Phyllis?

manitou...

Joan had a long-standing affair with Cloris' hubby, producer George
Englund. According to Joan, George was going to leave Cloris once and
for all but, for some reason, felt obliged to sleep with Cloris one
more time --- and Cloris became pregnant, which threw a major monkey
wrench into Joan's plans to have George all to herself.

Sounds very "Dynasty", doesn't it?

As the NYTimes stated: "she understands the meaning of talling
all..."

manitou...

At the time (late 50s, early 60s) Joan also was juggling Warren Beatty,
who was juggling Natalie Wood and (Joan suspected) Vivien Leigh...

Anim8rFSK...

Ah, to be young and Warren Beatty in the 60s.

Although it probably wouldn't be worth it to put up with his half wit
sister.

manitou...

In an interview WB once stated that every young man should have the
opportunity to be a famous movie star...

publicist was not immediately returned.

Aaron Spelling won two Emmys during a 50-year prime-time career that
led the records-keepers at Guinness to bestow upon him the title, "Most
Prolific TV Drama Producer." He died June 23 at age 83.

The 58th annual Primetime Emmy Awards are scheduled to be presented in
a live NBC telecast from Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium. Late Night's
Conan O'Brien is on tap as host; Dick Clark, an impresario in the
prolific Spelling mold, is on tap for a tribute of his own.