Original Gary vs. Gary #2

[Harry McSween]

Hi everyone! I was wondering which Gary you liked the best, Gary #1 (played by David Ackroyd) or the better known Gary, Gary #2 (played by Ted Shackelford)? For those of you who haven't seen the Knots Landing sister show Dallas, the first Gary I'm talking about was only on Dallas, appearing in only episode six and seven. After that, Ted Shackelford played the part. I believe David Ackroyd appeared on Knots Landing as another character in a guest spot once. Anyway, I personally liked Ted Shackelford best, I just never cared for David Ackroyd, even though he was Gary the first. Which Gary did you like the best?

"Never be fooled when I'm down."

"I've been to Hell and back. I'm the ex-wife of J.R. Ewing."

[Ewings]

I liked them both, but I can't say which one I prefered, because David Ackroyd even though he was only in a few episodes, was the original Gary. I liked Ted Shackelford because he was Gary in almost all the episodes, and I got used to him being Gary, as you would, lol.

Power is nothing without control

[pammy jean]

I think the reason that Ted was the best Gary was that he had the strong resemblance to Ellie. Remember that Gary was named after Garrison {ellie's brother.} plus the blonde worked in the favor of the idea he wasn't like his dark haired brothers who wanted to rule Ewing Oil. Also Ted Shackleford seemed more sympathetic in the role than David Ackroyd.

[owenwarland]

Shackelford was the best! He brought real pathos to the role and had great washboard abs!!! That bum Ackroyd wasn't even blonde!

Ted really grew into the role, and did an admirable job at it!!!

[Tatianna]

Ted Shackelford the the only Gary for me. http://www.ultimatedallas.com/granny/Yeahh.gif http://www.ultimatedallas.com/granny/In-Lurve.gif

I buy Ackroyd more as a Ewing; a guy who has been a screwup his whole life. But Shackelford was more appropriate for Gary as portrayed on Knots Landing, and made more sense with Joan Van Ark.

[Seaviewer]

Yes, Ackroyd looks like a Ewing, Shackelford looks like a Southworth.

How can we decide between someone who played Gary a few times over someone who played him for 14 years? Of course Shackleford IS the only Gary Ewing. http://www.ultimatedallas.com/granny/Thankyou.gif

[SueEllenE]

I ususually like the originals better (i.e. BBG as Miss Ellie as opposed to Donna Reed) but David Ackroyd wasn't on on long enough to break into the role of Gary. After all the years that Ted Shackelford played him it's hard to even imagine that someone else once played Gary. http://www.soapchat.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[ulysses]

Did you know that David Ackroyd also appeared in Knots Landing? He played a love interest of Karen soon after Sid´s dead.
But I also liked Shackelford as Gary best!

[southforkEwing]

There's no comparison.

Ted Shackleford made Gary Ewing his role. David Ackeroyd may have been the first, but after watching TS play him for 14 years, DA seems like he was just there and little else.

Ted's chemistry with Joan Van Ark was sensational. http://www.soapchat.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif In fact, wasn't it JVA who recommended TS for Gary when Knots was starting?

[southforkEwing]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ulysses:
Did you know that David Ackroyd also appeared in Knots Landing? He played a love interest of Karen soon after Sid´s dead.
But I also liked Shackelford as Gary best! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Speaking of that very episode, I had a mischevious thought about a scene they could have put in http://www.soapchat.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif David Ackroyd's character (don't remember his name) could have run into Val for the very first time and they both look at each other briefly, as if "they knew each other a long time ago".

Then in unison, they both could've said, "Nahh. Couldn't be." http://www.soapchat.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[James from London]

I really like both portrayals. As JvA put it, Ackroyd brought something soulful and introspective to the role, while Shackelford was wilder. I think Ackroyd gave a very moving performance in the KNOTS episode he did with Michele Lee.

According to Barbara Curran's book, JvA did not suggest TS for the role:

"Ted Shackelford and I had just done an episode of WONDER WOMAN together, and David Jacobs and some of the CBS brass called me and said, 'What do you thiunk of Ted Shackelford?' And I said 'Oh my God, no! That will never work. Ted is just like me; we are both pretty emotional.' I felt were just too much alike and that it would never work for us to play husband and wife."

[KL4ever]

Ted of course, there is no other Gary. http://www.soapchat.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif As Pammy Jean said remember Gary was named after Ellie's brother so it makes more sense that he would be blonde. http://images.bravenet.com/brpics/smilie/wave1.gif

[Sid Fairgate]

Hahaha, sorry I got a big laugh out of this! This post was created by me more than four years ago when I used to go by Harry McSween. It only recieved 2 replies in August 2000, and 4 years later it recieves 11 more! I hadn't even seen Knots Landing yet when I first made this post. Pardon the rambling, but it has great nostalgic value to me, lol!

Looks like the debate goes on, although it's not much of a debate since everybody almost unanimously chose Ted as their favorite Gary. He's my favorite too, although I agree with James about David Ackroyd being more soulful while Ted Shackelford was more wild. His performance as the man Karen meets at grief counseling was excellent, and I thought it was funny that he played Val and Gary's roofer! I've seen him in other shows too and have always thought he was a good actor, but Ted seemed younger and I'm not sure if the Abby/Gary pairing would have had the same passion and realism to it if David had been playing Gary. His take on Gary didn't seem like the type who would stray, while Ted's always seemed to have the wandering eye. Just my opinion.

[Seaviewer]

I didn't notice the date of the topic, lol, but 2000 was before my time anyway.

Dallas had a practice of recasting characters when they became regular roles. Kristin and Jenna for example, were both played by other actresses before the one with whom they are most associated.

Btw, JvA gave the same answer about TS to Johnny when he posed my question on that very subject. http://www.soapchat.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Christine]

Ha ha Sid and I was just about to type "Welcome to the forum Harry"!

Nah not really, but I thought my reply sounds funnier this way.

I can usually tell right away when a post is old because it has replies from Ewings, Abby Fairgate and so on and they all don't post here anymore.

I agree with all the other posters, Ted was the way better Gary. And I never really see him as Gary II because Ted's Gary was the first one I ever knew anyway.

[Mr. Fairgate]

There's no contest!!!!

Ted is the only Gary. EVER.

Sorry Mr. Ackroyd...you had no chemistry with Joan.

[Seaviewer]

I disagree on that one. When I had the opportunity to see Dallas:Reunion again after a long time, I was struck by how much I did believe it was Gary even after years of TS. The scenes with Gary, Val and Lucy were very moving to me.

[Mr. Fairgate]

Seaviewer, the only reason I could feel more chemistry between JVA & TS was because [and I can't believe I actually remember this] was because of an episode of Wonder Woman where both actors appeared together.

I had seen David Ackroyd in another show and he just didn't do anything for me. Had I not seen Val played by JVA, then I could lean more to Mr. Ackroyd. However, when I saw Lucy and Val together, that all changed my mind.

Ted rules!!

[James from London]

I can't really judge the chemistry thing as JvA and David Ackroyd shared so very little screen time on DALLAS, most of which also included Charlene Tilton. They have only one scene alone together, when Gary is leaving Southfork. It's a great scene:

"Like I told Lucy, you were the prettiest man I ever saw. You still are."

I think Ackroyd would have made a very interesting, but very different, long term Gary. He has a haunted quality which seems very appropriate for the role of an alocholic. On the hand, Ted Shackelford and Val both being blonde gave that relationship an added dimension - almost as if their relationship went beyond marriage to brother and sister. It taps into that soul mate thing JvA talks about.

[Mr. Fairgate]

That's a good perspective James...I didn't think of it that way. I just naturally assumed no one remembered Mr. Ackroyd. By reading these responses, I see that I was way off base. http://www.soapchat.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[owenwarland]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Sid Fairgate:
Hahaha, sorry I got a big laugh out of this! This post was created by me more than four years ago when I used to go by Harry McSween. It only recieved 2 replies in August 2000, and 4 years later it recieves 11 more! I hadn't even seen Knots Landing yet when I first made this post. Pardon the rambling, but it has great nostalgic value to me, lol!

Looks like the debate goes on, although it's not much of a debate since everybody almost unanimously chose Ted as their favorite Gary. He's my favorite too, although I agree with James about David Ackroyd being more soulful while Ted Shackelford was more wild. His performance as the man Karen meets at grief counseling was excellent, and I thought it was funny that he played Val and Gary's roofer! I've seen him in other shows too and have always thought he was a good actor, but Ted seemed younger and I'm not sure if the Abby/Gary pairing would have had the same passion and realism to it if David had been playing Gary. His take on Gary didn't seem like the type who would stray, while Ted's always seemed to have the wandering eye. Just my opinion. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hey Sid, the reason this thread is alive and kicking today is that I got tired of only replying to posts on the first page of the forum, so I went digging toward the back and pulled out some choice threads! This was the first one I chose!

As for Gary, Shackelford's a stud. No other man could play the role with such a combo of pathos and abs!

[Amber in TX]

I liked Ted better as Gary. To me it seemed as if Ted had more chemistry with JVA. Of course this is JMHO.

http://www.soapchat.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Seaviewer]

Mr. Fabian, I'm certainly with the majority in preferring Ted. It was just the assertion that there was NO chemistry with David Ackroyd that I was disagreeing with.

Oh. http://www.soapchat.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Jamie Barnes]

I muss confess that I liked David more at the beginning. http://www.soapchat.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

But after his second appearance in Dallas I liked Ted more. I felt so happy that he was in Dallas again. He looks very good with his blond hair and blue eyes. He looks like a Southworth and that makes him to a special because he is the only of the Ewing who looks like his mum. Maybe thats the reason why he is the fav son of Elli.

Besides Ted/Gary is my favorite of the three Ewing brothers.

[Don Matheson]

I think TS is the better Gary. he looks better and more comfortable with Val. You can understand why Val pined after Gary all those years. I think somebody said something about TS being more emotional and I think that is important because I don't think Val wouldve hit it off with someone who wasn't emotional. She needed somebody who wasn't a Mr Macho because he was more like her. I hope you understand what I mean.

[Bobby & Pam]

Ted of course!!! He and Joan had an amazing chemistry, he even had a great chemistry with Charlene.

It is hard to imagine anyone else playing Gary but Ted.

[Frank Williams]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Seaviewer:
Yes, Ackroyd looks like a Ewing, Shackelford looks like a Southworth. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Excellent Point.