Since it's premiere,"Dallas" on CBS, April 2nd 1978, it;s TV modern day Snidely Whiplash, the greatest television villain of all time, J.R. Ewing brilliantly played by actor 'Larry Hagman' who died, on November 23, 2012 in Dallas, Texas,at the age of 81.Faced a fictional re-incarnation last night on"Dallas." Respectfully put not only the actor, but his iconic character to rest.
On it's premiere in the late 70's J.R on 'Dallas' changed TV history forever. Simply because every story line involved oil baron, J.R stabbing a family member in the back, just to get what he wanted. Within weeks 'Dallas' became one to become the most sucessful show in the history of television.
From trying to steal his own brothers inheritance, Ewing Oil, to having his own alcoholic wife committed, just to get sole custody of his son. One of the early episodes set the pace when, while his wife Sue Ellen was on the patio with guests, JR was nailing her barely legal sister in their master bedroom.It was that type of behavior from J.R that kept us watching every Friday night, the lower he got, the more anxious we as viewers became to see how low J.R could really go?
J.R character was the perfect guy you love to hate because, Everybody has a everyone has that one so and so like this in their family,a father or brother, uncle or cousin. Making him so appealing: they can hate him. They know who he is. In the '80's Dallas was attracting an estimated 83 million viewers in the U.S. for the “Who Shot J.R.?” episode that aired Nov. 21, 1980. It was revealed that the person who pulled the trigger Kristen, played by 'Mary Crosby',whom was the scheming sister of J.R.'s wife Sue Ellen.
On Monday night's "Dallas,"the show laid to rest the iconic character to rest, as 'Dallas' continues a brand new "Who shot J.R.?" mystery,with last night's episode J.R's son John Ross Ewing played by Josh Henderson heard shots fired while he was talking to his father on the phone. Putting to rest Larry Hagman's J.R. Ewing,who was the greatest television villain of all time. Igniting a sendoff from producers' and cast mates for their special friend, 'Mr.Larry Hagman'.
Producer's took a vote to see if J.R should fall off a building, or if should be blown up his helicopter ...but never dying of natural causes, which seemed unnusually boring especially since God would be the last one gunning for J.R. He had enough enemies who wanted to see him dead. In the end... J.R's fate came full circle to the point where it returned to what happened originally, but this time doing it even better. By once again going back to who shot J.R!
'Dallas' executive producer Cynthia Cidre and castmates admitted that Larry Hagman himself was J.R. He was a kind of fun loving guy, which he brought to the part of J.R,
was the real Larry Hagman. Everyone connected felt that it was a little bit surreal that we were writing and shooting an episode about a fictional character's death at the same time as the actor had recently died.
During the funeral scene fans watching Monday night's 'Dallas' episode heard eulogies for J.R., in a special and personal way, serving as a sort of public eulogy for their friend, the late, Larry Hagman. Which included castmates saying a lot of that fit both people, the fictional character as well as Larry Hagman.
Actors Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray who really knew Larry well, were kind of doing a send off for both actor and the character of J.R. Linda said that filming her part of the funeral, was extremely hard, because it was very real.Patrick Duffy's said his eulogy had special moments saying, 'Yeah, I think he'd be happy.' Everybody that was involved in it, literally, that was what we were trying to do is, trying to feel that we did right by our friend Larry Hagman
During the wake and funeral it was obvious J.R was loved, but it wasn't a secret that he had enemies, Like J.R's rival Cliff Barnes showed up and resented that J.R got to die without having to answer to Cliff Barnes any longer. Let's face it J.R did some pretty dirty things,to Cliff that where some of the darkest most reprehensible things ever.
Monday nights 'Dallas" funeral, brought back a slew of characters from the original CBS series, including Charlene Tilton as Lucy, her TV dad Ted Shackleford as Gary Ewing and
Steven Kanaly as Ray Krebbs who turned out was Jock Ewings son making him half brother to J.R..Bobby.. and Gary. But married Lucy, Gary Ewings daughter, making her, Ray's niece. So obviously Ray enjoyed rolling more than just his own cigarettes.
Even Christopher...Bobbys son, married and impregnated Cliffs daughter Pamela Rebecca Barnes who's aunt was Bobbys late wife Pamela Barnes Ewing, played by Victoria Principal. Christophers mom Pamela was Cliffs sister. Which means Christopher married his first cousin.
During the cast reunion for the funeral,the one of the things that makes this a remarkable hour is that the emotion is honest, from everybody involved,As "Dallas" says an on-screen goodbye to one of its biggest characters, the cast and crew pay tribute to Larry Hagman, the actor who played him, so well
At long last, "Dallas" will give J.R. Ewing the big ole' Texas sendoff he deserves. J.R may you Rest In Peace!
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