Original 'Dallas' stars reunite for the pilot of sequel series
Twenty years after "Dallas" went off the air, Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray are reuniting to help stoke the flames of what apparently is the ongoing Ewing family feud.
TNT said they'll reprise their original roles as J.R., Bobby and Sue Ellen in the pilot for a new "Dallas" that would focus on the conflict between the next generation of Ewing oil barons: John Ross, the son of J.R. and Sue Ellen, and Christopher, the adopted son of Bobby and his late wife, Pam.
"Dallas" ran on CBS from 1978 to 1991 and for several years in the 1980s was the most popular show on television, firmly establishing a home for soap operas in prime time with its tales of a forever fighting-and-forgiving family that lived together on a ranch in Texas called Southfork. Indeed, the November 1980 episode that answered the question "Who shot J.R.?" attracted what was then the largest audience in TV history.
Whether the trio would stay with the series if it gets picked up is uncertain. TNT is said to have options on their services, but as with any soap opera, we'll just have to see how it plays out.
-- Lee Margulies
Photo: Hagman, Gray and Duffy. Credit: Cliff Lipson / CBS
Hot damn!
This is great news, something fun to watch in the middle of all the reality porn that pollutes the networks.
Posted by: tw111 | February 01, 2011 at 10:23 PM
Fantastic news. The original and best is back. Lets hope they dont fill it full of air head actors ( the new 90210 anyone)and can find actors with a little depth. Linda,Larry and Patrick always managed to create multi layered carachters. In fact I saw Linda play Mrs Robinson in the Graduate on Londons West End and she showed what a fine and very underated actress she is! Please get some of the original creative team on board too so that although it is a modern Dallas,it doesnt stray to far from the class act it was! Welcome back Dallas,Its great to have another drama series to make up for all the cheap un-reality dross that excecutives think we want to watch zzzzzzzzz. I cant wait for the next Oil Barons Ball. Drink Swellin? hic!
Posted by: yell4yell | February 02, 2011 at 12:31 AM
Awesome! So glad they're continuing the original and bringing in old cast members, unlike the forthcoming Buffy abomination.
Go J.R.!!
Posted by: Mike | February 02, 2011 at 06:04 AM
Yawn...just another manifestation of the "Hollywood has run out of original ideas" epidemic. I'll stick with my dvd collection and baseball or sew and write.
Posted by: K | February 02, 2011 at 07:24 AM
I remember when soap operas were considered dumbed down television. And then someone created reality television and proved us all wrong. Nice! Looking forward to this!
Posted by: O-town | February 02, 2011 at 09:02 AM
I love the idea!
Posted by: Peggy Neff | February 02, 2011 at 03:31 PM