Patrick Duffy -- the complete 'Pioneers of Television' interview

[Snarky Oracle!]

 

[Rove]

Nice interview but nothing new. For once I'd love for someone to talk about the behind the scenes politics at play which began to screw with our beloved series.

 

[pete lashmar]

Nice interview but nothing new. For once I'd love for someone to talk about the behind the scenes politics at play which began to screw with our beloved series.

I couldn't agree more.

There seems to be a genuine bond of silence from the set and yet we know that there were so many huge behind the scenes goings on that affected the show on air.

Cast changes, cast returns, regulars treated like dirt. Let's not belittle it, Dallas has some serious Tea to spill.

 

[Billy Wall]

You’re not going to get any of that from the core cast. If you ask some of the others in private maybe, but the core cast isn’t going to publicly trash anybody. Why would they and what good would it do? It’s been a long time and some aren’t here to defend themselves.

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

You’re not going to get any of that from the core cast. If you ask some of the others in private maybe, but the core cast isn’t going to publicly trash anybody. Why would they and what good would it do? It’s been a long time and some aren’t here to defend themselves.

my theory is that this frequent blond extra knows all - we must identify and track him down!

(seen above at left)

 

[Rove]

but the core cast isn’t going to publicly trash anybody

I don't expect anyone to trash talk others, especially those who are no longer here to protect themselves but it would be nice to hear from someone who is prepared to discuss why the producers could not agree with Barbara Bel Geddes demands to a lighter work load rather than trash the character with a recast. When Barbara Bel did return it felt like Miss Ellie was benched. Why was Phil Capice allowed to be let go just to accommodate Lenny's return? Whatever their personal differences, creative wise the magic was happening on screen. For someone who was supposedly the commander of Dallas and held in such high regard by his peers the series floundered once Lenny achieved the position of supreme leader.

There was the mess created when the producers decided to get Patrick to return after leaving the previous season. Gee, did that leave a bitter taste in viewers mouths. Victoria leaving was of her making but again there was this total screw up with Pam and please don't get me started on allowing Susan Howard and Linda Gray to leave to be left with that half blood Ewing Ray to saddle up with Jenna. Then there was the hiring of fresh faced actors. So fresh they hadn't had time to pick their diplomas for acting.

....okay I feel a sense of loathing rising against my all time favourite series....time for a Bourbon & Branch.

 

[Barbara Fan]

Thanks for posting @Snarky Oracle

Like everyone else Id love to hear something different, its always the same old stories that get asked about and I feel i know the answers off by heart

Id love an interview with the likes of John Beck, Morgan Brittany, Audrey Landers and hear their side of it or someone like Steve Kanaly who has a much better memory for Dallas than his co stars

Sadly so many of the cast Id really like to see interviewed are no longer with us

 

[Rove]

its always the same old stories that get asked about and I feel i know the answers off by heart

It's as if the cast are reading off a prepared script.

 

[Chris2]

The actors from Dallas are of the old school where they don’t speak ill of other actors.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Nice interview but nothing new. For once I'd love for someone to talk about the behind the scenes politics at play which began to screw with our beloved series.

Yeah, I'd've wanted to know how he felt about the Wes Parmalee Jock Ewing storyline and whether he and Larry had anything to do with reneging on the outcome of making Wes Jock. I know there was a backlash from fans about it at the time but did the shows stars have anything to do with it being pulled as well?

 

[Barbara Fan]

Wes / Ben and Steve Forrest was only on a ST contract in Dallas, he was never going to be Jock.

 

[Karin]

Nice interview. Thanks for sharing. It was interesting when he talked about how directing Dallas had made him less "competitive" with his co-stars.

 

[supermanfan]

Thanks for sharing it was a great interview with Mr Duffy

 

[Rove]

It was interesting when he talked about how directing Dallas had made him less "competitive" with his co-stars.

And credit where it's due. Patrick directed the episode "Hurt" for TNT Dallas. Many have stated how this episode felt like old Dallas...and it was.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

You’re not going to get any of that from the core cast. If you ask some of the others in private maybe, but the core cast isn’t going to publicly trash anybody. Why would they and what good would it do? It’s been a long time and some aren’t here to defend themselves.

You make a good point. Maybe some short term supporting actors, camera crew, extras, stunt men etc would be good interviews, because they would be less
likely to have a long term interest in preserving behind the scenes goings-on

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Thanks for posting @Snarky Oracle

Like everyone else Id love to hear something different, its always the same old stories that get asked about and I feel i know the answers off by heart

Id love an interview with the likes of John Beck, Morgan Brittany, Audrey Landers and hear their side of it or someone like Steve Kanaly who has a much better memory for Dallas than his co stars

Sadly so many of the cast Id really like to see interviewed are no longer with us

Yeah, I'd love to hear Steve Forrest's memories of being both Ben Stivers and then Wes Parmalee.

He was so close to being a re-cast Jock Ewing.

 

[KayLloyd]

Yeah, I'd love to hear Steve Forrest's memories of being both Ben Stivers and then Wes Parmalee.

He was so close to being a re-cast Jock Ewing.

Unfortunately you'll need a medium to get that interview, he died in 2013 .

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Unfortunately you'll need a medium to get that interview, he died in 2013 .

I already knew he had passed away.

I would've still loved his memories about being on the show.

He's one of my very favourite actors on the series.

May He Rest In Peace.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

The actors from Dallas are of the old school where they don’t speak ill of other actors.

Very true!

They're also not the type to smack the host at an award ceremony because they made a slightly naughty joke about someone they knew!

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Unfortunately you'll need a medium to get that interview, he died in 2013 .

Well, now that you mention it I've been in close contact with Mystic Meg and we'll be having a seance on Friday evening.