The series centres on a powerful head of Century Studios and a group of up-and-coming starlets. During the first season,
Eleanor Parker received top billing as Sylvia Caldwell, executive secretary to John Bracken (voice-acted in the first season by
Warren Stevens), who was sometimes heard, but never seen. Parker left the series after the first 16 episodes, citing the limited nature of her role. When the second season began,
Leslie Nielsen joined the cast to portray Bracken. Other cast members included
Elizabeth Allen,
Dennis Cole,
Jeanne Cooper,
Peter Haskell,
Linda Harrison,
Karen Jensen,
Madlyn Rhue, and
Laraine Stephens. Guest stars who appeared in various episodes of ''Bracken's World'' included
Jack Albertson,
Anne Baxter,
Joseph Campanella,
Gary Collins,
Shelley Fabares,
Sally Field,
Lee Grant,
Arthur Hill.
Carolyn Jones,
Lee Majors,
Monte Markham,
Tim Matheson,
Darren McGavin,
Ricardo Montalbán,
Lois Nettleton,
Lane Bradbury,
Stuart Whitman,
Larry Pennell,
Edward G. Robinson,
Martin Sheen,
Barry Sullivan,
Richard Thomas,
Forrest Tucker, and
Tony Curtis and
Raquel Welch, who appeared as themselves in the pilot episode. ''Bracken's World
aired on Friday at 10:00 pm (replacing the cancelled Star Trek), a day and time known as the "Friday night death slot", and was cancelled 15 episodes into its second season. "Had they done it like a continuing drama and focused on the regular characters", co-star Linda Harrison said in a 2001 interview, "it would have lasted longer. NBC, however, wanted a one-hour contained show, so they would stock each episode with a big guest star. After a while, you run out of story." The last episode of Bracken's World'' aired on Friday, December 25, 1970. ==Cast of characters==