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The shocking return of Patrick Duffy to 'Dallas' had a hefty price tag. Find out how it affected the ensemble in this must-read article.
The Cost Of Resurrection: How Patrick Duffy’s Return Rocked The ‘Dallas’ Ensemble
The resurrection of a beloved character can be both exhilarating and risky for any TV show. When Patrick Duffy returned as Bobby Ewing in the ninth season of ‘Dallas,’ it was a moment that rocked the show’s ensemble and audience alike. The decision to bring back Bobby by retroactively making season 9 a dream was a bold move, one that ultimately cost the show 10% of its viewership.
Overview
In this article, we will delve into the aftermath of Patrick Duffy’s return and explore how it affected not only the characters on screen but also the fans who had invested years in watching their stories unfold. We’ll take a closer look at reactions from co-stars, examine how ratings were impacted, and analyze why such a drastic plot twist was necessary to keep ‘Dallas’ relevant in an ever-changing television landscape. Ultimately, we’ll reveal just how much The Cost of Resurrection affected the legacy of ‘Dallas’ for years to come.
Key Takeaways
- Patrick Duffy’s return to Dallas as Bobby Ewing caused mixed reactions among co-stars and resulted in a 10% audience loss.
- The plot twist to bring Bobby back was retroactively making season 9 a dream and was a big risk for the show’s writers, but it was the least confusing way to explain Bobby’s return.
- Co-stars, such as Steve Kanaly and Duffy’s co-stars, were not thrilled with Bobby’s return as their storylines were lost.
- Dallas’s influence was significant, as the characters were bigger than life, and the audience cared for the characters and related to their stories.
Bobby’s Death and Departure
So, you’re probably wondering how Bobby Ewing’s death and departure from ‘Dallas’ led to his highly anticipated return. Well, after Patrick Duffy left the show to pursue film opportunities, the writers decided to kill off his character in a tragic car accident. This decision devastated both fans and co-stars alike who had grown attached to Bobby as Daddy’s favorite son and the show’s resident good guy.
Grieving co-stars were not thrilled with Duffy’s decision to leave ‘Dallas’, especially since it meant losing a beloved member of their ensemble cast. However, they continued on without him, even though ratings declined after his departure. Meanwhile, fans of the show mourned Bobby’s death but still held out hope that he might one day return.
And return he did – much to everyone’s surprise! Fans were ecstatic at his resurrection while co-stars had mixed reactions about this bold move by the writers. But before we get into those details, let’s first explore how the show pulled off such a shocking twist through speculations and misdirection.
Speculations and Misdirection
You can imagine the excitement and confusion among viewers when, in the last 30 seconds of the ninth season finale of ‘Dallas’, a familiar face appeared in Pam’s shower, leaving fans to speculate about whether it was a twin or an imposter. The show’s marketing team had been misleading viewers with a commercial shoot for Irish Spring soap that spliced into the episode, adding to the speculation. Fans were eager for answers, but would have to wait until the next season.
Cast reactions varied; Larry Hagman pushed for Patrick Duffy’s return as Bobby Ewing, but some actors were unhappy with losing their storylines due to Bobby’s resurrection. Meanwhile, fans were divided over the plot twist retroactively making season nine a dream sequence. TV Guide even wrote that it was the least likely explanation for Bobby’s return. However, despite mixed reactions from both cast and fans, Duffy returned as Bobby after being offered higher pay.
The big reveal and explanation came in the form of an ad taken out by CBS in TV Guide, revealing that Pam had dreamed Bobby’s death. This wiped out a year’s worth of continuity and eroded audience faith in the show. Although Dallas never again captured top ratings after this controversial storyline, Duffy remained unapologetic about his character’s revival and called it a ‘get out of jail free card.’
The Big Reveal and Explanation
Now, imagine finally getting the answer to how Bobby Ewing was brought back from the dead in ‘Dallas’ after months of speculation and misdirection, only for it to be revealed that Pam had dreamed his death. This was the big reveal that rocked the show’s audience. The writers took a huge risk by retroactively making season 9 a dream, erasing a year’s worth of continuity and leaving viewers with shaken faith in the show.
The big reveal also resulted in mixed reactions among co-stars. Steve Kanaly said many actors were unhappy because their storylines were lost, while Duffy’s co-stars were not thrilled with Bobby’s return. Linda Gray, who played Sue Ellen Ewing on ‘Dallas’, described the plot twist as “a little bit too much.
The risks taken by ‘Dallas’ writers paid off in terms of publicity and renewed interest in the show following Duffy’s return. However, it never again captured its previous top spot in ratings, ceding it to rival soap opera Dynasty. The impact on audience faith would continue to affect the show until its cancellation in 1991.
Impact on Ratings and Audience Faith
The retroactive dream twist in ‘Dallas’ caused a seismic shift in audience faith, eroding their trust in the show and resulting in a significant but not insurmountable 10% loss in ratings. Despite this setback, ‘Dallas’ remained a pop culture phenomenon and influenced future TV shows.
Linda Gray mentioned that the characters were bigger than life, and audiences cared for them deeply due to their relatable storylines. In fact, Dallas was revived in 2012 with Duffy reprising his role as Bobby Ewing alongside other cast members. The legacy of ‘Dallas’ lives on today through its influence on popular culture and its ability to captivate viewers with its dramatic twists and turns.
Legacy and Revival of Dallas
If you were a fan of ‘Dallas’, you would have been thrilled to see the show revived in 2012 with the return of beloved character Bobby Ewing, played once again by Patrick Duffy, alongside other familiar faces from the original cast. The revival brought back many of the elements that made the show so popular in its heyday: over-the-top drama, larger-than-life characters, and plenty of twists and turns. However, it also faced some challenges in terms of adapting to a new era.
Reviving classics can be a tricky business, as it involves balancing nostalgia with contemporary storytelling styles and sensibilities. In some cases, revivals can tap into fan loyalty and reignite interest in a franchise that had lain dormant for years or even decades. However, they can also fall flat if they fail to capture what made the original so special while still feeling fresh and relevant. With Dallas’s revival, there was definitely an element of nostalgia factor at play – after all, this was a show that had captured audiences’ imaginations for over a decade. But it also needed to appeal to modern viewers who may not have grown up watching J.R., Sue Ellen, and company duke it out on their TV screens.
Ultimately, while the Dallas revival didn’t reach quite the same heights as its predecessor in terms of ratings or cultural impact, it still provided plenty of entertainment for fans old and new alike. By bringing back Duffy’s Bobby Ewing (as well as other key players like Linda Gray’s Sue Ellen), it gave audiences a chance to reconnect with these beloved characters while also introducing them to a new generation. And while not every plot twist or storyline landed perfectly – critics were mixed on how successful the updated version was overall – there’s no denying that reviving this classic prime-time soap opera was an ambitious undertaking that tried to recapture some magic from TV’s past while staying relevant for today’s viewership.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Patrick Duffy’s return as Bobby Ewing in the ninth season of ‘Dallas’ was a bold move that sent shockwaves throughout the show’s ensemble and fan base. The decision to bring back a character who had died on screen was risky, but it paid off with renewed interest in the series.
Despite losing 10% of their audience following the controversial plot twist, ‘Dallas’ managed to stay on air for another four seasons. The legacy of Bobby Ewing continues to live on through reruns and revival attempts, proving that even death can’t keep a beloved character down. As one famous saying goes, “death is not the end, only a change of address.” And in this case, it meant a change for the better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How did Larry Hagman convince Patrick Duffy to return to ‘Dallas’?
Larry Hagman’s persuasion played a significant role in convincing Patrick Duffy to return to ‘Dallas’. Despite being hesitant at first, Duffy eventually agreed to come back for a higher pay. Behind the scenes negotiations between CBS and the show’s executives led to a shoot for an Irish Spring soap commercial that was later spliced into the episode to mislead viewers about Bobby Ewing’s return. The reveal of Bobby’s resurrection in the last 30 seconds of the episode left fans speculating about how he was revived. Ultimately, it was Pam’s dream that brought him back from the dead, erasing a year’s worth of continuity and shaking audience faith in the show.
Q: What was the reaction of the rest of the cast to Bobby’s return?
The return of Patrick Duffy as Bobby Ewing in the ninth season of ‘Dallas’ caused mixed reactions among the cast, with some unhappy about losing their storylines and others not thrilled with Bobby’s return. There was on-set tension due to the risk taken by the show’s writers in retroactively making season 9 a dream to explain Bobby’s return, resulting in a 10% audience loss. However, Larry Hagman’s request for Duffy’s return was fulfilled, and Duffy himself compared his comeback to ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’. Despite this reception, Dallas remained popular due to its larger-than-life characters and relatable stories that resonated with audiences.
Q: How did CBS mislead viewers about Bobby’s return?
CBS mislead viewers about Bobby’s return by creating a fake commercial for Irish Spring soap, which was later spliced into the episode to make it seem like Patrick Duffy was only returning to advertise the product. However, in the last 30 seconds of the episode, viewers were shocked to see Duffy as Bobby Ewing and left wondering how he could have been brought back from the dead. This twist eroded the audience’s faith in the show and resulted in a 10% loss of viewership. While some fans were excited about Bobby’s return, others were confused and disappointed by the explanation that Pam had dreamed his death, wiping out a year’s worth of continuity. The misdirection used by CBS may have added to this confusion and disappointment among viewers.
Q: Did Patrick Duffy ever express regret about the plot twist that brought Bobby back?
Patrick Duffy has never expressed regret about the plot twist that brought Bobby Ewing back to life on ‘Dallas’. Despite the mixed reactions from fans and co-stars, Duffy stands by his decision to return to the show. While some fans were thrilled to see their favorite character back on screen, others felt that the plot twist eroded the audience’s faith in the show. However, despite any negative reactions, there is no denying that the legacy of Bobby’s resurrection lives on in popular culture. Fans still discuss and debate the twist decades later, proving its lasting impact on television history.
Q: How did the revival of ‘Dallas’ in 2012 address the controversial plot twist?
The revival of ‘Dallas’ in 2012 addressed the controversial plot twist that brought Bobby Ewing back by ignoring it completely. The new series picked up where the original left off and acted as though Bobby had never died or returned in a dream sequence. This decision was likely made to avoid any potential narrative consequences or production challenges that may have arisen from trying to explain or justify the previous plot twist. Fan reception seemed positive overall, with many excited to see their favorite characters back on screen after so many years. However, some criticized the lack of acknowledgment of past events as a missed opportunity for character development and storytelling.
Dallas (1978 TV series)
the shower running. Assuming it’s Mark, she opens the shower door, only to find Bobby Ewing, alive and well. (In the Season Ten premiere, Bobby‘s death
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