Michael Nader

Bare Essence is an American television soap opera which aired on the NBC network during the 1982-1983 season.

Bare Essence starred popular daytime soap actress Genie Francis and dealt with the intrigues of the perfume industry.

Initially, the show started its life as a 4-hour TV mini series shown in October 1982 on CBS with supporting performances from veteran prime-time soap actresses Linda Evans and Donna Mills, as well as Lee Grant and Bruce Boxleitner. The mini series garnered excellent ratings but CBS passed on a proposed series, which NBC picked up. By the time the series went to air in February 1983, the roles which had been played in the mini series by Evans, Mills, Grant, and Boxleitner were taken over respectively by Jennifer O’Neill, Jaime Lyn Bauer, Jessica Walter and Al Corley. Genie Francis reprised the lead role in the new series.

The series revolved around Tyger Hayes’ efforts to succeed in the business world. In the first episode, her new husband Chase Marshall is killed in a racing car accident. Chase’s father Hadden opposes Tyger’s efforts to join the family business, Kellico, but she is encouraged by Hadden’s sister Margaret to try her hand with a new line of perfumes. Ava, the widow of Hadden’s other son, is concerned that any success Tyger might have will undermine her son Marcus’ position in the company. Both Ava and Marcus’ wife Muffin plotted to undermine Tyger’s success. To this end, Ava eventually seduces and marries Hadden. Tyger’s mother, Lady Bobbi Rowan, falls in love with a Greek millionaire, Niko Theopolous, who wants to exact revenge on the Marshalls.