Forums
New posts
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Awards
Log in
Register
What's new
New posts
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
A little forum update...We're planning an upgrade.
Find out more about what's planned and how you can help support the forum
Click here for the details
Forums
Dallas the TV series
Dallas - The Original Series
Leonard Katzman; like him or loathe him?
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="the-lost-son" data-source="post: 368213" data-attributes="member: 672"><p>Katzman's only work I know is Dallas. There is a highly recommended interview of David Paulsen from 2008 (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181211102712/http://www.ultimatedallas.com/dallasinterviews/davidpaulsen.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20181211102712/http://www.ultimatedallas.com/dallasinterviews/davidpaulsen.html</a>) in which he described the creative control of Dallas as a very tiny group with Katzman at the top (in contrast to KL where David Jacobs ran things differently with more people involved).</p><p></p><p>So most of Dallas' success and its failures have to be attributed to Katzman.</p><p>During his first years there were fundamental decisions taken which made Dallas the icon we remember:</p><p>- Recognizing the potential of JR and making him the center of the show</p><p>- Recognizing the potential of at first secondary character SueEllen and giving her room and material to work with.</p><p>- the serial, ongoing format</p><p>and among others my personal no.1:</p><p>- creating a year-long fabulous storyline when a major character died (Jock) instead of taking the usual trodden path of just giving MissEllie another love interest after +/- 10 episodes (which seemed standard procedure at that time).</p><p></p><p>In regards to his 2nd stint, "dried-up" is the right word to describe it. Sometimes you get a rare glimpse of what was still possible. For example making this Wes Parmalee storyline work which on paper sounds far-fetched and convoluted (X-rays, fevers and lie detectors). One has to wonder why he did not care for a proper solution to bring Bobby back.</p><p></p><p>The problem with the last 4 years is the writing, additionally with cast exodus descreasing production values etc., but in the end it all comes down to the writing.</p><p></p><p>The days are gone when a season is closed with a cliffhanger which brings the season full circle (eg. Ewing inferno, Bobby shot, Swan Song). Now things just happen without rhyme or reason - JR shot by SueEllen, SueEllen in a movie theater, JR in the sanatorium and the series' finale. It feels like scenes or short-term storylines happen out of the blue and are just added to the last season's episode - addmitedly with some shock value - but without any longterm effect on the following season - just like Bobby in the shower.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="the-lost-son, post: 368213, member: 672"] Katzman's only work I know is Dallas. There is a highly recommended interview of David Paulsen from 2008 ([URL]https://web.archive.org/web/20181211102712/http://www.ultimatedallas.com/dallasinterviews/davidpaulsen.html[/URL]) in which he described the creative control of Dallas as a very tiny group with Katzman at the top (in contrast to KL where David Jacobs ran things differently with more people involved). So most of Dallas' success and its failures have to be attributed to Katzman. During his first years there were fundamental decisions taken which made Dallas the icon we remember: - Recognizing the potential of JR and making him the center of the show - Recognizing the potential of at first secondary character SueEllen and giving her room and material to work with. - the serial, ongoing format and among others my personal no.1: - creating a year-long fabulous storyline when a major character died (Jock) instead of taking the usual trodden path of just giving MissEllie another love interest after +/- 10 episodes (which seemed standard procedure at that time). In regards to his 2nd stint, "dried-up" is the right word to describe it. Sometimes you get a rare glimpse of what was still possible. For example making this Wes Parmalee storyline work which on paper sounds far-fetched and convoluted (X-rays, fevers and lie detectors). One has to wonder why he did not care for a proper solution to bring Bobby back. The problem with the last 4 years is the writing, additionally with cast exodus descreasing production values etc., but in the end it all comes down to the writing. The days are gone when a season is closed with a cliffhanger which brings the season full circle (eg. Ewing inferno, Bobby shot, Swan Song). Now things just happen without rhyme or reason - JR shot by SueEllen, SueEllen in a movie theater, JR in the sanatorium and the series' finale. It feels like scenes or short-term storylines happen out of the blue and are just added to the last season's episode - addmitedly with some shock value - but without any longterm effect on the following season - just like Bobby in the shower. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
What month follows July?
Post reply
Forums
Dallas the TV series
Dallas - The Original Series
Leonard Katzman; like him or loathe him?
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…
Top
