Central Park West (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Central Park West is an American prime time television soap opera
that ran from September 1995 to June 1996 on CBS
. The series was created and executive produced by Melrose Place' s Darren Star
. As the title suggests, CPW was set in New York, in the affluent Central Park West
area of Manhattan
. Actresses Mariel Hemingway
, Lauren Hutton
, and Raquel Welch
portrayed three of the central characters on the show.
The program represented CBS's attempt to reestablish itself after a disastrous 1994-95
television season where the network lost a heavy amount of established affiliates due to affiliation switches related to Fox acquiring NFC football
rights, and an attempt by the network to attract younger viewers. It was the network's most-promoted new show in many years with a promotional campaign exclusively produced to appeal to younger viewers, and attempted to recapture the network's past nighttime soap glory from the years of Dallas
and Knots Landing
.
The series was not successful and was removed from CBS' schedule mid-season, returning some months later with new additions made to the cast (Hemingway left by this point, and Welch was brought in). The retooling was not enough to save the show, which was canceled in June 1996. The failure of the series returned the network quickly back to their traditional broadcasting focus and repairing relations between both the network's new affiliates and their older stations which were frustrated by the network's moves in programming rights and programming within the Laurence Tisch
era, which would end shortly thereafter with Westinghouse
's purchase of CBS Corporation in 1995 (approval of CPW to be placed on the network's schedule came well before Westinghouse's purchase).
, Central Park West centered around the glamorous and exciting life of the staff of trendy magazine Communique, owned by Allen Rush (Ron Leibman
), "the Darth Vader of publishing". Mariel Hemingway played the role of Stephanie Wells, the newly appointed editor-in-chief of Communique. Central to the plot is the rivalry between Stephanie and Allen's stepdaughter Carrie Fairchild (Mädchen Amick
), a scheming young woman who does her best to seduce Stephanie's writer husband Mark Merrill (Tom Verica
). The series followed several other ambitious New Yorker
s, their love, treachery, hopes and dreams through thick and thin. One of the most notable being the evil and deceitful Australia
n bombshell Rachel Dennis (Kylie Travis
), the new fashion editor at Communique.
viewers and was heavily promoted by CBS. The series failed to draw in viewers and was put on hiatus in November 1995. Central Park West was then revamped in an effort to attract older viewers. Mariel Hemingway's character was written out of the series and new cast members, Gerald McRaney
, Noelle Beck
, and Raquel Welch
, joined the cast. Retitled CPW, the revamped version, which consisted of eight episodes, began airing in June 1996. Despite the changes, CBS canceled the series after its second season concluded on June 28, 1996.
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
that ran from September 1995 to June 1996 on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. The series was created and executive produced by Melrose Place
Darren Star
Darren Bennett Star is an American producer, director and writer for film and television. He is best known for creating the hit TV shows Melrose Place, Beverly Hills, 90210 and Sex and the City.-Career:...
. As the title suggests, CPW was set in New York, in the affluent Central Park West
Central Park West
Central Park West is an avenue that runs north-south in the New York City borough of Manhattan, in the United States....
area of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. Actresses Mariel Hemingway
Mariel Hemingway
- Early life :Hemingway was born in Mill Valley, California, the third daughter of Byra Louise Hemingway and Jack Hemingway, a writer. Her sisters are Joan Hemingway and Margaux Hemingway...
, Lauren Hutton
Lauren Hutton
Lauren Hutton is an American model and actress. She is best-known for her starring roles in the movies American Gigolo and Lassiter, and also for her fashion modeling career.-Personal life:...
, and Raquel Welch
Raquel Welch
Jo Raquel Tejada , better known as Raquel Welch, is an American actress, author and sex symbol. Welch came to attention as a "new-star" on the 20th Century-Fox lot in the mid-1960s. She posed iconically in a animal skin bikini for the British-release One Million Years B.C. , for which she may be...
portrayed three of the central characters on the show.
The program represented CBS's attempt to reestablish itself after a disastrous 1994-95
1994 in television
The year 1994 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1994.For the American TV schedule, see: 1994-95 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-Miniseries:...
television season where the network lost a heavy amount of established affiliates due to affiliation switches related to Fox acquiring NFC football
NFL on FOX
NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports...
rights, and an attempt by the network to attract younger viewers. It was the network's most-promoted new show in many years with a promotional campaign exclusively produced to appeal to younger viewers, and attempted to recapture the network's past nighttime soap glory from the years of Dallas
Dallas (TV series)
Dallas is an American serial drama/prime time soap opera that revolves around the Ewings, a wealthy Texas family in the oil and cattle-ranching industries. Throughout the series, Larry Hagman stars as greedy, scheming oil baron J. R. Ewing...
and Knots Landing
Knots Landing
Knots Landing is an American primetime television soap opera that aired from December 27, 1979 to May 13, 1993 on CBS. Set in a fictitious coastal suburb of Los Angeles in California, the show centered on the lives of four married couples living in a cul-de-sac, Seaview Circle...
.
The series was not successful and was removed from CBS' schedule mid-season, returning some months later with new additions made to the cast (Hemingway left by this point, and Welch was brought in). The retooling was not enough to save the show, which was canceled in June 1996. The failure of the series returned the network quickly back to their traditional broadcasting focus and repairing relations between both the network's new affiliates and their older stations which were frustrated by the network's moves in programming rights and programming within the Laurence Tisch
Laurence Tisch
Laurence Alan "Larry" Tisch was an American businessman, Wall Street investor and self-made billionaire. He was the CEO of CBS television network from 1986 to 1995...
era, which would end shortly thereafter with Westinghouse
Westinghouse Electric (1886)
Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997...
's purchase of CBS Corporation in 1995 (approval of CPW to be placed on the network's schedule came well before Westinghouse's purchase).
Synopsis
Central Park West premiered on September 13, 1995 and aired Wednesdays from 9:00 - 10:00 p.m. With a cast headlined by former Oscar nominee Mariel HemingwayMariel Hemingway
- Early life :Hemingway was born in Mill Valley, California, the third daughter of Byra Louise Hemingway and Jack Hemingway, a writer. Her sisters are Joan Hemingway and Margaux Hemingway...
, Central Park West centered around the glamorous and exciting life of the staff of trendy magazine Communique, owned by Allen Rush (Ron Leibman
Ron Leibman
-Career:Leibman was a member of the Compass Players in the late 1950s. He has appeared in many films such as Phar Lap; Where's Poppa?; The Hot Rock; Slaughterhouse-Five; The Super Cops; Up the Academy; Norma Rae; Romantic Comedy; Zorro, The Gay Blade; Garden State; and Rhinestone...
), "the Darth Vader of publishing". Mariel Hemingway played the role of Stephanie Wells, the newly appointed editor-in-chief of Communique. Central to the plot is the rivalry between Stephanie and Allen's stepdaughter Carrie Fairchild (Mädchen Amick
Mädchen Amick
Mädchen Amick is an American actress best known for playing Shelly Johnson on the cult television series Twin Peaks and its 1992 prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.-Early life:...
), a scheming young woman who does her best to seduce Stephanie's writer husband Mark Merrill (Tom Verica
Tom Verica
Tom Verica is an American actor and director, known for his role of Jack Pryor on the NBC drama American Dreams. He played Astronaut Dick Gordon in the HBO miniseries From The Earth To The Moon...
). The series followed several other ambitious New Yorker
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
s, their love, treachery, hopes and dreams through thick and thin. One of the most notable being the evil and deceitful Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n bombshell Rachel Dennis (Kylie Travis
Kylie Travis
Kylie Travis is an Australian actress.Travis was born in London, England; her family moved to Australia shortly afterward. She modelled for various agencies in Paris, London, and New York before taking up acting. Her first major role was in the Aaron Spelling TV series Models Inc where she played...
), the new fashion editor at Communique.
Reception
Central Park West was initially geared towards Generation XGeneration X
Generation X, commonly abbreviated to Gen X, is the generation born after the Western post–World War II baby boom ended. While there is no universally agreed upon time frame, the term generally includes people born from the early 1960's through the early 1980's, usually no later than 1981 or...
viewers and was heavily promoted by CBS. The series failed to draw in viewers and was put on hiatus in November 1995. Central Park West was then revamped in an effort to attract older viewers. Mariel Hemingway's character was written out of the series and new cast members, Gerald McRaney
Gerald McRaney
Gerald Lee "Mac" McRaney is an American television and movie actor. McRaney is best known as one of the stars of the television shows Simon & Simon, Major Dad, and Promised Land. He was a series regular for the first season of Jericho.-Early life:McRaney was born in Collins, Mississippi, the son...
, Noelle Beck
Noelle Beck
Noelle Beck is an American actress, best known for her role as Trisha Alden on the ABC daytime soap opera Loving.-Career:...
, and Raquel Welch
Raquel Welch
Jo Raquel Tejada , better known as Raquel Welch, is an American actress, author and sex symbol. Welch came to attention as a "new-star" on the 20th Century-Fox lot in the mid-1960s. She posed iconically in a animal skin bikini for the British-release One Million Years B.C. , for which she may be...
, joined the cast. Retitled CPW, the revamped version, which consisted of eight episodes, began airing in June 1996. Despite the changes, CBS canceled the series after its second season concluded on June 28, 1996.
Cast
- Mariel HemingwayMariel Hemingway- Early life :Hemingway was born in Mill Valley, California, the third daughter of Byra Louise Hemingway and Jack Hemingway, a writer. Her sisters are Joan Hemingway and Margaux Hemingway...
... Stephanie Wells [episodes 1-13] - Tom VericaTom VericaTom Verica is an American actor and director, known for his role of Jack Pryor on the NBC drama American Dreams. He played Astronaut Dick Gordon in the HBO miniseries From The Earth To The Moon...
... Mark Merrill - Ron LeibmanRon Leibman-Career:Leibman was a member of the Compass Players in the late 1950s. He has appeared in many films such as Phar Lap; Where's Poppa?; The Hot Rock; Slaughterhouse-Five; The Super Cops; Up the Academy; Norma Rae; Romantic Comedy; Zorro, The Gay Blade; Garden State; and Rhinestone...
... Allen Rush - Lauren HuttonLauren HuttonLauren Hutton is an American model and actress. She is best-known for her starring roles in the movies American Gigolo and Lassiter, and also for her fashion modeling career.-Personal life:...
... Linda Fairchild-Rush - Mädchen AmickMädchen AmickMädchen Amick is an American actress best known for playing Shelly Johnson on the cult television series Twin Peaks and its 1992 prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.-Early life:...
... Carrie Fairchild - John BarrowmanJohn BarrowmanJohn Scot Barrowman is a Scottish-American singer, actor, dancer, musical theatre performer and media personality. Born in Glasgow yet growing up in Illinois after his family emigrated to the United States when he was eight years old, Barrowman was encouraged to further his love for music and...
... Peter Fairchild - Justin LazardJustin LazardJustin Lazard is an American actor, producer, director, and model.-Early life:Lazard was born in New York, but was raised in Connecticut. His father, Sidney Lazard, is a former foreign correspondent, and his mother, Julie , is a photographer. In 1974, the family relocated to Paris where his father...
... Gil Chase - Michael MicheleMichael MicheleMichael Michele is an American film and television actress. She played Dr. Cleo Finch on the medical drama ER and Det. Rene Sheppard on the police procedural Homicide: Life on the Street...
... Nikki Sheridan - Melissa ErricoMelissa Errico-Biography:Born in Manhattan, Errico moved to Manhasset on Long Island at an early age. Her parents, a sculptor and a physician/concert pianist, supported her early interest in ballet, and gymnastics, and Melissa competed nationally as a gymnast...
... Alex Bartoli - Kylie TravisKylie TravisKylie Travis is an Australian actress.Travis was born in London, England; her family moved to Australia shortly afterward. She modelled for various agencies in Paris, London, and New York before taking up acting. Her first major role was in the Aaron Spelling TV series Models Inc where she played...
... Rachel Dennis [episodes 2-21] - Gerald McRaneyGerald McRaneyGerald Lee "Mac" McRaney is an American television and movie actor. McRaney is best known as one of the stars of the television shows Simon & Simon, Major Dad, and Promised Land. He was a series regular for the first season of Jericho.-Early life:McRaney was born in Collins, Mississippi, the son...
... Adam Brock [episodes 14-21; recurring in episode 13] - Noelle BeckNoelle BeckNoelle Beck is an American actress, best known for her role as Trisha Alden on the ABC daytime soap opera Loving.-Career:...
... Jordan Tate [episodes 14-21] - Raquel WelchRaquel WelchJo Raquel Tejada , better known as Raquel Welch, is an American actress, author and sex symbol. Welch came to attention as a "new-star" on the 20th Century-Fox lot in the mid-1960s. She posed iconically in a animal skin bikini for the British-release One Million Years B.C. , for which she may be...
... Dianna Brock [episodes 14-21]
Season One
| # | |Original airdate | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | |Original airdate | |||
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
| 1996 | Emmy Awards | Nominated | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Main Title Theme Music | Tim Truman |
| Outstanding Individual Achievement in Graphic Design and Title Sequences | Paul Newman and Billy Pittard | |||