Did Bobby Have “Limited” Success As An Oilman Due To Not Being Ruthless Like JR?

Billy Wall

Billy Wall

Telly Talk Dream Maker
According to the Bobby Ewing Wikipedia page, Bobby had limited success as a oil baron. IMO, Bobby had great success and scored some massive victories over the years. The refinery, getting Ewing Oil back in the cartel, re-establishing the Ewing name (according to Jock himself), the battle for Ewing Oil and getting the Ewing Oil name back. For the most part, all of that without being ruthless and with JR running interference.
 
Snarky Oracle!

Snarky Oracle!

Telly Talk Supreme
Larry rewatched the entire show and did the math and determined that Bobby made far more money for Ewing Oil, describing JR as "a disaster" as a businessman.
 
J

Jock Ewing Fan

Telly Talk Star
I don't know how that could be quantified.

JR and Bobby probably both made more revenue than Jock - does that mean they were better oil men? Jock taught them the business,

therefore they wouldn't have been as successful if not for Jock

Actually JR taught much of it to Bobby.

When JR made the deal for the Asian leases, it made the Ewings billionaires.

Again, I don't know how to quantify it.
 
Luke_Krebbs_Ewing

Luke_Krebbs_Ewing

Telly Talk Champion
Jock Ewing Fan said:
I don't know how that could be quantified.

JR and Bobby probably both made more revenue than Jock - does that mean they were better oil men? Jock taught them the business,

therefore they wouldn't have been as successful if not for Jock

Actually JR taught much of it to Bobby.

When JR made the deal for the Asian leases, it made the Ewings billionaires.

Again, I don't know how to quantify it.
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Neither do I.

The difference between Bobby and JR was the way they operated. Bobby certainly had the moralistic point of view most of the time and JR the amoral way. JR wasn't above blackmail or coercing someone to do what he wanted like poor Edgar Randolph. However Bobby wasn't above getting his hands dirty either witness the sting operation he and Ray pulled on Walt Driscoll which resulted in the car accident which paralysed Mickey Trotter.

As to which was the better Oilman I would say JR even though his methods were not always ethical.

Bobby I guess was a good Oilman but only really embraced Ewing Oil more when Jock died and that whole battle for Ewing Oil as a result of Jock's will.

JR should've ran the company. If it hadn't been for Miss Ellie pressuring Jock to let Bobby run the company when JR was incapacitated as a result of the shooting Bobby would never have got the fever for big business. Especially when JR wanted the company back and Jock said he couldn't do that because of Miss Ellie not wanting Bobby and Pam to leave Dallas. :)
 
Mustard

Mustard

Telly Talk TV Fanatic
Scary Organ said:
Larry rewatched the entire show and did the math and determined that Bobby made far more money for Ewing Oil, describing JR as "a disaster" as a businessman.
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How? Bobby only won the Battle for Ewing Oil because of the big Canadian field coming in just in time. J.R. had easily won otherwise, and mostly by playing "man of the people" with cheap gas stations or doing deals with Cuba in the name of diplomatic co-operation, while Bobby went the other way with blackmailing George Hicks of the Texas Energy Commission and thwarting the Cuban deal with disastrous consequences.

In the late seasons though, I agree that J.R. was a disaster as a businessman. Seasons 13-14 DVD were particularly embarrassing for him.
 
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Mustard

Mustard

Telly Talk TV Fanatic
Grim_Void_Reaper said:
Neither do I.

The difference between Bobby and JR was the way they operated. Bobby certainly had the moralistic point of view most of the time and JR the amoral way. JR wasn't above blackmail or coercing someone to do what he wanted like poor Edgar Randolph. However Bobby wasn't above getting his hands dirty either witness the sting operation he and Ray pulled on Walt Driscoll which resulted in the car accident which paralysed Mickey Trotter.

As to which was the better Oilman I would say JR even though his methods were not always ethical.

Bobby I guess was a good Oilman but only really embraced Ewing Oil more when Jock died and that whole battle for Ewing Oil as a result of Jock's will.

JR should've ran the company. If it hadn't been for Miss Ellie pressuring Jock to let Bobby run the company when JR was incapacitated as a result of the shooting Bobby would never have got the fever for big business. Especially when JR wanted the company back and Jock said he couldn't do that because of Miss Ellie not wanting Bobby and Pam to leave Dallas. :)
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J.R.'s attitude was "do unto others before they do unto you", so he assumes that anyone with potential to hurt him is going to hurt him unless he deals with them first. Bobby's attitude was treat people well initially and get tough later if they give you reason to.
 
L

lbf522

Telly Talk Well-Known Member
Mustard Myers said:
J.R.'s attitude was "do unto others before they do unto you", so he assumes that anyone with potential to hurt him is going to hurt him unless he deals with them first. Bobby's attitude was treat people well initially and get tough later if they give you reason to.
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I wish the show had shown us what it was like for JR when he first started at Ewing Oil learning the business from Jock and all.
 
Lastkidpicked

Lastkidpicked

Telly Talk Dream Maker
Bobby has an advantage over J.R. in business:

You just WANT to do business with Bobby. You are drawn to him and want to do be around him.

Do not discount this. In the oil field there are many vendors where I know I could get the tools and products cheaper. But I genuinely enjoy doing business with certain people so that's where I spend money.

Of course, at my age I'm less likely to deal with Bobby

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And more likely to look for Punk Anderson. But the same theory applies. I like Punk.

1667332539642.png
 
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J

Jock Ewing Fan

Telly Talk Star
Lastkidpicked said:
Bobby has an advantage over J.R. in business:

You just WANT to do business with Bobby. You are drawn to him and want to do be around him.

Do not discount this. In the oil field there are many vendors where I know I could get the tools and products cheaper. But I genuinely enjoy doing business with certain people so that's where I spend money.

Of course, at my age I'm less likely to deal with Bobby

View attachment 41555

And more likely to look for Punk Anderson. But the same theory applies. I like Punk.

View attachment 41557
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Good Points. Maybe that's why Jock used him in a "public relations" capacity at first, and recognized Bobby's appeal
that could be utilized later. I always thought that Bobby represented an ideal that Jock wished he could have been.
 
Lastkidpicked

Lastkidpicked

Telly Talk Dream Maker
Jock Ewing Fan said:
Good Points. Maybe that's why Jock used him in a "public relations" capacity at first, and recognized Bobby's appeal
that could be utilized later. I always thought that Bobby represented an ideal that Jock wished he could have been.
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Very true, and this is mirrored in real life.

Many times we will need to have a meeting with a new client. Taking them to lunch to go over the details of a contract.

More and more I catch myself saying, "Let the younger guys do that. They'll have more fun."
 
J

Jock Ewing Fan

Telly Talk Star
Lastkidpicked said:
Very true, and this is mirrored in real life.

Many times we will need to have a meeting with a new client. Taking them to lunch to go over the details of a contract.

More and more I catch myself saying, "Let the younger guys do that. They'll have more fun."
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Good insights.
I think it is part of the way that a business/organization evolves with more experienced staff in strategic/managerial positions
and the newbies working their way up the ladder
 
S

Snowcat

Telly Talk Active Member
Frank Underwood said:
JR's fatal flaw was flying too close to the sun, and it eventually cost him the company.

Bobby, on the other hand, was capable of drawing inside the lines. That's not to say he didn't get a little dirty himself from time to time, but he wasn't nearly as reckless.
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I completely agree. Bobby could be just as underhanded. But JR was so power hungry it got the better of him. Hi philosophy was the Greater the risk, the greater the reward.
 
J

Jock Ewing Fan

Telly Talk Star
Bobby probably could have been a success at anything . He was the golden one, Jock and Ellie would have supported just about anything. Bobby had the looks, the charm, even the drive though he might apply it selectively. Bobby would leave the oil business from time to time while JR would
seem to be single focused on the Oil business. Jock realized that Bobby could be a stabilizing presence for Ewing Oil to prevent JR's access,
but Bobby never would be able to navigate something like the Asian Wells deal - higher risk, higher reward.
In real life though, two partners who are both so strong willed would probably have difficulty without clearly defined roles.
 
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