Classic Television - Prime Time

The Survivors

Original channel

ABC

Original run

22 September 1969 – 17 September 1970

Starring

Lana Turner

George Hamilton

Diana Muldaur

Ralph Bellamy

Natalie Schafer

Kevin McCarthy

Jan-Michael Vincent

Clu Gulager

Louis Hayward

The Survivors is a high-profile prime time soap opera aired by the ABC television network as part of its Fall 1969 lineup.

This program is probably most noted now for having been the only appearance as a regular series character of major Hollywood actress Lana Turner, and also starred other "big names" such as Jan-Michael Vincent, Ralph Bellamy, Diana Muldaur, George Hamilton, Clu Gulager, and Natalie Schafer. Despite their presence, and that above the title of bestselling author Harold Robbins, since the characters were from his novel of the same name, the program was a ratings fiasco, losing badly to Mayberry R.F.D. and The Doris Day Show on CBS and The NBC Monday Movie on NBC. A program as expensive to produce as this one was must garner large ratings in order to be successful, so it was cancelled at midseason, although it was rerun the following summer in an attempt to recoup at least some of the investment.