The boys are back
“Dallas” will begin its third season on Monday, February 24, at 9 p.m., TV Guide reported today. The series will telecast eight episodes and then take a midseason break before resuming in the summer. Altogether, the season will consist of 15 hours.
“Dallas,” which will start its third season more than 10 months after its second-season finale, will be part of TNT’s aggressive push to capture more viewers during the winter months. The cable channel will pair “Dallas” with the new reality show “The Private Lives of Nashville Wives,” which will be shown Monday nights at 10, beginning February 24. TNT is also bringing back two of its top-rated summertime crime dramas, “Rizzoli & Isles” and “Perception,” for a four-week run on Tuesday nights, beginning February 25.
Wisely, TNT is saving this programming slate until after the Winter Olympics. NBC will broadcast the games from Sochi, Russia, beginning Friday, February 7. The closing ceremonies are slated for Sunday, February 23.
Of course, even though “Dallas” will get a pass from the Olympics, the show will still have its work cut out for it. Its Monday competition will include NBC’s “The Voice,” ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” Fox’s “The Following” and two CBS sitcoms, “Mike & Molly” and “Mom.”
“Dallas” averaged 2.7 million viewers on Monday nights during Season 2, although the audience climbed to 3.8 million when DVR users who record the show and watch it within seven days were counted. The audience included 1.6 million adults between ages 25 and 54, a demographic that TNT targets, and 1.4 million adults between 18 and 49, another group advertisers pay a premium to reach.
This will be the first time “Dallas” will start a new season without Larry Hagman, who died last year during production of Season 2 and whose famous character J.R. Ewing was laid to rest in the instant-classic “J.R.’s Masterpiece” episode. The show plans to keep J.R.’s memory alive while also continuing to focus on the Ewings’ next generation, led by cousins John Ross and Christopher (Josh Henderson, Jesse Metcalfe).
Producers are otherwise keeping a tight lid on the new season’s storylines, although a handful of clues and revealing tweets have surfaced since production began last month. TNT has also announced two new characters for Season 3: Nicolas, a billionaire played by new regular Juan Pablo Di Pace, and Southfork ranch hand Heather, who’ll be played by guest star AnnaLynne McCord in a multi-episode arc.
Other Season 3 guest stars are slated to include Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval) and Judith Ryland (Judith Light), as well as three fan favorites who’ll appear in a special wedding-themed episode: Ray Krebbs (Steve Kanaly), Lucy Ewing (Charlene Tilton) and Afton Cooper (Audrey Landers).
Are you excited about “Dallas’s” return on February 24? Share your comments below and read more news from Dallas Decoder.
Dallas Decoder 
Thank you so much for letting us know the date of S3! I cannot wait for it to start!!
You’re very welcome, Jennifer!
Way too much time has passed since we’ve seen a new episode of Dallas. It is a much longer period of time than we ever had in the old days. Let’s face it season 2 numbers weren’t that great so I hope this huge off season doesn’t kill any momemtum it may or may not have had with viewers.
I agree, Dan: The long breaks are painful. I hope the show will receive plenty of promotion to help it recover any momentum it may have lost.
I am happy that they are keeping the same day and time. 15 new episodes only 3 months away. I am happy that Dallas is going up against tough competition. I believe t.v. viewers would rather see something modern and new, instead of the same auto-pilot shows that do the same exact thing each year with different people. I am sure “The Following,” “Mike & Molly,” and “Mom.” will be good shows and perhaps I will check them out in re-runs. My parents love “Dancing with the Stars” so I can’t knock it too much.
I’ll always consider Friday the “holiest” day of the week for “Dallas” fanatics, but I must admit I like the show on Monday nights. It’s a nice way to start the week here at Dallas Decoder.
I have to agree. Friday will always be Dallas night in my heart.
Any word on when UK gets it?
I’m afraid there’s still no word on when “Dallas” will air in the U.K., Michelle. As soon as I hear something, I’ll pass it along to Dallas Decoder readers.
I can not wait! I think the spilt season will be good for the ratings.
I’m optimistic too, Frank. I think the split season will be a nice way to stretch out the season and perhaps return TNT’s “Dallas” to an annual summertime run, which worked so well in 2012.
Can’t wait for the season to start! I loved Dallas when it was on years ago, AND I love it even more now!! thanks!
I’m glad to hear you like the show, Marie. Be sure to tune in on February 24!
Excited to see where they take the stories. I enjoy the old and the new show. February can’t arrive fast enough.
Amen, Garnet.
Now that sounds rather dandy! Splitting up the season in 2 arcs is a J. R. EWing manouevre if I have ever heard 1!
Ha ha. The TNT scheduling department is emulating J.R. by splitting the season. Nice!
i enjoy it any time
I’m glad!