Dallas Turns 30 on April 2nd

[Mr. Television]

It's hard to believe that Dallas ( my favorite tv show) is going to turn 30 next week. I don't know where all the years went. I was 12 when Dallas premiered. I didn't even watch the mini-series when it first came on. I do remember the commercials for it though. I thought at the time it was a western of some sorts because I saw Jim Davis in the ads and I remembered him from some of John Wayne's recent movies as well as his guest appearances on some tv westerns. I don't even remember if I knew Larry Hagman was starring in it at the time. I didn't start watching it until the fall of 1978 when the show moved to Sunday nights ( it had started the season on Saturdays but I never saw it there). The first episode I ever saw was Black Market Baby. From that episode on, I was hooked. I followed it when it moved to Fridays and I watched the show even through the bad years right up until the finale. I even watched the 2 reunion movies and Dallas: The Early Years too. I bought the Dallas record from 1985 that I still have and even bought 2 Dallas books while the show was still airing. I usually don't start threads like this but I figured that Dallas deserves the recognition. So Happy Anniversary Dallas and thanks for the memories.

[Ireneparalegal]

You know me Sonny, I am right up there with you as a huge DALLAS fan. I have Season 5, 6, 7 and 8 on DVD. I need to get going with getting seasons 1, 2, and 3. J.R. Ewing is one of thee greatest tv characters of all time, if not thee greatest. He is right up there with Lucy Ricardo and Ralph Kramden. My Fridays were all abt DALLAS and of course, who could forget the night that set the standard for cliffhangers, WHO SHOT J.R.? I figured out it was Kristen. He deserved it too!

Here are some pics:

[Ireneparalegal]

[Ireneparalegal]

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Great pictures Irene.

I guessed that it was Kristin who shot JR too. I was pretty good at the cliffhangers. I even guessed that Katharine shot Bobby. Man I remember the summer of 1980. Who shot JR was what everybody was talking about. I even remember a song about it that played on the radio. I wish I could hear that again. They should put it on the DVDS.

[Ireneparalegal]

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

Great pictures Irene.

I guessed that it was Kristin who shot JR too. I was pretty good at the cliffhangers. I even guessed that Katharine shot Bobby. Man I remember the summer of 1980. Who shot JR was what everybody was talking about. I even remember a song about it that played on the radio. I wish I could hear that again. They should put it on the DVDS.

I remember the whole hoopla over that cliffhanger. I even bought PEOPLE MAGAZINE as it had J.R. on the cover and the words WHO SHOT J.R. with all the pics of the supposed people who had a motive for wanting to kill him. I remember it had a pic of Miss Ellie and how the odds were against her being the shooter, although she had a motive since J.R. had just nearly lost Southfork due to that Asian oil deal that almost fell under. Lucky J.R. I then remember it had Vaughn Leland's pic and the odds were with him that he may be the shooter. Still, I felt Kristen was the one and we were right Sonny.

I can't even remember how that song you are talking abt went. I wonder if a little research on the net can shed light on it.

[Ireneparalegal]

WHO SHOT J.R.?

In 57 countries, 350 million people watched to see who gunned down the most notorious soap villain of them all - Dallas oil baron JR Ewing.

From the episode in March 1980 when he was shot, until the episode in November when the culprit was revealed, one question seemed to be on everyone's lips: Who really shot JR Ewing?

Ten gallon hats, t-shirts and posters emblazoned with 'I shot JR' logos could be found everywhere.

Special JR bumper stickers reportedly outsold those supporting Carter or Reagan during US election year, and the appropriately named TR Dallas had a number one hit in Ireland with 'Who Shot JR?'.

Closely guarded secret

In Britain, William Hill stopped taking bets on the outcome and the film canisters containing the crucial episode were accompanied by an armed guard from Los Angeles to Heathrow Airport.

Around 21.5 million viewers watched the episode screened on BBC One - a record viewing for a soap at that time. JR Ewing had an impressive list of enemies.

His double dealing in the bedroom and the boardroom had made him a pariah even within his own family.

Prime suspect was his long suffering alcoholic wife Sue Ellen who he threatened to return to a sanatorium. Her lover Dusty was another suspect.

Actress Mary Crosby

Second favourite was Kristen Shepard, Sue Ellen's devious sister. JR had promised to marry her, but eventually told her in his inimitable way to get to hell out of town.

Such was the fever of speculation that even JR's mother, the demure Miss Ellie was not ruled out as a suspect - and neither was JR's saintly brother Bobby.

JR's business dealings made a swathe of enemies.

The long suffering Cliff Barnes, who JR cut out of a business deal, was yet another suspect. The Barnes family had a long running hatred for the Ewings.

JR also ruined a cartel of businessmen who invested in an Asian oil field.

Businessman Vaughan Leland promised to get JR "one way or the other" while Marilee Stone, whose husband Seth Stone committed suicide, also vowed revenge.

Cliffhanger

Behind the soap drama, there was a real life cliffhanger.

At the end of the series when JR was shot, even the actor Larry Hagman who played him was left in the dark about the outcome.

Hagman was locked in contract negotiations with the show's creators Lorimar in between seasons, while they deliberated about whether or not to kill him off.

Even JR's saintly brother Bobby was a suspect


When filming started for the new series in June 1980, Hagman was visiting his waxwork model at Madame Tussauds in London.

Eventually Lorimar decided the character would return to the show.

So who did shoot JR? It was Kristen, but JR spared her because she was carrying his child.

Kristen was played by actress Mary Crosby who was grateful for her new found notoriety.

"All of my life people have thought of me as Bing Crosby's daughter. Now they'll remember me for shooting J.R. Ewing."

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

I remember the whole hoopla over that cliffhanger. I even bought PEOPLE MAGAZINE as it had J.R. on the cover and the words WHO SHOT J.R. with all the pics of the supposed people who had a motive for wanting to kill him. I remember it had a pic of Miss Ellie and how the odds were against her being the shooter, although she had a motive since J.R. had just nearly lost Southfork due to that Asian oil deal that almost fell under. Lucky J.R. I then remember it had Vaughn Leland's pic and the odds were with him that he may be the shooter. Still, I felt Kristen was the one and we were right Sonny.

I can't even remember how that song you are talking abt went. I wonder if a little research on the net can shed light on it.

I wonder if this is it. Don't see no lyrics though.

http://www.themadmusicarchive.com/so...spx?SongID=292

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

I wonder if this is it. Don't see no lyrics though.

http://www.themadmusicarchive.com/so...spx?SongID=292

OMG, I can't even remember if that is the song. But it sure was funny.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

OMG, I can't even remember if that is the song. But it sure was funny.

I don't know if it's the right one but I found the lyrics.

http://www.top40db.net/Lyrics/?SongI...e&Match=Comedy


Lyrics
Why do the people all hate him so
Why they shot him, I'll never know
He's the star of the picture show, J.R.

Besides, he's just trying to get ahead
And, oh, Lord, please tell me
He can't be dead, J.R., not my hero

Like a Texas rattler, he would coil
Molested the women
And stole the cocktail oil
But with two quick shots
He got foiled, J.R.


Stop picking on that man
In the Stetson hat
He's just trying to run a business
Now, what's wrong with that, J.R.

Now, Jock and Miss Elly
They both come to mind
J.R.'s their own son
But they ain't blind

Sue Ellen coulda shot him
That's obvious and all
But she's been drinking again
And she couldn't hit a wall

Bobby and Pam
They have reasons, for sure
But I think both of them
Would just be too pure

That Friday night
He was working late
The night the old boy
Was to meet his fate
There was a lotta hate
In that .38 for J.R.

Some goody two shoes
Done blowed him away
Well, we'll see what them
Hollywood writers have to say
For J.R. (sweet J.R.)

But you can't be sure of his demise
Who knows where the real truth lies
One thing's for sure, we all
Love to despise J.R. (J.R.)

Good old J.R.
Now let's deduce this thing here

Cliff Barnes
He promised to do J.R. in
And so did Vaughn Leland
His banker and ex-friend

Little Lucy's no angel
Like you'd think she'd be
And Alan Beam, he seems
Pretty darn suspicious to me

I wonder if it's Ray
But does he have a reason
We won't know that til
Sometime next season

But if it's a case of jaded love
Kristin coulda done it
That poor soiled dove
She coulda shot J.R. (J.R.)

Now I'll tell you who did it
I know exactly who did it
It was little John, you see
He was a midget and he crawled up
The stairs of that office building
(Don't be silly) it were him

My fellow Americans
I would like to tell you
Who I think it was
I think it Ronald Reagan
Or John Anderson or
John Anderson or Ronald Reagan

Indecision, indecision

No, man, it was Howard Cosell
Cause he was the most hated man
On TV til J.R. came along
It had to be Howard Cosell

Oh, no, my friends, listen to me
I'll tell you who shot J.R.
Woo, hallelujah, it was
Satan or Fred Silverman
I can't wait til September
I gotta know now

Who shot J.R
Was it you, was it you
I know it was somebody
That shot that man

[Mr. Television]

I think that's it though. I remember it was funny. I just can't remember anything else.

[Ireneparalegal]

Oh man, that is great! Thanx for finding those lyrics.

This part is really really funny:

Like a Texas rattler, he would coil
Molested the women
And stole the cocktail oil
Molested the women...I don't think so. They were willing participants. Good ol' J.R.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Oh man, that is great! Thanx for finding those lyrics.

This part is really really funny:

Like a Texas rattler, he would coil
Molested the women
And stole the cocktail oil
Molested the women...I don't think so. They were willing participants. Good ol' J.R.

Yea I never saw any of his women crying rape.

[Ireneparalegal]

Ahhh, there was that early episode where those two men came to the ranch and held the Ewing women hostage because one of the wives claimed that J.R. had raped her in that hotel room. She and her friend were willing participants, but of course the husband found one of J.R.'s business cards and she had to lie.


Here is a pic of a Mad magazine cover. It did a satire of DALLAS called "DULLUS"... I remember that so well. I wish I had kept that magazine. I remember too that Sue Ellen's name was SWELLIN.