Why there are so many messages about Pamela??????????????

[Danasty]

I was born in the eighties and i didn't see Dallas on tv but i discovered it later , i love Pam and i'm disappointed about her ending (dead?disease?) but why this "passion" around this character and Victoria? this forum talks about the new show but there's a lot of threads about her!!!
because of the character? because of Victoria Principal?
in my opinion she will miss this summer 2012...

[Fortune]

Pam's popularity with Dallas was (& will probably always be) huge. Bobby marrying her & bringing her to Southfork was what initiated everything. It was through her that we first saw a preview of how clever & cunning JR would become, how tough yet soft Jock was, how tortured Lucy really was, how strong Miss Ellie could be, & how pathetic Cliff was. She was heavily involved in all of the most memorable plots Dallas had for most of its run. Her unceremonious exit was more a result of behind the scenes clashes than her character's importance & people know it. Even though it's been too long for just about any reasonable explanation for Pam still being alive & not around a lot of fans still want her back. I say if it can be done believably & in a way that adds to the story then I'm all for it. If not, don't try it...

[Cliff Barnes]

I was born in the eighties and i didn't see Dallas on tv but i discovered it later , i love Pam and i'm disappointed about her ending (dead?disease?) but why this "passion" around this character and Victoria? this forum talks about the new show but there's a lot of threads about her!!!
because of the character? because of Victoria Principal?
in my opinion she will miss this summer 2012...

I'll never get the insane Pam/VP love either, she is nothing so special it can't be good without her as far as I'm concerned. I am happy to see JR Ewing back in action, and Bobby and Sue Ellen should provide enough familiar support for him to play against. That is all you really need.

Should she have some closure? Maybe, but I don't think VP really wants to come back so it just won't happen. And if she did come back for closure, fans would still be upset because they want them together forever and ever, and that could only happen if they are planning to end the series right away, which they are not-because she is certainly not going to come back full time.

So, whatever, I mean personally I could go either way on the closure thing but that's it-dramatically I think the story has moved on, and I've enjoyed it immensely without her already. Epic tales like Gone With the Wind, The Godfather, Star Wars, Lonesome Dove-not to mention all the daytime soaps through the years which have had even more characters come and go and still find new fans-they all have points where important characters die and the drama comes from the remaining characters moving on. I find creative satisfaction in that happening, as it did on Dallas many times, and as I believe it can continue to. Holding hostage the enjoyment of a show on certain characters simply dramatically and creatively constricts what can be very exciting to the open-minded.

[french]

even if i'm a big fan and even if i think we talk about this character because Pamela is essential; i'll try to give a simple explanation :
generally the audience have explanation when a character died (funerail, hospital, grave, fire i don't know) producers give some image to close stories.
Producers of Dallas let this ending with door open and in spite of the "behind scene" they were hoping that we all hope here on this forum : THE COME BACK OF VICTORIA! some character in Dallas can't died
perhaps some of the actors are bored like some fans to hear about that for many years...but in 2011 we continued to talk about that....and we still hope...

[Charro]

unresolved storylines are really irritating. I guess thats one of the problems and why Pamela is brought up so much. And it does seem far too unrealistic not to know what happened to Pam. If she died her body must have been given to Bobby or Christopher for a proper burial. We know her character is alive and is itching to come back. We are concerned that the writers are overlooking this vital element.

[ChrisEwing2003]

As I said before, I would love to see her come back even if it is for just one episode to have her leave some kind of message for both Bobby and Christopher, this would be fine. I don't think that Pam essential to this new series though. But she does seem to be of popular demand for the new series

[Laurie!]

Two reasons:

1) Pam was probably the 2nd most popular character of all-time on the show.
2) Victoria Principal was probably THE most popular actor/actress outside of the show (magazine covers, interviews, etc.) during it's run.

[Pamela Barnes]

Even if Pam was seen dead & buried fans would still be looking at ways to bring her back. She was a crucial dynamic to the show & I don't believe if Bobby had left with that exit fans would be so passionate about him. She added something to the show that was much needed, not just the character but the dynamic she created as the catalyst for so many fights.

Pam was always meant to be the character we has sympathy for, the one who stood up to JR when no one else would. But is that needed for the new show? No.

[Laurie!]

But is that needed for the new show? No.

That could be said about anything that J.R., Sue Ellen and Bobby bring to the new show too. None of them are needed other than to draw a little bit of nostalgic interest from the past (contrary to their opinion of their own worth)...and if that's the reason they're brought back then it doesn't make sense to ignore the popularity of Pam and her many fans.

The way they're going about this is asinine...continuing to alienate a huge segment of the former viewership even more than the final installments of Dallas and the movies did.

[Pamela Barnes]

That could be said about anything that J.R., Sue Ellen and Bobby bring to the new show too. None of them are needed other than to draw a little bit of nostalgic interest from the past (contrary to their opinion of their own worth)...and if that's the reason they're brought back then it doesn't make sense to ignore the popularity of Pam and her many fans.

The way they're going about this is asinine...continuing to alienate a huge segment of the former viewership even more than the final installments of Dallas and the movies did.

I don't think Sue Ellen was needed in the old show the way Pam was. JR could easily have remarried, she was the Krystle Carrington of Dallas. Krystle left and the show was better for it.

Pam on the otherhand was important to keep the core pieces of the show together. I say old show, she is not needed for this new show. Sadly I wish Bobby was still dead and it was Pam and her new husband 'Ann'drew who was heading up the side aganist John Ross :). That would of been more in keeping with the legacy of the old series.

[Laurie!]

I don't think Sue Ellen was needed in the old show the way Pam was. JR could easily have remarried, she was the Krystle Carrington of Dallas. Krystle left and the show was better for it.

Pam on the otherhand was important to keep the core pieces of the show together. I say old show, she is not needed for this new show. Sadly I wish Bobby was still dead and it was Pam and her new husband 'Ann'drew who was heading up the side aganist John Ross :). That would of been more in keeping with the legacy of the old series.

The Pam storyline is the only thing from the old show that's unresolved and worthy of another installment (with the exception of the children all grown up)...she was simply left in the abyss somewhere. J.R., Sue Ellen and Bobby had nothing left to offer and that's why the old show/movies ended...yet strangely, they're the only ones signed to a contract in the continuation of Dallas. Having the "clique" and only the "clique" in contract for the new Dallas seems sort of fishy to me...it's as though, this continuation is simply catering to the whims of Larry, Linda and Patrick...meeting all of their demands for what they'd like to see in the updated Dallas saga, rather than what the fans want.

Pam marrying Ann-drew after the heroic death of Bobby, maintains the Romeo and Juliet theme far more than Bobby married to Ann for 15 years...and we don't even know if Pam's dead.

[Danasty]

thanks for your answers!
now i understand, when i saw Pam ending i was really really disapointed and even more when nobody never talk about her in last seasons...

[JohnRossEwingtheBest]

SHE IS DEAD!
Look it up on youtube, she tells his new hubby, the doctor, that she has a terminal illness and is dying which is why she tells Cliff to bug off.

[JohnRossEwingtheBest]

SHE IS DEAD!
Look it up on youtube, she tells his new hubby, the doctor, that she has a terminal illness and is dying which is why she tells Cliff to bug off.

[Danasty]

SHE IS DEAD!
Look it up on youtube, she tells his new hubby, the doctor, that she has a terminal illness and is dying which is why she tells Cliff to bug off.

YES she's DYING!!but SHE'S NOT DEAD!

[Karin Schill]

But that's not Pam who says that, it's Margaret Mitchell, the Pam look alike. Fans don't buy that crap explaination at all... :(

Also as for Sue Ellen, I think she was way more interesting than Krystle Carrington. Blake and Krystle's relationship was a snore too, they didn't have one ounce of the passion that JR & Sue Ellen shared!

[Danasty]

nobody saw her dead and nobody said she is dead period.

[french]

SHE IS DEAD!
Look it up on youtube, she tells his new hubby, the doctor, that she has a terminal illness and is dying which is why she tells Cliff to bug off.

we "look" on youtube, dvd and tv! so what? she's not dead!

[Laurie!]

SHE IS DEAD!
Look it up on youtube, she tells his new hubby, the doctor, that she has a terminal illness and is dying which is why she tells Cliff to bug off.

Yeah, she's too badly burned to return to Bobby and Christopher and she's dying...that's totally why she would have married her doctor. :rolleyes: Who came up with this crap? I mean obviously, Katzman was planting seeds all along that Katherine was responsible for Pam's 'departure' in case VP ever decided to return...but it was awful!

[Danasty]

i just read Cynthia Cidre interview....
good luck with your new show, audience watch a lot this show and then leave it in last seasons and movies, real audience not gonna watch Dallas on TNT (read facebook and twitter!!! everybody wants PAMELA BACK) the new show will interest just some people from this forum who love oil and "macho world"

[Danasty]

SHE IS DEAD!
Look it up on youtube, she tells his new hubby, the doctor, that she has a terminal illness and is dying which is why she tells Cliff to bug off.

even Cynhia Cidre in her interview said she's not dead, i think you watch the wrong vid:wiggle:eo on youtube

[Danasty]

i read the forum and we can't deny that sh'es the most popular character
even in thread who don't talk about Pam people talk about her...
this "passion" doesn't exist for any other character of the show

[Eric864]

Hey has anyone ever asked VP if she wants to be on the show? She kind of has a say in this also. In the one interview I have heard with her since the idea of the show started, she seemed to be on the "Pam is dead" train.

[Sarah]

What if she is approached and says 'no'? Then what?

[James from London]

i read the forum and we can't deny that sh'es the most popular character
even in thread who don't talk about Pam people talk about her...
this "passion" doesn't exist for any other character of the show

Oh yes it does ... Hang around a while, you'll see!

[James from London]

What if she is approached and says 'no'? Then what?

Force her at gunpoint.

[Eric864]

Everyone can look up VP's latest interview at Dallas Fanzine to see what she thinks about doing the new show.

[french]

Everyone can look up VP's latest interview at Dallas Fanzine to see what she thinks about doing the new show.

relax you Eric, we all read this interview and she said that she's curious to see how writers can bring Pam in Dallas!
So if a good script is send to her she will think about the return of Pam!

So Pam can come back if the new producers heard that!

Victoria didn't want to come back because she thought during a long time that Pam was really dead but she learnt that an another actress plaid Pam after the accident so evrything is possible now!

[Danasty]

What if she is approached and says 'no'? Then what?

that would mean that script is crap so no regrets!
but when i read posts here and facebook...i think she will come back or that would mean that new producers don't want this new show to be a succes!

[french]

that would mean that script is crap so no regrets!
but when i read posts here and facebook...i think she will come back or that would mean that new producers don't want this new show to be a succes!

of course the producers want success but did they really though about all the possibilities to re-create success...

[Laurie!]

What if she is approached and says 'no'? Then what?

If I were her, chances are I'd say no too...given the fact that she was never even given a courtesy call to see if she were interested.

Then the show can carry on without her but at least give her the proper place on the Southfork mantle (which will be difficult with a new matriarch of southfork...:rolleyes:). If they don't do that, then at least make Bobby interesting by having him turn hardened, vengeful, hiding a picture of Pam in his wallet so we know why he's become void of compassion and emotional attachment other than with Christopher....which causes a lot of stress for Lucas who wants to know his father. It really isn't difficult.

[Sarah]

that would mean that script is crap so no regrets!
but when i read posts here and facebook...i think she will come back or that would mean that new producers don't want this new show to be a succes!

I think that's a hell of a sweeping statement. It could be good with her, or good without her. What if it IS a success? What will you say then? I know what you'll say 'It would have been better if VP was in it...' It will go on and on.

To be honest, there could be any number of reasons why she wasn't approached. Maybe we should wait and see what those are. To be perfectly honest, I don't think people will be happy until they know in concrete what those reasons are and perhaps it would be a good idea, nearer the time to get another interview and address this issue. I would feel exactly the same if Linda hadn't been asked. The last 3 years of Dallas were hell for me.

I'd like to think that maybe Bobby will mention her to Christopher, and her 'status', dead or alive. How would you feel about that? ie:

"Your momma is dead and buried in Corpus Christi"

or

"It's a chapter of my life that I can't go back on...we need to move on from it.."

[Danasty]

I'd like to think that maybe Bobby will mention her to Christopher, and her 'status', dead or alive. How would you feel about that? ie:

"Your momma is dead and buried in Corpus Christi"

or

"It's a chapter of my life that I can't go back on...we need to move on from it.."

i will be really desapointed (i'm honest with myself), when i read a lot of posts i wonder if i'm really on Dallas forum, it make me sad

don't worry it's just a soap i have my life and i'm not a stupid fan who just live for Pam; but i was so in love with this character that when i saw the open door story when she left i had the impression that i have been swindle, all this years for that!!??

Victoria wanted to live Dallas and the car accident was horrible for me but it was an ending! then Pam survive, disappear then come back to say she never return....what the f...is this story!????

then i read this interview where Victoria said she will come back with a good script; you have to understand the "pro Pam" that's our final chance to see her again and close the story!

[Thornton McLeish]

Danasty, I do understand the "pro Pam" fans and you're right (as many others) : the open door story was an atrocity. But after Duffy's return you know they couldn't close the door on this character as well. Then have themselves ready to live another nightmare if VP ever wanted to come back too.

Having said that, I love Pam very much. If she's back, then so be it. If not, let's just hope there will be a final point to it (in the script I mean).

[Sarah]

I don't love her. At all. BUT, I do understand your point. I love Sue Ellen just as much so I do appreciate how you feel. I just hope that you can see that there may be a chance she will not be involved but that the show will still be good....?

[Sarah]

i will be really desapointed (i'm honest with myself), when i read a lot of posts i wonder if i'm really on Dallas forum, it make me sad

don't worry it's just a soap i have my life and i'm not a stupid fan who just live for Pam; but i was so in love with this character that when i saw the open door story when she left i had the impression that i have been swindle, all this years for that!!??

Victoria wanted to live Dallas and the car accident was horrible for me but it was an ending! then Pam survive, disappear then come back to say she never return....what the f...is this story!????

then i read this interview where Victoria said she will come back with a good script; you have to understand the "pro Pam" that's our final chance to see her again and close the story!

You say you wonder if you are on a Dallas forum where we all love Dallas, yet you are insulting the new show because Victoria isn't involved and putting down a lot of actors that people do care about and have done all their lives - just because you love Victoria. Maybe you should think about that - because some of YOUR statements are making other people 'sad'.

[Danasty]

I don't love her. At all. BUT, I do understand your point. I love Sue Ellen just as much so I do appreciate how you feel. I just hope that you can see that there may be a chance she will not be involved but that the show will still be good....?

for me the show will not be good because it will continue to ignore Pamela so sorry it's not a provocation but my opinion

[Danasty]

You say you wonder if you are on a Dallas forum where we all love Dallas, yet you are insulting the new show because Victoria isn't involved and putting down a lot of actors that people do care about and have done all their lives - just because you love Victoria. Maybe you should think about that - because some of YOUR statements are making other people 'sad'.

i hope JR, Bobby and Sue Ellen fans are not sad because of my statement : they will see their favorite characters on the show! and i said some post make me sad that's because of the wickedness of some members that's it! Me, i don't criticize the others characters i just talk about what i hope for the new show

[Sarah]

Yeah well I just don't think you should blow it off completely because of her. I would be VERY sad if Sue Ellen wasn't there so I do appreciate how you feel. BUT, as MsPamela has said, the new show isn't even about JR, much less Sue Ellen, Bobby and Pam. It's about John Ross and Christopher.

[Principal Rules]

Hmmm this just never ends. As one who does love Pam and a big fan of VP, I can say that without her I won't bother to watch this new Dallas mainly because no other character affected me the way the character of Pam did. I was an impressionable teenager and VP was the fantasy of every man and most women way back then. You could not go anywhere without hearing about her, talking about her or seeing her face on a magazine or paper. The woman was the rage then. Dallas was the show everyone watched and she was the star. Unquestionably.

I understand all the fans of the "clique" and why they'll be tuning in and I hope you won't be disappointed with what you get. I've said this before that I am strictly a Pam fan. I preferred her with Mark Graison because he treated her much better than Bobby ever thought of doing. Bobby for me is just another character without Pam. Pamela made him the "good guy". Without her JR and Bobby would just be two spoiled rich boys wanting more of what they never worked to get. And honestly, who would've given a crap about them?

I was disappointed with the ending they came up with for Pam. So seriously out of character it wasn't funny. Walking out on Bobby and the whiny kid was not something Pamela would've done but it was written that way IMO to spite VP. She had the nerve to wanna leave and TPTB wanted her to pay for that, as I said my opinion. That BS with Margaret Mitchell sitting there in the dark and saying she's marrying her doctor and then that idiotic stuff with "How can I go back just to have him lose me all over again." or whatever the line was, was total crap. If they were going to kill her then fine, they should've done it without all the drama of "mummy Pam" disappearing. She should've just died enroute to the hospital or on scene and then been buried. Over and done with. Instead we get the moronic stuff that leaves us asking ourselves for years, "Is she dead or isn't she?" Her death has never been mentioned by Bobby or anyone else on the show. They never talked about her after that second divorce, not one mention. Her kid wouldn't have mentioned her? Not once? That in itself made the show laughable to me. For me they could've at least brought her back for a half a season with someone else (MM) playing the part and gave her a decent send off.

VP is not a necessity for this new Dallas to be a hit. As with most shows it'll be up to the appeal of the cast to make it a hit or miss. None of them appeal to me so it's a miss here. But should they decide or come up with a plot good or bad, to bring VP on board for an episode or two, then I'll be there to watch.

And Sarah, I know you meant to type, "you have a strong like for Pam." :peace: I know it's about as strong my like for SE. :)

[Sarah]

Too right PR! ;)

[James from London]

I've always found it weird that people here are fans of selective characters on DALLAS. To me, it was the concept of the show as a whole that grabbed me. So long as that's there--in some shape or form--I'm happy to tune in.

If there's one character that's intrinsic to the story, it's Jock.

(P.S. Every time I see this thread title, I can't help but sing it to myself in a Kermit The Frog voice.)

[Luke]

The problem with the concept theory James is that it can grab you, hook you but it can't keep you there.
Only great characters and good actors within the concept can do that.

In later seasons the concept of this battling oil family and that damn Barnes clan was pretty difficult to keep fresh when most of that 'family' was in Europe and the main Barnes had waved buh bye

[minx]

Because people don't like change. Especially if it involves warm, fuzzy memories from years gone by.

[Barbara Fan]

Hmmm this just never ends. As one who does love Pam and a big fan of VP, I can say that without her I won't bother to watch this new Dallas mainly because no other character affected me the way the character of Pam did. I was an impressionable teenager and VP was the fantasy of every man and most women way back then. You could not go anywhere without hearing about her, talking about her or seeing her face on a magazine or paper. The woman was the rage then. Dallas was the show everyone watched and she was the star. Unquestionably.

I understand all the fans of the "clique" and why they'll be tuning in and I hope you won't be disappointed with what you get. I've said this before that I am strictly a Pam fan. I preferred her with Mark Graison because he treated her much better than Bobby ever thought of doing. Bobby for me is just another character without Pam. Pamela made him the "good guy". Without her JR and Bobby would just be two spoiled rich boys wanting more of what they never worked to get. And honestly, who would've given a crap about them?

I was disappointed with the ending they came up with for Pam. So seriously out of character it wasn't funny. Walking out on Bobby and the whiny kid was not something Pamela would've done but it was written that way IMO to spite VP. She had the nerve to wanna leave and TPTB wanted her to pay for that, as I said my opinion. That BS with Margaret Mitchell sitting there in the dark and saying she's marrying her doctor and then that idiotic stuff with "How can I go back just to have him lose me all over again." or whatever the line was, was total crap. If they were going to kill her then fine, they should've done it without all the drama of "mummy Pam" disappearing. She should've just died enroute to the hospital or on scene and then been buried. Over and done with. Instead we get the moronic stuff that leaves us asking ourselves for years, "Is she dead or isn't she?" Her death has never been mentioned by Bobby or anyone else on the show. They never talked about her after that second divorce, not one mention. Her kid wouldn't have mentioned her? Not once? That in itself made the show laughable to me. For me they could've at least brought her back for a half a season with someone else (MM) playing the part and gave her a decent send off.

VP is not a necessity for this new Dallas to be a hit. As with most shows it'll be up to the appeal of the cast to make it a hit or miss. None of them appeal to me so it's a miss here. But should they decide or come up with a plot good or bad, to bring VP on board for an episode or two, then I'll be there to watch.

And Sarah, I know you meant to type, "you have a strong like for Pam." :peace: I know it's about as strong my like for SE. :)

Great post PR and you say everything I felt about Pammy - also asides from the trio - no one else casted is making me say W O W more like W H O ??

Barbara is sadly no longer with us, nor would she ever agree to appear in a follow up - She didnt rate the movies very highly - But after Barbara - Victoria was my next fav character and the one thing I would love to see is a final ending to Pams story, not the crap we got in late 1980s that made no sense at all and was so out of character. And she is the mother of Christopher (wonder if he will mention he was adopted!! Hope he got over that one on Dr Elbys couch!)

I dont see VP ever returning tho, its not her pension and she doesnt need it - Dallas hasnt been her bread and butter for a very long time - but she would make me the happiest Dallas fan out of she appeared - it wont happen :( and out of the original trio its going to be Bobby who gets the biggest piece of the action. Just hope he has better chemistry with the actress playing his wife than he did with any of them post Pam and Jenna!

[french]

Hmmm this just never ends. As one who does love Pam and a big fan of VP, I can say that without her I won't bother to watch this new Dallas mainly because no other character affected me the way the character of Pam did. I was an impressionable teenager and VP was the fantasy of every man and most women way back then. You could not go anywhere without hearing about her, talking about her or seeing her face on a magazine or paper. The woman was the rage then. Dallas was the show everyone watched and she was the star. Unquestionably.

I understand all the fans of the "clique" and why they'll be tuning in and I hope you won't be disappointed with what you get. I've said this before that I am strictly a Pam fan. I preferred her with Mark Graison because he treated her much better than Bobby ever thought of doing. Bobby for me is just another character without Pam. Pamela made him the "good guy". Without her JR and Bobby would just be two spoiled rich boys wanting more of what they never worked to get. And honestly, who would've given a crap about them?

I was disappointed with the ending they came up with for Pam. So seriously out of character it wasn't funny. Walking out on Bobby and the whiny kid was not something Pamela would've done but it was written that way IMO to spite VP. She had the nerve to wanna leave and TPTB wanted her to pay for that, as I said my opinion. That BS with Margaret Mitchell sitting there in the dark and saying she's marrying her doctor and then that idiotic stuff with "How can I go back just to have him lose me all over again." or whatever the line was, was total crap. If they were going to kill her then fine, they should've done it without all the drama of "mummy Pam" disappearing. She should've just died enroute to the hospital or on scene and then been buried. Over and done with. Instead we get the moronic stuff that leaves us asking ourselves for years, "Is she dead or isn't she?" Her death has never been mentioned by Bobby or anyone else on the show. They never talked about her after that second divorce, not one mention. Her kid wouldn't have mentioned her? Not once? That in itself made the show laughable to me. For me they could've at least brought her back for a half a season with someone else (MM) playing the part and gave her a decent send off.

VP is not a necessity for this new Dallas to be a hit. As with most shows it'll be up to the appeal of the cast to make it a hit or miss. None of them appeal to me so it's a miss here. But should they decide or come up with a plot good or bad, to bring VP on board for an episode or two, then I'll be there to watch.

And Sarah, I know you meant to type, "you have a strong like for Pam." :peace: I know it's about as strong my like for SE. :)

We are not in 1987 and Katzman is not the producer, i read recent Victoria Principal interview, i read all the post ont this forum and i think we can start to believe again
i totally agree with you especially the fisrt part:peace:

[Pamela Barnes]

I too don't understand why you can watch Dallas for one character alone. It's like "whats the point"

In that regard you can't be a Dallas fan, just a fan of Victoria Principal. Like BF you watch Corrie right? I'm sure like me you have watched it for years. I know its a different set up entirely but when my favs left or do leave I don't say Im never going to watch again. I love Steve Mcdonald but he is not my sole reason for tuning in.

I loved the character of Pamela and when she left I still watched the show. I saw disappointed when Miss Ellie left probably more so than Sue Ellen, but I was also gutted that Donna left.

I don't recall any of this when the reunions airred. I don't see what has changed since then apart from perhaps a big injection of cash and promotion.

[Sarah]

Linda Gray has been such a huge part of my life since childhood, but I did watch the show after she left - albeit once only. I understand it from both points of view.

Dallas isn't just about one character, but when things start to steer so drastically off course as they did in the later seasons of Dallas, it does provoke anger and resentment.

I don't know if there are any fans of the ORIGINAL airing who didn't feel some sort of annoyance at how things went from 88 onwards? Not just because of VP, LG, BBG, SH exits either....It was TOUGH going and I don't think anyone can deny that.

When I was in Dublin for the filming of that show recently, my stomach completely flipped over when I was told there was a question on Season 13. I thought 'Please God let me remember this', because I had watched it ONCE when I was 15. And I say that as someone who loves Dallas so so much - but once your own beliefs and your own personal chain of what you feel is right for the show goes astray, it's hard to take.

[french]

I too don't understand why you can watch Dallas for one character alone. It's like "whats the point"

In that regard you can't be a Dallas fan, just a fan of Victoria Principal. Like BF you watch Corrie right? I'm sure like me you have watched it for years. I know its a different set up entirely but when my favs left or do leave I don't say Im never going to watch again. I love Steve Mcdonald but he is not my sole reason for tuning in.

what is BF and Corrie? (sorry i'm french)

you don't understand some people watch a serie for one character well i don't have the explanation but that's a fact: me i watched Dallas to see Pamela but i don't watched only for Victoria Principal (even if i really love her - but i didn't see a lot of movies with her after (sorry Victoria) but yes Pam character affected me more and even when Margaret Michaels play the role i accept her because i thought Pamela had to come back in the story (like i accept Emma Samms in Dynasty to replace Pamela Sue Martin) that's the chemistry some character/actress manage to create to viewers

but i must confess that today (if Cynthia Cidre write what we want for many years- i know i'm dreamer but i'm not the only one) i can't see another actress to play Pamela , because we are in 2011 (not in 1987) and the show must give us the continuation of this character who has been forget by the old producers but not real people (those who make tv audience) it is the slightest things for her, she contributed to promote Dallas in the world (in Europe press had talk about the new show and they always mention her name for example)

[Luke]

Pam,
Sorry but regardless of your though
ts, I personally watch many tv shows for the performance of one actor or the storyline of one character.
I suffer through Grey's Anatomy because of the power of only two characters.
I watched Dallas, and loved it but really dismissed paid attention to one or two storylines, makes me no less a fan, just watching for different reasons.

I think often viewers watch a show through the eyes of one character, even if that is not the character the writers want you to.

[Laurie!]

I think it's completely natural to have a favourite character and relate to the entire show, based upon that character's actions and reactions to the other characters. It's sort of like a good book...it's not good to me if the first person character is someone I can't relate to on any level. If I'm seeing their world through their eyes, then I want to envision myself in their world right beside them.

[Fortune]

I too prefer to think of Dallas as a whole rather than singling out 1 or 2 characters. If anyone were crucial to the original show my opinion is that it was Jock. In life he made the Ewings a family & he ran that family. In death his will & absence created so many stories & the fallout of those stories affected the rest of the series.

[Principal Rules]

I too don't understand why you can watch Dallas for one character alone. It's like "whats the point"


For me if you watch a show and you don't have a favorite that pulls you back to it every week then you're only watching the show to have something to watch and it doesn't matter what it is. What's the point of that? I think everyone watches and gets drawn to the one character they can most relate to or would wanna be like and that character makes them sit on edge to see what's next. Otherwise you might as well just turn the box on any channel for the sake of a little noise. So it makes sense that VP or the character of Pam has a large fan base that watches to see just her. The same for any character. I love the show and for nine years never missed it no matter what. Just because I stopped watching when VP left doesn't make me any less a fan than someone who stuck out the entire series in first run. Had they, back then, replaced VP with that Michaels chick I would've continued to watch because my favorite character was still there in some form. Replacing her would've made sense because of the accident which would've changed her appearance. That would've been much better than what we got.

What if question for the crowd, what if Larry suddenly couldn't play JR and they replaced him? Would it upset his fan base? Would it make some not watch because I'm sure there's quite a few who will be watching this new Dallas just to see him and the other two alum. And what if LH had been replaced after being shot in season 3, would all of his fans have stuck it out for ten more years without him? I'm sure some of you would've felt cheated, think about that and you'll see that's how we as Pam fans feel, cheated.

[Sid Fairgate]

The problem with the concept theory James is that it can grab you, hook you but it can't keep you there.
Only great characters and good actors within the concept can do that.

In later seasons the concept of this battling oil family and that damn Barnes clan was pretty difficult to keep fresh when most of that 'family' was in Europe and the main Barnes had waved buh bye
Totally agree! You can have a great concept and awful characters. In the beginning, I was a fan of all the characters. They all had attributes I enjoyed watching and they were well integrated into the story. As the years went on, that began to change. Lucy especially was sidelined, and the new characters that came on board in the late 80s failed to catch on the way other characters did. The program was much better thought out early on, which is why most fans accepted Donna and Clayton when they joined the show.

I already love the concept, and if Cidre's new creations are written in a way that allows the viewers to invest in them the way we do the originals, I'll be all for it.

[Laurie!]

I already love the concept, and if Cidre's new creations are written in a way that allows the viewers to invest in them the way we do the originals, I'll be all for it.

I think the concept is flawed. If it were a brand new show, fine...but this is supposedly a continuation. So, why repeat the exact same mistakes the end of the CBS version did? As I've said, replacing the Barnes/Ewing animosity with Sutters...as though it'd be entirely impossible and unentertaining to imagine new storylines for Pamela Rebecca or Cliff's new wife, etc. The biggest mistake of all, since this is a thread about Pamela...is treating Pamela and the character's fans with such disrespect. Seemingly in one episode, we're supposed to grieve for Pamela's apparent death that may or may not have happened years ago...and in the exact same episode, we're supposed to be entertained by her replacement character that completely destroys the Romeo and Juliet theme.

The death of Bobby (as bad as the dream season was with Angelica and Grace) was done properly. Swan Song was a roller coaster of emotions where we were happy with the reunion of Bobby and Pam one minute and then a few minutes later, we're grieving for the death of Bobby. We were given an entire season to continue grieving for the Bobby character while we watched Dallas...with the funeral, the aftermath, his Ewing Oil shares and Pam's fears of disrespecting Bobby's wishes, guilt for moving on with Mark but still being far from over Bobby, etc.

In this supposed continuation, Pam is only a brief mention....my guess is that it's something like, "your mom would be so proud of you" or "I wish your mother was here to see this"....however it's done, it's done very briefly and then quickly....here's Bobby's wife Ann. There's no slow courtship, grief period for the fans who're just finding out that Pam's dead, etc.

[Pamela Barnes]

Pam,
Sorry but regardless of your though
ts, I personally watch many tv shows for the performance of one actor or the storyline of one character.
I suffer through Grey's Anatomy because of the power of only two characters.
I watched Dallas, and loved it but really dismissed paid attention to one or two storylines, makes me no less a fan, just watching for different reasons.

I think often viewers watch a show through the eyes of one character, even if that is not the character the writers want you to.

I can imagine having fav characters and if Dallas was written to one character I could understand it but it wasn't. It was an ensemble piece. Although Pam was my fav, I also loved Ellie, Lucy, Donna, Sue Ellen - all of the women really. Nope it doesn't mean your less of a fan in one degree but I don't see how you are a fan of Dallas if you are not watching for well written storylines and good characters, instead are watching for one particular person regardless of the overall quality.

[Sarah]

For me if you watch a show and you don't have a favorite that pulls you back to it every week then you're only watching the show to have something to watch and it doesn't matter what it is. What's the point of that? I think everyone watches and gets drawn to the one character they can most relate to or would wanna be like and that character makes them sit on edge to see what's next. Otherwise you might as well just turn the box on any channel for the sake of a little noise. So it makes sense that VP or the character of Pam has a large fan base that watches to see just her. The same for any character. I love the show and for nine years never missed it no matter what. Just because I stopped watching when VP left doesn't make me any less a fan than someone who stuck out the entire series in first run. Had they, back then, replaced VP with that Michaels chick I would've continued to watch because my favorite character was still there in some form. Replacing her would've made sense because of the accident which would've changed her appearance. That would've been much better than what we got.

What if question for the crowd, what if Larry suddenly couldn't play JR and they replaced him? Would it upset his fan base? Would it make some not watch because I'm sure there's quite a few who will be watching this new Dallas just to see him and the other two alum. And what if LH had been replaced after being shot in season 3, would all of his fans have stuck it out for ten more years without him? I'm sure some of you would've felt cheated, think about that and you'll see that's how we as Pam fans feel, cheated.

I understand being drawn by one character and it makes so much sense all round - people tend to, unless a complete diehard, switch off when their favourite leaves or is killed off. Linda Gray and Larry Hagman ARE Dallas to me and ALWAYS have been. Without their pairing, I watched each episode of the show post 1989 once, and once only, whereas up to that point I could quote you nearly word for word from every episode.

A favourite character leaving or that attachment being broken CAN have an enormous effect on a person's enjoyment. Even if you love the show, as I do, my enjoyment without Sue Ellen was reduced to about 5%.

I think also with Dallas, the original cast - NOT Cally, James, Michelle etc - had such an enormous following, with people having that special attachment to JR, to Sue Ellen, to Miss Ellie, to Lucy - that if you watched every week for years, you began to really care about them. You cared about the characters and what happened to them. I don't know how any big fan of Dallas can't have that attachment. The same I don't feel is true for later seasons of the show. Yes, Dallas is an ensemble piece but the original Ewing family all played a vital part and I feel it's natural that people tuned in primarily to see where their favourites journey would lead. I used to be bored stupid by Ray and Donna, and I know we've had past conversations that there are some who fast forward certain character scenes. I know of very very few people who sat down to watch Dallas and were able to watch the whole episode objectively.

I felt like my right arm had been cut off when Linda left and the separation of JR and Sue Ellen was unbearable to me, it still is 20 years on. And people do feel that way about Victoria, Barbara Charlene and others. No matter how much you love the show, and I REALLY do, the piece of my puzzle was missing from the day Linda went and it totally affected my enjoyment. There's no way I was going to be able to sit down every week after that and not feel VERY weird about the massive gaping hole I was staring into!

[James from London]

For me if you watch a show and you don't have a favorite that pulls you back to it every week then you're only watching the show to have something to watch and it doesn't matter what it is.

That's not my experience. I watch(ed) DALLAS for the same reason I'd read a book--I'm interested in the story, the DALLAS universe, as a whole.


I think everyone watches and gets drawn to the one character they can most relate to or would wanna be like and that character makes them sit on edge to see what's next.

No - the story does that, the writing does that. To be drawn to one character to exclusion of all others seems myopic to me. The kind of stories/dramas/TV series I like best are ones complex enough that you feel your sympathies and empathies and whatevers shifting from one character to another, from moment to moment, from scene to scene. I like the ambiguities and contradictions of that.


Otherwise you might as well just turn the box on any channel for the sake of a little noise.

Couldn't agree less.


And what if LH had been replaced after being shot in season 3, would all of his fans have stuck it out for ten more years without him? I'm sure some of you would've felt cheated, think about that and you'll see that's how we as Pam fans feel, cheated.

I would have been very interested to see how it affected the programme as a whole.

[James from London]

When my adoration for DALLAS was its peak, I remember not wanting to even blink during an episode. I wanted to take in every shot, every piece of dialogue, every bit of music. I loved the whole thing. I got a glimmer of that feeling, the same sense of thrill, watching the trailer for the new series. It seemed to capture the essence of what I initially loved about DALLAS--the feeling of saga, gravitas, familial conflict, a sense of history. That wasn't down to one individual character, but to all of them. They were all components of something bigger than themselves, and that was the DALLAS saga as a whole.

Anyway, I'm loathe to talk too much about this new thing I haven't yet properly seen. I'm afraid of weighing it down with too many expectations, of falling into the trap of talking it to death so that when it actually arrives, it's merely an afterthought to all the pre-show conversation.

[J. R.'s Piece]

For me if you watch a show and you don't have a favorite that pulls you back to it every week then you're only watching the show to have something to watch and it doesn't matter what it is. What's the point of that? I think everyone watches and gets drawn to the one character they can most relate to or would wanna be like and that character makes them sit on edge to see what's next. Otherwise you might as well just turn the box on any channel for the sake of a little noise. So it makes sense that VP or the character of Pam has a large fan base that watches to see just her.
We don't all need to fixate on a favourite character to appreciate a story, it's players and the way in which it is told. Nor do we all need to relate to a particular character or all wish to be like a particular character or all have the need to emote over a character. There are ways of enjoying a television show that don't fit your view.

[Tessie]

For me if you watch a show and you don't have a favorite that pulls you back to it every week then you're only watching the show to have something to watch and it doesn't matter what it is. What's the point of that? I think everyone watches and gets drawn to the one character they can most relate to or would wanna be like and that character makes them sit on edge to see what's next. Otherwise you might as well just turn the box on any channel for the sake of a little noise. So it makes sense that VP or the character of Pam has a large fan base that watches to see just her. The same for any character. I love the show and for nine years never missed it no matter what. Just because I stopped watching when VP left doesn't make me any less a fan than someone who stuck out the entire series in first run. Had they, back then, replaced VP with that Michaels chick I would've continued to watch because my favorite character was still there in some form. Replacing her would've made sense because of the accident which would've changed her appearance. That would've been much better than what we got.

What if question for the crowd, what if Larry suddenly couldn't play JR and they replaced him? Would it upset his fan base? Would it make some not watch because I'm sure there's quite a few who will be watching this new Dallas just to see him and the other two alum. And what if LH had been replaced after being shot in season 3, would all of his fans have stuck it out for ten more years without him? I'm sure some of you would've felt cheated, think about that and you'll see that's how we as Pam fans feel, cheated.

For the most part, I agree with this, but also regarding one favorite character - it's not so much that the character isn't there anymore, it's that the entire show is different without that character. The dream season just felt different without Bobby, whether people liked him or not, and it's the same with Pam and Cliff and the entire Barnes family that is being excluded from this. JR is who he is partly because of Pam and Cliff and Digger and Rebecca and the fights over the years; Bobby's life was impacted tremendously by Pamela, yet now she's stuck in the abyss and he doesn't seem to care. They can kill Pam off in five minutes and solve the mystery of what happened to her, but they're still excluding half of the original show. Laurie keeps mentioning Romeo and Juliet - this update is just about the Montague family, and that's not how it should be.

[Sarah]

I can't turn the page on this thread past page 3....

[Fortune]

I too watch long running shows more for a look at their universe. I want to see how it all unfolds, not just for 1 or 2 but for all involved. If I stop watching a show that I've been into for years it's because I'm tired of the writing/story overall. Not because my favorite got the shaft. I have hope that in time we'll get a look at the Barnes family & what's going on in their lives. Of all the things I found bad with WOTE the biggest for me was not having Cliff there in some aspect. Having Ray back was great, but it seemed unbalanced without Cliff. I'm hoping that they've done this new show well enough that we can get along without some of the core characters of days gone by. I'm giving Cidre a chance to show us that it has been.