Dallas Character Wes Parmalee story with hindsight

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

But wasn't Stivers introduced, when the dream season was almost at it's end already?
Katzman & Co must surely have been aware by that point that Hagman was working hard on getting his prank buddy Duffy back on board.

Ironically it was Patrick Duffy's return in the following season which probably helped to nix the Wes is Jock storyline. You are indeed correct, the character of Ben Stivers only appears in a few episodes toward the close of season 9 (DVD count).

When Duffy decided to come back and it was also realised that the Wes is Jock storyline wasn't working out with the viewers, the Producers realised that there was effectively two resurrections from the dead in that season. Bobby coming back & Jock coming back too! That may have had an impact on the storylines as they probably thought two resurrections wouldn't be believable! So in effect Patrick Duffy's return as Bobby had quite a detrimental effect on that years storyline of Wes being Jock. If Duffy had not have come back it's highly likely that the Ben Stivers character from season 9 would have turned out to really be Jock Ewing.

 

[Spooky Owl!]

Ironically it was Patrick Duffy's return in the following season which probably helped to nix the Wes is Jock storyline. You are indeed correct, the character of Ben Stivers only appears in a few episodes toward the close of season 9 (DVD count).

When Duffy decided to come back and it was also realised that the Wes is Jock storyline wasn't working out with the viewers, the Producers realised that there was effectively two resurrections from the dead in that season. Bobby coming back & Jock coming back too! That may have had an impact on the storylines as they probably thought two resurrections wouldn't be believable! So in effect Patrick Duffy's return as Bobby had quite a detrimental effect on that years storyline of Wes being Jock. If Duffy had not have come back it's highly likely that the Ben Stivers character from season 9 would have turned out to really be Jock Ewing.

I'm not sure, though. I really doubt Katzman ever planned for Wes to actually be Jock -- although the actors were apparently told different things, as I've said. I think it was always intended to end ambivalently.

And Katzman knew Duffy (and himself) would be returning to the show early enough that they could have warded off the Parmalee plot if they felt they needed to, but they didn't.

Interestingly, I remember a letter to TVGuide a couple of years earlier with the writer saying that DALLAS should have the return of Jock Ewing, and named Steve Forrest or James Arness as "perfect" for the role.

 

[Garry]

Regarding Wes being Jock.

"No that was not a possibility, anymore than it was our intention to bring back Patrick as his twin brother, which we joked about. No, Jock was there; that painting of him was virtually there in every episode and how could you do that? We would not do that and it certainly would not serve him. The character of Jock remained in Dallas all the way through. So insinuations that Wes was Jock were there, but there was never any intention to do that, no."

David Paulsen
Dallas writer/producer

 

[Chris2]

Regarding Wes being Jock.

"No that was not a possibility, anymore than it was our intention to bring back Patrick as his twin brother, which we joked about. No, Jock was there; that painting of him was virtually there in every episode and how could you do that? We would not do that and it certainly would not serve him. The character of Jock remained in Dallas all the way through. So insinuations that Wes was Jock were there, but there was never any intention to do that, no."

David Paulsen
Dallas writer/producer

That makes sense. If they had intended for Wes to be Jock, they would have signed Steve Forrest with an option for a longer term, as opposed to someone who wasn’t available for the full season. Or they would have signed a different actor.

 

[johnmmil10]

I didn’t mind the storyline, but I thought it got messed up with the dream.

 

[Sea - Boo! - Er]

David Paulsen
Dallas writer/producer

I don't think I've ever seen that before. Nice to see it settled definitively.

 

[Jon Ewing Jr.]

Suppose they did try to make him Jock. I have often wondered how it would have played out. What do yall think?

 

[Spooky Owl!]

Suppose they did try to make him Jock. I have often wondered how it would have played out. What do yall think?

Recasting of core characters in a primetime show never really works. Just as they shouldn't have tried it with Donna Reed.

I mean, could you imagine Donna Reed as Jock? Taking down her own portrait from the living room wall??

 

[JRandSueEllenForever]

I remember (watching the episodes when they originally aired) when the Wes story started out (and previously with Ben Stivers in Season 9) there was a hugely negative reaction to the storyline.

I hated it at the time - because I loved Ellie & Clayton together and the conflict between J.R & Clayton.

But watching it again, without the need to wait a week and being able to binge watch, I think it was a great idea, with lots of drama and conflict - I now think it's a great shame it wasn't able to continue longer and expand.

Steve Forrest gave a wonderful performance & BBG was beyond fantastic in her reaction to it all.

I also seem to remember the storyline was axed mid season because the viewing audience (like me) hated the idea and execs bailed out due to the reaction (whether this is true or not I really have no idea).

The idea that Wes might be Jock may have divided viewers, but the idea that a man who had never met some of the Dallas regulars, who had only heard Jock's rambling when he had "the fever" knew them on sight when he arrived in Dallas - with knowledge of the full family history, with hindsight, that was a terribly bad explanation of how he knew so much in order to do what...?

So, with hindsight, how do people feel about the Wes Parmalee story now...?

I loved Wes Parmalee and I was sad when he left the show. I wished they had kept him as a regular. I actually thought he had tremendous chemistry with Miss Ellie, whereas I thought Miss Ellie and Clayton were blah together, and the only reason the writers threw them together was more for the conflict with JR. I would have loved Miss Ellie and Wes together as a couple, with him as Wes, not Jock.

 

[Jon Ewing Jr.]

One thing I thought that was kind of funny in all of this was the fact that a former CIA agent/operative couldnt go down there and figure out the Parmalee/Hanes story but Bobby of course could. Drama tv at its finest.

 

[Spooky Owl!]

One thing I thought that was kind of funny in all of this was the fact that a former CIA agent/operative couldnt go down there and figure out the Parmalee/Hanes story but Bobby of course could. Drama tv at its finest.

I know. One of DALLAS' most tiresomely trite conventions was this idea that the "strong" and macho Ewing sons could all play hero when the keystone authorities never had a clue.

 

[Richard Channing]

I mean, could you imagine Donna Reed as Jock?

If it meant we got to see a love scene between Donna and BBG then yes, Id be all for it.

 

[JRandSueEllenForever]

Suppose they did try to make him Jock. I have often wondered how it would have played out. What do yall think?

I don’t think it would have gone over too well. If I remember correctly, many fans were not happy with anyone other than Jim Davis as Jock. At the time, I loved Wes Parmalee and wanted him to be Jock, even though he looked a little young for the part. JR looked as old as Wes. Anyway, I thought Steve Forrest had a lot of chemistry with BBG too. But I think I was in the minority. In hindsight I wish they would have at least kept him on the show as Wes, not Jock, and a new love interest for Miss Ellie. I never liked Clayton Farlow on Southfork.

 

[Majorfanofshow]

It was great for it was the Last time BBG was ever asked to act on the show and she delivered. I also loved the Ball episode. When Clayton threatens to kill Wes over putting Miss Ellie through hell JR seems lost for words! He seems shocked someone could be more angry than him about a pretend Jock.

 

[TJames03]

Since we never saw what was said between him and Ellie.....you never know. I just think it is odd that Jock's body was never found. I would have written it that it was found due to renewed searching because of Parmalee's claims. Simple as that....

 

[Piggyrella Sanderson]

One question that everybody seemed to overlook regarding Mr. Parmalee: if he was Jock, he had to have a bypass too. This was hinted in one of his Dream Season scenes, but not at all in the next season. Because those things have a number of ID. Just my 2 cents...All my other cons with this storyline (looking younger, sounding different, wearing jeans...well, a lot higher and tighter than Jock did), might be just my subjective opinion...

 

[Angela Chilling]

One question that everybody seemed to overlook regarding Mr. Parmalee: if he was Jock, he had to have a bypass too. This was hinted in one of his Dream Season scenes, but not at all in the next season. Because those things have a number of ID. Just my 2 cents...All my other cons with this storyline (looking younger, sounding different, wearing jeans...well, a lot higher and tighter than Jock did), might be just my subjective opinion...

But Wes agreed to be subjected to medical tests and they found no inconsistencies with the possibility that he could be Jock.

 

[Sea - Boo! - Er]

Since we never saw what was said between him and Ellie.....you never know. I just think it is odd that Jock's body was never found. I would have written it that it was found due to renewed searching because of Parmalee's claims. Simple as that....

That would suppose that they wanted to clear it up. Like with Pam, I think they deliberately left it unresolved just in case they wanted to bring him back later.

 

[JR Ewing Fan]

How does everybody know how most fans thought because there was no internet then? All we had were ratings and ratings remained pretty high considering the dream. I loved the Wes storyline. It was the only thing that kept me interested after that season premiere. I think it and the B.D, storylines were the last great ones on Dallas.

 

[Majorfanofshow]

How does everybody know how most fans thought because there was no internet then? All we had were ratings and ratings remained pretty high considering the dream. I loved the Wes storyline. It was the only thing that kept me interested after that season premiere. I think it and the B.D, storylines were the last great ones on Dallas.

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