Dangerous Women (1991 TV series)

Synopsis

Dangerous Women was based on the 1979 Australian series Prisoner which had enjoyed success in syndication on many networks around the US from late 1979 to around mid 1982. With both series created by Reg Watson, Dangerous Women initially shared many similarities with its Australian counterpart, although this became far less apparent as the series continued.

Many of the characters in Dangerous Women were based on the original characters of Prisoner: The characters of Karen Travers and Lynne Warner from the latter became Maria Trent and Holly Warner in Dangerous Women and both of their opening storylines were based on those originally shown in Prisoner. Similarly, Rita Jones's personality was based on Bea Smith, Crystal Fox shared the characteristics of nymphomaniac Marilyn Mason, and Cissie Johnson's daughter rejected her just as Mum's daughter disowned her when she was released in Prisoner.

Although many characters and storylines were clearly borrowed from Prisoner, the main character who tied the show together was Faith Cronin (Valerie Wildman), a mobster's wife. This character and storyline was unique and created especially for the new version of the series. Faith had been seriously disfigured by her mobster husband, and on leaving prison, she framed her ex-husband of murder after she staged her own death, had plastic surgery and created a new identity, becoming confident and glamorous Patricia Meadows. She bought a lakefront inn, The Cedar Lake Inn, a destination she'd loved as a child and somewhere she'd always dreamed of living once she was released from prison.

As the series progressed, the prison was seen less, as all of the characters were gradually released. They eventually took refuge at the inn and attempted to rebuild their lives together.

Cast

Airings and cancellation

Dangerous Women premiered August 7, 1991 and aired only one season. The show was syndicated on a limited basis – WWOR-TV in New York City, WPWR-TV in Chicago and KCOP in Los Angeles were known to have carried the program. WDCA in Washington, D.C. carried the program but soon relegated it to a 2 AM time slot. In some markets, two one-hour episodes aired back to back every Wednesday night with encores on Saturday nights. It had reasonable ratings in New York, but it wasn't enough to keep the show going. It was pulled from syndication on January 1, 1992 after 52 episodes.

Several weeks before the show was officially cancelled, all six lead actresses appeared on The Richard Bey Show, a talk show that originated from WWOR. The cast also appeared on two episodes of NY At Night, a primetime talk show on WWOR starring entertainer Clint Holmes. These appearances were their last attempt to keep the show on the air.

Syndication

Shortly after its American cancellation, the show was broadcast on Central Television – the ITV franchise for the United Kingdom's English Midlands. It aired on Sunday and Monday nights from March 1992 replacing Prisoner in the schedule (which had finished December the previous year). All 52 episodes aired. The show was also later aired twice by cable TV station Living, in a late-night time-slot and repeated weekdays.