The Daily Star - Stay Tuned
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coverstory J.R.'s legacy lives on in 'Dallas' The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y., Friday, January 25, 2013 By Kyla Brewer TV Media A s the saying goes, everything's bigger in Texas, and Texas-sized drama is headed to prime time once again. The tumultuous Ewing family has more scheming, backstabbing and shocking twists and turns for fans old and new as the notorious Texans return to the airwaves in the Season 2 premiere of "Dallas," airing Monday, Jan. 28, on TNT. Sadly, however, there will be a notable void in the Ewing clan this season as the late Larry Hagman appears in just a few episodes as ruthless oil baron J.R. Ewing, a role he originated in the first series. The beloved actor -- who ironically played the man everyone loved to hate -- passed away on Nov. 23, 2012, at a Dallas-area hospital from complications due to acute myeloid leukemia. Linda Gray and Patrick Duffy, two of his "Dallas" co-stars, were at his bedside when he died. They had worked side-by-side both in the original series and in TNT's new version, and although they were frequently at odds onscreen, they certainly became close friends offscreen. The three stars took prime time by storm in the original 1978 "Dallas" miniseries, which introduced the world to the wealthy but dysfunctional Ewing family. Viewers were so captivated by the wheelings and dealings of J.R. and Bobby and their wives, Sue Ellen (Gray) and Pamela (Victoria Principal), that CBS executives decided to expand the premise to a full-fledged series. The show was so successful that it set the standard for all primetime soaps to come, including its spinoff, "Knots Landing," which ran from 1979 to 1993. While the trend these days seems to be to "reimagine" classic TV shows such as "Bat- Larry Hagman in "Dallas" tlestar Galactica" and "Hawaii Five-0," the new "Dallas" opted to stay true to the original series, serving as a continuation of the Ewing saga that gripped viewers during its original run on CBS. That approach might just be the key to keeping viewers hooked to TNT's version, as it sets the stage for the new generation of Ewing feuding and moves forward without such a central character. This time around, J.R. and Bobby's sons John Ross (Josh Henderson) and Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe) take center stage. Original "Dallas" stars Duffy and Gray also reprise their former roles as J.R.'s brother Bobby and wife Sue Ellen. Jordana Brewster stars in the revamped "Dallas" as John Ross's girlfriend, Elena, while Julie Gonzalo continues in her role as Christopher's wife, Rebecca. Brenda Strong appears opposite Duffy in the new edition as Bobby's third wife, Ann. Nearly eight million viewers tuned in for the revival's debut last season, and it continued to score big in the ratings throughout its run. The new "Dallas" ranked as the No. 1 new series on basic cable, which was clearly great news for TNT. The new season of "Dallas" welcomes three new cast members, with Mitch Pileggi as Ann's manipulative ex-husband Harris, Emma Bell as sheltered beauty Emma Brown, and Kuno Becker as Elena's troubled brother. During Season 2, a secret from her past threatens Sue Ellen's bid for governor, Christopher searches for the real Becky Sutter, and J.R. teams up (and schemes) with John Ross. But while viewers (and critics) will likely be curious about how the show will adapt to Hagman's passing, J.R. (and Hagman) fans will be happy to know that the actor had filmed a few episodes before his death. In December, TNT announced that this season would also include J.R.'s funeral. Scheduled to air some time in March, the episode featuring J.R.'s final farewell will likely attract millions who want to say goodbye to the character and the talented actor. Born in Fort Worth in 1931, Hagman was a real-life Texan, who also lived in California and New York during his childhood. Although most people asked today would likely associate the actor with his role as the ruthless Ewing, he also portrayed a memorable character in another iconic TV series. After a stint in the soap opera "The Edge of Night," the actor starred as Tony Nelson, an astronaut who discovered a genie in a magic lamp in NBC's "I Dream of Jeannie." However, for many, he will always be J.R. Ewing. Hagman's character is undeniably one of the most memorable TV characters of all time. Although the long-running soap opera originally focused on the relationship between Pamela and Bobby, fans responded so strongly to J.R.'s cold-blooded shenanigans that Hagman soon found himself at the center of the series. By the third season, J.R. had ticked off so many of his family members and business associates that the cliffhanger season finale sparked a worldwide "Who shot J.R.?" debate after a mysterious figure shot the scoundrel in his office. The episode that revealed the identity of the shooter ("Who Done It") aired on Nov. 21, 1980, and remains one of the highest rated TV episodes in U.S. history, attracting 76 percent of U.S. viewers. It remains to be seen whether or not the new "Dallas" can survive without its unforgettable villain. J.R. and Hagman no doubt left a lasting impression on television fans and will live on in their hearts for years to come, "Dallas" or no "Dallas." Chirstopher's Coins 2x2 hollywoodQ&A By Adam Thomlison TV Media Q: When is HBO's "The Newsroom" coming back for Season 2? A: HBO seems to be going for news-style dependability with its scheduling, debuting the second season of "The Newsroom" in June, one year after its first-season debut -- no fancy scheduling tricks, no moving it around to change timeslot competitors (not that HBO ever worries about that). "West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin's new political drama takes place, predictably, on the set of a fictional cable news show and features "Dumb & Dumber" (1994) star Jeff Daniels as the show's anchor. It didn't have an easy time with critics last year, but it could be argued that has a lot to do with the high bar Sorkin has set for himself. The ratings, for example, tell a different story -- "The Newsroom's" premiere drew 2.1 million viewers, making it one of HBO's most-watched, and the finale actually improved on that number, drawing 2.3 million. However, "The West Wing," the series against which all other Sorkin creations will be judged, had the love of both audiences and critics. TVFanatic.com critic Matt Richenthal summed up the dilemma quite harshly like this: "I've never enjoyed watching a bad TV show more in my life." That said, he gave the show a B- in his season-end report card. With these ratings numbers, though, it's unlikely HBO will be looking to change a whole lot going into Season 2. Q: Who's the actress who played Jack's mother on "30 Rock"? She looks familiar to me, but I didn't recognize her name in the credits. A: The actress portraying Jack's perpetually disappointed mother is Elaine Stritch, and the fact that the face is familiar while the name is not is a direct result of her career choices. Stritch is a longtime Broadway star who, according to a gushy biography in "The New York Times," "carved out a singular niche for herself in show business as a worldly, salty, gravel-voiced dame who regularly stole shows from pretty ladies with pretty sopranos." Though the stage has provided her bread and butter since her Broadway debut in 1947, Stritch has frequently done supporting roles in film and television, which has made her face familiar to those of us who've never even been on Broadway. Have a question? Email us at questions@tvtabloid.com. Please include your name and town. Personal replies will not be provided.