Monica Scott Colby is a fictional character from the ABC television series Dynasty and its spin-off The Colbys, both created by Richard and Esther Shapiro. Portrayed by Tracy Scoggins, the character was introduced on Dynasty in the November 1985 two-part episode "The Titans" as the lawyer daughter of wealthy California CEO Jason Colby (Charlton Heston) and his socialite wife, Sable (Stephanie Beacham). Scoggins was subsequently a series regular on The Colbys for two seasons from 1985 to 1987. She reappeared as Monica on Dynasty for its final eight episodes in 1989.
In The CW's 2017 Dynasty reboot, Monica is portrayed by Wakeema Hollis. In this series, Monica is the sister of Jeff Colby (Sam Adegoke) and the daughter of Cesil Colby (Hakeem Kae-Kazim) and Dominique Deveraux (Michael Michele), who is the half-sister of Blake Carrington (Grant Show).
Appearances
Scoggins debuted as Monica in the Dynasty episodes "The Titans - Part 1" and "The Titans - Part 2", which aired back-to-back on November 13, 1985. She subsequently appeared as a series regular on The Colbys, which ran for two seasons from November 20, 1985, to March 26, 1987. Scoggins later played Monica in the ninth and final season of Dynasty, joining the series for its eight final installments beginning with the March 16, 1989 episode "The Son Also Rises" and remaining until Dynasty finale episode "Catch 22" on May 11, 1989. Monica did not appear in the 1991 miniseries Dynasty: The Reunion.
Hollis began playing Monica in "I Hardly Recognized You", the October 11, 2017 premiere episode of the Dynasty reboot series. The character is one of several cast as nonwhite for the reboot.
Original series and The Colbys
At the height of Dynasty popularity, its creators Richard and Esther Shapiro devised a spin-off series, initially called Dynasty II: The Colbys. Tracy Scoggins starred as Monica Colby, the lawyer daughter of wealthy CEO Jason Colby and his socialite wife, Sable.
Casting
Scoggins said that she auditioned along with "every woman in LA and New York between the ages of 25 and 30." It was down to about six actresses when Scoggins screen tested with Maxwell Caulfield, who plays Monica's twin brother, Miles. She was offered the role a week later.
Characterization
The Desert Sun described Monica as a lawyer "determined to make it in a man's world [who] can't understand the inequalities that confront her." DVD Talk called the character "Colby Enterprises' chief counsel and all-around shark". Scoggins said:
Storylines
Dynasty season six
The Colbys of Los Angeles come to Denver to celebrate a new business venture with oil tycoon Blake Carrington (John Forsythe) in the 1985 Dynasty episodes "The Titans - Parts 1 and 2". The lawyer daughter of Jason and Sable Colby, Monica is the twin sister of Miles Colby (Maxwell Caulfield), who has become romantically involved with an amnesiac Fallon Carrington (Emma Samms). Miles and Monica also have a younger sister, Bliss (Claire Yarlett).
The Colbys season one
In The Colbys, Monica is a lawyer working for her father Jason's company, Colby Enterprises. In the series premiere, "The Celebration", she offers to investigate who is behind detrimental rumors which are plaguing the company, but Jason dismisses her. An angry Monica complains to Sable, who tells Monica that it is unlikely Jason will ever treat her like he would a man. In "Conspiracy of Silence", Monica warns Miles that things will likely change between him and Fallon if she gets her memory back. Monica tries to convince her cousin Jeff Colby (John James) to let his ex-wife Fallon go, since she and Miles are in love, in "Moment of Truth". Monica offers to help Jason again in "Family Album", but is forced to accept that her father only takes men seriously. Blake Carrington's half-sister, Dominique Deveraux (Diahann Carroll), asks Monica to help her learn if Jason is the one buying up stock in her company, Titania Records. Monica learns that Dominique's ex-lover, Garrett Boydston (Ken Howard), bought the stock. Dominique offers Monica a job leading her company. Feeling unappreciated, Monica quits Colby Enterprises to manage Titania in "Shadow of the Past". Jason is hurt, but Monica is sick of being treated like a decoration rather than a valued employee. In accepting the job, Monica has run afoul of Titania vice president Neil Kittredge (Philip Brown), who was demoted to make way for her. Dominique is annoyed to find Monica and Neil clashing at work in "The Reunion".