anybody watching the new Dallas series?

[The Teardrop Nanny]

Was a long time fan of the original Dallas and had begun watching the new TNT made for TNG of watchers. Quite a legacy, the Ewing family has Jock and J.R. to thank for what it to come. Sorry to hear of Larry's passing. There can only be one J.R. in a lifetime, and he is an icon! But, you know how movie biz is.....they will probably figure out a way to bring him back to life or at least try the Forest Gump method of filming and inserting the person so they are still in the scenes.
TDN

[eaglesdare]

they could never replace larry as jr. i believe the main reason is because it might be the old timers that are watching. if it weren't for all of us that watched the original they might beable to get away with a replacement with just the new generation watching (who really did not know jr). did that make sense?

[TJinPgh]

They had talked about making a big screen version of Dallas a couple of times after the show went off the air. They went so far as to start casting. They had John Travolta slated to play J.R.

While the TV movie "JR Returns" was sort of a necessary end to the series (even though the new version ignores that movie even exists), the two reunion movies kind of proved why the story simply doesn't work in a movie format. The story is, at it's heart, a soap opera. Anything that can be contained in 2 hours isn't going to even begin to do it justice.

They'd need at least 3 or 4 movies, each continued to the next, to get any kind of meaningful story line out of it and a drama simply isn't the type of film that you can do that with.

As far as replacing Hagman, it's worth pointing out that they did replace a number of characters along the way. Pressley was actually the 3rd person to play Jenna Wade (but the character wasn't a regular with the previous two). They did replace Miss Ellie for a season when Bel Geddes was sick but it was a flop and they switched them back a season later.

They had thought about replacing Jock on two different occasions. Once immediately after Jim Davis died (when they had talked about having James Arness play the role) and then again after Patrick Duffy left the show (the dream season). Steve Forest was actually going to be Jock but they changed it when Duffy came back.

Obviously, both John Ross and Christopher are new to their respective roles.

So, it has been done before. It's never been well received, though, except for Pressley, anyway. I just don't think they could replace Hagman. He WAS JR. They knew that when they brought back the show.

Time will tell whether or not the show can continue without him. As much as I hope it can, I have my doubts. They will need to do a better job of attracting the new viewers to do it.

[TJinPgh]

Season 2 starts tonight with 2 new episodes at 9 & 10 ET.

[eaglesdare]

i got rid of satellite months ago.
so i have to wait like 8 days to catch it streaming on puter.

[TJinPgh]

Looks like a lot of people from the original series are going to be back for JR's memorial later in the season. I heard Gary and Val, Cally and Mandy Winger are all on board. Probably some more that haven't been announced yet.

Bittersweet, to say the least.

Still not quite sure how many episodes Hagman will appear in. He supposedly "finished" five episodes. That doesn't necessarily mean that he didn't do at least some filming on any more, though.

[eaglesdare]

ok i did manage to watch them the next morning! LOVE IT i have to admit i got sad seeing every scene with JR in it, knowing he is no longer with us. RIP

[Scooter]

Callie...THAT's who it was! We had to slow down and watch it frame by frame, it went so fast. We were pretty clear on Mandy Winger. Told my wife the blonde looked like Seinfeld's "schmoopy" girlfriend.

[TJinPgh]

ok i did manage to watch them the next morning! LOVE IT i have to admit i got sad seeing every scene with JR in it, knowing he is no longer with us. RIP

Cidre said in the TV Guide interview last week that JR's presence will be felt for quite some time as we learn of things that he had in the works before his death.

When I read that, all I could think of, besides the reading of Jock's will in the original series, was Tobin Bell from the Saw movie franchise and how Kramer kept things going for another 3 movies after he died.

While John Ross certainly seems more JR like this season, I'm still not sure he's ready to fill JR's stetson.

[eaglesdare]

i am likeing john ross's character much more this season. although he is being coached by jr.

[TJinPgh]

Good episode last night.

JR was in rare form. Not looking forward to a few weeks from now.

[eaglesdare]

the 8 day thing kicked in. so i won't bealbe to see it til next week. i will be over a week behind from now on. oh well, at least i still get to watch it.

[TJinPgh]

Well, I was careful not to post any spoilers since I know you mentioned that you weren't likely to see it until later. I don't get to watch it until the day after myself.

[eaglesdare]

thanks so much! i am avoiding all areas that might have spoilers on them. so hang in there, and i will be ready to discuss and chat about it. we'll just be a week behind.

[TJinPgh]

LOL, no problem. I hate spoilers myself.