The second half of the upcoming season of DALLAS had to be rewritten after Larry Hagman died in November. TV Guide Magazine reveals just how J.R. Ewing will be written out. [SPOILER ALERT]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.Among the mourners who will return for J.R.'s funeral are Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval), Gary and Lucy Ewing (Ted Shackelford and Charlene Tilton), Ray Krebbs (Steve Kanaly), Mandy Winger (Deborah Shelton) and Cally Harper Ewing (Cathy Podewell).
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.
We Love Soaps will be on the set of DALLAS later this week. Look for reports here and on our social networks.
What do you think about a "Who Killed J.R.?" mystery?
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- DALLAS Will Air J.R. Ewing's Funeral March 11
- Cathy Podewell & Deborah Shelton Returning To DALLAS
13 comments:
I'd bring back Mary Frances Crosby (Kristen)...she could finish the job she started all those years ago!
@Nelson Kristen was found dead in the Ewing swimming pool.
@Nelson Kristen was found dead in the Ewing swimming pool.
The year after Who Shot JR, Dallas had the brunette dead in the pool cliffhanger. It turned out to be Kristin Shepard. I can't remember how they said she ended up there. It will be interesting to see how they go about setting this up. If someone is going to kill J.R. it needs to be epic.
JR & her had a fight on the balcony above the swimming pool. Cliff found her, but Pam, Sue Ellen & Kristin were wearing the same type of black and white dress. That was the cliffhanger.
I, personally, would have had J.R. die of natural causes, out or respect for Larry Hagman.
I am reminded, decades ago, on NBC's 'Hill Street Blues,' the actor who played the Assignment Sargeant died of cancer in real life. What did the writers do? They had the character die of a heart attack in bed with someone OTHER than his wife. I found it tacky, to say the very least. The actor deserved more respect than that
But, I know, as always, ratings are most important, so the writers decided to 'murder.'
But, by doing so, this will force them to (eventually) write-out the culprit, once he or she is revealed.
I would normally agree with you but I have a feeling this is exactly how Larry Hagman would have wanted it.
Roger I agree. He was all about the ratings and Money.
Roger I agree. He was all about the ratings and Money.
Perhaps, you're right, Mr. Newcomb. I can, almost, envision Larry Hagman giving a devilish grin and gleam in his eyes, if he read the script that showcases his murder.
And if his family is okay with it, I imagine it's the best thing.
I would introduce a mysterious new character who kills JR and is Kristens daughter or sister
I killed JR!!!
Don't spoiler it! LOL
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