Chris B

The 1985 reboot wasn't bad. I did think it captured the look and feel of the original series. My biggest disappointment were the changes made to the continuity. The most glaring change was Connie and Elliot's son Matthew becoming a daughter. As a movie, I think they did the best that they could've done but I definitely would've preferred a tv series reboot. Out of all the primetime soap movies, this one is probably the strongest.

I agree 100%. I do like Joey but the facts are he is completely in the wrong when it comes to Doug. To have Deanna go crazy would be a slap in the face to Doug, Deanna and the viewers. I hope whether he's a ghost or alive that they use this as a tool for her to find out the truth. Plus the actress is too good to waste on a short term psycho storyline.

I haven't been able to post because I've been so busy with work but I had to jump in to give them props on a stellar week! I have complained about the pacing but they finally gave us some major story movement and they executed it very well. This felt elevated and like a soap that has been on the air for a long time. I hope they carry this momentum through the end of the year. I'll start with the cotillion. The set was lovely, the styling was great and it was packed full of extras! I love when soaps go all out and give us a big event. I feel like this is the first time BTG has fully pulled this off. It didn't feel rushed and we had lots of nice small moments between the big stuff. I particularly enjoyed Anita and June connecting. The kids can be annoying at times but they nailed it. I still feel like Deanna and Donnell are such good finds and I hope they continue to develop those two characters. I loved Tyrell sleeping with Jessica and the potential complications that come with that. Moving on to Derek...This is a man who 100% should've been replaced during his first 13 week contract. For whatever reason they kept him and to Ben Gavin's credit, he clearly took the feedback seriously and he completely turned Derek around. In season two I thought they finally cracked the code on Derek. His acting was more natural and the chemistry he had with Leslie and Eva was perfection. I think I've said it before but I could've seen Leslie and Derek being similar to Carjack on ATWT. It was sad to see him go but I do understand it. They needed to kill off someone we loved and it definitely landed. I've seen some talk about Ashley and although she is insufferable, I do think Jen Jacob did a decent job with the fallout. From a story perspective though, I am not a fan of Grayson. I hated that they just hand waved his actions and he won't have to pay for anything. I get that his mom is sick, but Lia had her reasons as well and she's being punished. I can't see how I can root for him with Ashley, knowing he caused Derek's death.

I'm five episodes into the second season of the reboot and it's worse than I remembered. I could've sworn it got better with time but these episodes are painful. Jesse Metcalfe simply cannot act, Julie Gonzalo is struggling with Pamela now becoming a villainess, Jordana Brewster doesn't register at all and Brenda Strong is absolutely horrendous. These are the people leading the season thus far and it's painful to watch. Larry Hagman has started popping up in very smell bits and pieces and he elevates every scene he's in. One thing I will give the show is that visually it does look nice. The office and condo sets with the floor to ceiling windows work really well and are a good use of green screen.

It's not well known but it's something that was talked about on the Ultimate Dallas message board which tends to be reliable. The person I saw speaking about it is very reliable so I do believe it's true. Apparently whatever happened is related to the 2004 Return to Southfork reunion. Prior to that Victoria Principal was fine with the cast and she agreed to do that reunion after Charlene Tilton convinced her to do it. Something happened during filming, allegedly between Linda Gray and VP and after that they wanted nothing to do with her. This is why they left her out of 30th anniversary celebrations and refused to work with her on the reboot. Tilton also did an interview calling her a "real bitch" post Return to Southfork. Here is a quote from there that sums it up: She wasn't asked back. Cynthia Cidre stated that. For two reasons. 1. She thought Pam was dead after reading the bio on the website. So didn't even contemplate asking her back at the start 2. She was told she could never ask her back. VP then weirdly stated she did get asked on the show. She 100% didn't get asked. It's all rather bizarre. It's quite ironic she played Pam the outsider, but in the real life version even Bobby pushed her out VP kind of became the Pam we all wanted to see on screen. Throwing a knife every so often at the Ewings. You can view the full discussion here: https://www.tellytalk.net/threads/ultimate-dallas-website.11058/page-4

They were lucky to have him and his star power but even he can't save this. The more I watch the more I'm amazed at how bad this writing is. Everything is too on the nose and plot driven. In one episode John Ross was arrested for murder, severely beaten, the family rallied around him at the hospital, Sue Ellen blackmailed someone to get him released and then ultimately he was released. Oh and before the episode ended, Sue Ellen's blackmail attempt was discovered and then she was blackmailed as well. As I watched it, I felt so bad for the actors because the scenes were so short they couldn't do anything with any of the material. I know scenes have gotten shorter in recent years but this is so extreme. I actually don't think any of the storylines in season one are particularly bad, they're just poorly executed and the characters have absolutely no depth. Nothing is given the time to develop so it's hard to get invested. Another thing that doesn't work are the random pop up appearances from Ray and Lucy. I hate the way they tend to stand them next to each other like they're a couple. Considering one of the major storylines is about Southfork and the land, that's where Ray should've come in, as JR and Bobby's brother. Lucy comes off as a drunk aunt who just pops up. We have no insight on what her life is like today and there is no continuity from the original series. Is she still with Mitch? Is she still an art dealer? Does she have any children? It's obvious she's just popping up so they can say they brought back an original cast member.

I'm now almost done with the first season of the reboot in my re-watch. This is my first time watching the reboot since it originally aired. Before I jump into that, I must give them props on the final season of the OG series. It wasn't perfect but I thought JR had a very strong arc throughout the season and I loved that they acknowledged all of the loss and the impact that had on him. April's death was also interesting with Susan Lucci having the time of her life as a femme fatale. The only thing I didn't love is that Michelle and James didn't end up together. I don't think he needed an insta-family so late into the game. Now onto the new series...I'm glad we got it and I was lucky enough to appear as an extra in two episodes but it makes me sad that it wasn't a better show. The first thing I notice is just how weak the cast is. I really am not sure what they were thinking but they could've easily recast all of the new characters. The first really strong casting choice is when Mitch Pileggi showed up. Another thing I recently learned is that Victoria Principal was open to returning but the cast nixed the idea. One simple thing that could've improved the show is if they had gotten her back so Pam and Bobby could be the heads of the family. What really let them down the most is the writing. Cynthia Cidre was open about not watching much of the series and it was obvious watching the show. I do recall the show getting better with time but I felt like that was more desperation to keep the show on the air. In this first season the scenes are ridiculously short and it feels like they're constantly jumping to the next plot twist. There is no substance or depth to anything they do. The biggest positives are obviously the OGs. Sue Ellen in particular works really well after not feeling necessary in the later seasons and two tv movies. Seeing Cliff again was another delight and I do love that they didn't forget his connection to Christopher. I wish I could say the same about Christopher's connection to John Ross and Sue Ellen. Feels so odd when John Ross says he isn't family when we know that is Sue Ellen's nephew by blood. Despite the issues, this reboot is still watchable. With Taylor Sheridan filling their niche we probably will never see Dallas revived. I guess it could've been worse.

This week has been very tense and fun. It finally feels like things are starting to move. I'm also happy that we're at the end of Anita's cancer story. It dominated so much of the show and was so dark that I appreciate the break we're getting now.

Jamey mentioned on the Daytime Confidential podcast that when BTG had taken a break they let him go back and write for Days. Maybe that's one of the episodes he did?

A few months ago The Drew Barrymore Show did a series of behind the scenes features on Beyond the Gates. Just another way of cross-promoting the show. I agree. Especially with it being a short week, I wondered if this was an insert episode. There were good moments but I can't say it worked overall. I do love bottle episodes but I feel like the Andre/Dani stuff didn't work paired with the plasma story. Something like that could've been good for an entire episode with different couples having fantasies. Can't say I loved it being set at Orphey Gene's either.

Knots Landing and Dallas both could've easily rebooted themselves to last longer if they wanted to. Knots had a chance when they built up the Sumner Group which could've been a spin-off itself. For Dallas, there was endless potential but they only viewed JR and Bobby as important and I couldn't ever see them pivoting from that. I loved that pilot! Especially now looking at the success of The Pitt and the desire for lower cost programming, I wonder if something like that could work. Even if it only aired once a week but with a longer run, that could be a game changer.

This was a nice treat!

When it comes to Generations, I feel like the only thing I'd want is for it to be streamed. I know Sally Sussman has mentioned writing a reboot but like you said, it would be odd to reboot a show that wasn't very successful. Now another thing I could potentially get behind would be a complete remake in a primetime format. If you could get Vivica and Debbi to headline it I could see it doing well as a streaming show.

I know that reboot wasn't successful but I really enjoyed the show around that time, even the affair Austin had with Abby. I was sad when the writers were replaced and they scrapped everything. I thought he still looked good and made a great Austin. So sad to now hear about his passing especially considering how happy he was. His career was going really well and he had so much to look forward to. I wonder how Denise Richards is doing. He appeared with her on RHOBH and they were close. Her daughter Lola posted about his death and it sounds like it's going to be really difficult on them. Wishing all his family and friends peace.

On the Instagram Agnes Nixon's family run they did mention they're working to get AMC available in the states and also Loving. I hope that comes true before the year is out!