Drill Bits – Dallas Decoder

Drill Bits: Mr. Duffy Goes to Washington — and D.C. Swoons

May 5, 2014 by Chris Baker 11 Comments

Bobby Ewing, Dallas, Padraic Duffy, Patrick Duffy

The uniter (Allison Shelley/Getty Images)

It turns out there is something everyone in Washington can agree on: They all love Patrick Duffy.

The “Dallas” star was the toast of the town when he came to D.C. last weekend to attend the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner — a.k.a. the “nerd prom,” an annual schmooze-fest that brings together Beltway insiders and Hollywood elite to celebrate journalism. Think of it as Washington’s version of the Oil Baron’s Ball, but without the food fights.

Throughout the weekend, social media buzzed with pics of muckety-mucks posing with Duffy, including MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts, who ran into the actor at a pre-dinner shindig and tweeted, “This weekend is gonna rock when the first person I meet is ‘Bobby Ewing.’” Later, CNN reporter Elise Labott tweeted a selfie with Duffy, along with her observation that “[h]e’s still so handsome.”

Duffy also got a shout out during the dinner from comic headliner Joel McHale, who ended his monologue thusly: “Here’s why America is the best country in the world — a guy like me can stand before the president, the press and Patrick Duffy, and tell jokes without severe repercussions. And instead of being shipped off to a gulag, I am going to the Vanity Fair after-party.”

(McHale is probably no stranger to the Duffy dynasty: Emily Cutler, the wife of Duffy’s son Conor Duffy, once wrote for McHale’s sitcom “Community.”)

Duffy was a guest of Time and Fortune magazines at the correspondents’ dinner. He sat with recent Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o and her “12 Years a Slave” director, Steve McQueen, as well as “Gravity” director Alfonso Cuarón and actor Armie Hammer.

The actor seemed to take it all in stride, telling USA Today he suspects the dinner is a lot like the Academy Awards, although he doesn’t know since he’s never been to the Oscars. Incredibly, Duffy said he’s never attended the Emmys either — although if there’s any justice, that’ll change when the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences finally gets around to recognizing the knockout work he’s been doing on TNT’s “Dallas” lately. (We still get chills whenever we watch the midseason cliffhanger scene where Bobby shouts at Ann. Yikes!)

Duffy came to Washington with son Padraic Duffy, a playwright whom “Dallas” fans will remember as the American kid Bobby befriended in Paris during the original show’s final season. Padraic’s wife, Emily Kosloski, has a recurring role on the TNT series as Rhonda Simmons, the mystery woman who helped the Ewings put Cliff Barnes in jail.

And in case you’re wondering: Yes, your Dallas Decoder lives in D.C. and tried his best to catch up with Duffy while he was in town, but to no avail. Maybe next time. Given his popularity among Washingtonians, he’s bound to return, right?

Et Cetera

• While Duffy was taking D.C. by storm, Josh Henderson was commanding the red carpet at the Kentucky Derby.

• Dallas Decoder readers know Kevin Page, a.k.a. Bum, the Ewings’ go-to private eye, is also an accomplished artist. Last week, he spoke to the Dallas Morning News about his latest adventures in digital artwork.

• The house used to film the interior Southfork shots in “Changing of the Guard,” the first episode of TNT’s “Dallas,” just sold for $3.5 million, Realty Today reported last week.

• Reminder: There’ll be no #DallasChat tonight. The next discussion will be Monday, May 12, at 9 p.m. Eastern. See you then!

“Drill Bits,” a roundup of news about TNT’s “Dallas,” was published regularly. Share your comments below.

Filed Under: Drill Bits, News Tagged With: Changing of the Guard, Conor Duffy, Emily Kosloski, Josh Henderson, Kevin Page, Padraic Duffy, Patrick Duffy, TNT

Drill Bits: ‘Dallas’ Cliffhanger Hits 3 Million Viewers

April 22, 2014 by Chris Baker 1 Comment

Dallas, John Ross Ewing, Josh Henderson, TNT

Things are looking up

DVR users have been boosting “Dallas’s” ratings all season long, and last week was no exception. “Where There’s Smoke,” the TNT drama’s spring cliffhanger, debuted to 2.1 million viewers on April 14, but during the next three days, DVR users boosted the audience to 3 million viewers.

The episode — which featured the notorious three-way between John Ross, Pamela and Emma — scored 1.4 million adults between ages 25 and 49, a demographic TNT targets, up 25 percent from the previous week. The show grabbed 1.1 million adults between ages 18 and 49, a 27 percent increase.

“Where There’s Smoke” remains the year’s second most-watched “Dallas” episode. In first place: the season premiere, “The Return,” which drew 2.7 million viewers on February 24 and 3.5 million viewers through three-day DVR playback.

“Dallas” averaged 1.9 million viewers on Mondays at 9 p.m. during the first half of its third season, but with DVR playback, the audience rose to 2.8 million viewers. Last season, “Dallas” averaged 2.7 million viewers on Mondays, but DVR users boosted the audience to 3.5 million viewers.

“Dallas’s” third season will resume Monday, August 18.

Sue Ellen, Superstar

Congratulations to Linda Gray, who’ll be honored at the USA Film Festival in Dallas on Saturday, April 26. Among her fellow honorees: Morgan Fairchild, who originated the role of Jenna Wade on the classic “Dallas” series in 1978. For details, click here.

“Drill Bits,” a roundup of news about TNT’s “Dallas,” is published regularly. Share comments below.

Filed Under: Drill Bits, News Tagged With: Josh Henderson, Linda Gray, Morgan Fairchild, Return, TNT, Where There’s Smoke

Drill Bits: Cliffhanger Gives ‘Dallas’ a Ratings Boost

April 15, 2014 by Chris Baker 10 Comments

AnnaLynne McCord, Christopher Ewing, Dallas, Heather McCabe, Jesse Metcalfe, TNT, Where There's Smoke

Holding on

“Dallas’s” midseason cliffhanger brought the show its second biggest Monday audience this year. The episode, “Where There’s Smoke,” debuted to 2.1 million viewers on April 14, including 714,000 viewers in the advertiser-prized demographic of adults between ages 18 and 49. This is “Dallas’s” most-watched Monday telecast since the third-season premiere, “The Return,” drew 2.7 million viewers on February 24.

“Dallas’s” overall audience grew about 10 percent from last week. This brings the show’s season-to-date average to 1.9 million viewers on Mondays at 9 p.m., down from 2.7 million viewers in this time slot last year. However, when you count DVR users who record “Dallas” and watch it within three days, this season’s average rises to 2.8 million viewers.

“Dallas’s” previous episode, “Like a Bad Penny,” debuted on April 7 to 1.8 million viewers, including 580,000 adults between ages 18 and 49. With DVR playback, the “Like a Bad Penny” audience rose to 2.6 million viewers, including 1.1 million adults between ages 25 and 54, an audience TNT targets.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering: When “Dallas” set Southfork ablaze in 1983, the episode, “Ewing Inferno,” was seen in 20.3 million homes, ranking second in the weekly ratings.

Remember: ‘Dallas’ Returns August 18

“Dallas” is over for the spring, but we still have the summer episodes to look forward to. TNT plans to bring the show back for the second half of its third season, beginning Monday, August 18. That’s just 125 days from tonight.

“Drill Bits,” a roundup of news about TNT’s “Dallas,” is published regularly. Share your comments below.

Filed Under: Drill Bits, News Tagged With: AnnaLynne McCord, Ewing Inferno, Jesse Metcalfe, Like a Bad Penny, Return, TNT, Where There’s Smoke

Drill Bits: It’s Another Ratings Uptick for ‘Dallas’

April 8, 2014 by Chris Baker 10 Comments

Christopher Ewing, Dallas, Jesse Metcalfe, Like a Bad Penny, TNT

Crunch those numbers, Christopher

“Dallas” experienced another slight increase in the ratings this week. The latest episode, “Like a Bad Penny,” debuted to 1.87 million viewers on April 7, up 3 percent from one week ago. The episode drew 580,000 viewers in the advertiser-coveted demographic of adults between ages 18 and 49, an increase of almost 4 percent.

This is the third week in a row that “Dallas” has grown its audience since March 17, when the show hit a series low of 1.78 million viewers.

Interestingly, “Dallas” faced tougher-than-usual competition on April 7. “Like a Bad Penny” debuted opposite CBS’s coverage of the NCAA basketball championship, which drew 16.7 million viewers from 9 to 10 p.m. Also during this hour, ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” grabbed 14.2 million viewers, followed by NBC’s “The Voice” (11.9 million) and Fox’s “The Following” (4.5 million).

“Dallas’s” previous episode, “Like Father, Like Son,” debuted on March 31 to 1.82 million viewers, including 559,000 adults between ages 18 and 49. However, when DVR users who recorded the episode and watched it a few days later are counted, the “Like Father, Like Son” audience rose to 2.6 million viewers, including 1.2 million adults between ages 25 and 54, an audience TNT targets.

“Dallas” is averaging 1.98 million viewers on Mondays at 9 p.m. this season, down from 2.7 million viewers in this time slot last year. However, when DVR users are included, “Dallas’s” weekly viewership rises to approximately 2.7 million viewers, making it the fourth most-watched original drama on TNT’s winter schedule. “Major Crimes” is the top show with 7.4 million viewers, followed by “Rizzoli & Isles (5.6 million) and “Perception” (3.3 million).

TNT also continues to replay new “Dallas” episodes later on Monday nights, where the show draws hundreds of thousands of additional viewers. On April 7, after “Like a Bad Penny” debuted at 9 p.m., TNT showed the episode again at 10 p.m., where it clocked 703,000 viewers.

Behind the Scenes at ‘Dallas’

The “Dallas” producers hosted an NCAA-themed bash on their Dallas soundstages last week. WSAW, the city’s CBS station, has a behind-the-scenes look at the sets, including a brief chat with executive producer Michael M. Robin.

Return to Forney

Before “Dallas” wrapped production on the third season last week, the crew filmed scenes around Forney, Texas — which also happens to be home of the Southern Cross Ranch, the Farlow family spread seen on the original series. InForney.com has the scoop, although it isn’t clear if the Ewings will be paying another visit to the Southern Cross on the TNT show.

Look Who’s Talking

DVR alert: Patrick Duffy is scheduled to appear on “The Talk” on Thursday, April 10. CBS airs the show at 2 p.m. in most cities.

“Drill Bits,” a roundup of news about TNT’s “Dallas,” is published regularly. Share your comments below.

Filed Under: Drill Bits, News Tagged With: Jesse Metcalfe, Like a Bad Penny, Like Father Like Son, Michael M. Robin, Patrick Duffy, TNT

Drill Bits: ‘Dallas’ Raises Its Ratings Again

April 2, 2014 by Chris Baker 23 Comments

Dallas, Elena Ramos, Emma Bell, Emma Ryland, Jordana Brewster, Julie Gonzalo, Like Father Like Son, Pamela Rebecca Barnes Ewing, TNT

Higher, ladies!

“Dallas” continued to climb in the ratings this week. “Like Father, Like Son,” the most recent episode, debuted to 1.82 million viewers on March 31, up roughly 2 percent from one week ago. The March 31 audience included 559,000 adults between ages 18 and 49, a demographic many advertisers pay a premium to reach.

The previous episode, “D.T.R.,” debuted to 1.79 million viewers on March 24, including 577,000 adults between 18 and 49. However, when DVR users who recorded the episode and watched it a few days later are counted, the “D.T.R.” audience rose to 2.6 million viewers, including 1.2 million adults between ages 25 and 54, an audience TNT targets, and 940,000 adults between 18 and 49.

This is the second consecutive week “Dallas” has raised its ratings since March 17, when “Lifting the Veil” dipped to 1.78 million viewers, a series low.

“Dallas” is averaging 1.99 million viewers on Mondays at 9 p.m. this season, down from 2.7 million viewers in this time slot last year. However, when DVR users are included, “Dallas’s” weekly viewership rises to 2.7 million viewers, making it TNT’s fourth most-watched original drama this winter. The top three: “Major Crimes” (7.4 million viewers), “Rizzoli & Isles (5.6 million) and “Perception” (3.3 million).

TNT also continues to draw hundreds of thousands of viewers with its “Dallas” replays on Monday nights. On March 31, after “Like Father, Like Son” debuted at 9 p.m., TNT showed the episode again at 10 p.m., where it drew another 624,000 viewers.

Happy Anniversary, Darlins

“Dallas” debuted on April 2, 1978. Since then, almost 400 hours of “Dallas” have been produced, including 357 episodes of the original series, 31 episodes of the TNT show and a handful of reunion movies and other specials.

Today also marks Dallas Decoder’s second anniversary. I’m still having fun writing and editing this site, and I hope you’re enjoying reading it. Thanks for your continued support.

“Drill Bits,” a roundup of news about TNT’s “Dallas,” is published regularly. Share your comments below.

Filed Under: Drill Bits, News Tagged With: D.T.R., Emma Bell, Jordana Brewster, Julie Gonzalo, Like Father Like Son, TNT

Drill Bits: ‘Dallas’ Picked Up More Viewers This Week

March 25, 2014 by Chris Baker 4 Comments

AnnaLynne McCord, Christopher Ewing, Dallas, D.T.R., Heather McCabe, Jesse Metcalfe, TNT

Reason to smile

“Dallas’s” audience grew a little this week: “D.T.R.,” the latest episode, debuted to 1.79 million viewers on March 24, or about 8,000 more viewers than the previous entry, “Lifting the Veil,” drew one week earlier.

The show lost viewers in one important category, however. “D.T.R.” grabbed 577,000 adults between 18 and 49, a demographic many advertisers pay top dollar to reach. On March 17, “Lifting the Veil” drew 595,000 viewers in the demo.

“Dallas” is averaging a little more than 2 million viewers on Mondays at 9 p.m. this year, down from 2.7 million viewers on Mondays last season.

“The numbers could be better, but they could also be a lot worse,” said Marc Berman, editor in chief of TV Media Insights, a top industry news site.

“Dallas” is one of three original dramas on TNT’s winter schedule. The other two are “Rizzoli & Isles,” which averages 3.85 million viewers on Tuesdays at 9 p.m., and “Perception,” which averages 1.96 million viewers on Tuesdays at 10 p.m.

“Dallas” gets a nice lift from DVR users who record each episode and watch it a few days later. For example, by the end of last week, DVR users had boosted “Lifting the Veil’s” audience to 2.6 million viewers — an increase of almost 1 million people. This audience included 1.5 million adults between ages 18 and 49 and 1.7 million adults between 25 and 54, a demographic TNT targets.

There’s also this: Since March 10, TNT has been running each new “Dallas” episode twice in prime time on Mondays — once at 9 p.m. and again at 10 p.m. The 10 p.m. replays have averaged 751,000 viewers.

If you combine the audiences for the two telecasts, “Dallas” has averaged roughly 2.6 million viewers during the past three Monday nights. Berman said there probably isn’t a lot of overlap between the two showings, although he hung around after this week’s 9 p.m. telecast of “D.T.R.” to catch the first few minutes of the 10 p.m. replay.

“It was such a fantastic opening with Sue Ellen. I had to see it again,” he said.

Look Who’s Talking

Fresh off her dynamo performance in this week’s episode, Linda Gray is scheduled to drop by “The Talk” on Thursday, March 27. CBS airs the show weekdays at 2 p.m.

“Drill Bits,” a roundup of news about TNT’s “Dallas,” is published regularly. Share your comments below.

Filed Under: Drill Bits, News Tagged With: AnnaLynne McCord, D.T.R., Jesse Metcalfe, Lifting the Veil, Linda Gray, Playing Chicken, TNT

Drill Bits: ‘Dallas’ Takes a Ratings Dip

March 18, 2014 by Chris Baker 11 Comments

Charlene Tilton, Dallas, Lifting the Veil, Linda Gray, Lucy Ewing, Ray Krebbs, Steve Kanaly, Sue Ellen Ewing, TNT

Gang’s all here

“Dallas” slipped in the ratings this week: “Lifting the Veil,” the latest episode, was seen by 1.78 million viewers on March 17. This is the TNT drama’s smallest audience yet. There’s a bright spot, however: The show drew 595,000 viewers in the advertiser-prized demographic of adults between ages 18 and 49, up from 512,000 viewers in this category one week earlier.

“Dallas” also continues to get a lift from DVR users who record the show and watch it a few days later. The previous episode, “Playing Chicken,” debuted to 1.99 million viewers on March 10, although when DVR users are counted, the audience increased to 2.7 million viewers. This haul includes 1.1 million adults between ages 25 and 54, a demographic that TNT targets, and 889,000 adults between ages 18 and 49.

“Dallas” is averaging about 2.1 million viewers on Monday nights this winter, down from 2.7 million last year. The show is essentially tied with the crime drama “Perception” as the second most-watched drama on TNT’s winter schedule. Only “Rizzoli & Isles,” which is averaging 3.9 million viewers on Tuesday nights, is more popular.

TNT will pull both “Rizzoli & Isles” and “Perception” from its schedule after tonight and bring them back in June, while “Dallas” will continue to show new episodes until mid-April and then take its long-planned midseason break. The second half of “Dallas’s” third season will begin Monday, August 18, TNT announced last week.

How About Some More Retail Therapy?

Buckle up

Since we told you about the Ewing Oil Company Store last month, the independent online retailer has added several new products, including its most exclusive offering yet: a J.R. belt buckle like the one John Ross inherited on “Dallas” a few episodes ago.

The bronze buckle, which measures 3 inches by 4 inches, features a rope twist border and a flowering field surrounding the “JR” initials. The price: $65.95. Stephen W. Phillips, who owns and operates the store, plans to sell 23 buckles in honor of Ewing 23, the oil field that famously blew up on the original series.

The buckles will ship in the summer, Phillips said. Each one will come with a Ewing Oil stock certificate, a J.R. Ewing business card and a replica of John Ross’s black credit card.

Other recent additions to the store’s inventory: new versions of the J.R. liquor decanters (each one named for one of his mistresses; we’re partial to the “Harwood” model), a Braddock County road sign and a Harris Ryland bake oven.

If the store adds green corsets to its lineup, we’ll let you know.

“Drill Bits,” a roundup of news about TNT’s “Dallas,” is published regularly. Share your comments below.

Filed Under: Drill Bits, News Tagged With: Charlene Tilton, Lifting the Veil, Linda Gray, Playing Chicken, Stephen W. Phillips, Steve Kanaly, TNT

Drill Bits: ‘Dallas’ Gets a Slight Ratings Boost

March 11, 2014 by Chris Baker 4 Comments

Dallas, Emma Bell, Emma Ryland, Playing Chicken, TNT

Ratings flash!

“Dallas” experienced an uptick in the ratings this week: “Playing Chicken,” the latest episode, debuted to 1.985 million viewers on March 10, including 512,000 adults between ages 18 and 49, the demographic that advertisers pay top dollar to reach.

The total audience grew by roughly 50,000 viewers, or about 2.6 percent. The previous episode, “Trust Me,” debuted to 1.934 million viewers on March 3.

However, when you include viewers who recorded “Trust Me” on their DVRs and watched it within three days, the episode’s audience reached 2.7 million viewers. This audience includes 1.1 million adults between ages 25 and 54, a demographic that TNT targets, and 864,000 adults in the 18-to-49 demo.

So far this season, “Dallas” is averaging 2.2 million viewers on Monday nights, compared to 2.7 million viewers on Mondays last year. Of the three original dramas that TNT is showing this winter, “Dallas” ranks second: On Tuesday nights, “Rizzoli & Isles” is averaging 3.5 million viewers, while “Perception” is averaging 1.9 million viewers.

Earlier this week, Dallas Decoder suggested three things fans can do to help boost “Dallas’s” audience. Don’t forget to keep talking about the show — online and in real life!

DeGeneres Does ‘Dallas’

Ellen DeGeneres will welcome two “Dallas” stars to her talk show this week: Jesse Metcalfe is scheduled to appear on Thursday, March 13, while Jordana Brewster will be a guest on Friday, March 14. “Ellen” is syndicated, so check your local listings for broadcast times.

Summer in ‘Dallas’

“Dallas’s” third season will continue through mid-April, and then the show will take a midseason break and return in the summer. How long will we have to wait?

TNT hasn’t announced the airdates, but the cable channel did outline some of its summer plans this week. On Sunday, June 22, the action series “The Last Ship” will debut at 9 p.m., followed by the fourth-season opener of the sci-fi show “Falling Skies.” Meanwhile, the FBI drama “Legends” is slated to premiere on Wednesday, August 20, at 9 p.m.

In addition to these shows, TNT’s summer lineup will include new episodes of “Major Crimes,” “Rizzoli & Isles,” “Perception” and “Franklin & Bash” and the launch of “Murder in the First,” a crime drama from producer Steven Bochco, whose son Jesse Bocho is a frequent “Dallas” director, including helming “Playing Chicken.”

Double Doses of ‘Dallas’

Starting this week, TNT is doubling up on “Dallas” on Monday nights. Each new episode will continue to debut at 9, and then TNT will show it again at 10.

TNT had been filling the 10 p.m. slot with “The Private Lives of Nashville Wives,” a new reality series. The numbers weren’t good, and so TNT is shifting that show to Monday nights at 11.

“Drill Bits,” a roundup of news about TNT’s “Dallas,” is published regularly. Share your comments below.

Filed Under: Drill Bits, News Tagged With: Jesse Bochco, Jesse Metcalfe, Jordana Brewster, Playing Chicken, TNT, Trust Me

Drill Bits: ‘Dallas’ Holds On to Some of Its Audience

March 4, 2014 by Chris Baker 8 Comments

Christopher Ewing, Dallas, Heather, Jesse Metcalfe, TNT, Trust Me

Hold on tighter!

TNT’s latest “Dallas” episode, “Trust Me,” debuted to 1.9 million viewers on March 3, down about 29 percent from the previous week’s third-season premiere. The audience included roughly 500,000 adults between ages 18 and 49, the demographic advertisers pay a premium to reach.

“The show is down but it’s not out — far from it,” says Marc Berman, editor in chief of TV Media Insights, a top industry news site. Once DVR users who record the show and watch it later are counted, “Dallas’s” total audience could rise closer to the 2.5 million to 3 million mark, Berman says.

The show’s third-season premiere, “The Return,” was seen by 2.7 million viewers on February 24, but the audience rose 33 percent — reaching 3.5 million — once DVR users who watched the show within three days were counted. This audience includes 1.4 million adults between ages 18 and 49 and 1.6 million between 25 and 54, a group TNT targets.

Television shows generally lose between 10 and 20 percent of their audience after a series or season premiere. Berman says “Dallas” may have fallen outside the rule of thumb because it faced tougher than usual competition, including the season premiere of A&E’s “Bates Motel,” which drew more than 3 million viewers.

“Dallas’s” decline fits the show’s pattern. Last year, 2.9 million viewers watched the show’s second-season premiere on opening night; 2.2 million viewers returned the following week, a 24 percent drop. In 2012, the series premiere clocked 6.9 million viewers; 4.8 million people tuned in the following week, a 30 percent decline.

Fans shouldn’t be discouraged, Berman says. “The numbers could be better, but they’re not terrible.”

“Drill Bits,” a roundup of news about TNT’s “Dallas,” is published regularly. Share your comments below.

Filed Under: Drill Bits, News

Drill Bits: ‘Dallas’ Returns to TNT — and So Do Viewers

February 25, 2014 by Chris Baker 11 Comments

Christopher Ewing, Dallas, Jesse Metcalfe, John Ross Ewing, Josh Henderson, Return, TNT

Nice job, boys

“Dallas” returned for its third season on February 24 — and so did the TNT dramas’s loyal fans. The episode, “The Return,” drew 2.7 million viewers, matching the show’s audience average on Monday nights last year.

“It was a big night of television and ‘Dallas’ held its own. That’s good news,” says Marc Berman, editor in chief of the industry news site TV Media Insights.

“Dallas” went head to head with the second half of NBC’s two-hour season premiere of “The Voice,” which drew 15.7 million viewers, the show’s second most-watched episode after its 2012 post-Super Bowl special. “That’s difficult competition, so the fact that [‘Dallas’] held onto last year’s audience is positive,” Berman says.

“Dallas’s” February 24 haul included 1.1 million adults between ages 25 and 49, a demographic that cable channels like TNT target, as well as 946,000 adults between 18 and 49, the group advertisers pay top dollar to reach. Berman predicts the audience for “The Return” will climb to more than 3 million once people who recorded the show on their DVRs and watch it later in the week are included.

“Dallas’s” season premiere was also a hit on Twitter, where the show’s actors live-tweeted the telecast and helped “trend” hashtags such as #DallasTNT and #JohnRoss.

Additionally, in a time when social media buzz is increasingly important to television shows, “Dallas” is gaining steam. By our count, the series has recently picked up more than 47,000 “likes” on its official Facebook page, which now boasts 1.5 million likes altogether. The show’s Twitter feed has more than 82,000 followers, up several thousand from a few days ago.

One of the “Dallas”-related hot topics on Twitter during the telecast was the introduction of the show’s retro-style split-screen opening credits — a switch Berman heartily endorses.

“As a longtime fan, it was great to see the actors’ faces in the credits again. They should have been there all along,” he says.

No Pain at These Pumps

Service with a smile

“Dallas” was also a hit with New York City motorists yesterday.

Business was brisk at the Manhattan service station where TNT staged a one-day takeover to promote the third-season premiere.

TNT branded the station “Ewing Energies” and even brought in a Ewing tanker trunk, but the big draw was the bargain-basement price: The gas sold for just $1.98 a gallon, roughly half the national average.

Of course, it also didn’t hurt that Josh Henderson showed up to pump gas for a while.

Sue Ellen’s Publicity Tour

The “Dallas” cast has taken over the talk-show circuit in recent days. One of the highlights: Linda Gray’s visit to Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live,” where she was as charming as ever, reminiscing warmly about Larry Hagman, whom she lovingly referred to as her “bestie” for 37 years.

Altogether now: Awww!

Also, be sure to read her fun interview with the Washington Blade, the gay newspaper in Dallas Decoder’s hometown of D.C. Gray’s comments about Barbara Bel Geddes are especially hoot-worthy. Who knew Mama was such a card?

“Drill Bits,” a roundup of news about TNT’s “Dallas,” is published regularly. Share your comments below.