You might not find it mentioned on many calendars today, but today marks a unique anniversary in pop culture. It was thirty years ago tonight, at 10pm / EST, that the world found out the answer to a question that had been burning in people's minds for six long grueling months---"Who Shot J.R."
Of course, the "J.R." in question was the ruthless oil tycoon played to perfection by Larry Hagman on the CBS-TV series "Dallas." Premiering in April 1978, the series slowly grew an audience, and by the end of the third season, the network asked for two more episodes to close out the 1979-1980 season. They had already had a way to end the season in mind. Sue Ellen Ewing was all set to kill herself, putting what amounted to a fatal dose of medication in her drink, when she decides to go hold her child, John Ross, one last time. J.R. walks in, takes a swig, and the season ends. However, with the order from the network in hand, they decided to scrap the idea, and to quote writer Arthur Bernard Lewis, "Let's shoot the SOB and figure it out later."
So, on the evening of March 21, 1980, the season finale, "A House Divided," aired. At the end of the episode, J.R. was shot by an unknown assaliant. To say pandemonium swept the country was an understatement. All over the world, people wanted to know whodunit. Complicating the matter was the looming writers' strike by the Screen Actors Guild. This served two purposes; it allowed the "Who Shot J.R." phenom to grow, and it gave Hagman a chance to negotiate a pay raise. The strike ended, and Hagman and Lorimar came to an agreement that doubled his salary, but the question still loomed. Could it have been:
Daddy Jock, who was disappointed with his son's running of Ewing Oil?
Mama Miss Ellie, who watched as her youngest son, Bobby, left town--tired of J.R.'s ways?
Brother Bobby, who had tried to run the company the right way, only to be done wrong by his older brother?
Wife Sue Ellen, who J.R. had driven to the bottle, affairs, and a sanitarium---where he was threatening to take her again?
Sister-In-Law Kristen, who J.R. had an affair with, then proceeded to run out of town.
Family enemy Cliff Barnes, who lost power struggle after power struggle with the Ewings.
Or perhaps it was young Alan Beam, whose political career J.R. had ruined, or any number of members of the local oil cartel who lost big when Asian oil leases sold to them by Ewing Oil were nationalized--driving one member to suicide.
Needless to say, there were no shortage of suspects. Though I was six years old at the time, I thought it was his beautiful yet long suffering wife, Sue Ellen, played flawlessly by Linda Gray. And, it was Sue Ellen who was arrested for the crime.....but nothing was ever open and shut at Southfork. The shooter was revealed November 21, 1980 and it turned out to be sister Kristin, herself pregnant with J.R.'s child, who attempted to kill her old boss. Notching a whopping 78% of the audience, the show held the record for the most-watched TV event in history until the final episode of "M*A*S*H" some three years later. Still, after all these years, it ranks in the top five. The show continued to run until May 1991, and tied up most of the loose ends in a pair of reunion movies in 1996 and 1998. While it was just a TV show, in my house growing up Friday nights were a big deal, with "Dallas" and "The Dukes Of Hazzard" ruling the ratings roost. But thirty years ago tonight, you would be hard pressed to find a home, a party, or a bar that didn't have the TV on. Heck, Charles Osgood on Sunday Morning thought it was an occasion worth marking, and if he thinks so, who am I to disagree?
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
IT'S CMA AWARDS TIME AGAIN!
This Wednesday night, the 44th Annual Country Music Association Awards will be telecast from Nashville via the ABC Television Network. Over the next couple of days, several "experts" will offer their thoughts on how things might turn out on the show, and here are mine....for what they are worth!
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR: Paul Franklin, Dann Huff, Brent Mason, Mac McAnally, Randy Scruggs
Either of these five could win it, as they are all very talented players.....but I do have to pick, don't I?
WHO WILL WIN: Brent Mason
WHO SHOULD WIN: Paul Franklin....one of the best in the biz!
MUSIC VIDEO: "Hillbilly Bone," Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins, "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum, "The House That Built Me," Miranda Lambert, "Water," Brad Paisley, "White Liar," Miranda Lambert.
I think this was one of the easiest categories of the night, as Miranda's touching ode to her childhood home should take this one.
WHO WILL WIN: Miranda Lambert.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Miranda Lambert.
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR: "Bad Angel," Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, and Jamey Johnson, "Can't You See," Zac Brown Band & Kid Rock, "Hillbilly Bone," Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins, "I'm Alive," Kenny Chensey & Dave Matthews, "Till The End," Alan Jackson & Lee Ann Womack
Only one time in the history of the CMA Awards has this award gone to a non-single, so I would say it's between Blake and Trace and Kenny and Dave....and you don't want to say no to Trace Adkins, do you?
WHO WILL WIN: Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins
WHO SHOULD WIN: Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins
SONG OF THE YEAR: "A Little More Country Than That," Rory Feek, Don Poythress, Wynn Varble, "Need You Now," Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood, and Josh Kear, "The House That Built Me," Tom Douglas & Allan Shamblin, "Toes," Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Shawn Mullins & John Driskell Hopkins, "White Liar," Natalie Hemby & Miranda Lambert
I think that in most cases Wednesday night, it's going to come down to Miranda vs. Lady A, with Miranda's song getting the vote here.
WHO WILL WIN: "The House That Built Me."
WHO SHOULD WIN: "The House That Built Me." It's one of those once-in-a-few-years type of songs!
ALBUM OF THE YEAR: NEED YOU NOW, Lady Antebellum, PLAY ON, Carrie Underwood, REVOLUTION, Miranda Lambert, TWANG, George Strait, UP ON THE RIDGE, Dierks Bentley
It very well could wind up being the night of Miranda Lambert, as she has had a history in this category.
WHO WILL WIN: Miranda Lambert.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Dierks Bentley. Give him points for stepping outside of his comfort zone.
SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR: "A Little More Country Than That," Easton Corbin, "Hillbilly Bone," Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins, "The House That Built Me," Miranda Lambert, "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum "White Liar," Miranda Lambert.
I have a feeling that Miranda's hot streak might be broken with this category, thanks to a song that has never gotten old, even after the 1,234,234th spin.
WHO WILL WIN: Lady Antebellum
WHO SHOULD WIN: Lady Antebellum
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR: Brooks & Dunn, Joey+Rory, Montgomery Gentry, Steel Magnolia, Sugarland
Could it be one final nod to one of the industry's all-time greats?
WHO WILL WIN: Brooks & Dunn. Sugarland wasn't that active on the charts for much of the year.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Brooks & Dunn.
VOCAL GROUP: Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry, The Zac Brown Band
A fairly easy one to pick here, as nobody has had the type of year that Lady A has had.
WHO WILL WIN: Lady Antebellum.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Lady Antebellum.
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Luke Bryan, Easton Corbin, Jerrod Niemann, Chris Young, The Zac Brown Band
Even though they've been around for a couple of years, I think this one is an easy win for the ZBB
WHO WILL WIN: The Zac Brown Band.
WHO SHOULD WIN: By definition (most career progress in past year), Easton Corbin, though I would cheer pretty loudly if Jerrod Niemann took this one home.
MALE VOCALIST: Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Keith Urban
I'm going out on a limb here, but I think some long overdue recognition might be going to one of the format's brightest stars,
WHO WILL WIN: Blake Shelton
WHO SHOULD WIN: Blake Shelton
FEMALE VOCALIST: Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift.
It might sound like a crowded category.....but one is heads and shoulders above the rest this year.
WHO WILL WIN: Miranda Lambert
WHO SHOULD WIN: I'm all for Miranda, but Reba has had one of the best years of her career....
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR: Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, The Zac Brown Band
It wasn't his best sales or chart year, but I have a feeling that CMA voters will make up for lost time in this one.
WHO WILL WIN: Brad Paisley. It's his time.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Brad Paisley. Though his material has slumped a little bit, in my opinion, he has earned this one!
Well, those are my thoughts....which, if you're lucky, might get you an extra helping of barbecue sauce at Jack's on Broadway! Feel free to let me know your thoughts on this, and Wednesday night, we will see how we did!
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR: Paul Franklin, Dann Huff, Brent Mason, Mac McAnally, Randy Scruggs
Either of these five could win it, as they are all very talented players.....but I do have to pick, don't I?
WHO WILL WIN: Brent Mason
WHO SHOULD WIN: Paul Franklin....one of the best in the biz!
MUSIC VIDEO: "Hillbilly Bone," Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins, "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum, "The House That Built Me," Miranda Lambert, "Water," Brad Paisley, "White Liar," Miranda Lambert.
I think this was one of the easiest categories of the night, as Miranda's touching ode to her childhood home should take this one.
WHO WILL WIN: Miranda Lambert.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Miranda Lambert.
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR: "Bad Angel," Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, and Jamey Johnson, "Can't You See," Zac Brown Band & Kid Rock, "Hillbilly Bone," Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins, "I'm Alive," Kenny Chensey & Dave Matthews, "Till The End," Alan Jackson & Lee Ann Womack
Only one time in the history of the CMA Awards has this award gone to a non-single, so I would say it's between Blake and Trace and Kenny and Dave....and you don't want to say no to Trace Adkins, do you?
WHO WILL WIN: Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins
WHO SHOULD WIN: Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins
SONG OF THE YEAR: "A Little More Country Than That," Rory Feek, Don Poythress, Wynn Varble, "Need You Now," Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood, and Josh Kear, "The House That Built Me," Tom Douglas & Allan Shamblin, "Toes," Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Shawn Mullins & John Driskell Hopkins, "White Liar," Natalie Hemby & Miranda Lambert
I think that in most cases Wednesday night, it's going to come down to Miranda vs. Lady A, with Miranda's song getting the vote here.
WHO WILL WIN: "The House That Built Me."
WHO SHOULD WIN: "The House That Built Me." It's one of those once-in-a-few-years type of songs!
ALBUM OF THE YEAR: NEED YOU NOW, Lady Antebellum, PLAY ON, Carrie Underwood, REVOLUTION, Miranda Lambert, TWANG, George Strait, UP ON THE RIDGE, Dierks Bentley
It very well could wind up being the night of Miranda Lambert, as she has had a history in this category.
WHO WILL WIN: Miranda Lambert.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Dierks Bentley. Give him points for stepping outside of his comfort zone.
SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR: "A Little More Country Than That," Easton Corbin, "Hillbilly Bone," Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins, "The House That Built Me," Miranda Lambert, "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum "White Liar," Miranda Lambert.
I have a feeling that Miranda's hot streak might be broken with this category, thanks to a song that has never gotten old, even after the 1,234,234th spin.
WHO WILL WIN: Lady Antebellum
WHO SHOULD WIN: Lady Antebellum
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR: Brooks & Dunn, Joey+Rory, Montgomery Gentry, Steel Magnolia, Sugarland
Could it be one final nod to one of the industry's all-time greats?
WHO WILL WIN: Brooks & Dunn. Sugarland wasn't that active on the charts for much of the year.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Brooks & Dunn.
VOCAL GROUP: Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry, The Zac Brown Band
A fairly easy one to pick here, as nobody has had the type of year that Lady A has had.
WHO WILL WIN: Lady Antebellum.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Lady Antebellum.
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Luke Bryan, Easton Corbin, Jerrod Niemann, Chris Young, The Zac Brown Band
Even though they've been around for a couple of years, I think this one is an easy win for the ZBB
WHO WILL WIN: The Zac Brown Band.
WHO SHOULD WIN: By definition (most career progress in past year), Easton Corbin, though I would cheer pretty loudly if Jerrod Niemann took this one home.
MALE VOCALIST: Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Keith Urban
I'm going out on a limb here, but I think some long overdue recognition might be going to one of the format's brightest stars,
WHO WILL WIN: Blake Shelton
WHO SHOULD WIN: Blake Shelton
FEMALE VOCALIST: Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift.
It might sound like a crowded category.....but one is heads and shoulders above the rest this year.
WHO WILL WIN: Miranda Lambert
WHO SHOULD WIN: I'm all for Miranda, but Reba has had one of the best years of her career....
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR: Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, The Zac Brown Band
It wasn't his best sales or chart year, but I have a feeling that CMA voters will make up for lost time in this one.
WHO WILL WIN: Brad Paisley. It's his time.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Brad Paisley. Though his material has slumped a little bit, in my opinion, he has earned this one!
Well, those are my thoughts....which, if you're lucky, might get you an extra helping of barbecue sauce at Jack's on Broadway! Feel free to let me know your thoughts on this, and Wednesday night, we will see how we did!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
ONE LAST LIST
For the past few weeks, I have listed some of my favorite songs of all time. First, I touched on my forte, Country Music. Then, last week, I gave you my thoughts on some of my favorite pop / rock moments. To close out this series, I thought I would give you some of my favorite inspirational songs of all time. I hesitate to call them Gospel, because not all of them are, but I believe some of these just might be your favorites, as well. Here they are from A to Z.....
"A Thing Called Love," Elvis Presley
"Believe," Brooks & Dunn
"Clinging To A Saving Hand," Conway Twitty
"Drifting Too Far From The Shore," Emmylou Harris
"Eternal Vacation," Buck Owens
"Feeling Mighty Fine," The Statler Brothers
"Gone Home," Ricky Skaggs
"Hey God," Vince Gill
"I Believe In Music," Mac Davis
"Jesus, Hold My Hand," Vern Gosdin
IN PLACE OF K---"Freedom For The Stallion," The Oak Ridge Boys
"Long Black Train," Josh Turner
"Medals For Mothers," The Osborne Brothers
"Not So Far Away," Misty Freeman
"Old Time Religion," Buck Owens
"Peace In The Valley," Red Foley
IN PLACE OF Q---"I, John," Elvis Presley
"Rhythm Guitar," The Oak Ridge Boys
"Satisfied," Martha Carson
"Traveller's Prayer," George Jones
IN PLACE OF U---"Rize Up, Lazarus," Patty Loveless
"Saviour, Save Me From Myself," Ricky Skaggs
"Wayfaring Stranger," Jerry Reed
IN PLACE OF X---"The Wonders You Perform," Tammy Wynette
"You Don't Have To Move That Mountain," Patty Loveless
IN PLACE OF Z---"Where No One Stands Alone," Don Gibson
Next week, we'll switch gears, and I'll give you my CMA Picks......
"A Thing Called Love," Elvis Presley
"Believe," Brooks & Dunn
"Clinging To A Saving Hand," Conway Twitty
"Drifting Too Far From The Shore," Emmylou Harris
"Eternal Vacation," Buck Owens
"Feeling Mighty Fine," The Statler Brothers
"Gone Home," Ricky Skaggs
"Hey God," Vince Gill
"I Believe In Music," Mac Davis
"Jesus, Hold My Hand," Vern Gosdin
IN PLACE OF K---"Freedom For The Stallion," The Oak Ridge Boys
"Long Black Train," Josh Turner
"Medals For Mothers," The Osborne Brothers
"Not So Far Away," Misty Freeman
"Old Time Religion," Buck Owens
"Peace In The Valley," Red Foley
IN PLACE OF Q---"I, John," Elvis Presley
"Rhythm Guitar," The Oak Ridge Boys
"Satisfied," Martha Carson
"Traveller's Prayer," George Jones
IN PLACE OF U---"Rize Up, Lazarus," Patty Loveless
"Saviour, Save Me From Myself," Ricky Skaggs
"Wayfaring Stranger," Jerry Reed
IN PLACE OF X---"The Wonders You Perform," Tammy Wynette
"You Don't Have To Move That Mountain," Patty Loveless
IN PLACE OF Z---"Where No One Stands Alone," Don Gibson
Next week, we'll switch gears, and I'll give you my CMA Picks......
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