Evans was next cast as Krystle Carrington in Aaron Spelling's opulent new primetime soap opera, "Dynasty", which premiered in January 1981. Intended as ABC's answer to the hit CBS series "Dallas", "Dynasty" featured Evans as the former secretary and new wife of millionaire oil tycoon Blake Carrington, portrayed by her former costar John Forsythe. Although initially sluggish in the ratings, audience figures improved after the show was revamped and British actress Joan Collins was brought in to play opposite Evans and Forsythe as Blake's scheming ex-wife, Alexis Carrington. By the 1984–85 season, "Dynasty" was the number one show on American television, outranking "Dallas".