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If Dallas Had Been Written and Directed by Women

LMLDallas78

Telly Talk Enthusiast
It's strange that some of my favourite episodes were written by women and yet some of those episodes could be deemed as amongst the ones that are the most "sexist" or derogatory to women.

Camille Marchetta was a great writer as others were like Darlene (can't recall her Surname) and Rena Down.

If Dallas had been directed by women long term then things may well have been different.

Behaviours and attitudes were very different and more accepted back in the late 70s and 80s and even the 90s. It's only in more recent years we can discuss how those behaviours and attitudes seem so wrong now.

And of course as well as Susan Howard writing episodes, Linda Gray fought hard (and got fired) to direct a handful of episodes. A male orientated show she used to say.

Women probably wouldn't have been sex objects for much older men.
That and the abuse of women.
 

DallasFanForever

Telly Talk Supreme
I think one difference could’ve been some of the couples being written differently and perhaps having a happier ending for them. Of course in a few cases that all depends on people choosing to leave or stay so I’m not saying things would’ve been drastically different, maybe just a better ending for some of them.
 

Mustard

Telly Talk TV Fanatic
Not all that different. There would still be things like a power dynamic between J.R. and Sue Ellen, even with female writers. If they are doing their jobs properly, they aren't preaching their morality or politics to the audience, but reflecting the accurate behaviours of the characters from that place and time.

In the 1970s, there would be some women in Britain saying "We need a female Prime Minister", inferring that a female Prime Minister would be kinder and less warmongering, yet when Britain actually got a female Prime Minister she became worse than all the male Prime Ministers before her combined. Women who have risen to powerful positions, especially where there's much sexist attitudes, have either had to suck up to the boss, or have had to double down extra hard to get noticed and rise through the ranks that way. The latter can be more ruthless than the male bosses.
 
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Jimmy Todd

Telly Talk Mega Star
I'm wondering if certain stories would have been different, such as Lucy's first exit in which an heiress who could do whatever she wanted leaves to remarry a man. Also, the Laurel story. How would these stories be told from a woman's perspective.
 

Karin

Moderator
Staff Member
Well a woman was in charge of the Dallas TNT show and we all know how that turned out... ;)

Seriously though, it's an interesting question. There certainly was some stories on the show that I think would be handled differently today.
But I think that has to do with that the times have changed and what was accepted back in the 1980s aren't accepted today.

There's been a number or rapes on the show. I think Lucy's rape story was handled well. The way JR raped Laurel was not handled well. I think the showrunners knew that since they sort of punished JR the next season when he went to jail for "raping" Cally. It wasn't a rape since it was consensual. But some female viewers might still have thought that JR finally got what he deserved!

Then we have other stories of how sex was used to close a deal. Like with Afton and Gil Thurman. That storyline is very degrading to women too.

I also agree that we wouldn't have had as many stories of older men in their 40s and 50s having sex with young girls in their 20s if the show had been written by a woman. They tried doing it the other way around with Sue Ellen and Peter but somehow butched up that story too.
 
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LMLDallas78

Telly Talk Enthusiast
The episodes written by the women would still have had to fit within the overall plot that had already been determined.
Yes and I wonder if those women writers sometimes over compensated to make their writing more shocking to meet what was required and to fit in with the male style of writing that was expected and already pre determined.
 

Jimmy Todd

Telly Talk Mega Star
I think there would be less hysterics and mental breakdowns from the female characters. I also
wonder if every woman on the show would be declaring their love/desire for Bobby as their main purpose in life.
 

Snarky Oracle!

Telly Talk Supreme
But is portraying misogyny in itself misogyny?

And, by the way, young girls still throw themselves at paunchy older men --- when they're rich. And they always will. Even when women have their own money, they still want a man who makes more than she does.

And, yes, there are exceptions. But how many?
 

Mustard

Telly Talk TV Fanatic
But is portraying misogyny in itself misogyny?

And, by the way, young girls still throw themselves at paunchy older men --- when they're rich. And they always will. Even when women have their own money, they still want a man who makes more than she does.

And, yes, there are exceptions. But how many?
Careful. The wrath of the politically correct liberals will come down on you, like when Susan Sarandon said that Hillary Clinton is worse than Donald Trump.
 

Toni

Maximum Member
Here is a little list of all the women who wrote or directed "Dallas". It is also a draft of an upcoming new page of my Supersoap web for the directing / writing women in the show:

Writers:
- Camille Marchetta (12) - She also was Story Editor of Seasons 2, 3 & 4, went on to work on "Dynasty" and "Falcon Crest", and gave last name to the creepiest "Dallas" character, Naldo Marchettttta, and, very likely, Jenna Wade too!

- Leah Markus (14) - She created "Paper Dolls" and got 2 Emmy nods for "Days of Our Lives". Wrote that super-lengthy, intense scene of Miss Ellie´s acceptance for Ray in "Ewing v. Ewing".

- Lisa Seidman (13) - She also wrote for "Falcon Crest", "Sunset Beach" and "Knots Landing" (including the dumb Reunion), and won two Emmys as part of the writing team of "DOOL" and "The Young and the Restless" resp. Currently she is in the "General Hospital" staff. She had the (dubious) pleasure to direct the last regular "Dallas" episode ("The Decline and Fall...") and her titles spoofed all kinds of movies, shows, novels and even songs! (Or was Katzman who decided the titles?)

- Rena Down (8) - Also signed episodes of "Knots Landing", "Falcon Crest" and "Hotel". One of the best writers of the classic years: "Election", "The Lost Child", "Mother of the Year" or, well, remember "The One with JR being shot"?

- Linda Elstad (7) - Wrote for "Falcon Crest", "Secrets of Midland Heights", "8 Is Enough" and "Another World". She was the mastermind behind another "Who Shot" classic, "Nightmare", and three especially heart-wrenching episodes: "The Sweet Smell of Revenge" (Pam wants to fly!), "Denial" (Jock is aliiiive!), and "Requiem" (die, Rebecca, die!).

- Louella Lee Caraway (7) - She was Katzman´s personal assistant in the show and eventually wrote several episodes of the latter years and JRR, aside from that notorious game "Dallas Quest". Took over the Lorimar Archive for "Dallas" episode "The Way We Were" and its flashbacks.

- Stephanie Garman (6) - She and Hollace White (her husband?) signed 4 of the best Dream Season episodes, including "Resurrection" and "Mothers". Their only soap.

- Loraine Despres (3) - Wrote for "Dynasty" and "Knots" too, as well as other Lorimar dramas. If there was justice, she´d be mentioned whenever the "Who Shot JR?" phenomenon is celebrated, because, well, she "did it" (directed "Who Done It", and also "Paternity Suit", another memorable ep).

- D.C. Fontana (2) - She and her brother Richard wrote for every TV show made since 1960, and I guess that their 2 entries for "Dallas" were just routine gigs for the siblings. Specialized in Sci-fi genre, they were pivotal in the making of the "Star Trek" franchise starting with TOS. Their "Dallas" episodes were kinda "bottle" ones, "Survival" and "The Dove Hunt".

- Susan Howard (2) - The Donna Krebbs wasn´t only ambitious and clever in the show, but also in real life. Her 2 scripts, though, were quite low-key in that first post-shower season. Later she took of more serious (and controversial) jobs...

- Virginia Aldridge (1) - She only wrote "Lessons", our first look at Lucy´s twisted psyche. She went on to work on the much more romantic series "Beauty & the Beast".

- Darlene Craviotto (1) - Signed "Black Market Baby", an episode full of foreshadowing, slapping and bitching. After an Emmy nomination, she retired after writing a few TVM´s, among them an excellent Jaclyn Smith melodrama titled "Sentimental Journey".

- Barbara Searles (1) - Wrote one of the best "Dallas" episodes IMO, "The Wheeler Dealer", again spiced with sex, emotion, and JR´s wicked smile all over it. She had a short career and also worked in "DOOL".

- Deanne Barkley (1) - Only wrote one episode for "Dallas" (the boring "Curiosity Killed the Cat" from the Dream Season) and another for "Falcon Crest".

- Amy Tebo (1) - One-off writer for both "Dallas" (for the best episode of Season 13, "Judgment Day"), and "Falcon Crest".

- Jackie Zabel (1) - Signed "Unchained My Heart" with her husband Bruce, centered around the sick but absorbing affair between Bobby and Jeanne. Trivia: Co-wrote the Disney movie "Atlantis: The Lost Empire".

Directors:
- Gwen Arner (6) - Often worked for all the Lorimar shows of late 70s - early 80s with the exception being "Knots". She went on to do "Sisters" and "Central Park West".

- Linda Gray (5) - What to say that everybody knows? None of her episodes were too remarkable, at least script-wise, but it took her blood, sweat and (almost) her job to get to direct. Pity the show was going downhill already so... Even today, Linda rules the world and how!

- Linda Day (4) - Also directed episodes of a lot of sitcoms, and other soaps like "Santa Barbara", "Berrenger´s"... even "Models Inc." :re: . She only wrote for the Dream Season, so Mr. Capice must have liked her!

Please make any comments and suggestions to improve this version of the article.
I guess it is obvious that Katzman and co. had the final say in the scripts, and they have been featured discussing the matter of necessary re-writings for the weekend in one of the least seen "Dallas" specials. So who is the author of all these memorable (or not) scenes and dialogues?
 
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LMLDallas78

Telly Talk Enthusiast
Here is a little list of all the women who wrote or directed "Dallas". It is also a draft of an upcoming new page of my Supersoap web for the directing / writing women in the show:

Writers:
- Camille Marchetta (12) - She also was Story Editor of Seasons 2, 3 & 4, went on to work on "Dynasty" and "Falcon Crest", and gave last name to the creepiest "Dallas" character, Naldo Marchettttta, and, very likely, Jenna Wade too!

- Leah Markus (14) - She created "Paper Dolls" and got 2 Emmy nods for "Days of Our Lives". Wrote that super-lengthy, intense scene of Miss Ellie´s acceptance for Ray in "Ewing v. Ewing".

- Lisa Seidman (13) - She also wrote for "Falcon Crest", "Sunset Beach" and "Knots Landing" (including the dumb Reunion), and won two Emmys as part of the writing team of "DOOL" and "The Young and the Restless" resp. Currently she is in the "General Hospital" staff. She had the (dubious) pleasure to direct the last regular "Dallas" episode ("The Decline and Fall...") and her titles spoofed all kinds of movies, shows, novels and even songs! (Or was Katzman who decided the titles?)

- Rena Down (8) - Also signed episodes of "Knots Landing", "Falcon Crest" and "Hotel". One of the best writers of the classic years: "Election", "The Lost Child", "Mother of the Year" or, well, remember "The One with JR being shot"?

- Linda Elstad (7) - Wrote for "Falcon Crest", "Secrets of Midland Heights", "8 Is Enough" and "Another World". She was the mastermind behind another "Who Shot" classic, "Nightmare", and three especially heart-wrenching episodes: "The Sweet Smell of Revenge" (Pam wants to fly!), "Denial" (Jock is aliiiive!), and "Requiem" (die, Rebecca, die!).

- Louella Lee Caraway (7) - She was Katzman´s personal assistant in the show and eventually wrote several episodes of the latter years and JRR, aside from that notorious game "Dallas Quest". Took over the Lorimar Archive for "Dallas" episode "The Way We Were" and its flashbacks.

- Stephanie Garman (6) - She and Hollace White (her husband?) signed 4 of the best Dream Season episodes, including "Resurrection" and "Mothers". Their only soap.

- Loraine Despres (3) - Wrote for "Dynasty" and "Knots" too, as well as other Lorimar dramas. If there was justice, she´d be mentioned whenever the "Who Shot JR?" phenomenon is celebrated, because, well, she "did it" (directed "Who Done It", and also "Paternity Suit", another memorable ep).

- D.C. Fontana (2) - She and her brother Richard wrote for every TV show made since 1960, and I guess that their 2 entries for "Dallas" were just routine gigs for the siblings. Specialized in Sci-fi genre, they were pivotal in the making of the "Star Trek" franchise starting with TOS. Their "Dallas" episodes were kinda "bottle" ones, "Survival" and "The Dove Hunt".

- Susan Howard (2) - The Donna Krebbs wasn´t only ambitious and clever in the show, but also in real life. Her 2 scripts, though, were quite low-key in that first post-shower season. Later she took of more serious (and controversial) jobs...

- Virginia Aldridge (1) - She only wrote "Lessons", our first look at Lucy´s twisted psyche. She went on to work on the much more romantic series "Beauty & the Beast".

- Darlene Craviotto (1) - Signed "Black Market Baby", an episode full of foreshadowing, slapping and bitching. After an Emmy nomination, she retired after writing a few TVM´s, among them an excellent Jaclyn Smith melodrama titled "Sentimental Journey".

- Barbara Searles (1) - Wrote one of the best "Dallas" episodes IMO, "The Wheeler Dealer", again spiced with sex, emotion, and JR´s wicked smile all over it. She had a short career and also worked in "DOOL".

- Deanne Barkley (1) - Only wrote one episode for "Dallas" (the boring "Curiosity Killed the Cat" from the Dream Season) and another for "Falcon Crest".

- Amy Tebo (1) - One-off writer for both "Dallas" (for the best episode of Season 13, "Judgment Day"), and "Falcon Crest".

- Jackie Zabel (1) - Signed "Unchained My Heart" with her husband Bruce, centered around the sick but absorbing affair between Bobby and Jeanne. Trivia: Co-wrote the Disney movie "Atlantis: The Lost Empire".

Directors:
- Gwen Arner (6) - Often worked for all the Lorimar shows of late 70s - early 80s with the exception being "Knots". She went on to do "Sisters" and "Central Park West".

- Linda Gray (5) - What to say that everybody knows? None of her episodes were too remarkable, at least script-wise, but it took her blood, sweat and (almost) her job to get to direct. Pity the show was going downhill already so... Even today, Linda rules the world and how!

- Linda Day (4) - Also directed episodes of a lot of sitcoms, and other soaps like "Santa Barbara", "Berrenger´s"... even "Models Inc." :re: . She only wrote for the Dream Season, so Mr. Capice must have liked her!

Please make any comments and suggestions to improve this version of the article.
I guess it is obvious that Katzman and co. had the final say in the scripts, and they have been featured discussing the matter of necessary re-writings for the weekend in one of the least seen "Dallas" specials. So who is the author of all these memorable (or not) scenes and dialogues?
Thankyou for such an informative post, makes very interesting reading. It's great to see how many episodes they did too as well as other works.

I recognise most of those names and had completely forgotten Leah Markus in my list.

Any idea if Linda Day was any relation to Robert Day?

The whole list makes me realise just how many women were involved with Dallas behind the cameras then and I very much appreciate how that appears quite ahead of the times now, at least to me anyway.
 

Toni

Maximum Member
Thankyou for such an informative post, makes very interesting reading. It's great to see how many episodes they did too as well as other works.

I recognise most of those names and had completely forgotten Leah Markus in my list.

Any idea if Linda Day was any relation to Robert Day?

The whole list makes me realise just how many women were involved with Dallas behind the cameras then and I very much appreciate how that appears quite ahead of the times now, at least to me anyway.

Not that I know. They both married other people. However, actress Linda Day George was married to also actor Christopher George.
 

Karin

Moderator
Staff Member
Thank you @Toni for pointing out how many episodes of the original Dallas that was written or directed by women.
To sum up. Dallas had 356 episodes. Out of those episodes 80 were written or co-written by women. That is roughly 22 % of the episodes.
Only 15 episodes were directed by women. That is roughly 4 % of the episodes.

I think reading this puts it into perspective of why Linda Gray had to fight so hard to direct.

Now let's compare it to the men. Dallas was a male dominated show because 78 % of the episodes were written by men and 96 % were directed by men.

Leonard Katzman is often credited as having a major influence on the show. Looking at the numbers it's easy to see why. He wrote 72 episodes and directed 66 episodes.

Michael Preece directed 62 episodes.
Irving J Moore directed 52 episodes.
Larry Hagman directed 32 episodes.
Patrick Duffy directed 29 episodes.
Nick Havinga directed 20 episodes.

Steve Kanaly directed 3 episodes
Ken Kercheval directed 2 episodes.

Now as for the writing credits.
Leonard Katzman wrote 72 episodes.
Arthur Bernard Lewis wrote 68 episodes.
David Paulsen wrote 45 episodes.
Howard Lakin wrote 23 episodes.
Michael Katzman Wayne wrote 19 episodes.

David Jacobs of course created the show but abandoned it pretty quickly to go work on Knots Landing. Over all he only wrote 6 episodes of Dallas and actually even less episodes of Knots Landing, as he only wrote three!

It's also worth noticing that Camille Marchetta was story editor for 57 episodes of Dallas written between 1978-1981. So I'd say she had a pretty big influence over the show in those early days.
 
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LMLDallas78

Telly Talk Enthusiast
I do love Linda Gray's directing story. It's something she really wanted to do and went off and got lessons for it.
The privilege of directing was handed to Larry and Patrick on a plate being best buddies with Katzman.

"We can't let HER direct" was what greeted her because then All the women would want to direct and they couldn't have that.

Linda went round her female colleagues to ask if they intended to direct and they all said no but she was still shot her down and told her to leave. Larry stepped in to defend her of course (no one really knows what was said there, I've heard a couple of versions).

All credit to Linda, even though hers weren't the best episodes she did an amazing job. She went on every chat show to promote her directional debut which did well and she was asked to do more.

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