For all of you watching the series for the first time, what do you think. I personally, have not been watching because I don't get SoapNet. I wish I did. However, I remember watching from the very beginning on TNN back in 1998.

What do you think of the original Gary Ewing? What did you think of the 1st week, the 5 episodes that first aired in April 1978? The first cliffhanger of Pam falling from the loft and losing the baby?

To tell you the truth, I can't get into it. :(

Originally posted by boechsner
For all of you watching the series for the first time, what do you think. I personally, have not been watching because I don't get SoapNet. I wish I did. However, I remember watching from the very beginning on TNN back in 1998.

What do you think of the original Gary Ewing? What did you think of the 1st week, the 5 episodes that first aired in April 1978? The first cliffhanger of Pam falling from the loft and losing the baby?


I like it but why did they have 2 Gary Ewing and not keep the original Gary Ewing??

Originally posted by CCH
I like it but why did they have 2 Gary Ewing and not keep the original Gary Ewing??

Perhaps the original wasn't interested in doing a weekly series. Hence the Dallas-spinoff, Knots Landing.

When the producers decided to go ahead with the spinoff, the original Gary, David Ackroyd, was not available. So the part went to Ted Shackelford.

Originally posted by TV Guy
When the producers decided to go ahead with the spinoff, the original Gary, David Ackroyd, was not available. So the part went to Ted Shackelford.

Hi Tv Guy,


Thanks for the info but was Ted Shackelford on Dallas as Gary or was he just on Knots Landing as Gary? Also how come they did not put the original Gary and Val in the opening names of Dallas with the rest of the cast? Do any of the Knots Landing cast ever crossover to Dallas? Thank you! :wave:

Originally posted by CCH
Thanks for the info but was Ted Shackelford on Dallas as Gary or was he just on Knots Landing as Gary? Also how come they did not put the original Gary and Val in the opening names of Dallas with the rest of the cast? Do any of the Knots Landing cast ever crossover to Dallas?

David Ackroyd played Gary only in the two-part episode, "Reunion", at the beginning of the first full season. Those are the episodes that featured the debut of Joan Van Ark as Valene. Val returned (without Gary) a few more times during the next year. But she only appeared in a few episodes, which was why she was never credited in the opening.

Right before "Knots Landing" premiered, Ted Shackelford made his debut on "Dallas" in one episode as Gary. This was a second-season episode in which Miss Ellie buys the "Knots Landing" house for Gary and Valene as a present for their second marriage. After that episode, Gary and Val were off to their own show.

Both of them did appear occasionally throughout the years. They appeared in the third-season premiere, after J.R. was shot, in a scene shot on the "Knots Landing" set. In the following episode, Gary returned home to visit, but without Val. They both returned to Southfork later that season when Lucy got married. Gary returned again in the fifth season when Jock's will was read (by that time he was divorced from Val) and yet again in the eighth season for Bobby's funeral. Bobby's death was explained on "Dallas" as Pam's dream, but "Knots Landing" had done a bunch of episodes where Gary was greatly affected by Bobby's death. The "Knots" producers weren't happy with the dream explanation because it messed up their continuity, so the crossovers stopped. Gary and Val made one more appearance on "Dallas", in the final episode. But this time, ironically, it was part of J.R.'s nightmare.

I don't believe any of the other "Knots" cast members ever appeared on "Dallas".

Originally posted by TV Guy
David Ackroyd played Gary only in the two-part episode, "Reunion", at the beginning of the first full season. Those are the episodes that featured the debut of Joan Van Ark as Valene. Val returned (without Gary) a few more times during the next year. But she only appeared in a few episodes, which was why she was never credited in the opening.

Right before "Knots Landing" premiered, Ted Shackelford made his debut on "Dallas" in one episode as Gary. This was a second-season episode in which Miss Ellie buys the "Knots Landing" house for Gary and Valene as a present for their second marriage. After that episode, Gary and Val were off to their own show.

Both of them did appear occasionally throughout the years. They appeared in the third-season premiere, after J.R. was shot, in a scene shot on the "Knots Landing" set. In the following episode, Gary returned home to visit, but without Val. They both returned to Southfork later that season when Lucy got married. Gary returned again in the fifth season when Jock's will was read (by that time he was divorced from Val) and yet again in the eighth season for Bobby's funeral. Bobby's death was explained on "Dallas" as Pam's dream, but "Knots Landing" had done a bunch of episodes where Gary was greatly affected by Bobby's death. The "Knots" producers weren't happy with the dream explanation because it messed up their continuity, so the crossovers stopped. Gary and Val made one more appearance on "Dallas", in the final episode. But this time, ironically, it was part of J.R.'s nightmare.

I don't believe any of the other "Knots" cast members ever appeared on "Dallas".


Thanks for the info Tvguy :wave: Your the best!

I'm loving it. I only watched occasionally on TNN, and remember the later seasons more.

The first season was hard to watch, lol. A lot of isolated episodes (like Knots Landing did before Abby came along), but still good nonetheless.

I liked David Ackroyd. IT was honestly the first time I saw him as the original Gary. I still prefer Ted Shackelford, but Ackroyd was really good.

It honestly took a while to get used to the characters again, lol. Watching those first several episodes I hated Sue Ellen and Lucy. Now I can't get enough of them.

I can't praise this show enough. It really is great. I forgot just how great Linda Gray was as Sue Ellen.

Originally posted by TVJunkie101
I'm loving it. I only watched occasionally on TNN, and remember the later seasons more.

The first season was hard to watch, lol. A lot of isolated episodes (like Knots Landing did before Abby came along), but still good nonetheless.

I liked David Ackroyd. IT was honestly the first time I saw him as the original Gary. I still prefer Ted Shackelford, but Ackroyd was really good.

It honestly took a while to get used to the characters again, lol. Watching those first several episodes I hated Sue Ellen and Lucy. Now I can't get enough of them.

I can't praise this show enough. It really is great. I forgot just how great Linda Gray was as Sue Ellen.

I hated Sue Ellen back then, but now, I'm eating it up. JR is such a little.. well, you know. I missed today's ep, but yesterday was great. I just sat back and said, "You are such a bastard." Larry Hagman really knew how to work it. :lol:

Also, I prefer Ted over David Ackroyd too.

This is a great show!!

I was into it when JR was shot but after the 1988 season, I departed from the show!!