Dallas Burning Questions: Season 3, Week 9

Dallas, Denial Anger Acceptance, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing, TNT

Burn, darlin’, burn?

Here are the questions we’re pondering as we await tonight’s telecast of “Denial, Anger, Acceptance,” the midseason premiere of TNT’s “Dallas”:

Who survived the Southfork fire — and who started it? In the previous episode, “Where There’s Smoke,” Pamela (Julie Gonzalo) received a video of John Ross and Emma (Josh Henderson, Emma Bell) having sex and lashed out at Sue Ellen (Linda Gray), who spent a lonely night at Southfork getting drunk. While Sue Ellen was passed out in John Ross and Pamela’s bedroom, an angry Bo (Donny Boaz) could be seen lurking inside the house, watching as fire swept through a room. Moments later, Bobby and Christopher (Patrick Duffy, Jesse Metcalfe) arrived home and raced inside, calling out for Ann and Sue Ellen — only to have part of the ceiling collapse on them. What happens next?

What will happen to John Ross, Pamela and Emma? After she attacked Sue Ellen, Pamela tracked down John Ross at a hotel, where she walked in on him cavorting with Emma, who was clad in her green corset. “Love what you’re wearing,” Pamela said before removing her raincoat and revealing that she was wearing her green corset too. Pamela then said, “May I join you?” The three of them began making out — and then Pamela started convulsing. As Emma dialed 911, John Ross discovered an empty pill bottle in his wife’s coat pocket and tried furiously to revive her. “Wake up, baby, wake up!” he pleaded. Why did Pamela initiate the threesome, and where does this troubled trio go from her?

What will happen between Ann and Harris? Before the fire, Bobby went ballistic when he discovered Ann (Brenda Strong) had withheld the truth about John Ross and Emma’s fling. Bobby told Ann that Emma is no longer welcome at Southfork, prompting her to turn to Harris (Mitch Pileggi) for help. After reminiscing about their marriage, Harris kissed Ann, but she turned and walked away — as a seething Judith (Judith Light) watched them from a window. What will Judith do next?

Where do Christopher and Heather go from here? The previous episode began with Heather (AnnaLynne McCord) discovering Bo kidnapped their son, Michael (Dallas Clark). With help from Sheriff Derrick (Akai Draco), Bobby, Christopher and Heather found Michael with Bo’s brother. Once mother and child were reunited, Christopher told Heather he’d like to get serious with her. Will she allow that to happen?

What’s Nicolas up to? Pamela didn’t know the video of John Ross and Emma was sent by Nicolas (Juan Pablo Di Pace), who is secretly helping the Mexican drug cartel plot a takeover of Ewing Global. Elena (Jordana Brewster) also doesn’t know Nicolas’s true intentions and tried to back out of their plan to get revenge against the Ewings for cheating her father out of his land. Nicolas assured Elena that she isn’t wrong to seek revenge — and when she wasn’t looking, he punctured holes in her diaphragm before they had sex. Uh, what’s that about?

Where’s Drew? When Nicolas wasn’t sabotaging Elena’s birth control, he was receiving a surprise visit from the fugitive Drew (Kuno Becker), who asked for his help in striking back against the Ewings. Nicolas told Drew to be patient and allow his scheme with Elena to play out, but Drew didn’t want to hear it and ran away. Nicolas then called the drug lord Luis (Antonio Jaramillo) and told him to find Drew before he ruined their plans. What will happen if the cartel gets Drew before he gets to wherever he’s headed?

What “Dallas Burning Questions” are on your mind? Share your comments below and watch TNT’s “Dallas” tonight.

3 Days, 33 Episodes: Here’s How to Catch Up on TNT’s ‘Dallas’

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

Look back

Did you promise yourself you’d spend the summer getting acquainted — or reacquainted — with TNT’s “Dallas”? Did you fail to keep this promise? Relax: You still have time. Grab your DVDs and downloads and have a marathon of your own this weekend. Here’s how to watch all 33 hours of the show before the third season resumes on Monday, August 18.

 

Friday, August 15

9 to 11 p.m. Kick off your marathon on Friday night at 9 o’clock — the holiest hour of the week for “Dallas” fans — with a double feature of the TNT’s show’s first two episodes: “Changing of the Guard” and “Hedging Your Bets.”

Can you watch the former without getting chills when J.R. (Larry Hagman) doffs his cowboy hat, flashes his grin and declares, “Bobby may not be stupid, but I’m a hell of a lot smarter”? Can you watch the latter without getting choked up when our hero tells Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) she’s “still the prettiest girl at the ball”? Me either.

 

Christopher Ewing, Dallas, Elena Ramos, Jesse Metcalfe, Jordana Brewster, TNT

First time for everything

Saturday, August 16

7 a.m. Rise and shine, darlins! With so much “Dallas” to watch today, there’ll be no sleeping in. Resume your marathon with “The Price You Pay,” in which Julie Gonzalo’s character receives a smartphone pic of her husband kissing another woman. Get used to it, honey.

8 a.m. Have breakfast with “The Last Hurrah,” in which John Ross (Josh Henderson) squirts Elena (Jordana Brewster) with his hose. Insert your own joke here.

9 a.m. Have you done your workout yet? Download “Truth and Consequences” to your mobile device and head to the gym. Mitch Pileggi’s debut as Harris Ryland is bound to get your heart racing.

10 a.m. Got errands to run? Chores to complete? You’ve got one hour. Make the most of it.

11 a.m. We learn jewelry makes Ann (Brenda Strong) cry in “The Enemy of My Enemy.” Then again, doesn’t everything?

Noon. Grab lunch while watching “Collateral Damage,” in which Vicente Cano (Carlos Bernard) wonders if John Ross: 1) is a good dancer, and 2) has any oil in his pipeline. OMG, Vicente was such a flirt!

1 p.m. Tommy (Callard Harris) plants a kiss on Rebecca in “No Good Deed” — which is almost as creepy as when Nicolas starts smooching Elena in Season 3.

2 p.m. Bloody monkeys, Johnny Cash and the redemption of J.R. Ewing. It’s “Family Business” — one of my favorite episodes of this show.

3 p.m. Carmen (Marlene Forte) gets one of the crummiest chores in “Dallas” history — returning Elena’s engagement ring to John Ross — in “Revelations.” Also: More Johnny Cash!

4 p.m. Have you taken a bathroom break yet? If not, take care of that now, and then hurry back to your TV or tablet to watch the second-season opener, “Battle Lines,” in which Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe) learns his wife is really his cousin. Ick.

5 p.m. In “Venomous Creatures,” J.R. saves Sue Ellen from going to jail and Judith Light discovers a taste for “Dallas” scenery.

6 p.m. Drew (Kuno Becker) arrives in “Sins of the Father” — his hair won’t show up for several more episodes — and calls John Ross “J-Ro.” Thank heavens that didn’t catch on. Also: Ann shoots Harris!

7 p.m. Has your family seen you at all today? Why not take a break from the Ewings and go have dinner with them.

8 p.m. to midnight: The next four episodes are a murder-a-thon, so brace yourself. Frank (Faran Tahir) offs himself in “False Confessions,” Brenda Strong kills it during Ann’s testimony scene in “Trial and Error,” Vicente bites the dust in “Blame Game,” and then the saddest shot of all: the death of J.R. Ewing in “The Furious and the Fast.”

Midnight. The nice thing about a late-night viewing of “J.R.’s Masterpiece” is that no one else in your house is awake to see you bawling. Once you’ve dried your tears, catch some shut-eye. Tomorrow is going to be another big day.

 

Dallas, Judith Light, Judith Ryland, TNT

Leg up

Sunday, August 17

8 a.m. You did a hell of a job yesterday, “Dallas” fan. Your reward: You get to start your Sunday with the wonderfully wacky hodgepodge that is “Ewings Unite!” Miss Ellie disinherits Bobby from beyond the grave, Valene (Joan Van Ark) reveals she’s as loony as ever and Cliff becomes the most hated man in the history of “Dallas” fandom.

9 a.m. Audrey Landers shows she can slink around a corner better than anyone in “Guilt and Innocence.”

10 a.m. In “Let Me In,” Harris reveals his fondness for: 1) TV nature documentaries, 2) Almonds, and 3) Hunting Ramoses.

11 a.m. John Ross and Pamela get wet in “A Call to Arms.”

Noon. You know what goes good with a nice, leisurely Sunday brunch? Watching Bobby take that badass, slow-motion walk away from Cliff at the end of “Love and Family.”

1 p.m. Christopher discovers the mystery lady under the big hat is not his mama in “Guilt by Association.” It’s not Aunt Katherine either, sadly.

2 p.m. Kevin Page joins Mary Crosby as an answer to “Dallas’s” most famous trivia question in “Legacies.”

3 p.m. You might think this would be a good time to take a break, but you’d be wrong. The die is cast and there’s no turning back, so keep plugging away with the third-season episodes, beginning with “The Return,” in which J.R.’s belt buckle begins wearing John Ross. Also: Hello, Nicolas (Juan Pablo Di Pace)!

4 p.m. Time for “Trust Me” a.k.a. “Judith’s Snow Day.”

5 p.m. In “Playing Chicken,” Professor Bobby Ewing teaches us about endangered wildlife.

6 p.m. “Lifting the Veil” is the episode that should’ve included Sue Ellen’s comparison of Emma (Emma Bell) to Kristin, but instead it’s the episode that gives us scenes of hookers in canine costumes.

7 p.m. Dinnertime! Enjoy a glass of J.R. Ewing Bourbon (surely you have some, right?) while watching “D.T.R.” After the episode, check your bottle and make sure Sue Ellen didn’t bug it.

8 p.m. Despite the title “Like Father, Like Son,” John Ross wants you to know that he is not his father! Also: Carter McKay has grandchildren!

9 p.m. Pamela rocks Stella McCartney in “Like a Bad Penny.”

10 p.m. It’s finally time for “Where There’s Smoke.” Southfork goes up in flames and you get to go down for a well-deserved rest. Don’t forget to watch “Dallas’s” midseason premiere Monday night!

What are your favorite “Dallas” episodes? Share your choices below and read more features from Dallas Decoder.

#DallasChat Daily: Who Should Ann Be With?

Ann Ewing, Bobby Ewing, Brenda Strong, Dallas, Harris Ryland, Mitch Pileggi, Patrick Duffy, TNT

After Bobby screamed at her on “Dallas’s” spring finale, Ann turned to ex-husband Harris, who revealed his true feelings and kissed her. Which one of these men is best suited for Ann? Or should she be paired with someone else when the season resumes, beginning Monday, August 18?

Your #DallasChat Daily question: Who does Ann belong with?

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

TNT Releases New Promo, Pics for ‘Dallas’

Dallas, John Ross Ewing, Josh Henderson, Julie Gonzalo, Pamela Rebecca Barnes Ewing, TNT

Raise the curtain

It looks like John Ross will pay the price for his sins — and maybe renew an old romance — when TNT’s “Dallas” resumes its third season on Monday, August 18.

In a new promo posted yesterday to the show’s Facebook page, John Ross (Josh Henderson) surveys the charred remains of his Southfork bedroom and declares, “Everything I did was for J.R. and his damn masterpiece.” Later, after we see the lingerie-clad Pamela (Julie Gonzalo) being rushed into an emergency room, Bobby (Patrick Duffy) throws John Ross against a wall and shouts, “Because of your cheating, she could die!”

Also in the 30-second promo, Ann (Brenda Strong) stands over Emma in a hospital waiting room and says, “Pamela overdosed because of what you did.” We also see John Ross walk away from Emma as she pleads, “We’re still business partners. We can do great things together.”

Indeed, the video suggests “Dallas” will once again shuffle the characters’ romantic relationships. In one scene, Elena (Jordana Brewster) stands in a hospital corridor and hisses into her mobile phone, “I know you sent that video, you son of a bitch!” Is she speaking to Nicolas (Juan Pablo Di Pace), who later appears to be on the receiving end of a punch from Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe)? Meanwhile, in the biggest surprise of all, it looks like John Ross and Elena share a shadowy smooch.

More clues to the new storylines are included in publicity stills posted in the “Dallas” section of TNT’s site. (Since some readers were having trouble finding them, I’ve also posted them below.) Among the shots: Pamela peers through a curtain and sees John Ross talking on a phone, Bobby and John Ross face each other in the Ewing Global offices as Sue Ellen and Judith (Linda Gray, Judith Light) watch, Ann sits next to a bruised Emma in the Southfork living room, and Judith sits at a desk, sporting what may be the world’s fiercest red power suit.

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What do you hope to see when “Dallas” returns on August 18? Share your comments below and read more news from Dallas Decoder.

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

Ann Ewing, April Stevens Ewing, Bobby Ewing, Brenda Strong, Dallas, Pam Ewing, Patrick Duffy, Sheree J. Wilson, TNT, Victoria Principal

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?

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

#DallasChat Daily: Is Bobby a Good Husband?

Ann Ewing, April Stevens Ewing, Bobby Ewing, Brenda Strong, Dallas, Pam Ewing, Patrick Duffy, Sheree J. Wilson, TNT, Victoria Principal

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?

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

#DallasChat Daily: Who Are Your Favorite Cast Members?

Brenda Strong, Dallas, Emma Bell, Jesse Metcalfe, Jordana Brewster, Josh Henderson, Juan Pablo Di Pace, Julie Gonzalo, Linda Gray, Mitch Pileggi, Patrick Duffy, TNT

“Dallas” boasts one of television’s strongest ensembles. Your #DallasChat Daily question: Who are your favorite “Dallas” cast members?

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

Melinda Clarke to Play Tracey McKay on ‘Dallas’

Dallas, Melinda Clarke, Tracey McKay, TNT

Melinda Clarke (Getty Images)

“Dallas” has cast Melinda Clarke as Tracey McKay, one of Bobby Ewing’s girlfriends from the original series. Clarke will appear on the TNT drama during the second half of the third season, which resumes Monday, August 18.

Tracey was introduced during the original “Dallas’s” 12th season and was played by Beth Toussaint. The character is the daughter of Ewing rival Carter McKay, played by George Kennedy, and was briefly romanced by Bobby (Patrick Duffy), but the affair ended when he tangled with Tracey’s drug-dealing brother Tommy, played by J. Eddie Peck. Tracey briefly returned to the series the following season when Tommy was killed off.

This season, TNT’s “Dallas” introduced Carter’s grandson Hunter (Fran Kranz), a childhood friend of John Ross and Christopher’s who is secretly helping Nicolas (Juan Pablo Di Pace) with his scheme against the Ewings.

A TNT spokeswoman confirmed the casting of Clarke, who is best known for her roles on “The O.C.” and “Nikita,” along with a recurring gig on “C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation” as Lady Heather, a dominatrix. Clarke also appeared alongside Julie Gonzalo in episodes of “Nikita” and “Eli Stone.”

TNT has provided no details on Tracey’s storyline, although showrunner Cynthia Cidre previously hinted one of Bobby’s old flames could return and provide a new obstacle for him and Ann (Brenda Strong). Ultimate Dallas reported the character’s return yesterday.

There’s also no word on why Toussaint isn’t returning as Tracey. Toussaint’s most recent television role was on “The Young and the Restless” in 2006, according to her IMDb profile.

What do you think of Melinda Clarke’s casting as Tracey McKay? Share your comments below and read more news from Dallas Decoder.

Emmy Voting is Underway. Will ‘Dallas’ Make the Cut?

Contenders

Contenders

Will “Dallas” receive Primetime Emmy nominations this year? The conventional wisdom says no, although at this early stage, the TNT drama is a contender — along with more than 100 other shows.

The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences released the preliminary ballots this week. Academy members are asked to vote for their favorites in each category through June 20; the final nominations will be announced July 10.

The preliminary ballots list hundreds of shows and individuals. Most submissions come from networks and production companies, although anyone can pay the entry fee and submit themselves for consideration.

In the dramatic series categories, the preliminary ballots list Patrick Duffy and Josh Henderson as lead actor contenders, while Linda Gray is the show’s sole candidate for a lead actress nomination.

The other “Dallas” cast members — Emma Bell, Jordana Brewster, Juan Pablo Di Pace, Julie Gonzalo, Jesse Metcalfe, Mitch Pileggi and Brenda Strong — are listed in the supporting categories. The ballots also list two guest stars: Judith Light and AnnaLynne McCord.

“Dallas” is also one of 108 shows on the ballot for best dramatic series, while director Steve Robin is up for a nomination for helming “Like Father, Like Son,” the episode where John Ross confronts Sue Ellen over her drinking.

It may be heartening to see “Dallas” listed in these races, but don’t get your hopes up, fellow fans. Each category has only a handful of available slots for nominations, which are expected to go to critical darlings such as “Breaking Bad,” “Game of Thrones” and the resurgent “The Good Wife.”

It’s also worth remembering “Dallas’s” tortured history with the Emmys: Although Barbara Bel Geddes won the lead dramatic actress race in 1980, the series picked up only a handful of nominations during its heyday. The tradition continued last year, when the academy snubbed Larry Hagman in the supporting actor race and shamefully omitted him from the special tributes during the Emmy broadcast.

The 2014 ballots also contain a few oddities where “Dallas” is concerned: The “D” in Di Pace’s name isn’t capitalized, Gonzalo’s character is listed as “Rebecca Sutter” and voters are asked to consider Light’s work in “Venomous Creatures,” a second-season episode that falls outside this year’s eligibility time frame.

Do you think “Dallas” deserves Emmy nominations this year? Share your comments below and read more news from Dallas Decoder.

We’ve Got Lots of ‘Mama Drama’ Tonight on #DallasChat

Ann Ewing, Brenda Strong, Dallas, Judith Light, Judith Ryland, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing, TNT

Serial moms

You’re invited to join Dallas Decoder’s next #DallasChat on Twitter, which I’ll hold Monday, April 28, from 9 to 10 p.m. Eastern time. Since Mother’s Day is right around the corner, our theme will be: “Mama Drama.”

Leave your suggested questions in the comments section below, tweet them to me @DallasDecoder or post them to my Facebook page. I’ll choose one or more questions and ask them during our discussion.

If you’re new to #DallasChat, here’s how it works: For one hour, I tweet a series of 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 is a better mother: Miss Ellie or Sue Ellen? #DallasTNT #DallasChat

A1. Definitely Sue Ellen. She at least tries to reign in John Ross. Miss Ellie always looked the other way with J.R. #DallasTNT #DallasChat

Here are 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.

This will be a fun conversation. I hope you can join us!