Barbara Fan
Admin
Absolutely, I bought magazines from all around the world, Europe, USA, UK, there was no backlash. By that time no one really cared the way they did in 1980- 85
Showdown: Dream Season vs. Post-Dream Season
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Snarky Oracle!
Telly Talk Supreme
I've answered this before there was a fan backlash in the US.
No, not until it aired -- and by then, they were finished filming it, so it didn't affect the storyline at all.
Snarky Oracle!
Telly Talk Supreme
I tend to agree with this -- there may have been some backlash (mostly later) among hardcore fans and even cast members, but it wasn't a big whoop. In fact, some media pundits marveled at how well the Parmalee plotline worked given that it came on the heels of the resurrection of Bobby via a dream.
But the show was finished filming the Parmalee plotline and Steve Forrest was gone before he made his assertion that he was Jock Ewing was ever seen by the audience. So whatever reaction they may or may not have had, the story was already in the can and wrapped up, so that viewer reaction/non-reaction didn't make any difference,
Mustard
Telly Talk TV Fanatic
And Jock had already been gone from the show for about 5 years by then. A lot had happened, storyline wise, in the meantime. I can see why the Wes Parmalee storyline might be controversial with hardcore Dallas fans, but not with the general public who just watched Dallas casually.
Jock Ewing Fan
Telly Talk Star
Just for the fun of it, I checked average ratings on Wikipedia
Season 7: 21.5 Million (1983-84)
Season 8: 20.97 Million (Donna Reed)(1984-85)
Season 9: 18.8 Million (Dream Season) (1985-86)
Season 10: 18.6 Million (Bobby Returns) (1986-87)
Season 11: 15.2 Million (Pam and Donna Leave)
My best interpretation, based on ratings:
Replacing Miss Ellie in Season 8 had a minimal effect, at best.
Dream Season (#9), Bobby's departure, BBG return, ratings declined 10.3 from Season 8, 12.6% from Season 7.
Significant drop, not enough to consider cancellation
Season 10, Bobby's Return, ratings almost identical to dream Season.
It can be argued that ratings would have fallen more without Bobby's return,
and that Dallas's fan base was showing some signs of stagnation.
Season 11, Ratings decline 18.3%, departures of Pam and Donna impact the show quite negatively.
People can draw their own conclusions based on the ratings
Season 7: 21.5 Million (1983-84)
Season 8: 20.97 Million (Donna Reed)(1984-85)
Season 9: 18.8 Million (Dream Season) (1985-86)
Season 10: 18.6 Million (Bobby Returns) (1986-87)
Season 11: 15.2 Million (Pam and Donna Leave)
My best interpretation, based on ratings:
Replacing Miss Ellie in Season 8 had a minimal effect, at best.
Dream Season (#9), Bobby's departure, BBG return, ratings declined 10.3 from Season 8, 12.6% from Season 7.
Significant drop, not enough to consider cancellation
Season 10, Bobby's Return, ratings almost identical to dream Season.
It can be argued that ratings would have fallen more without Bobby's return,
and that Dallas's fan base was showing some signs of stagnation.
Season 11, Ratings decline 18.3%, departures of Pam and Donna impact the show quite negatively.
People can draw their own conclusions based on the ratings
Grangehill1
Telly Talk Fan
No there wasn’t. As other posters have said by the time the story aired Steve Forrest had finished filming.I've answered this before there was a fan backlash in the US.
We already knew Ben Stivers was meant to be Jock at the end of Blast From The Past and there was no backlash there either.
You persist in peddling this complete rubbish
CeeCee72
Telly Talk Star
I think ratings MIGHT have rebounded in season ten IF they hadn't done the silly dream thing . Casual viewers were already dropping off and that alienated a lot of real fans.
Season eleven never really had a shot imo. Losing two of your main leads, JR without Ewing Oil, Jenna shoved down our throats more and more.
I was very young. Pam was never one of my favorite characters, but even I felt her loss, and Donna's. It just wasn't the same anymore. And that whole half a season we spent chasing Sue Ellen and Nich around as they worried about shares of her nightgown business in season eleven was boring and brought down the whole show