Lady Chatterly's Stories
Encyclopedia
Lady Chatterley's Stories is an erotic softcore
TV show that aired on Showtime where it continues running in syndication to this day.
as Lady Constance Chatterley, a land broker
by day and at night a sexual psychiatrist
to her friends and exclusive clients inside her secluded mansion. Constance is known for her taste for the sexually exotic and the ability to take an unflinching look into the sex lives of her and her clients and friends. Each episode treats the viewer to a provocative and arousing story punctuated by highly charged erotic sequences.
The series featured other notable softcore stars, including Gabriella Hall
, Kim Dawson, Holly Sampson
, Veronica Hart
, Susan Featherly
, and Shannan Leigh
.
, Women: Stories of Passion
, and Beverly Hills Bordello
that emerged in the middle-to-late 1990s which placed an emphasis on women-centered stories where the women were in control and could be sexually independent and become actual experts in the art and science of romance and seduction. These series also served as a virtual training ground and stable, continuous employment for many an B-actresses in-between their movie roles.
In early 2000, Showtime joined forces with Mainline Releasing Group (more popularly known
as MRG Entertainment) to create a 15-episode erotic series to run on late-night weekends.(MRG had produced a similar series, Bedtime Stories, for rival cable channel Cinemax
.) Polly Quennel was brought in as executive producer and Rebecca Lord
was brought in as director. In an effort to create a totally different lead character than the usual professional sex expert in other series, they decided to utilize the famous lead character from D. H. Lawrence
's classic novel, Lady Chatterley's Lover
but with a more modern 21st Century, independent, sexually liberated woman.
For this series, however, Lady Chatterley would become a successful real estate broker
by day, and a party girl/sex expert/faux counselor by night who would create innovative ways and means to solve her friends' sexual relationship problems....all while getting her field-playing time on her own.
When it came time to cast the pivotal role of Lady Chatterley, a conflict arose between the President of Showtime Networks and the series creators who were supported by some of the lower-level executives at Showtime. Many actresses tried out for the lead role with it coming down to two:
Chloe Nicholle, a middle-level hardcore
adult actress better known as Chloe with limited experience and even less name recognition in the B-movie/cable TV market;
and Shauna O'Brien
, January 1992 Penthouse Pet and a 10-year veteran of B-movies.
The Showtime president favored O'Brien because of her impressive qualifications and experience. She also fit into his philosophy of the erotic cable series. The series brass and lower execs
favored Nicholle because they thought that she would be more suitable for the pushing of erotic boundaries that they wanted to accomplish. The second group — in direct violation of the president's orders, and while he was away on company business — pulled off a coup-d'état by giving Nicholle the lead role and began filming, production, and promotion of the series. They were able to complete production of the first two episodes; however, this ended when the Showtime president returned from his trip and found out about their actions. Production stopped, Nicholle was fired and O'Brien hired to take over the lead role, taking over the role beginning with the third episode.
Softcore
Softcore pornography is a form of filmic or photographic pornography or erotica that is less sexually explicit than hardcore pornography. It is intended to tickle and arouse men and women. Softcore pornography depicts nude and semi-nude performers engaging in casual social nudity or non-graphic...
TV show that aired on Showtime where it continues running in syndication to this day.
Premise
The show featured Shauna O'BrienShauna O'Brien
Shauna O'Brien is a model, actress in B-movies and an erotic actress.She is sometimes credited as Steve Jean, Shana O'Brien or Shawna O'Brien....
as Lady Constance Chatterley, a land broker
Real estate broker
A real estate broker, real estate agent or realtor is a party who acts as an intermediary between sellers and buyers of real estate/real property and attempts to find sellers who wish to sell and buyers who wish to buy...
by day and at night a sexual psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
to her friends and exclusive clients inside her secluded mansion. Constance is known for her taste for the sexually exotic and the ability to take an unflinching look into the sex lives of her and her clients and friends. Each episode treats the viewer to a provocative and arousing story punctuated by highly charged erotic sequences.
The series featured other notable softcore stars, including Gabriella Hall
Gabriella Hall
Gabriella Hall is a model and actress from Los Angeles best known for her appearances in Cinemax TV shows and movies such as Erotic Confessions and Beverly Hills Bordello. To date, she has appeared in over 58 TV shows and movies...
, Kim Dawson, Holly Sampson
Holly Sampson
Holly Joy Sampson, also known as Nicolette Foster, Andrea Michaels or Zoe is an American pornographic actress and model. She is noted for playing the title role in the Emmanuelle 2000 series of films.-Early life:...
, Veronica Hart
Veronica Hart
Jane Esther Hamilton is an American former pornographic actress and current porn director who performed under the name Veronica Hart during the 1980s. She is sometimes credited as Jane Esther Hamilton, Jane Hamilton, V. Hart, Veronica Heart, Victoria Holt, Kathryn Stanleigh, Randee Styles or just...
, Susan Featherly
Susan Featherly
Susan Featherly is an actress best known for her appearances in Cinemax TV shows and movies such as Kama Sutra, Lady Chatterly's Stories and Passion Cove...
, and Shannan Leigh
Shannan Leigh
Shannan Leigh was born in Manhattan, New York and has appeared in numerous fantasy, sci-fi and erotic thrillers, such as Virgins of Sherwood Forest and Platinum Blonde. Leigh has also had appearances in the series Kama Sutra, Lady Chatterly" and "Bedtime Stories. She appeared in the movie...
.
Production
The show was the result of a long line of late-night cable TV erotic series such as Erotic ConfessionsErotic Confessions
Erotic Confessions is a Cinemax channel show airing from 1992 to 1996 and as a video series from 1994 to 1997. Its premise was a modern-day letter reader by Jacqueline Stone . The cast starred Kimberley Sessions, Julie K. Smith, Carrie Westcott....
, Women: Stories of Passion
Women: Stories of Passion
Women: Stories of Passion is a dramatic series that aired on the American cable television network Showtime and distributed by Playboy Entertainment overseas.The episodes were based on stories of love, and passion from a women's point of view....
, and Beverly Hills Bordello
Beverly Hills Bordello
Beverly Hills Bordello was a softcore series aired on premium cable. It was an anthology series that centered around the fictional Winston Spa located in Beverly Hills...
that emerged in the middle-to-late 1990s which placed an emphasis on women-centered stories where the women were in control and could be sexually independent and become actual experts in the art and science of romance and seduction. These series also served as a virtual training ground and stable, continuous employment for many an B-actresses in-between their movie roles.
In early 2000, Showtime joined forces with Mainline Releasing Group (more popularly known
as MRG Entertainment) to create a 15-episode erotic series to run on late-night weekends.(MRG had produced a similar series, Bedtime Stories, for rival cable channel Cinemax
Cinemax
Cinemax, sometimes abbreviated as simply "Max", is a collection of premium television networks that broadcasts primarily feature films, along with softcore erotica, original action series, documentaries and special behind-the-scenes features. Cinemax is operated by Home Box Office, Inc., a...
.) Polly Quennel was brought in as executive producer and Rebecca Lord
Rebecca Lord
Rebecca Lord is the stage name of a French pornographic actress who has been active since 1993. After moving to the U.S., she achieved popularity in the porn industry there.-Early years:...
was brought in as director. In an effort to create a totally different lead character than the usual professional sex expert in other series, they decided to utilize the famous lead character from D. H. Lawrence
D. H. Lawrence
David Herbert Richards Lawrence was an English novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, literary critic and painter who published as D. H. Lawrence. His collected works represent an extended reflection upon the dehumanising effects of modernity and industrialisation...
's classic novel, Lady Chatterley's Lover
Lady Chatterley's Lover
Lady Chatterley's Lover is a novel by D. H. Lawrence, first published in 1928. The first edition was printed privately in Florence, Italy with assistance from Pino Orioli; it could not be published openly in the United Kingdom until 1960...
but with a more modern 21st Century, independent, sexually liberated woman.
For this series, however, Lady Chatterley would become a successful real estate broker
Real estate broker
A real estate broker, real estate agent or realtor is a party who acts as an intermediary between sellers and buyers of real estate/real property and attempts to find sellers who wish to sell and buyers who wish to buy...
by day, and a party girl/sex expert/faux counselor by night who would create innovative ways and means to solve her friends' sexual relationship problems....all while getting her field-playing time on her own.
When it came time to cast the pivotal role of Lady Chatterley, a conflict arose between the President of Showtime Networks and the series creators who were supported by some of the lower-level executives at Showtime. Many actresses tried out for the lead role with it coming down to two:
Chloe Nicholle, a middle-level hardcore
Hardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography is a form of pornography that features explicit sexual acts. The term was coined in the second half of the 20th century to distinguish it from softcore pornography. It usually takes the form of photographs, often displayed in magazines or on the Internet, or films. It can also...
adult actress better known as Chloe with limited experience and even less name recognition in the B-movie/cable TV market;
and Shauna O'Brien
Shauna O'Brien
Shauna O'Brien is a model, actress in B-movies and an erotic actress.She is sometimes credited as Steve Jean, Shana O'Brien or Shawna O'Brien....
, January 1992 Penthouse Pet and a 10-year veteran of B-movies.
The Showtime president favored O'Brien because of her impressive qualifications and experience. She also fit into his philosophy of the erotic cable series. The series brass and lower execs
favored Nicholle because they thought that she would be more suitable for the pushing of erotic boundaries that they wanted to accomplish. The second group — in direct violation of the president's orders, and while he was away on company business — pulled off a coup-d'état by giving Nicholle the lead role and began filming, production, and promotion of the series. They were able to complete production of the first two episodes; however, this ended when the Showtime president returned from his trip and found out about their actions. Production stopped, Nicholle was fired and O'Brien hired to take over the lead role, taking over the role beginning with the third episode.
Episode List
- A Real Man
- Does He Have a Brother?
- Secrets
- Substance of Desire
- Fantasy
- Satisfaction
- The Manuscript
- The Wager
- One Night Stand
- Passion
- Switch
- The Husband
- A Few Moments in Time
- Before and After
- Mystery Lover