What ending would you have written for Bobby and Pamela?

[MenaceTheDennis]

But where did all these other problems of the late seasons come from?

Im guessing you think having Pam there, in any capacity, would have kept the show from going down the road of JRs clown car of his hillbilly wife, illegitimate offspring, and other assorted ex girlfriends from his past. Not to mention the Casey Denaults, the Nicholas Pearces, the McKays, Rose, Michelle etc who did very little to nothing for the show (mostly the latter). They still would’ve brought at least 75 percent of these characters on the show I believe. The show WAS in decline right before Victoria left, but chemistry among the cast can make up for some weak scripts, which were more prevalent during her last two seasons. I’m unsure how much more mileage they were going to get out of the Barnes Ewing feud during the last four seasons to be honest. Rot was setting in big time post dream season. It made no sense for Sue Ellen to live at Southfork anymore after they divorced again, but her life was far less interesting living apart from JR, so that was gone. As far as Michaels, judging by her clip, it wouldve been the same as Reed with everyone crucifying her I think. Reed was an Oscar winner no less and everyone nailed her to the wall for not being true to the character, or trying to make the role her own. BBG was best of course, but it was extremely bad for Donna who really did nothing wrong, but was miscast. Pam was a more important role. The producers chose not to recast which I cant blame them for.

 

[Snowcat]

Im guessing you think having Pam there, in any capacity, would have kept the show from going down the road of JRs clown car of his hillbilly wife, illegitimate offspring, and other assorted ex girlfriends from his past. Not to mention the Casey Denaults, the Nicholas Pearces, the McKays, Rose, Michelle etc who did very little to nothing for the show (mostly the latter). They still would’ve brought at least 75 percent of these characters on the show I believe. The show WAS in decline right before Victoria left, but chemistry among the cast can make up for some weak scripts, which were more prevalent during her last two seasons. I’m unsure how much more mileage they were going to get out of the Barnes Ewing feud during the last four seasons to be honest. Rot was setting in big time post dream season. It made no sense for Sue Ellen to live at Southfork anymore after they divorced again, but her life was far less interesting living apart from JR, so that was gone. As far as Michaels, judging by her clip, it wouldve been the same as Reed with everyone crucifying her I think. Reed was an Oscar winner no less and everyone nailed her to the wall for not being true to the character, or trying to make the role her own. BBG was best of course, but it was extremely bad for Donna who really did nothing wrong, but was miscast. Pam was a more important role. The producers chose not to recast which I cant blame them for.

In retrospect we can say we would have accepted MM. But you’re right, the truth is we would not. Michaels is a closer match to Pam than DR to Miss Ellie. She spoke like Pam & had Pam’s mannerisms. With Reed it was too much of a change. There were zero similarities. Her persona was much more glamorous than Ellie. It just wasn’t believable. But no matter how well MM played Pam, we would have been disappointed

 

[CeeCee72]

Someone pointed out in another thread how daytime soaps successfully recast with lookalikes because they air everyday and viewers can get used to new actors very quickly. That's not the case with primetime soaps where you get a few scenes with a character once a week.

I don't believe viewed would have accepted MM long term. VP WAS Pam. No one else would have satisfied us.

 

[DallasFanForever]

Perhaps bringing back MM for a very short run as Pam to tie up loose ends might’ve worked but even that would’ve been tough for the viewers to comprehend back then. I’m thinking along the lines of her one scene as Pam when Cliff goes to see her. Maybe she could’ve returned as Pam for another episode at some point and done something similar to that scene instead of playing a lookalike over multiple episodes. Then we could’ve had Pam back temporarily to keep viewers happy but keeping it real short so as not to alienate anyone long term.

 

[Snowcat]

Perhaps bringing back MM for a very short run as Pam to tie up loose ends might’ve worked but even that would’ve been tough for the viewers to comprehend back then. I’m thinking along the lines of her one scene as Pam when Cliff goes to see her. Maybe she could’ve returned as Pam for another episode at some point and done something similar to that scene instead of playing a lookalike over multiple episodes. Then we could’ve had Pam back temporarily to keep viewers happy but keeping it real short so as not to alienate anyone long term.

I completely agree. I would still keep Pam’s life expectancy very short. She could have gone back to spend her last days with Bobby, Christopher & Cliff. The characters & viewers would have closure. That’s much less cruel than her loved ones thinking she abandoned them

 

[Mustard]

In retrospect we can say we would have accepted MM. But you’re right, the truth is we would not. Michaels is a closer match to Pam than DR to Miss Ellie. She spoke like Pam & had Pam’s mannerisms. With Reed it was too much of a change. There were zero similarities. Her persona was much more glamorous than Ellie. It just wasn’t believable. But no matter how well MM played Pam, we would have been disappointed

But less disappointed than what actually happened.

 

[Laurie!]

I always imagined that "Lenny" placed Katherine at Pam's bedside for a purpose; even if it was a long range purpose in case they convinced VP to come back eventually.

Katherine was presumably on the run from police so she couldn't use her own ID and her finances would've been frozen....so having Pam in an "accident" where she was supposedly burned beyond recognition, allowed Katherine to arrange her kidnapping with the help of that Wentworth guy who brought Bobby the letter. This allowed Katherine to take on Pam's ID and have millions of dollars of money to evade police and live a life of luxury.

Katherine would keep Pam alive to sign some things once in a while but mostly to torment her with pics/videos of Bobby living it up with many other women and Christopher looking happy without her too. That way Pam would know what it felt like to see Bobby in love with someone else...a la Katherine.

 

[DallasFanForever]

I always imagined that "Lenny" placed Katherine at Pam's bedside for a purpose; even if it was a long range purpose in case they convinced VP to come back eventually.

Katherine was presumably on the run from police so she couldn't use her own ID and her finances would've been frozen....so having Pam in an "accident" where she was supposedly burned beyond recognition, allowed Katherine to arrange her kidnapping with the help of that Wentworth guy who brought Bobby the letter. This allowed Katherine to take on Pam's ID and have millions of dollars of money to evade police and live a life of luxury.

Katherine would keep Pam alive to sign some things once in a while but mostly to torment her with pics/videos of Bobby living it up with many other women and Christopher looking happy without her too. That way Pam would know what it felt like to see Bobby in love with someone else...a la Katherine.

I never understood Bobby accepting so easily being told Katherine wasn’t behind Pam’s disappearance when she was basically a fugitive and at the hospital just before. Considering her past and the things she had done he should’ve tried to find her at the very least.

 

[Angela Channing]

If Victoria wouldn't come back they should have recast the role to give the fans some closure. I would have had her recover from her injuries and return to Southfork to be reunited with Bobby. Pam get pregnants but it's a difficult pregnancy because of her past fertility problems. Her doctor advises her to terminate the pregnancy as it's endangering her life but she refuses and she doesn't tell Bobby. She eventually gives birth to a daughter but dies in child birth.

 

[Laurie!]

I never understood Bobby accepting so easily being told Katherine wasn’t behind Pam’s disappearance when she was basically a fugitive and at the hospital just before. Considering her past and the things she had done he should’ve tried to find her at the very least.

Yes, especially given the letter was essentially the same style as the previous one written by Katherine. If Bobby "really loves her, he won't try and find her". He really loved her which is why he told Cliff he couldn't go with him to meet Pam.

Ignoring that mummy Pam who couldn't even speak and presumably took a very long time to write, "I love you both" in big block letters in that note Bobby found in her hand...couldn't possibly have communicated to the nurse and Wentworth dude what she wanted. She also couldn't have legally signed divorce papers, etc while being on morphine. All just conveniently swept away in an awful plot that put the nail in the coffin of the show

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Her costars knew Victoria wouldn't come back because "she's so strong and independent, "so why didn't the brass understand this? Hell, I didn't even know the woman, yet I knew she was gone forever.

If Victoria wouldn't come back they should have recast the role to give the fans some closure. I would have had her recover from her injuries and return to Southfork to be reunited with Bobby. Pam get pregnants but it's a difficult pregnancy because of her past fertility problems. Her doctor advises her to terminate the pregnancy as it's endangering her life but she refuses and she doesn't tell Bobby. She eventually gives birth to a daughter but dies in child birth.

You mean revive and recast her just to kill her?

 

[Mustard]

Dynasty recast all 4 of the Carrington kids. Al Corley (Seasons 1-2 and Reunion) and Jack Coleman (Seasons 3-8) as Steven, Pamela Sue Martin (Seasons 1-4) and Emma Samms (Seasons 5-9 and Reunion) as Fallon, Catherine Oxenberg (Seasons 5-6) and Karen Cellini (Season 7) as Amanda, and Gordon Thomson (Seasons 3-9) and Robin Sachs (Reunion) as Adam. Dallas' decline would have been slowed down by Pam being played by Victoria Principal (Seasons 1-10 DVD) and Margaret Michaels (Seasons 11 or 12 - 14 DVD), perhaps with Katherine having kidnapped her for a time in Season 11 DVD, and having other characters care a lot about Pam's welfare while she was hurt or gone. Although frankly, no human driver would have survived the explosion we saw after that tanker collision at the end of Season 10 DVD.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Dynasty recast all 4 of the Carrington kids. Al Corley (Seasons 1-2 and Reunion) and Jack Coleman (Seasons 3-8) as Steven, Pamela Sue Martin (Seasons 1-4) and Emma Samms (Seasons 5-9 and Reunion) as Fallon, Catherine Oxenberg (Seasons 5-6) and Karen Cellini (Season 7) as Amanda, and Gordon Thomson (Seasons 3-9) and Robin Sachs (Reunion) as Adam. Dallas' decline would have been slowed down by Pam being played by Victoria Principal (Seasons 1-10 DVD) and Margaret Michaels (Seasons 11 or 12 - 14 DVD), perhaps with Katherine having kidnapped her for a time in Season 11 DVD, and having other characters care a lot about Pam's welfare while she was hurt or gone. Although frankly, no human driver would have survived the explosion we saw after that tanker collision at the end of Season 10 DVD.

And as we have said before, all four recasts on DYNASTY were a disaster. But DYNASTY never learned its lessons.

DALLAS did --- at least some of 'em.

 

[Bobby Southworth]

Bobby should have been written to care. Plain and simple. That would have changed so much. As others have pointed out, Katherine, as he saw her for himself at the hospital could have been responsible. As I've also said, I wouldn't have had as much of a problem with a recast either, than what we got, but I wouldn't have killed her off. I think fans wanted more than just a one season reunion between the two, and if Victoria wanted out, I don't see anything wrong with it. Donna Reed didn't work for the reasons I brought up in my earlier post. Margaret Michaels at least looked something like VP, and had she acted and emoted in the same way, I think it possibly could have worked and been believable. No, she wasn't Victoria, but VP didn't die and wasn't forced out. That's part of why I think a recast would have been acceptable in this case.

 

[Mustard]

And as we have said before, all four recasts on DYNASTY were a disaster. But DYNASTY never learned its lessons.

DALLAS did --- at least some of 'em.

I'd only describe the Amanda recast to Cellini as a "disaster", and the Adam recast to Sachs was a one off for the Reunion only so didn't really matter. Coleman was decent, and Samms by far the most successful recast.

On Dallas, I prefer the second Digger Barnes (I realize I'm in a minority with that opinion) and I prefer the second Kristin Shepard.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Bobby should have been written to care. Plain and simple. That would have changed so much. As others have pointed out, Katherine, as he saw her for himself at the hospital could have been responsible. As I've also said, I wouldn't have had as much of a problem with a recast either, than what we got, but I wouldn't have killed her off. I think fans wanted more than just a one season reunion between the two, and if Victoria wanted out, I don't see anything wrong with it. Donna Reed didn't work for the reasons I brought up in my earlier post. Margaret Michaels at least looked something like VP, and had she acted and emoted in the same way, I think it possibly could have worked and been believable.

Some have pointed out that the actress Nancy Olson , who was also a friend of Howard Keel, would have been a closer recast for Miss Ellie than Donna Reed.

Funnily enough, I often wonder what SUNST BLVD. would have been like with BBG as William Holden's girlfriend.

 

[Bobby Southworth]

As for the other shoddy things of the later seasons, in season 12, when Steve Kanaly came back for the range war, I would have kept him on, having been having trouble with Jenna in Switzerland. Have him be single for a stint, and then bring Susan Howard back, and had the two reunite, and keep them both on. They made a good couple. Ray would be more accepting of Donna's needs after being with Jenna, and some time single. In season 13 I would have brought in a Michael Sharpe type, as a real threat, and dropped McKay. The Barnes/Ewing feud was more than stale by this time.

 

[Chris2]

Some have pointed out that the actress Nancy Olson , who was also a friend of Howard Keel, would have been a closer recast for Miss Ellie than Donna Reed.

That simply never would have worked.

 

[Snowcat]

As for the other shoddy things of the later seasons, in season 12, when Steve Kanaly came back for the range war, I would have kept him on, having been having trouble with Jenna in Switzerland. Have him be single for a stint, and then bring Susan Howard back, and had the two reunite, and keep them both on. They made a good couple. Ray would be more accepting of Donna's needs after being with Jenna, and some time single. In season 13 I would have brought in a Michael Sharpe type, as a real threat, and dropped McKay. The Barnes/Ewing feud was more than stale by this time.

Ray & Donna should have definitely stayed together & Jenna should have left soon after she & Bobby broke up. The kids at school were mean to Charlie. It would have been better to have them start over somewhere else. She should have sold Bobby’s boutique and bought another one elsewhere. What would Ray do in Europe? He was too proud to have a working wife. Now he’s fine with leaving everything he knows how to do to follow Jenna & Charlie around Europe? Having Donna in politics would have been interesting to the family. They could have had a second home in DC for Donna to use. Jock left them 10 million dollars afterall