Between the Lines and Behind the Scenes of "Dallas"
A few days after Larry Hagman’s November 23 death, his son Preston told a television interviewer that his father’s work on TNT’s new “Dallas” series extended Hagman’s life during his struggle with cancer. I believe it. I also believe the relationship between star and show was mutually beneficial. “Dallas” kept Hagman alive, but he kept […]
In “Dallas’s” fifth-season episode “Head of the Family,” J.R. (Larry Hagman) sits on his bed drinking when Bobby (Patrick Duffy) enters and holds open the door. J.R.: Well, Bob, I distinctly remember your room being down the hall. [Sips his drink] BOBBY: Where were you tonight? J.R.: Would you lay off about dinner? BOBBY: It’s […]
In “Head of the Family,” J.R. is depressed over Jock’s death and getting drunk in his bedroom when Bobby barges in and tells him to snap out of it. J.R. all but ignores his brother, so Bobby yanks him off the bed, drags him across the room and makes him look at himself in the […]
Larry Hagman made magic every time he appeared on “Dallas,” so coming up with a definitive list of his greatest scenes feels like an impossible task. Instead, let’s just call this a list of 15 performances I love. 15. Welcome to the family. On the day Bobby brings Pam (Victoria Principal) home to Southfork and introduces […]
Howard Lakin penned several “Dallas” episodes as a freelancer in the early 1980s, then returned to the series as a writer and producer for its final three seasons. To my delight, he agreed to share his memories of working on the show, as well as his thoughts on the TNT revival. You wrote some of […]
