"Dallas" (1978) TV series 1978-1991

Creator:

David Jacobs
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14

Release Date:

2 April 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The soapy, backstabbing machinations of Dallas oil magnate J.R. Ewing and his family.

Plot Keywords:

Oil | Texas | Soap Opera | Ranch | Lost Season

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 40 wins & 80 nominations

Cast

Larry Hagman	...	J.R. Ewing (357 episodes, 1978-1991)
Patrick Duffy	...	Bobby Ewing (327 episodes, 1978-1991)
Linda Gray	...	Sue Ellen Ewing (308 episodes, 1978-1991)
Ken Kercheval	...	Cliff Barnes (288 episodes, 1978-1991)
Steve Kanaly	...	Ray Krebbs (259 episodes, 1978-1991)
Barbara Bel Geddes	...	Miss Ellie Ewing / ... (255 episodes, 1978-1990)
Victoria Principal	...	Pamela Barnes Ewing (251 episodes, 1978-1987)
Charlene Tilton	...	Lucy Ewing Cooper / ... (215 episodes, 1978-1990)
Howard Keel	...	Clayton Farlow (208 episodes, 1981-1991)
Susan Howard	...	Donna Culver Krebbs / ... (198 episodes, 1979-1987)
Deborah Rennard	...	Sly Lovegren (158 episodes, 1981-1991)

Series Directed by
Michael Preece		(63 episodes, 1981-1991)
Leonard Katzman		(55 episodes, 1979-1990)
Irving J. Moore		(39 episodes, 1978-1991)
Larry Hagman		(30 episodes, 1979-1991)
Patrick Duffy		(24 episodes, 1981-1991)
Nick Havinga		(17 episodes, 1983-1986)
Corey Allen		(6 episodes, 1978-1986)
Gunnar Hellström		(6 episodes, 1979-1983)
Gwen Arner		(6 episodes, 1984)
Leslie H. Martinson		(4 episodes, 1979-1980)
Linda Day		(4 episodes, 1985-1986)
Linda Gray		(4 episodes, 1986-1989)
Dwight Adair		(4 episodes, 1987-1991)
Robert Day		(3 episodes, 1978)
Alexander Singer		(3 episodes, 1979-1985)
Robert Becker		(3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bruce Bilson		(3 episodes, 1986)
Steve Kanaly		(3 episodes, 1987-1989)
Barry Crane		(2 episodes, 1978)
Lawrence Dobkin		(2 episodes, 1978)
Vincent McEveety		(2 episodes, 1978)
Harry Harris		(2 episodes, 1980-1982)
David Paulsen		(2 episodes, 1983-1987)
Bill Duke		(2 episodes, 1983)
Jerry Jameson		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Ken Kercheval		(2 episodes, 1990-1991)

Series Writing credits
David Jacobs		(204 episodes, 1978-1990)
Arthur Bernard Lewis		(57 episodes, 1978-1990)
Leonard Katzman		(53 episodes, 1978-1990)
David Paulsen		(41 episodes, 1981-1988)
Camille Marchetta		(12 episodes, 1978-1980)
Howard Lakin		(12 episodes, 1980-1990)
Peter Dunne		(11 episodes, 1985-1986)
Joel J. Feigenbaum		(10 episodes, 1985-1986)
Leah Markus		(9 episodes, 1980-1988)
Will Lorin		(9 episodes, 1982-1985)
Rena Down		(8 episodes, 1978-1981)
Linda Elstad		(7 episodes, 1980-1983)
Stephanie Garman		(6 episodes, 1985-1986)
Hollace White		(6 episodes, 1985-1986)
Calvin Clements Jr.		(6 episodes, 1986-1987)
Mitchell Wayne Katzman		(6 episodes, 1986-1987)
Lisa Seidman		(4 episodes, 1989-1991)
Loraine Despres		(3 episodes, 1979-1980)
Robert J. Shaw		(3 episodes, 1980-1981)
D.C. Fontana		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Richard Fontana		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Worley Thorne		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Susan Howard		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Bill Taub		(2 episodes, 1986)
Louella Lee Caraway		(2 episodes, 1987-1989)
David Michael Jacobs		(1 episode, 1979)
Bryce Zabel		(unknown episodes, 1989)
Jonathan Hales		(unknown episodes)
Simon Masters		(unknown episodes)
Jackie Zabel		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Leonard Katzman	....	producer / executive producer (322 episodes, 1978-1991)
Philip Capice	....	executive producer (198 episodes, 1978-1985)
Cliff Fenneman	....	associate producer / producer (192 episodes, 1978-1990)
Arthur Bernard Lewis	....	supervising producer (113 episodes, 1981-1985)
David Paulsen	....	producer (59 episodes, 1986-1988)
Lee Rich	....	executive producer (50 episodes, 1978-1980)
James H. Brown	....	producer (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Peter Dunne	....	supervising producer (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Larry Hagman	....	executive producer (4 episodes, 1988-1991)
Ken Horton	....	co-executive producer (4 episodes, 1990)
Frank Katzman	....	associate producer (4 episodes, 1990)
Mitchell Wayne Katzman	....	co-producer (4 episodes, 1990)
Howard Lakin	....	supervising producer (4 episodes, 1990)
John Rettino	....	associate producer (4 episodes, 1990)

Series Original Music by
Richard Lewis Warren		(58 episodes, 1978-1990)
Bruce Broughton		(52 episodes, 1979-1985)
Jerrold Immel		(31 episodes, 1978-1985)
John Carl Parker		(23 episodes, 1978-1990)
Lance Rubin		(23 episodes, 1982-1990)
Angela Morley		(3 episodes, 1985)

Series Cinematography by
Edward R. Plante		(80 episodes, 1978-1983)
Robert Caramico		(46 episodes, 1984-1986)
Allen M. Davey		(33 episodes, 1979-1980)
Bradford May		(27 episodes, 1983-1984)
Robert C. Jessup		(15 episodes, 1978-1979)
William Mendenhall		(6 episodes, 1978)
Rick F. Gunter		(4 episodes, 1990)
Karl Kases		(unknown episodes)
Robert F. Sparks		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Fred W. Berger		(80 episodes, 1978-1990)
John Arthur Davies		(72 episodes, 1978-1990)
Lloyd L. Richardson		(58 episodes, 1979-1985)
Irving Rosenblum		(3 episodes, 1978)
Sean-Michael Connor		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Irene Mariano		(203 episodes, 1978-1990)

Series Production Design by
Walter M. Jefferies		(unknown episodes, 1986-1987)

Series Art Direction by
Kim Swados		(94 episodes, 1982-1985)
Charles Zacha Jr.		(69 episodes, 1978-1981)
Les Gobruegge		(25 episodes, 1981-1982)
Walter M. Jefferies		(13 episodes, 1985-1986)
David Marshall		(4 episodes, 1990)
Carl Braunger		(3 episodes, 1978)
Ed Graves		(2 episodes, 1978)

Series Set Decoration by
Bryan Thetford		(82 episodes, 1982-1985)
Philip Leonard		(60 episodes, 1980-1982)
Travis Nixon		(25 episodes, 1979-1980)
Robin Royce		(14 episodes, 1978-1979)
Jack Marty		(13 episodes, 1978-1979)
Chuck Rutherford		(13 episodes, 1985-1986)
James Hassinger		(5 episodes, 1978)
Phil Snyder		(3 episodes, 1990)
Robert Gould		(2 episodes, 1978)

Series Costume Design by
Travilla		(44 episodes, 1984-1986)

Series Makeup Department
Jerry Gugliemotto	....	hair stylist (130 episodes, 1981-1990)
Gregg Mitchell	....	hair stylist (112 episodes, 1980-1984)
Susan A. Cabral	....	makeup artist (108 episodes, 1981-1985)
Joe Hailey	....	makeup artist / makeup department head (78 episodes, 1983-1990)
Cheri Minns	....	makeup artist (62 episodes, 1978-1981)
Kathy Agron	....	makeup artist (53 episodes, 1981-1983)
Linda Leiter Sharp	....	hair stylist (35 episodes, 1979-1981)
Lola 'Skip' McNalley	....	hair stylist (24 episodes, 1984-1990)
Judith Silverman	....	makeup artist (18 episodes, 1981)
Ralph Gulko	....	makeup artist (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Diane Pepper	....	hair stylist (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Travis Dixon	....	hair stylist (11 episodes, 1978-1979)
Alan Fama	....	makeup artist (10 episodes, 1978-1981)
Carolyn Ferguson	....	hair stylist (7 episodes, 1978)
Jerry O'Dell	....	makeup artist (7 episodes, 1978)
Jim Kail	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1978)
Bren Plaistowe	....	hair stylist (5 episodes, 1978)
Rebecca De Morrio	....	hair stylist (4 episodes, 1985)
Bob Jermain	....	makeup artist (4 episodes, 1990)
Holly Hoffman	....	hair stylist (3 episodes, 1978)

Series Production Management
Wayne A. Farlow	....	unit production manager (199 episodes, 1978-1990)
Edward O. Denault	....	executive production supervisor (194 episodes, 1978-1985)
Mitch Ackerman	....	production supervisor (184 episodes, 1978-1985)
Neil T. Maffeo	....	executive in charge of production (5 episodes, 1978)
Barry Stern	....	unit production manager (5 episodes, 1978)
R. Robert Rosenbaum	....	executive in charge of production / unit production manager (4 episodes, 1990)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alan Brimfeld	....	first assistant director (87 episodes, 1978-1986)
Fred Stromsoe	....	first assistant director (74 episodes, 1980-1985)
Frank Katzman	....	second assistant director (73 episodes, 1983-1986)
Paul Snider	....	second assistant director (53 episodes, 1981-1983)
Rick Johnson	....	first assistant director (47 episodes, 1983-1991)
James M. Freitag	....	second assistant director (25 episodes, 1979-1980)
Glen Sanford	....	second assistant director (23 episodes, 1980-1981)
John G. Behm	....	first assistant director (21 episodes, 1978-1980)
David Menteer	....	first assistant director (11 episodes, 1980-1981)
Claude Lawrence Jr.	....	second assistant director (10 episodes, 1978-1979)
Nicholas Batchelor	....	second assistant director (8 episodes, 1979)
Joanne Keene Hall	....	dga trainee (8 episodes, 1990)
Michael J. Kane	....	second assistant director (6 episodes, 1978)
Robert Brooks Mendel	....	dga trainee (5 episodes, 1986)
Keri L. McIntyre	....	second assistant director (4 episodes, 1990)
Edward Ledding	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 1978-1980)
Wayne A. Farlow	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 1978)
To Chee Kan	....	first assistant director: Hong Kong (3 episodes, 1985)
James E. Inch	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1978)
Amy Rosenbaum Jacobson	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1990)
Richard R. Johnson	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1990)
Jonathan Giles Zimmerman	....	first assistant director (1 episode, 1981)
Ronald Chong	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes, 1988)
Carl Lawrence Ludwig	....	second assistant director: Austria (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Anthony C. Thorpe	....	property master (85 episodes, 1979-1982)
John Rettino	....	property master (84 episodes, 1983-1986)
Randy Severino	....	set dresser (21 episodes, 1988)
Bob McLing	....	property master (14 episodes, 1978-1979)
Ray Jeffers	....	property master (11 episodes, 1982-1983)
Robert J. Visciglia Sr.	....	property master (7 episodes, 1978)
Gaston G. Gray	....	property master (5 episodes, 1978)
Margaret Mazzola	....	assistant props (4 episodes, 1983)
Kerri Knerr	....	property master (4 episodes, 1990)
Mychael Bates	....	assistant property master (unknown episodes)
Kirk S. Heinlen	....	property master (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
James Bailey	....	foley artist (333 episodes, 1978-1990)
Victor Guarnier	....	sound effects supervisor (157 episodes, 1978-1984)
Steve Cantamessa	....	boom operator (118 episodes, 1980-1984)
Clark King	....	production sound mixer (90 episodes, 1980-1983)
Duncan McEwan	....	sound recordist (76 episodes, 1978-1982)
Daniel P. Church	....	boom operator (76 episodes, 1988-1991)
Vanessa Theme Ament	....	foley artist (62 episodes, 1981-1984)
Dennis Kirkpatrick	....	boom operator (60 episodes, 1983-1985)
Ron Curfman	....	production sound mixer (49 episodes, 1979-1985)
Doug Grindstaff	....	supervising sound editor / sound effects supervisor / ... (47 episodes, 1984-1986)
Thomas Burke	....	sound effects editor (42 episodes, 1981-1986)
Rich Steven	....	sound effects editor (27 episodes, 1979-1982)
Anthony Zero	....	sound effects editor (19 episodes, 1980-1982)
Richard Friedman	....	sound effects editor (15 episodes, 1984-1985)
Bob Sheridan	....	production sound mixer (14 episodes, 1978-1986)
Thomas Causey	....	production sound mixer (14 episodes, 1978-1979)
Michael Hilkene	....	sound editor (14 episodes, 1978-1979)
Tony Garber	....	sound effects editor (13 episodes, 1984-1985)
Mike O. Corrigan	....	sound effects editor (10 episodes, 1982-1983)
Alan L. Nineberg	....	sound effects editor (10 episodes, 1983-1984)
Steve Purvis	....	sound effects editor (9 episodes, 1980-1981)
Bruce Bell	....	sound effects editor (9 episodes, 1982-1983)
George Ronconi	....	production sound mixer (9 episodes, 1985)
Richard Bryce Goodman	....	production sound mixer (8 episodes, 1979)
Robert Wald	....	production sound mixer (7 episodes, 1978)
Don Higgins	....	sound effects editor (6 episodes, 1983-1984)
Avram D. Gold	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1979-1980)
Vince Garcia	....	production sound mixer (5 episodes, 1985)
Bud Alper	....	production sound mixer (4 episodes, 1978)
John Leveque	....	sound effects editor (4 episodes, 1979)
Andrew Gilmore	....	production sound mixer (4 episodes, 1990)
Kimberly Harris	....	post-production sound (4 episodes, 1990)
Catt LeBaigue	....	sound prelay (2 episodes, 1990)
Larry Porche	....	sound prelay (2 episodes, 1990)
Alfred J. Carranza	....	assistant sound editor (unknown episodes)
Marty Church	....	adr mixer / sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Lee Dragu	....	supervising sound editor (unknown episodes)
Albert Ibbotson	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Mark L. Mangino	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Randy E. Moore	....	weapons master / special effects coordinator (5 episodes, 1988-1989)
Bradley W. Taylor	....	firearms assistant (4 episodes, 1988-1989)

Series Stunts
Charlie Picerni	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1978)
Bruce Paul Barbour	....	stunt performer (2 episodes, 1983-1988)
Fritz Ford	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Janet Gunn	....	stunt double: Susan Howard (unknown episodes)
Tom Morga	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Greg Walker	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Earl C. Williman	....	gaffer (90 episodes, 1984-1987)
Steve Randolph	....	camera operator (89 episodes, 1987-1991)
Harry Langdon	....	photographer: Miss Tilton (6 episodes, 1982)
Robert C. Jessup	....	camera operator (5 episodes, 1978)
Don Nygren	....	electrical gaffer (5 episodes, 1978)
Thomas P. Powell	....	lighting technician (5 episodes, 1978)
Wes Tansey	....	key grip (5 episodes, 1978)
Peter McEvoy	....	assistant camera (3 episodes, 1985)
Owen Marsh	....	camera operator (unknown episodes, 1979)
Missy Boswell	....	second assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Robert Driskell	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
Adam Glick	....	set lighting technician (unknown episodes)
To Lee	....	second assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Robert Schoenhut	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Philip Sloan	....	dolly grip (unknown episodes)
Henry Tirl	....	additional first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Monty Woodard	....	electrician (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Barbara Miller	....	executive in charge of casting (204 episodes, 1978-1990)
Rody Kent	....	location casting (71 episodes, 1980-1985)
Bianca Cioffi-Zaring	....	casting assistant (31 episodes, 1987-1988)
Liz Keigley	....	location casting (12 episodes, 1978)
Shari Rhodes	....	location casting (12 episodes, 1978)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jack Bear	....	costumer (174 episodes, 1979-1986)
Lyn Paolo	....	costume supervisor / set costumer / ... (76 episodes, 1988-1991)
Violet N. Cane	....	costumer (60 episodes, 1979-1982)
Kathy Monderine	....	costumer (42 episodes, 1984-1985)
Ann Gray Lambert	....	costumer (30 episodes, 1983-1984)
Yvonne Kubis	....	costumer (28 episodes, 1982-1983)
Meschelle Ravare	....	costumer (13 episodes, 1979)
Bob E. Horn	....	head costumer (8 episodes, 1978)
Ray Birdwell	....	costumer (7 episodes, 1978)
Sharlene Williams	....	costumer: women (6 episodes, 1978)
Richard Mahoney	....	costumer: men (5 episodes, 1978)
Jeanne Malone	....	costume supervisor (5 episodes, 1978)
Henry Salley	....	costumer (5 episodes, 1978)
Bretly W.R. Baughn	....	costumer: men (4 episodes, 1979)
Sharon Thober	....	costumer: women (4 episodes, 1979)
Laurie Riley	....	costumer (4 episodes, 1990)
Kathy O'Rear	....	costumer (3 episodes, 1978)
Donna Roberts	....	costumer (2 episodes, 1978)

Series Editorial Department
Neal Krone	....	apprentice film editor (unknown episodes)
Linda Renaud	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Jerrold Immel	....	composer: theme music / composer: theme "Dallas" (173 episodes, 1978-1990)
Patricia Peck	....	music editor (104 episodes, 1982-1990)
David Franco	....	music supervisor (74 episodes, 1983-1985)
George Probert	....	music editor (73 episodes, 1979-1982)
Jack Lowry	....	music editor (21 episodes, 1978-1979)
Ken Runyon	....	music editor (5 episodes, 1978)
Richard Berres	....	music supervisor (3 episodes, 1990)
Don Nemitz	....	orchestrator (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Linda Cipperley	....	transportation (25 episodes, 1979)
Jim Russell	....	transportation captain (7 episodes, 1978)
Glenn Carter	....	transportation captain (5 episodes, 1978)
Mitch Friedman	....	driver (5 episodes, 1989-1991)

Series Other crew
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer: main title / title designer: main titles (199 episodes, 1978-1986)
David Paulsen	....	story editor / executive story editor (88 episodes, 1982-1985)
Arthur Bernard Lewis	....	executive story editor (69 episodes, 1978-1981)
Camille Marchetta	....	story editor (54 episodes, 1978-1981)
Ken Latka	....	film transfer (52 episodes, 1986-1991)
David Jacobs	....	creative consultant / executive script consultant (18 episodes, 1978)
Faye Brenner	....	script supervisor (14 episodes, 1978-1979)
Joel J. Feigenbaum	....	executive story consultant (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Stephanie Garman	....	story editor (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Leonard Katzman	....	creative consultant (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Hollace White	....	story editor (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Michael Filerman	....	executive program supervisor / executive supervisor (12 episodes, 1978)
Joe Gannon	....	script supervisor (12 episodes, 1978)
John MacLean	....	location manager (12 episodes, 1978)
Louella Lee Caraway	....	assistant to producer / executive coordinator (11 episodes, 1978-1990)
Robert J. Shaw	....	story editor (11 episodes, 1981)
Rena Down	....	story editor (10 episodes, 1980-1981)
Wade Duncan	....	location manager (7 episodes, 1978)
Candis Waters	....	production coordinator (7 episodes, 1978)
Linda Elstad	....	story editor (7 episodes, 1982)
Andy Ackerman	....	production coordinator (6 episodes, 1978)
Vicki Ogonowski	....	production coordinator (5 episodes, 1978)
Michael Phillips	....	location manager (5 episodes, 1978)
Cliff Fenneman	....	title designer: main titles (4 episodes, 1990)
Lisa Seidman	....	executive story consultant (4 episodes, 1990)
Geoffrey Ryan	....	location manager: Los Angeles (unknown episodes, 1981-1983)
Dale M. Robbins	....	craft service (unknown episodes, 1984-1985)
Bruce Rand Berman	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Nanette Farlow	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
David Michaels	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Bill Sheehan	....	first aid nurse (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Jim Davis	....	in memory of (1 episode, 1982)

Production Companies

• Lorimar Television

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1978-1991) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• AVRO Television (1979-1984) (Netherlands) (TV)
• RTL Entertainment (1989-199?) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL4)
• Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (USA)
• Warner Home Video (2004-) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2004-) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (season 1)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (seasons 2 and 3)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (seasons 4 and 5)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (season 6)
• Worldvision Enterprises (UK)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios  filmed at
• Metrocolor  color by
• Panavision  camera equipment provided by

Also Known As:

Oil (USA) (working title)
The Linda Evans-Project (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

60 min (356 episodes) | Argentina:60 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:12 (DVD rating) | Iceland:12 (some episodes) | Iceland:L | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Big Sky Ranch - 4927 Bennett Road, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company:

Lorimar Television

Trivia:

Susan Howard was only supposed to appear once as Donna Culver, but she impressed the producers enough that she eventually became a regular.

Quotes:

JR Ewing: You know, Sue Ellen, I do believe you're going ninety miles an hour toward a nervous breakdown. We're going to have to do something about your ravings.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Father Ted: Good Luck, Father Ted (#1.1)" (1995)

Dallas Is Still One Of The Most Entertaining TV Shows Ever Produced In USA

I remember the days when people used to get excited about TV programs. In a time when Cable TV didn't exist and VCRs were still a few years ahead of us, certain TV shows became an essential part of the family routine. No, I'm not that old, but I do remember when people literally left work or school and ran home in order to see a specific TV show. No one was allowed to call us at home during specific hours of the evening, and dinnertime was arranged around what was on TV every night. If you are 21 years old or older, it is most likely that you know what I'm talking about. During those days, we didn't have a VCR to record specific programs and we simply didn't have the luxury of waiting for late night re-runs – you had one chance, and one chance only to watch the latest episode of your favorite TV show. You knew the rules and what was at stake, and you always made sure to be in front of the TV at the same time, at the same channel, every day of the week. Of all those TV shows that somehow managed to control our lives and dictate when we could go out of the house, no other program was more addictive that "Dallas," a TV series that captured Americans' attention like no other series before or after.

This exciting program about the ups and downs of "The Ewings," a powerful Texan family, was so well done and entertaining (with marvelous cliffhangers at the end of each episode) that it was almost impossible to resist. In retrospective, I think the program was amazingly popular because it dealt with the pleasures and sins of capitalism, something viewers in America were familiar with. I also believe "Dallas" was such a huge success with all sorts of audiences mainly because it exploited our natural interest in the world of the rich and famous. The series presented an array of interesting characters that more or less wanted to succeed at any cost in a very competitive society. Having beautiful actors, great locales, and strong melodramatic scenes did not hurt the show, either, and "Dallas" quickly became the most watched and talked about TV show for over a decade.

"Dallas," even if we compare it to other modern, more sophisticated dramas like "The West Wing" or "The Sopranos," is still a very effective and entertaining TV drama. The series did lose some of its magic after six or seven seasons, but at this early stage, the show demonstrates genuine signs of hard work and a great desire to please the audience. However, like most popular series, most people (including myself), didn't catch the fever right away, and some of us never saw those initial episodes from the first couple of seasons. Warner helps us correct that mistake. For an old TV program, the series look good on DVD.

The new DVD sets make watching the show fun all over again. The transfers are not perfect, but this is expected from such an old TV program. The main thing here is the show itself, which is presented unedited and commercial free, with some nice extras as the frosting on the cake. The retail price is affordable, and the package is nicely done. The "Dallas" DVD sets are a fine product that I highly recommend if you are a fan of the series, or if you are just simply curious about one of the definitive TV series from the 1980s.