J.R. Ewing’s long goodbye
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.)