What Might've Been: Harold Robbins' The Survivors (1969)

 ABC was looking to develop another primetime soap to succeed Peyton Place. Universal adapted Harold Robbins' The Survivors (yes, that was the show's official title), hoping to fill the void with an hour long show as opposed to Peyton being a 30 minute show that aired 2-3 times a week at its peak.

Lana Turner, in her only television series, was part of an ensemble with George Hamilton, Ralph Bellamy (his 1st series since Man Against Crime), Diana Muldaur, Clu Gulager (ex-The Virginian, Tall Man), Italian star Rossano Brazzi, Louis Hayward (ex-The Lone Wolf), Kevin McCarthy ("Invasion of The Body Snatchers"), and Natalie Schaefer (ex-Gilligan's Island), who was brought in after Bellamy's character was killed off.

We've previously documented the fact that the series was cancelled by Christmas, replaced with Paris 7000 to fulfill George Hamilton's contract. Ralph Bellamy would return the very next season in The Most Deadly Game, another 1 season wonder from Aaron Spelling.

In this sample, I think this is from Bellamy's final appearance.

No rating. I was but six at the time, and this was past my bedtime. I don't even know if my folks even saw the show (I doubt it).