The Pammy Principle.

[Chris2]

I would have rather had Pam pay Jenna to take Charlie far far away.

 

[Laurie!]

I always thought that was indicative of how arrogant, self-centered and hypocritical Pam had become.
Of course, remember how Lucy told Pam how the Ewings use people, and how Pam fit right in with that (Season 2?)
Putting aside which actress played Jenna, I always thought Bobby would have been better off with Jenna

I always thought Pam was offering Jenna a reason to keep the baby. Don't forget, Jenna told Bobby she might abort the baby and Bobby told Pam that.

Of course Pam wouldn't want to raise Jenna's kid but it was half Bobby too and Pam was unable to carry to term.

Jenna found another source of Ewing income though and immediately latched onto Ray with a loveless relationship.

 

[Jimmy Todd]

It would have been interesting if JR got involved and told Pam he could use his influence to get Jenna to give her baby to Bobby or to just take her baby and leave Dallas. He would do it, but he'd want something from Pam. Pam would find herself possibly making a Faustian bargain.

 

[Seaviewer]

But above all that she was the most important FEMALE character on the show, after JR as the most important male actor on Dallas

Pamela was the link, the one who joined it all up.

I agree that in story terms, Pam was more important, but as a character Sue Ellen was far more compelling.

 

[DarkVader]

Victoria Principal was the first woman that Anthony Perkins had a sexual relationship with, during the making of The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean in 1972. She was also one of the famous female supporters of Bobby Riggs during his Battle of the Sexes tennis matches against Margaret Court and Billie Jean King in 1973. After the latter match, Victoria would have had practice saying "Oh, Bobby" long before she played Pamela Barnes Ewing

Actually no - it might have been "Oh George" - she was dating George Peppard at the time and attended those matches with him.

 

[LMLDallas78]

I agree that in story terms, Pam was more important, but as a character Sue Ellen was far more compelling.

You summed that up perfectly in one sentence.

 

[Mustard]

Actually no - it might have been "Oh George" - she was dating George Peppard at the time and attended those matches with him.

I mean "Oh Bobby" for him losing to Billie Jean King. LOL.

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

Actually no - it might have been "Oh George" - she was dating George Peppard at the time and attended those matches with him.

I bet if she wanted to, Victoria could tell some seriously entertaining stories of her early 70s party days. Dating older famous men like Peppard and Perkins, even Sinatra, and who knows what else.

Interesting that she ended up marrying a younger man in the early-ish Dallas days (he was an extra in the scene with Lucy enthusiastically answering professor Greg Forrester’s questions about Flaubert - taking about making the most of a brief extra appearance - a hero!), then having her most famous relationship with Andy Gibb.

(I mean this in a “wow, what a life!”, not a “shaming” way)

 

[Jimmy Todd]

I agree that in story terms, Pam was more important, but as a character Sue Ellen was far more compelling.

I agree with this to a point. When Pam was at her best characterwise, which in my opinion was season 5 when she confronted Roger, season 6-to the dream season up to the emerald story, she was equally as compelling.
Both were wonderful characters/actors and I'm glad they were on the show

 

[DarkVader]

I agree with this to a point. When Pam was at her best characterwise, which in my opinion was season 5 when she confronted Roger, season 6-to the dream season up to the emerald story, she was equally as compelling.
Both were wonderful characters/actors and I'm glad they were on the show

I personally love both now. When I was younger I favored Victoria as "Pam" over Linda as "Sue Ellen" any day of the week. Now that I'm older I can really appreciate Linda Gray and her character "Sue Ellen". In re-watching the series I was just wowed at the way she handled her scenes and her story arc - especially during the later half of the second season. That scene in the sanitarium with Patrick Duffy when she has a complete and utter meltdown just gutted me. She moved me to tears.

Now I can appreciate both these actresses and the characters they portrayed because for me it really is what each of them brought to the table individually as opposed to choosing one over the other because they were /are both special in their own unique way. "Dallas" was extremely fortunate to have both of these lovely ladies on the show.

 

[LMLDallas78]

I personally love both now. When I was younger I favored Victoria as "Pam" over Linda as "Sue Ellen" any day of the week. Now that I'm older I can really appreciate Linda Gray and her character "Sue Ellen". In re-watching the series I was just wowed at the way she handled her scenes and her story arc - especially during the later half of the second season. That scene in the sanitarium with Patrick Duffy when she has a complete and utter meltdown just gutted me. She moved me to tears.

Now I can appreciate both these actresses and the characters they portrayed because for me it really is what each of them brought to the table individually as opposed to choosing one over the other because they were /are both special in their own unique way. "Dallas" was extremely fortunate to have both of these lovely ladies on the show.

Excellent points, definitely an unforgettable scene at the sanitarium which I've watched countless times and know the dialogue by heart!
Although I admire and love Sue Ellen,
I can still appreciate the love for Pam.

 

[KayLloyd]

I get the impression that while VP was distant from Hagman, Duffy and Gray, I do get the impression that she was very close to Charlene Tilton and Ken Kerchaval, the former admitted as much, Tilton and Principal formed a mother-daughter/sister bond in the early to middle years of the show and often played pranks on each other.

Kerchaval also spoke fondly about VP and you could tell they liked one another, I think it’s a case of you get on with some colleagues better than others.

Well said. I recently read an interview where Victoria talked about how she had been.in a very different place in her life than Duffy, Gray, Hagman, and Kanaly who were all married and raising their kids. In another interview, she talked about how she wasn't able have children, and then by the time that medical advances made having children possible, she felt that it was too late for her.. So it may have been painful for her to socialize with her colleagues who had kids.

 

[DarkVader]

I don't understand how one would get the impression that Principal was distant to Duffy or even Hagman. By all the accounts I've read Duffy and Principal hit it off and liked each other from the start. Principal even related a story of how she had a TV guide cover of Duffy as "The Man from Atlantis" propped up on her bookcase before she auditioned for "Dallas" and when they were filming their first scenes together she looked over at him and thought to herself what a nice person he was and that she was going to enjoy working with him. As for Hagman she's related stories of how he would often play pranks on her on the set as he would often do with the rest of the cast. She's also cited Hagman and Barbara Bel Geddes as mentors. She has always had a deep respect for Larry Hagman.

 

[Mustard]

I don't understand how one would get the impression that Principal was distant to Duffy or even Hagman. By all the accounts I've read Duffy and Principal hit it off and liked each other from the start.

I think it's largely to do with Victoria not going into the cosy off-set group with Larry, Patrick, Steve, Charlene and Linda. Victoria did that to maintain a certain outsider outlook with her character Pam. She was close to Jim Davis, though.

 

[ArchieLucasCarringtonEwing1989]

I don't understand how one would get the impression that Principal was distant to Duffy or even Hagman. By all the accounts I've read Duffy and Principal hit it off and liked each other from the start. Principal even related a story of how she had a TV guide cover of Duffy as "The Man from Atlantis" propped up on her bookcase before she auditioned for "Dallas" and when they were filming their first scenes together she looked over at him and thought to herself what a nice person he was and that she was going to enjoy working with him. As for Hagman she's related stories of how he would often play pranks on her on the set as he would often do with the rest of the cast. She's also cited Hagman and Barbara Bel Geddes as mentors. She has always had a deep respect for Larry Hagman.

I do think they liked each other, just that they had different lives, I once read that Hagman was trying to get VP back in 1987/88 and that shows how much he valued her as a colleague and a friend albeit not a close one

 

[Laurie!]

I think the stories about how close the cast were/are have evolved a lot over the years. I always recall the Larry King interview with LH and LG. Larry said something along the lines of "we were always together...me Linda, Patrick and Victoria...and Charlene." He was referring to on and off set.

So I think the VP distancing herself from the cast was at the very beginning for the 5 episodes. After that, I think it was later in the series while filming in Dallas, when she was traveling back to LA on her days off to see Andy....or later Harry. The other cast had their spouses and family in Dallas with them. So I think it was only then they started not hanging out with each other.

The Three Musketeers, blah, blah that PD always pedals now is since the series ended and also a load of crap for the purpose of interviews only.

While Duffy was kissing a$$, to get more screen time at the expense of Linda...ask Linda how he always had her back.

 

[Barbara Fan]

I think it's largely to do with Victoria not going into the cosy off-set group with Larry, Patrick, Steve, Charlene and Linda.

I dont think that Steve or Charlene were part of the clique.

The Three Musketeers, blah, blah that PD always pedals now is since the series ended and also a load of crap for the purpose of interviews only.

Yes it does get a bit wearing doesnt it , I used to love and adore PD from late 70s onwards - until his a$$, (thanks @Laurie! ) licking of Crap Cidre and TNTs woeful attempt at Dallas. From then on for those 3 years he irritated me no end.

 

[LMLDallas78]

I think the press would love the audience to believe there was always disharmony amongst the cast as in those days stories of feuding stars would sell newspapers.
Whatever I've read or interviews I've watched, the cast have spoken about each other with mutual/professional respect, maybe not always with a close fondness, but certainly a high regard. Some were a lot closer than others which reflects real life.


Actually, I recall two interviews where VP is asked about LG. One is an audio interview with VP where an Irish interviewer asks; "did you get to know Linda Gray?" VP replies that sometimes even if her scenes were finished she would hang around on set to see Linda's work.

On one of her Wogan interviews, he says jokingly "that one who plays Sue Ellen can't be your chum" VP replies sweetly "Linda? Yes she is actually". He jokes further saying "oh come on" and VP imitates him.

The only reference of VP put to LG that I'm aware of was an American interviewer in 1982 where he asks LG about the bad press VP had received and she said there was an article about VP slapping her in make up, but apparently they giggled about it as they had their makeup done separately.
Those interviewers would've loved to have stirred it up between those two ladies and it was rare for them to be asked about each other. Maybe their agents stipulated that or them themselves.

 

[Laurie!]

Those interviewers would've loved to have stirred it up between those two ladies and it was rare for them to be asked about each other. Maybe their agents stipulated that or them thethemselves.

I know that Linda's (publicist?) Jeffrey Lane comments quite a bit in Victoria's IG posts. I was hoping maybe he was trying to get some sort of an interview or photo shoot done with the two of them. I think it would be awesome if he could pull it off....seemingly unlikely though.

 

[Snowcat]

When she thought she could just BUY Jenna's baby. That was right out of the Ewing textbook.

That was out of a lunatic textbook. I was so annoyed with Pam