Calgary Herald

J.R. Ewing’s long goodbye

- ALEX STRACHAN

J.R. Ewing was never one to go gentle into that good night. Even in death — twice, now — J.R. still manages to grab the headlines and rage against the dying of the light.

In a so-called “very special episode” of the revisionis­t, reinvented Dallas, the patriarch of the Ewing clan is finally laid to rest Monday in a funeral episode featuring many of the original cast members. The Ewing farewell was filmed earlier this year after actor Larry Hagman died in November from complicati­ons of acute myeloid leukemia, at age 81.

Dallas principals — discountin­g Victoria Principal, who chose not to return — are saying publicly that Hagman would have been “very proud of” J.R.’s funeral. J.R. was a villain, true, but he understood the value of charm, and it was that charm that won J.R. such a large following among Dallas believers. As an actor, Hagman could turn on the charm in a heartbeat.

TV has changed, though, in the years since “very special episodes” were a prime time TV staple.

The original Dallas aired from 1978-91, when it was easier for a TV drama to seize the popular spotlight. There were only a handful of networks, after all. The reinvented Dallas has to compete in a world of 500 channels, and has struggled to make an impression with a wide audience.

The most popular shows on a Monday night in Canada include Castle, Bones, Murdoch Mysteries, The Following, Mike & Molly and, oddly enough, given Dallas troubles, the remake of Hawaii 5-0.

The new Dallas ratings barely earned a mention most weeks.

That may well change this time, of course. The curiosity factor alone will draw a crowd, and everyone loves a funeral when a beloved villain is being interred to the ground.

A Ewing family funeral could never pass by without incident, and that’s particular­ly true of J.R.’s farewell: even in death, the man is capable of causing trouble. (Bravo – 7 p.m.)

Crime consultant Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) has made such a hash out of the case in The Following that the feds have brought in a new man (Mike Colter) to run lead on the investigat­ion, much to Hardy’s annoyance. (Fox, CTV – 10 p.m.)

Intrepid Det. Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) is determined to solve the death of a pawnbroker in Murdoch Mysteries, but an uncooperat­ive witness keeps getting in the way. (CBC – 9 p.m.)

 ??  ?? Hagman: remembered
Hagman: remembered

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