Fresno (1986)

An ambitious (though failed) television experiment -- a comedy miniseries parody of primetime soap operas, which many maintain are themselves parodies to begin with, this six-hour tale of "love, hate and sour grapes" (as it was humorously promoted) in the raisin industry set in the gloss and glitter of America's 64th largest city embroiled the old and proud but financially imperiled raisin-producing Kensingtons (of which Carol Burnett was the matriarch) with their arch-rival Tyler Cane (Dabney Coleman), head of a powerful raisin conglomerate. Among the players: Charles Grodin as the vile, power-mad Cane Kensington, the son; Teri Garr as his voluptuous nympho wife; Gregory Harrison as the shirtless stranger who hires on as a Kensington farmhand and fires the hearts of the Kensington women, and others.Of note is the appearance of famed stage director Jose Quintero (best known for his work on Eugene O'Neill's plays) in his film acting debut. In many quarters, it was felt that this straight-faced soap opera sendup would have played better as a one-hour production on Carol Burnett's fondly-remembered variety show which remains one of the bright lights of the television firmament.