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Who shot J.R. and made Dallas world-famous
Discover how a Texas-sized TV mystery captivated millions of viewers worldwide, changed the rules of television storytelling, and breached the Iron Curtain.
4 chapters75 assets
by andy · Jul 19, 2026
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Chapter 1
The birth of a soap opera titan
1A family feud in Texas
2The villain everyone loved to hate
3How Southfork Ranch became a landmark
4Changing the rules of television
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Chapter 2
The shot heard 'round the world
1The night J.R. was shot
2A summer of global obsession
3The resolution that stopped the world
4The actor's high-stakes contract
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Chapter 3
Global domination and the Iron Curtain
1How the Ewings conquered international airwaves
2The Trojan horse of Eastern Europe
3The global royalty of the Ewings
4Transforming the global image of Texas
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Chapter 4
The legacy of the modern cliffhanger
1Inventing the modern season finale
2How a dream season shocked viewers
3The blueprint for prime-time soap operas
4The birth of spoiler culture
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