September 19, 1969 (1969-09-19) – December 25, 1970 (1970-12-25)
Bracken's World is an American drama television series that aired on NBC from September 19, 1969, to December 25, 1970. The series was created and produced by Dorothy Kingsley. In addition, Kingsley also wrote several episodes. The Lettermen performed the second-season theme song "Worlds".
The series centres on a powerful head of Century Studios and a group of up-and-coming starlets.[1]
During the first season, Eleanor Parker received top billing as Sylvia Caldwell, executive secretary to John Bracken (voice-acted in the first season by Warren Stevens), who was sometimes heard, but never seen.[2] Parker left the series after the first 16 episodes, citing the limited nature of her role. When the second season began, Leslie Nielsen joined the cast to portray Bracken.
Bracken's World aired on Friday at 10:00 pm (replacing the cancelled Star Trek), a day and time known as the "Friday night death slot", and was cancelled 15 episodes into its second season. "Had they done it like a continuing drama and focused on the regular characters", co-star Linda Harrison said in a 2001 interview, "it would have lasted longer. NBC, however, wanted a one-hour contained show, so they would stock each episode with a big guest star. After a while, you run out of story."[3] The last episode of Bracken's World aired on Friday, December 25, 1970.
Tom Selleck was seen in the minor recurring role of Roger Haines in several season-one episodes; he made a guest appearance as a different character in season two.
Sylvia and Laura show devotion to the studio in different ways, while Kevin's shaky marriage suffers even more with attraction to Diane. Meanwhile, Grace's opposition to Paulette's relationship with Davey Evans gets dicier.
2
2
"Panic"
Ted Post
Oliver Hailey
September 26, 1969 (1969-09-26)
While horseback riding, Rachel accidentally runs down a boy scout (Scott Bray), but allows police to place the blame on another actress.
A testimonial dinner for Sylvia's father (Jay C. Flippen), a former movie executive, is marred when a fading actress (Carolyn Jones) publicly blames him for the failures of her life.
Sylvia visits a drug rehabilitation center to persuade an ex-movie director to attempt a comeback.
8
8
"The Stunt"
Herschel Daugherty
Dorothy Kingsley
November 7, 1969 (1969-11-07)
Actor Brock Jordan (Gary Collins) loses stature in his son's eyes when the boy discovers that his father leaves the more dangerous aspects of his TV series to stuntman Davey Evans.
9
9
"All the Beautiful Young Girls"
Paul Henreid
Leonard Kantor
November 14, 1969 (1969-11-14)
Laura suffers heartache when her old love (Arthur Hill) re-enters her life and still displays a weakness for young girls.
10
10
"Package Deal"
John Erman
Stephen Kandel
November 28, 1969 (1969-11-28)
In order to get the big-name actor he wants for his new film, Kevin is forced to hire the man's inexperienced daughter (Shelley Fabares) for the female lead.
When Rachel and a new trainee at Century Studios begin dating, both learn that there are members of their respective races who resent their relationship.
12
12
"Move in for a Close-Up"
Allen Reisner
Oliver Hailey
December 12, 1969 (1969-12-12)
Kevin's wife attempts to save her marriage by getting a job as an assistant script supervisor at Century Studios.
13
13
"Stop Date"
Robert Day
Norman Hudis
December 19, 1969 (1969-12-19)
Personal and professional problems plague producer Kevin Grant as he tries to avoid losing thousands of dollars.
14
14
"The Chase Sequence"
James Neilson
Charles McDaniel
December 26, 1969 (1969-12-26)
Tragedy results when Davey permits another stuntman, suffering from a hangover, to perform a dangerous feat.
15
15
"Focus on a Gun"
Gerald Mayer
Story by : Kenneth Hartman Teleplay by : Robert Lewin
January 2, 1970 (1970-01-02)
Diane Waring falls in love with a gangster (Joe Don Baker), bringing trouble and tragedy to Century Pictures.
16
16
"The Money Men"
Charles S. Dubin
Sonya Roberts
January 9, 1970 (1970-01-09)
In the midst of a power play aimed at unseating Bracken as the head of Century Pictures, Sylvia quits.
17
17
"Meanwhile, Back at the Studio"
Gary Nelson
Joseph Bonaduce
January 16, 1970 (1970-01-16)
Kevin is pressured to change Apache history in a movie when Paulette Douglas is kidnapped by Indians.
18
18
"A Perfect Piece of Casting"
Paul Henreid
Bess Boyle
January 30, 1970 (1970-01-30)
When Kevin casts an unknown actor (Monte Markham) in a based-on-fact film about a strangler, real criminals turn up in the area.
19
19
"Superstar"
Herschel Daugherty
Charles McDaniel
February 6, 1970 (1970-02-06)
Kevin walks out on production of a movie in which he was forced to star a famous football player (Lee Majors) who can't act.
20
20
"Whatever Happened to Happy Endings?"
Herschel Daugherty
Gerry Day & Bethel Leslie
February 13, 1970 (1970-02-13)
When a malicious columnist's (Lee Grant) offer to help a young actress is refused, she creates a scandal involving Kevin that brings tragedy to Century Pictures.
21
21
"Fallen, Fallen Is Babylon"
Allen Reisner
Jerry Ziegman
February 20, 1970 (1970-02-20)
Rachel is kidnapped by an unbalanced, Bible-quoting young man (Richard Thomas) who believes that he has been chosen to save her from pending judgement.
22
22
"Papa Never Spanked Me"
Charles S. Dubin
Adrian Spies
February 27, 1970 (1970-02-27)
The troubles of a father and son acting team (Jack Albertson and Martin Sheen) help slow down production of Kevin's new movie.
23
23
"A Beginning, a Middle, and an End"
Lee Philips
Leonard Kantor
March 6, 1970 (1970-03-06)
Kevin cannot get an author (Joseph Campanella) to change the ending of a script, even though the movie is nearly completed.
24
24
"Diffusion"
Charles S. Dubin
Stephen Kandel
March 13, 1970 (1970-03-13)
A film star (Anne Baxter) ruins a movie by forcing the director to use the techniques of a bygone era.
25
25
"Day for Night"
Nicholas Webster
Robert Lewin
March 20, 1970 (1970-03-20)
Rachel's unreasonable demands result in her getting fired from Kevin Grant's picture.
26
26
"One, Two, Three... Cry"
Paul Henreid
Jerry Ziegman
March 27, 1970 (1970-03-27)
A jealous drama coach (Barry Sullivan) manipulates Paulette into quitting the talent school.
^Lisanti, Tom. Fantasy Femmes of 60's Cinema: Interviews with 20 Actresses from Biker, Beach, and Elvis Movies McFarland & Company, Inc. (2001) ISBN0786408685, p 267