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Beyond the dream - consequences & costs.
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Rove
Telly Talk Warrior
I've always believed Dallas could have survived without Bobby (Patrick). The rightful Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes) had returned. The opening episode with JR, Clayton, Sue Ellen and in the distance Miss Ellie stepping down those infamous Southfork stairs just reeked of death. The timing in this scene is a behold to watch. Look at JR's reaction when Clayton mentions Theresa is making coffee and would he like some. JR just plonks the bottle of - whatever he's drinking - on the piano. After Sue Ellen mentions to Clayton, "It's a lovely evening, isn't it," watch JR's reaction. On point. And as Sue Ellen walks toward JR questioning why she shouldn't have enjoyed her day, the depth of field used to re-introduce Barbara Bel is a stroke of genius.
Here were the main players, characters we truly cared about reacting to the death of an important character, and we were coming along for the ride. Killing off such a character like Bobby when Dallas was still at the top of its game was risky but in my opinion is just what Dallas needed. It's like resetting the clock. Bobby's death changes the dynamics of characters and the tone of the show. As further episodes began to unravel we learn Pam was given controlling interest in Christopher's share in Ewing Oil. Wow. If Miss Ellie thought the constant tug-of-war between JR and Bobby over Ewing Oil (after Jock's death) wasn't enough how was this going to play out? JR's reaction upon learning that Barnes woman was going to be squatting in the Ewing Oil office was priceless.
Finally. Dallas was being steered to the direction I had hoped. JR vs Pam. Ewing against Barnes and everyone else was going to be caught in the cross-hairs. If Victoria had already initiated talks with the producers (especially during the return season without Patrick) regarding her impending departure from Dallas then the top brass at CBS and Lorimar should have said, enough is enough. Two more seasons of Dallas and let's end this series on a high. Creative minds would have went about developing a two season story-arc involving the ultimate owner of Ewing Oil. I would have been more than happy to see JR lose it all, Ewing Oil that is, but Miss Ellie retains ownership of Southfork.
Pam, content with the knowledge that without her Romeo she stood up to the Ewing family and won. She packs her bags and puts Christopher in that red Mercedes-Benz 450SL and droves out of Dallas.
To be continued....
TJames03
Banned
I think it was painfully obvious to everyone that the dream destroyed the show. Serials in general have to fight to be taken seriously and this killed the show (and the nighttime serial genre). The only thing I have seen worse was the UFO and Fallon on the Colbys. VP took a huge chance leaving the show, but it paid off for her.
pete lashmar
Telly Talk Addict
VP had already set up her own production company & commissioned scripts before leaving the show, so she never saw it as a gamble as she was worth millions, was a favourite with the media & would create roles she wanted to play - then the skin care range came along.
But she was so right in her timing to leave the show, just such a shame the dream season - her dream - created a line in the sand for viewers.
ArchieLucasCarringtonEwing1989
Telly Talk TV Fanatic
Personally I don't have an issue with DALLAS going on until 1991, had the storylines been of a higher calibre as they were from seasons 1-7 (DVD) or even the standards of seasons 8-10, but, with each episode post season 10, it became sillier and sillier, it was like by allowing the dream resolution to pass it gave way to Katzman, Hagman and Duffy to use DALLAS as a playground and not as the solid reputable drama it had grown into, out went good actors such as Victoria Principle, Susan Howard and Steve Kanaly (I'm surprised Ken Kercheval, BBG, Linda Gray and Howard Keel stayed as long as they did) and they were replaced by James, Cally, Michelle and April,
Cally was only cast because Larry Hagman liked her not because she had any talent.
Cally was only cast because Larry Hagman liked her not because she had any talent.
Rove
Telly Talk Warrior
If that was the case it was icky on the part of Larry. I never could accept that relationship as it was wrong on so many levels. Dallas, by this stage, had become something to laugh at, rather than with. In the end I felt pity for JR. Reduced to marrying some hick who had no place on Dallas.
Rove
Telly Talk Warrior
I don't recall The Colby's being screened on Australian TV and if so, it didn't last long. I do recall reading the ridiculous story regarding Fallon and a U.F.O. I thought, seriously? I've since watched it on youtube and thought, "How did it all come to this?
Piggyrella Sanderson
Maximum Member
I´ll never understand how a board for fans of a TV show has ended up as the place to demonize the person who made it what it is. And all thanks to the memoirs written by an ungrateful daughter with no life, that everybody seems to believe as the Truth.
Larry Hagman is and will always be the soul of "Dallas". Make another board for "Dallas" haters, all I read around here lately is hateful things about everything. If that´s the only opinions some people here have, it´s pitiful.
PS: This is not adressed to anybody specifically, it´s just the general tone that you can get here since TNT Dallas was canceled.
Larry Hagman is and will always be the soul of "Dallas". Make another board for "Dallas" haters, all I read around here lately is hateful things about everything. If that´s the only opinions some people here have, it´s pitiful.
PS: This is not adressed to anybody specifically, it´s just the general tone that you can get here since TNT Dallas was canceled.
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Sarah
Moderator Emerita
Presea
Telly Talk Addict
If it makes you feel any better, I've never liked him, either.
Piggyrella Sanderson
Maximum Member
Some of you sound as if Mr. Hagman abused you when you were children. There are places where you can treat those 'issues" you have...you know, anger management, prepotence, hatred to spare...
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Sea - Boo! - Er
Telly Talk Warrior
As it happens, I liked Cally.
Yes, the whole series was on Channel 9. There was even a decent attempt to sync the episodes with Dynasty - although that started to be messed up when they started screening "double episodes". The UFO cliffhanger aside, I found the second season of The Colbys to be actually better than the contemporary season of Dynasty.
Rove
Telly Talk Warrior
Thanks for the info Seaviewer. As I live outside the metropolitan area I had to rely on my local station to pick up shows like The Colbys. I just don't recall seeing it. The eighties was my decade so perhaps I was having too much fun
Piggyrella Sanderson
Maximum Member
TJames03
Banned
Well, let's see....he beat the family dog nearly to death one day, brought over stoned hippie friends NAKED and the daughter got molested (the daughter also implied that her dad possibly could have molested her had she let him) had the nerve to make gay cracks at Dack Rambo, yet his mother was a big old lez herself!!
Read the book!
Read the book!
James from London
International Treasure
Are you suggesting Hagman was somehow culpable in his mother's lesbianism?
I just feel like it isn't any of my business.
