In 1984, Doubleday/Dolphin published the companion book Dynasty: The Authorized Biography of the Carringtons,[3] which included an introduction by Esther Shapiro.
[4] Written as the Shapiros' creative response to the 1979 oil crisis,[5] and intended by ABC to be a competitor for CBS's Dallas,[6] the series ranked #28 its first season.
[16] At the height of Dynasty's popularity in 1985, Joe Klein of New York called Esther "the ABC network's most valuable asset ... and perhaps the most influential woman executive in television".
[5] Dynasty producer Aaron Spelling and others compared Esther to her creation, Blake Carrington (John Forsythe).
[5] In January 2004, Esther Shapiro participated in a marathon of the show's episodes on SOAPnet, Serial Bowl: Alexis vs. Krystle, giving behind-the-scenes tidbits and factoids.