Features – Dallas Decoder

Who Hung J.R.? We Did!

November 21, 2020 by Chris Baker 15 Comments

Square one

Today marks the 40th anniversary of “Dallas’s” famous “Who Shot J.R.?” revelation, and I’m marking the occasion with a special tribute to Larry Hagman.

This Lego portrait of the late, great “Dallas” star was created by my husband Andrew, who employed the same method he used to create a portrait of Linda Gray’s Sue Ellen Ewing a few years ago.

First, Andrew found a shot of J.R. that he liked — it comes from a BVD underwear ad that Hagman did in the 1980s — and used a software program to digitize it. Andrew then recreated the image with Lego, affixing the little plastic bricks to six plates that form a complete picture when joined together.

By the way: The software automatically turned J.R.’s face a devilish shade of red, and after we had the portrait framed, we discovered there’s a counterfeit Lego brick among all the real ones. (How fitting!) And while most of the bricks are red, white and yellow, there is a single blue brick in ol’ J.R.’s right eye and another in his hat.

This is Andrew’s fourth “Dallas” Lego project: In addition to the Sue Ellen portrait, he created a Southfork playset and a diorama of the “Who Shot J.R.?” scene.

The 45-inch-by-30-inch J.R. portrait now hangs next to Sue Ellen’s at Dallas Decoder World Headquarters in Washington, D.C. It’s nice to see them together again, don’t you think?

Dallas, JR Ewing, Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing

Hanging out

Filed Under: Feature, Features, Features Tagged With: Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, Who Done It?, Who Shot J.R.?

Brick by Brick: Dallas Decoder’s Lego Tribute to Southfork

April 2, 2020 by Chris Baker 13 Comments

Welcome home

“Dallas” debuted on this day 42 years ago, and I can think of no better way to mark the occasion than with another Lego tribute from my husband, Andrew.

After creating a Sue Ellen portrait made of his childhood Legos and a “Who Shot J.R.?” playset, Andrew has built his own Southfork, complete with minifigs to represent the Ewings and all their friends — and a few of their enemies, of course.

Andrew spent a long time designing the house, carefully considering details like the angle to pitch the roof. It took him even longer to build the thing, especially since he had to track down some of the more obscure pieces online. (Who knew there was an underground market for Legos?)

In addition to recreating the outside of Southfork — including the arch over the driveway, the swimming pool and the yellow-and-white patio furniture — Andrew recreated some of “Dallas’s” most famous settings, like the foyer, dining room and the bedrooms of J.R. and Sue Ellen and Bobby and Pam.

Fitting all those rooms into the house wasn’t easy. The Hollywood sets from the TV series don’t exactly align with the exteriors of the real-life Southfork in Texas, making this project like our own version of HGTV’s “A Very Brady Renovation.” Andrew made it work, though, and even came up with the clever idea to put one wing of the house on a hinge so you can “swing” it to the side to get a better look at the interiors.

(This also allowed us to come up with my favorite feature of all: The hinge splits J.R. and Sue Ellen’s bed down the middle, so whenever the couple has a fight, she can swing her half of the bed into a whole other room. It’s just like when she used to move across the hall from J.R. in the ’80s!)

Andrew also carefully chose minifigs that resemble the actors. The Lego J.R. has Larry Hagman’s mischievous twinkle, and I especially love how Andrew dressed Sue Ellen in black and white, just like the iconic dress Linda Gray wore in “Who Done It?,” the episode that resolved the “Who Shot J.R.?” cliffhanger. (The Lego Miss Ellie is a little more Donna Reed than Barbara Bel Geddes, but oh well.)

Together, Andrew and I have had a lot of fun staging some of “Dallas’s” most famous scenes. Check out the gallery below, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comments.

The arch

Side

Open floor plan

Ewings 4, 3 and 1

Together

Apart

Never send Lucy to get the mail

Sold!

Lady of the manor

Then find a better job!

Oh, Pam

You bastard!

Smash!

Good morning

She WON’T be home in 10 minutes

Chillin’

Filed Under: Features, Features

Play It Again, Darlin’: A Lego Salute to ‘Who Shot J.R.?’

March 21, 2020 by Chris Baker 4 Comments

Big bang

Today marks the 40th anniversary of “Dallas’s” famous “Who Shot J.R.?” cliffhanger, and Dallas Decoder is honoring the occasion with an all-new Lego tribute.

My husband, Andrew, has created a playset that shows everyone’s favorite dastardly oil baron, J.R. Ewing, getting what’s coming to him.

The set combines the final moments of “A House Divided,” the episode that kicked off the “Who Shot J.R.?” mystery on March 21, 1980, with the opening of “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” the following season’s opener, and the flashback that reveals J.R.’s assailant at the end of “Who Done It?”, one of the most-watched broadcasts in TV history.

The scene, set in J.R.’s office, features three minifigs: the stunned J.R.; the gal about to pull the trigger, Kristin, his jilted mistress; and Ewing Oil’s rattled cleaning lady, who discovered our hero after Kristin’s dirty deed was done.

Andrew took great care to find minifigs that resembled the actors and their costumes: Larry Hagman’s J.R., complete with his vest; Mary Crosby’s devil-in-the-blue-dress Kristin; and even Virginia Peters, who played the bandana-wearing, duster-wielding cleaning lady whose scream upon discovering J.R. has been a source of amusement in our house for years.

Andrew designed the office with many of the props depicted in the room during the original “Dallas’s” 14-season run, including the oversized Texas wall map, the oil rig model and the bar. He also included a picture of Southfork (itself rendered in Lego) and a desk portrait of J.R.’s long-suffering wife, Sue Ellen — which you might recognize as a miniature version of his Lego tribute to Linda Gray from 2018.

I hope you enjoy Andrew’s creation, and in true “Dallas” style, I’m ending this post with a cliffhanger of my own: a promise to show you his Lego Southfork someday soon.

Stay tuned.

Filed Under: Features Tagged With: House Divided, Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, Mary Crosby, Virginia Peters, Who Done It?, Who Shot J.R.?

Who Framed Sue Ellen? A Lego Tribute to ‘Dallas’s’ Leading Lady

September 12, 2018 by Chris Baker 16 Comments

Lego of ‘Dallas’? Never!

To mark Linda Gray’s birthday today, I’m unveiling a project that’s near and dear to my heart: a portrait of Sue Ellen Ewing that my husband, Andrew, created using his childhood Legos.

No, really.

It began when Andrew and I spent several weeks this winter cleaning out the Oregon home where he grew up. It was a trying time in more ways than one, especially when Andrew had to crawl into a hot, dusty attic to rescue the Legos that his parents had stuffed into a corner and covered with insulation.

After we shipped the Legos to our home in Washington, D.C., Andrew — looking for a way to unwind after all that work we did out west — decided to use the tiny plastic bricks to honor our favorite “Dallas” leading lady.

Don’t ask me how he came up with this concept, but he used a software program to digitize a glamour shot of Gray during her “Dallas” years, then he recreated that image with Legos. He affixed the bricks to six plates that, when joined together, form a complete picture.

Andrew devoted many hours to this labor of love, and the end result is totally rad: a portrait of one of the biggest stars of the 1980s, rendered to look like a computer graphic from that era, and built using a toy that many of us who grew up watching “Dallas” played with at the time.

The portrait — which is 45 inches by 30 inches — is now framed and hanging in our guest bedroom, where Sue Ellen watches over everyone who comes to stay with us.

So happy birthday, darlin’, and thanks for inspiring my husband, me, and “Dallas” fans everywhere.

Always a work in progress

Filed Under: Features, Features Tagged With: Linda Gray

You’re Invited to #DallasChat’s Dec. 18 Holiday Reunion

December 11, 2017 by Chris Baker 3 Comments

Boys and their toys

Dallas Decoder will host its first — and last — #DallasChat of 2017 on Monday, December 18, from 8 to 9 p.m. Eastern time.

Our theme: “A #DallasChat Holiday Reunion.”

If you’re new to #DallasChat or need a refresher, here’s how it works: During each hour-long discussion, I tweet questions from my Twitter handle, @DallasDecoder. Participants respond to the questions and comment on each other’s answers, making each chat a big group conversation.

Here are three tips:

• Each #DallasChat question is numbered (Q1, Q2, etc.), so your responses should include the corresponding number (A1, A2, etc.).

• Include the hashtag #DallasChat in your tweets.

• During the discussion, enter #DallasChat in Twitter’s search field. This will help you watch the search results so you can follow the conversation. Click “All” to see all the related tweets.

It’ll be fun to get back together for another #DallasChat. I hope to see you there!

Got suggestions for #DallasChat questions? Leave them in the comments below.

Filed Under: #DallasChat, #DallasChat announcements, Happy Holidays, Opinion Tagged With: Larry Hagman

‘Wally’s Will’: The Story Behind Linda Gray’s Short Film Debut

April 5, 2017 by Chris Baker 9 Comments

Along came Wally

Linda Gray loved Wally from the beginning.

It was late 2014, not long after TNT canceled its “Dallas” sequel series. Gray, looking for new roles, met with Matteo J. Mosterts, a filmmaker who was interested in casting her as the title character in “Wally’s Will,” his first short. As Mosterts described the role to Gray, the wheels began turning inside the actress’s head. “I thought to myself, ‘Oh, wait a minute. I could really do something with this,” she recalls.

Did she ever.

Gray went on to star in Mosterts’ film, which became a hit last year on the festival circuit, winning multiple awards for both the director and his leading lady. Now “Wally’s Will” is available on Vimeo, where the quirky, dark comedy is charming a whole new audience — and sparking talk about a possible feature-length version.

When Matteo Met Linda

Mosterts, a Los Angeles-based commercial advertising producer, had spent years developing ideas for his first film. He finally settled on telling the story of fictional Mary Elizabeth Von Friederich —“Wally” for short — a wealthy, eccentric woman who has prickly relationships with everyone around her. Mosterts says the character was inspired by someone close to him, although he adds with a wink that “everything is obviously extremely exaggerated.”

Not long after Mosterts passed his script along to a friend who works as a casting director, he received news that stunned him: Linda Gray wanted to meet with him. Mosterts knew the actress from her starring role on “Dallas,” which had a huge following in his native Italy. “It was a little surreal,” he says. “I said to my [casting director] friend, ‘She does know that I’ve never directed anything, right?’”

Gray and Mosterts hit it off immediately. He was struck by her creativity, including her suggestions for fleshing out the Wally character. “She definitely brought new ideas,” he says. (Gray recalls Mosterts turning to her at one point and saying, “Where do you come up with this stuff?”) Once the script was finalized and she accepted the role, it was time to start filming.

Hello, Malibu

Production began near Malibu in early 2015. On the first day of filming, Mosterts shot the beach scene with Wally and her loyal butler Doofus, played by René Mena. Filming outdoors is always complicated, and Mosterts spent more time than he planned “blocking” the scene — mapping out the actors’ movements in front of the camera. “It was a lesson learned. Start with the easiest stuff,” he says.

But Mosterts and his 25-person crew soon hit their stride. He credits Gray with helping to create a relaxed, friendly mood on the set. She pitched in wherever she could, even supplying much of Wally’s wardrobe from her own closet. Gray also proved a trouper, especially when temperatures dipped on the night Mosterts filmed the scene where Doofus paints Wally’s toenails outside her home. “I was expecting a little bit more resistance, a sense of entitlement — rightful entitlement — but there was none of that. She was the hardest working of us all,” Mosterts says.

Mosterts was also wowed by the performance he was eliciting from his star. Like Sue Ellen Ewing, Wally can be hard to love, and yet as the shoot continued, it became clear Gray was unearthing the character’s well-hidden vulnerabilities. “Linda has so much range,” he says. “I think she’s so nice and warm in person, and maybe she gets a kick out of playing characters with an edge.”

For her part, Gray says the shoot was one of the most memorable experiences of her career. One highlight: spending each night at the rental home that served as Wally’s mansion. Gray remembers waking up in the master bedroom one beautiful morning — and then realizing she was surrounded by all of Mosterts’ camera equipment. “It was a typical Hollywood moment,” she says with a laugh.

Encore, encore!

Once filming was completed and Mosterts produced a final cut, it was time to take “Wally’s Will” on the road. The 11-minute film was shown at festivals across the nation, where Mosterts spent most of his time watching people watch his movie. “I was focused on what the audience was doing. It was really interesting — really inspiring — to see what they respond to, what makes them laugh,” he says. Gray says the thought of seeing her alter ego in a theater was a little scary — until the moment finally arrived. “She was so powerful on the big screen,” she says.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was the acclaim “Wally’s Will” received. Mosterts was named best director at the Atlanta Shortsfest, while Gray won best comedic actress at the North Hollywood Cinefest. The film also received recognition at the USA Film Festival and the Palm Springs International ShortFest, among others.

Now Mosterts is working on a script for a full-length version of “Wally’s Will.” Gray says she’d love to play the character again, and Mosterts says he’d relish the opportunity to continue their collaboration. “I’m so thankful I got to work with her, and I look forward to working with her again,” he says.

What do you think of “Wally’s Will”? Watch the film above, share your comments below and read more features from Dallas Decoder.

Filed Under: Features, Features Tagged With: Linda Gray, Matteo J. Mosterts, René Mena, Wally’s Will

In Memoriam: Our 2016 ‘Dallas’ Tributes

December 31, 2016 by Chris Baker 7 Comments

Dallas Decoder remembers the “Dallas” actors, crew members and other contributors who died in 2016. Click on each person’s name to learn more about his or her career at IMDb.com.

Anthony Addabbo

Anthony Addabbo

Died October 18 (age 56)

In the 14th-season episode “Smooth Operator,” Addabbo played John, a Hollywood wannabe who pitched Bobby on a TV series that sounded suspiciously like “Twin Peaks.” Eight episodes later, in the series finale “Conundrum,” Addabbo appeared as Sue Ellen’s slimy Hollywood agent, Jeff Peters.

Patricia Barry

Patricia Barry

Died October 11 (age 93)

Barry made guest appearances on many episodic series from the 1950s through the early 2000s. In the 14th-season “Dallas” episode “Lock, Stock and Jock,” she played Janine, a married woman who refused to provide Carter McKay with an alibi after his arrest for Johnny Dancer’s murder.

Peter Brown

Peter Brown

Died March 21 (age 80)

In the fifth-season episode “Denial,” Brown, a veteran of the 1960s western “Laredo,” played Tom Flintoff, the creep who tried to force himself on Sue Ellen shortly after her divorce from J.R. Brown’s nephew, Phillip Brown, played architect Brian Johnston on “Knots Landing.”

Paul Comi

Paul Comi

Died August 26 (age 84)

Comi played Dr. McWright, the pediatrician who examined baby Christopher in “Waterloo at Southfork.” Comi logged many other TV guest shots during his 50-year career, including three episodes of “Knots Landing” and a memorable turn in the “Star Trek” classic “Balance of Terror.”

Ronnie Claire Edwards

Ronnie Claire Edwards

Died June 14 (age 83)

Edwards, who is best known for her role as Corabeth on “The Waltons,” appeared in the eighth-season “Dallas” episode “Barbecue Five” as Lydia, the tarot card reader that Pam consults during her search for Mark. Edwards also did guest spots on “Falcon Crest” and “Dynasty,” among many other shows.

Zsa Zsa Gabor

Zsa Zsa Gabor

Died December 18 (age 99)

Gabor played herself in “Svengali,” a 1982 “Knots Landing” episode in which Valene appears on Mike Douglas’s TV talk show to promote “Capricorn Crude,” her fictionalized book about the Ewings. In real life, Gabor and Larry Hagman once appeared together on a 1979 episode of “The Mike Douglas Show.”

Jim Gough

Jim Gough

Died June 7 (age 85)

Gough appeared on “Dallas” as Senator Lee in “Barbecue” (Season 1), Congressman Oates in “Runaway” (Season 2) and the rodeo announcer in “Close Encounters” (Season 9). His other notable credits include a role in the film “JFK” and a guest spot on the Leonard Katzman-produced “Walker Texas Ranger.”

Rick F. Gunter

Rick F. Gunter

Died August 31 (age 65)

Gunter served as “Dallas’s” cinematographer during most of the original show’s final three seasons. He later served as director of photography for several other series, including “Beverly Hills 90210,” “Charmed” and “The Wizards of Waverly Place,” for which he received an Emmy nomination in 2011.

Maj Hagman

Maj Hagman

Died May 31 (age 88)

Hagman was married to Larry Hagman from 1954 until his death in 2012. Their daughter Kristina appeared in several episodes on the original “Dallas” and this year wrote a book, “The Eternal Party,” about her family, including her mother’s talent as a fashion designer, hostess extraordinaire and devoted spouse.

John Hostetter

John Hostetter

Died September 2 (age 69)

Hostetter appeared in the 11th-season episode “Lovers and Other Liars” as Paul Derber, a poker buddy of Nicholas Pearce. He also did two guest spots as police offers on “Knots Landing,” was a semi-regular on “Murphy Brown” and voiced Bazooka on the 1980s “G.I. Joe” animated series.

Barry Jenner

Barry Jenner

Died August 9 (age 75)

From 1984 through 1986, Jenner appeared on “Dallas” as Dr. Jerry Kenderson, Mark Graison’s physician and a Sue Ellen’s suitor. He also appeared in four “Knots Landing” entries as Jeff Cunningham, Abby’s ex-husband, and he was a semi-regular on “Family Matters” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” among many other roles.

George Kennedy

George Kennedy

Died February 28 (age 91)

Kennedy, who won a best supporting actor Oscar for his role in 1967’s “Cool Hand Luke,” played villainous oil baron and Southfork neighbor Carter McKay during “Dallas’s” 12th, 13th and 14th seasons and two reunion movies, “J.R. Returns” and “War of the Ewings.” Dallas Decoder published a tribute to him in March.

Archie Lang

Archie Lang

Died February 17 (age 95)

Lang played a banking associate of Franklin Horner in the fifth-season episode “The Big Shut Down,” then returned for a five-episode stint in the 13th season as Senator Lee, a member of the panel that investigated the Ewing Oil tanker accident. Lang’s other credits include guest spots on “Knots Landing” and “The Waltons.”

Leslie H. Martinson

Leslie H. Martinson

Died September 3 (age 101)

Martinson directed four episodes during “Dallas’s” early years: the classic “Julie’s Return” and the campier “Call Girl,” “The Heiress” and “Power Play.” He also helmed episodes of many other series, including “Maverick,” “Batman,” “The Brady Bunch,” “Eight is Enough,” “Wonder Woman” and “Small Wonder.”

James Sheldon

James Sheldon

Died March 12 (age 95)

Sheldon directed two episodes of “Knots Landing,” including the second installment, “Community Spirit,” which featured Larry Hagman. His many other directing credits include “Echoes of Love,” a “Family” episode written by David Jacobs, and episodes of “M*A*S*H” and the Katzman-produced “Petrocelli.”

Barbara Tarbuck

Barbara Tarbuck

Died December 27 (age 74)

Tarbuck played Agnes, Cliff’s secretary at the Office of Land Management, in three episodes during the 1978-79 season. Her many other credits include guest spots on “Knots Landing” and “Dynasty” and recurring roles on “Falcon Crest,” “General Hospital” and “American Horror Story: Asylum.”

What do you remember about these individuals? Share your memories below and read our tributes from 2015, 2014 and 2013.

Filed Under: Features, Features Tagged With: Anthony Addabbo, Archie Lang, Barbara Tarbuck, Barbecue, Barbecue Five, Barry Jenner, Big Shut Down, Call Girl, Close Encounters, Community Spirit, Conundrum, David Jacobs, Denial, Eternal Party, George Kennedy, Heiress, J.R. Returns, James Sheldon, Jim Gough, John Chilton, John Hostetter, Julie’s Return, Knots Landing, Leonard Katzman, Leslie H. Martinson, Lock Stock and Jock, Lovers and Other Liars, Maj Hagman, Patricia Barry, Paul Comi, Peter Brown, Power Play, Rick F. Gunter, Ronnie Claire Edwards, Runaway, Smooth Operator, Svengali, War of the Ewings, Waterloo at Southfork

Dallas Desserts: Holiday Bakeoff V — Sue Ellen vs. Kristin

December 19, 2016 by Chris Baker 6 Comments

Who baked for J.R.?

This year’s fifth (!) annual “Dallas Desserts” holiday bakeoff brings you a competition between those squabbling Shepard sisters: Sue Ellen’s Black and White Cookies versus Kristin’s Peanut Butter Ginger Cookies. My husband Andrew, who blogs at Cook In / Dine Out, created both recipes.

Whose cookie do you prefer? Cast your vote in the poll below and check out our previous holiday bakeoffs: J.R.’s Bourbon Balls vs. Cliff’s Fortune Cookies, Bobby’s Molasses Sandwiches vs. Harris’s Almond Lace Cookies, Sue Ellen’s Peanut Butter Blossoms vs. Judith’s Mole Cookies and Pam’s Emerald Mines vs. Katherine’s Frosted Gingerbread Hats.

Happy holidays, everyone!

Filed Under: Dallas Desserts, Features Tagged With: Linda Gray, Mary Crosby

Dallas Decoder’s Summer Vacations Guide

June 1, 2016 by Chris Baker 6 Comments

Slippery when wet

Planning to hit the road this summer? To have the happiest of holidays, let the Ewings be your guide.

Dallas, J.R. Ewing, Julie Grey, Larry Hagman, Tina Louise

Lurid rendezvous

Mix business with pleasure. Experts say you should unplug from work when you’re on vacation, but don’t tell that to J.R. Ewing. Did this man ever take a break? Not only did J.R. pursue multi-million-dollar oil deals during his various honeymoons with Sue Ellen and Cally, he also routinely brought secretaries like Julie and Kristin with him on his out-of-town “business trips.” Hey, don’t knock it. Who else was going to take J.R.’s dictation when he was on the road?

Dallas, John Ross Ewing, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing, Tyler Banks

Squatters

Save money on lodging. Tempted to splurge on fancy hotels when you travel? Don’t be; the Ewings rarely did. Sue Ellen and her bratty kid shacked up with the Farlows during their sojourn in San Angelo. Likewise, when Kristin went to California, she crashed at Gary and Val’s Knots Landing pad. Sure, she was a houseguest from hell — is it that hard to put the cap back on the toothpaste tube, Kristin? — but at least she enlivened that dead-end cul-de-sac by breaking up a few marriages.

April Ewing, Bobby Ewing, Dallas, Patrick Duffy, Sheree J. Wilson

Hills alive

Remember: It’s a small world. Don’t be surprised if a familiar face or two shows up unexpectedly on your vacation. This happens to the Ewings all the time. Bobby and Pam ran into Gary at a convention in Las Vegas, Val encountered Gary and Abby during her book tour in Dallas, Ellie was surprised to spot Clayton during her visit to Galveston, and April popped in on Bobby during J.R. and Cally’s Austrian honeymoon. Hey, now that you mention it, what was Bobby doing there anyway?

Dack Rambo, Dallas, Jack Ewing, J.R. Ewing, Larry Hagman

Costume drama

When in Rome. … No matter where your travels take you, follow J.R.’s lead by blending in with the locals. For example, he got into the spirit of banana-republicanism by bribing officials in Cuba and Colombia. J.R. also played cowboy when he confronted B.D. Calhoun in Los Angeles, and he went all James Bond over Angelica Nero’s ass at the masquerade ball in Martinique. One wonders, though: When Angelica fired her gun, was she trying to shoot J.R. or the bird atop his head?

Dallas, Linda Gray, Pam Ewing, Sue Ellen Ewing, Victoria Principal

In plane sight

Get off the beaten path. Sure, you can vacation in an exotic locale, but if you want real relaxation, visit a medical facility. J.R. had a grand time when he checked himself into a mental ward, while Pam once hopped around the Caribbean, touring medical clinics. Pam also dragged Sue Ellen with her to a Hong Kong hospital, which Sue Ellen really liked — although probably not as much as the time she spent guzzling booze from a Scope bottle during her own sanitarium stay.

Long goodbye

Be flexible. No matter how much you plan, things aren’t always going to go your way while traveling. The trick is learning to roll with the punches. Did Jock and J.R. mope around after those hillbillies ambushed them in Louisiana? Hell no! They used the occasion for some father/son bonding. Likewise, did Bobby rush home after April was killed during their Parisian honeymoon? Of course not. He hung around an extra week. (Maybe he had more sightseeing to do?)

Bobby Ewing, Dallas, Pam Ewing, Patrick Duffy, Victoria Principal

Revolutionary road

Don’t forget the souvenirs! No trip is complete without something to remember it by. Sue Ellen returned from the Orient with a bunch of toys for John Ross. Donna was sporting a fur coat when she and Ray returned from their honeymoon in New York City. John Ross came home from his honeymoon in Tulun with an ugly statue. Of course, when it comes to vacation mementos, no one tops Bobby, who returned from his New Orleans trip with the most notable souvenir in “Dallas” history — a wife!

Bobby Ewing, Clayton Farlow, Dallas, Donna Reed, Howard Keel, Miss Ellie Ewing Farlow, Patrick Duffy

Slim shady

Never travel with Clayton Farlow. If you heed no other advice here, please don’t ignore this one. Clayton may look and act like a kindly grandpa, but take it from us: This dude is shady. How many times did he whisk Miss Ellie away on some mysterious extended vacation? After one trip, she came home with a completely different face! The worst offense came in the next-to-last season, when Clayton took Mama away yet again … and never brought her back. Sure hope she packed well.

Where are your favorite Ewing road trips? Share your memories in the comments section below and read more Dallas Decoder Guides.

Filed Under: Dallas Decoder Guide to ..., Features Tagged With: Donna Reed, Howard Keel, Knots Landing, Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy, Sheree J. Wilson, Tina Louise, Victoria Principal

J.R. and Sue Ellen: How Tweet It Is!

April 10, 2016 by Chris Baker 3 Comments

Dallas, J.R. Ewing, Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, New Beginnings, Sue Ellen Ewing

Tweet talk

Thirty-five years ago tonight, “Dallas” delivered one of its greatest moments: the conversation where J.R. and Sue Ellen reminisce about their courtship.

The scene, which occurred at the end of the fourth-season episode “New Beginnings,” represented a rare cease-fire between two characters who are usually at war with each other. The exchange also showcased the magical chemistry between Larry Hagman and Linda Gray.

To mark the anniversary, I’ve recreated J.R. and Sue Ellen’s conversation on Twitter — complete with the surprise ending.

Click on Sue Ellen’s tweet below to read the exchange, and be sure to check out my other Twitter tributes to the “Who Shot J.R.” revelation and Jock’s lesson on “real power.”

.@JREwingDD I’ve always wanted to ask you something. With all those ladies in the state of Texas after you, why me?

— Sue Ellen Ewing (@SueEllenEwingDD) April 10, 2016