I’d argue that’s precisely what’s wrong with daytime soaps today (and it was also what was wrong with the younger generation on Dallas 2.0). It’s all about eye candy. Sure, there was eye candy in the heyday of US daytime soaps in the 1980s. But there were also plenty of people who could act who didn’t look models. For example, Victoria Wyndham who played Rachel on “Another World,” wasn’t beautiful, but she was a hell of a performer.
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Brian Kinney
Telly Talk Addict
Steve Kanaly and Charlene Tilton were the weakest links in the cast for the longest time and then Priscilla Presley. I don't recall such weak actors in long runs on the other big 80's soaps. But Tilton at least had some charming appearance and was indeed good during the Mickey Trotter storyline. Kanaly and Presley looked mostly uncomfortable and I always wished Susan Howard had someone with the presence of Barry Newman as in PETROCELLI to act with.
And I strongly disagree about the often mentioned Susan Flannery and Sheree J. Wilson. Flannery had a part which was a filler for those boring sub-plots typical for TV series that last longer than 13 episodes for a season, so stretched out that the writers get lazy. In a male dominated writers room the guys were seemingly only inspired to write for hookers (Serena, Mandy) and women as victims. Flannery's acting was nevertheless decent. The women who were powerful on paper dressed like models to target men (Holly, Kimberly), that was the place where Flannery's Leslie had to succeed. A strong contrast to female friendlier shows like HILL STREET BLUES, L.A. LAW and of course KNOTS LANDING, DYNASTY or FALCON CREST. A lot of DALLAS' women were already caricatures back when the show aired. That's one of the reasons DALLAS wasn't popular with critics and appealing to more male viewers than the other soaps. And it's obviously still in your perception about the worst casting choices because most of you name the actresses who were badly served by the writers. How is Leigh McCloskey not mentioned, Jack Scalia, Andrew Stevens or J. Eddie Peck?
Sheree J. Wilson was very good and singled out by critics for her two-season show OUR FAMILY HONOR (1985-86), also produced by Lorimar. DALLAS' supervising producer Arthur Bernard Lewis wrote the pilot for it. For that show she was what Morgan Fairchild was for FLAMINGO ROAD and PAPER DOLLS. Except OUR FAMILY HONOR was seen by even less viewers and she didn't have Fairchild's talent for self-promoting. But I was a fan of OUR FAMILY HONOR before anyone of you ever heard of a - ouch! - casting couch! People who hate April and/ or Sheree are untrustworthy Pam and Bobby fans!!! Anita Smithfield got informed that you no longer appear in my last will to receive DALLAS collectibles.
And I strongly disagree about the often mentioned Susan Flannery and Sheree J. Wilson. Flannery had a part which was a filler for those boring sub-plots typical for TV series that last longer than 13 episodes for a season, so stretched out that the writers get lazy. In a male dominated writers room the guys were seemingly only inspired to write for hookers (Serena, Mandy) and women as victims. Flannery's acting was nevertheless decent. The women who were powerful on paper dressed like models to target men (Holly, Kimberly), that was the place where Flannery's Leslie had to succeed. A strong contrast to female friendlier shows like HILL STREET BLUES, L.A. LAW and of course KNOTS LANDING, DYNASTY or FALCON CREST. A lot of DALLAS' women were already caricatures back when the show aired. That's one of the reasons DALLAS wasn't popular with critics and appealing to more male viewers than the other soaps. And it's obviously still in your perception about the worst casting choices because most of you name the actresses who were badly served by the writers. How is Leigh McCloskey not mentioned, Jack Scalia, Andrew Stevens or J. Eddie Peck?
Sheree J. Wilson was very good and singled out by critics for her two-season show OUR FAMILY HONOR (1985-86), also produced by Lorimar. DALLAS' supervising producer Arthur Bernard Lewis wrote the pilot for it. For that show she was what Morgan Fairchild was for FLAMINGO ROAD and PAPER DOLLS. Except OUR FAMILY HONOR was seen by even less viewers and she didn't have Fairchild's talent for self-promoting. But I was a fan of OUR FAMILY HONOR before anyone of you ever heard of a - ouch! - casting couch! People who hate April and/ or Sheree are untrustworthy Pam and Bobby fans!!! Anita Smithfield got informed that you no longer appear in my last will to receive DALLAS collectibles.
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Taylor Bennett Jr.
Telly Talk Winner
Alex Ward would have just changed the title to "Miss Medium-Sized Dallas"
Luke_Krebbs_Ewing
Telly Talk Champion
Laurie Marr
Telly Talk Well-Known Member
Flannery is an accomplished actor and she had the misfortune to enter the show during the post-shooting lull. I think there was something else going on….. her toying with JR and his very unconvincing justifications for wanting to bed her rendered their coupling decidedly queer. I wonder whether Flannery’s sexuality was influencing the dynamic of how that relationship played out on screen.
Rove
Telly Talk Warrior
I actually preferred the early version of Ray Krebbs when he played the shadowy sidekick to JR. If they had left Ray as the ranch foreman with the occasionally appearance it would have worked but clearly the writers required the shock value by making him a half blood Ewing.
Monzo
Telly Talk Enthusiast
I actually mentioned Andrew Stevens, but yes, I'm also surprised that some actors aren't considered the worst. They might have been bad, but not that bad compared to others. Jack Scalia was one of my personal weak points in season 11, but in season 12 Ian McShane came along as Sue Ellen's new love interest and suddenly Jack Scalia's performance and chemistry with Linda Gray looked much better in hindsight. Of all short-lived male characters, Michael Wilding jr. comes to my mind to be really bad.
Lucy has always had boyfriends who were a good match for Charlene Tilton's acting talent. In my opinion, only Fredric Lehne was a wrong casting choice. I like his acting nowadays similar to Ian McShane but I didn't enjoy him on Dallas.
I'm glad no one picked Leigh Taylor-Young as the worst. Perhaps the focus for JR's worst ladies is more on Gayle Hunnicutt and Cathy Podewell.
The biggest stars to join Dallas were Donna Reed and George Kennedy. While Donna Reed has been mentioned many times, no one seems to think George Kennedy was the wrong choice as Carter McKay.
Lesley-Anne Down has already been mentioned among the worse, but what about Barbara Stock, who always seemed to me to be her replacement on Dallas. Was she the better casting choice?
Worst forgotten casting choice for me is Susan Lucci. All My Children didn't air in my home country, so Dallas was the first time I got to watch Susan Lucci. Hillary Taylor was a difficult character. Why did a widow become a terrorist? Susan Lucci couldn't convey that at all. Maybe Erica Kane fans liked her as Hillary Taylor, but I didn't.
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Jock Ewing Fan
Telly Talk Star
I guess I have a different point of view. I liked Sheree Wilson as April and I liked her on "Walker, Texas Ranger.'
Didn't care at all for Kimberly Foster as her sister - I thought that casting could have beenbetter.
Michelle Stevens
'The Lovely Michelle'
Jock Ewing Fan
Telly Talk Star
That's ok. I do think the character was a good idea.
I respectfully and obviously disagree.
Thats why there are (how many) flavors of Ice Cream! LOL!
Willie Oleson
Telly Talk Schemer
Michelle Stevens is a quintessential "Dallas girl" and I think Kimberly Foster was one of the better casting choices for late eighties Dallas.
J. Eddie Peck was good for the role of Tommy.
Vanessa Beaumont is DALLAS' answer to Francesca Colby, and James is pure Twin Peaks. Love them both.
And it boggles the mind that Lesley-Anne Down would be considered a bad choice for a soap opera.
Now, Victoria Principal on the other hand...I never got any TEXAS vibes from her. Come to think of it, she doesn't even look very American.
J. Eddie Peck was good for the role of Tommy.
Vanessa Beaumont is DALLAS' answer to Francesca Colby, and James is pure Twin Peaks. Love them both.
And it boggles the mind that Lesley-Anne Down would be considered a bad choice for a soap opera.
Now, Victoria Principal on the other hand...I never got any TEXAS vibes from her. Come to think of it, she doesn't even look very American.
Snarky Oracle!
Telly Talk Supreme
Steve Kanaly was bad casting ???????
I don't think Sheree Wilson was a bad actress, but Katzman made April U-turn her personality in order to shoehorn her into Southfork as Bobby's improbable bride.
George Kennedy was, obviously, a terrific actor, but the Howard Lakin-era of writers never really knew what they wanted to do with Carter McKay --- and then they had him usurp Wendell's role when Larry allegedly tricked William Smithers into asking for a raise when Lorimar-Telepictures was cutting back.
Kimberly Foster had greatish hair. Maybe she might have worked better as a character in a period of DALLAS when the writing was better.
J Eddie Peck was a good crazy-guy. but was briefly shoved in and out of DALLAS to undermine his mysterious presence on DYNASTY being produced by Katzman's prodigal protégé Paulsen.
Susan Lucci and Barbara Eden were overt stunt casting choices.
I don't think Sheree Wilson was a bad actress, but Katzman made April U-turn her personality in order to shoehorn her into Southfork as Bobby's improbable bride.
George Kennedy was, obviously, a terrific actor, but the Howard Lakin-era of writers never really knew what they wanted to do with Carter McKay --- and then they had him usurp Wendell's role when Larry allegedly tricked William Smithers into asking for a raise when Lorimar-Telepictures was cutting back.
Kimberly Foster had greatish hair. Maybe she might have worked better as a character in a period of DALLAS when the writing was better.
J Eddie Peck was a good crazy-guy. but was briefly shoved in and out of DALLAS to undermine his mysterious presence on DYNASTY being produced by Katzman's prodigal protégé Paulsen.
Susan Lucci and Barbara Eden were overt stunt casting choices.
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Michelle Stevens
'The Lovely Michelle'
Indeed!
Willie Oleson
Telly Talk Schemer
But it's nice to have something good in the lesser successful years. There's got to be a reason to watch it.
And so was Priscilla P. except that she outstayed her stunt casting. Maybe she and Lois Chiles should have swapped roles.
Incidentally, there are quite a few gems amongst the single-episode guest stars.
Rove
Telly Talk Warrior
Good grief I'd forgotten about her but as my personal DVD collection finishes at "Swan Song" I'll have to wait until Warner Bros re-releases Dallas prior to offering my opinion. Was Susan cast to boost the ratings locally in the U.S.? I'd imagine not many had heard of her outside America.
Willie Oleson
Telly Talk Schemer
Joanna Cassidy can do no wrong but in this case I prefer the first, predatory-blonde and very very Texan Sally Bullock. She looked like a cross between Marilee Stone and Judith Ryland.
WarriorsFan
Telly Talk Active Member
Was Susan Flannery's part on Dallas meant to be a long term role? I think she had an arc of 10 episodes. I can't picture her on Knots Landing, but she might have worked on Falcon Crest. Then again, she was MIA for a few years between Dallas and The Bold and the Beautiful so for all we know she might not have been interested in a long-term primetime soap role in the mid-1980s.
Susan Lucci is one of the very few daytime soap actors that is known in pop culture. It was surprising that of all the primetime soaps she ended up on Dallas in its waning years. One would think that ABC would get her a short arc on Dynasty at the height of its popularity (she had guest starred on The Love Boat and Fantasy Island so Aaron Spelling was aware of her). Imagine Susan Lucci facing off with Joan Collins, that would have been something else.
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Snarky Oracle!
Telly Talk Supreme
Joanna Cassidy wasn't the best Mrs. Bullock, lacking the exquisite trailer park queen bravura of the other.
Instead, Cassidy should have been one of Krystle's doubles on DYNASTY -- perhaps she should have actually played Rita Lesley herself, which would just make the Carringtons' confusion all the funnier: this imposter the audience can recognize as a fraud but none of the cast can!
Instead, Cassidy should have been one of Krystle's doubles on DYNASTY -- perhaps she should have actually played Rita Lesley herself, which would just make the Carringtons' confusion all the funnier: this imposter the audience can recognize as a fraud but none of the cast can!