Dallas

In 1978, the prime-time soap opera Dallas (1978–91) premiered and soon became one of the most watched and discussed programs in television (see entry under 1940s—TV and Radio in volume 3) history. The series revolved around the Ewings, a fabulously wealthy family whose fortune came from oil. For more than a decade, audiences tuned in to view the clan's many excesses and their exploits in both the boardroom and the bedroom. Dallas popularized the serial format of daytime soap operas (see entry under 1930s—TV and Radio in volume 2) with the prime-time audience. The show relied on melodramatic plots and season-ending cliffhangers to captivate viewers.

Larger-than-life characters who constantly battled to control the Texas oil industry, wore designer fashions, faced intense personal tragedies, and were interested in sex populated Dallas. Many of the stories occurred at Southfork, the Ewings' huge ranch where the family all lived despite their rivalries. The cast was large and provided each episode with a number of steamy sub-plots. However, the most important character was J. R. (Larry Hagman, 1931–), the eldest Ewing son, whose sleazy personal behavior and backstabbing business ethics made him the man America loved to hate. He reveled in his unscrupulous practices and was featured on the cover of Time (see entry under 1920—Print Culture in volume 2), which called him a "human oil slick." J. R.'s corrupt nature often caused him to clash with his youngest brother, Bobby (Patrick Duffy, 1949–), who was known for his morals and integrity. In 1980, one of the most-watched episodes in TV history answered the cliffhanger question, "Who Shot J. R.?" Attempting to deduce the identity of the assailant became a popular culture phenomenon. Viewers eventually discovered the shooter was Kristin, J. R.'s sister-in-law, whom he had framed for prostitution.

Dallas was a success throughout the world. Some critics stated its popularity was due to the viewers' desire to see that even the wealthiest individuals could lead lives more miserable than that of the average citizen. Others believed the program reflected the 1980s' emphasis on greed. Dallas inspired a number of similar programs like Knots Landing (1978–93), Dynasty (1981–89), and Falcon Crest (1981–90). All these shows glorified big business and conspicuous consumption (buying pricey items to show off wealth). Although the series ended in 1991, the cast later reunited for several TV movies, in which the Ewings still lived in luxury and J. R. continued to scheme.

—Charles Coletta

For More Information

Corliss, Richard. "TV's Dallas: Whodunit?" Time (August 11, 1980): pp. 60–66.

Liebes, Tamar, and Elihu Katz. The Export of Meaning: Cross-CulturalReadings of Dallas. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990.

Marschall, Rick. History of Television. New York: Gallery Books, 1987.

Return to Southfork.http://www.returntosouthfork.com/ (accessed April 3, 2002).

Stark, Steven. Glued to the Set. New York: The Free Press, 1997.

Ultimate Dallas.http://www.UltimateDallas.Com (accessed April 3, 2002). Van Wormer, Laura. Dallas. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1985.