Dallas: "After the Fire" Promo (Promo for second half of Season 3)

Here's the "After the Fire" promo for the second half of season 3 of Dallas. It looks like the second half of the season is going to beyond awesome. :)

Dallas: Revenge might be having a sophomore slump, but four episodes in; this show is soaring higher than ever before (My thoughts on episode 2x01 “Battle Lines” through episode 2x04 “False Confessions”)

Before Dallas premiered on TNT back in June of 2012, I found myself thinking that this show in combination with ABC’s Revenge would be able to quench my constant craving for nighttime soap operas, and together they both did during their first seasons. However, as many people, both TV critics and viewers, have been saying, Revenge is having a major sophomore slump both creatively and in the ratings department.

In the case of TNT’s Dallas, however, it’s been able to avoid suffering the dreaded sophomore slump on the creative end of things. It’s true the ratings are down this season, but I’ve read a lot of comments online from people who are saying that they believe that the ratings being down has more to do with the fact that this season is airing during the regular TV season, meaning it has more competition to deal with from broadcast networks, whereas the first season aired during the summer with less competition. Brenda Strong addressed this in a recent interview that I read, and it sounds like TNT wants to branch out and start airing more shows during the regular season. According to her, it sounds like TNT is hoping to have Dallas pioneer that effort and expected the ratings for the second season to be lower since it’s airing during the regular TV season. Since she said that, I’m not too terribly worried for the time being that the show won’t be renewed for a third season. Perhaps they will renew it for a third season and simply decide to only air the show during the summer in future, but I’m not sure what the TNT network executives are thinking about the show’s ratings though.

As much as I loved the first season, I have to say that I think the second season has been even better in a lot of ways so far. For starters, none of the episodes have felt like filler episodes so far, which is always a good thing for TV shows if you ask me. There also isn’t the repetitive back and forth scheming regarding the future of Southfork like there was last season where John Ross and J.R. would have the upper hand one episode, and then Christopher and Bobby would have the upper hand the following episode, which often made me feel like the storyline wasn’t moving forward all that much. That was the main thing that made several of the season one episodes felt like filler to me. When it comes to season two, however, each episode has felt like it’s progressing the storylines and have all been full of excitement so far. Season two has also featured several very interesting storyline developments. My favorite storyline development would be the fact that John Ross and Pamela/Rebecca, have formed a business agreement as a part of a plan to get some of Christopher’s shares in Ewing Energy shares and have also become romantically involved with each other in the process, which I’ll talk about some more in a moment.

Dallas: Remembers Larry Hagman With a New Season 2 Mystery | TVGuide.com

According to TVGuide's William Keck, the executive producer of TNT's Dallas, Cynthia Cidre, will be addressing Larry Hagman's and J.R.'s death in the second season with a multi-episode murder mystery. Here's an excerpt from the article, which gives some details regarding the decision to handle writing Larry Hagman's death into the show by having J.R. be murdered:

At a time when the cast and crew should have been celebrating the revived soap's success on TNT — Season 1 averaged 4.5 million viewers and was the top new cable drama of the year among adults 18-49 — instead they were reeling from the shock of Hagman's death. Then the show's writing staff, headed by exec producer Cynthia Cidre, went into overdrive reworking the second half of the season. The result: a multi-episode "Who Killed J.R.?" mystery that Cidre hopes will rival 1980's wildly popular "Who Shot J.R.?" storyline.

"We all felt having J.R. die of natural causes would have been completely inappropriate, not only to the character, but also to Larry Hagman," says Cidre, who received an OK for the plotline from Duffy as well as Hagman's son, Preston.

After weaving in the new story, Cidre and her staff were able to salvage what she estimates to be 80 to 90 percent of her original outline for the season. Hagman's final episodes (he appears in at least five) even offer a few scenes that provide unintended closure to J.R.'s tumultuous relationships with Sue Ellen and Bobby. In this week's two-hour premiere, J.R. comes to ex-wife Sue Ellen's home to express feelings for her he'd never before verbalized. A few episodes later, Bobby turns to his big brother when his wife, Ann (Brenda Strong), lands in a heap of trouble. "For the first time I can remember, Bobby has to go to the guy who knows how to get down and dirty," Duffy says. "He walks into J.R.'s bedroom and says, 'I need your help.' It's one of my all-time favorite moments."

Cidre also gives some scoop in the following excerpt from the article on two of the new characters that will be introduced in season two:

Producers have also wisely cultivated a fresh supply of villains. Mitch Pileggi, who plays Ann's manipulative ex-husband Harris Ryland, has been upped to a series regular. Early in the season, Ryland opens his home to his diabolical mother Judith (Judith Light) and his privileged daughter Emma (Emma Bell). Pileggi describes Harris' Oedipal relationship with his mom as "about as weird and creepy as you can get," with one scene finding Judith tending to her hospital-bed-bound son with a bit too much affection.

"Their relationship is very complicated and psychologically fascinating," confirms Light, whose initial run on the show will end after the first eight episodes due to a Broadway commitment (producers hope to have her back later in the season). "This woman is extremely controlling of her son's life, deeply pained and stops at nothing to get her own way." Before long, the Ryland family's machinations will land one unlucky Ewing on trial for attempted murder.

Link to the full article:Dallas Remembers Larry Hagman With a New Season 2 Mystery - Today's News: Our Take | TVGuide.com



My thoughts: I have to admit that I assumed the writers would handle Larry Hagman's death in season two by having J.R. die in his sleep of natural since I'm sure Hagman's death was somewhat unexpected when it came to planning all of the storylines for season two, but I'm glad that's not the case. Cynthia Cidre was definitely right when she said that for a character that's as iconic and larger than life as J.R. was, it would be very inappropriate and disrespectful to both Larry Hagman and the character J.R. Ewing to have J.R. simply die of natural causes. Writing J.R. out by having him be murdered and doing a "Who Killed J.R.?" storyline that will be similar to the famous "Who Shot J.R.?" storyline oddly enough seems like the most respectful way to handle writing Larry Hagman's death into the show, if you ask me. I'd be lying if I'm a little hesitant to trust the writer's ability to handle J.R.'s murder well though since they obviously won't have footage of J.R. being murdered filmed, which means that unless they are able to do some very clever editing, J.R. will have to be murdered off screen, which seems a little weird to me. I'll try my best to keep an open mind and try to trust the writer's ability to handle J.R.'s murder well though.

As for the other spoilers for season two that were given in the article, I'm really glad that the producers made Mitch Pilleggi a series regular for season two, and not just because J.R. will be murdered in season two and I think it's important for the show to have a character who can fill the role of the main villain on the show. I loved the character in season one even before Larry Hagman died, so I'm glad that he'll be sticking around. I'm also really excited about Judith Light joining the cast for season two as Harris' mother, because I think she's a great actress. Season two can't come fast enough for my taste.

Dallas Icon Larry Hagman Dead at 81, Remembered as ‘An Element of Pure Americana’-TVLine

According TVLine's Matt Webb Mitovich, Larry Hagman passed away on Friday at Medical City Dallas hospital from cancer complications at the age of 81. Here's an excerpt from the article:

“Larry was back in his beloved Dallas, re-enacting the iconic role he loved most,” the Hagman family said in a statement to the Dallas Morning News. “Larry’s family and close friends had joined him in Dallas for the Thanksgiving holiday. When he passed, he was surrounded by loved ones. It was a peaceful passing, just as he had wished for. The family requests privacy at this time.” (According to reports, Hagman’s Dallas co-stars Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray were among the loved ones by his side.)

UPDATE: Warner Bros. TV and Dallas executive producers Cynthia Cidre and Michael M. Robin, in a joint statement, remember Hagman as “a giant, a larger-than-life personality whose iconic performance as J.R. Ewing will endure as one of the most indelible in entertainment history. He truly loved portraying this globally recognized character, and he leaves a legacy of entertainment, generosity and grace.” TNT in turn touts the Dallas star as “a wonderful human being and an extremely gifted actor. We will be forever thankful that a whole new generation of people got to know and appreciate Larry through his performance as J.R. Ewing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very difficult time.”

Link to the full article:Dallas Icon Larry Hagman Dead at 81, Remembered as ‘An Element of Pure Americana’ - TVLine



My thoughts: I'm extremely saddened by the news that Larry Hagman passed away earlier tonight. I've only seen the first episode of the original Dallas, but he did an amazing job on the first season of TNT's Dallas. I probably don't have the same level appreciation for his acting as long-time fans of Larry Hagman do, but this is truly a sad day. Larry was an extremely talented actor. The weird thing is that I've been thinking a lot lately about doing an overall review of the first season of TNT's Dallas for my blog, and I was actually thinking about how great Larry Hagman was on the show's first season earlier this evening before the news of his death was announced. 

That being said, it will be really interesting to see how the writers of TNT's Dallas will handle writing Larry Hagman/J.R. off the show since he had filmed six out fifteen episodes for season two. The episodes pretty much all ended with at least one cliffhanger in season one, so writing him off the show could be tricky. I'm guessing the writers will have to go back and alter their plans for the remaining season two episodes that haven't been shot yet. They'll probably have to do at least a slight time jump so they can say that J.R. died off camera. Regardless of how of the writers decide to address Larry Hagman's death on the show, I'm confident that that the writers will find a way to make it work.

I have to say that the news of Larry Hagman's death does make me once again wonder if at least part of the decision to make Mitch Pileggi a series regular on the show was so the character Harris Ryland could fill the role of the show's main villain of sorts in the event that Larry Hagman's health declined to the point where he wouldn't be able to do the show anymore. Although, nobody will ever to be able to completely fill Larry Hagman's/J.R. Ewing's on the show. Rest in peace, Larry Hagman. You will definitely be missed. :(