Breaking News
‘Dallas’ star Ken Kercheval Dead At Age 83
Sad news to report for fans of the iconic primetime soap, Dallas. Ken Kercheval, who played the thorn in J.R. Ewing’s (Larry Hagman) side, Cliff Barnes, has passed away. The actor was 83 and died at his home in Indiana on Sunday. The cause of death is under wraps. He had been previously open about being a lung cancer survivor after years of smoking.
Kercheval was on Dallas for its entire run on CBS from 1978 to 1991, and returned to the TNT reboot from 2012 to 2014 to reprise his signature role.
On Dallas, Cliff Barnes was always the perennial loser when he went toe to toe with ruthless J.R, but in the final season, Cliff beats J.R at his own game and takes over Ewing Oil. Cliff was also hopelessly in love with Sue Ellen Ewing (Linda Gray) and was the brother to Pam Barnes, played by Victoria Principal.
As for Ken’s first big acting breaks, that came on daytime soap operas when early in his career he appeared on Search for Tomorrow and How to Survive a Marriage.
Later, he appeared on episodic dramas such as Starsky & Hutch, and Crossing Jordan. His final role was in a movie, 2019’s Surviving in L.A. said to be a comedy/drama in which he plays the business manager of a former teen sitcom star who trashed her life through drug abuse and is fresh out of rehab.
Share your thoughts on the passing of Ken Kercheval in the comment section below. But first, watch him as Cliff Barnes in this scene from TNT’s Dallas when he sees J.R. for the first time in years!
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RIP, Ken. I think I speak for all of us when I say that you were the best on Dallas!!!
he was, inarguably, the best actor outside of thee … Ewing Clan. his shenanigans, however much the writing slighted his demeanor. never stopped us from watching Cliff Barnes. watching JR and Cliff, adversarial … was like watching oil and water… yet the two never skipped a beat when it came to one upping takeover plotting conniving AND whatever was shared with both of these two sons from their respective family.
He kept coming back… AND for very good reason… Ken Kercheval was as solid as they come. Near tour de force , supporting AND sharing the spotlight with all the Ewing . I adored him… along with his love for his sister Pam.
Godspeed … You had that ride
“Ken Kercheval”
Thanks for reporting this–I hadn’t seen it anywhere else! He was a favorite on both the original and reboot DALLAS. Rest in Peace.
What I remember best about his acting style on DALLAS is that his character always had unique reactions in almost every scene he was in. His acting choices were frequently a bit unexpected, but it fit his character. What an incredible talent!
As one who fondly looks back to those heady days when the uber-popular Dallas and its happenings were a part of the country’s (okay, world’s) daily conversation, it’s impossible to imagine the show without its “ultimate loser,” Cliff Barnes as JR’s perennial whipping post! In the hands of a lesser actor, this character could have been a total laughing stock and completely pathetic fool, but Kercheval made him human, and even occasionally, worthy of sympathy. Although I admit I had little use for Cliff, his “underdog shtick” and his endlessly obsessive need to best JR and the Ewing clan, Ken Kercheval’s skillful portrayal of him as a tenacious man with an unquenchable mission will forever place him in the inner circle of those unforgettable players who contributed to the greatest and most memorable decade of primetime soaps we ever had the joy of experiencing. Thank you for your contribution to that still much-missed genre, Mr. Kercheval, and here’s to yet another epic rematch with JR….This time in the afterlife!
You always say it perfectly…
Thank you so much, Jimh! You are always such a sweetheart …❤️
Ken and Larry will always be the best ever for nighttime dramas. I will always remember watching Dallas on Friday nights. And you could add Jane Wyman in Falcon Crest and Michele Lee of Knots Landing to that best list. Thanks Ken for bringing the best to Dallas!
So sorry prayers out to family and friends. Great show. Wish they would run Dallas back on TV again. Was the most watch show back then. Cliff enjoyed watching you.
Breaking News
Impeachment Hearings On Broadcast Networks Show Ratings Much Lower Than The Daytime Soap Operas They Are Preempting
In an infuriating article written by FOX news, off of a study from NewsBusters, the news outlet and others have come to the realization that all of us who want our soaps back on the air already know. That is … that the network daytime dramas ratings are far better on a day-to-day basis than people tuning into network TV during the day to watch the impeachment hearings of Donald Trump.
Soap fans have been furious that in the afternoon network TV is pulling their soaps off their normal airtime across all coasts. Daytime soap viewers feel that all of the 24-hour news cable outlets should be the the place to go to see the hearings during the day; as to not to preempt the drama on General Hospital, Days of our Lives, The Young and the Restless, and The Bold and the Beautiful.
Photo: CBS
Just for the record, the study via NewsBusters showed that on day one of the impeachment hearing the networks scored as such: CBS averaged 1.52 million, ABC 1.29 million viewers, and NBC averaged 1.26 million viewers. Thursday’s were even worse with CBS averaging 1.4 million, ABC 1.2 million viewers and NBC had 1.1 million viewers.
Now compare that to the weekly daytime soap ratings and total viewers which while it ebbs and slows is still way about this. According to the study: “The Young & The Restless” has been averaging 3.7 million viewers during the 2019-2020 season and The Bold & The Beautiful averages 3.15 million viewers. ABC’s General Hospital averages 2.15 million viewers while NBC’s Days of Our Lives averages 1.95 million viewers.”
Share your thoughts on the pre=emptions of your favorite soaps, and how the impeachment hearings are, of course, not bringing in higher number in the day-part via the comment section below.
Breaking News
NBC Chairman, Paul Teledgy Says: “Days of our Lives Is Going To Carry On”
Very exciting and hopeful news Days of our Lives fans, and those of the soap genre, coming out of the NBC Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena, California Saturday morning.
During the lead-off executive session, NBC Chairman Paul Teledgy opened up about the status of Days of our Lives with the network since no official announcement had been made on their end as to the renewal pick-up of the beloved daytime drama.
However, Teledgy revealed: “We are in a middle of finding out very soon,” and then added, “Of course Days of Our Lives is going to carry on. We love it. Millions of Americans watch it every week. I know that will be good news for the fans.”
Teledgy also told Deadline after the executive session that negotiations are still ongoing and the series will stay on NBC, and will not be moving onto the upcoming Peacock streaming service said to bow very soon.
The chairman’s comments come nearly two months following DAYS executive producer, Ken Corday’s comments to the cast that the show had been renewed for its upcoming season. That came on the heels that for cost-cutting measures, during the dark months, that the cast had been let- \out of their contracts.
But as usual at this time of year, NBC, Sony (the soap’s distributor) and Corday Productions are engaged it the renewal window which also happens at fall at the beginning of the new year.
Now, it looks like there is no doubt there is more Salem to come! Buckle-up for more intriguing stories within the series innovative time jump in the coming months … and that the four networks soaps are all here to stay for now.
Share your thoughts on Teledgy’s comments that ‘Days’ will definitely live on to see another day on NBC via the comment section below
Breaking News
GH’s Nancy Lee Grahn To Wed
More love-bird news over the holidays! Now comes word from two-time Daytime Emmy-winning actress, Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis, General Hospital) that she is now going to marry her fiance’.
Grahn took to her social media with a post and an image of her and fiance’ while in his hometown of Eugene, Oregon.
Nancy expressed: “With my soon to be husband in his hometown, Eugene Oregon, right in the spot where he got his 1st kiss. 💋 #CircleofLove”
This will be Grahn’s first marriage.
Share your congrats to Nancy via the comment section below.
With my soon to be husband in his hometown, Eugene Oregon, right in the spot where he got his 1st kiss. 💋 #CircleofLove pic.twitter.com/qQDYIb8l3i
— Nancy Lee Grahn (@NancyLeeGrahn) December 27, 2019
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General HospitalJanuary 20, 2020General Hospital Extended Promo Reveals: Turf War, Cassadine Family Drama & Nelle’s Plan For Wiley Take Center Stage
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Days Of Our LivesJanuary 25, 2020DAYS Wally Kurth, Chandler Massey & Freddie Smith Deliver Gut-Wrenching ‘Power Performance of the Week”
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General HospitalJanuary 24, 2020General Hospital Releases Extended Promo “We Have To Lean Into Hope”
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General HospitalJanuary 20, 2020GENERAL HOSPITAL: Nikolas & Spencer’s Reunion Leaves Ava Attempting To Bring Peace: What Did You Think Of The Key Scenes?
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Breaking NewsJanuary 25, 2020Impeachment Hearings On Broadcast Networks Show Ratings Much Lower Than The Daytime Soap Operas They Are Preempting
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InterviewsJanuary 20, 2020Knots Landing’s Joan Van Ark, Michele Lee & Donna Mills Share Backstage Memories, Watch Back Classic Scenes & Remember the Cul-De-Sac On Its 40th Anniversary
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NewsJanuary 28, 2020Eric Braeden Teases: “Lot of Interesting Stuff Coming Up on Y&R Involving a Cast of Known Characters Including Yours Truly!”
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General HospitalJanuary 23, 2020Brooklyn Rae Silzer Making A Return To General Hospital