#DallasChat Daily – Dallas Decoder

#DallasChat Daily: Who Deserved to Be in ‘Dallas’s’ Credits?

August 1, 2014 by Chris Baker 20 Comments

As much as we all love “Dallas’s” opening credits, they aren’t without their quirks.

Linda Gray and Steve Kanaly weren’t added to the title sequence until the second season, while poor Ken Kercheval had to wait until Season 3 to get star billing. By the time the show was winding down, the credits had become a free-for-all: Lesley-Anne Down was added to the opening titles the moment she joined the show, even though hardly anyone remembers her character, Stephanie Rogers.

Meanwhile, actors who made lasting contributions to “Dallas” — including John Beck (Mark), Morgan Brittany (Katherine), Mary Crosby (Kristin), Jared Martin (Dusty), Deborah Shelton (Mandy) and William Smithers (Jeremy) — were never promoted to the title sequence. (This is just a sampling, of course. Feel free to name additional actors in your response.)

Your #DallasChat Daily question: Which “Dallas” actors deserved a spot in the opening credits?

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Filed Under: #DallasChat, #DallasChat Daily, Opinion Tagged With: Deborah Shelton, Jared Martin, John Beck, Ken Kercheval, Lesley-Anne Down, Linda Gray, Mary Crosby, Morgan Brittany, Steve Kanaly, William Smithers

#DallasChat Daily: Who Stayed Too Long or Left Too Soon?

July 31, 2014 by Chris Baker 27 Comments

Let’s face it: “Dallas” didn’t always know when to say goodbye. Some characters hung around long after their storyline possibilities were exhausted, while other favorites still had lots of untapped potential when they were written out.

Consider the group pictured here: Lucy, Ray, Donna, Jenna, Kristin, Jeremy, Mickey, Holly and April. (I’ll let you decide which character belongs in which category.) This is just a sampling; you’re welcome to name other characters too.

Your #DallasChat Daily questions: Which “Dallas” characters stayed too long? Which characters left too soon?

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Filed Under: #DallasChat, #DallasChat Daily, Opinion Tagged With: Charlene Tilton, Lois Chiles, Mary Crosby, Priscilla Beaulieu Presley, Sheree J. Wilson, Steve Kanaly, Susan Howard, Timothy Patrick Murphy, William Smithers

#DallasChat Daily: Who Were the Best/Worst Cast Additions?

July 30, 2014 by Chris Baker 33 Comments

The original “Dallas” debuted with nine principal characters (Jock, Miss Ellie, J.R., Sue Ellen, Bobby, Pam, Lucy, Ray and Cliff), but the cast grew steadily as the show progressed. How did the additions measure up to the originals?

The notable newcomers over the years included Donna (Susan Howard), Clayton (Howard Keel), Jenna (Priscilla Beaulieu Presley), Jack (Dack Rambo), April (Sheree J. Wilson), Michelle (Kimberly Foster) and James (Sasha Mitchell).

Your #DallasChat Daily question: Who were “Dallas’s” best and worst cast additions?

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Filed Under: #DallasChat, #DallasChat Daily, Opinion Tagged With: Dack Rambo, Howard Keel, Kimberly Foster, Priscilla Beaulieu Presley, Sasha Mitchell, Sheree J. Wilson, Susan Howard

#DallasChat Daily: What Were ‘Dallas’s’ Best/Worst Recasts?

July 29, 2014 by Chris Baker 22 Comments

“Dallas” recast several roles over the years. Which ones worked? Which ones failed?

Among the choices: Miss Ellie (played by Barbara Bel Geddes and Donna Reed), Gary (David Ackroyd, Ted Shackelford), Pam (Victoria Principal, Margaret Michaels), Digger (David Wayne, Keenan Wynn) and Kristin (Colleen Camp, Mary Crosby). There were also three Jennas: Morgan Fairchild, Priscilla Beaulieu Presley and Francine Tacker, who isn’t pictured because I couldn’t squeeze her into the collage.

Additional choices: Dr. Harlan Danvers (Dan Ammerman, John Zaremba), Jimmy Monahan (James Canning, Philip Levien) Duke Carlisle (Claude Earl Jones, Clifton James) and Dr. David Gordon, who was played by Josef Rainer on the original show and Sam Anderson on the TNT series.

Your #DallasChat Daily question: What were “Dallas’s” best and worst recasts?

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Filed Under: #DallasChat, #DallasChat Daily, Opinion Tagged With: Barbara Bel Geddes, Colleen Camp, David Ackroyd, David Wayne, Donna Reed, Keenan Wynn, Margaret Michaels, Mary Crosby, Morgan Fairchild, Priscilla Beaulieu Presley, Ted Shackelford, TNT, Victoria Principal

#DallasChat Daily: Who Was John Ross’s Best Fling?

July 28, 2014 by Chris Baker 8 Comments

Pamela Barnes is the love of John Ross’s life, but he’s had lots of other romantic conquests during “Dallas’s” first three seasons on TNT. Which one was your favorite?

Was it Veronica Martinez, the woman who impersonated Marta del Sol, or Becky Sutter, the woman Pamela impersonated? How about trucking heiresses Brandee Cartwell and Emma Ryland? What about ambitious bureaucrat Alison Jones, or ambitious executive Elena Ramos?

Your #DallasChat Daily question: Who was John Ross’s best fling?

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Filed Under: #DallasChat, #DallasChat Daily, Opinion Tagged With: Alex McKenna, Annie Wersching, Caitlin Custer, Emma Bell, Jordana Brewster, Josh Henderson, Leonor Varela, TNT

#DallasChat Daily: Which Sister-in-Law Belonged with Bobby?

July 25, 2014 by Chris Baker 5 Comments

Bobby would never steal one of his brother’s wives, but I bet some of those gals wish they had married him instead. So how about we play a little fantasy matchmaking?

Should Sue Ellen or Cally have married Bobby instead of J.R.? If Valene and Abby hadn’t married Gary, would they have been better off as better halves to Bobby? Instead of marrying Ray, should Donna and Jenna have waited around for Bobby to become available?

Your #DallasChat Daily question: Which sister-in-law should have married Bobby?

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Filed Under: #DallasChat, #DallasChat Daily, Opinion Tagged With: Cathy Podewell, Donna Mills, Joan Van Ark, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy, Priscilla Beaulieu Presley, Susan Howard

#DallasChat Daily: Which Gal Should’ve Married Bobby?

July 24, 2014 by Chris Baker 20 Comments

Bobby Ewing has dated many women on “Dallas,” but not all of them got to marry him. For every Pam Barnes who makes the cut, there’s a Jenna Wade who doesn’t. In retrospect, which girlfriend deserved to become a Bobby bride?

Was it Jenna, who had a bad habit of leaving him at the altar? How about Tammy Miller, the old flame who briefly reunited with him after his divorce from Pam? What about lobbyist Kay Lloyd, or pool hustler Tracey Lawton, a.k.a. Tracey McKay? There’s also Pam lookalike Jeanne O’Brien and young Jory Taylor, as well as the gals Bobby dated during the “Dallas” reunion movies — friend-of-Afton Julia Cunningham and friend-of-J.R. Jennifer Jantzen.

Your #DallasChat Daily question: Which girlfriend should have married Bobby?

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Filed Under: #DallasChat, #DallasChat Daily, Opinion Tagged With: Beth Toussaint, Deirdre Imershein, Irena Ferris, Karen Kopins, Margaret Michaels, Michelle Johnson, Patrick Duffy, Priscilla Beaulieu Presley, Rosalind Allen

#DallasChat Daily: Who’s Bobby’s Best Wife?

July 23, 2014 by Chris Baker 24 Comments

There have been three Mrs. Bobby Ewings on “Dallas” — Pam, April and Ann. Picking a favorite is almost as tough as choosing between Ginger and Mary Ann on “Gilligan’s Island,” but let’s try anyway.

Your #DallasChat Daily question: Who is Bobby’s best wife?

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Filed Under: #DallasChat, #DallasChat Daily, Opinion Tagged With: Brenda Strong, Patrick Duffy, Sheree J. Wilson, TNT, Victoria Principal

#DallasChat Daily: Is Bobby a Good Husband?

July 22, 2014 by Chris Baker 8 Comments

Bobby has had three wives on “Dallas,” and each marriage had its ups and downs.

He stood by Pam when the Barnes-Ewing feud was at its peak, but his chauvinistic streak revealed itself on more than one occasion during the course of their marriage. Later, Bobby became April’s knight in shining armor, but only after he got over the fact she once slept with J.R. Meanwhile, on TNT’s “Dallas,” Bobby has been a supportive spouse to Ann, but he’s also been a bit of a hypocrite, flying off the handle whenever he discovers she’s kept secrets from him, even though he isn’t always Mr. Forthright himself.

Your #DallasChat Daily question: Is Bobby a good husband?

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Filed Under: #DallasChat, #DallasChat Daily, Opinion Tagged With: Brenda Strong, Patrick Duffy, Sheree J. Wilson, TNT, Victoria Principal

#DallasChat Daily: Who’s John Ross’s Greatest Enemy?

July 21, 2014 by Chris Baker 6 Comments

Ewings whose initials include the letters “J” and “R” are bound to have a few enemies, and John Ross is no exception. His rivals include relatives like Uncle Bobby and Cousin Christopher, as well as outsiders such as Judith and Harris Ryland, Nicolas Treviño and Elena Ramos. Which one poses the greatest threat?

Your #DallasChat Daily question: Who is John Ross’s most formidable foe?

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