Monzo
Telly Talk Star
This is from an article in the December 26, 2022 issue of Soap Opera Digest:
Patrick Duffy says he still gets stopped by fans of Dallas’s Bobby. “At that time [in 1978], soaps hadn’t been done in nighttime since Peyton Place in the 1960s,” he points out. “Then, Dallas came on and the TV industry saw that there was that attachment and dedication to a continuing storyline. It changed nighttime television and it changed the people who viewed it. More often than not, way over 50 percent of the people who come up to me, their story is a family story of viewing Dallas, saying, ‘We watched with my parents and grandparents. It was a must-do thing every Friday night. We would have dinner together and then watch the show and talk about it.’ It was a blending of the family and bonding moment that people still carry with them ever after.” When Duffy and real-life love Linda Purl were doing a UK tour of Catch Me If You Can earlier this year, he recalls, “People would come up and say, ‘My mother, who is no longer with us, would have loved to have met you because we watched Dallas,’ and so it goes on beyond the generation and it’s wonderful. It’s great. And I’d say, ‘Thank you for telling me.’ I’m very happy to hear that.”
Patrick Duffy says he still gets stopped by fans of Dallas’s Bobby. “At that time [in 1978], soaps hadn’t been done in nighttime since Peyton Place in the 1960s,” he points out. “Then, Dallas came on and the TV industry saw that there was that attachment and dedication to a continuing storyline. It changed nighttime television and it changed the people who viewed it. More often than not, way over 50 percent of the people who come up to me, their story is a family story of viewing Dallas, saying, ‘We watched with my parents and grandparents. It was a must-do thing every Friday night. We would have dinner together and then watch the show and talk about it.’ It was a blending of the family and bonding moment that people still carry with them ever after.” When Duffy and real-life love Linda Purl were doing a UK tour of Catch Me If You Can earlier this year, he recalls, “People would come up and say, ‘My mother, who is no longer with us, would have loved to have met you because we watched Dallas,’ and so it goes on beyond the generation and it’s wonderful. It’s great. And I’d say, ‘Thank you for telling me.’ I’m very happy to hear that.”
Rove
Telly Talk Warrior
DALLAS
A series which became too big for Texas, heck, even The United States of America. Once it hit its stride there was no stopping this beast of a series. With a combination of sublime actors, writers, producers and crew this little series which began its simple story of two characters from opposite sides marrying set up a behemoth no fortune teller or television executive could predict. Soon to celebrate it's 45th Anniversary I'm so fortunate to have witnessed first hand all the dramas of the Ewing family. It's so pleasing to hear the likes of Patrick, Linda and others still talk so fondly of this series and acknowledge the fans who are still so passionate about it. With the imminent release of Dallas on streaming services or Blu-Ray I hope a new generation discovers the magic that was Dallas.
Snarky Oracle!
Telly Talk Supreme
All of that really is true. DALLAS worked its way into the collective family psyche in a way few other shows ever have or could. Part of it was indeed the newness of serialization at the time, which made people feel like they could live-and-die with the characters in a way old-style stand-alone episodic TV never quite invited. (Which is one of the reasons the post-1985 slide of most of the genre was so painful for fans).
But DALLAS, in particular, was unusually effective in this way. Whether it was the casting, the writing, the locations, the overall atmosphere -- or all of the above -- it just kind of tapped into something universal enough that just clicked with much of the planet. Especially its family dynamic which felt oddly three dimensional, despite being "just a soap." As if the world and denizens of Southfork became a psychic extension of the audience's own family.
Which is weird. But pretty much true.
Patrick was right when he once said the show walked a rarefied "hallowed ground" for TV.
The problem is, that's a difficult legacy to live up to, maintain or repeat.
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southfork88
Telly Talk TV Fanatic
Well … so many years gone and still we all wonder why Dallas was such an iconic TV show.
It wasn't as well written as Knots Landing, it wasn't as luxurious as Dynasty and The Colbys, it wasn't as complicated and intriguing as Falcon Crest.
Despite all of this, Dallas remains to me unique and more enjoyable than other late night soap operas.
It wasn't as well written as Knots Landing, it wasn't as luxurious as Dynasty and The Colbys, it wasn't as complicated and intriguing as Falcon Crest.
Despite all of this, Dallas remains to me unique and more enjoyable than other late night soap operas.
Luke_Krebbs_Ewing
Telly Talk Champion
It was the stars of Dallas who made it a hit.
The original cast of Dallas made it so good to watch.
Even though Larry Hagman became the breakout star, the other main cast members made it so very watchable.
It is amazing though that today many still hold Dallas with great affection.
Quite simply it was the best American Soap Opera of all time.
Snarky Oracle!
Telly Talk Supreme
Actually, I can feel what's left of my IQ spiral.