TNT – Dallas Decoder

Happy Anniversary, Darlins!

April 2, 2013 by Chris Baker 26 Comments

I’ll have a splash too

“Dallas” debuted on April 2, 1978, but there’s a second reason this day is special to me: I introduced DallasDecoder.com exactly one year ago.

My initial goal was to use this site to get reacquainted with my all-time favorite TV show before the arrival of TNT’s continuation. I figured I’d dash off a critique a day and wrap things up within a year or so. It hasn’t quite worked out that way.

Twelve months later, I have fallen in love with the TNT series and write about it much more than the original show, although I’ll get back to the classic critiques soon enough. I’ve also been lucky enough to interview people I’ve admired all my life, including the man who started it all: “Dallas” creator David Jacobs. I still pinch myself over that one.

The best surprise remains the people who read Dallas Decoder and comment on my posts. Please know how much I appreciate your insight and thoughtfulness. More than anything else, your support makes this the best hobby I’ve ever had.

I have no idea what the future holds for “Dallas,” but if it turns out people are still talking about the Ewings and the Barneses 35 years from now, I won’t be surprised. I just hope I’ve finally gotten through my classic critiques by then!

Filed Under: Announcements, News Tagged With: David Jacobs, TNT

Dallas Burning Questions: Season 2, Week 10

April 1, 2013 by Chris Baker 14 Comments

Will she let him in?

Here are the questions we’re pondering as we await tonight’s telecast of “Let Me In,” TNT’s latest “Dallas” episode.

• How will Pamela cope? In “Guilt and Innocence,” last week’s episode, Pamela (Julie Gonzalo) was rushed to the hospital after being injured in the explosion aboard the Ewing Energies rig. She had emergency surgery to save the lives of her unborn twins but suffered complications after the procedure. In the final scene, the babies’ hearts stopped beating. How will this loss affect Pamela and Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe), their relationship with each other and their relationships with John Ross and Elena (Josh Henderson, Jordana Brewster)?

• Will Christopher be vindicated? Christopher feared his technology caused the explosion, but Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) was convinced her nephew wasn’t to blame. She turned to Ken Richards (Lee Majors), an old flame who is now one of the chairmen of the state board investigating the blast, and asked him for inside information. Ken poked around and told Sue Ellen the evidence suggests the rig was bombed, although it would be “months before anything official comes out.” When Sue Ellen relayed this information to John Ross and Christopher, they immediately suspected Cliff (Ken Kercheval) was the saboteur. Will the cousins be able to prove their suspicions?

• What’s Harris’s next move? After Judith (Judith Light) fell down the stairs, she was taken to the hospital, where she tried to persuade Emma (Emma Bell) that Harris was out to get them. Emma didn’t believe Judith, much to Harris’s relief. To get his mother out of his hair (so to speak), Harris (Mitch Pileggi) had her drugged and shipped to a rehabilitation center. Meanwhile, Emma slept with Drew (Kuno Becker), who was consumed with guilt over his role in the bombing and refused to obey when Vickers (Alex Fernandez) ordered him to leave town. With the ice thawing between Harris and Emma, will he try to interfere with her relationship with Drew?

• What’s the governor got to do with this? “Let Me In” will introduce Steven Weber as “Dallas’s” newest villain: Governor McConaughey. In “Ewings Unite!,” Cliff told Harris that one of the reasons he wanted to form an alliance with him is because Harris has “a certain friendship with our governor.” Will McConaughey help Harris influence the investigation into the rig explosion?

• Where in the world is Pam Ewing? After the blast, Bobby (Patrick Duffy) finally forgave Ann (Brenda Strong) for keeping her past from him. All was well until the end of the episode, when Bobby received an update on J.R.’s investigation into Pam’s disappearance: It seems she entered Abu Dhabi with a man – “presumably her husband,” according to the report – in 1989. The news rattled Ann. What does it mean for Ann’s marriage to Bobby – and what does it have to do with J.R.’s death?

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

Filed Under: Dallas Burning Questions Tagged With: Alex Fernandez, Brenda Strong, Emma Bell, Ewings Unite!, Guilt and Innocence, Jesse Metcalfe, Jordana Brewster, Josh Henderson, Judith Light, Julie Gonzalo, Ken Kercheval, Kuno Becker, Lee Majors, Let Me In, Linda Gray, Mitch Pileggi, Patrick Duffy, Steven Weber, TNT

Dallas Drinks: The Emma

April 1, 2013 by Chris Baker Leave a Comment

To honor Emma Bell’s performance on TNT’s “Dallas,” Dallas Decoder and Cook In/Dine Out offer an Emma Ryland-inspired “Dallas Drinks” cocktail.

Filed Under: Dallas Drinks, Features Tagged With: Emma Bell, TNT

The Dallas Decoder Interview: Rachel Sage Kunin

March 29, 2013 by Chris Baker 27 Comments

Rachel Sage Kunin

One of “Dallas’s” brightest stars works behind the scenes: Rachel Sage Kunin, the TNT drama’s costume designer extraordinaire. I’ve loved Kunin’s work since the series began and was excited to hear what it’s like to dress the Ewings.

Let me begin by saying this: I love your work! The cast looks gorgeous this season. Every character is stylish, but no one’s look is “over the top.” The clothes feel glamorous yet accessible. Is that your goal?

It is a conscious decision and a goal to make the clothes feel glamorous yet accessible. How great that someone can be sitting at home, enjoying the show and get inspired. Even I go into my closet and think, “What would Pamela do?” When shopping for myself I’ll go to the deep discount rack to find high-end looking pieces that Sue Ellen would wear.

I love this! Some of the Ewings’ clothes come from the discount rack. Who knew?

I also love going into secondhand shops in search for something special. I want the audience to be encouraged to do the same and know that it is possible. You don’t have to invest a million dollars to look like a million dollars.

How does the wardrobe process work? Do you receive a script and then try to decide what garments and accessories will work best for each scene?

Every costume choice I make is based on the needs of the script. I get my direction from the mood of each scene, what the characters are doing and how they relate to the story. Often times, I’ll buy a piece for a character not knowing where it might fit in. I’ll wait and wait just hoping the right moment comes along.

How much collaboration is there between you and the cast? Do the actors help you choose their character’s clothes?

I love collaborating with the cast. My motto is that they are the ones that have to be, feel, embody the character on camera and I am part of the process to help them do that. Everything I bring into the fitting room I feel has potential to work. From there, I like to play dress up and find the character with the actor. We discuss what looks and feels right. Ultimately, it is my responsibility to make sure the costume serves the story and the actors are on board with that goal in mind.

What’s it been like to dress iconic characters like Bobby and Sue Ellen? When choosing their styles, were you influenced by the way they dressed on the old show?

I have had many “pinch me is this real?” moments dressing the original cast. It helps a great deal having the huge amount of backstory known about each of their characters. The way they dressed does inform me how they would dress now, 20 years later. We all had so much fun figuring that out.

What are your memories of working with Larry Hagman? What was it like to dress J.R. Ewing?

The first time I met Larry was an enchanting experience that I will never forget. I had no idea he was a lifelong admirer of costume. I brought in a rack of clothes that we started to try on. The first few fit well and looked great but we both knew they didn’t exude that special J.R. swagger. When he put on the tweed jacket with its suede western front yoke we got excited. He was so enthused he threw on his cowboy hat, looked in the mirror with that unique sparkle in his eyes and said, “Now… this is J.R.!” We knew we had found an important J.R. look.

I can picture that. What a great experience for you.

Every time I was with Larry was just as special and interesting as the time before. He was always so generous telling stories, showing me around his amazing collection of family pictures, always willing to share the highlights of his life.

Who is your favorite character to dress – and why?

I genuinely enjoy dressing all of the characters for various reasons. They all give me a different creative outlet. Christopher is great for his modern but classic all-American aesthetic. I love putting together looks for John Ross because we can get away with taking some fashion risks. Elena is fun because she goes from rugged to elegant with such ease. I’m enjoying Pamela Rebecca’s transition, going from soft color and styles to being more sophisticated and sleek. Sue Ellen’s statement looks are always very exciting to produce. I could go on and on about each and every character, whether they have had one line in the show or pages and pages.

If you could raid the closet of one “Dallas” character, whose would it be? Whose clothes would you most like to wear yourself?

If I could raid one of their closets it would have to be Elena. She has the most range with lots of comfortable pieces and this season we have been building up her chic work looks. Head-to-toe, there is not a piece in her entire wardrobe that I would not wear.

I would imagine you get to see the actors when they’re not in costume, so give me some “Dallas” dish: Whose personal style is most unlike their character?

I would have to say that Patrick [Duffy] and Linda [Gray]’s styles are most unlike their characters. Patrick is more modern in his real life. He doesn’t wear Wranglers and is less conservative than Bobby. He has a light pink and white stripe shirt that I absolutely love on him but Bobby could never pull it off. Sue Ellen generally gilds the lily a bit more than Linda would.

You mentioned those “pinch me is this real” moments. Were you a fan of the original “Dallas”? Do you have a favorite look from one of the classic characters?

I am a big fan of the original series. Looking back on the show as an adult and more importantly as a research tool, I have been inspired by some of Sue Ellen’s black and white moments. I subtly incorporated that into a couple of her looks this season.

Yes, I’ve noticed that! That’s a nice treat for longtime fans – and by the way, Sue Ellen looks amazing this season.

Thank you. Linda and I knew that we wanted to elevate Sue Ellen’s style this year. We have such a great time working together! We’ll email ideas back and forth before a fitting, throwing ideas around about our thoughts on the changes she has coming up. Or we’ll grab lunch together and chat about it. Then, we get in the fitting room and Sue Ellen appears. She is always so thankful for what I bring to the table and I am grateful to now be able to call Linda a friend.

Tell me about HSN’s new HSN’s new “Dallas” boutique. People are going to be “dressing like ‘Dallas.’” That’s such a huge compliment to you!

Being involved with the “Dallas” and HSN partnership has been wonderful. Yes, what a huge compliment that people want to dress like “Dallas.” The idea that people have a direct go-to place to shop for the “Dallas” flare is brilliant. It really has been the cherry on top of an already amazing experience.

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

Filed Under: Interviews, News Tagged With: Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy, Rachel Sage Kunin, TNT

TNT’s Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘So Did I, Annie. So Did I.’

March 28, 2013 by Chris Baker 67 Comments

Ann Ewing, Bobby Ewing, Brenda Strong, Dallas, Guilt and Innocence, Patrick Duffy, TNT

More to come?

In “Guilt and Innocence,” a second-season “Dallas” episode, Ann (Brenda Strong) enters the Southfork den, where Bobby (Patrick Duffy) sits on the sofa, reading an investigative report.

ANN: Bobby? Who was at the door?

BOBBY: It’s a messenger.

ANN: Everything OK?

BOBBY: Yeah, it’s uh –

ANN: No, you don’t have to tell me Bobby. [Begins to leave]

BOBBY: No, Annie, Annie. It’s all right. [Motions] Come in. [She sits on the sofa.] It’s about Pam, Christopher’s mother.

ANN: [Concerned] You’ve been looking for her?

BOBBY: No, J.R. was, to help us with Cliff. She’s one-third owner of Barnes Global.

ANN: Where is she?

BOBBY: Uh. [Reads from report, Ann moves closer, puts on her glasses] “1989, with an unnamed man, presumably her husband, entered Abu Dhabi. Passports expired. No record of future travel.” Andy Ellis from the U.S. attorney’s office can help me with this. He owes me one after everything that happened with Vicente Cano.

ANN: I thought you were done with her, Bobby.

BOBBY: [Pensive] So did I, Annie. So did I.

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (TNT), Features Tagged With: Brenda Strong, Guilt and Innocence, Patrick Duffy, TNT

Critique: TNT’s ‘Dallas’ Episode 20 – ‘Guilt and Innocence’

March 28, 2013 by Chris Baker 49 Comments

Christopher Ewing, Dallas, Guilt and Innocence, Jesse Metcalfe, TNT

Man of the hour

“Dallas’s” second-season plotlines don’t advance much in “Guilt and Innocence,” which is disappointing to those of who are desperate for more clues in the “Who Killed J.R.?” mystery. On the other hand, this episode offers a nice showcase for the “Dallas” cast, which has become one of television’s most reliable ensembles. The most impressive performances come from Jesse Metcalfe, who is especially moving in the scene where the guilt-ridden Christopher weeps inside the hospital chapel, and Julie Gonzalo, who breaks my heart as Pamela suffers through the final hours of her doomed pregnancy.

The last scene in “Guilt and Innocence” is the most memorable. John Ross and Christopher rush into Pamela’s hospital room as her doctor and nurses scramble to save the lives of her unborn twins. Afton is there too, clutching her daughter’s hand. How many people are present altogether? I couldn’t tell you. Director Jesse Bochco unfurls the action in a series of quick cuts, making it feel chaotic and real. We catch glimpses of Pamela writhing in agony, John Ross and Christopher watching with worried expressions, the doctor barking orders. Someone yells, “Heart rate’s dropping on Baby A!” And then: “Heart rate’s dropping on Baby B!” The motion slows. The machinery buzzes. Soon there are no other sounds, except for a faint piano score. The final shot is the monitor as the two heart rates flatline, one by one.

Another dramatic highlight comes at the beginning, when a frantic Bobby races through the emergency room, calling the missing Ann’s name. Their reunion a few moments later, when Bobby forgives his wife for keeping so many secrets from him during their marriage, makes me realize how invested I’ve become in them as a couple. Robert Rovner’s script also gives us a handful of typically intense scenes with the schizoid Rylands, all three of whom grow a little weirder with each episode, as well as several lighter moments. The best of these: Linda Gray’s breezy exchange with Lee Majors, who proves as charismatic as ever; the moment John Ross calls Pamela “darlin’;” and Sue Ellen’s pot-calling-the-kettle-black description of Afton: “She’s drama.”

With Pamela and wild-haired Judith Ryland both laid up, almost all of the action in “Guilt and Innocence” takes place in the hospital. This makes the episode reminiscent of “Trial and Error,” an earlier second-season episode that unfolded almost entirely in the courthouse during Ann’s trial. In that installment, the legal proceedings ended up being less about Ann shooting Harris than her failings as a wife and mother. Similarly, Pamela’s pregnancy crisis becomes a vehicle for introspection. Christopher wonders if he took too many risks in his quest to build Ewing Energies, while Pamela questions her past schemes. In a poignant moment, she stares at the fetal heart monitor and asks John Ross, “Do you think this is karma … for all the bad that I’ve done?”

I wish “Guilt and Innocence” had taken this idea a little further. When Afton arrives at Pamela’s bedside, she refers to “all the bad choices” her daughter made in an attempt to “forge a relationship” with Cliff, but nothing more is said about Pamela’s deceptions, which aren’t trivial. This is a young woman who spent two years lying about her identity – then married Christopher – in order to infiltrate the Ewings. It makes Afton’s anger toward Christopher feel a little unfair. I understand that she blames him for Pamela’s accident, but shouldn’t she have a little sympathy for the man her daughter conned? (For that matter: Christopher and Pamela are still married? I thought their annulment occurred several episodes ago.)

Along these lines, while Sue Ellen’s lingering bitterness toward Afton is understandable, I’m a bit baffled by Bobby’s hostility toward her (“Pull in your claws, Afton”). Afton once saved his life; you’d think he’d be a little nicer. On the other hand: I like how “Guilt and Innocence” restores a little bit of the edge Afton displayed when she arrived on “Dallas” in the early ’80s. Bochco’s shot of Audrey Landers lurking around the hospital corner is inspired, recalling the way Afton used to slink around Southfork. I also applaud the scene where Afton serenades Pamela with her favorite childhood lullaby, a charming tribute to Afton’s roots as “Dallas’s” resident songstress. (I wonder if Josh Henderson, no slouch in the singing department himself, wanted to join in?)

The only thing that would’ve made Afton’s homecoming complete is having Cliff around. More than anything, I want to know how he feels about himself after endangering Pamela’s life. (I hope we get more than Harris’s one-sided conversation with Cliff in “Guilt and Innocence,” when he apparently expresses no regret for his actions.) I also believe the show could use Afton to shed a little light on what turned Cliff so dark, so hopefully “Dallas” will bring Landers and Ken Kercheval together in a later episode. Just please don’t make it a Gary-and-Valene-style drive-by reunion.

The other item on my “Dallas” wish list: More “Who Killed J.R.?” As much as I appreciate the tantalizing clue dropped at the end of “Guilt and Innocence” (Pam was alive in 1989!), I hope the show’s next episode will put the mystery surrounding J.R.’s death front and center. I realize the people who make “Dallas” are crafting this storyline on the fly, weaving it into scripts that were originally written to include Larry Hagman. But I can also feel the storyline losing momentum. The audience needs to see the Ewings get serious about finding the person responsible for the death of our hero. If it doesn’t happen soon, the question won’t be who killed J.R., but why doesn’t “Dallas” seem to care?

Grade: B

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Drama mama

‘GUILT AND INNOCENCE’

Season 2, Episode 10

Telecast: March 25, 2013

Writer: Robert Rovner

Director: Jesse Bochco

Audience: 2.6 million viewers on March 25

Synopsis: After the rig explosion, Pamela is rushed to the hospital. Afton arrives to comfort her daughter, who loses her unborn twins after emergency surgery. Bobby forgives Ann. Sue Ellen turns to old flame Ken Richards, chairman of the regulatory board investigating the explosion, who divulges the rig might have been sabotaged. John Ross and Christopher figure out Cliff is trying to devalue Ewing Energies, while guilt-ridden Drew threatens Vickers if he tries to expose Drew’s role in the bombing. While recovering from her fall, Judith tries to turn Emma against Harris, who responds by having Judith drugged and shipped to a rehabilitation center.

Cast: Kuno Becker (Drew Ramos), Emma Bell (Emma Brown), Jordana Brewster (Elena Ramos), Laura Kai Chen (Dr. Chang), Patrick Duffy (Bobby Ewing), Alex Fernandez (Roy Vickers), Marlene Forte (Carmen Ramos), Julie Gonzalo (Pamela Barnes), Linda Gray (Sue Ellen Ewing), Josh Henderson (John Ross Ewing), Shane Jacobsen (Zach McGuire), Audrey Landers (Afton), Judith Light (Judith Ryland), Lee Majors (Ken Richards), Jesse Metcalfe (Christopher Ewing), Mitch Pileggi (Harris Ryland), Brenda Strong (Ann Ewing), Annie Wersching (Alison Jones)

“Guilt & Innocence” is available at DallasTNT.com, Amazon.com and iTunes. Watch the episode and share your comments below.

Filed Under: Critiques, Critiques (TNT), Opinion Tagged With: Audrey Landers, Guilt and Innocence, Jesse Bochco, Jesse Metcalfe, Josh Henderson, Julie Gonzalo, Ken Kercheval, Lee Majors, Linda Gray, Robert Rovner, TNT, Trial and Error, Who Killed J.R.?

Drill Bits: ‘Dallas’ Holds Steady in the Ratings

March 27, 2013 by Chris Baker 12 Comments

Bobby Ewing, Dallas, Guilt and Innocence, John Ross Ewing, Josh Henderson, Patrick Duffy, TNT

Steady fellas

“Dallas’s” March 25 telecast, “Guilt and Innocence,” was seen by 2.6 million viewers, including roughly 890,000 adults between ages 18 and 49, a demographic that advertisers pay top dollar to reach.

The numbers are down slightly from the March 18 telecast, “Ewings Unite!,” which scored 2.7 million viewers, including 1 million people between 18 and 49. Like all new “Dallas” episodes, “Ewings Unite!” received a healthy boost from people who record shows digitally and watch them later. By the end of last week, DVR users had boosted the “Ewings Unite!” audience to 3.5 million.

What does all this mean for “Dallas’s” future? It’s hard to say, but consider this: Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks, recently told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the show’s numbers are in line with what TNT promised advertisers.

Koonin, who says he’s “incredibly proud” of the show, knew the risk of bringing it back in the winter after its successful run last summer, the Journal-Constitution reported. He also told the newspaper he’s a longtime “Dallas” fan who recalled taping the show on a new-fangled VCR in 1983 so he could take his future wife on a date.

New Album from Landers

Audrey Landers, Dallas, Dallas Feels Like Home

Afton sings!

Here’s something I’m delighted to write: Audrey Landers, fresh off her sensational guest spot in “Guilt and Innocence,” has dropped a new album full of the songs she wrote and performed on the original “Dallas”!

The album, “Dallas Feels Like Home,” is available from iTunes and includes favorites like “Steal Me Away” and “Let Me Down Gently.” Five of the album’s songs comprise my latest “Dal-List,” which honors Afton Cooper’s greatest hits.

Paging Dr. Gordon

In case you missed it: “Dallas” plans to bring back Dr. David Gordon, TV Guide reported this week. “Dallas” diehards know Gordon, the plastic surgeon who treated Margaret Michaels’ version of Pam, was seen in “Carousel,” the 12th season premiere. He was played by Josef Rainer, who previously portrayed Mr. Barton, one of Sue Ellen’s lingerie industry associates, as well as Sam Culver in “Dallas: The Early Years.”

J.R. Ewing: TV’s Top Villain

Speaking of TV Guide: The magazine ranked J.R. as television’s top villain in last week’s issue. He beat “The Simpsons’” Mr. Burns, “The Fugitive’s” one-armed man and Al Swearengen, the anti-hero of “Deadwood,” portrayed by “Dallas” alum Ian McShane. TV Guide also ranked J.R. and Sue Ellen as one of TV’s all-time best couples.

And while we’re on the subject of Larry Hagman: In a new documentary about the Starck Club, a famed real-life Dallas nightclub, the actor recalled how he unintentionally scuttled a planned drug bust. The Dallas Morning News has the story.

Bottoms up

Product placement alert: TNT has struck a deal with MillerCoors to incorporate the beer company’s beverages into the cable channel’s programming, Variety reports. So grab your Microsoft Surface, pop open a Miller Lite and do your part to support “Dallas.”

“Drill Bits,” a roundup of news about TNT’s “Dallas,” is published regularly. Share your comments below.

Filed Under: Drill Bits, News Tagged With: Audrey Landers, Carousel, Dallas Feels Like Home, Ewings Unite!, Guilt and Innocence, Ian McShane, Josef Rainer, Larry Hagman, Margaret Michaels, Steve Koonin, TNT

‘Who Killed J.R.?’ New Suspects in ‘Dallas’s’ Mystery

March 26, 2013 by Chris Baker 102 Comments

“Dallas’s” latest episode, “Guilt and Innocence,” didn’t offer many new clues in the “Who Killed J.R.?” mystery, but that doesn’t mean we can’t update our initial list of potential suspects. I’ve dropped Mitch Lobell and Carlos Del Sol (Richard Dillard, Castulo Guerra) as suspects since each character seems too obscure, along with Kristin Shepard (Mary Crosby), who seems too dead. Of course, any of them could be restored to the list as more clues emerge. I’ve also thrown some new names into the mix and divided everyone into three categories: “more likely” to be responsible for J.R.’s death, “less likely” and “who knows?”

MORE LIKELY

Ewing

• J.R. Ewing. I’ve always felt with few exceptions, there’s only one character in the “Dallas” mythos who is “big” enough to take out J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) – and that’s J.R. himself. No one believes he would turn suicidal, but what if he was terminally ill and decided to take advantage of his illness by hiring someone to shoot him, then framing one of his enemies for his “murder?” This might be where Carlos comes into play; maybe the Mexican billionaire helped J.R. pull it off. How do I explain the stunned expression on J.R.’s face before he was shot? I can’t. But I also can’t explain how Miss Ellie managed to take half of Southfork away from Bobby.

Barnes

• Cliff Barnes. Until recently, I wouldn’t have considered Cliff (Ken Kercheval) a likely suspect. He’s too pivotal to “Dallas.” But at the end of last week’s episode, “Ewings Unite!,” Cliff ordered henchman Roy Vickers to blow up the Ewing Energies methane rig, even though it endangered pregnant daughter Pamela, who ended up losing her unborn twins in “Guilt and Innocence.” This is even more heinous than when Cliff made Frank kill himself a few episodes ago. Now that Cliff has become a monster, it’s hard to imagine the show redeeming him. Maybe it won’t bother. Having him turn out to be J.R.’s killer might be the final nail in Cliff’s coffin.

LESS LIKELY

Ryland

• Harris Ryland. Harris (Mitch Pileggi) hates the Ewings, but his ire has always been directed at Bobby and Ann. So why would he want to kill J.R.? Harris offered a clue in “Ewings Unite!” when he tells Vickers, his henchman, that he and Cliff want to “grind the Ewing clan under our boot heels. Now that J.R.’s gone, it’s gotten a whole lot easier.” Still, that doesn’t feel like a strong enough motive to me. There’s also this: “Dallas” has spent a lot of time grooming Pileggi as its new marquee villain, even elevating the actor to the opening credits. What kind of future would Pileggi have on the show if Harris turns out to be J.R.’s murderer?

WHO KNOWS?

Wentworth

• Katherine Wentworth. Yeah, I know. In “Ewings Unite!,” Bobby told Christopher, “Katherine’s dead.” That’s why I’m convinced she isn’t. Think about it: “Dallas” sometimes takes a pretty selective view of its past. (This isn’t always a bad thing.) So for Bobby to mention Katherine – by name – might mean something. One theory: What if Pam died and Katherine (Morgan Brittany) “stole” her identity? Suppose J.R., in his search for Pam, uncovered this scheme, so Katherine killed him to prevent her secret from getting out. Brittany told Dallas Divas Derby she hasn’t had contact with the show’s execs. Doesn’t mean that call won’t eventually come, right?

Gordon

• Dr. David Gordon. At the end of “Guilt and Innocence,” Bobby received an update on the whereabouts of Pam, for whom J.R. was searching before his death. Bobby read the report aloud: “1989, with an unnamed man, presumably her husband, entered Abu Dhabi. Passports expired. No record of future travel.” Could this mystery man be Dr. David Gordon (Josef Rainer), the plastic surgeon who treated Pam after her accident? TV Guide reports “Dallas” will soon bring back Gordon. What if it turns out he married Pam, only to conspire with Cliff to bilk her out of her share of Barnes Global? If J.R. was on to him, could Gordon have killed J.R. to cover his tracks?

Ramos

• Elena Ramos. OK, this one requires explanation. We know the new “Dallas” loves to surprise viewers. I don’t know about you, but I almost never see the show’s twists coming. So what would be more shocking than if J.R.’s killer turned out to be a member of the core cast? I think we can rule out any of the Ewings, as well as Pamela, since she isn’t enough of a daddy’s girl to kill his oldest enemy. But what about Elena (Jordana Brewster)? She has no known motive, but she’s the only current “Dallas” leading lady who hasn’t shot someone yet. (Ann shot Harris, Pamela shot Tommy, Sue Ellen shot J.R. in ’88). Isn’t it time Elena had her turn at the trigger?

Who done it? Share your theories below and read more posts on Dallas Decoder’s “Who Killed J.R.?” page.

Filed Under: Features, Features Tagged With: Jordana Brewster, Josef Rainer, Ken Kercheval, Larry Hagman, Mitch Pileggi, Morgan Brittany, TNT, Who Killed J.R.?

Dallas Burning Questions: Season 2, Week 9

March 25, 2013 by Chris Baker 37 Comments

Don’t blame him

Here are the questions we’re pondering as we await tonight’s telecast of “Guilt and Innocence,” TNT’s latest “Dallas” episode.

• Who survives the blast? At the end of “Ewings Unite!,” last week’s episode, most of the Ewings gathered on the methane extraction rig, along with Pamela and Elena (Julie Gonzalo, Jordana Brewster), for a demonstration. Little did everyone know the platform was rigged with explosives, which detonated moments before the screen faded to black. It’s a safe bet the core characters will survive, but I’m not sure we can say the same thing about Pamela’s unborn twins. One clue: Pamela’s mother Afton (Audrey Landers) will appear in tonight’s episode, possibly to console her grieving daughter. If Pamela loses one or both of the babies, how will it affect her relationships with ex-husband Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe) and ex-lover John Ross (Josh Henderson)?

• Can Cliff be redeemed? The story behind the explosion, part 1: At the beginning of last week’s episode, Cliff and Harris (Ken Kercheval, Mitch Pileggi) joined forces to bring down the Ewings. Cliff promised to give Harris the money he needs to gain control of Ryland Transport from Judith (Judith Light), while Harris agreed to help Cliff undermine Ewing Energies. Harris’s henchman Roy Vickers (Alex Fernandez) arranged to have the bomb planted under the platform, but when Pamela unexpectedly showed up, he called Cliff and gave him a chance to back out. Remarkably, Cliff told Vickers to proceed with the detonation. How will Cliff live with himself after this?

• Will Drew forgive himself? The story behind the explosion, part 2: Drew (Kuno Becker) reluctantly planted the bomb after being blackmailed by Vickers, who threatened to kill Elena if Drew refused to do his bidding. Until then, things had been looking up for young Drew: Bobby (Patrick Duffy) agreed to sell him the Ramos family’s land and Drew went on a promising date with Emma (Emma Bell). What will happen if his role in the explosion is discovered?

• Will Christopher be blamed? The Ewings were on the platform to demonstrate its potential to local government official Alison Jones (Annie Wersching), hoping it would seal their deal to land the city’s lucrative fuel contract. Getting Alison to the platform took a lot of work: When Cliff tried to steal the contract at the last minute, John Ross and Christopher teamed to blackmail Alison into rejecting his bid. Last season, Christopher’s methane extraction technology was plagued by suspicions it was unsafe. Will the bombing raise fresh doubts?

• Will Sue Ellen sober up? J.R.’s will split his share of the Southfork mineral rights between John Ross and Sue Ellen (Linda Gray), who shifted into denial mode about her alcoholism, insisting she didn’t need Gary’s help to stop drinking. After Valene (Joan Van Ark) confronted her, Sue Ellen urged Gary (Ted Shackelford) to return to his wife, telling him she needs to reclaim her sobriety on her own. Will she?

• More questions: Now that John Ross has inherited half of Southfork, will he take up residence at the ranch, perhaps moving into his father’s old bedroom? Did Judith survive her tumble down the stairs? And will we finally get some more clues to the biggest question of all: Who killed J.R.?

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

Filed Under: Dallas Burning Questions, Features Tagged With: Annie Wersching, Brenda Strong, Emma Bell, Ewings Unite!, Guilt and Innocence, Jesse Metcalfe, Joan Van Ark, Jordana Brewster, Josh Henderson, Julie Gonzalo, Ken Kercheval, Kuno Becker, Linda Gray, Mitch Pileggi, Patrick Duffy, Ted Shackelford, TNT

TNT’s Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘Once a Bitch, Always a Bitch!’

March 20, 2013 by Chris Baker 24 Comments

Dallas, Ewings Unite, Joan Van Ark, Valene Ewing, TNT

Birdwatching

In “Ewings Unite!,” a second-season “Dallas” episode, Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) is seated at her office desk when Valene (Joan Van Ark) storms in and slams the door behind her.

VAL: Once a bitch, always a bitch!

SUE ELLEN: Yes, it has been a long time. It’s good to see you too.

VAL: You just called me to Dallas to humiliate me. You are just as sadistic as J.R. ever was.

SUE ELLEN: I called to see if I could get you and Gary back together again.

VAL: Oh, please! [Steps forward] Gary is buying your wounded bird drunk routine. And he’s a good enough man to try to save you. But I know that you’re just trying to get your hooks into him.

SUE ELLEN: I don’t want your husband.

VAL: [Rests her palms on the desk] He may not come back to me. But I can promise you: I am not leaving Southfork until I show him what a manipulative monster you are. [Stomps away]

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (TNT), Features Tagged With: Ewings Unite!, Joan Van Ark, Linda Gray, TNT