Listen Up! Texas Monthly Podcast Dives Deeper Into ‘Dallas’

Larry Hagman, Linda Gray

Story behind the story

Texas Monthly has a new gift for “Dallas” fans: a two-part podcast from Max Marshall, the writer whose sweeping oral history of the series appears in the magazine’s October issue.

Marshall gives listeners the story behind his story, including how he came up with the idea for the article, how he was a non-fan who became seduced by the “Dallas” mystique, and how he has come to see the series as a kind of living thing that changes with the times.

You’ll hear moving and candid comments from Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray and Charlene Tilton. You’ll also hear from lots of other folks, including Leigh McCloskey, Roseanna Christiansen (!) and even yours truly (although I shudder to think that’s what I really sound like).

The podcast is available on Texas Monthly’s site. You can also download both parts from iTunes. Happy listening.

Making History: Texas Monthly Tells the Story of ‘Dallas’

Barbara Bel Geddes, Charlene Tilton, Dallas, Jim Davis, Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy, Texas Monthly

Bigger than Texas

Texas Monthly marks “Dallas’s” 40th anniversary with a big, sweeping oral history of the series.

The article, written by Max Marshall, boasts a huge cast, including David Jacobs, Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray, David Paulsen, Kristina Hagman, TV critic Matt Zoller Seitz and virtually everyone else you can think of (even me!). There are also several rare behind-the-scenes photos and lots of fresh insight into the show, its role in shaping television and its place in Texas culture.

Read it for yourself at TexasMonthly.com — and be sure to pick up a copy of the print version, which appears as the cover story in the magazine’s October issue.

‘Dallas’ Stars to Reunite for 40th Anniversary Fan Events

Charlene Tilton, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy, Steve Kanaly

Home again

Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy, Charlene Tilton and Steve Kanaly will headline two fan events in March to mark the 40th anniversary of “Dallas’s” debut.

“Southfork Fan Day” will be held Friday, March 30, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Southfork Ranch in Parker, Texas. This event will feature a meet-and-greet with the actors, along with tours of the ranch and its museum. Fans are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite Ewing for a chance to win prizes.

A “Dallas Fan Party” will be held Saturday, March 31, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas. This event will feature live entertainment from country musician Neal McCoy, food and drink, and interviews with the cast moderated by Jody Dean, a local radio host. There will also be “Dallas” trivia and prizes.

Tickets are $125 per person and include admission to both events. Tickets are on sale at Dallas40.com.

“Dallas” debuted April 2, 1978.

The events are sponsored by VisitDallas, a tourism group, and Southfork Ranch. The Feb. 1 news release has more information.

Will you attend the Dallas 40th anniversary fan events? Share your comments below and read more news from Dallas Decoder.

Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy to Reunite for ‘A Dallas Retrospective’

Dallas, J.R. Ewing Bourbon, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy

Family reunion

In case you haven’t heard: Linda Gray and Patrick Duffy will reunite for “A Dallas Retrospective,” a one-night-only panel discussion in which the stars will reminisce about all things “Dallas.”

The event will be held Thursday, March 23, at 8 p.m. in Dallas. The sponsor is J.R. Ewing Bourbon, which was introduced in 2014 and recently announced a new marketing campaign.

Robert Wilonsky, a columnist for the Dallas Morning News, will moderate the discussion.

“A Dallas Retrospective” will be held at the Winspear Opera House, which is part of the AT&T Performing Arts Center.

Ticket prices ranges from $29 to $49, plus handling fees. Tickets can be purchased online at www.attpac.org, by phone at 214-880-0202 or by visiting the AT&T Performing Arts Center at 2353 Flora Street.

Will you attend “A Dallas Retrospective”? Share your comments below and read more news from Dallas Decoder.

J.R. Ewing is Coming to Town this Christmas

Dallas, J.R. Ewing, Larry Hagman

Hang in there, darlin’

You better watch out: J.R. Ewing is coming to town this Christmas.

Hallmark will honor Larry Hagman’s “Dallas” character with a keepsake ornament this holiday season. Sheree J. Wilson, who played April on “Dallas” and was a longtime friend of Hagman’s, posted an image of the ornament on her Facebook page today.

The 5-inch tall ornament depicts J.R. clutching a handful of cash and plays the “Dallas” theme music. It will sell for $17.95 and be available for purchase July 9, according to a post on Hallmark’s site.

The ornament joins a host of other officially licensed “Dallas” merchandise that has become available in recent years, including action figures, toy cars and housewares.

Will you purchase a J.R. Ewing Christmas ornament? Share your comments below and read more news from Dallas Decoder.

Should ‘Dallas’ Return? The Fans Say Yes!

Bobby Ewing, Dallas, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy, Sue Ellen Ewing, TNT

Come back, darlins!

Do “Dallas” fans want the Ewings back? You bet we do.

For the past week, Dallas Decoder has polled readers to see if they’d like to see “Dallas” return. Participants were given two choices: “Yes, the Ewing saga must continue” and “No, all good things must come to an end — even ‘Dallas.’”

Almost 4,500 votes were received. Approximately 97 percent fell in the “yes” camp.

This isn’t a scientific survey, of course, but it shows a lot of people would welcome another “Dallas” revival. (Each vote was limited to one IP address, so some fans may have cast more than one vote using multiple devices.)

After TNT canceled “Dallas” in 2014, producers tried to find the series a new home. These efforts ended after six weeks, although some fans continue to lobby online for “Dallas” to return.

Between those efforts and the results of this poll, perhaps someone in the TV business will take notice and finally bring back the Ewings?

Will “Dallas” return? Share your comments below and read more news from Dallas Decoder.

‘Dallas’ Stars to Reunite at Autograph Show

Dallas, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy

Ewings reunite! (Getty Images)

Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray and several other “Dallas” stars are slated to participate in a Los Angeles autograph show next weekend.

The Hollywood Show will be held from Friday, October 30, through Sunday, November 1, at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel.

The other “Dallas” alumni scheduled to participate are Ken Kercheval, Charlene Tilton, Christopher Atkins, Morgan Brittany, Mary Crosby, Morgan Fairchild, Jenilee Harrison, Leigh McCloskey, Sasha Mitchell, Sheree J. Wilson and Morgan Woodward.

More than 60 additional actors are slated for the event, including Corbin Bernsen, Annie Potts and Kevin Sorbo. The list also includes Patty McCormack, who guest starred in three “Dallas” episodes during the 1981-82 season as Evelyn Michaelson, the woman who came between Lucy and Mitch.

Ticket prices vary; a two-day pass costs $40. There are additional fees if you want to be photographed with individual actors or groups, including a $250 charge to have your picture taken with the “Dallas” cast.

More information is available on the Hollywood Show site.

Will you attend the Hollywood Show? Share your comments below and read more news from Dallas Decoder.

One Year After ‘Dallas,’ Cast and Crew Keep Busy

Dallas, Josh Henderson, TNT

Josh Henderson in August (Getty Images)

The final episode of TNT’s “Dallas” aired one year ago today. Here’s an update on the show’s stars and key players from behind the scenes.

JOSH HENDERSON has been cast as the male lead in “The Arrangement,” an eagerly anticipated E! pilot about an actress who is offered $10 million to marry Hollywood’s biggest star. Filming began this month in Vancouver.

Patrick Duffy, June (Getty Images)

Patrick Duffy in June (Getty Images)

PATRICK DUFFY will appear in “Trafficked,” a forthcoming feature film based on the best-selling book “Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery.” Duffy also led the TV series jury at the prestigious Monte Carlo Television Festival, and he guest starred on NBC’s “Welcome to Sweden” and ABC Family’s “The Fosters.”

LINDA GRAY published her memoirs, “The Road to Happiness is Always Under Construction,” guest starred on CW’s “Significant Mother” and appeared in the Hallmark Channel movie “Perfect Match.” She also stars in “Wally’s Will,” an independent short slated to play at film festivals.

JESSE METCALFE will be seen in “God’s Not Dead 2,” a Christian-themed film now in production. He also appeared in Hallmark Channel’s “A Country Wedding,” which drew big numbers in June, and the online flick “Dead Rising: Watchtower.”

JORDANA BREWSTER reprised her role as Mia in the latest “Fast and Furious” flick, “Furious 7,” which has grossed $1.5 billion since its release in April. Next up: Brewster will appear alongside John Travolta and Cuba Gooding Jr. in FX’s “American Crime Story,” a 2016 series about the O.J. Simpson trial, and then she’ll star in the second season of the ABC crime drama “Secrets and Lies.”

JULIE GONZALO has roles in two forthcoming films: “Waffle Street,” which stars Danny Glover, and the romantic comedy “The List.” She also stars in the independent film “I Did Not Forget You,” produced by Brenda Strong.

Brenda Strong, Dallas, TNT

Brenda Strong in July (Hallmark Channel)

BRENDA STRONG has joined the cast of “The 100,” a CW fantasy series that will return for its third season next year. The newly married Strong also co-stars in “Ice Sculpture Christmas,” a Hallmark Channel holiday movie.

MITCH PILEGGI will reprise his role as Walter Skinner in Fox’s six-episode “The X-Files” revival, slated to debut January 24. He also can be seen in the film “The Girl in the Photographs,” and he did a guest stint on CBS’s “Blue Bloods.”

EMMA BELL has been cast as the young Emily Dickinson in “A Quiet Passion,” a film starring Cynthia Nixon as the adult poet. Bell also stars in the short film “BYoutiful” and has roles in two other projects, “The Good Ones” and “See You in Valhalla.”

JUDITH LIGHT plays a grandmother in the recent release “Digging for Fire,” starring Orlando Bloom. She’ll also continue to be seen in Amazon’s Emmy-winning series “Transparent,” which will begin its second season December 4.

JUAN PABLO DI PACE played Jesus in NBC’s “A.D. The Bible Continues,” which aired in the spring. Di Pace will next be seen in the feature film “After the Reality” starring Matthew Morrison and Jane Lynch.

KEVIN PAGE has opened a gallery in Dallas to showcase artworks created through three-dimensional printing. His website is http://kevinpage3d.com/.

CYNTHIA CIDRE (Executive producer) is now an executive producer of ABC’s “Dallas”-esque drama “Blood and Oil,” which debuts September 27.

RODNEY CHARTERS (Cinematographer) is shooting director Zach Braff’s feature film “Going in Style,” which stars Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin as three retirees who plan a bank heist.

RACHEL SAGE KUNIN (Costume designer) has brought her talents to CW’s “Jane the Virgin,” which will begin its second season October 12.

CHARLES YUSKO (Hair stylist) is now hair department head for “From Dusk Till Dawn,” a series on the El Ray channel.

Which projects from the “Dallas” cast and crew are you looking forward to? Share your comments below and read more news from Dallas Decoder.

Linda Gray Tackles New Roles — and a New Book

Dallas, Hallmark Channel, Linda Gray, Perfect Match

Linda Gray

Linda Gray has spent the past six months playing four roles on two continents.

The iconic “Dallas” star appeared in a London stage production of “Cinderella” during the holidays, then came home to California to film a cable movie, an independent feature film and a new online soap opera.

She also wrote a book.

Hey, you weren’t expecting to Sue Ellen Ewing’s alter ego to slow down, were you?

“It’s been fabulous,” Gray told Dallas Decoder last week. “I feel very fortunate because I got to have all these different experiences, one right after another.”

Gray’s fans will begin to see the results of her busy schedule on June 20, when her Hallmark Channel movie, “Perfect Match,” debuts. She plays Gabby, the mother of the groom in a story about dueling wedding planners who fall in love.

Gray describes the movie as “very Hallmark-y,” right down to the happy ending.

In other words: Don’t tune in expecting to see a Southfork-style wedding.

“No, not at all,” she said with a laugh. “Nobody gets dunked in the pool.”

Gray donned heavy makeup for her role as an eccentric, elderly matron in the feature “Wally’s Will,” which will be shown at film festivals this year.

She also plays Joanna, the matriarch of a wealthy candy-making family, in the online soap opera “Winterthorne,” debuting August 27.

“She’s weird and wonderful. She wears all these feathers,” Gray said. “It’s one appearance, but I would say she’s an important character.”

The Write Stuff

Hallmark Channel, Linda Gray, Perfect Match

“A Perfect Match”

Gray’s most intriguing project might be her memoir, “The Road to Happiness is Always Under Construction,” which will be published September 8.

She began writing the book while working in London last year. In between performances, she Skyped with her editor in New York City and wrote a chapter at a time, dashing off drafts via email.

The book will cover her experiences as a mother and grandmother, as well as her career. She writes about playing Sue Ellen on both incarnations of “Dallas,” as well as her longtime friendships with co-stars Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy.

Gray promises lots of candor. She doesn’t want to give too much away, but the book will include her experiences working with the original show’s executive producer, Leonard Katzman, who she said wasn’t always nice to her.

She also writes about a scene she felt Sue Ellen should never have been part of, along with other behind-the-scenes revelations that are bound to fascinate “Dallas” diehards.

“I wanted to write about the good and the not-so-good,” Gray said. “I don’t write anything mean or dismissive — I just share what I’ve learned. Everyone may not like it, but I can’t worry about that. As I get older, I find that the things that used to worry me don’t worry me anymore.”

‘The Trampoline Effect’

Linda Gray, Wally's Will

“Wally’s Will”

One passage in the memoir will detail what Gray calls “the Trampoline Effect,” a period last year marked by high points, like her return to the London stage in “Cinderella,” and low moments, including the death of her beloved cat and “Dallas’s” cancellation.

She also writes about the fan-driven #SaveDallas campaign to rescue the series, which she found inspiring.

“I still believe we should have been given another season — even if it was something like eight episodes,” Gray said. “They could have billed it as the end of ‘Dallas.’ The fans invested so much in the series. They don’t deserve to be kept hanging.”

The cancellation was “like breaking up a family,” Gray said. She stays in touch with friends from the show, including Jordana Brewster, Julie Gonzalo and costume designer Rachel Sage Kunin, who all got together with Gray for lunch recently.

“Everyone is moving on, but we all miss working together,” she said.

Above all, Gray misses Sue Ellen.

“I always say she was the most interesting woman on television in the ’80s. I had to wait 20 years to play her again, and then I got her back and they took her away from me,” Gray said.

Although the “Dallas” writers penned several fourth-season scripts before TNT pulled the plug, Gray doesn’t know what was planned for Sue Ellen. She suspects the newly sober heroine was going to throw herself into her career and clash with her estranged son, John Ross (Josh Henderson), and his new ally Judith Ryland (Judith Light).

“I think we would have seen Sue Ellen and Judith go at it, which would have been such fun,” she said.

Gray believes “Dallas” remains a viable brand with worldwide appeal, although she doesn’t expect the series to return anytime soon.

“I never say never,” she said. “If it happens, it happens and that would be wonderful. I just don’t want to have to wait another 20 years to play Sue Ellen.”

Are you looking forward to Linda Gray’s new projects? Share your comments below and read more news from Dallas Decoder.

‘Dallas’s’ Third-Season DVD is Now Available

Ann Ewing, Bobby Ewing, Brenda Strong, Christopher Ewing, Dallas, Dallas: The Complete Third Season, Elena Ramos, Jesse Metcalfe, Jordana Brewster, Patrick Duffy

They’re back

“Dallas: The Complete Third Season” arrives on DVD today. You can purchase the three-disc set from Amazon and other retailers.

Dallas Decoder shared an exclusive deleted scene from the DVD yesterday, along with a review of the extras and a poll on the third season’s best scene.

Also, if you were unable to join the DVD discussion during last night’s #DallasChat, visit Dallas Decoder’s Twitter page to read the my questions and the fans’ responses.

Happy viewing!

Will you buy “Dallas: The Complete Third Season”? Share your comments below and read more news from Dallas Decoder.