Behind The Scenes Of Dallas, The Biggest Show Of The 1980s
It wasn’t the first nighttime soap opera, but when it debuted in 1978, Dallas changed the face of primetime television. With epic melodrama and over-the-top storylines, the saga of the oil-rich Ewing family was compelling viewing. Whether it was a classic cliffhanger or a notorious just-a-dream reset, Dallas dominated the 80s.
The Miniseries
It started as a miniseries. Although planned as a series, a pilot in the form of a five-part miniseries was shot and debuted on April 2, 1978. At the time of airing, the network wasn’t sure if they would be interested in the show as an ongoing series.
Dallas: The Beginning, Dominick DiRienzo
The Miniseries
Without a network commitment, the producers were not expecting it to be expanded beyond the initial miniseries. It was even buried in a late-night time slot on a Sunday. Clearly, the network had little faith in a show about Texas oil ranchers.
Dallas: The Beginning, Dominick DiRienzo
The Miniseries
Although 1970s television was notorious for its ludicrous and loud productions, CBS had a reputation for higher-quality fare than its two rivals. Despite its graveyard timeslot, against all odds, the miniseries proved popular.
Dallas: Bobby brings his bride Pam to Southfork., Dominick DiRienzo
A New Series
It was picked up for a full season starting in the fall of 1978 and ended up lasting 13 more seasons until 1991. The miniseries is now considered the first season, making the initial run of Dallas to be 14 seasons.
Dallas: Pam is welcomed to the family., Dominick DiRienzo
A New Series
During the development period for the initial miniseries, the title was going to be Houston. While Dallas, Texas was known as a financial center, Houston was better known as the oil capital of Texas. However, producers decided that Houston wasn’t as catchy a name as Dallas.
Dallas: Pam is welcomed to the family., Dominick DiRienzo
Family Rivalry
The premise of the series is the rivalry between two Texas families, the Ewing and the Barnes families. In the first episode, this rivalry, both personal and in business, was complicated by the eloping of the Barnes daughter Pamela with the youngest Ewing son, Bobby.
Dallas: Bobby brings his bride Pam to Southfork., Dominick DiRienzo
Southworth Ranch
The series is mainly set in Dallas, Texas, and in the fictional Braddock County where the Ewing’s Southworth Ranch is located. Set in the contemporary period, the backstory for the series begins in the 1930s, when oil wildcatter John “Jock” Ewing supposedly cheats his partner Willard “Digger” Barnes out of Digger’s share of Ewing Oil. Digger’s true love, Eleanor Southworth (Miss Ellie) ends up marrying Jock instead.
Sf46 at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
Jock And Miss Ellie
While Jock is a rough and self-made oil man, Miss Ellie’s family are rich ranchers, setting up a clash between the landed gentry and the roughneck oil man. After their marriage, the Southworth family ranch becomes the Ewing home, where Jock and Miss Ellie raise their three sons: JR, Gary, and Bobby.
Dallas: Miss Ellie & Jock discuss Amanda, Ome
JR And Bobby
JR is ambitious but unscrupulous and he’s in an unhappy marriage with Sue Ellen Shepard. There is a rivalry between JR and his youngest brother Bobby, whose integrity is at odds with JR’s ruthlessness.
#Dallas - Cliff Shocks The Ewing Brothers / Pam & J.R. Argue. 10x22, DALLAS70
Gary Ewing
Gary, the middle son, was the black sheep and considered weak by his father and older brother. Gary secretly marries 15-year-old waitress Valene, and they soon have a child and settle down at the family ranch.
DALLAS - Gary Returns To Southfork And Upsets J.R., DALLAS70
Gary Ewing
Gary and Valene are welcomed by Gary’s parents, but JR uses Gary’s presence as an excuse to manipulate him, encouraging Gary’s drinking, which leads to serious alcoholism, and setting him up with bad business deals to orchestrate Gary’s fall. Gary flees the ranch and after tormenting Valene, JR causes her to leave as well, leaving Miss Ellie and Jock to raise their grandchild.
DALLAS - Gary Returns To Southfork And Upsets J.R., DALLAS70
Cliffhangers
One notable aspect of Dallas is its use of cliffhangers at the end of each season. Most seasons ended this way, allowing producers to build anticipation for the fall debut and the resolution of the cliffhanger. Most famously, the season three finale, titled “A House Divided”, ends with JR being shot by a mysterious assailant.
Dallas: House Divided (Part2), Storm
JR Ewing
Larry Hagman was cast as JR Ewing, although he wasn’t the first choice. Robert Foxworth, who would later play Crane in the rival primetime soap Falcon Crest, was first tapped for the role.
Can J.R. Stop Gary And Valene's Wedding? - DALLAS, DALLAS70
JR Ewing
Foxworth turned the role down and Hagman let it be known that he was interested in reading for the part. Producers were skeptical of Hagman’s suitability as he was best known for playing astronaut Major Anthony Nelson in the 1960s fantasy comedy I Dream of Jeannie.
DALLAS | J.R. Ewing Doesn't Like Bobby's New Wife, Pamela. (Pilot Episode), DALLAS70
JR Ewing
The JR character was initially written as a supporting character, not the lead. The family patriarch and matriarch, Jock and Miss Ellie, were meant to be the focus of the series. With Hagman’s signing on as JR, he ended up playing the son of actress Barbara Bel Geddes who was only nine years older than Hagman.
DALLAS - J.R. and Bobby Fight over Pam. Cliff's Career Is In Trouble. 5x01, DALLAS70
Who Shot JR?
“Who shot JR?” became an iconic catchphrase as audiences and the media delighted over trying to figure out who actually did shoot JR. “The Who shot JR?” mania gripped audiences long before there was an internet or social media.
WHO SHOT J.R.? (PART 1): A House Divided | S03E25 | Cool Channel Dallas Guide, Cool Channel Network
Who Shot JR?
Nearing the end of season three, Hagman wanted to renegotiate his contract. Unless his demands for more money were met, Hagman informed the producers he would leave the series. Hagman knew his popularity as the much-hated JR gave him leverage, but producers tried to stall for time.
WHO SHOT J.R.? (PART 1): A House Divided | S03E25 | Cool Channel Dallas Guide, Cool Channel Network
Who Shot JR?
The producers decided to end the season with two possible outcomes depending on whether Hagman was staying or leaving. With the idea of a cliffhanger in mind, it was decided to have someone shoot JR.
WHO SHOT J.R.? (PART 1): A House Divided | S03E25 | Cool Channel Dallas Guide, Cool Channel Network
Who Shot JR?
The initial idea was to allow producers to either have Hagman continue in the role and simply recover in the fourth season, or write him out of the series by having the character die between the end of season three and the start of season four.
WHO SHOT J.R.? (PART 1): A House Divided | S03E25 | Cool Channel Dallas Guide, Cool Channel Network
Who Shot JR?
In the end, Hagman was successful in his negotiations, and he signed on to continue in the fourth season. This meant that the cliffhanger shifted focus, from would JR survive to who shot him.
DALLAS - Who Shot J.R Documentary, DALLAS70
Who Shot JR?
The season 3 finale aired on March 21, 1980, and set ratings records for its time, reportedly viewed by 350 million people worldwide. With the finale aired, producers then had to decide on where to take the story.
WHO SHOT J.R.? (PART 1): A House Divided | S03E25 | Cool Channel Dallas Guide, Cool Channel Network
Who Shot JR?
The phenomenon around the question of who shot JR was international, showing the reach of the series. Even without social media audiences managed to debate and dream up countless theories about who did it.
WHO SHOT J.R.? (PART 1): A House Divided | S03E25 | Cool Channel Dallas Guide, Cool Channel Network
Who Shot JR?
To maintain the secret, multiple scenes were shot using different actors shooting JR. Aside from the writers and producers, no one on the show knew who did it.
WHO SHOT J.R.? (PART 1): A House Divided | S03E25 | Cool Channel Dallas Guide, Cool Channel Network
Keeping The Secret
When the season 4 premiere was shot, aside from the writers and producers, the only two actors who knew who shot JR were Hagman himself, and Linda Gray, who played Sue Ellen. Gray knew because she recorded a voiceover during the summer hiatus where the shooter is revealed.
DALLAS: Season 4 (1980-81) Clip (The Fourth Ewing Son), K.J. Norman
Keeping The Secret
Neither Hagman nor Gray revealed the identity of the shooter before the season premiere. Reportedly, Hagman had even been offered $250,000 for the information. He wisely kept the information to himself.
DALLAS: Season 4 (1980-81) Clip (The Fourth Ewing Son), K.J. Norman
Keeping The Secret
During the summer hiatus, Hagman traveled to the UK where he met the Queen Mother. While greeting her, the Queen leaned in and asked, “Who did it?” to which Hagman replied he couldn’t reveal it, “not even for you”. In the end, it was revealed that Kristin Shepard, played by Mary Crosby, was the shooter.
DALLAS: Season 4 (1980-81) Clip (Who Shot J.R.? - The Reveal), K.J. Norman
Sue Ellen Ewing
Linda Gray portrayed Sue Ellen Ewing, former Miss Texas, and JR’s wife. Their marriage was revealed to be volatile, with JR’s unscrupulous business dealings and especially his infidelity causing problems in the marriage.
DALLAS | Pam Is Hysterical / J.R. Takes His Anger Out On Sue Ellen, DALLAS70
Sue Ellen Ewing
Gray wasn’t the first choice to play Sue Ellen, although it is now the role with which Gray is most identified. Producers wanted Mary Frann, who would go on to play Bob Newhart’s wife on Newhart. After Gray’s successful audition, producers were so impressed with her that they made the character a starring role rather than the occasional character it was initially meant to be.
Top Ten Powerful Sue Ellen Moments in DALLAS, supersoaps
Lucy Ewing
Lucy Ewing, the daughter of Gary and Valene, was eventually portrayed by Charlene Tilton, although like so many actors cast on the show, she was not the producers’ first choice. Tilton was so determined to land the role that she kept sneaking into the set for two weeks to maintain a presence and convince the producers that the uncast Lucy role was meant for her.
DALLAS - Lucy Returns To Southfork And Annoys J.R., DALLAS70
Bobby Ewing
Patrick Duffy was tapped to play the youngest Ewing son, Bobby. Initially, Bobby was to be killed off at the end of the first season miniseries. The character, and Duffy, proved to be popular, and the chemistry between Duffy and Victoria Principle, who played Bobby’s wife, Pamela Barnes Ewing, convinced producers that the Bobby character was more than a plot device to showcase the Ewing-Barnes rivalry.
Bobby Shocks J.R. With An Announcement | DALLAS, DALLAS70
Pamela Barnes Ewing
Victoria Principal had initially left acting to be an agent and was considering law school when she was shown a script for the miniseries. Principal was convinced that the part was meant for her, and in her role as agent, called the casting director to let them know a client was coming in to read for the part. With her name down as the representative agent, Principal showed up as the client.
DALLAS | J.R. Ewing Doesn't Like Bobby's New Wife, Pamela. (Pilot Episode), DALLAS70
The Demise Of Bobby Ewing
At the end of season 8, and with his contract up. Patrick Duffy decided to move on from the role of Bobby. Producers had Bobby killed in a car accident at the end of the season and unlike the shooting of JR, the ending was not a mystery: Bobby was gone.
DALLAS - Bobby Ewing Is Hit By A Car, DALLAS70
The Demise Of Bobby Ewing
During the summer hiatus, Larry Hagman invited Duffy over to his Malibu home. While soaking in the jacuzzi, Hagman told Duffy that he was too important to the show and that he really wanted Duffy to come back. This did the trick; Hagman convinced Duffy to return to the series.
DALLAS - Bobby Ewing Is Hit By A Car, DALLAS70
The Return Of Bobby Ewing
This left the problem of how to address the onscreen demise of Bobby Ewing. Although bringing a character back from the dead was a staple of daytime soap operas, it wasn’t something utilized as a plot device on nighttime soaps. It was Duffy’s real-life wife, Carlyn Rosser, who provided producers with the solution.
The Return Of Bobby Ewing
At the beginning of season 9, Pamela Ewing wakes up and hears the shower in the ensuite bathroom. She pulls back the shower curtain to reveal Bobby nonchalantly showering. Much of the previous season is revealed to have been Pamela’s dream in what was then, and now, a notorious use of a “it was all a dream” cliche.
Larry Hagman
While JR Ewing was amoral and a backstabber, Larry Hagman was anything but. Cast members recall that he was the glue that held everyone together and Hagman was always an advocate for his co-stars.
DALLAS | J.R. Ewing Doesn't Like Bobby's New Wife, Pamela. (Pilot Episode), DALLAS70
Larry Hagman
When Linda Gray asked for more money and an opportunity to direct (something that both Hagman and Patrick Duffy had been allowed), the producers decided they were going to write her character off instead. When Hagman heard about this, he threatened to leave the show if she wasn’t brought back with her demands met. Gray was immediately re-hired under her terms and she credited Hagman for saving her career.
hmv meets Dallas - An interview with Larry Hagman & Linda Gray, hmv official
Series Revival
In 2010, cable network TNT announced it was reviving the series, which premiered on June 12, 2012, focusing on John Ross and Christopher Ewing, the grown sons of JR and Bobby. Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy, and Linda Gray all returned to reprise their roles. In November 2012, Larry Hagman passed away and JR’s death was written into the second season of the revived series.
Dallas 2012 First Look | NEW DALLAS SHOW (TNT) [HD], getpaidtomovellc
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