Dallas

TNT's New DALLAS EP, Michael Robin on how the show plans to modernize the series!

April 5, 2012

The new Dallas remake it getting closer to its debut! TNT will launch the primetime soap on June 13th and to give us a flavor of what to expect, one of the shows executive producers, Michael Robin spoke with The New York Post to give some insight on what faithful Dallas viewers can expect, and what new fans of Southfork will see. But first the concept: The new Dallas has fast-forwarded the characters 18 years, pitting JR and Bobby’s now-30something sons — John Ross (Josh Henderson) and Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe) — against each other in a repeat of their fathers’ old battles.

Michael Robin on how they were going to modernize the Ewing saga: “We had to make sure it wasn’t campy, that we could legitimize the drama. That’s the critical thing. These shows can fall into silly soapiness really fast, so we had to get the behavior right. One of the things Dallas always did really well in the past . . . was its acting style, which used realism, and not melodrama. The actors and the characters would respond to wild things happening in a real way — they wouldn’t push the behavior to make it super-silly like some of the other melodramas. Some of the situations in Dallas were gigantic, but the actors wouldn’t play that. They’d play it as real, so you went along for the ride, invested in the characters.”

Michael Robin on how he thinks original Dallas fans will react to the reboot: “I think fans of Dallas are not going to be disappointed. The characters they grew to love fully are in place. We knew going in, if we didn’t get this right and honor the past properly, the show’s very loyal, vocal fan base would toss us aside very quickly,” he says. But I don’t think that’s going to be the case. We worked hard to make sure there’s truth to the show’s past and a credible evolution of where this whole gang and world is 18 years later.”

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So does the new Dallas make you want to drop in on Southfork again? Let us know!

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Rodd

Loved DALLAS; looking forward to the new-DALLAS> However, what did this EP mean in his reference to “silly soapiness”? Best not be insulting my daytime soaps, mister, ’cause them fightin’ words. LOL!

lew

Melodrama didn’t exist on the old Dallas? PLEASE!!!!!!!

barbara t

As long as all the originals are on most of the time I will enjoy ,Loved dallas glad its back,I would also like to know what silly soapiness means .LIke bobbys dream is that silly soapiness?Marlena turning into satin,freezing port charles,the alien in port charles I could go on.

cathy trinque

Dallas was one of the best tv shows ever. I am so excited about seeing the interaction of the family again.

Alley

I’ll be watching. I loved Dallas back in the day and am looking forward to seeing what the Ewings are up to.

Barbara

His description of the old show is interesting. I watched both Dallas and the spin-off, Knots Landing. His comment about the acting style using “realism, and not melodrama” seems more appropriate to me to apply to Knots, not Dallas.

Neither Dallas nor Knots was as outlandish as Dynasty or The Colbys (anyone else remember the inane storyline about Fallon being abducted by a UFO?). However, I always thought Knots was a little more grounded than Dallas.

Speaking of Knots, I’m wondering why that show has not been “rebooted”? Knots had far more children on it (Bobby, Betsy, Meg, Kate’s new kid) that could serve as the main characters than Dallas did.

Jared

Dallas was one of the best TV shows ever in its first 6 to 7 years. And no to those above, it was not campy or melodramatic. Those honors went to Dynasty.

Sheryl

Can’t wait to see the Ewings and what kind of trouble they will stir up in Dallas.

Iakovos

Sooooooooo excited to see this DALLAS reboot. As a series, it was very done although it went on a few seasons too long. That said… It seems this EP is on the money when it comes to how to relaunch this beloved TV show. I like the quote: “honor the past properly.”

Breaking News

‘Dallas’ star Ken Kercheval Dead At Age 83

April 24, 2019

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.

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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!

Breaking News

Is That You Bobby Ewing? ‘Dallas’ Favorite Patrick Duffy Dons New Look For Guest Spot On ‘American Housewife’

December 9, 2018

In this week’s tis’ the season episode of the comedy series, American Housewife, none other than former Dallas and The Bold and the Beautiful star Patrick Duffy returns to TV, when in story, Katie (Katie Nixon) strives to keep her long-separated parents apart when her father, Marty (Duffy), arrives in time to surprise the Otto family for Christmas. The episode is aptly titled, “Saving Christmas”

This then puts Marty face-to-face and toe-to-toe with ex-wife Kathryn, played by the wonderful Wendie Malick.

Soap fans will remember the Hot in Cleveland crossover between Malick and Susan Lucci of All My Children.

The first look photos of Duffy on American Housewife were first delivered by ABC to TV Insider.

The Duffy-esque episode airs on Wednesday December 12th (8:30pm EST)

For Dallas fans, they are still wishing that that somehow the show will still come back in another incarnation after its latest (the TNT version) was canned after three seasons.

Will you be checking out Patrick on American Housewife? What do you think of the ponytail look? Comment below.

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Dallas

Y&R and Dallas Alum, Oscar Winner George Kennedy Has Died

February 29, 2016

Photo Credit: WireImage

George Kennedy, the Oscar-winning star of 1967’s Cool Hand Luke, which also starred Paul Newman has died at age 91, his grandson, Cory Schenkel confirmed.

Kennedy died in his sleep at his Boise, Idaho home early Sunday morning, the day of the Academy Awards. He had been in failing health ever since his wife Joan died a little over a year ago. George had been under hospice care for the past month.

In the soaps, Kennedy is most remembered for his guest stints on The Young and the Restless playing Victor Newman’s despicable father, Albert Miller. Kennedy first played the role in 2003 and then reprised it again in 2010. Victor’s relationship with his father gave Eric Braeden some of the finest material of his career as the complex Victor. Albert had abandoned his family, causing his son to be raised in an orphanage.

CBS original primetime soap Dallas also featured Kennedy as Carter McKay, one of the Ewing families bitter enemies from 1988 to 1991. Geroge also played the role in two follow-up TV movies, 1996’s Dallas: J.R. Returns and 1998’s Dallas: War of the Ewings. In addition, Kennedy appeared in several of the 70’s major disaster films including the original Airport and several sequels, as well as in Earthquake. In the 80’s, he would appear in The Naked Gun franchise of films along with Leslie Nielsen.

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After the jump, watch George Kennedy as Albert on The Young and the Restless in scenes with Eric Braeden and Joshua Morrow (Nick). Then share your thoughts on the passing of this talented actor in the comment section below! (more…)