Melrose PlaceProducer Says Heather Locklear Was Aaron Spelling’s 'Lucky Penny'

Mar. 15, 2025

Heather Locklear and Aaron Spelling in 1999.Photo:Mediapunch/Shutterstock

Mediapunch/Shutterstock

Hayes, who also served as a writer and director on the soapy ’90s primetime drama, joined hostsLaura Leighton,Courtney Thorne-SmithandDaphne Zunigaon the most recent episode of their iHeart podcastStill the Place, where he described the dynamic between Spelling and series creatorDarren Star.

“Aaron was not in the writers' room. Aaron was running a zillion other shows,” Hayes said. “Darren would, you know, they would pitch the stories to Aaron before they pitched them to the network.”

But, Hayes added, “I can guarantee you, Aaron was the one that said, ‘We need to bring in a villain. We need anAlexis Carringtonin here,’ because he’d done that before.”

Heather Locklear (far left) with ‘Dynasty’ co-stars Al Corley, Linda Evans, Lee Bergere, John Forsythe, Joan Collins, John James and Pamela Sue Martin in 1981.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Hayes, of course, was referring to the introduction ofJoan Collins’ iconic character in the second season of Spelling’s previous nighttime soapDynastyin 1981, a move that has been credited with turning the show into a hit. Similarly, Locklear’s promotion to series regular inMelrose Place’s second season, after her character, Amanda Woodward, bought and moved into the titular apartment building, was seen as a successfully ploy to goose the show’s ratings.

“Heather was his ace in the hole,” Smith noted. “At one point, she was doing two of his shows at once.”

Indeed, beginning in the ’80s, Locklear either starred in or made guest appearances in a number of Spelling’s series, includingFantasy Island,The Love Boat,T.J. HookerandDynasty.

“He called her his ‘lucky penny,’ ” Hayes agreed.

“She was certainly our lucky penny,” Smith said.

Heather Locklear and Rob Estes in ‘Melrose Place’ in 1995.Gregory Schwartz/Darren Star Prods/Fox Tv/Spelling Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock

Gregory Schwartz/Darren Star Prods/Fox Tv/Spelling Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock

“The ratings were creeping up even before she came on,” Hayes recalled. “She just kinda took it to that next level. And then all the stuff that came out of that, you know, the writers just ate it up and just went with it.”

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Melrose Placedid see a significant boost in viewership in its second season, and Locklear went on to receive Golden Globe Award nominations for her portrayal of Amanda. She even reprised the role on The CW’s 2009 revival of the series.

Last September, the 62-year-old actressmade a rare appearance at 90s Conin Daytona Beach, Fla., reuniting withMelrose Placeco-stars Zuniga, Leighton,Josie Bissett, Brooke Langton andGrant Show. During the event she explained that it was always “more fun” to play characters like Amanda “not straight.”

“When you’re a bitch, you don’t go around thinking you’re a bitch,” she explained. “You just think you’re right.”

source: people.com