TNT
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TNT’s ‘Dallas’ reboot is more of a ‘Dallas’ sequel or even just a ‘Dallas’ continuation, as it picks up years after the original ended and includes several characters from the shows’s first and very successful go-round. This generation may not remember ‘Dallas,’ but I do and it was a glorious, glorious spectacle that ushered in the night time soap, so ‘Revenge’ fans (and even fans of higher brow shows like ‘The Sopranos’ and ‘Mad Men’) without the original ‘Dallas,’ your favorite show probably wouldn’t exist. As the story of a rich oil family living out the American dream, ‘Dallas’ was at times quite ridiculous — one season was completely written off in the next as a dream! — but it was always entertaining and brought the world the first truly great anti-hero in Larry Hagman’s inimitable J.R. Ewing. So, how does the new ‘Dallas’ stack up? Let’s grade it!

Strength of the First Episode – B-: ‘Dallas’ the younger seems to be spending a majority of it’s time focusing on the lives of original character’s Bobby and J.R.’s sons and this is a problem because Jesse Metcalfe, Josh Henderson and Jordana Brewster may be nice to look at, but as actors they are as bland as white rice. Nothing pops when Metcalfe is droning about bringing his family name back to prominence with alternative energy solutions and Henderson can never match J.R. in villainy, not with all the deviousness he can muster. Having said that, the series is a lot of fun when our old friends check in and just because the show may be designed around the younger generation doesn’t mean it’ll stay that way. The original was originally supposed to focus on Patrick Duffy’s moralistic Bobby Ewing, but after Hagman stole the show, the creators re-focused on J.R. so there hope.
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Grade J.R. – A: Larry Hagman’s still got it. He’s got the best lines – “Never pass up a good chance to shut up” – the meatiest story lines and the world’s most wonderfully and ridiculously curled-up eyebrows. Nobody beats him in the dastard department and every single time he’s on screen, everything stops and you can’t help but focus on this guy.
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Is There Hope For the Young Ones? – I’m really not sure: These actors are just super boring, you guys. I can’t care about them. I know there will be a million double crosses and plot machinations that will keep me invested, but I’m just really not sure. J.R. will be there, though so there’s always that.
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Compare It To the Original – Impossible.
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Potential For the Series As A Whole – B: Here’s the thing. It’s the summer, so what else are you gonna do on a Wednesday night? Plus, did I mention Larry Hagman is just eating everything in his path as J.R.? That sly smile of his is worth the price of admission.