Should Jock have been re-cast immediately after Jim Davis passed away?

[ClassyCo]

Interesting that you brought this up. It’s easy to look back on it now, but I have a feeling a lot of middle aged women thought Miss Ellie was drab. I still remember my mom commented on Miss Ellie’s wardrobe. Everybody else was glamorous, while she she was a plain Jane. Now we all know that her character was never meant to be glamorous and more of a plan homebody.

No, Miss Ellie wasn't supposed to be glamorous. That was one of the main issues with Donna Reed's interpretation of the character.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

You know I do love you @Snarky Oracle but you are soooooooooooooooooooo wrooooooooong :love7:to be said in a Miss Ellie voice

IN UK, pre WB cocked up numberings Dallas has 13 seasons and JR was shot at end of S2, Kristin died end of S3, Bobby shot end of S6 and fthe final S13 was DIRE - capitol D

and in the USA every book printed on Dallas pre WB cocked up numbering releases said the same

I submit Evidence 1 and 2 to the court Mr Harve Smithfield for proof

From Barbara Curran

Ive 100 000 articles on Dallas stored away for proof and Id invite you round to go through them with me lol

:hasta:

But that's Barbara Curran. It has nothing to do with what the old CBS press releases said, or the count presented in old TVGUIDEs.

We all know two different counting methods exist. The point is that both have existed since 1978.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

But that's Barbara Curran. It has nothing to do with what the old CBS press releases said, or the count presented in old TVGUIDEs.

We all know two different counting methods exist. The point is that both have existed since 1978.

Well I can't wait to see Series J in HD so I can enjoy the great Steve Forrest as Wes Parmalee!!

 

[Seaviewer]

Not immediately, no. To put it crassly, there was too much to be milked from it.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

No, Miss Ellie wasn't supposed to be glamorous. That was one of the main issues with Donna Reed's interpretation of the character.

Maybe not when younger with less money, but upon the Ewings gaining riches and prominence, wouldn't she have dressed more fashionable at least?
Shouldn't she have had some glamour to attract Jock in the first place?

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

You know I do love you @Snarky Oracle but you are soooooooooooooooooooo wrooooooooong :love7:to be said in a Miss Ellie voice

IN UK, pre WB cocked up numberings Dallas has 13 seasons and JR was shot at end of S2, Kristin died end of S3, Bobby shot end of S6 and fthe final S13 was DIRE - capitol D

and in the USA every book printed on Dallas pre WB cocked up numbering releases said the same

I submit Evidence 1 and 2 to the court Mr Harve Smithfield for proof

From Barbara Curran

Ive 100 000 articles on Dallas stored away for proof and Id invite you round to go through them with me lol

:hasta:

Certainly an impressive collection!

 

[ClassyCo]

Maybe not when younger with less money, but upon the Ewings gaining riches and prominence, wouldn't she have dressed more fashionable at least?
Shouldn't she have had some glamour to attract Jock in the first place?

Not necessarily. Just because some (whether male or female) has money doesn't mean they automatically like wearing fancy clothes and getting their hair done up pretty. I've know a number of wealthier people that dress as ordinary as anybody. Of course, the Ewings aren't your everyday type of wealthy, but I've always viewed Miss Ellie as someone connected strongly to Southfork and therefore quite down-to-earth.

Speaking of her attracting Jock, I imagine a simple rancher's daughter way-back-when wasn't too prissy and glamorous. She probably helped on the farm and even if her folks had money, she probably preferred riding horses and tending to the cattle, and didn't need fancy gowns and makeup. Jock loved her because of her admiration for the land and most obviously, her gentile personality.

 

[Toni]

Well I can't wait to see Series J in HD so I can enjoy the great Steve Forrest as Wes Parmalee!!

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

I also have a fondness for series A to D, simply because I love the wonderful Jim Davis as Jock Ewing. He was such a terrific actor, God Bless him.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Not immediately, no. To put it crassly, there was too much to be milked from it.

You are such a cultured individual.

Your replies command respect as well as a glass of semi skimmed.

 

[Snowcat]

To answer the question in the thread first, I will say no emphatically. There’s no way Jock should’ve been recast immediately after Jim’s death. It was way too soon for a recast and I think it would’ve backfired for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I don’t think the fans would’ve wanted it. Secondly, we would’ve lost the best seasons of Dallas which ironically happened in large part because of Jock’s death.

However, I could’ve lived with a recast later on, and that brings me to season 9 (10 DVD). Considering how poor the direction of the show became over the last four seasons, I would’ve had no problem with Wes turning out to be Jock. The show was never the same after that season anyway and I feel a shakeup could’ve really helped. In retrospect, Wes turning out to be Jock couldn’t have done any more damage to the show than what was soon coming.

Completely agree. It would have been very hard to accept a recast. Wes could have worked if they brought him on 2 years after Jock passed & before Miss Ellie married Clayton. However, I’m not sure how they could have written it with the boys - JR, Bobby, Ray accepting him as Jock. It only may have worked if they brought him back sooner

 

[Snowcat]

Interesting that you brought this up. It’s easy to look back on it now, but I have a feeling a lot of middle aged women thought Miss Ellie was drab. I still remember my mom commented on Miss Ellie’s wardrobe. Everybody else was glamorous, while she she was a plain Jane. Now we all know that her character was never meant to be glamorous and more of a plan homebody.

I hated the way they dressed Miss Ellie. I understand making her simpler, about the land. But her clothes could have had more color and looked less orthopedic. Jock was dressed very well. You didn’t question his strength. But Miss Ellie’s clothes made her look like she should have been in a nursing home. She had spunk & confidence. Her clothes didn’t reflect this.

 

[DallasFanForever]

Completely agree. It would have been very hard to accept a recast. Wes could have worked if they brought him on 2 years after Jock passed & before Miss Ellie married Clayton. However, I’m not sure how they could have written it with the boys - JR, Bobby, Ray accepting him as Jock. It only may have worked if they brought him back sooner

I think two years earlier was too early to bring in Wes to be honest. The show was still at its peak and the shadows of Jock’s death were still looming over a lot of the storylines. Throwing Wes in the mix in 1984 would’ve been too much. I think they were better off doing that storyline when they did. Just my thoughts.

 

[Ray_Krebbs]

I think after Jock died, Steve Forrest could have been brought on as Jock's younger half-brother Neil Ewing. He brings his mother Suzanne, the second wife of Leander Ewing, who is in her 90s. I think it'd be an interesting dynamic of Miss Ellie dealing with her step mother-in-law.

 

[Rove]

No recast in my opinion. I thought the writers did the most amazing job I've seen in a television series in paying respect to a much loved character and actor. The mere thought that someone on that writing team then suggested let's screw with Jock (and the audience) as to whether he is alive suggested someone was high on something. It bordered on daytime soap tripe. They're known for that nonsense, it's their bread and butter but not on Dallas. Besides. Didn't they learn from the catastrophe that was the Miss Ellie recast? Why even revisit that?

 

[Billy Wall]

Buddy Epsen is the one actor I think that could have pulled it off.

 

[Chris2]

I know when Jim Davis passed away, there was speculation that James Arness would play Jock. They would have been better off finding a more interesting character for Ellie’s second husband. No offense to Howard Keel, but Clayton was pretty dull. I wish they’d had someone who had a little more of a ”western“ flavor. Hell, maybe Ellie finds love with a cowboy or ranch foreman of more modest means, but one who doesn’t take crap from any of the Ewings. That could have been an interesting conflict. I think they liked Howard Keel and of course didn’t want any of the women to stay single on the show because they simply couldn’t survive without a man. But it really didn’t give them many story opportunities. Clayton was already rich, and didn’t have much of a family around, so where was the opportunity for conflict?

 

[Lastkidpicked]

I wish they’d had someone who had a little more of a ”western“ flavor. Hell, maybe Ellie finds love with a cowboy or ranch foreman of more modest means, but one who doesn’t take crap from any of the Ewings. That could have been an interesting conflict.

That is brilliant! It would give a whole new dimension to the show.

 

[Ray_Krebbs]

How about someone like Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood or Dennis Weaver as the foreman Miss Ellie falls for?

 

[Billy Wall]

How about someone like Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood or Dennis Weaver as the foreman Miss Ellie falls for?

Don’t know about Dennis Weaver, but Eastwood and Bronson were pretty big movie stars at the time. Doubt they’d be interested in a TV show.