The birth of a soap opera titan
The shot heard 'round the world
Global domination and the Iron Curtain
The legacy of the modern cliffhanger
Which highly successful spin-off series was created directly from the characters of Dallas?
Which rival 1980s prime-time soap opera was created by ABC to compete directly with CBS's Dallas?
andy A later plot twist involving Bobby Ewing's death was infamously undone by declaring an entire season a dream.
How did Dallas writers explain away the death of Bobby Ewing when actor Patrick Duffy returned in 1986?
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.
What anti-spoiler tactic did the producers of Dallas use to prevent the shooter's identity from leaking?
Filming multiple endings: Producers filmed nearly every cast member shooting J.R. to keep the real shooter's identity a secret.
What major television storytelling device did the 'Who shot J.R.?' episode popularize for future shows?
What term is used to describe the continuous, multi-episode storytelling style popularized by Dallas?
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.