LIQUID GOLD! 'DALLAS' SEASON TWO ON UK TV

An oil state for the cast of DALLAS. Image: TNT.

The family fortunes of the Ewing oil empire explode into crisis and feuding once again for the upcoming second season of TNT’s hit re-imagining of the classic eighties series, DALLAS, coming to the UK’s FIVE channel from 29^th January. And the legacy of that crafty and beloved JR Ewing, as played by the irreplaceable and sadly departed Larry Hagman, will be celebrated, remembered and mined for emotional drama in the process. Hagman was on fine form during the previous premiere year, despite the cancer which saw him depart for a couple of episodes. Indeed, before his passing, he even managed to film around six episodes of Season Two as the family’s greatest, and brightest, manipulating, oil baron, dutifully and greedily out to reclaim his papa’s birthright, and in constant opposition against his loving and always faithful brother, Bobby (Patrick Duffy). The iconic character of JR will apparently be killed off, with an episode (eight) that concentrates on the characters funeral, a time that will surely be genuinely emotional for the cast and audiences, as well as giving the behind the scenes writers the intriguing opportunity to introduce a new plot-line linked to his on-screen departure. There are further developments for the rest of the Ewing family, too, as Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe) and Elena (Jordana Brewster) finally make wedding plans, John Ross (Josh Henderson) gets a fiery new lady into his bed (possibly 24’s lovely heroine Annie Wersching?), whilst Bobby’s faithful Ann (Brenda Strong) will be left bed-ridden and ill due to a mysterious set of circumstances that her husband must unravel…

Trailer: Dallas Season 2 Trailer # 2 - YouTube
Dallas "New Episodes This January" Teaser (HD) - YouTube

As an additional bonus, keeping links to the classic series, there’s also the return of old-time series veterans Ted Shackelford and Joan Van Ark for a few episodes (presumably linked to J.R.’s funeral), who previously went on to headline their own DALLAS spin-off of the time, the very popular KNOTS LANDING. Whilst Ken Kercheval, still shining as the wily entrepreneur Cliff Barnes, obsessed with getting one up on the Ewing clan, will hopefully get more prominence as the series antagonist alongside his now outed daughter, Pamela Rebecca (Julie Gonzalo).

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Larry Hagman seen in final scenes as Dallas legend JR Ewing before his tragic death | Mail Online

GOODBYE, LARRY HAGMAN...

The world is not enough! The late, great Larry Hagman as charismatic evil-doer J.R. Ewing in DALLAS. Image: ULIKE. 

He'd been a well recognised face on TV throughout the sixties (most notably in the fantasy comedy I DREAM OF JEANNIE) and into the seventies, but for worldwide fans of the hit series DALLAS, American actor Larry Hagman, who sadly passed away yesterday at the age of 81, will always be remembered for his brilliant and truly iconic portrayal of corrupt and corrupting Texan oil millionaire and feuding next generation family matriarch J.R. Ewing. It was a TV performance seemingly tailor made for his fine talents as an actor, as he brought such a lot of nuance and subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, villainy to a part-the baddie we all truly loved to hate- that helped redefine the soap opera genre in TV and give it a massive quality injection. J.R. was everything soap-dom could ever have wanted in a baddie: multi-layered, greedy, ruthless, a family man yet a complete bastard to his loved ones, and always needing to have the last word in everything. And whenever he gave us that wicked smile, we all smiled too and enjoyed his deviousness. He was the only man in his unique universe who could make nastiness so much fun...

Certainly the best thing about the TNT channel's resurrected DALLAS series of this year, his character out of the retirement home and his eyes lit up once more whenever the words "oil" and "profit" were mentioned by his son and heir, John Ross, it was a building return to form for the big hatted entrepreneur. It's sad that such two distinctive greats- J.R. and Hagman, a much liked and respected talent in the Hollywood industry and a dedicated family man- are now gone.

They'll be very sadly missed...

Dallas star Larry Hagman dies aged 81 after battle with cancer | Mail Online

OIL SLICKERS! THE RETURN OF 'DALLAS'

Oil's the game, and J.R. is his name. The inimitable Larry Hagman dons the hat and wears his evil persona once more for the new incarnation of DALLAS. Images: CHANNEL FIVE/TNT.

TV's greatest soap opera/drama icons from Texas-devilishly machivialian grinning Chesire Cat-like J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman), his misty eyed but resilient ex-wife Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) and luckless but noble brother Bobby (Patrick Duffy), all return older but certainly not wiser, clashing heads, fists and slaps for an all new round of oil soaked conflict in the much welcome return of Leonard Katzman's DALLAS to the UK's FIVE channel from Wednesday- a big success this year on the prior US TNT channel, and likely to be just as popular all over again in Blighty. But what happened to Charlene Tilton, the lovable Poison Dwarf?

DALLAS: The Next Generation!       

Brothers in arms: Patrick Duffy as Bobby and Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing

This time around, it's not just the old patriarchs butting horns and stetsons, their wannabe power broking sons just can't help it either, in verbal and physical battle over all the same kinds of position, money and women that all spoilt rich kids have when good fortune just happens to fall into their laps! Together with the ma's and pa's they're all dynamite, truly putting the fork back into Southfork!

Texan icon J.R. Ewing holds firm!

Check out our previous articles on the show's return here: OIL WARS! THE RETURN OF "DALLAS" and LATHER UP WITH THE ALL-NEW 'DALLAS'!, plus a few new photos to whet the viewing appetites...

Ex-DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES veteran Brenda Strong adds some new sex appeal as Bobby's wife,  Ann.

Like father, like son. Josh Henderson as John Ross.

New blood feuds for Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe),  Rebecca (Julie Gonzalo),  John Ross (Josh Henderson) and Elena (Jordana Brewster).

Bobby confronts Harris Ryland (THE X-FILES Mitch Pileggi) in an upcoming episode...

Classic series favourite Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval) returns for revenge...

Black Gold! A new oil vein is celebrated by John Ross and Elena (Jordana Brewster)

More lapel grabbing from Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe) against John Ross!

Standing defiant: the old and new cast of DALLAS.

Trailer:  Dallas Series 2012 Trailer Extended - YouTube

LATHER UP WITH THE ALL-NEW 'DALLAS'!

J.R., keep your hat on! The Ewing family bath-time, as promoted in the all-new DALLAS! Image: TNT.

That old rascal J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) and the rest of the old and new cast of the modern US TNT continuance of the classic DALLAS TV series get together for some soapy exchanges and certainly aren't afraid to poke fun at one of the original shows most absurd, and funniest, moments, when a shower taking Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy-no stranger to unusual water experiences from his MAN FROM ATLANTIS days!) returned from the dead, resulting in everything that his poor wife/widow Pam (Victoria Principal), and the rest of the cast, had experienced in the prior two seasons or so beforehand having all been a dream! Yep, it was the final desperate nail hammered into the shows late-eighties coffin (though we were, thankfully, spared the kind of flying saucer kidnap seen in DYNASTY!), but hopefully the shows new producers will not let another audience-grabbing gamble like that ever happen again!

Originally scheduled to air exclusively on the UK's FIVE channel this past January (but delayed), expect to see DALLAS-most likely a format of the original show meets a more serious DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES hybrid cocktail- once it starts airing in the US from June.

Check out our previous DALLAS articles here: CLASSIC IMAGE: "DALLAS"s FAVOURITE SON: J.R. EWING and OIL WARS! THE RETURN OF "DALLAS"

Keep a track on the new series here: Dallas 2.0 News – Dallas TV Series News

OIL WARS! THE RETURN OF "DALLAS"

Family conflicts anew! The old and new cast of the resurrected DALLAS. Image: TNT/FIVE.

Good news for all UK lovers of the original King of the Suds, DALLAS- and the next generation of inhabitants residing over the Texas-based Ewing oil empire over at South Fork-as FIVE have acquired the new TNT made series for transmission next year, once more brought to life by its creator, David Jacobs. And here's a sneak peek image of some of the returning main cast, whose list includes old favourite Patrick Duffy, back for more punishment and punch-ups as nice-guy Bobby Ewing, sweet Charlene Tilton as "the poison dwarf" Lucy Ewing, Steve Kanaly as former ranch hand Ray Krebbs, Linda Gray as lovable, if slightly off her rocker, alcoholic, general china plate throwing Sue Ellen, and, of course, the irrepressible Larry Hagman as that old scheming, power mad, bullet-proof J.R. Ewing himself-the true iconic lynch pin of the series, of which any kind of re-make or continuation of DALLAS wouldn't have been the same if J.R., and Hagman, hadn't been involved in it somewhere along the line.

Sure to generate further mix and match character conflict, bed-hopping and back stabbing drama galore are a few cast members defectees from another popular US series-DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES- most notably Brenda Strong (who played that series primary story instigator and narrator, Mary Alice Young-having committed suicide in the opening moments of its pilot!), now as Bobby's new wife, Ann, and ladies favourite shirt-off, six pack showing Jesse Metcalfe, previously best known in DH for being Eva Longoria's ex-toyboy flame, John Rowland, and now up to new tricks as the fiery and ambitious Christopher Ewing, deep in rivalry against  Josh Henderson's equally brash John Ross-their story being the primary focus of the returned series. Further supporting female glamour adding to the steamy mix will surely come from THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS movie series lovely Jordana Brester as Elena Ramos, and Julie Gonzalo as Rebecca Sutter.

Trailer: Dallas 2012 First Look | NEW DALLAS SHOW (TNT) [HD] - YouTube

So, let battle and cat-fighting commence, as our hopes that all the pent up old bitterness left over from our favourite characters of the eighties can be re-ignited and recaptured in some significant way for viewers old and new-but this time, please, no more shower/it's all a dream stuff!

CLASSIC IMAGE: "DALLAS"s FAVOURITE SON: J.R. EWING

Business, brinkmanship and bucks. The three rules that J.R. Ewing loves to live by! Image: LORIMAR.

I'm not the greatest lover of soap operas but the LORIMAR made, David Jacobs created series DALLAS was one of those few exemptions that I enjoyed whenever I got the chance to see it, so the idea of the worlds favourite Texas based oil soap/drama family feuding without its top-star name: Larry Hagman, as the singular, fiercely determined, power mad, women loving J.R. Ewing, or worse: another actor playing the part instead of him, would be truly unthinkable, so its nice to know that the upcoming re-imagined TV series (yep, another one of those!), now aborted as a movie project (John Travolta as J.R.! Give me a break!), will have the actor and character back in a big way, alongside his previous series regulars: long suffering abused alcoholic, consigned to the loony bin wife, Sue Ellen (Linda Gray, who's looking great after a long absence from TV screens!) and, possibly, Patrick Duffy as J.R.s brotherly rival, Bobby (but, message to the producers, don't kill him again. We all remember how bad that turned out!).

Classic titles and music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJX8Cas9d7U

Shooting begins soon in California and Dallas, with the oldsters amidst a fresh new sexy cast that the producers hope will win the hearts and minds of old and new generations of viewers alike. Will they succeed? I think the die-hard fans certainly want it too, and it will certainly make money in overseas sales as a name brand. But have general audiences become more fickle in their drama tastes since the eighties? We'll certainly find out very soon...

Numerous early seasons of DALLAS are now available on DVD.