Most wasted characters

Crimson

Crimson

Telly Talk Star
I think a case could be made that DALLAS squandered most, if not all, of their second and third tier characters; the writers never seemed to know what to do with characters once their original purpose was fulfilled. Among the main cast, certainly Lucy got the bum deal. After her early bratty/trampy phase was over, the character floundered. Among the lesser characters, I would have liked to see Marilee used more often and robustly.
 
Lastkidpicked

Lastkidpicked

Telly Talk Dream Maker
Sarah said:
Raoul and Paco.
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That made me think of Tilly and Sam. It would be fun to watch events unfold at Southfork through the eyes of the hired help. This was a fun exchange between two of them. (From Dallas Decoder)

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In “Barbecue,” “Dallas’s” first-season finale, Tilly (Irma P. Hall) is filling drinks at the bar when Sam (Haskel Craver) approaches with a tray and motions toward Jock (Jim Davis), who is smoking and drinking out of the view of his guests.

SAM: He’s sneaking his cigarettes early today.

TILLY: He ’s snuck three of ’em sitting there. Ain’t like him to stay away from his guests so long. [Places champagne glasses on Sam’s tray]

SAM: Digger Barnes is here!

TILLY: Say what?

SAM: You heard me. The girl Bobby married is Digger’s daughter. So it figures Jock and Digger are bound to meet again.

TILLY: Yeah, but from the looks of him, it happened a long time before he was ready. [Motions toward the crowd] How are things out there?

SAM: Crazy.

TILLY: Oh, that ain’t no news. Tell me some news.

SAM: She’s on the nest – Digger’s girl.

TILLY: Now that’s news. How’s the missus and Big Brother taking it?

SAM: I don’t think they know about it yet.

TILLY: They ain’t going to like that. Who’s going to be the first to have a fight?

SAM: Too soon to tell.

TILLY: First to get drunk?

SAM: [Motions toward Jock] He’s got the head start.
 
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Toni

Toni

Maximum Member
Lastkidpicked said:
That made me think of Tilly and Sam. It would be fun to watch events unfold at Southfork through the eyes of the hired help. This was a fun exchange between two of them. (From Dallas Decoder)

View attachment 25689

In “Barbecue,” “Dallas’s” first-season finale, Tilly (Irma P. Hall) is filling drinks at the bar when Sam (Haskel Craver) approaches with a tray and motions toward Jock (Jim Davis), who is smoking and drinking out of the view of his guests.

SAM: He’s sneaking his cigarettes early today.

TILLY: He ’s snuck three of ’em sitting there. Ain’t like him to stay away from his guests so long. [Places champagne glasses on Sam’s tray]

SAM: Digger Barnes is here!

TILLY: Say what?

SAM: You heard me. The girl Bobby married is Digger’s daughter. So it figures Jock and Digger are bound to meet again.

TILLY: Yeah, but from the looks of him, it happened a long time before he was ready. [Motions toward the crowd] How are things out there?

SAM: Crazy.

TILLY: Oh, that ain’t no news. Tell me some news.

SAM: She’s on the nest – Digger’s girl.

TILLY: Now that’s news. How’s the missus and Big Brother taking it?

SAM: I don’t think they know about it yet.

TILLY: They ain’t going to like that. Who’s going to be the first to have a fight?

SAM: Too soon to tell.

TILLY: First to get drunk?

SAM: [Motions toward Jock] He’s got the head start.
Click to expand...

In the next release of "Dallas" on dvd, this scene will require a warning about "racist stereotypes". Bet it will!
 
D

DallasFanForever

Telly Talk Supreme
I would’ve liked to have seen them do more with Vaughn Leland. Loved the character and I thought the actor playing him always gave a great performance.
 
Lastkidpicked

Lastkidpicked

Telly Talk Dream Maker
Billy Wall said:
Mr “IT WAS CROOKED!!!” himself. Lol
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Dennis Patrick did an amazing job playing Vaughn Leland. In that scene, where he is so furious but also so desperate that he can barely get the words out through his clenched teeth. "It was Crooked!"

DallasFanForever said:
It would’ve been nice to learn more about all the secretaries imo. We really didn’t know much about them at all.
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I remember during the original run, people talked about the way Sly and Phyllis were portrayed in such a positive light. Many secretaries pointed to Dallas as evidence that often it was the secretaries who ran the entire office.

By no coincidence, it was about this time that the title began to change to "Administrative Assisstant" or "Office Manager"

Phyllis and Sly would be proud.
 
Julia's Gun

Julia's Gun

Telly Talk Well-Known Member
I always wondered how different Jenna Wade would have been if they had brought back Morgan Fairchild instead of Priscilla cute-but-bland Presley. I think it was because Fairchild was doing Paper Dolls at the time, but she may have brought a lot more to the role and deserved another prime-time soap lead after Flamingo Road ended prematurely

Her stint on Falcon Crest later didn't really do her justice, but maybe she would have spiced up the whole Dream Season era on Dallas and brought a different chemistry to Jenna's role in her relationship with Bobby and interactions with Pam.
 
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Monzo

Monzo

Telly Talk Star
Serena Wald was underused in the successful years, but had an arc in season 13 which was very smart IMO. I think bringing back familiar faces Serena and Lady Jessica Montford in the second part of season 13 was a nice gift for fans, but too little too late when it comes to ratings. Anyway, I would have enjoyed if Serena would have been appeared in season 14 once more.
 
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Rove

Rove

Telly Talk Warrior
Two characters which stand out for me are Rebecca and Katherine Wentworth. Just as the writers offered us a tense scene between Miss Ellie and Rebecca it wasn't long after she was killed off. Katherine's exit - much like Pam's - was a colossal waste. It would have been best for Dallas if Katherine was spurned by Bobby, left the series for a while and returned to be a real thorn in the ongoing drama between the Ewing/Barnes feud.
 
Monzo

Monzo

Telly Talk Star
Lastkidpicked said:
That made me think of Tilly and Sam. It would be fun to watch events unfold at Southfork through the eyes of the hired help. This was a fun exchange between two of them. (From Dallas Decoder)

View attachment 25689

In “Barbecue,” “Dallas’s” first-season finale, Tilly (Irma P. Hall) is filling drinks at the bar when Sam (Haskel Craver) approaches with a tray and motions toward Jock (Jim Davis), who is smoking and drinking out of the view of his guests.

SAM: He’s sneaking his cigarettes early today.

TILLY: He ’s snuck three of ’em sitting there. Ain’t like him to stay away from his guests so long. [Places champagne glasses on Sam’s tray]

SAM: Digger Barnes is here!

TILLY: Say what?

SAM: You heard me. The girl Bobby married is Digger’s daughter. So it figures Jock and Digger are bound to meet again.

TILLY: Yeah, but from the looks of him, it happened a long time before he was ready. [Motions toward the crowd] How are things out there?

SAM: Crazy.

TILLY: Oh, that ain’t no news. Tell me some news.

SAM: She’s on the nest – Digger’s girl.

TILLY: Now that’s news. How’s the missus and Big Brother taking it?

SAM: I don’t think they know about it yet.

TILLY: They ain’t going to like that. Who’s going to be the first to have a fight?

SAM: Too soon to tell.

TILLY: First to get drunk?

SAM: [Motions toward Jock] He’s got the head start.
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Irma P. Hall has passed away.

variety.com

Irma P. Hall, ‘Soul Food’ and ‘The Ladykillers’ Actress, Dies at 91

Irma P. Hall, who played Josephine "Big Mama" Joseph in the 1997 dramedy “Soul Food,” died on Wednesday, her family confirmed. She was 91.
variety.com variety.com
 
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