TNT greenlights 'Dallas'

[obin_gam]

I wonder if they're gonna reference or remake the dream-thing haha, that would be quite awesome :P

[Whiskey Tango]

Originally Posted by Prison Mike

So were the kids ever mentioned/seen in the original Dallas?

Ya they were both there through most of the original run. Different actors though.

[mjdiddy1]

Originally Posted by FVD

I think I'll give this a watch. Never was an avid watcher of the show back in it's heyday either. And looking back into it's history I had no idea there was a 3rd Ewing in Gary, who was a mainstay on Knots Landing. Did he actually ever appear on Dallas itself? Perhaps give Ted Shackleford a guest appearance as well should the show do well further on down the road.

In the first season of the original, they had Gary Ewing but he was not portrayed by Ted Shackleford. Ted was hired when they spinned the character off. His daughter was Lucy, the old short blond at the wedding in the new series (she was hot back in the day). I think it would be cool if Gary and Val showed up or even bring Pam Ewing back (she disappeared in the original). I actually like this new version.

[Dark Raven]

I guess the pilot episode was quite good, and retained much of the character of the original series, especially with all the double dealing and plot twists where you find out at the end that JR is behind things. Of course, what didn't happen back in the day was another twist that someone else (ie John Ross) had outwitted JR as well.

Although the theme is the same, I was a little disappointed that they didn't have the pictures like in the original, but just the names of the cast appearing on the screen. The pictures were part of the iconic opening.

Originally Posted by mjdiddy1

In the first season of the original, they had Gary Ewing but he was not portrayed by Ted Shackleford. Ted was hired when they spinned the character off. His daughter was Lucy, the old short blond at the wedding in the new series (she was hot back in the day). I think it would be cool if Gary and Val showed up or even bring Pam Ewing back (she disappeared in the original). I actually like this new version.

Well Pam can't show up unfortunately, because she was supposed to have died eventually. She disappeared after the crash into the oil truck, but was later revealed to be actually dying and asked that Bobby didn't look for her. I would like that they change that however that maybe she didn't die but went into remission or found a cure.

I don't really think Brenda Strong quite matches up to Victoria Principal either as a character or in looks.

Also, Ray Krebbs (Steve Kanaly) cameoed, but no sign of Jenna Wade (whom Ray eventually married). I hope that Priscilla Presley makes an appearance later down the line.

Would be good also to see Ted Shackleford as Gary as well. The only problem there is that in Knots Landing, they acknowledged Bobby's death and went on as if it were reality. They didn't however acknowledge Bobby's return in the shower, because that would have set Knots Landing back a year and would undo all that year's storylines as it did with Dallas. So they effectively parted company from that time on and never crossed paths or mentioned each other again.

So Gary lives in a universe/ timeline where Bobby is dead, while Bobby lives in a universe/timeline where he turned up in the shower and it was all a dream. Maybe they'll ignore the fact that things don't match up for the sake of bringing Gary back, but at the moment they have trouble co-existing.

BTW Linda Gray looks like she has barely changed or aged since Dallas was last on.

[Asgard]

Haha, I loved it. I didnt think I would but it was very entertaining.

John Ross is a scheming piece of crap which is pretty damn awesome. Hes just as power hungry as his pops.

The end of the second ep was crazy. JR thought he was gonna get one over John Ross and Marta and then BAM, Marta isnt really Marta. Dude looked pissed.

[Whiskey Tango]

Originally Posted by Asgard

Haha, I loved it. I didnt think I would but it was very entertaining.

John Ross is a scheming piece of crap which is pretty damn awesome. Hes just as power hungry as his pops.

Yeah, he's a real little bastard.

The end of the second ep was crazy. JR thought he was gonna get one over John Ross and Marta and then BAM, Marta isnt really Marta. Dude looked pissed.

I lol'ed

[Whiskey Tango]

‘Dallas’ Returns After 20 Years to Solid Ratings

TNT managed to pull in a big audience by cable standards for its much-talked-about revival of the classic TV soap of the 1980s, “Dallas,” though the show was no “Hatfields & McCoys.”

In fact, the “Dallas” audience was about half that for “Hatfields & McCoys,” the breakout cable hit that played on the History Channel this month and averaged over 14 million viewers. The premiere of the new “Dallas” on TNT pulled in 6.9 million viewers Wednesday night on TNT.

But that is a solid-to-excellent number for a cable drama, the best for any premiere of a regular series this year. (“Hatfields” was a three-part miniseries.) It is also comparable to how the strongest TNT dramas, like “Rizzoli & Isles,” have performed in their recent premieres.

“Dallas,” which originally was broadcast from 1978 to 1991, managed just under two million viewers in the most important group to advertisers — viewers between the ages of 18 and 49 — which means the show tended to attract older viewers. That had been an expected demographic pattern for the revival of a series that is more than 20 years old.

Many cable series have stronger ratings for younger viewers, highlighted by “The Walking Dead” on AMC, which had six million viewers between 18 and 49, and nine million in total for its initial run.

But “Dallas” was potent enough to beat all broadcast network shows on Wednesday night.

[Sawyer]

Is it just me or is Patrick Duffy the most likable actor working today?

[Dark Raven]

Oh there was a second episode as well? I haven't watched that. Why did they show two episodes in one night?

John Ross wasn't always bad. He was a relatively well-behaved boy in the original series.

BTW, I wonder if they're going to just ignore those later characters such as Cally Ewing (JR's 2nd wife) who gave birth to a son who was actually JR's? And what about that other son named James that JR suddenly found that he had (he was the son from a woman with whom he had an affair)?

They were admittedly unnecessary additions and best left forgotten, but for completists, these characters seem like they should show up sooner or later.

[Franklin Richards]

Originally Posted by Dark Raven

Well Pam can't show up unfortunately, because she was supposed to have died eventually. She disappeared after the crash into the oil truck, but was later revealed to be actually dying and asked that Bobby didn't look for her. I would like that they change that however that maybe she didn't die but went into remission or found a cure.

I believe Pam was saved by a plastic surgeon who she married. Which opens up the door for a new actress.

[Dark Raven]

Originally Posted by Franklin Richards

I believe Pam was saved by a plastic surgeon who she married. Which opens up the door for a new actress.

She was saved (from disfigurement from that explosion), but later found to be dying of a rare disease (which she wasn't saved from).

But yeah, she could easily have been cured of her disease. I still prefer they bring back Victoria Principal, otherwise they could've just gotten a new actress for Pam all those years back when she did meet the plastic surgeon and kept the character in the series.

[Asgard]

Originally Posted by Sawyer

Is it just me or is Patrick Duffy the most likable actor working today?

Hes very charismatic and naturally funny. I didnt watch the original series, but I was a fan of his from Step by Step.

[Whiskey Tango]

All those years as Skuzzlebutt's leg mellowed him out, I think.

[Dark Raven]

He still seems the same to me.

Anyone remember him in that Aqua Man/ Namor-type superhero TV series "The Man From Atlantis"?

[XBRoughneck]

Originally Posted by Asgard

Haha, I loved it. I didnt think I would but it was very entertaining.

John Ross is a scheming piece of crap which is pretty damn awesome. Hes just as power hungry as his pops.

The end of the second ep was crazy. JR thought he was gonna get one over John Ross and Marta and then BAM, Marta isnt really Marta. Dude looked pissed.

Loved it...but I'll admit that as soon as the guy said "Martha, will you come here please." I knew the woman sleeping with John Ross wasn't who she said she was.

Both Matha's are hot though.

I'm surprised that I like this show so much. I thought the two sons would come across as being the downfall because I've seen both guys play other roles...but I'll be damn if their acting isn't believable.


Lucy showing up last episode really helped add validity to this show.

I give the first two episodes a strong B+ grade. Which means I was highly impressed because I expected the show to suck.

[Dark Raven]

Originally Posted by XBRoughneck

Loved it...but I'll admit that as soon as the guy said "Martha, will you come here please." I knew the woman sleeping with John Ross wasn't who she said she was.

Both Matha's are hot though.

I'm surprised that I like this show so much. I thought the two sons would come across as being the downfall because I've seen both guys play other roles...but I'll be damn if their acting isn't believable.


Lucy showing up last episode really helped add validity to this show.

I give the first two episodes a strong B+ grade. Which means I was highly impressed because I expected the show to suck.

Wasn't just Lucy but also Ray Krebbs.

Apparently Patrick Duffy has said that they've given an open invitation for Victoria Principal to make a dramatic return should she choose to. It was left open-ended with her demise before, so it's still possible that she could be alive even though she was supposed to be dying of a rare disease following all that business with the truck explosion and plastic surgery, and Bobby meeting her "double" who wasn't actually a double but just a Victoria Principal lookalike.

I think it would be great to have her back at some point, and would certainly complicate things for Bobby and his present wife, and also for Christopher to see his mother after all these years.

It looks like Christopher's wife or at least her brother might be the ones behind the email sent to Elena.

Cliff Barnes is apparently back in episode 3.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Sawyer

Is it just me or is Patrick Duffy the most likable actor working today?

Duffy is incredibly likable. Unfortunately, I am having a hard time not rooting for J.R.. I know that he is supposed to be the villain (or at least one of them)....but over the past twenty years he has become an icon and that iconic status makes him more of an anti-hero or villain I am rooting for, kind of like Xanatos from Gargoyles. A purely glorious bastard. This makes Bobby come off, in my eyes as a bit self-righteous and boring. No one said playing the straight man is rewarding, I guess.

BTW, another character from the original series will be appearing on Wednesday's episode. None other than J.R.'s old nemesis Cliff Barnes!

[Dark Raven]

Originally Posted by Matt

Duffy is incredibly likable. Unfortunately, I am having a hard time not rooting for J.R.. I know that he is supposed to be the villain (or at least one of them)....but over the past twenty years he has become an icon and that iconic status makes him more of an anti-hero or villain I am rooting for, kind of like Xanatos from Gargoyles. A purely glorious bastard. This makes Bobby come off, in my eyes as a bit self-righteous and boring. No one said playing the straight man is rewarding, I guess.

BTW, another character from the original series will be appearing on Wednesday's episode. None other than J.R.'s old nemesis Cliff Barnes!

Well the thing about JR this time round is that there's also John Ross who is also a villain, so that makes people able to root for JR, especially since he's old as well and people are familiar with him, and of course the icon that he's become, as you say.

BTW I think they're ignoring those Dallas reunion movies where it was shown that JR actually shot the mirror (after the cliffhanger final episode) and he later regained control of Ewing Oil. In the first episode last week, he's been suffering from clinical depression for having lost everything (and probably because he flipped out in the series finale). It doesn't look like he's regained Ewing Oil yet but maybe that will change with Cliff Barnes showing up.

Ewing Oil will have to brought back sooner or later in this series, because that was one of the main features of the show.

I was also wondering whether they reconstructed the Southfork set or whether it was always a location, or perhaps they never demolished the original? The exteriors of Southfork look very similar and faithful to the original, but I think the interior looks different. They haven't shown the main living room where they used to gather and JR would pour himself a drink.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Dark Raven

Well the thing about JR this time round is that there's also John Ross who is also a villain, so that makes people able to root for JR, especially since he's old as well and people are familiar with him, and of course the icon that he's become, as you say.

BTW I think they're ignoring those Dallas reunion movies where it was shown that JR actually shot the mirror (after the cliffhanger final episode) and he later regained control of Ewing Oil. In the first episode last week, he's been suffering from clinical depression for having lost everything (and probably because he flipped out in the series finale). It doesn't look like he's regained Ewing Oil yet but maybe that will change with Cliff Barnes showing up.

Ewing Oil will have to brought back sooner or later in this series, because that was one of the main features of the show.

I was also wondering whether they reconstructed the Southfork set or whether it was always a location, or perhaps they never demolished the original? The exteriors of Southfork look very similar and faithful to the original, but I think the interior looks different. They haven't shown the main living room where they used to gather and JR would pour himself a drink.

I'm not sure. I'm guessing that the exterior is a real place and the interior are new sets. It makes sense. They'd probably redesign in the course of 20 years.

Yeah, I think they disregarded the reunion movie. From what I gather, J.R.'s suicide attempt failed and he's been in that clinic for depression since.

I think you're right about Ewing Oil. My guess is, that the season will end with J.R. somehow regaining control. I can't see Barnes being a consistent character throughout the series. I could see him being recurring throughout the season and the season ending with J.R. pulling a massive gambit that puts him back on top at Ewing Oil, which puts him on equal footing going into the second season.

[Dark Raven]

Originally Posted by Matt

I'm not sure. I'm guessing that the exterior is a real place and the interior are new sets. It makes sense. They'd probably redesign in the course of 20 years.

Yeah, I think they disregarded the reunion movie. From what I gather, J.R.'s suicide attempt failed and he's been in that clinic for depression since.

I think you're right about Ewing Oil. My guess is, that the season will end with J.R. somehow regaining control. I can't see Barnes being a consistent character throughout the series. I could see him being recurring throughout the season and the season ending with J.R. pulling a massive gambit that puts him back on top at Ewing Oil, which puts him on equal footing going into the second season.

That was one thing about Cliff Barnes back in the day. He always seemed a bit of a bumbling character and not a serious threat to JR. He actually almost seems like Neelix from Star Trek Voyager.

I was thinking about how, in its prime, Dynasty was a rival to Dallas, and how Dynasty had a villainess like Alexis. Although JR is the villain in Dallas, as you said, he's also the anti hero and it's really his story more so than Bobby's. JR was the real star. I think maybe what he needs is a more formidable opponent perhaps similar to Alexis or someone else. In the dream season, they had Barbara Carrera as the villainess, but she was short lived.

Maybe Dallas needs a truly evil villain for JR to face (even though JR is meant to be evil). John Ross can't really cut it as the big villain because he's JR's son and we also remember him from when he was just a normal little boy who actually was friends with Christopher. That said, I was thinking that John Ross and JR seem slightly comparable to Lex Luthor and Lionel Luthor in Smallville. Lionel and JR are both magnificent bastards with sons who follow in their father's footsteps but struggle with whether to follow the same dark path or become someone different. Everytime Lex did something that was similar to Lionel, it actually made him proud. The same with JR, who actually came out of his deep depression when he heard that John Ross was trying to be like him. It looks like John Ross will end up like Lex.

[Dr. Evil]

edit.

[lespaul59]

I watched the pilot Saturday and actually liked it. I was little when the show was first on but I don't remember watching it even though my parents say they did. The coolest thing to me is I share the same name as the showand was one of the reason I wanted to check it out. I'm actually gonna set my DVR for this.

[Primal Slayer]

I wonder if this continues to pull in good ratings if they will revive Knots Landing..

[Dark Raven]

Originally Posted by Primal Slayer

I wonder if this continues to pull in good ratings if they will revive Knots Landing..

Wouldn't Dynasty be the one to be revived first? That was the main rival to Dallas. Knots Landing was more of a spin-off and not in as direct competition.

The only problem with Dynasty is that John Forsythe is dead. It would have to just use the younger actors and their offspring, and have occasional guest appearances from Joan Collins and Lynda Evans.

But as far as Knots Landing goes, they can't have a crossover with Dallas again, since in their universe, Bobby is still dead and they're a year in the future to everyone else. How could they get back in sync?

[Primal Slayer]

Im not talking about competition for the show. Talking about TNT reviving Knots Landing. And I am sure they could find a way to resync the two shows again. They did bring back two of the characters for the finale showing what happened had Bobby not died. Could just go from there.