Gary Ewing in Dallas

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

Jock was often portrayed as gullible, but there was at least one time when I felt his ‘gullibility’ was something more subtle.

At first glance it appeared he believed JR’s assertion that he didn’t know about the nationalization of the Asian wells before dumping them off on the cartel and Vaughn Leland.

Another interpretation that seems more likely upon reflection is that he was establishing JR’s credibility-straining declaration of innocence as the official Ewing position on the matter.

Now the devious Muriel Gillis, on the other hand, he was no match for.

 

[Top Jimmy]

The Knots writers must have been smoking something to have Gary say that about Jock and Val. Jock gave no indication whatsoever that he liked Valene during the limited scenes we saw them together on Dallas. I remember he even blew a gasket when Lucy wanted to invite Val to her birthday party.

 

[the-lost-son]

Similar bureaucracy existed on the TNT Dallas, as to why Bobby and Betsy (Gary and Val's twin children) weren't included.

If I'm not mistaken there were plans to bring in Donna Mills as Abby to bring her to TNT Dallas which where scrapped for the sane reasons.

It's interesting that the majority here has watched Knots Landing (in contrast to me).

I know it's only fiction, but after Bobby died and the possibility that VP might leave in one year later (like she did), Gary&Val could have spilled that spot. The whole story over again Gary&JR fighting for Ewing Oil, JR hated Val Pam... (let Jenna, Jack, Jamie leave, later Pam leaves with Mark, but we keep Donna&Ray intact...)

Do you think what would have worked knowing the characters' development in KL?

 

[Pamela_E]

Interesting question, I think that in another universe where Knots didn't get recommissioned Gary would have a great permanent character when Bobby died.

Imagine Gary and a Pam together. It would have maintained the shows dynamics. But actually more interesting due to Gary's demons.

Imagine the scene where they break the news to the family they are together.

Lucy may not have been written out and perhaps she would have had more to do.

But then again without David Jacobs I'm not sure he would have been the wonderfully layered character we saw on Knots Landing.

 

[Pamela_E]

It may have been copyright bureaucracy as to why Abby wasn't in the Dallas episode "Jock's Will", as the character of Abby originated on Knots Landing. That's probably why we never got to see Miss Ellie in Knots Landing too. The best time would have been after Bobby's death, but Barbara Bel Geddes had only just returned to the role of Miss Ellie at the time. Similar bureaucracy existed on the TNT Dallas, as to why Bobby and Betsy (Gary and Val's twin children) weren't included.

I doubt that was the reason back then as Jacobs was happy to have tie ins until the dream, I guess from his POV they had not given a thought to Knots Landing, so it was a bit of a middle finger to his show.

With TNT , Jacobs was clearly not happy with how he had been treated and was not going to let them use any characters from Knots.

Cynthia Cidre met with Donna Mills and would liked to have used her but it was not going to happen. Maybe if the show had continued that would have changed.

Funny how even all those years later the show was still wrapped up in politics and bad vibes.

The behind the scenes stuff was better than the actual new version.

But regardless I was happy to see Gary and Val again.

 

[Jimmy Todd]

The Knots writers must have been smoking something to have Gary say that about Jock and Val. Jock gave no indication whatsoever that he liked Valene during the limited scenes we saw them together on Dallas. I remember he even blew a gasket when Lucy wanted to invite Val to her birthday party.

That's a good point. Maybe the writers needed a reason for Gary to have that particular scene with Val.
That's pretty harsh of Jock to not want Lucy's own mom at her birthday party. Why would he react that way?

 

[James from London]

The Knots writers must have been smoking something to have Gary say that about Jock and Val. Jock gave no indication whatsoever that he liked Valene during the limited scenes we saw them together on Dallas. I remember he even blew a gasket when Lucy wanted to invite Val to her birthday party.

It made sense within the context of what was happening with Gary on KNOTS at the time. After Val angrily refuses his invitation to attend the will reading with him, Lilimae suggests that the reality of his daddy's death might have just finally hit him and he wants to be with someone who loves him. "Then let him go to her," Val replies. It's more about how Gary feels about Val in the present rather than how Jock did or didn't feel about her back in the day.

That's pretty harsh of Jock to not want Lucy's own mom at her birthday party. Why would he react that way?

Because he fell for JR's story about Val taking money to leave Southfork.

 

[Jimmy Todd]

It made sense within the context of what was happening with Gary on KNOTS at the time. After Val angrily refuses his invitation to attend the will reading with him, Lilimae suggests that the reality of his daddy's death might have just finally hit him and he wants to be with someone who loves him. "Then let him go to her," Val replies. It's more about how Gary feels about Val in the present rather than how Jock did or didn't feel about her back in the day.

Because he fell for JR's story about Val taking money to leave Southfork.

Thank you for providing context.
I'm fascinated by Valene's relationship to the Ewings. In one way some flashbacks of her time with them would have been fun, but it's more intriguing that we got got bits of dialogue that hinted at what it was like and at times contradicted each other.
A great scene from Knots Landing is when Val throws it in JR's face that he destroyed her relationship with Lucy. JR turned it on her by saying nothing was preventing she and Lucy from getting together, which at this point had truth in it. Its comparable to the scene when Pam berates JR for his affair with Holly Harwood and he points out that she, a married woman, flew off to France with Mark Graison instead of staying by Bobby's side during the battle for Ewing Oil. The only difference is that Pam got to give JR one of the best slaps in Soapland. Poor Val never got to slap JR.

 

[Seaviewer]

I had always assumed that Knots Landing would be canceled first which could pave the way for Gary and Val to return to Dallas. (Much like what eventually happened with Jeff and Fallon on Dynasty).
Who knew that Dallas would implode like it did and Knots would outlive it?

 

[GillesDenver]

Here's some of it anyway:

Thank you ! I do remember the scene between Val and J.R. but I forgot that it took place at "Dallas" and that Gary and Abby were there. It's VERY odd to have the characters of "Knots Landing" going to Dallas but still within their show. It makes think when Alexis went to LA to see Jeff and Fallon's new baby but in "Dynasty" instead of "The Cobys".

 

[the-lost-son]

The behind the scenes stuff was better than the actual new version.

I'd kill for more information on that.

I think to remember that (at least at the beginning) the producers reached out to the runners of ultimatedallas.com and Dallas decoder.
I'm sure there are lots of juicy details which could fill a book.

The backstage politics with Lotimar Dallas are fascinating to this day.
At least there seems to be a parallel between the two series

 

[Mustard]

I know it's only fiction, but after Bobby died and the possibility that VP might leave in one year later (like she did), Gary&Val could have spilled that spot. The whole story over again Gary&JR fighting for Ewing Oil, JR hated Val Pam... (let Jenna, Jack, Jamie leave, later Pam leaves with Mark, but we keep Donna&Ray intact...)

Do you think what would have worked knowing the characters' development in KL?

Gary wasn't really interested in the oil business, just like J.R. wasn't interested in ranching. But Gary could certainly have had other business interests in the area or funding interests contrary to J.R.'s interests, to J.R.'s annoyance. Gary was an environmentalist.

 

[Mustard]

The Knots writers must have been smoking something to have Gary say that about Jock and Val. Jock gave no indication whatsoever that he liked Valene during the limited scenes we saw them together on Dallas.

During Gary and Valene's early 1960s marriage, Jock was fine with Val. He was harsh on Gary. J.R., on the other hand, derided both, but even more so Val who he didn't like for several reasons, and was determined to split them up.

I remember he even blew a gasket when Lucy wanted to invite Val to her birthday party.

Because Val had apparently taken money from J.R. to leave Southfork without a word, while Gary had run away, again. This apparent weakness of character is what Jock hates.

 

[Top Jimmy]

t made sense within the context of what was happening with Gary on KNOTS at the time. After Val angrily refuses his invitation to attend the will reading with him, Lilimae suggests that the reality of his daddy's death might have just finally hit him and he wants to be with someone who loves him. "Then let him go to her," Val replies. It's more about how Gary feels about Val in the present rather than how Jock did or didn't feel about her back in the day.

That makes more sense now. It just seemed like an odd thing for Gary to say. The scene might have seemed more authentic to me if Gary said Lucy and Miss Ellie might need her there or appreciate seeing her. I think Val's reaction to Gary seemed a little off. I think in that scene when Gary invites her, she wonders out loud to Gary and/or Lilimae why in the world Gary would think she would go back to Dallas. I just thought, uh, Val, you have a daughter there who lost her grandfather and was kidnapped a few months before and might need some comforting.

 

[stevew]

Gary wasn't really interested in the oil business, just like J.R. wasn't interested in ranching. But Gary could certainly have had other business interests in the area or funding interests contrary to J.R.'s interests, to J.R.'s annoyance. Gary was an environmentalist.

Good point. But if he got South Fork from Miss Ellie and all that oil under either - could have been a chance for a show down and rehashing old grievances. Plus if he’s with Abby she certainly would have been interested in EO. And if he ends up with Pam, and Cliff isn’t an idiot, and he talks Gary into something like slant drilling. Abby gets with Wendell, takes Barnes Wentworth from Cliff and merges it into West Star. Then JR gets his hands on Wentworth Tool and Die and shuts down the slant drilling - oh the possibilities could have been endless.

 

[Pamela_E]

It made sense within the context of what was happening with Gary on KNOTS at the time. After Val angrily refuses his invitation to attend the will reading with him, Lilimae suggests that the reality of his daddy's death might have just finally hit him and he wants to be with someone who loves him. "Then let him go to her," Val replies. It's more about how Gary feels about Val in the present rather than how Jock did or didn't feel about her back in the day.

Because he fell for JR's story about Val taking money to leave Southfork.

Why did JR want Lucy? It's been so long since I have seen Dallas I can't recall. In the early years I read the impression JR had taken on her a parent figure to her but I guess it was Ellie and Jock.

 

[Billy Wall]

Why did JR want Lucy? It's been so long since I have seen Dallas I can't recall. In the early years I read the impression JR had taken on her a parent figure to her but I guess it was Ellie and Jock.

Interesting that you say that because JR and Sue Ellen did seem like they were somewhat responsible for her in the early seasons.

 

[Mustard]

Why did JR want Lucy?

Ewing family's image. "What would people say about Jock Ewing's granddaughter being with that tramp Valene in some poor areas of Tennessee or Virginia?" Lucy would have been a very different person had she been brought up that way.

 

[James from London]

Why did JR want Lucy?

It was never stated explicitly. Cos she was a blood Ewing, maybe?

 

[James from London]

It's been so long since I have seen Dallas

How long has it been ...?