DALLAS: what made it stand out above the other soaps?

[Jock-O-Lantern]

Easy: JR Ewing. Plus, it was the first night time soap. It was something people saw in the daytime, but with a bigger budget, at night.

 

[Spooky Owl!]

Easy: JR Ewing. Plus, it was the first night time soap. It was something people saw in the daytime, but with a bigger budget, at night.

Although PEYTON PLACE was first (1964-1969).

Did Patrick return because of viewing figures or because Larry was lonely and missed his playmate?


Did viewers eventually accept no more Bobby and when was his comeback known, mid season or later? Was his departure left long enough to really know if Dallas could go on Bobby-less or did they give in to audience/Larry too soon?

The ratings slipped slightly during the dream season because of the rambling, unfocused writing. Larry used that to bring back his buddies, Duffy and Katzman -- neither of whom had any investment in the dream season's plots, such that they wouldn't even cease them gracefully.

Hence, the use of the dream scenario.

The audience were appalled and "Pam Ewing's Dream" became a literal sitcom punchline for years. Otherwise, the stories were better after Katzman (and Paulsen) and Duffy came back, so the ratings matched those of the previous dream season -- but those ratings did not surge.

Victoria got the hell out.

 

[LMLDallas78]

Although PEYTON PLACE was first (1964-1969).

You're right but Peyton Place DIDN'T start that genre, Dallas definitely did thus came others afollowing.

Victoria got the hell out.

Judging by her last few seasons and prior, I think she got the hell out and "left the building" way before.

I know it's nearly Halloween but don't come hunting me down any of you !

 

[Mustard]

In my book the Doctor Who theme music just edges out Dallas by ½ point. Doctor Who instantly reminds me of fond memories growing up with two other brothers and a father also fans of the show. All was quiet in our home on Sunday evenings when this was screened. Despite the distance between us now we all still watch the series and on that rare occasion when we gather we discuss and dissect the current series with vigor.

Which version of the Doctor Who theme tune? In the 1963-1989 classic series of Doctor Who, there were 6 different variations of the theme tune (or 7 if you count the Delaware theme tune episode of Carnival of Monsters Episode 2 that was sent and broadcast in Australia).

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Which version of the Doctor Who theme tune? In the 1963-1989 classic series of Doctor Who, there were 6 different variations of the theme tune (or 7 if you count the Delaware theme tune episode of Carnival of Monsters Episode 2 that was sent and broadcast in Australia).

I'm guessing it might be this one.

 

[Mustard]

I'm guessing it might be this one.

Delia Derbyshire Version 3.

The different versions of the theme tune 1963-1989 were:
Delia Derbyshire Version 1 (1963-1967, 1968): From An Unearthly Child to Episode 1 of The Faceless Ones, and in Episodes 4 and 5 of Fury from the Deep

Delia Derbyshire Version 2 (1967-1969, 1971): From Episode 2 of The Faceless Ones to Episode 10 of The War Games, and in Terror of the Autons, The Mind of Evil and The Claws of Axos

Delia Derbyshire Version 3 (1970-1980): From Spearhead from Space to The Horns of Nimon/Shada (except Terror of the Autons, The Mind of Evil and The Claws of Axos)

Peter Howell (1980-1985): From The Leisure Hive to Revelation of the Daleks

Dominic Glynn (1986): From The Trial of a Time Lord

Keff McCulloch (1987-1989): From Time and the Rani to Survival

The Delaware theme, on that extended copy of Episode 2 of Carnival of Monsters that was sent to Australia along with a longer reprise version of Episode 5 of Frontier in Space that was on the VHS, came from 1972 when the BBC Radiophonic Workshop suggested to Doctor Who producer of the time, Barry Letts, that the theme tune be changed. Letts agreed. When Letts' boss, Shaun Sutton, heard it, he didn't like it, and Letts agreed when he heard it, so the Delaware theme was dropped in favour of keeping Delia Derbyshire Version 3.

 

[Guzzler’s Frightening Hair]

DALLAS, alone among the supersoaps, had Andy Bradley

(seen above: noted California architect Mike Brady foolishly attempts to confront the dynamic Texas oilman over a proposed West Coast Bradley Oil drilling initiative)

 

[Guzzler’s Frightening Hair]

"Call me ... call me her name --- 'Pamela'..."

I’ve long felt that, instead of JR and Bobby, the “stuck in an elevator” episode should have featured Lucy and Angelica, perhaps with Lucy in one of her preposterous Miss Young Dallas modeling costumes - imagine the crackling dialogue and delicious sexual tension!

 

[RandallAdams]

It was the only primetime serial to widely appeal to heterosexual men. That gave it a massive distinction, considering the serial genre (in America at least) had long been considered a woman's medium.

 

[Angela Chilling]

It was the only primetime serial to widely appeal to heterosexual men. That gave it a massive distinction, considering the serial genre (in America at least) had long been considered a woman's medium.

I'm not sure I entirely agree Dallas was the only prime time soap opera to appeal to straight men. I think Dallas made the genre of prime time soaps popular and acceptable amongst men and as a result many went on to watch Falcon Crest Dynasty, Flamingo Road, etc. Dynasty, which was arguably the most camp of these shows, topped the ratings and it could never have done that without a significant number of viewers being straight men.

 

[RandallAdams]

I'm not sure I entirely agree Dallas was the only prime time soap opera to appeal to straight men. I think Dallas made the genre of prime time soaps popular and acceptable amongst men and as a result many went on to watch Falcon Crest Dynasty, Flamingo Road, etc. Dynasty, which was arguably the most camp of these shows, topped the ratings and it could never have done that without a significant number of viewers being straight men.

Those other shows had gayer sensibilites though, rooted in the fact that men were allowed to be more emotional and women were more than decoration. DALLAS was misogynistic in essence from beginning to end.

 

[Sea - Boo! - Er]

And the use of the dream would have made far more sense if it had been Bobby's comatose dream

Another assertion that keeps getting trotted out with no logical basis. The issue is not the dream per se but the wiping out of the season's episodes. They could have had Samantha Stevens twitch her nose with the same result.

Well, if they hadn't suppressed Pam's rise at Ewing Oil during the dream season, the JR-vs-Pam dynamic could have produced fireworks -- and moreso than the tired JR-vs-Bobby thing. DALLAS could have coasted on it for several seasons.

Now, this I agree with wholeheartedly.

 

[Spooky Owl!]

Another assertion that keeps getting trotted out with no logical basis. The issue is not the dream per se but the wiping out of the season's episodes. They could have had Samantha Stevens twitch her nose with the same result.

Naturally, wiping out an entire year of plotlines is the major offense. But if you're gonna do it, who would more logically have had the dream??

 

[Sea - Boo! - Er]

Naturally, wiping out an entire year of plotlines is the major offense. But if you're gonna do it, who would more logically have had the dream??

Why is the one more logical than the other?

 

[Spooky Owl!]

Why is the one more logical than the other?

Bobby had flatlined. Nothing on Pam was ever flat.

 

[Sea - Boo! - Er]

Bobby had flatlined. Nothing on Pam was ever flat.

I would have thought that somebody, anybody who had not flatlined was more likely to dream.

 

[Guzzler’s Frightening Hair]

Bobby had flatlined. Nothing on Pam was ever flat.

in the front, anyway..

 

[DallasFanForever]

Naturally, wiping out an entire year of plotlines is the major offense. But if you're gonna do it, who would more logically have had the dream??

Why is the one more logical than the other?

I think the argument is if it had to be a dream, which I’d rather it didn’t, making it Bobby’s dream as opposed to Pam’s actually makes more sense if you go with the “coma” explanation. Then it’s easier to explain away some things, and perhaps you don’t need to explain away as much and lose every single storyline. Someone dreaming an entire season in one night is far less plausible than someone dreaming an entire season while laying in a hospital for a much longer period of time.

Is it the perfect explanation? No, there is none, but I think it’s better than what they did.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Not a hard question. Larry Hagman as JR Ewing

 

[Spooky Owl!]

Not a hard question. Larry Hagman as JR Ewing

Even that couldn't save the last two or three years.