Daily Dallas RECAP 7/4/06: Episode 17. Fallen Idol

[Julius]

17. Fallen Idol
gs: Meg Gallagher (Louella) Richard Kelton (Guzzler) Sandy Ward (Jeb Ames) John Ashton (WIllie Joe Garr) Nancy Bleier (Connie) Michael O'Dwyer () Nancy Adrian (Waitress) Ed McCready () John Petlock (Dan Marsh)

Bobby Ewing decides a new venture in is order. His old buddy Guzzler Bennett returns to Dallas, and want Bobby to join him in the construction business. Hitch is, they want to bid a shopping mall on Southfork. Ellie wants no part of a shopping center on Southfork, and J.R has that land in mind for future oil drilling. Guzzler's selfish ways also put a strain on Bobby's relationship with Pam. Bobby is out of luck all the way around on this one.

Broadcast 03-Dec-1978 pc: 188580 w: Arthur Bernard Lewis directed by: Vincent McEveety

NOTE: Rating: 23/65 21.9/35

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[Eddie Ewing]

Omg...What a horrible episode. I see no point in it. Guzzler really annoys me to the limit. The only funny scene was when he and Bobby came home staggering drunk.

[10 Gallon Hat Girl]

I hated this episode at first but now I have to admit; I like it.
Yes Guzzler is a complete pain but I think its a really interesting episode for the J.R. character.

We all know J.R. is hell bent on ensuring that Section 40 remains open for drilling someday, and Bobby and his pal want to open a shopping centre on it.

Of course we have Miss Ellie harping on about 'the laaaaand' but whats really cool is how J.R. sticks up for his little brother.

Ames and Garr are key to J.R.'s stature in the cartel, Bobby's threatening the Section 40 deal and yet J.R. becomes completely protective of his little brother and even slaps Jeb arcoss the face for threatening to take out Bobby. Prior to this point when have we ever seen J.R. hit another man?!

Whats really interesting as well is how J.R. goes to Pam with dirt on Guzzler. For the first time really J.R. is civil to her and asks her to save Bobby.

Now of course we all know J.R.'s main motive is to protect Section 40 from any development, but you also sense that he dosn't want any harm to come to his brother.

I just think that this eppy broadens J.R.'s character a little more.

[Possum]

I agree, 10 Gallon Hat Girl, this episode broadens JR's character just as you described. We see he'll dirty deal 'til the cows come home, but he draws the line at someone threatening his family.

The scene between Pam and JR at the restaurant is a favorite of mine because it is so rare to see them working together on anything. I like how JR comments that Pam has always seen through him. It's probably one of the most honest conversations they'll ever have in the series.

As with the Garnet episode, we find another character equally matched in good and bad. The Guzzler. He could be so annoying yet I always got the impression that he was honest when he said he truly loved Bobby. Guzzler served to give us insight into Bobby's character by showing his loyalty to good friends. Bobby was very insightful in seeing what Guzzler really needed and allowed him to walk away with his dignity.

[westley]

The scene between Pam and JR at the restaurant is a favorite of mine because it is so rare to see them working together on anything. I like how JR comments that Pam has always seen through him. It's probably one of the most honest conversations they'll ever have in the series.

I agree with you, Possum. I love scenes between JR and Pam where they aren't just yelling, but they happened so rarely. This scene was very interesting -- the first and one of the few times that they actually worked together.

[April Ewing]

Even though Guzzler got on my nerves I thought this episode was hilarious! I loved the scenes between Bobby & Pam and her comments about Guzzler. Bobby staggering drunk was pretty funny, too.

[snuggletiger]

The part I didn't get was how Guzzler claimed Bobby needed "confidence and a father figure" Hell Golden boy had a father figure in Jock. I found this episode to be blahhh. I mean it was nice to see JR slap Jeb Ames, but I think pistol whipping him would have driven the point home.

[The Lovely Sue Ellen]

Very Boring Episode
Guzzler is very annoying and that makes the episode even worse
only funny thing is Bobby falling down drunk LoL

[10 Gallon Hat Girl]

The part I didn't get was how Guzzler claimed Bobby needed "confidence and a father figure" Hell Golden boy had a father figure in Jock. I found this episode to be blahhh. I mean it was nice to see JR slap Jeb Ames, but I think pistol whipping him would have driven the point home.

Maybe Bobby wasn't sure of himself, and Jock would have probably had high expectations of him on the field, but yeah I know where you're coming from.

J.R. pistol whipping Jeb? Just dosn't seem like a J.R. thing to do! The man almost had a heart attack just pointing a gun at Jeb in 'Whatever happened to Baby John part 2!'

[snuggletiger]

Maybe Bobby wasn't sure of himself, and Jock would have probably had high expectations of him on the field, but yeah I know where you're coming from.

J.R. pistol whipping Jeb? Just dosn't seem like a J.R. thing to do! The man almost had a heart attack just pointing a gun at Jeb in 'Whatever happened to Baby John part 2!'

I don't why the writers made JR to be such a wimp though. That's what always used to make me laugh, for a kid who supposedly was raised to be a "man's man", you would have expected to him to be a fighter of some sort.

[10 Gallon Hat Girl]

Sure he was a wimp- but he played very low and sleaked.
I kinda figure that he acts sort of wimpish so when he goes in for the kill, people don't see it coming and J.R.'s actually stomped all over them.

You notice when someone's giving him a tongue lashing, his eyes go all sort of soppy and wimpish. Then when its time for him to retaliate his eyes go all evil looking and he ends up doing his opponent in verbally.

I suppose the wimpishness makes J.R. all the more interesting as apposed to a hard as nails man who punch out the lights of anyone who gave him grief.

[Sugar&Slick]

The Guzzler..

I did not like this episode at all. Bobby drunk was HILARIOUS though. Almost makes up for the rest of the episode ..almost

[Kate Ewing]

The Guzzler is such a pathetic person. Bobby is being too kind to that ne'er do well by allowing him to "walk away with dignity," as Possum stated. He should have slammed that cab door shut and told him to never come back!

Like many of the early episodes that would otherwise be clunkers, this one had a few gems mixed in with the silly stuff. Like the great scene with Pam and JR, the cool undercurrent where JR is trying to protect his section 40 and still keep his plans a secret, and the infamous bitch slap in the office. I love the way Larry delivered that line "What's that supposed to mean" to Ames/Garr before the slap. A lesser actor would not have used such chilling restraint. Bravo!

Did Guzzler dip into the Jock plaid pants collection? Twice in one week is really a bit much! That scene with Bobby tripping on the step always gives me a bit of a lurch. If he had not caught himself that would have really hurt! But what's with Pam allowing Guzzler to carry Bobby upstairs like that in his drunken state? Has the girl lost her sense? She should have commanded that he put Bobby down, that could have been really dangerous.

I always hated that shot where Guzzler throws the football on the crowded street like that. That was totally ridiculous, absolutely cringeworthy.

A bit of a nitpick...When Jock was trying to find a place to put that sculpture it looked like he put it next to a blue book with white writing that said "Alcoholics Anonymous". I think that is the AA bible, I recognize the font. Did anyone see that?

JR looked great in the safari suit, as usual!

[Stimpy]

i think the Guzzlar did have potential as a character. no NOT a BIG storyline. but
the goofy looking actor, he unfortunally died before the show even AIRED!

& it's funny that they NEVER mention him EVER AGAIN! & since he's older than Bobby, wouldn't he be old enough to be a teacher i mean when bobby when to school with him? the guy looked like he was in his 40's & bobby wasn't out of college THAT LONG! he still looked like he could go to college back when this 1st aired. guzzlar didn't.

[Ray&Donna]

The Guzzler's hair is a hot mess-it looks like the love child of Albert Einstein and Christopher Lloyd in "Back to the Future"!

[Kate Ewing]

Good analogy. Or simile, or whatever that was.