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# 191 <8.08> Solomon's Choice
 
 
(revised 02/12/2024)
 
 


 
 
Shortcuts to this episode's
 
Script | Credits | Filming Locations
 
 

 
 
The main title is revamped: New portraits of DAVID SELBY, DAVID BEECROFT and KRISTIAN ALFONSO are featured on their respective cards:
 
The shot of Richard in Angela's suite at the Del Oro Spa & Country Club in the current version of this season's main title (right screen capture) is from an unused version of a scene in # 185 (compare the left screen grab for the version used in that episode).
 

DAVID BEECROFT's picture on his current main title card comes from a scene in # 188.

 
The shot of Pilar in Angela's suite at the Del Oro in the current version of this season's main title (right screen capture) is from an unused version of a scene in # 190 (compare the left screen grab for the version used in that episode).
 

The nightly establishing shot of San Francisco features an aerial view over the city in eastern direction with the Oakland Bay Bridge in the background. It is an earlier — previously unused — segment from a helicopter view, whose later parts were used in # 147.

 
Spoiler: Malcolm Sinclair and Glenbraddoch are mentioned by Pilar for the first time. But Malcolm has no personal appearance in this episode.
Glenbraddoch, by the way, was called GlenMadoch in the season 8 bible. The name was changed during the scriptwriting process.
Inside joke: The Braddoch part of the Glenbraddoch name is known from the LORIMAR soap opera "Dallas"; on that show, Southfork Ranch is situated in Braddock County. No coincidence: CAMILLE MARCHETTA, one of this season's executive producers, also produced the first two seasons of "Dallas".
 
Season time frame: Apparently, a little while has passed since the previous episode; it is especially striking that Lance's hair has grown and his hairdo is different now. As César refers to day 3 as a Sunday, this must be Sunday, 01/01/1989, which means this episode opens on Friday, 12/30/1988 and closes on 01/02/1989.
 
The filming location for Pilar's bedroom in the Ortega House (which she prepares for Mercedes and Lisa's stay) is actually a room in the private Victorian home in Monrovia, CA that usually serves as R.D. Young's house this season. Since Pilar's bedroom was only used in this episode, it made no sense to build a set or enlarge the existing set of the Ortega House on sound stage 10 at CBS-MTM STUDIOS (now RADFORD STUDIO CENTER).
 
Edited scene: When Amos leaves the Tuscany Herald at night, the scene continued in the director's cut: Richard appears with a pizza box, surprising Maggie and telling her he tucked the kids in. They talk about Maggie's upcoming first newspaper edition, and she tells him she needs a photo of him and Pilar in front of the proposed Channing Community Center. This part of the scene was removed in post-production.
 
Lance's vineyard, Tuscany Hill, has almost 20 acres. It is worth approximately $ 25,000 per acre.
 
Land in the Tuscany Valley usually sells for about $ 34,000 or 35,000 an acre.
 
Compare # 188 for the Ortega House exteriors in general. In the current episode, the back door of the house (leading to the kitchen) can be seen. The shot proves that this part of the exterior set was previously used as Jeff Wainwright's cabin (compare # 122) and George Westcott's home (compare # 174).
The Ortega House interior set is huge compared to the exterior set. How can a family of laborers afford such a big house? It has at least four bedrooms and a guest bedroom.
 
According to early script drafts, the original choice of the last name for Mercedes and Lisa was Aguilar. It was changed to Vargas later.
 

Mercedes' station wagon is a beige 1988 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Country Squire with exterior wood trim.

 

Product placement: As in # 188, Richard wears a Fila sports outfit again.

 
Uncredited extra DOUGLAS MAIDA appears as Dave in this episode again — but not in his usual bellboy's outfit. First, he is at the front desk in the Spa Building at the Del Oro. For another appearance in this episode, see below.
Compare # 224 for biographical details about this minor rôle and a list of appearances throughout the series.
For details about the extra, compare # 034.
 
Angela wants to go to the theater with Emma to see ANTON CHEKOV's (1860 – 1904) "The Seagull".
 
Another shopping area in downtown Tuscany is seen; The Toy Garden, another toy store, is located there.
 
Product placement: A sign with the American Express credit card logo is on The Toy Garden's door (screen capture 3).
 
The filming location for the street in downtown Tuscany is South Myrtle Avenue in Monrovia, CA in Greater L.A. (compare photo 4 taken from across in the opposite direction; the brick building on the far right housed The Toy Garden).
 
Deleted scene: Nick runs into Pilar, Lisa and Mercedes near the Toy Garden. When he is away, Lisa says to Pilar she thinks she likes Lance better than Nick. This scene, which was filmed on South Myrtle Avenue in Monrovia, CA, was removed in post-production.
 
Prop: Pilar and Lisa read "The Random Picture Book of Fairy Tales". It is actually the real book by Random House, but the prop department changed the term "Random House" in the title to "Random Picture". It may have been made to avoid commercial identification since Random House did not sponsor any product placement in this episode, but it seems awkward to change the book cover only minimally rather than create a fictional book for this purpose.
 
Editing mistake: When Lance and Nick play tennis, Nick fails to get Lance's final ball. First, Nick is in the center of the court (seen from one camera angle); but in the next moment, he is on the left corner of the court (seen from a different camera angle).
 
Uncredited extra PAUL VAN appears in his usual rôle as the mustached Tuscany Valley doctor again — this time as a patron at the Del Oro Spa Restaurant.
Compare # 227 for biographical details about this minor rôle and a list of all his appearances throughout the series.
For details about the extra, compare # 014.
 
Uncredited extra KEN ALLEN appears in this episode again as Jay, the Tuscany Valley County Planning Commissioner — this time at the Del Oro Spa Restaurant.
It is his last appearance on the show. He was featured in the same rôle in previous episodes (compare # 013, 035, 066 and 073). Only in # 044, however, he played a different character.
For details about the extra, compare # 013.
 
Actress CORNELIA GUEST was the original choice for the character of Diane ("Cookie") Nash. Filming a few scenes with her did not meet the producers's expectations though. The rôle was recast on short notice, and the scenes that had already been filmed were reshot with JANET JULIAN.
 

Product placement: Cookie wears a Fila sports outfit.

 
According to original script drafts, the writers intended Justin Nash to be the owner of Two Oaks (compare # 184). In the end, however, the line was changed, and Seven Pines was introduced as the Nash family's winery.
 
After his first appearance in this episode (see above), uncredited extra DOUGLAS MAIDA participates as Dave again — not in his usual bellboy's outfit, but apparently off duty at the Del Oro Spa Restaurant this time.
Compare # 224 for biographical details about this minor rôle and a list of appearances throughout the series.
For details about the extra, compare # 034.
 
Deleted scene: Before the Sutterville gang appears at the Tuscany Herald, there was a scene in the director's cut with Amos leaving the place when Kelly comes in to help Tommy. This scene was removed in post-production.
 
As it can be seen for the first time in detail this episode, the Tuscany Herald is located in the building, which was previously used as Al's Bakery. The exterior sets have been repainted specifically for that purpose since the previous episode. Refer to # 185 for the filming site.
LORIMAR's original blueprints of this set and many others are available for DFCF members in the Show – Production Office – Filming Locations – Movie Studios – Exterior Sets section.
 
Amy's Boutique, a new store, is next to the Tuscany Herald now. The Tuscany Jewelry Shoppe (see # 185) must have closed down or moved.
Inside joke: Amy's Boutique is an allusion to AMY MICHELSON, who plays Kelly Hallinan and is also a fashion designer in real life.
 
Uncredited stand-in MARTHA MANOR appears as an extra again — this time in yet another wig (one of many from her assortment) as a passerby in front of the Tuscany Herald.
Compare # 213 for a list of appearances throughout the series.
For details about MARTHA MANOR, compare # 001.
 

Product placement: Archive boxes by Paramount Office Products are used in the Tuscany Herald offices.

 
After VALENTE RODRIGUEZ played Raúl, the Sutterville gang leader, in # 188, ISRAEL JUARBE takes over the rôle now.
 
In her private ballet performance for the family at the Ortega House, Lisa dances to PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY's (1840 – 1893) "The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" from "The Nutcracker".
 
In a scene at the Tuscany Herald, a Hispanic businessman from the Tuscany Valley is mentioned, Ramon Tejada. Tommy went to school with his son. The character will never make an on-screen appearance though.
 

The map Richard is looking at shows the north of San Francisco Bay (San Pablo and Grizzly Bay).

 
Early script drafts contained a scene in the Tuscany Interstate Bank: Nick comes to Pilar's desk with a list of his assets — some stocks and bonds — from his bank in France, applying for a $ 200,000 loan for buying into Tuscany Hill. He uses the opportunity to ask Pilar out for lunch, tea, dinner or a midnight snack, but she declines, saying it's her aunt's and cousin's farewell day. This segment was removed during script revisions.
 
The bend of the small road near the Ortega House where Pilar drives along in this and the following episode and which will also be seen in # 196 and 199 is the heavily filmed bend behind stage 4 on the backlot of CBS-MTM STUDIOS (now RADFORD STUDIO CENTER). It was also seen in # 073, 084, 089, 113, 121, 135, 137, 148, 172, 174, 176 and 180 (see there) and will also be used in # 207 and 213. Click here for a sketch of the multi-purpose use of this part of the studio grounds.
 
Pilar drives a blue 1987 Ford Mustang III Convertible now — the very same picture car known from # 179 and 180 (Carly "borrowed" it then).
Inconsistency: The rear license plate number of Pilar's vehicle is 2HWK168 in the scene when she drives away from the Ortega House only. In the scene driving through the valley to the Del Oro, the front license plate number is 2HXH585, which will be mounted on the car also in the following episodes.
 
Lance's Del Oro suite is number 248.
 
 

 
 
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