Viewers love Lucy
TNT’s “Dallas” isn’t pulling the kind of numbers it did on opening night, but the show continues to perform well. The July 18 telecast of the latest episode, “Collateral Damage,” was seen by 3.9 million viewers, making it that evening’s second most-watched cable program behind USA’s “Royal Pains.”
“Dallas’s” July 18 audience included 1.2 million viewers between the ages of 18 and 49, the group advertisers covet.
This is the second week “Dallas’s” audience grew. The July 11 telecast of “The Enemy of My Enemy” attracted 3.6 million viewers, ranking 26th in the weekly cable ratings. On July 4, “Truth and Consequences” was seen by 3.4 million viewers, finishing 16th.
“Dallas’s” numbers haven’t gone unnoticed by the press: Larry Hagman graces this week’s Entertainment Weekly cover, while USA Today, in an article this week about the broadcast networks’ summer struggles, called the series “a summer bright spot.”
Read All About It
Speaking of Entertainment Weekly: Karen Valby has penned a terrific spread that includes some juicy tidbits from the season’s remaining episodes (murder! near-death experiences! marriage proposals!).
Also featured: a preview of the second season’s overarching theme and sidebars on Patrick Duffy and Hagman’s bromance, Josh Henderson and Jesse Metcalfe’s rivalry and yes, J.R.’s eyebrows.
The other highlight: Jill Greenberg’s fantastic photos, including a cute recreation of this season’s best scene.
If you’re a “Dallas” fan, you owe it to yourself to purchase a copy (or two).
Strong Emmy Contenders
“Dallas” won’t be eligible for Emmys for another year – and if Hagman isn’t nominated, Dallas Decoder is going to raise hell – but Brenda Strong, a.k.a. Ann Ewing, received a nod yesterday for her voiceover work during the final season of ABC’s “Desperate Housewives.”
This is Strong’s second Emmy nomination for narrating “Desperate Housewives.” The award will be handed out during this year’s Creative Arts Emmys ceremony, which will be held Saturday, September 15.
What is Ann’s Secret?
While we’re on the subject of Brenda Strong: In a new interview with Celebuzz, the actress reveals Ann is “going to have a mini breakdown, and then it’s like a phoenix rising from the ashes. She’s going to come back stronger than she was before.”
To hear Strong describe it, “No Good Deed,” next week’s “Dallas” episode, will be essential viewing. “[B]y the time I got the script for episode eight, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough,” she says. “I called our writer and said, ‘Thank you for giving me such an interesting woman to play.’”
Gray and Gonzalo in the News
Many faces of Rebecca
Two other “Dallas” leading ladies – Linda Gray and Julie Gonzalo – also gave revealing interviews in the press this week:
• In a chat with the McClatchy-Tribune newspapers, Gray recalls what it was like to balance the demands of fame, family and career during the original show’s heyday. “I was just kind of going along, this is part of the job and trying to fit it all in. And I couldn’t do it,” Gray says.
• Gonzalo tells the entertainment news site Collider.com she uses “different voices” to play the mysterious Rebecca. “The scenes that I have with Tommy and another member of the family, I’m changing faces all the time, but that’s the most fun I had,” Gonzalo says.
Hagman’s Ten Grand Ten Gallon
Larry Hagman wears a $10,000 Stetson and has a “personal costumer” who holds it for him between takes. These and other interesting tidbits – including cool insights from “Dallas” wardrobe designer Rachel Sage Kunin – are included in USA Today’s recent article on prime-time television headgear.
Line of the Week
“The first thing I thought was, ‘Yep, he’s his mama’s son.’”
Lucy Ewing (Charlene Tilton) in “Collateral Damages,” recalling the time she found John Ross drunk after he broke into the Southfork liquor cabinet as a child. Only on “Dallas” do sentimental childhood memories involve children getting soused.
Pow!
In “Truth and Consequences,” we saw Metcalfe’s character, Christopher Ewing, beat the stuffing out of brother-in-law Tommy Sutter (Callard Harris). Fittingly, The Christopher, the latest cocktail from Cook In/Dine Out, also packs a punch. If you like your “Dallas Drinks” spicy, be sure to give this one a try.
“Drill Bits,” a roundup of news about TNT’s “Dallas,” is published regularly. Share your comments below.
Dallas Decoder 
Sounds like a good episode is coming next week! Rebecca’s “another family member…” Who could it be?
I’m glad you caught that! Her daddy? Her mama? A long-lost aunt?
I can’t wait to get that Entertainment Weekly! Too bad they can’t do those collector covers, with Hagman on one, Duffy, Gray, etc. That would be awesome. Maybe next season. Collectible for sure! I loved Ann’s character from the first and Strong’s interview was great! Bobby needs a woman like that, a woman just like Miss Ellie. He had it with Pam, but of course that doesn’t last. Bobby’s had a lot of heartbreak, but whatever Ann’s dark past, I’m sure she is here to stay.
It’s a great issue! I like your idea of collectible covers. Generally speaking, I feel like the women of “Dallas” don’t receive enough attention, so I love the idea of collecting Brewster, Gonzalo, Gray and Strong covers.
That would be awesome too. Or of course they can do the couples, Brewster and Henderson, Gonzalo and Jessie Hagman and Gray and Duffy and Strong. I just watched the episode where Sue Ellen gets a rude awakening about herself and finally picks up baby John Ross. Lucy twisted the knife and told her that she’s gonna make sure to teach baby JR what it’s like to grow up without parents. Then everyone would be sorry. LOL. Well I hope to see more of that Lucy influence in new future episodes!
I love that episode! It was the first one directed by Larry Hagman, who really demonstrates a good “feel” for what “Dallas” is all about.
Dallas is back!
It’s great, isn’t it? I love how audiences have embraced the Ewings again.