The Yellow Rose

"The Yellow Rose" is a prime-time soap with a new twist: Its characters like and respect each other. Executive producers John Wilder and Michael Zinberg are trying to prove TV can do a soap not centered in "failed relationships." Cybill Shepherd stars as a young widow whose husband, Ward Champion, was the all-powerful owner of the Yellow Rose, a 200.000-acre cattle ranch in Texas.
She's a strong woman with a healthy libido, but she's a nice person. David Soul and Edward Albert are the ranch's other two owners, sons of the late Ward Champion. They're determined to keep their ranch but they can't agree on how to solve its financial problems. Soul, a rancher at heart, is determined to fend off his attorney brother's plan to sell the ranch's oil rights.
Walking into this mix Sunday night is Sam Elliott as a ranchhand named Chance. He's an ex-con who has done time for murder, but he's so solid it's possible he was framed.
Still, he does seem to have a secret. Susan Anspach plays an interesting pivotal role as the ranch's cook. Miss Shepherd's friend and the would-be girlfriend of at least one of the male principals.
Rounding out the main cast are Noah Beery and Ken Curtis as grizzled, old ranchhands.
Chuck Connors, wearing a white wig and walking with a cane, is the villain who wants to get his hands on the Yellow Rose's oil.