Opinion – Dallas Decoder

#DallasChat Daily: What Was J.R.’s Worst Act?

August 5, 2014 by Chris Baker 17 Comments

We all loved J.R. Ewing, even though he wasn’t exactly Mr. Nice Guy. During the course of the original “Dallas,” he lied, cheated and stabbed the backs of friend and foe alike. But what was his worst act of all?

Was it putting Sue Ellen in the sanitarium? Having an affair with Kristin? Driving Cliff to attempt suicide? Mortgaging Southfork without Jock and Miss Ellie’s knowledge? Forcing Holly and Laurel to have sex with him? Selling oil to Cuba? Trying to blow up the Middle East? Leading Pam on a wild goose chase to find the missing Mark? Bringing Lisa to Dallas to try to take Christopher away from Bobby? Taking that doomed hunting trip to Haleyville, Arkansas?

Your #DallasChat Daily question: What’s the worst thing J.R. ever did?

Share your comments below and join other #DallasChat Daily discussions.

Filed Under: #DallasChat, #DallasChat Daily, Opinion Tagged With: Ken Kercheval, Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, Mary Crosby

#DallasChat Daily: What’s John Ross’s Worst Act So Far?

August 4, 2014 by Chris Baker 9 Comments

Oh, John Ross! We all love you, but you’re such a naughty boy.

Since TNT’s “Dallas” debuted three seasons ago, John Ross has tried to cheat both J.R. and Bobby in the fight for Southfork and he’s been a constant thorn in Christopher’s side, including trying to sabotage the Ewing Energies racecar.

Among John Ross’s other crimes: deceiving Elena, blackmailing “Rebecca” into tricking a recovering addict into using drugs again, helping his family frame Cliff for murder, cheating on Pamela with Emma, and having Sue Ellen committed so he can gain control of her Ewing Global shares.

Your #DallasChat Daily question: What’s the worst thing John Ross has done so far?

Share your comments below and join other #DallasChat Daily discussions.

Filed Under: #DallasChat, #DallasChat Daily, Opinion Tagged With: Emma Bell, Josh Henderson, Julie Gonzalo, Linda Gray, TNT

Tonight on #DallasChat: ‘All Our J.R.s’

August 4, 2014 by Chris Baker 1 Comment

Dallas, Jim Davis, Jock Ewing, John Ross Ewing, Josh Henderson, J.R. Ewing, Larry Hagman, TNT

Triple threat

You’re invited to Dallas Decoder’s next #DallasChat on Twitter, which I’ll hold Monday, August 4, from 9 to 10 p.m. Eastern time.

We’ll discuss three of the “Dallas” franchise’s most fascinating characters — John Ross Ewing Sr., John Ross Ewing Jr. and John Ross Ewing III — so our theme will be: “All Our J.R.s.”

If you have ideas for questions, leave them in the comments section below, tweet them to me @DallasDecoder or post them to my Facebook page. I may choose one or more questions and ask them during our discussion.

New to #DallasChat? Here’s how it works: For one hour, I tweet 10 questions to my fellow “Dallas” fans. Each question is numbered and includes the hashtag #DallasChat, so your answers should do the same. Please include the show’s official hashtag, #DallasTNT, in your tweets too.

Here’s a sample exchange:

Q1. Who’s a better businessman: Jock, J.R. or John Ross? #DallasTNT #DallasChat

A1. Sorry J.R. and John Ross, but I’ve got to go with Jock. After all, he started the Ewing empire from nothing! #Dallas TNT #DallasChat

Two tips:

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.
Be sure to include #DallasChat in your tweets. This allows the other participants to see your contributions to the conversation.

I hope you can join the discussion. See you tonight!

Filed Under: #DallasChat, #DallasChat announcements, Opinion Tagged With: Jim Davis, Josh Henderson, Larry Hagman

#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?

Share your comments below and join other #DallasChat Daily discussions.

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?

Share your comments below and join other #DallasChat Daily discussions.

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?

Share your comments below and join other #DallasChat Daily discussions.

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?

Share your comments below and join other #DallasChat Daily discussions.

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?

Share your comments below and join other #DallasChat Daily discussions.

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

Tonight, #DallasChat Will Tell on You

July 28, 2014 by Chris Baker 2 Comments

Dallas, Emma Bell, Emma Ryland, John Ross Ewing, Josh Henderson, TNT

You’ll be blue

You’re invited to Dallas Decoder’s next #DallasChat on Twitter, which I’ll hold Monday, July 28, from 9 to 10 p.m. Eastern time. Our theme: “Cheatin’ Hearts.”

Here’s a sample exchange:

Q1. Why does John Ross cheat on Pamela? #DallasTNT #DallasChat

A1. He tells himself it’s for business, but deep down, I believe he actually cares for Emma. #Dallas TNT #DallasChat

Two tips:

• 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.

• Be sure to include #DallasChat in your tweets. This allows the other participants to see your contributions to the conversation.

I hope you can join the discussion. See you tonight!

Filed Under: #DallasChat, #DallasChat announcements, Opinion Tagged With: Dallas, Emma Bell, Emma Ryland, John Ross Ewing, Josh Henderson, 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?

Share your comments below and join other #DallasChat Daily discussions.