TV press tour: TNT's new 'Dallas' reunites Hagman, Duffy and Gray - San Jose Mercury News

By Chuck Barney
Contra Costa Times

PASADENA

Don't call TNT's new version of "Dallas" a reboot or a remake. Producers want you to know that it's actually a "continuation" that picks up the story, two decades after the iconic prime-time soap left the air.

"We couldn't imagine doing a remake. We've seen it. There were 357 episodes," executive producer Cynthia Cidre told journalists at the TV critics press tour.

Several members of the cast showed up for a TNT press conference, including the stars loving known as "the big three" -- Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray, holdovers from the original show.

Asked why he was interested in coming back to do the new show, Hagman blurted, "Work at 80! How many people do you know who are working at 80, doing what they love with the people they love?"

Hagman, who was diagnosed with cancer last fall, is reprising his famous role as ru thless oil tycoon J.R. Ewing. Looking spry in a suit, tie and tan cowboy hat, he said his health has not been an issue during production.

"My treatment is going very well. I've been fine. I did three major scenes yesterday-- and very well, I must say," he said, smiling. "They're not writing me out (of the scripts) by any means."

In the new show, which premieres this summer, much of the emphasis shifts to a younger generation of Ewings. Duffy's Bobby is married to a character played by Brenda Strong ("Desperate Housewives"). He desires family peace, but that seems unlikely, thanks

to an ongoing rift between his and J.R.'s son (Jesse Metcalfe and Josh Henderson) over the future direction of the company.

The show's younger actors acknowledged that they were just little tykes when America got caught up in the "Who shot J.R.?" frenzy, but insisted they're inspired by the veterans.

"They set the tone ...," Metcalfe said. "We're just carrying the torch."

Still, Duffy admitted that some work is left to the younger bunch.

"I don't do any showers anymore," he said, referring to his infamous scene in 1986. "That's for these guys."

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