TNT cancels 'Dallas'
11. J.R.Ewing: Larry Hagman saw in J.R. the role he was born to play. Long before getting cast as J.R., he showed the script to his mother, Mary Martin who enthusiastically told him how perfect he was for this. And a mother should know, right? As he said years later of J.R., and of "Dallas," "It's got all bastards in it, all dark characters. I knew this character from the get-go." Credit: Getty Hulton Archive
And just like that, "Dallas" — or otherwise known as TNT's long reach into TV history — is done. The network has confirmed cancellation of the remake through various TV websites. No reason given, but...it's probably because you weren't watching or talking about it.
Here is the statement, first posted on "Deadline:"
“We are extremely proud of the series, which defied expectations by standing as a worthy continuation of the Ewing saga.We want to thank everyone involved with the show, from the extraordinary cast to the impeccable production team, led by the show’s creative forces, Cynthia Cidre and Mike Robin. We especially want to thank the people of Dallas for their warm and generous hospitality during the production of the series.”
There may be just the slightest — or keenest — sense of remorse here even if you have never watched or knew there was a "Dallas" on TNT: This series incorporated some of the glorious originals of the original "Dallas" ('78-'91) — like Linda Gray and Larry Hagman, who died Nov. 23, 2012, or not long into the re-make's run. Cidre did do a fine job with this, and not to repeat myself....OK, to repeat myself, a graph from my review at launch in 2012:
There's a rich legacy here, so relaunches — even with Hagman, Linda Gray (reprising her role as J.R.'s ex-wife, Sue Ellen) and Duffy aboard — should proceed at their own risk. Has TNT screwed this one up? Not at all. Showrunner Cynthia Cidre's reimagining is slick, sharply drawn and full of the usual treachery. Everyone still has a secret — even Bobby — and J.R. is still one step ahead. The new series belongs to the young cast members, but the old-timers give it heart and, yes, love. Hagman, Gray and Duffy even look like they're enjoying themselves.
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