 |
On Television |
|
"Dallas," Old & New
|
"Dallas" revival mixes old
regulars with newcomers
By DONNA J. PLESH
of TheColumnists.com
Who says you can’t
go home again? If your names are Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy
and Linda Gray, and your TV home for years was “Dallas,”
well, welcome back.
The trio of stars from the 1978-1991 hit CBS nighttime soap are
back in “Dallas,” the new series airing Wednesdays
nights on TNT. Unlike CBS’ “Hawaii 5-0,” this
is not a reboot, but, as the executive producers and cast say,
a continuation of the original series.
Once again the ruthless rivalries between the oil and cattle-rich
Ewing clan is gracing the small screen with--what else?--more
scheming, secrets, love triangles and betrayals. With the Ewings
of Southfork Ranch, some things never change, though 20-plus
years have passed.
Along with the trio from the original series: Hagman as J.R.
Ewing, Duffy as Bobby Ewing, and Gray as Sue Ellen, the second
generation Ewings are represented by Josh Henderson as John Ross
Ewing, J.R.’s son by ex-wife Sue-Ellen, and Jesse Metcalfe
as Christopher, Bobby’s adopted son. Jordana Brewster plays
Elena Ramos, John Ross’ girlfriend, Julie Gonzalo is Rebecca
Sutter, Christopher’s fiancee, and Brenda Strong is Ann,
Bobby’s wife. (Bobby's original wife, Pam Ewing, played
by Victoria Prinicpal, died and so did April, his second wife,
played by Sheree J. Wilson).
Lest you think this series just focuses on the new generation,
think again. The original series threesome are major players
in this continuation.
“So far we’ve been in every
episode, so unless Cynthia (Cidre) and Mike (Michael Robin, the
executive producers) have plans that we don’t know,” said Duffy. “That’s why we wanted to
do the show--because we’re trying to tow the load as much
as everybody else. The younger people have more stamina, and
obviously, they have a function in the show. But we’re here
and we’re in every episode, and we’re performing the
functions as we did in the original 'Dallas.'”
Executive Proudcer Cidre added, “It was never the intent
to use the ‘big three’ as we call Larry, Linda and
Patrick, as bait for the new show. It was really to integrate
them fully with the new cast. And when you watch the show you’ll
see that. There are occasional scenes where they may be separated,
but they’re integrated in all scenes. It’s not two
separate storylines.”
So, after 20 years, why did the “big three” decide
to do the series again?
“Work at 80. How many people do you know working at 80?
And doing a job they love with the people he loves. Oh, yeah,
I’m a very lucky man,” says Hagman, who says he
is doing well after a cancer diagnosis last fall and subsequent
treatment.
Gray also is pleased to be back working with her “Dallas”
mates.
“I think it is interesting because I was talking earlier
about actors getting a chance to play a character that you played
20 years ago and continue that. I don’t know many actors
who get that luxury. And for us it was exciting because we love,
love, love the show. We love each other. We’re very, very
close friends and so that was a lovely continuation of the momentum
we started years ago,” she says.
The times have changed in the decades since the original “Dallas,
“ but some things have not changed.
Says Hagman, “I think you have to realize when ‘Dallas’ was really hot, when it got going, we were in a major recession, and people couldn’t go out and get a babysitter and have dinner and go to a movie. They couldn’t afford it. So they had to stay in on Friday nights and watch something. And we were it and here we are again.”
Producer Robin agrees with both stars,
and adds: “The script Cynthia wrote for the pilot just
honored all of the intricate elements of what ‘Dallas’
was in the past, and just basically we’ve dropped back in
20 years later. And a lot of the storytelling elements are very
similar in terms of the way that you have this big, epic family
conflict. The interpersonal dynamics and the interpersonal fights
are in place, and we’ve tried to make sure that, as we’ve
bought this forward and she’s (Cynthia) freshened it with
all these new faces that you see and also a different generation
and watch the real generational fight within the family. Those
are the things that people love. Those are the things that people
expect to be in ‘Dallas.’ We weren’t here to sort
of take this [show] in some other whole new place. It’s
honoring the past. It’s freshening it for now and I think
making it really, really compelling with a remarkable group of
actors.“
Just who are the younger characters, what do they remember about
the original “Dallas” and how do they feel about working
with the “big three?”
Henderson was born in the fourth season
of the original. Brewster and Gonzalo, were born in the cliffhanger
“Who Shot J.R.” season, and Metcalfe was born the year
the series premiered.
“They [the big three], without a doubt, have set
the tone for what the experience has been like on set. The three
of them are amazing. I think I’ve learned so much from all
of them already as far as being very gracious actors, and just
like having that kind of familial bond as far as the cast is
concerned,” says Metcalfe.
Henderson agrees. “The history,
it electrified the room and made me realize how amazing, how
lucky I am to be a part of this. But it’s just they bring
such a history and such, it’s just an iconic feeling in
the room when you’re working with them."
Brewster, who was born in Panama, says the original show had
a “huge impact on me. I think just the theme song is
so iconic and being a part of something that’s just a huge
part of the culture is incredibly exciting.”
Gonzalo, born and raised in Argentina, says her mother usually
kicked her out of the room when “Dallas” was on-- in
Spanish. “It was a huge hit down there as well. I do
remember the theme song clearly, and I do remember watching them
[the actors] and they didn’t speak English. I’m
honored to be part of such an iconic show that did spread through
out the world,” she says.
So really, did the “big three” ever think they would
be back doing “Dallas” again in 2012?
“I personally didn’t. So this is the best thing that could happen in my career life,” says Duffy.
“I got a tear in my eye. Never
let an opportunity go by,” says
Hagman.
And Gray? “This is a secret, but the original show should
have been a sitcom because I laughed every single day that we
were on the set, the original set. And nothing has changed, nothing.
Two of my dearest, dearest friends. Happy to be working with
them again.”
Besides the “big three” and the younger generation
cast, Brenda Strong is another newcomer to the series, playing
Bobby’s wife. She is best remembered from the ABC
soaper “Desperate Housewives,” which in its early seasons
also included Metcalfe and Henderson in the cast. Strong doesn’t
feel much of a connection between “Housewives” and
“Dallas.”
“I would say the only thing in common is the excellence
in writing, and that’s not to say the audiences won’t
love this show as much as they loved ‘Desperate Housewives,’
but they’re very different shows. Our show [‘Dallas’]
is really pivotal around family drama and the relations and
the epic themes of greed and betrayal. ‘Desperate Housewives’
was very much set in a place. A lane, and it was not much family
centric,” she says.
The “Dallas” producers also plan to bring back some
other original cast members in guest roles, including Ken Kercheval
(Cliff Barnes), Charlene Tilton (Lucy Ewing) and Steve Kanaly
(Ray Krebbs).
©2012 by Donna J.
Plesh. The photos are courtesy of TNT. This column first posted
June 11, 2012.
You
can comment on this column online. Please address your message
to either "The Editors" or Donna J. Plesh via our TALKBACK page. Send your email
message to Syndpack
@ aol.com
|
|
|
Archives |
|
|