Is Ted Shackelford (Gary Ewing) and Joan Van Ark (Valene Ewing) Headed Back To Dallas

[applecherry]

Could Ted Shackelford and Joan Van Ark be gearing up for a reunion at the Southfork ranch? Van Ark chatted with KSiteTV about the possibility of her and her former Knots Landing leading man reprising the roles of Valene and Gary Ewing for TNT's reboot of Dallas.
The Ewings of Dallas are returning soon (on TNT June 13). Is there any chance we might see Valene on this new show


In late April, a red carpet event was held for Warner Bros.’ “Television Out Of The Box” exhibit at the Paley Center in Beverly Hills, CA. This interview came from that event. To read all of KSiteTV’s “Out Of The Box” coverage and previous interviews so far, go here.

While at the event, we spoke with many icons of television from the past and the present, and one of the most gracious and interesting folks we spoke with was Joan Van Ark, who played Gary Ewing’s wife Valene on a handful of episodes of Dallas before spinning off into their own series, the long-running Knots Landing. We’re posting this interview in a Q&A style with questions in bold.

Interviewer:

The Ewings of Dallas are returning soon (on TNT June 13). Is there any chance we might see Valene on this new show?

Joan Van Ark:

Well, rumor has it… I’m having lunch with Ted Shackelford tomorrow. They asked him to come down and be part of it. It was several months ago, and he’s deeply into filming The Young And The Restless, the daytime soap for CBS. But if they asked Gary, maybe they’ll ask [for Val].

Interviewer:

What do you think Val would be up to now, 20 years later?

Joan Van Ark:

First of all, I think she’d be the most successful. She was always the put upon, goody two shoes. I’d like to have her running a movie studio out here in Hollywood. I’d love her to do a 180 from what they ever expected.

Interviewer:

Back when we first saw Val, J.R. had done whatever he could to make her life miserable and put her away.

Joan Van Ark:

They were rivals.

Interviewer:

Would you like to see her have revenge?

Joan Van Ark:

There is no doubt about it. This man I loved so much, Larry Hagman… I was just at his birthday party several months ago… I would kill, that if Val came back, if it was trouble for J.R.. Because they were always at odds. I don’t know if it’s because she stole his baby brother away, and she was ‘white trash,’ or what the whole deal was… ‘but ah wanna get mah claws into that J.R., ah swear!’

Interviewer:

Speaking of enemies of Val, how would she react to Abby if she saw her again?

Joan Van Ark:

Ahh. That’s a good question. I think she’d try to give Abby a run for her money.

Interviewer:

What would you like to see upstairs in the TV Out Of The Box exhibit?

Joan Van Ark:

I would just hope to see something from the cul-de-sac. There are still tourists who go out there; we filmed out in Granada Hills. But I’m hoping there’s something from the cul-de-sac.

Interviewer:

Have you ever gone out there yourself, just to visit?

Joan Van Ark:

Not to visit. I was there so many days and nights, and windstorms, and rainstorms, and fights, and high drama… No.

[Willbo]

Would love to see them back on Dallas. Have Donna Mills visit also.

[MickeyMac]

They are really going after all the old mainstays on the show.

[AB]

Would love to see more of the old cast return, even if it's just for a brief appearance.

[Dr. Thong]

Bobby reuniting with Gary should be interesting, because the last time Gary saw Bobby was at Bobby's funeral. And in the world of Knots Landing, Bobby remained dead.

And Gary's son was named Bobby in honor of his late brother.

[catlover79]

That would be so cool if they appeared, especially since Charlene Tilton (as their daughter, Lucy) has already committed to being in a few episodes.

[kattviews]

I heard Ted Shackelford was offered to return to Dallas.
That's odd.
Bobby Ewing is still dead on Knots Landing.
LOL

[80sTrivia]

It would be great to see them both on the Dallas reboot!

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by kattviews

I heard Ted Shackelford was offered to return to Dallas.
That's odd.
Bobby Ewing is still dead on Knots Landing.
LOL

As far as that goes, I say screw it since Bobby is alive in Dallas and the family acknowledges Gary so we can go with that. LOL.