''Bracken's World'' is an American

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

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".

Synopsis

The series centres on a powerful head of Century Studios and a group of up-and-coming starlets. During the first season,

Eleanor Parker Eleanor Jean Parker (June 26, 1922 – December 9, 2013) was an American actress. She was nominated for three Academy Awards for her roles in the films ''Caged (1950 film), Caged'' (1950), ''Detective Story (1951 film), Detective Story'' (1951 ...

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. Parker left the series after the first 16 episodes, citing the limited nature of her role. When the second season began,

Leslie Nielsen Leslie William Nielsen (February 11, 1926November 28, 2010) was a Canadian actor and comedian. With a career spanning 60 years, he appeared in more than 100 films and 150 television programs, portraying more than 220 characters. He made his a ...

joined the cast to portray Bracken. Other cast members included Elizabeth Allen, Dennis Cole, Jeanne Cooper,

Peter Haskell Peter Haskell (October 15, 1934 – April 12, 2010) was an American actor who worked primarily in television. Early years Haskell attended Browne & Nichols and later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Harvard University following a two-year st ...

, Linda Harrison, Karen Jensen, Madlyn Rhue, and Laraine Stephens. Guest stars who appeared in various episodes of ''Bracken's World'' included

Jack Albertson Harold "Jack" Albertson (June 16, 1907 – November 25, 1981) was an American actor, comedian, dancer and singer who also performed in vaudeville. Albertson was a Tony, Oscar, and Emmy winning actor, which ranks him among a rare stature of 24 ...

Anne Baxter Anne Baxter (May 7, 1923 – December 12, 1985) was an American actress, star of Hollywood films, Broadway theatre, Broadway productions, and television series. She won an Academy Awards, Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, Golden Globe, and t ...

, Joseph Campanella, Gary Collins, Shelley Fabares,

Sally Field Sally Margaret Field (born November 6, 1946) is an American actress. She has performed in movies, Broadway theater, television, and made records of popular music. Known for her extensive work on screen and stage, she has received many accola ...

Lee Grant Lee Grant (born Lyova Haskell Rosenthal; October 31, during the mid-1920s) is an American actress, documentarian, and director. In a career spanning over seven decades, she won an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Directors Guil ...

, Arthur Hill. Carolyn Jones,

Lee Majors Lee Majors (born Harvey Lee Yeary; April 23, 1939) is an American actor. He portrayed the characters of Heath Barkley on the American television Western series '' The Big Valley'' (1965–1969), Colonel Steve Austin on the American television sc ...

Monte Markham Monte Markham (born June 21, 1935) is an American actor. He has appeared in films, television series, and on Broadway. Early life Markham was born in Manatee County, Florida, one of four sons of Millie Content (née Willbur) and Jesse Edwar ...

Tim Matheson Tim Matheson (born Timothy Lewis Matthieson; December 31, 1947) is an American actor and director. Some of his best-known acting roles include the title character of the 1960s animated ''Jonny Quest (TV series), Jonny Quest'' TV series, Eric "O ...

, Darren McGavin, Ricardo Montalbán, Lois Nettleton, Lane Bradbury,

Stuart Whitman Stuart Maxwell Whitman (February 1, 1928 – March 16, 2020) was an American actor, known for his lengthy career in film and television. Whitman was born in San Francisco and raised in New York until the age of 12, when his family relocated to ...

, Larry Pennell, Edward G. Robinson,

Martin Sheen Ramón Gerard Antonio Estévez (born August 3, 1940), known professionally as Martin Sheen, is an American actor. His work spans over six decades of television and film, and his accolades include three Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and ...

, Barry Sullivan, Richard Thomas, Forrest Tucker, and

Tony Curtis Tony Curtis (born Bernard Schwartz; June 3, 1925September 29, 2010) was an American actor with a career that spanned six decades, achieving the height of his popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in more than 100 films, in roles co ...

and Raquel Welch, who appeared as themselves in the pilot episode. ''Bracken's World'' aired on Friday at 10:00 pm (replacing the cancelled ''

Star Trek ''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the Star Trek: The Original Series, series of the same name and became a worldwide Popular culture, pop-culture Cultural influence of ...

''), 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." The last episode of ''Bracken's World'' aired on Friday, December 25, 1970.

Cast of characters

* Warren Stevens as John Bracken (season one; voice only) *

as John Bracken (season two) *

as Sylvia Caldwell (episodes 1-16) * Bettye Ackerman as Anne Frazer (episodes 17-41) * Elizabeth Allen as Laura Deane * Dennis Cole as Davey Evans (season one) * Jeanne Cooper as Grace Douglas * Gary Dubin as Mark Grant * Linda Harrison as Paulette Douglas *

as Kevin Grant * Karen Jensen as Rachel Holt * Stephen Oliver as Tom Hudson (season one) * Madlyn Rhue as Marjorie Grant (episodes 1-28) * Laraine Stephens as Diane Waring 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.

Episodes

Season 1 (1969–70)

Season 2 (1970)

In popular culture

The show was mentioned in ''Mad Men'': "Time Zones", when Megan Draper's agent told her she had received a call back for the ''Bracken's World'' pilot.

Awards and nominations

, - ! rowspan=3 scope="row" , 1970 ,

Emmy Awards The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...

, Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing for Entertainment Programming - For a Series or a Single Program of a Series , Bill Mosher
(For episode "Sweet Smell of Failure") , , , - ! rowspan=2 scope="row" ,

Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Janua ...

, Best TV Show - Drama , ''Bracken's World'' , , , - , Best TV Actress - Drama , Eleanor Parker , ,

References

External links

* *{{epguides, id=BrackensWorld
''Bracken's World''
at CVTA 1969 American television series debuts 1970 American television series endings 1960s American drama television series 1970s American drama television series American English-language television shows Television series about show business Television series by 20th Century Fox Television Television shows set in Los Angeles NBC television dramas