Dynasty showrunner shares secrets from 'Company Slut' 

The Carringtons are back and as glamorous as ever! And to celebrate their return, 

showrunner Sallie Patrick will be blogging major episodes for

throughout the show’s first season. This week, she’s sharing some insights on Cristal’s first day as COO and so much more.

This week’s episode was directed by the marvelous Cherie Nowlan and was written by Chris Fife. I’ve written with Chris on two shows before

Dynasty (Life Unexpected and Revenge), and it was a no-brainer for me when staffing this show that he had to be a part of it. He’s not only a fan of the OG Dynasty, but he’s an encyclopedia of soap and all-around wonderful person to have in the writers’ room. For someone who can write catty lines so well, he’s actually quite a nice guy.

“Company Slut” is a packed hour, spanning from a wish-fulfilling montage in which Cristal chooses what to wear for her first day as a COO — she’s trying to keep her chin up after all the drama with her sex tape — to a much darker ending, when Cristal tries to make amends with Claudia Blaisdel… Much of the drama in Dynasty comes from the moments when good intentions go terribly wrong. And let’s just say, Blake running over Claudia with his car isn’t going to make their lives any easier.

I love this episode because it gave us the opportunity to talk about issues that are important to me: female empowerment, how women treat each other in the work place, and of course, how to wear a cape to a board meeting (only Cristal could pull that off). As for music, from the script stage, we knew we wanted Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” to open the show, and that it should be covered by a woman (Red Rosamond). It felt like an appropriate anthem for Cristal, who’s trying to keep her head high, and it also echoes her battle with Fallon. Their tete-a-tete in the foyer is an awesome shade-throwing match — they’re each struggling with their own battles to prove themselves as career women — but it’s also a key moment in their season-long arc, by the end of which we hope they’ll learn there’s space enough for them both to rule the world.

Believe it or not, the champagne spray moment was rehearsed several times, with and without our actors — even something that seems so simple must go perfectly or we ruin hair/makeup/wardrobe for no good reason. But on the day, the women got it in one try. Because they’re pros.

The presentation of the watch to Cristal (Blake’s gift for her first day as COO) was a callback to the OG Dynasty when Blake had earrings sent up to Cristal’s bridal shower. Our props department even used similar wrapping.

“Did they remember the chocolate cake?” is a classic Sammy Jo line. Even when he’s away from the Manor, he knows the importance of good (free) food.

My favorite “ship” of the series is Anders and Sammy Jo. I love their arc in this episode. Even if Anders was manipulating Sam to go to Ted… (Also, I’d really like my own movie theater complete with that candy cart.)

I love how Steven’s arc and ability to forgive Sammy Jo contrasts with Blake’s inability to forgive Fallon, dramatizing how Steven continues to be quite different from his father…

Ted Dinard is a character from the OG Dynasty who played a big part in season 1… So let’s just say, he’ll be back.

Shooting our first scene of the episode in the master bedroom

Another dysfunctional family dinner — all smiles between takes!

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