J.R Returns should have been a blueprint.

[cws]

I think JR Returns would have been a good ending to the show if they had brought back Pam as the Julia character (I suspect she was supposed to be Pam in the original script. It would explain why she knew Afton and took care of Pamela Rebecca). Also they should have brought back Ray and also Lucy.

I actually prefer Dallas TNT over War of the Ewings!
But I think Dallas TNT should have started with Pamela Rebecca getting married to John Ross, not Christopher and we should have known from the start who she was and seen her parents. It would have been like Bobby/Pam's forbidden love story all over again. It would have worked.

I don't know... I guess it was all the Ramos stuff that got me turned off with TNT. It was if we were supposed to believe they were in the original show. It was a total re-write. I don't like storylines changing just because the writers feel the need to. I don't like it in my daytime soaps!!!

 

[cws]

Just finished Return to Southfork and had a tear in my eye as they all arrived.

It's a lovely tribute but far too scripted, it would have been nice to hear then talk about things more naturally.

But worth it just to see them all arriving at Southfork at the beginning, especially with VP there too.

I saw it about a month ago. I totally agree that it was ascripted too much. It is still nice to watch though. It's so ironic that I look at 2004 as nostalgic!! I'm getting old!!!

 

[Lastkidpicked]

Just finished Return to Southfork and had a tear in my eye as they all arrived.

Those of you who watched Return to Southfork recently, say it with me in your best Larry Hagman voice:

"Welcome friends and family. Welcome back to Southfork!"

 

[pete lashmar]

I don't know... I guess it was all the Ramos stuff that got me turned off with TNT. It was if we were supposed to believe they were in the original show. It was a total re-write. I don't like storylines changing just because the writers feel the need to. I don't like it in my daytime soaps!!!

The whole introduction of the Ramos family made my blood boil.

Although TNT wanted a new and young audience they knew that if the show appealed to fans of the original show they get a starter audience that can then grow. Then, they rewrite the history of the show and alienate the old fans and done it right from the off in the very first episode.

There was something underlining TNT Dallas that I really didn't like, the Ewings became targets for just about everyone whereas the show's original success had been the Ewings at war within but all together when needed to fight outsiders.

But all the drugs and guns...no, that wasn't Dallas,

 

[cws]

The whole introduction of the Ramos family made my blood boil.

Although TNT wanted a new and young audience they knew that if the show appealed to fans of the original show they get a starter audience that can then grow. Then, they rewrite the history of the show and alienate the old fans and done it right from the off in the very first episode.

There was something underlining TNT Dallas that I really didn't like, the Ewings became targets for just about everyone whereas the show's original success had been the Ewings at war within but all together when needed to fight outsiders.

But all the drugs and guns...no, that wasn't Dallas,

I couldn't have said it any better!!! Also, Cliff Barnes was ruined. I just don't know what they were thinking!! Other than JR dying, and the funeral episode.. it doesn't even exist in my book.

 

[Lastkidpicked]

The problem is that TNT Dallas just didn't capture the "fun" of the original series. What do I mean by fun?

In J.R. Returns, there is a classic J.R. line, and Larry Hagman delivers it perfectly.

Carter McKay is buying Ewing Oil from Cliff Barnes. Of course, J.R. is trying to stop this and meets with McKay to try to make a deal. McKay tells him, "No deal. Ewing Oil is part of a long range program I promised my board."

We all know J.R. is going to win in the end. And when he wins, what does he do? He looks right at Carter McKay and says:

"Don't kid yourself, Mac. Your long range program just fell on it's ass."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I use that line whenever I can.

 

[Miss Texas 1967]

For some reason Warner's told the Cyntax Production team to ignore the two Dallas reunion movies.

That wasn't all they ignored. They made up and ignored entire backstories as if the characters weren't already known to the audience. Cliff adopted a son during seasons 5/6? Hmm no he didn't. Miss Ellie was institutionalised after Jock died? No she wasn't. The Ramoses...

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

The problem is that TNT Dallas just didn't capture the "fun" of the original series. What do I mean by fun?

In J.R. Returns, there is a classic J.R. line, and Larry Hagman delivers it perfectly.

Carter McKay is buying Ewing Oil from Cliff Barnes. Of course, J.R. is trying to stop this and meets with McKay to try to make a deal. McKay tells him, "No deal. Ewing Oil is part of a long range program I promised my board."

We all know J.R. is going to win in the end. And when he wins, what does he do? He looks right at Carter McKay and says:

"Don't kid yourself, Mac. Your long range program just fell on it's ass."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I use that line whenever I can.

You can thank the veteran writer Arthur Bernard Lewis for that.

He was possibly responsible for a lot of JR's witty one liners during the run of the series. God Bless Him.

 

[cws]

That wasn't all they ignored. They made up and ignored entire backstories as if the characters weren't already known to the audience. Cliff adopted a son during seasons 5/6? Hmm no he didn't. Miss Ellie was institutionalised after Jock died? No she wasn't. The Ramoses...

I hate re-writes just for storytelling. The producers/writers think we are all stupid and had lobotomies.I can't stand it!! It makes my blood boil. It was done a lot on the daytime soaps and it's absolutely frustrating!! Cynthia shouldn't have changed anything to an iconic show!!!

 

[Seaviewer]

J.R. Returns was like a return to form for Dallas after the dire final season(s). The second film The War of the Ewings was nowhere as good and seemed to suggest they were unable to sustain the quality for very long.

I wouldn't say unable. They seem to have made a deliberate choice to ignore everything that was set up in the first one and instead make a standalone sitcom version. Once I got that I did find it rather amusing as a self-parody but it's not really what I wanted to see.

 

[Matthew Blaisdel]

- The score over-used the cues written for "Killer at Large" (Season 7 premiere).

Are you sure you don't mean S8 Premiere "The Family Ewing" right after Bobby's "death"?
Because i remember they used that melancholic spanish guitar piece of the beginning of "Family Ewing" in the scene with John Ross on the phone learning about his father's "death".
Oh man, so many fake deaths on this show

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

I wouldn't say unable. They seem to have made a deliberate choice to ignore everything that was set up in the first one and instead make a standalone sitcom version. Once I got that I did find it rather amusing as a self-parody but it's not really what I wanted to see.

WOTE was awful. I would be interested to read any interviews where the production team or cast discuss what they were trying to do.
If Ray was a part of this, why wasn't Lucas involved somehow, also Donna and their daughter? Jenna?
Jeremy Wendell returning for vengeance?
No Cliff Barnes at all?

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

I hate re-writes just for storytelling.

I feel the same way about the introduction of Jack and Jamie Ewing... The original Jock/Digger backstory was perfect - why complicate it with a second never-before-mentioned Ewing brother just for the purpose of introducing a couple of new camera-friendly cast members and a half-season "will the Ewings lose Ewing Oil?" storyline? They could have found a way to get them on the show and into a compelling storyline without fouling up the origin story.

 

[Toni]

Are you sure you don't mean S8 Premiere "The Family Ewing" right after Bobby's "death"?
Because i remember they used that melancholic spanish guitar piece of the beginning of "Family Ewing" in the scene with John Ross on the phone learning about his father's "death".
Oh man, so many fake deaths on this show

That, too!

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Just finished Return to Southfork and had a tear in my eye as they all arrived.

It's a lovely tribute but far too scripted, it would have been nice to hear then talk about things more naturally.

But worth it just to see them all arriving at Southfork at the beginning, especially with VP there too.

That documentary always get's to me when I re-watch it.

I know it's only a minor little visual moment but the minute the Dallas logo zooms up that's the first thing guaranteed to set me off!

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Those of you who watched Return to Southfork recently, say it with me in your best Larry Hagman voice:

"Welcome friends and family. Welcome back to Southfork!"

And that's the second thing guaranteed to set me off!

The only thing which I'd mark the documentary down on is Barbara Bel Geddes wasn't there.

Possibly she was unwell or just not able to attend but I would've loved to have seen her with all her co-stars.

 

[Rove]

But she was not aware that the Ewings had already met Cliff and Afton's daughter Pamela Rebecca in that movie.

DUMB!​

 

[Rove]

But I think Dallas TNT should have started with Pamela Rebecca getting married to John Ross, not Christopher and we should have known from the start who she was and seen her parents. It would have been like Bobby/Pam's forbidden love story all over again. It would have worked.

I had sprouted this idea in other decaying threads. It would have made sense for John Ross and Pamela to have married in Europe. John Ross contacts Teresa at Southfork and requests she organize the extended family to gather: including Cliff and Afton. This introduction would have reflected the original in tone but ignited the war between the Ewing and Barnes family.

But hey, what would I know.