By Eddy Friedfeld
New York's 92nd Street Y hosted the launch of the four part PBS documentary “Pioneers of Television,†and featured Hollywood icons Angie Dickinson, Linda Evans, Nichelle Nichols and Stephanie Powers. Moderated by Alison Stewart, the event saluted “smart, strong women on television, who helped reimagine the roles of women in society and helped break down seemingly permanent barriers.â€
“I did an episode of “Police Story†that was turned into the Police Woman series,†Dickinson recalled. “The character’s original name was Lisa, which I changed to Pepper. We came out at the beginning of the Women’s Movement in America. We fed the movement and the movement fed us.â€
“I was scared to death to work with Barbara Stanwyck,†Evans recalled of her days on “The Big Valley.†“She was larger than life. She took me under her wing. She said: ‘Show up on time, Audra and know your lines.’ She always called me by my characters name.â€
“I grew up in musical theater,†Nichols said. “I thought “Star Trek†would be a nice stepping stone for me. Gene Roddenberry has given be my first guest starring role in “The Lieutenant,†and then called me again to be Uhura, which was based on “Uhuru,†the Swahili word for freedom. He created the first ensemble starring cast on television.â€
“Collaboration was the key to television in those days,†Powers added. “There are no Gene Roddenberrys anymore- there is no central artistic and creative spirit that brought about the best we could give to the characters. It’s all committees of executives.â€
“I was under contract to Columbia Pictures. I did 15 movies in five years. I remember being popped out of a giant toaster with Stan Freberg. I then got to start in “The Girl from UNCLE.†We did 23 episodes a season, working 37 hours a day and sleeping for 10 minutes.â€
The four were asked to share reminiscences of things they would not do. “There was a first time “Star Trek†director who wanted me to do something cutesy that Uhura would not do,†Nichols said.†When I tried to discuss it with him, he said “just do it.†I told him I’ll do anything you want, but “Uhura wouldn’t do that.†He went to Gene Roddenberry to complain about “the difficult actress on the set.â€â€ Gene listened to the story and said: “Nichelle would do the scene, but Uhura wouldn’t do it.†I didn’t have to do that scene. We knew who our characters were and Gene supported that.â€
“The hardest part for me was taking all those showers,†Dickinson said. “I also got a script that had Pepper drive and 18-wheeler. I refused. They dropped it, but they never forgave me.â€
“On the fourth season of Dynasty they wanted Blake and Crystal to have affairs with other people,†Evans remembered, referring to her on-screen marriage to John Forsythe. “We refused. We wanted one couple on TV to be faithful to each other.â€
“They also wanted us to have an affair on “Hart to Hart,†Powers said, recalling her onscreen marriage to Robert “RJ†Wagner. “We refused. They’re enjoying each other too much- they’re having too good a time. They also wanted us to have a child. What would we have done with a child… Max?†Powers said, referring to the late Lionel Stander who played the couples wisecracking butler.
“RJ was one of the most beloved men in Hollywood for so long,†Dickenson said, when asked about favorite leading men. “All of us worked with Jimmy Garner, and not one of us didn’t think “we really had something special,†Powers added. Nichols mesmerized the audience with one particular Star Trek recollection: “My goal was Broadway. I had gotten a wonderful opportunity on Star Trek. By the end of the first season I was getting real attention and offers in areas that I wanted in theater. I went to Gene and told him that I was leaving. He said: “Don’t you see what I’m trying to build here? Please take the weekend and think about it.â€
That weekend I was on the dais at a fundraiser and at the end of the evening I was told that someone wanted to meet me and that he was “my greatest fan.†I then saw Dr. Martin Luther King and thought- I don’t know who that little Trekkie is but he’s going to have to move away. And then Dr. King said: “Yes, Miss Nichols, it’s me. I am your greatest fan.â€
“When I told him I was leaving the show, Dr. King said “you cannot do that- you have the first non-stereotypical role on TV- you’re the way black people are supposed to be seen- beautiful and intelligent. You’re not a menial. This is the only show that my wife Coretta and I allow our children to stay up and watch. What happened to you happened for you. But you cannot abdicate. Anyone can replace you. But you cannot be replaced.â€
“On Monday morning I told that story to Gene. I said if you still want me to stay I’ll stay. He breathed a sigh of relief and said “Thank God someone understands what I’m trying to do here.â€
“There aren’t a lot of role models in popular culture,†Powers said when asked about the current crop of stars, “The media creates stars overnight with people who don’t have talent. The current generation doesn’t care about preserving anything for the next generation.â€
“You used to be honored for your longevity,†Nichols said. “The paparazzi inserted themselves instead of the press… young actors get praised more for how you can drink and party than how they can act- they build you up so they can tear you down. You want people to know you for the quality of your work and the measure of your character. The younger people think that they have the right to be crazy but they don’t know the consequences.â€
Narrated by Kelsey Grammer, Pioneers of Television airs on Tuesday nights on PBS. The four part series provides a fresh and revealing look at the inception of four of the most popular genres in television: Science fiction, westerns, crime dramas and local kids’ TV, and will be released on DVD in March.