We’re Another Step Closer to Saving ‘Dallas’!

October 13, 2014 by 97 Comments
#SaveDallas, Bobby Ewing, Dallas, Julie Gonzalo, Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, Pamela Rebecca Barnes Ewing, Patrick Duffy, Save Dallas, Sue Ellen Ewing

Step by step

The #SaveDallas campaign is working!

Since the fan-drive effort began, we’ve had two goals: 1) to persuade Warner Bros., the studio that produces “Dallas,” to find a new home for the show, and 2) to demonstrate our passion and loyalty so another network will want to pick up the show.

Well, we can now scratch one item off the list.

In an upbeat interview with Yahoo! yesterday, executive producer Cynthia Cidre confirmed Warner Bros. is indeed shopping “Dallas” to other networks. According to Cidre, the studio is focused on pitching the drama — which TNT canceled earlier this month — to other cable channels, including CMT, WGN America and Reelz.

Streaming services such as Netflix aren’t an option because of complications with “Dallas’s” foreign distribution deals, Cidre said. It isn’t clear if Warner Bros. is pitching the show to broadcast networks too, although many fans remain hopeful “Dallas” will go to CBS, home of the original series.

Fans will follow “Dallas” wherever it goes, of course. That’s why I believe we should channel our energies into the second item on our to-do list: demonstrating our dedication to “Dallas” so no matter which network considers picking up the show, the programming executives will know they’re going to inherit many loyal viewers who are eager to see the Ewing saga continue.

Here’s what I recommend:

• Boost the petition. The “Help Save Dallas TNT” petition remains the single most powerful expression of enthusiasm for the “Dallas” brand. The petition has more than 72,000 signatures — which is impressive — but if we could push this number to 100,000 signatures, our efforts would surely attract more attention from the press and television executives. Let’s make this our goal. Please, if you know any fan who hasn’t signed the petition yet, encourage them to do so now.

• Show your love on social media. Keep posting on Facebook and Twitter using the #SaveDallas hashtag, which makes it easy for TV execs and reporters to find our tweets. Remember to keep your messages positive — especially when communicating with networks that could become “Dallas’s” new home. We want to make a good impression, after all. Also: Some fans are planning a “tweetathon” on Monday, October 13, from 9 to 10 p.m. Eastern. Get online during this time and send as many #SaveDallas tweets as you can. (I won’t hold my usual Monday evening #DallasChat on October 13 so fans can focus on participating in the tweetathon.)

• Thank Warner Bros. We’ve all spent a lot of time during the past week encouraging Warner Bros. to do its part to save “Dallas.” Now that we know the studio is trying to find the show a new home, let’s all send tweets to @warnerbrostv and let the executives know how much we appreciate their efforts — and to urge them to keep fighting to save the show.

Thanks also go to the many “Dallas” diehards who continue doing their part. We should all feel proud of our achievements, but make no mistake: There’s still a lot of work to do.

Share your ideas and positive comments below and check out Dallas Decoder’s Save Dallas Page for links to news coverage, petitions, other fan sites and more.

Filed Under: #SaveDallas, Opinion Tagged With: , , , , ,

#SaveDallas: Let’s Kick It Up a Notch, Fellow Fans

October 9, 2014 by 23 Comments
#SaveDallas, Bobby Ewing, Dallas, John Ross Ewing, Josh Henderson, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy, Sue Ellen Ewing, Save Dallas, TNT

Never back down

We need to make more noise, fellow “Dallas” fans.

The campaign to save our favorite show from cancellation is off to a strong start. We’re signing petitions, liking Facebook pages and tweeting our love using the #SaveDallas hashtag.

Our collective efforts have earned attention from across the media spectrum, including a brief report in the New York Times and an endorsement from Michael Strahan, Kelly Ripa’s co-host on “Live with Kelly and Michael.”

We’ve also received support from the cast, including Linda Gray, who encouraged everyone to “keep fighting” in an interview yesterday; Patrick Duffy, who urged fans to “keep going” via a tweet; and Josh Henderson, whose Facebook page includes several #SaveDallas posts.

Let’s keep the momentum going. We need more petition signatures, more attention from the press and more social media posts declaring our love for “Dallas.” Here’s what I recommend:

• Urge more fans to sign the petition. There are several petitions going at this point, but the “Help Save Dallas TNT” petition has gained the most traction. It has more than 67,000 signatures, which is impressive, but it’s still a fraction of the show’s weekly audience. If you know fans who haven’t signed the petition yet, encourage them to do so.

• Contact the entertainment industry publications. The press coverage for #SaveDallas has been terrific, but we also need to get the attention of the industry news publications and sites that television executives read every day. Let’s send them positive messages and politely ask them to report on fans’ efforts:

  • Deadline Hollywood. The Twitter handle for this site’s TV team is @DeadlineTV.
  • The Hollywood Reporter. Here’s the publication’s contact page. The Twitter handle is @thr.
  • Variety. Here’s the publication’s contact page. The Twitter handle is @Variety.
  • The Wrap. Here’s the site’s contact page. The Twitter handle is @thewrap.

• Share your love on social media. Please keep sending messages via Facebook and Twitter using the #SaveDallas hashtag, which makes it easy for TV execs and the press to search for and find our tweets. Also, remember to tweet @warnerbrostv and encourage Warner Bros., the studio that produces “Dallas,” to find a new home for the show. The Warner Bros. folks hopefully want to save “Dallas” too, so send them positive messages.

Many other cool ideas are percolating, including proposals for rallies, “tweet-a-thons” and a “stream-a-thon” where everyone chooses a designated time and watches “Dallas” via video on demand to demonstrate the potential audience for the show on Netflix and similar outlets. Hopefully these ideas will continue to take shape.

Thanks to everyone who is fighting so hard to save “Dallas.” Your passion and creativity are inspiring. Let’s keep up the good work and build on our success!

Share your ideas and positive comments below and check out Dallas Decoder’s Save Dallas Page for links to news coverage, petitions, other fan sites and more.

Filed Under: #SaveDallas, Opinion Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Dallas Decoder Interview: Linda Gray

October 8, 2014 by 46 Comments
#SaveDallas, Dallas, Linda Gray, Save Dallas, Sue Ellen Ewing, TNT

Forever Sue Ellen

TNT has canceled “Dallas,” but don’t tell Linda Gray the show is over. I was honored to speak to her today about the #SaveDallas campaign.

Fans are so upset that “Dallas” has been cancelled. What happened?

It’s challenging to even describe what happened. We lost our two biggest cheerleaders when Steve Koonin and Michael Wright [the top executives in charge of TNT’s programming] left their positions. Meanwhile, we were left wondering if we were going to get picked up or not. We were kept waiting for someone to come in, and then when that person or persons were put into place, we were kept waiting to find out if they liked us or not. [Laughs] And then they decided, “Nope, we don’t want ‘Dallas.’”

How did you hear the news?

Our producers, Cynthia [Cidre] and Mike [Robin], called us on Friday afternoon. When you look at your phone and you see that both of your producers are on the line, it’s either good news or not so good news. [Laughs] This was not such good news.

What did they tell you?

Cynthia and Mike both said, “We haven’t given up. We’re going to see if another network wants us.” But the beauty of this has been the fans. The whole #SaveDallas campaign has been a huge revelation to me. It’s been so lovely. I’m very, very grateful for that. There’s been such an outpouring of love.

#SaveDallas, Dallas, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing, Save Dallas, TNT

Never give up

I was saddened when I heard about the cancellation on Friday, but then I saw your tweets on Saturday and I thought, “There’s hope!”

Always, Chris. Always! There’s always hope. [Laughs] I flashed back to the original series. In the beginning, CBS had us on Saturday night. We didn’t do so well there. And then they put us on Sunday night. We didn’t do so well there either. But then they put us on Friday night and we took off! CBS loved us. They nurtured us. [The new series] hasn’t been nurtured. We were on opposite “The Voice,” the Emmys, “Monday Night Football.”

You had one of the toughest time slots in television.

Yes, but this isn’t bah humbug. I’m not bashing TNT — not at all. I just feel like what happens with corporate executives is they see numbers — and that’s it. That’s what they do, and God bless them. But there are also a lot of people who want to be entertained, and this cast loved entertaining the audience.

“Dallas” is a special show. I loved the original series, and I love this one too. They’re different, but I love them both.

They should be different. Times are different.

So what do you think are the chances of saving “Dallas”?

Personally, I think they’re great. It’s a built-in brand. It comes with publicity you can’t buy, and it’s lasted a long time. And we want to be with people who care about us and don’t just look at the bottom line. This show deserves a fair shot. We need another shot. And if TNT doesn’t do it, we hope another network will pick us up. Other shows have done that. It does happen. And if it’s meant to happen here, it will.

#SaveDallas, Bobby Ewing, Dallas, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy, Save Dallas, Sue Ellen Ewing, TNT

Team Ewing

The fans really appreciate the encouragement you and Patrick [Duffy] have given us.

Patrick said over the weekend he’s not done with Bobby Ewing. And amen to that, I say. I ain’t done with Sue Ellen Ewing either! [Laughs] When we spoke to Cynthia, she’s got the first script for Season 4 written — and I think a lot of good stuff is going to happen. The cast doesn’t know what it will be, but we want to get our little fingers on it and find out.

Is it official that Warner Bros. [the studio that produces “Dallas”] is going to shop the show around to other outlets?

I don’t know, but at least there’s buzz out there. I was at a function last night and [CBS chief executive] Les Moonves was there and he told me he’s been inundated with emails from fans who want him to pick it up. He was just smiling and said, “You wouldn’t believe the emails I’ve gotten.” I smiled right back and said, “Great!” [Laughs] The fans are not afraid at all. It’s not, “Oh, how do I get in touch with the head of CBS?” They just do it! They slammed the switchboards at TNT. They shut them down!

Maybe TNT will reverse its decision. I’ve been encouraging fans to be positive when they tweet at the studio and the network.

Exactly. TNT may say, “Oh, we made a mistake. We weren’t thinking. We’ve now come to our senses.” I encourage the fans to be positive too.

So what would Larry Hagman think of all this?

Oh God, he’d be furious. I’ve seen him mad. [Laughs] He’d hit them hard and it would be with humor, but he would be very honest and forthright. He’d probably say something similar to what Patrick said: “J.R.’s not finished yet.” That’s how we all feel.

He’d be right too. J.R. will never be finished! I love how the show honors him.

I think that’s why Season 3 has been so special. We were all kind of fumbling around after he died, but this season, everybody thought, “Pull up the boot straps. Get back on that horse and do it.” Patrick and I have discussed this. Everyone was shining this season — the cast, the writers, everyone. The original show had a small cast, and you got to know every character intimately. Sometimes when shows are brand new, they’re long and shallow, but they don’t go deep. In Season 3, I think, we went deep.

You were pleased with Sue Ellen’s direction this year?

I was very happy with what they did with Sue Ellen this season. You know, I cringed when she started drinking again. I thought, “My gosh, here we go again. Haven’t I done that before? Didn’t I do it well?” [Laughs] But I felt this time, it was handled very well. And I thought the scenes with Josh [Henderson] were wonderful. He really hit his stride this season.

#SaveDallas, Dallas, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing, TNT

Scene of the season

The scene where John Ross screams, “I am not my father!” is my favorite moment of the season.

Here’s the backstory on that: It was shot at night. It was the end of the day. So Josh and I were in a back bedroom in Sue Ellen’s home while they were doing the lighting and setting up. And we were like two caged animals. We didn’t speak. We didn’t talk.

Interesting.

He’s usually tweeting and carrying on. “Hey, Mama. How you doing?” But this time, I sat in my chair and went over my lines in my head and we never spoke. I mean, we didn’t plan it that way. It wasn’t like, “Oh, we’re not talking.” And then when we came out [to shoot the scene], man, you could feel it. The crew was very quiet. They knew it was an emotional scene. It was hard, and it was intense. It was something else. It was just amazing. That’s why it was so good. You went deep with Josh’s character. You went deep with Sue Ellen. She was blaming everybody and never looking at herself. It was such an intense, intense scene — because it was real.

That’s why this cancellation breaks my heart! How do you cancel a show that delivers amazing moments like that one?

Absolutely. To be canceled after that was like, “Oh, rats!” We’re all in the groove now, and then we get canceled.

So what’s your final message to the fans?

I would love to thank the fans for their love and their support and their outcry. I hope we get to continue making the show because I don’t think we’re finished.

So keep fighting?

Keep fighting! Yes, at all times. Keep fighting.

Share your comments below and read more interviews from Dallas Decoder.

Filed Under: #SaveDallas, Interviews, News Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Let’s Keep Fighting to Save ‘Dallas’!

October 6, 2014 by 250 Comments
Bobby Ewing, Dallas, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy, Save Dallas, #SaveDallas, TNT

Ewings unite

You’re doing a helluva job, “Dallas” fans! Three days after TNT cancelled the series, you’ve raised your voices and let the world know you want the show to go on.

Let’s keep up the fight. Our goal is to encourage Warner Horizon, the studio that produces “Dallas,” to find a new home for the show. (Or who knows? Maybe TNT will reverse its decision, although that seems like the longest of long shots.)

It’s still early in our effort, and until we hear more from the people connected to the show, the most important thing we can do is to keep showing our love for “Dallas.” Here’s what I recommend:

• Sign the petitions. There are several online petitions to save “Dallas.” The most popular is Sara Duckworth’s petition, which has garnered more than 44,000 signatures.

• Show your support on social media. It’s great to see fans using the #SaveDallas hashtag, which trended on Facebook and Twitter over the weekend. Keep it up! The hashtag makes it easy for studio and network executives, reporters and others to search for and find fans’ posts.

• Tell your family and friends. Nothing beats good, old-fashioned word of mouth. Tell the people you know about the Save Dallas campaign and encourage them to join the effort.

The next edition of Dallas Decoder’s weekly #DallasChat will be Monday, Oct. 6, at 9 p.m. on Twitter. We’ll discuss why we love the show and share suggestions on how to save it. Drop by and bring your enthusiasm and good ideas.

I also encourage everyone to check out the coverage from the International Business Times, the Epoch Times and the MassLive.com news site, as well as all the great videos that are surfacing online.

Thanks to Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray, Mitch Pileggi, Brenda Strong and everyone else who sent encouraging tweets over the weekend. Above all, thanks to the fans. Remember: This campaign belongs to everyone. We’re all Ewings now, and it’s time for us to circle the wagons and save the show we love.

Update (Oct. 7, 6:40 p.m.) I’ve set up a Save Dallas Page with links to news coverage, petitions, Facebook pages, fan sites and more. Please visit the page for the latest updates.

Why do you love “Dallas”? Share your passion and positive comments below.

Filed Under: #SaveDallas, Opinion Tagged With: , , , ,

Let’s Save ‘Dallas’!

October 4, 2014 by 637 Comments
Bobby Ewing, Dallas, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy, Sue Ellen Ewing, Save Dallas, TNT

The show must go on

Dry your tears, darlins. We’ve got work to do.

We were all saddened yesterday by TNT’s cancelation of “Dallas.” Today brings new hope: Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray each sent tweets this morning suggesting the show could go on. Duffy wrote, “I for one am not done with Bobby Ewing! Let’s see if some network wants the Ewings to live on! Love you all!!” Gray’s tweet: “Thank you again for your support! Keep it coming so it can help get us back entertaining you!”

Challenge accepted, Bobby and Sue Ellen!

There’s talk Warner Horizon, the studio that produces “Dallas,” will try to find a new home for the show on another network or some other outlet. Let’s encourage these efforts by getting on Facebook, Twitter and other social sites and declaring our love for the show.

Our efforts will be most effective if everyone uses the same hashtag. I recommend #SaveDallas, but if you have other suggestions, please share them below.

Here’s a sample social media message:

#SaveDallas! I love the show and want it to continue. Let’s have more Ewing drama, please.

Make your voices heard, fellow fans. It’s always an uphill battle to save a show after it’s been canceled, but it can be done — just look at “Chuck,” “Friday Night Lights,” “Star Trek” and other series that were rescued by loyal viewers.

This is just the beginning. If you have other ideas, share them below. We need helpful suggestions, not criticisms. Let’s harness our positive energy, work together and save “Dallas”!

Update (Oct. 4, 5:40 p.m.) Here’s one fan’s “Help Save Dallas” petition with almost 14,000 signatures! Fans are also using the hashtags #BringBackDallas and #EwingsUnite. Keep your ideas coming.

Update (Oct. 4, 10:20 p.m.) This petition from fan Jennifer Parker Folan calls on “Dallas” to return to CBS, home of the original 1978-1991 series. Any other petitions out there?

Update (Oct. 4, 10:50 p.m.) The #SaveDallas campaign is getting press coverage! Read the International Business Times’ coverage of fans’ efforts to save the show.

Update (Oct. 5, 10:30 a.m.) Other “Dallas” fan sites are working to save the show too, including Ultimate Dallas, Dallas Fanzine and Dallas Divas Derby. Follow them on social media and show your support for “Dallas.”

Update (Oct. 5, 9:40 p.m.) The “Help Save Dallas” petition now has more than 41,000 signatures! Also, be sure to read the coverage from The Republican, a newspaper in western Massachusetts, as well as the report from the Epoch Times.

Update (Oct. 6, 10:10 a.m.) Here’s a full-length update, including links to some of the great fan-made videos that are popping up online.

Update (Oct. 7, 6:30 p.m.) I’ve set up a Save Dallas Page with links to news coverage, petitions, Facebook pages, fan sites and more. Please visit the page for the latest updates.

Filed Under: #SaveDallas, Opinion Tagged With: , , , ,

It’s Time to Renew ‘Dallas,’ TNT

October 1, 2014 by 39 Comments
Dallas, John Ross Ewing, Josh Henderson, Judith Light, Judith Ryland, TNT

Give us what we want, TNT

Will TNT renew “Dallas” for a fourth season? I have no idea, but there’s no shortage of reasons why this show deserves another year.

Let’s start with the numbers:

• TV ratings. Yes, they’ve dropped. “Dallas” averaged 1.9 million viewers on Mondays this year, down 28 percent from its second season, according to Nielsen. However, the audience includes approximately 592,000 adults between ages 18 and 49, a demographic TNT is eager to court. Among these viewers, “Dallas” fares better than three other TNT dramas — including “Murder in the First,” which just got renewed.

• DVR ratings. “Dallas” gets a nice boost from DVR users who record the episodes and watch them a few days later. Example: The third-season finale opened to 1.7 million viewers on September 22, but within three days, DVR users lifted the audience to 2.4 million viewers. Although this is the smallest DVR-boosted audience that TNT has reported for “Dallas,” it still means the finale’s viewership grew roughly 40 percent — not bad when you consider the two-hour episode debuted amid the crush of fall premiere week, when DVRs fill up fast.

• Social media. “Dallas” has 1.6 million Facebook fans, more than any other TNT drama, and 94,000 Twitter followers, second only to “Rizzoli & Isles.” Also, five times during the past six weeks, “Dallas” has cracked a weekly ranking of cable’s 25 buzziest shows on social media — including last week, when the season finale ranked fifth.

Is any of this good enough for TNT? Let’s hope so. The network’s executives are likely weighing a lot of other numbers that fans like us aren’t privy to, including “Dallas’s” production costs and revenue from product placement, DVD sales, merchandising and foreign broadcasts.

But this decision shouldn’t be about numbers only.

“Dallas” also deserves another season because the show is a creative success. Vets like Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray are doing some of the finest work of their careers on the new “Dallas,” while Josh Henderson has become a breakout star. The production values are also first-rate, and even though some of us diehards quibble with the storytelling now and then, “Dallas” remains one of the most absorbing hours on television.

This brings me to the other big reason “Dallas” deserves another year: Loyalty.

It’s one of the show’s major themes, but it’s also part of the fabric of “Dallas” fandom. Few shows inspire this kind of devotion. Some of us have been watching “Dallas” for more than 30 years — we tuned into the original show on Fridays nights in the 1980s, and then we watched the reruns and DVDs — while others are newcomers who’ve stuck with the TNT series through time slot changes, long hiatuses and split seasons.

TNT has a history with “Dallas” too. Back in 1991, when the network was still new, it showed “Dallas” reruns weekday mornings at 10, right after Bugs Bunny cartoons. TNT even ran a contest inviting viewers to submit lyrics to the theme. None other than Larry Hagman showed up to introduce the winning entry, which went like this:

Oh we own this

And we own that

As far as the eye can see!

From Texas soil

We pump Ewing oil

Daddy Jock, brother Bobby

And me!

Yes, I’m J.R.

I’m known near and far

A rat in a town

That’s cat-free!

I make big deals

And I’ve got one that’s real

Merging “Dallas” with TNT!

TNT, “Dallas” isn’t just part of our heritage. It’s part of yours too. Renew it today, and keep the tradition going.

Why do you think “Dallas” should be renewed? Share your comments below and read more opinions from Dallas Decoder.

Filed Under: Opinion, Opinion Tagged With: , , , ,

TNT’s Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘I’m Worse’

September 28, 2014 by 10 Comments
Brave New World, Dallas, John Ross Ewing, Josh Henderson, Judith Light, Judith Ryland, TNT

Strange alliance

In “Brave New World,” “Dallas’s” third-season finale, Bobby and Sue Ellen (Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray) stand in the Ewing Global offices, gazing at J.R.’s portrait.

BOBBY: I miss him.

SUE ELLEN: Me too, but I think I finally feel free of him. Hell, I might even find love again.

BOBBY: You deserve that, Sue Ellen.

John Ross (Josh Henderson) enters.

JOHN ROSS: I agree. I want you to be happy, Mama.

SUE ELLEN: I am so glad you came back, John Ross.

JOHN ROSS: I just wanted to let you know that there are no hard feelings about what you did to me. [To Bobby] And I wanted to let you know that I am sorry to hear that you had to resign as railroad commissioner to buy those shares. [Sighs] It’s sad news, especially given all the environmental work you did with that lesser prairie chicken.

BOBBY: [Smiling] What are you up to, John Ross?

JOHN ROSS: See? Always suspicious of me, Uncle Bobby. A guy could get a complex. But since you ask, I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the new railroad commissioner.

The elevator dings and the doors open, revealing Judith (Judith Light).

BOBBY: [Chuckling] You have got to be kidding.

JUDITH: [Striding into the room] It’s no joke, Bobby. The governor and I are old friends through some ladies he knows, and I’ve always had an eye toward public service. So when John Ross mentioned that the position opened, well, I jumped on it.

JOHN ROSS: Now those Ryland ships that I procured for Ewing Global to drill the Arctic? They can only enter, and exit, through ports of Texas — ports that are regulated by the railroad commission.

JUDITH: So if you want to make a play for that grand frontier, you’re going to have to deal with me.

JOHN ROSS: She means “us.”

BOBBY: Well, you can partner with the devil all you want to, boy. It won’t make any difference. I’ll always see it coming. In a lifetime, your daddy never got the best of me, and he was twice the opponent you’ll ever be.

JOHN ROSS: You see, that’s just it, Uncle Bobby. The last few months, no matter how much my old man I try to be, everybody keeps telling me, “You are just like your father.” I’ve done some soul searching, and I finally figured out the answer. [Steps forward, gets in Bobby’s face] I am not just like my father. I’m worse.

He locks arms with Judith, they walk into the elevator and turn to look back at Bobby and Sue Ellen as the doors close.

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (TNT), Features Tagged With: , , , , ,

‘Which Ewing Dies?’ It’s [Spoiler]

September 22, 2014 by 75 Comments

Ann Ewing, Bobby Ewing, Brenda Strong, Christopher Ewing, Dallas, Elena Ramos, Jesse Metcalfe, John Ross Ewing, Jordana Brewster, Josh Henderson, Julie Gonzalo, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy, Sue Ellen Ewing, TNT, Which Ewing Dies

Warning: This article reveals the identity of the character killed during “Dallas’s” third-season finale. Other storylines are also discussed. Scroll down to read more.

 

 

 

No, seriously, if you don’t want to know, stop reading now.

 

 

 

You’ve been warned.

 

 

As promised, TNT’s “Dallas” killed off a Ewing in its third-season finale. The victim: Christopher, who apparently perished in a car bombing. In another surprise twist, John Ross learned he has a sister — or maybe a half-sister — courtesy of J.R.

During the back-to-back episodes, Ann and Emma (Brenda Strong, Emma Bell) were rescued from the cartel, Elena (Jordana Brewster) shot and wounded Nicolas (Juan Pablo Di Pace) after discovering he was responsible for her brother’s death, and Bobby and Ann reconciled, although she worried Tracey (Melinda Clarke) was making a play for her husband.

At the end of the second hour, Bobby and Sue Ellen (Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray) joined forces to buy back Ewing Global from the government after the feds seized the cartel’s assets. John Ross (Josh Henderson) — angry that he was shut out of Ewing Global and that Pamela (Julie Gonzalo) was cheating on him with Nasir (Pej Vahdat) — formed an alliance with Judith (Judith Ryland) and reconnected with Emma, who gave him a mysterious red file that Harris (Mitch Pileggi) had been compiling on J.R. before his death.

Meanwhile, after a more-menacing-than-ever Nicolas ordered hits on El Pozolero and Luis (Miguel Sandoval, Antonio Jaramillo), Elena was seen getting sick in a gas station bathroom, where the results of a home pregnancy test revealed she was expecting. She was on her way to join Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe) in the car when it blew up — the result, apparently, of a bomb planted by one of Nicolas’s henchmen.

The final scene: John Ross was in the back of limousine, where he received a call from Bum (Kevin Page), who wanted to discuss the contents of the mysterious red file on J.R. “What do you want me to do about it?” Bum asked. John Ross’s response: “I want you to find her, Bum. I want you to find my sister.”

Dallas Decoder’s coverage of the season finale will continue throughout the week, including a special edition of #DallasChat on Tuesday, September 23, as well as full-length critiques of the season-ending episodes, “Endgame” and “Brave New World,” and much more.

What did you think of “Dallas’s” third-season finale? Share your comments below and read more posts on Dallas Decoder’s “Which Ewing Dies?” page.

Filed Under: Features, Features Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dallas Burning Questions: Season 3, Week 14

September 22, 2014 by 6 Comments
Dallas, Judith Light, Judith Ryland, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing, TNT

Southfork showdown?

Here are the questions we’re pondering as we await tonight’s telecast of “Endgame” and “Brave New World,” the final episodes from “Dallas’s” third season:

Will Bobby rescue Ann and Emma? In the previous episode, “Boxed In,” Bobby (Patrick Duffy) learned about the kidnapping of Ann and Emma (Brenda Strong, Emma Bell) and devised a plan to secure their release. He persuaded his fellow railroad commissioners to approve an emergency drill near the Texas-Mexico border, hoping it will distract law enforcement long enough for the Mendez-Ochoa cartel to bring a train full of drugs into the United States. Bobby went to the Mexican “kill house,” where Ann and Emma are being held, and pitched his plan to Luis (Antonio Jaramillo), who said he’d go along with the scheme. Luis then threw Bobby a curveball, telling him he could take only one hostage home. Will Bobby really be forced to choose?

What will happen when Sue Ellen meets Judith? When Bobby embarked on his plan to bring Ann and Emma home, he received support from Harris and Judith (Mitch Pileggi, Judith Ryland). The publicity photos for tonight’s episodes show the Rylands at Southfork, where it looks like Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) and Judith will finally come face to face. This will probably be a low-key meeting between two understated, unassuming women, don’t you think?

What will happen to Ewing Global? After Pamela (Julie Gonzalo) moved into Elena’s old cottage on Southfork, she agreed to help John Ross (Josh Henderson) do his part to help save Ann and Emma. The estranged spouses went to Las Vegas, where Pamela charmed Nasir (Pej Vahdat), the sheik’s son, and persuaded him to give her and John Ross a huge loan. John Ross and Pamela’s plan: to make the cartel an offer it can’t refuse by buying in one fell swoop all the divisions of the company the gangsters are liquidating, piece by piece. Will the plan work?

Will Christopher rescue Elena? Elena (Jordana Brewster) was stunned when Nicolas (Juan Pablo Di Pace) confessed his connection to the cartel. Later, after Nicolas’s wife Lucia (Angélica Celaya) received the photographs her private eye snapped of Nicolas and Elena at their lakeside hideaway, Lucia agreed to tell Christopher where he’ll find her husband and Christopher’s ex-fiancée. Will Christopher arrive in time to save Elena? And why do the promos for tonight’s episode show Elena wielding a gun?

What brings Tracey back into Bobby’s life? Melinda Clarke, who made her “Dallas” debut a few weeks ago as Tracey McKay, one of Bobby’s ex-flames from the late 1980s, will appear during “Brave New World,” the second of tonight’s back-to-back episodes. Will she turn to Bobby to recover from the death of her nephew Hunter, or could she have something else in mind?

Which Ewing dies — and what’s J.R.’s secret? By now, everyone knows the “Dallas” producers are planning to kill a Ewing tonight. Showrunner Cynthia Cidre told Dallas Decoder the character will indeed be named “Ewing” and that the death will occur near the end of tonight’s finale. So who’ll be the victim? Perhaps equally importantly is this: According to TNT’s preview of the cliffhanger, “John Ross learns a shocking secret about J.R. that sends him halfway around the globe in search of a surprising new cohort.” What’s the secret, and who’s the cohort?

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

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‘Which Ewing Dies?’ New Clues Emerge in ‘Dallas’s’ Mystery

September 21, 2014 by 25 Comments

Ann Ewing, Brenda Strong, Christopher Ewing, Dallas, Elena Ramos, Jesse Metcalfe, Jordana Brewster, Julie Gonzalo, Pamela Rebecca Barnes Ewing, TNT, Which Ewing Dies

There’s still no telling which Ewing will die during “Dallas’s” third-season finale, although executive producer Cynthia Cidre offered a helpful hint when she told Dallas Decoder the death will be storyline-driven. So whose demise would yield the most drama? Here’s how the loss of certain characters might affect the storytelling.

Ann Ewing, Brenda Strong, Dallas, TNT, Which Ewing Dies

Please don’t go, girl

Ann Ewing. Even if Bobby brings Ann and Emma home from Mexico, the gals may not be out of danger. Suppose there’s a final clash between the Ewings and the cartel and Ann gets caught in the crossfire? What if Bobby holds Harris and Judith responsible for her death and embarks on a quest for revenge? It would add another dimension to the Ewing/Ryland feud while evoking the last season of the original show, when April was murdered and Bobby became obsessed with getting revenge. Of course, Bobby’s anger after Ann’s death would probably pale in comparison to the rage Brenda Strong’s fans would feel if “Dallas” kills off Ann — and can you imagine how upset they’ll be when Bobby starts dating again? (You know he will. It usually doesn’t take Bob long to mend a broken heart.) Even though Ann’s death could open new storylines for Patrick Duffy, it would be sad to see “Dallas” lose Strong, a marvelous actress and one of the show’s biggest boosters on social media. Nevertheless, like KSiteTV points out, our beloved Annie might be the likeliest to go.

Christopher Ewing, Dallas, Jesse Metcalfe, TNT, Which Ewing Dies

Like father, like son?

Christopher Ewing. If the thought of watching Bobby lose yet another wife doesn’t put a lump in your throat, imagine what it would be like to see him lose a son. Dropping Jesse Metcalfe from “Dallas” would be shocking, although the show would undoubtedly send Christopher out in a blaze of glory. Suppose Nicolas runs afoul of the Mexican drug lord El Pozolero, who retaliates by ordering a hit on Elena — only to have Christopher take the bullet for her? It would be this “Dallas’s” version of Bobby pushing Pam out of the path of Krazy Katherine’s car, minus the “it was all a dream” twist. Once again, Bobby might blame the Rylands for bringing the cartel into the Ewings’ lives and seek revenge, giving Duffy a powerful storyline next year. Christopher’s death could also allow “Dallas” to introduce a grown-up version of Lucas, Bobby’s biological son with Jenna — and not a moment too soon. Now that Pamela, Elena and Emma have all taken turns in John Ross’s bed, aren’t the “Dallas” leading ladies going to be in the market for some fresh beefcake?

Dallas, Elena Ramos, Jordana Brewster, TNT, Which Ewing Dies

Adios, Elena?

Elena Ramos. Cidre told Dallas Decoder the character who dies is named Ewing, adding, “It’s a Ewing we know well.” This would seem to rule out Jordana Brewster’s character — unless there’s a quickie wedding between Christopher and Elena during the season finale and Elena kicks the bucket shortly thereafter. It’s true the show has set the stage for Elena to be at the center of a “who’s the daddy?” pregnancy storyline, now that she’s bedded both Nicolas and John Ross while using her Swiss cheese diaphragm. But what if all that pregnancy business is a decoy to throw fans off the Elena death trail? In Cidre’s Ultimate Dallas interview, she coyly hinted the pregnancy storyline won’t play out the way the audience expects. Could that mean it won’t play out at all? Whatever the case, as much as I like Brewster, killing off Elena could be an efficient way to get rid of the Ramoses, whom many vocal fans never warmed to. Think about it: Now that Drew is dead and Carmen has quit working for the Ewings, what’s left for Elena to do?

Dallas, Julie Gonzalo, Pamela Rebecca Barnes Ewing, TNT, Which Ewing Dies

Gone, darlin’, gone?

Pamela Barnes Ewing. Now here’s a death that would truly suck. Julie Gonzalo and her character are hugely popular, especially among fans who are clamoring to see John Ross and Pamela get back together. But what if the Bobby/Ann scenario described above happens instead to John Ross and Pamela? Suppose she dies tragically at the hands of the cartel, setting John Ross off on a mission to destroy Nicolas and/or the Rylands? What if Cliff blames John Ross for his daughter’s death and comes after him, creating a circle of vengeance? There’s also the Barnes/Ewing feud to think about. Does Cliff have other kids who might crawl out of the woodwork to do battle with the Ewings? Or what if — I can barely bring myself to write this — the show decides to drop the feud altogether? Pamela did declare it was over recently (although she also said her fight with John Ross is just beginning). I can’t imagine “Dallas” without these two families squabbling, but don’t forget the title of this season’s final hour: “Brave New World.” Could that be the biggest hint of all?

Bobby Ewing, Dallas, John Ross Ewing, Josh Henderson, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing, TNT, Which Ewing Dies

No, nope, nada

Bobby, Sue Ellen or John Ross Ewing. I refuse to entertain the thought of any of these three characters dying. It also seems unlikely the show would kill off a beloved character from the original “Dallas.” It’s hard enough to imagine losing Ann, Christopher and Pamela! If pressed, I guess I could envision a scenario in which … nope, sorry. Can’t do it.

 

 

 

Who do you think will die? Share your theories below and read more posts on Dallas Decoder’s “Which Ewing Dies?” page.

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