- Awards
- 6
After the disaster that was Conundrum it's just a shame that when they were green lighting J.R Returns someone didn't pipe up and suggest a final 5 part mini series, which would have been a far better way to go out.
Love that idea!!! They shouldn't have called it JR returns.....it gave it away!!!
- Awards
- 21
Someone I used to watch DALLAS with (and dub fake dialogue to the episodes -- we were brilliant) once asked if I thought JR was capable of committing suicide. I said: "no, but Larry Hagman could" (under the right circumstances).
Who knew that JR would commit suicide twice??
Who knew that JR would commit suicide twice??
- Awards
- 6
What I find quite hilarious now is that the fans only want to re-watch classic Dallas (before it went dreamlike) whilst most of the cast relish the idea of making more.
Like....who do they think they are making more for...?
Like....who do they think they are making more for...?
This is just my opinion...but I they shouldn't have waited until 2012 to do a "continuation". They should have done it right around 2004 after the Return to SouthFork Reunion. Larry was in better health and even Ken was in better health. (God Bless them both because you could see that their health was failing.) Also, 2012 was a big leap between the original and the "continuation".
K
Karin Schill
Guest
I agree the Dallas continuation in 2012 came a bit too late. They also lost precious time between the announcement in 2009 and the launching of the show since CC was tied up on some other project. It they had worked a bit faster we could have gotten at least one more season with Larry. 
I also strongly suspect that the "Julia" character in "JR Returns" was Pam in the original draft as I remember reading an article at the time that said VP wanted to read the script carefully before she decided if she would come back or not. The first thing I read about the reunion in the fall of 1995 even said VP was on board. So I remember being disappointed when I realized she wasn't.
Excellent idea. A five part mini-series to wrap it up the way it had begun would have been great. But I've heard somewhere that JR Returns wasn't really supposed to be a reunion movie but more like a pilot for a possible new series. But it wasn't picked up. Instead two more reunion movies were ordered but after War of the Ewings they cancelled the third reunion movie which was supposed to have been the last installment.
I also strongly suspect that the "Julia" character in "JR Returns" was Pam in the original draft as I remember reading an article at the time that said VP wanted to read the script carefully before she decided if she would come back or not. The first thing I read about the reunion in the fall of 1995 even said VP was on board. So I remember being disappointed when I realized she wasn't.
- Awards
- 15
Sadly I think for the original series and the Cyntax continuation spun from it I don't think Dallas will be back with another series.
If Dallas is ever to return it will have to be a complete reboot with new actors playing the roles made famous by the cast of the original series.
Not that I don't love the original Lorimar series. I do. I love it very much. I'm being realistic. If Warner Bros. so desire to make money from the old Dallas series by retooling it for a 2020's audience then a complete series reboot is the likeliest way forward.
If Dallas is ever to return it will have to be a complete reboot with new actors playing the roles made famous by the cast of the original series.
Not that I don't love the original Lorimar series. I do. I love it very much. I'm being realistic. If Warner Bros. so desire to make money from the old Dallas series by retooling it for a 2020's audience then a complete series reboot is the likeliest way forward.
- Awards
- 9
You inspired me to rewatch JR Returns and it's actually a fun movie to watch if you just want a little distraction.
My favorite line is a perfect J.R. line and a perfect Texas line.
J.R. meets with Carter Mckay to talk him out of buying Ewing Oil from Cliff Barnes. Mckay tells J.R. that it's simply a business decision. "Buying Ewing Oil is part of a long range plan I promised my board."
Of course, good old J.R. beats everybody at their own game, and spoils Mckay's plans. The great line from J.R.?
"Don't kid yourself Mac. Your long range plan just fell on it's ass."
HAHAHAHAHAHA! I try to use that line whenever I can.
K
Karin Schill
Guest
I'm glad you rewatched "JR Returns" @Lastkidpicked
You are right that is a great JR quote!
I loved the reunion movie when it came out. I thought it was very good. "War of the Ewings" on the other hand is a different story...
You are right that is a great JR quote!
I loved the reunion movie when it came out. I thought it was very good. "War of the Ewings" on the other hand is a different story...
- Awards
- 4
Well in fairness there really was no way to film and promote a reunion movie without advertising Larry's involvement. So the fact that J.R. would be back was pretty much a given.
- Awards
- 4
I don't believe that's true. It was just a reunion, and just a one-off. Katzman and some of the others may have hoped it would lead to more, that seems clear in the way they introduced and set-up the little rivalry/love triangle with John Ross, Christopher, and Pamela, but I don't think CBS had that in mind. Then the movie was a big rating success and that's when I read that the network was considering a "Next Generation" type of series focusing on the younger cast, and they ordered a second movie. But Katzman's death and the failure of War of The Ewings put the kibosh on those plans
I bet if Katzman had lived and a second movie had been successful, we would have at least gotten a third movie.
- Awards
- 4
Yes, I still love J.R. Returns. While neither was perfect I find it to be a more satisfying "ending" to the original series than the actual finale. I don't even remember that much about War of The Ewings, although I have it on DVD somewhere. But at least it didn't undo the ending of J.R. Returns, the status quo of J.R. running Westar, Bobby and Sue Ellen running Ewing Oil, and them all living on Southfork, remained intact. I would have preferred if a continuation had picked up from that instead of writing it out.
- Awards
- 15
I love JR Returns. I'll never forget finding the VHS video of it in Woolworths back in the late 1990's. I couldn't wait to buy it. The same with War of the Ewings, whether they're canon or not I love both of them. That's how much of a fan I am of Dallas.
Last edited:
That would have been better than the TNT version.
Both were done better than TNT.I love JR Returns. I'll never forget finding the VHS video of it in Woolworths back in the late 1990's. I couldn't wait to buy it. The same with War of the Ewings, whether they're canon or not I love both of them. That's how much of a fan I am of Dallas.
- Awards
- 15
They were more respectful of the TV series the reunion movies were spun from.
They're still Dallas and just as valid as that Cyntax TNT Dallas continuation series.
Totally agree!! I almost wish they didn't even do it. The only "good" thing was Larry died playing the part.They were more respectful of the TV series the reunion movies were spun from.
They're still Dallas and just as valid as that Cyntax TNT Dallas continuation series.
- Awards
- 21
Yes, there are some things worse than TNT's nuDALLAS -- at least it played it straight and had potential, squandered though it mostly was.
Patrick has admitted that shamelessly shlocky WOTE was seen as the nadir of the entire Ewing saga, despite he and Larry producing it once Katzman died.
Last edited by a moderator:
- Awards
- 20
I think in the back of their minds there's always the thought of doing more. I can't remember whose quote it is but someone said they bet that when the movie 1941 was being filmed they were thinking of doing 1942.
It's even harder to understand then why they dropped all the next generation stuff in the second one.
Totally agree with you on that. JR Returns really needs to be seen as the true series finale.