Between the Lines and Behind the Scenes of "Dallas"
No one goes through life without changing at least a little — even mighty J.R. Ewing.
We watched J.R. for more than 35 years, observing him through milestones like the death of his daddy, the birth of his son, the dissolution of his marriage and the fall and rise of his empire. How did these moments affect him?
Your #DallasChat Daily question: How did J.R. change over the years?
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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?
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“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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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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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.”
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. 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!
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.
What do you hope to see when “Dallas” returns on August 18? Share your comments below and read more news from Dallas Decoder.
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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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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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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John Ross and Pamela have had lots of ups and downs since TNT’s “Dallas” debuted two years ago. Can you choose a favorite moment?
Was it the time he blackmailed her into doing his dirty work? How about the time he comforted her after she lost her unborn babies? Maybe you prefer his marriage proposal?
Your #DallasChat Daily questions: What’s John Ross and Pamela’s best scene?
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Dallas Decoder 