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Early reviews of Fantasy Island were no dream come true
Critics balked at the series, while the public flocked to it.
Though he was a performer all his life, there were very few things that Ricardo Montalbán valued more than security.
The life of a performer can be sudden and unexpected, and when Montalbán was offered the opportunity to star in a television program like Fantasy Island, he jumped at the opportunity.
“Actors are the most insecure people in the world,” wrote Montalbán in his memoir, Reflections: A Life in Two Worlds. “For thirty-five years, I have had a roller-coaster career, with the down periods outweighing those on top. Hence, I saw in Fantasy Island the chance for a wonderful ribbon to tie onto my career as a working actor.”
However, the early days of the series were certainly rougher than expected, to put it lightly. “During all this time, I did not dare place too much hope that Fantasy Island would succeed,” wrote Montalbán. “The critics helped to curb my expectations. Their reviews were not just bad; they were abysmal.”
Luckily, the series wasn’t at the mercy of critics; In order to succeed, Fantasy Island needed the approval of the public, and audiences were more than happy to provide it.
“Thank heaven I was in a medium in which the public decided whether or not they liked a show,” wrote Montalbán. “They liked Fantasy Island. The series had been on the air only a few times when suddenly I was recognized everywhere I went, by all age groups.”
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