Dallas: Discussion Thread

[Franko]

I've been making my way through the 1981-82 season, and Donna promoting her book cracked me up.

Please register in order to view this content

The cover of Sam Culver: The Political Years looks so cheap, like it was a self-publication job. I guess they weren't going to pay for John McIntire's likeness.

I initially thought How to Save a Fortune was an inside joke, and if I zoomed in, I'd see it was "written" by Leonard Katzman. Nope, it's an actual book, by Barry Kaye.

Geesh, you'd think they would have done this at a nicer venue than the local bargain store.

[Franko]

Nothing against Diane McBain, and her fabulous side hairdo, but Dee Dee is such a poor man's Marilee Stone. I wonder if Fern Fitzgerald was on vacation or otherwise occupied during McBain's two episodes.

[Franko]

J.R. and John Ross on that merry go round needs to be a gif.

[Franko]

Hot take? Patrick Duffy is the MVP of the 1981-82 season. Compromised Bobby is a hell of a lot more interesting than white knight Bobby.

[Franko]

I've made it up to "Where There's a Will..." Miss Ellie's latest round of undermining Sue Ellen as a mother and/or independent woman (by cajoling her for the umpteenth time to let John Ross stay at Southfork) makes me wish someone dared to call the old bird out for accepting Lucy being stolen from Val. To the best of my knowledge, Ellie never paid for that one (and no, buying Gary & Val a house doesn't count).

[Soapsuds]

45 years ago today

Please register in order to view this content

 

[Melroser]

45 years ago! Wow. An event that changed primetime television forever. 

[Soapsuds]

https://www.tvinsider.com/1182776/patrick-duffy-dallas-who-shot-j-r-anniversary-interview/

[kalbir]

The Jeffersons in 1981 and The Simpsons in 1995 payed homage to Who Shot JR.

[Soapsuds]

Who could've shot Jeeeeeee Rrrrrrrrrrrrrr??

Please register in order to view this content

I loved it!

Flossy!!!!!!!!

 

[Chris 2]

Miss Ellie is always in denial. She berates JR several times during the series for his dirty business dealings, but where did he learn that from? Jock. And Ellie had no problem accepting the money from those dealings when it saved Southfork.

And the whole Lucy thing drives me nuts. Ellie was complicit in denying Lucy’s mother the opportunity to raise her or even see her. And later on, she was almost helped JR kidnap John Ross. So stop acting so holier-than-thou, you hypocritical old bag.

Edited March 22 by Chris 2

[kalbir]

@Chris 2 In her own way, Miss Ellie was a messy matriarch.

Edited March 22 by kalbir

[j swift]

I’ve always cherished that early kitchen scene where Miss Ellie channels Lady Macbeth with Sue Ellen. She insists Sue Ellen needs to get pregnant fast—Pam’s younger, supposedly more fertile, and Jock would favor the first grandson. Right after, Sue Ellen bolts to seduce JR.   We don't get to see that side of Ellie often, until she scoots over to see Carter McKay in her VW Rabbit Convertible. (still amazed that they didn't either drive American cars, and that it was before a network would work out a deal to advertise a car - imagine the #1 program today showing a closeup of a Mercedes-Benz every week, with no MB commercials, it would be nuts ).

You’re all right—she was in on taking Lucy from Val. But, playing devil’s advocate, poor Gary was suffering deeply, trapped in the grip of addiction, and Val didn’t seem cut out for Southfork life or eager to stay. Miss Ellie likely thought she was doing what was best for her granddaughter. In that context, it feels less evil and more like a desperate, flawed attempt to shield Lucy.  And, if we're honest about a young Val, it was not unreasonable to believe that she fed into Gary's dependency, which inhibited her maternal capacity.

Edited March 22 by j swift

[kalbir]

 

Please register in order to view this content

[kalbir]

Larry Hagman was the breakout star of Dallas and both he and JR became pop culture phenomenons, not just in this country but internationally. That gave him leverage in contract renegotiations. Larry was the reason CBS primetime rode high from 1980-1985 and I'm pretty sure it's documented that Larry had the highest salary of a CBS primetime star in that era. He might also have had the highest salary of a CBS primetime star during the final 6 seasons of Dallas.