After 30 Years, 'Dallas' Just Doesn't Hold Up...Or So Says Larry Hagman!

[Brian Damage]

In an odd way, he said, " ‘Jeannie' has transcended time whereas ‘Dallas' has not. There's an age group between 15 and 30 who don't know about ‘Dallas' but may know ‘Jeannie.' "

Not that this stops even people from Germany and France from yelling "Who shot J.R.?" at him 30 years after that infamous cliffhanger episode. "It's an opening gambit for any conversation," he said, without a trace of resentment.

His typical answer? "Bing Crosby's daughter."

"Then, I get, ‘Who's Bing Crosby?' "

http://www.accessatlanta.com/AccessA...ie-600625.html

[Adamantium]

He probably figured "Dallas" was the better show and the one he'd be remembered for when he was making it. Now, in 2010, he's best remembered for "I Dream of Jeannie."

Who is Bing Crosby?

Just kidding, I know who he was.

[dakert]

I never watched Dallas but I wonder if the people who did watch would enjoy the re-runs just as much?
For me a classic show has to have a re-watchability factor.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by dakert

I never watched Dallas but I wonder if the people who did watch would enjoy the re-runs just as much?
For me a classic show has to have a re-watchability factor.

I've been buying all the DVDs so yea I still enjoy it. I've watched it through the years since it ended. It holds up for me.

Soaps are on the outs right now. Young people care more about reality shows than a good drama. Dallas isn't the only show that's suffered. Many dramas from the past aren't seen anymore. The same thing is starting to happen with classic sitcoms. Jeannie is one of the few that still airs on a national network. I'm afraid it's time will come too.

[MickeyMac]

I have to disagree with Hagman, I think Dallas has held up quite well over the years. If it were shown more then people would see that. So many storylines and the characters you can still see and relate to in everyday life in 2010.

[Adamantium]

I think Larry is just saying that "Jeannie" is still in reruns, and is the better known show today in the year 2010 as opposed to "Dallas." In that sense, "Jeannie" holds up better than "Dallas" because it, well, has.

[TV Knowledge Fan]

...have succeeded in syndication. I remember when "DALLAS" began daily repeats on WOR-TV (Channel 9) in New York...it wasn't on for long. On the other hand, the station got the DFS Program Exchange's edition of "I DREAM OF JEANNIE" (color episodes only) in the mid-'80s [free of charge, on a "barter" basis: they had to air two minutes of General Mills {and other DFS clients} commercials in each episode, and the remaining four minutes they could sell to their own local advertisers], and that was a staple for years...

"DALLAS" was Larry's turn to be an international celebrity {as "J.R."}, as Barbara Eden is as "Jeannie". Hagman eventually resented the fact everyone seemed to be focused on HER, while his talents were being "ignored" (that's one reason why he suffered a nervous breakdown in the middle of "JEANNIE"'s third season); he once told a reporter at Canada's "Expo 67", while appearing on behalf of Screen Gems/Columbia, "Yeah, I'm the guy with the broad in the bottle". He can relax and celebrate the fact that he was Barbara's co-star now, but for a long time he wanted absolutely nothing to do with "JEANNIE"....wouldn't even discuss it.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...have succeeded in syndication. I remember when "DALLAS" began daily repeats on WOR-TV (Channel 9) in New York...it wasn't on for long. On the other hand, the station got the DFS Program Exchange's edition of "I DREAM OF JEANNIE" (color episodes only) in the mid-'80s [free of charge, on a "barter" basis: they had to air two minutes of General Mills {and other DFS clients} commercials in each episode, and the remaining four minutes they could sell to their own local advertisers], and that was a staple for years...

"DALLAS" was Larry's turn to be an international celebrity {as "J.R."}, as Barbara Eden is as "Jeannie". Hagman eventually resented the fact everyone seemed to be focused on HER, while his talents were being "ignored" (that's one reason why he suffered a nervous breakdown in the middle of "JEANNIE"'s third season); he once told a reporter at Canada's "Expo 67", while appearing on behalf of Screen Gems/Columbia, "Yeah, I'm the guy with the broad in the bottle". He can relax and celebrate the fact that he was Barbara's co-star now, but for a long time he wanted absolutely nothing to do with "JEANNIE"....wouldn't even discuss it.

I guess I was lucky. WNCT in Greenville NC aired reruns of Dallas daily and they aired them for 2 years which allowed me to tape all the episodes on my old VHS tapes. lol Dallas did go into reruns on TNT, TNN and Soap Net so the show has been seen over the years. I think some young people just didn't wan't to bother with it. Yea I remember when Larry wanted nothing to do with Jeannie. It always bothered me because Jeannie was always popular in syndication. I think his role in Dallas helped the show get lots of new fans in the 1980's. I'm glad that now he's able to look back at Jeannie with pride because it was a very well done show and a true classic.