Fresno (miniseries)

Plot

In 1581, Spanish conquistadors exploring California gave a valley the name "Fresno" because its grapes tasted bitter. The story moves to the present-day city of Fresno, where the once-wealthy Kensington family, who built a raisin empire, are feuding with their former partner Tyler Cane. The Kensingtons are betting everything on a new type of grape they have created. Their foreman, Juan, is tasked with taking the prototype raisins to the patent office in Sacramento, but Cane's men ambush him on the road and destroy the shipment. A stranger named Torch saves Juan and returns with him to the ranch, where Torch is hired as a ranch-hand. While giving Torch a tour, Charlotte Kensington explains that her late husband Yancey had a falling out with Cane twenty years earlier and then died in what she calls a "bizarre dehydrator accident." Torch starts looking into the Kensingtons' business, which makes Charlotte question whether Yancey's death was an accident and also sparks her curiosity about her own biological parents.

To keep his business afloat, Cane Kensington makes a deal with Mr. Acme, the owner of Acme Toxic Waste. Acme pays Cane for permission to dump toxic waste into Duke Lake, a private reservoir owned by Cane's neighbor Ethel Duke that provides water for both ranches. Worried that the maid, Bobbi Jo Bobb, may have overheard their meeting, Cane decides to send her to Bakersfield. But Cane's favoritism angers Bobbi Jo's husband, Billy Joe, leading to disaster. Duke's water rights are vital to both Cane and the Kensingtons. Cane visits Duke and tries to buy the rights, but she refuses. Later that same day in Fresno, Cane outmaneuvers Charlotte, taking over the annual Raisin Festival and swearing to wipe the Kensington name from the city forever. That night, Billy Joe listens to Bobbi Jo on the radio and flies into a rage when she dedicates a song to Cane. He shoots the radio, but the bullet ricochets and kills Ethel Duke. Billy Joe is arrested and charged with murder, and public defender Desiree DeMornay takes the case. Kevin, who loves nature, finds dead fish in Duke Lake and then discovers a leaking Acme Toxic Waste drum at the bottom of the river. He confronts Mr. Acme, who orders his henchmen to kill Kevin, but the henchmen mistakenly blow up Acme's own truck.

Production

The miniseries Fresno was a parody of prime-time soap operas, created and co-written by Barry Kemp, Mark Ganzel, and Michael Petryni. It aired on CBS and was produced by Mary Tyler Moore’s MTM Productions. Jeff Bleckner, who had directed episodes of Dynasty, Knots Landing, and Falcon Crest—shows the miniseries spoofed—directed the project. The cast featured Carol Burnett and Dabney Coleman, along with Charles Grodin, Teri Garr, Valerie Mahaffey, Bill Paxton, Anthony Heald, Gregory Harrison, Luis Avalos, Jerry Van Dyke, Charles Keating, Pat Corley, and Jeffrey Jones. Filming took place over 55 days, with only two days spent in Fresno, California, in July 1986; the rest was shot in Los Angeles. John Morris composed the music, and Bob Mackie designed the Emmy-nominated gowns worn by the female leads. Barry Kemp served as executive producer. In the United States, Fresno aired three times: in 1986, 1987, and 1989. It premiered on Sunday, November 16, 1986, at 8 p.m. with a two-hour opener, followed by four one-hour episodes broadcast over the next four days.