TNT’s Dallas reboot has proved a hit in the US, with an average of 6.8 million viewers tuning in for its debut episode.
Wednesday’s show secured the highest ratings for the premiere of a scripted series on a cable channel this year.
Shown on TNT, the reboot reunites former Dallas stars Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray as JR, Bobby and Sue Ellen Ewing.
A new generation of Ewings includes former Desperate Housewives actor Jesse Metcalfe.
TNT’s Dallas reboot has proved a hit in the US, with an average of 6.8 million viewers tuning in for its debut episode
Jesse Metcalfe plays Christopher Ewing who, along with cousin John Ross Ewing (Josh Henderson), continues the legendary family rivalry on Southfork ranch.
The original Dallas, which aired from 1978 to 1991, centred around Ewing brothers JR and Bobby’s long and bitter battle over the family fortune.
US critics gave it mixed reviews, with some accusing the show of “cashing in” on the original, and the actors of turning in “wooden” performances.
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Dallas is back and the new series are set to premiere tonight at 08:00 p.m. on TNT.
Larry Hagman, Linda Gray and Patrick Duffy are joined by newcomers Brenda Strong (Desperate Housewives), Josh Henderson (Desperate Housewives), Jordana Brewster (The Fast and the Furious) and Jesse Metcalfe (Desperate Housewives).
The cast has been everywhere over the past month promoting the premiere Wednesday at 08:00 p.m. on TNT. The youngsters even rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday.
But controversy is already swirling around the production. Dallas original creator, David Jacobs, was cut out of the new show.
David Jacobs read the new scripts and thought that they were not up to snuff. The new Dallas producers didn’t want David Jacobs involved and tried to list themselves as the creators of the show.
Dallas is back and the new series are set to premiere tonight on TNT
David Jacobs got a lawyer and the Writers Guild to step in and iron out the problems. According to ShowBiz411.com, David Jacobs, creator of Dallas and Knots Landing, said he has been excluded entirely from the coming reboot of the famous series on TNT. He will get to keep his “created by” credit, but nothing else, no money, and no participation.
“I’ll get the $714 Writers Guild fee for a sequel,” David Jacobs says.
He found out that Dallas was being restarted second hand. When he inquired about it, he says he told everyone – including new head writer Cynthia Cidre – that he was essentially retired and didn’t want to write the show.
“I didn’t want any authority,” he told her at their one lunch. But he did think a consultancy wouldn’t be out of the question since basically, Dallas relies on all the characters he created in the 1970s – JR Ewing, Bobby Ewing, Sue Ellen, and their family, even the same Southfork Ranch set.
Tonight will see the debut of the hotly anticipated Dallas reboot, 21 years after the original show ended.
So the cast of the new version yesterday got the opportunity to quite literally ring in their show at the New York Stock Exchange.
Josh Henderson, Jordana Brewster, Julie Gonzalo and Jesse Metcalfe were given the prestigious honor of ringing the bell to open up trading on Wall Street.
Jordana Brewster and Julie Gonzalo looked glamorous as they posed up together before heading to the podium where they joined their male co-stars Josh Henderson, 30, and Jesse Metcalfe, 33, to ring the opening bell.
Jordana Brewster, 32, opted for a color block outfit, tucking a red blouse into coral shorts and topping off her look with a white blazer and tan wedges.
The cast of the new version of Dallas yesterday got the opportunity to quite literally ring in their show at the New York Stock Exchange
Meanwhile, Julie Gonzalo, 30, chose a monochrome ensemble and sported a white shirt dress which boasted a black belt and collar with a pair of black peep toe shoe boots.
As the younger generation drummed up excitement for their new series, the original cast-members of the hit show were appearing on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray, who also star in the new series, all took to Jay Leno’s sofa to promote the return of the Texan-set TV drama.
It seems that the surviving original cast are just as excited about the return of the show as the younger set are to join the ranks.
Although the new edition is regularly described as a reboot, Patrick Duffy, 63, has said that the correct term for the new series should be a “continuation”.
The plot will still centre on the Ewing family, in particular John Ross Ewing III who is the son of JR and Sue Ellen, and Christopher Ewing, the adopted son of Bobby and Pam.
Dallas premieres in the US on TNT on June 13.
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Linda Gray outshone her younger new female co-stars during an appearance on The Today Show yesterday to promote the new Dallas reboot.
Linda Gray, 71, who will reprise her iconic Sue Ellen role in the forthcoming U.S. TNT series of the show, looked stunning in a floaty cream dress which showed off her toned legs.
Her skin looked flawless, with smoky eye make-up accentuating her bone structure.
Linda Gray joined fellow Dallas old-timers Patrick Duffy (Bobby Ewing) and Larry Hagman (J.R. Ewing) on the morning TV show to promote the series, which debuts this Wednesday in the U.S.
They were joined by five new cast members including Jesse Metcalfe who plays Bobby Ewing’s son Christopher and Josh Henderson who stars as J.R.’s offspring John Ross Ewing III.
According to Linda Gray, her character has “changed a lot” in the reboot, not least her fashion sense, since the original Dallas ended back in 1991.
“I love her right now,” she said of her character.
“I loved her then and I love her now. No shoulder pads for one, and her hair’s not looking as wild and crazy.”
Linda Gray outshone her younger new female co-stars during an appearance on The Today Show yesterday to promote the new Dallas reboot
Linda Gray revealed that the trio of old timers had all consulted each other before deciding to reprise their characters for the new show, which will focus on the younger members of the family.
“We all called each other,” said Linda Gray, after being asked if it was a group decision to make the comeback.
“People don’t remember that we’ve been friends for 35 years and we see each other all the time.
“So it wasn’t like we hadn’t seen each other for 20 years. This was friendships reigniting and we could work together again. That was the great part.”
Larry Hagman admitted Linda Gray had to persuade him to take part in the show, but “money” certainly played its part in his decision.
“It doesn’t last long, I’ll tell you that,” he laughed.
“It was strange getting back into the swing of things, but we all fitted into our characters in the end so it was nothing to worry about.”
Although the new series has largely been described as a “reboot”, Patrick Duffy, 63, said that the correct term for the new series should be a “continuation”.
Patrick Duffy said: “It’s like you didn’t tune in for 20 years and you were on the wrong channel. And if you turned to the right channel here we are. And everything is as it would be 20 years later. It’s a perfect continuation. We consider this year 14 of the show.”
The actor revealed that his first scene with Larry Hagman, whose character J.R starts out in a nursing home, was particularly meaningful for him.
“It was the first scene I did after not worked with him for 20 years – to go back into that room and to have that scene with Larry – It was a little poignant for me.
“Plus we had to do it about 20 times. We’ve got a little old. It really was the beginning of the new Dallas for me – to do that scene with him.”
And as for TV’s most famous oil magnate – apparently he’s even nastier than viewers remember him.
“He’s gotten meaner and he teaches his son to be mean too,” said Larry Hagman when asked by Today host Ann Curry if his character had “evolved”.
Josh Henderson, who plays J.R’s son John Ross Jr., said he had been so intimidated at filming his first scene with Larry Hagman, that he forgot his lines.
“They are big shoes to fill,” he said.
“I was a little nervous and intimidated to come into this show as it was a big deal around the world.
“The first scene was electrifying. His energy – when he steps on set – he literally consumes the room.”
Meanwhile, Jesse Metcalf admitted that he had initially been “skeptical” at the idea of bringing back “such an iconic” show.
“But once Larry and Linda and Patrick gave it their stamp of approval, I knew the script was probably on par,” he added.
“And after reading it, I thought, <<Wow this is such good storytelling>>.”
The actors were also joined today by Jordanna Brewster whose character Elena Ramos finds herself in the middle of a “love triangle” in the show, while Julie Gonzalo plays Rebecca Sutter who is engaged to Christopher.
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