Adrian Paul talks with BRBTV about "Colbys" and career

BRBTV got the chance to meet and chat with Adrian Paul, aka Bliss’ boyfriend Kolya on our "Dynasty" spinoff "The Colbys," at the 2013 Motor City Comic Con (see our June 7 post). We also recorded his Q-and-A panel with fans at that event (see the BRBTV YouTube channel for that!). We decided we might like to follow up with this fresh email interview with Paul, where the actor reminisces a bit about his time on “The Colbys” and his career, which got quite a bit bigger after “The Colbys” with that whole “Highlander” thing!

How did you first learn about the role on “The Colbys”?

“My agent sent me over to read for the role.”

Was it actually your first role, as the IMDb indicates?

“Yes, basically, here in the United States.”

Did you find you had to do a lot of additional training or preparation physically for this role, since it was the role of a dancer?

“No, I had trained as a dancer for a few years prior to this, although being a ballet dancer is an entirely different style of training. I have always been physical, so that part wasn’t the challenge. The challenge was making sure I looked the part.”

Were you surprised that the show only lasted a season and a half? What was the feeling on the set about that?

“Well, I was very green back then, so I had no idea how long a show should or could last. I was just happy to be working and to be honest, I worked with a lot of very well-known and accomplished actors.”

Is there anything you would have done differently with the role of Kolya if you were the one writing him?

“If I were the one writing him?  Hmmmm…  I would make him the lead. Obviously when you are dealing with a soap, some of the situations are a little less than real. For instance, one episode had me jumping from the sixth story of a building, landing on my feet and slightly limping away. Mmmh … that was real. Charlton Heston had a line that he gave to Tracy Scoggins because he realized how ridiculous it might sound, which was … ’Good thing you're a dancer. You might have seriously been hurt’ (or words to that effect).”

You seemed to leave your dancing work behind, after that “Colbys” role, because you got into so many more action-oriented roles after that. Was it deliberate on your part, or just how it worked out?

“No, it’s just the way it worked out. I got to dance in a few things episode-wise after that, but not as part of the character.”

You mentioned in your panel with fans at the Motor City Comic Con that you would like to do a “Star Trek” movie. What role would you like to have in the “Trek” world?

“’Star Trek’ has transcended the sci-fi genre now. Twenty years ago every ‘Star Trek’ fan was seen as a geek. Not now. They are seen as the meal ticket to investors and studios who realize that there is something very compelling about the idea of civilization in space. As for the type of role? I don't know.”

You also mentioned you're working on some projects behind the camera. Can you tell me more about those?

“I am finishing up a script I am supposed to be directing early next year.  I have my radio show, Peace Fund radio, at http://www.latalkradio.com/Peace.php, where we discuss not only what the Peace Fund does but also bring on other celebrity guests with a passion for helping children in need. I am also putting together several films under my production company www.filmblips.com.”

Many thanks to Adrian Paul for taking the time!

Photo by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand.

Spotted: Louise Sorel

Her sweet lilting voice is unmistakable, and she has all the lovely innocence she had for the "Star Trek" episode she did a few years earlier. This is the divine Louise Sorel, many miles from the bite of Augusta Lockridge of our beloved "Santa Barbara."

In the 1970 episode of "Night Gallery" called "The Dead Man," she plays Velia, the young and pretty wife of a researcher who has mastered the art of bringing a young, strapping man out of the psychosomatic disorder he's been suffering from, and even making him appear dead only to make him magically come back to life. Unfortunately, however, this researcher's pretty wife Velia picks up with the strapping young man. Then things take a turn, and you see where the priorities lie for Velia, so appropriately reflecting '70s fashion in her soft, periwinkle blue, flowin gown.

Check out the "Dukes" 12-inch figures!

They're gettin' all kinds of feedback at the Figures Toy Co. Facebook page, and don't they look just great??? They're the prototypes of the 12-inch "Dukes of Hazzard" action figures that the company will be releasing soon. Look at that detail on the dungarees on Bo and Luke, and on Rosco's uniform. And the facial features are lookin' good. BRBTV will be buying one of each, that's fo sho!

The final version of Boss Hogg will include his matching hat. While Series 1 features Bo and Luke Duke, Rosco and Boss Hogg, future series will include Daisy Duke, Uncle Jesse, Cooter, Cletus Hogg, Enos and more (Coy and Vance, we hope? A little Sheriff Little??? Bring it on!!!). These guys will be available in both 8-inch and 12-inch. As we reported in our April 20 post, Figures Toy Co. is also planning a "Dallas" line, with two different versions of J.R. Ewing figures.

Images courtesy of Figures Toy Co.; do not copy without permission.

Spotted: Richard Anderson

He was young, young, young, but his facial features and tall lanky form were unmistakable. This was Mr. Richard Anderson, so well-known as Oscar Goldman on "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Bionic Woman," but known to us "Dynasty" fans as Buck Fallmont, starring in an old black-and-white episode of "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour."

He wasn't playing the troubled alcoholic like Buck, nor the kind and reserved guy like Oscar. In 1964's "Who Needs an Enemy?" Anderson is shrewd, accusatory, and betrayed by his business partner. He seeks the truth, and he gets shystered. But for how long? Hmmm ... You know there's always a twist in these things. Maybe not as sharp a twist as Hitchcock's competition at the time, Rod Serling and his masterful "Twilight Zone," but a nice little twist at the end all the same.

Paul Baxley, stunt coordinator of "The Dukes of Hazzard," shows up in this episode, too, in a minor role.

Announcing a bigger "Dynasty High"!

It's bold, with a luscious new cover by Baltimore artist Dale Cuthbertson. It's big, with a whopping 180 pages of additional content from the previous print editions, nearly doubling the book's size! And it's out there now -- available in all the places you saw it before. It's the new print edition of "Dynasty High," the BRBTV reference guide to TV's classic 1980s "Dynasty" and "The Colbys."

In a December post we told you about the updated Kindle edition of the book, which incorporated a whole lot of new content. Well, we've now added all of this new content to the print edition:

• Interview with Pamela Sue Martin, aka the original Fallon Carrington
• Interview with Stephanie Beacham, aka Sable Colby
• Interview with Terri Garber, aka Leslie Carrington
• Interview with Jeannie Epper, stuntwoman for Linda Evans
• Interview with writer Camille Marchetta 
• Interview with David Baker, stablehand on "The Colbys"
• Boosted episode guide, with the rewatching of Seasons 1 through 7.5 of "Dynasty" and most of "The Colbys" episodes
• A feature on the shows' various locations
• A closer look at the Filoli estate
• Boosted and updated actor bio information
• An at-a-glance character chart
• Boosted and updated merchandise guide

The price is right, just $15.50 like the other BRBTV print books, even though this one is the biggest in page count so far. We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed putting it together!

JTV offers some delicious bling to deck you out like a "Dynasty" dame

You saw it on screen, and now you can own it. At least something a whole lot like it. JTV's new "Dynasty" Collection offers jewelry inspired by our beloved '80s soap -- and quite a few pieces patterned exactly after the actual pieces worn in the series.

The shopping network unveiled its new collection at noon Eastern today, in a delightful two-hour block punctuated by the "Dynasty" opening theme music and screenshots of Joan Collins as Alexis in some of these inspiring jewelry pieces. This line, designed by Udi Behr, is exclusive to JTV, and it's quite heavy on the luxe-and-sparkle thing. It's not all genuine stones and solid gold, however, but then neither was what was worn on-screen, Stephanie Beacham, aka Sable Colby, told BRBTV in a recent interview. It was costume jewelry so that the show wouldn't have to deal with the insurance and security burden. So hey -- when they're saying here that you can own something just like what was worn in the show, they mean it!

The two-hour launch of the line highlighted several items mimicking the screen-used baubles, with designer Behr giving a little background of when the original piece was worn (all of the following were in Season 5):

• Simulated ruby earrings and heart-shaped simulated ruby and pearl necklace like Alexis wore in a courtroom scene while she was on trial for killing Mark Jennings in Season 5
• White enamel and simulated diamond ring like Alexis wore in the episode where Blake discovers Amanda and suspects she is his daughter, "The Secret"
• Gold-plated black onyx necklace and earrings (with ring added to complete the set) like Alexis wore in another Season 5 episode of the Mark Jennings murder storyline
• Huge round simulated diamond ring worn by Alexis in the Season 5 episode "The Crash," dubbed the "Whimsically Woven" ring
• Gold-plated tassel pendant like Alexis wore in the episode "Swept Away"
• Simulated diamond earrings and bangle worn by Alexis in "The Secret"
• Simulated emerald and white enamel bangle like Alexis wore in "Fallon"
• Marquise solitaire simulated diamond pendant like Alexis wore in "The Secret"

(OK, so where's Krystle's stuff? We wanna see that fab emerald necklace she pawned in Season 1!)

And take heart, "Dynasty" dreamers -- many pieces are less than $100.

This licensing deal with JTV was two years in the making, Behr said. He works on ABC's "Revenge" now and noted that to him the Hamptons-based primetime show is like "a continuation of 'Dynasty.'"

Motor City Comic Con: Adrian Paul

And finally .... To really round out our video coverage of this year's Motor City Comic Con in Novi, Michigan, in nice style, we give you one more celeb guest of the event. Mr. Adrian Paul, known to so many folks as the star of the "Highlander" TV series but known to us at BRBTV as Bliss' ballerina boyfriend Kolya on "The Colbys," appeared at the con and gave a Q-and-A session with fans on the Saturday afternoon of that weekend.

He talked about all kinds of stuff -- particularly about the way he's had to get physical for his roles over the years. Outside of the panel, at his table, BRBTV chatted with Paul a bit, trying to see what we could rustle up on our beloved "Dynasty" spinoff.

"Oh, that was a long time ago!" he quipped. Oh, sigh ... Well, we may just be following up with Paul for a one-on-one interview. Stay tuned for that. But in the meantime, enjoy Paul's chat with the fans from the show ...

Photo of Adrian Paul and Billie Rae Bates of BRBTV by James R. Green Jr.; please do not copy without permission.

Motor City Comic Con: Jason Faunt

He's the Red Ranger on "Power Rangers Time Force" and "Power Rangers Wild Force," but his talents go beyond that. Jason Faunt also almost became a professional baseball player. This hunky guy tells us about that and other stuff (he's a model and a daddy, too!) in our interview with him at this year's Motor City Comic Con.



Tomorrow wraps up our 10-part video series from the Motor City show with a two-part panel series for Adrian Paul! We've really loved bringing it to you, as BRB and James had a wonderful time talking to these folks (so many of them are actors we've admired for a long time!).

 

Photo by James R. Green Jr.; please do not copy without permission.