BETA
Chapter 1
The birth of a soap opera titan
Chapter 2
The shot heard 'round the world
Chapter 3
Global domination and the Iron Curtain
Chapter 4
The legacy of the modern cliffhanger
YOUR GOAL
Master of Who shot J.R. and made Dallas world-famous
Ch 4 · The legacy of the modern cliffhanger
andy The Dallas Cliffhanger
Who shot J.R.? Who shot J.R.? Everybody had to pull the trigger!
andy The success of Dallas paved the way for a golden age of prime-time soap operas throughout the 1980s.
andy A later plot twist involving Bobby Ewing's death was infamously undone by declaring an entire season a dream.
Fun Fact
Filming multiple endings: Producers filmed nearly every cast member shooting J.R. to keep the real shooter's identity a secret.
Glossary
cliffhanger (noun)
A dramatic ending to an episode of a serial drama that leaves the audience in suspense. In March 1980, the television drama Dallas ended its third season by shooting character J.R. Ewing.
A dramatic ending to an episode of a serial drama that leaves the audience in suspense. In March 1980, the television drama Dallas ended its third season by shooting character J.R. Ewing.
Quiz
What term is used to describe the continuous, multi-episode storytelling style popularized by Dallas?
Quiz
How did Dallas writers explain away the death of Bobby Ewing when actor Patrick Duffy returned in 1986?
Quiz
Which rival 1980s prime-time soap opera was created by ABC to compete directly with CBS's Dallas?
Quiz
What major television storytelling device did the 'Who shot J.R.?' episode popularize for future shows?
Quiz
What anti-spoiler tactic did the producers of Dallas use to prevent the shooter's identity from leaking?