Bare Essence
Encyclopedia
Bare Essence is an American television soap opera
which aired on the NBC
network during the 1982-1983 season.
Bare Essence starred popular daytime soap actress Genie Francis
and dealt with the intrigues of the perfume
industry. (The movie version was directed by Walter Grauman
and written by Robert Hamilton
.)
Initially, the show started its life as a 4-hour TV mini series shown in October 1982 on CBS with supporting performances from veteran prime-time soap actresses Linda Evans
and Donna Mills
, as well as Lee Grant
and Bruce Boxleitner
. The mini series garnered excellent ratings but CBS passed on a proposed series, which NBC picked up. By the time the series went to air in February 1983, the roles which had been played in the mini series by Evans, Mills, Grant, and Boxleitner were taken over respectively by Jennifer O'Neill
, Jaime Lyn Bauer
, Jessica Walter
and Al Corley
. Genie Francis reprised the lead role in the new series.
The series revolved around Tyger Hayes' (Francis) efforts to succeed in the business world. In the first episode, her new husband Chase Marshall (Corley) is killed in a racing car accident. Chase's father Hadden (John Dehner
) opposes Tyger's efforts to join the family business, Kellico, but she is encouraged by Hadden's sister Margaret (Susan French
) to try her hand with a new line of perfumes. Ava (Walter), the widow of Hadden's other son, is concerned that any success Tyger might have will undermine her son Marcus' (Jonathan Frakes
) position in the company. Both Ava and Marcus' wife Muffin (Wendy Fulton
) plotted to undermine Tyger's success. To this end, Ava eventually seduces and marries Hadden. Tyger's mother, Lady Bobbi Rowan (O'Neill), falls in love with a Greek millionaire, Niko Theopolous (Ian McShane
), who wants to exact revenge on the Marshalls.
Despite a great deal of promotion (with commercials like "Love her. Use her. Or destroy her. Everyone wants a piece of Tyger Hayes."), the show was not a success and was cancelled at the end of the season with cliffhangers left unresolved. A total of 11 episodes were produced, plus the TV movie pilot.
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,...
which aired on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
network during the 1982-1983 season.
Bare Essence starred popular daytime soap actress Genie Francis
Genie Francis
Eugenie "Genie" Francis Frakes is an American actress known for her portrayal of Laura Spencer on the ABC daytime drama General Hospital. She is currently playing Genevieve Atkinson on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless...
and dealt with the intrigues of the perfume
Perfume
Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils and/or aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents used to give the human body, animals, objects, and living spaces "a pleasant scent"...
industry. (The movie version was directed by Walter Grauman
Walter Grauman
Walter E. Grauman is an American director of stage shows, films and television shows.-Early life:Grauman was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Jacob and Irene Grauman, both children of German immigrants who married after settling in the United States...
and written by Robert Hamilton
Robert Hamilton
Robert Hamilton was a Scottish mathematician and political economist. He was a founder member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh....
.)
Initially, the show started its life as a 4-hour TV mini series shown in October 1982 on CBS with supporting performances from veteran prime-time soap actresses Linda Evans
Linda Evans
Linda Evans is an American actress. She is known primarily for her roles on television, and rose to fame playing Audra Barkley in the 1960s Western TV series, The Big Valley...
and Donna Mills
Donna Mills
Donna Mills is an American actress, most well known for her role as Abby Fairgate Cunningham Ewing Sumner on the primetime soap opera Knots Landing.-Early years:...
, as well as Lee Grant
Lee Grant
Lee Grant is an American stage, film and television actress, and film director. She was blacklisted for 12 years from film work beginning in the mid-1950s, but worked in the theatre, and would eventually win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Felicia Carp in the...
and Bruce Boxleitner
Bruce Boxleitner
Bruce William Boxleitner is an American actor, and science fiction and suspense writer. He is known for his leading roles in the television series How the West Was Won, Bring 'Em Back Alive, Scarecrow and Mrs. King , and Babylon 5...
. The mini series garnered excellent ratings but CBS passed on a proposed series, which NBC picked up. By the time the series went to air in February 1983, the roles which had been played in the mini series by Evans, Mills, Grant, and Boxleitner were taken over respectively by Jennifer O'Neill
Jennifer O'Neill
-Early life:O'Neill was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the daughter of a famous Spanish-Irish dental supply import/export businessman, Oscar D' O'Neill and his English wife. As a teenager, O'Neill worked as a fashion model and appeared in television commercials and on magazine covers before moving...
, Jaime Lyn Bauer
Jaime Lyn Bauer
Jaime Lyn Bauer is an American soap opera actress.The one time Miss Phoenix beauty contest winner is best known for her two long-running soap roles: Lorie Brooks on The Young and the Restless, which she played from 1973 to 1982 with reprises in 1984 and 2002, and Dr...
, Jessica Walter
Jessica Walter
Jessica Walter is an American actress, known for the films Play Misty for Me, Grand Prix, and for her role as Lucille Bluth on the sitcom Arrested Development...
and Al Corley
Al Corley
Al Corley is an American actor, singer and producer. In the late 1970s, he worked as a doorman at Studio 54. He would later appear in a VH1 Behind the Music special on Studio 54 to recount his experiences....
. Genie Francis reprised the lead role in the new series.
The series revolved around Tyger Hayes' (Francis) efforts to succeed in the business world. In the first episode, her new husband Chase Marshall (Corley) is killed in a racing car accident. Chase's father Hadden (John Dehner
John Dehner
John Dehner was an American actor in radio, television, and films, playing countless roles, often as a droll villain. Between 1941 and 1988, he appeared in over 260 films and television programs. Prior to acting, Dehner had worked as an animator at Walt Disney Studios, and later became a radio...
) opposes Tyger's efforts to join the family business, Kellico, but she is encouraged by Hadden's sister Margaret (Susan French
Susan French
Susan French was an American stage, television and film actress.French appeared in the TV movie People Like Us . She also played the role of Mrs. Shaw in the TV movie Captain America and its sequel, Captain America II: Death Too Soon. French acted in the soap opera Bare Essence...
) to try her hand with a new line of perfumes. Ava (Walter), the widow of Hadden's other son, is concerned that any success Tyger might have will undermine her son Marcus' (Jonathan Frakes
Jonathan Frakes
Jonathan Scott Frakes is an American actor, author and director best known for his role as Commander William T. Riker in the Star Trek franchise, as well as for his tenure as host of Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction ....
) position in the company. Both Ava and Marcus' wife Muffin (Wendy Fulton
Wendy Fulton
Wendy Fulton is a former American television actress.-Career:Fulton's television credits include guest appearances on Knight Rider, Jake and the Fatman, Diff'rent Strokes, The A-Team, V and Matlock. She was one of stars of North and South, Book 1 miniseries...
) plotted to undermine Tyger's success. To this end, Ava eventually seduces and marries Hadden. Tyger's mother, Lady Bobbi Rowan (O'Neill), falls in love with a Greek millionaire, Niko Theopolous (Ian McShane
Ian McShane
Ian David McShane is an English actor, director, producer, voice artist, and comedian.Despite appearing in numerous films, McShane is best known for his television roles, particularly the BBC's Lovejoy and HBO's Western drama Deadwood...
), who wants to exact revenge on the Marshalls.
Despite a great deal of promotion (with commercials like "Love her. Use her. Or destroy her. Everyone wants a piece of Tyger Hayes."), the show was not a success and was cancelled at the end of the season with cliffhangers left unresolved. A total of 11 episodes were produced, plus the TV movie pilot.
Cast
- Tyger Hayes ... Genie FrancisGenie FrancisEugenie "Genie" Francis Frakes is an American actress known for her portrayal of Laura Spencer on the ABC daytime drama General Hospital. She is currently playing Genevieve Atkinson on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless...
- Chase Marshall ... Al CorleyAl CorleyAl Corley is an American actor, singer and producer. In the late 1970s, he worked as a doorman at Studio 54. He would later appear in a VH1 Behind the Music special on Studio 54 to recount his experiences....
- Hadden Marshall ... John DehnerJohn DehnerJohn Dehner was an American actor in radio, television, and films, playing countless roles, often as a droll villain. Between 1941 and 1988, he appeared in over 260 films and television programs. Prior to acting, Dehner had worked as an animator at Walt Disney Studios, and later became a radio...
- Margaret Marshall ... Susan FrenchSusan FrenchSusan French was an American stage, television and film actress.French appeared in the TV movie People Like Us . She also played the role of Mrs. Shaw in the TV movie Captain America and its sequel, Captain America II: Death Too Soon. French acted in the soap opera Bare Essence...
- Ava Marshall ... Jessica WalterJessica WalterJessica Walter is an American actress, known for the films Play Misty for Me, Grand Prix, and for her role as Lucille Bluth on the sitcom Arrested Development...
- Marcus Marshall ... Jonathan FrakesJonathan FrakesJonathan Scott Frakes is an American actor, author and director best known for his role as Commander William T. Riker in the Star Trek franchise, as well as for his tenure as host of Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction ....
- Muffin Marshall ... Wendy FultonWendy FultonWendy Fulton is a former American television actress.-Career:Fulton's television credits include guest appearances on Knight Rider, Jake and the Fatman, Diff'rent Strokes, The A-Team, V and Matlock. She was one of stars of North and South, Book 1 miniseries...
- Lady Bobbi Rowan ... Jennifer O'NeillJennifer O'Neill-Early life:O'Neill was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the daughter of a famous Spanish-Irish dental supply import/export businessman, Oscar D' O'Neill and his English wife. As a teenager, O'Neill worked as a fashion model and appeared in television commercials and on magazine covers before moving...
- Niko Theopolous ... Ian McShaneIan McShaneIan David McShane is an English actor, director, producer, voice artist, and comedian.Despite appearing in numerous films, McShane is best known for his television roles, particularly the BBC's Lovejoy and HBO's Western drama Deadwood...
- Alexi Theopolous ... Michael NaderMichael NaderMichael Nader is an American actor of Lebanese descent, known for his role on the ABC primetime soap opera Dynasty from 1983 to 1989 as Farnsworth "Dex" Dexter, the third husband of Alexis Colby .Nader's first soap opera role was opposite actress Marie Masters playing the character of Kevin...
- Barbara Fisher ... Jaime Lyn BauerJaime Lyn BauerJaime Lyn Bauer is an American soap opera actress.The one time Miss Phoenix beauty contest winner is best known for her two long-running soap roles: Lorie Brooks on The Young and the Restless, which she played from 1973 to 1982 with reprises in 1984 and 2002, and Dr...
- Larry Devito ... Morgan StevensMorgan StevensMorgan Stevens is an American actor, primarily seen on television.He appeared as Paul Northridge in one episode of The Waltons and in three reunion movies. In A Wedding on Walton's Mountain, his character married the character of Erin Walton...
- Robert Spencer ... Ted LePlat
- Sean Benedict ... Michael WoodsMichael WoodsMichael Woods is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician, who served in a wide range of cabinet positions, most notably as Minister for Agriculture and Food, Minister for Education and Science and Minister for Health.-Life:...
- Alan ... Richard BackusRichard BackusRichard Backus is an American actor and television writer. He has been nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards for writing and one for acting.- Biography :...
- Cathy ... Laura Bruneau
- Natasha ... Anulka DziubinskaAnulka DziubinskaDziubinska worked as a dental nurse in Preston, but found the routine too restrictive. In 1970, she was a finalist in the Miss United Kingdom beauty contest...