AS SEEN ON TV: MAJOR MAXWELL MERCY

During the month of July, we lost three actors who played roles in James Michener's 'Centennial'. So each Friday during August we will salute their characters in the "ASOTV" showcase. Last Friday we had the first one - Philip Wendell as played by Morgan Paull.

And for this week.......

MAJOR MAXWELL MERCY

CREATED BY:

James Michener

PORTRAYED BY:

Chad Everett

AS SEEN IN:

'Centennial'

TV DIMENSION:

Earth Prime-Time

From Wikipedia:

Mercy is an army negotiator sent to forge treaties with the tribes of the west. He is well-meaning but underestimates the demand Americans have for western lands and the animosity the plains tribes have for all whites. Mercy is married to Lisette, Pasquinel's daughter in St. Louis, and unsuccessfully tries to use this relationship to try to gain the Pasquinel brothers' favor.

Maxwell Mercy invites the Plains tribes to a peace conference at Fort Laramie. There he forges a treaty guaranteeing safe passage to settlers on the Oregon Trail in exchange for legal recognition of tribal land claims. Wiser heads on both sides however know that the treaty will merely delay the inevitable war between the two sides.

Maxwell Mercy, outraged at his brothers-in law's murders, challenges Skimmerhorn to a duel and nearly kills him only to be stopped by Levi Zendt.

Because the mini-series skipped a generation (at least one!), we don't learn that Paul Garrett can count family ties to Pasquinel through Lucinda McKeag Zendt as well as through Lisette Mercy.

Good night and may God bless Chad Everett......

BCnU!