I
hope that everyone has had a great Thanksgiving. I ate more than I
should have, started my Christmas shopping, and spent time with
family and friends. I also had my cell phone stolen, but enough about
that.
It’s
strange what enters your mind sometimes. Thanksgiving morning, I was
watching the CBS coverage of the parade from New York. For some
reason, memories of watching the telecast as a child came up, and for
quite a few years, the hosts were Linda Gray – and the man who
played her TV husband on “Dallas,” Larry Hagman.
Then,
Friday evening, my phone rang. It was Sheila Vest, who I work with at
Kix 96 asking me if I heard the news. I told her I had not. Larry
Hagman – legendary for his portrayal of J.R. Ewing, had died at
age 81. You could have knocked me over with a feather.
Just
like with many children of the late 1970s and 80s, Friday nights were
big around the Dauphin household growing up. Usually, about 7:45pm,
pizzas would go into the oven – because in fifteen minutes...it was
“Dallas” time. For fourteen seasons, he was the man you loved to
hate. But, most of us never did. Hagman played the ruthless tycoon
with such a sense of humor that you actually had a soft spot for him.
In the hands of another actor, the character would have been a (fill
in the blank), but with his talent, Hagman chewed up the scenery in a
way that few actors do.
And,
while I will be the first to say that the character named Ewing would
not be someone you would have wanted your daughter to marry – or
teach your kids in Sunday School, there was something about the
character that I latched onto early. I think it was the “Me against
the world” mentality that he played JR with. In any life or career,
there are always people that want to tell you no or that you can’t
do something. For the first twelve seasons of the series, the
character won – and won often. In the last couple years, it really
went downhill, but his character always served as an inspiration to
me. Granted, Hagman had writers that ensured his victories....maybe I
need to hire some!
I
will be the first to admit this blog is a little bit random for me. I
am writing off the cuff tonight. I’ve been blessed to have met many
of my heroes from music and entertainment, and actually got to
interview and meet Linda Gray this past summer, but I never did get
to meet Larry Hagman. But more than any other TV or movie actor, he
was my favorite. As strange as it is to say about someone you never
talked to, he was family....and I’m not alone. From 1980-1985, the
show was either # 1 or # 2 in the ratings. That impact was felt by
many others, I know.
Though
he was in “I Dream Of Jeannie,” as well as the films Nixon
and Primary Colors, he
will always be remembered as JR Ewing. When TNT came up with the idea
to reboot the show this year, as usual – he played hard to get, and
won his asking price. Though some have debated the quality of the
writing at times, I felt the show definitely had more pros than cons.
The biggest pro was Hagman. Though the show was right to focus on
Josh Henderson as JR and Sue Ellen’s son, when JR was on screen,
school was out. He was simply incredible to watch in his role of a
lifetime.
Mr.
Hagman, we never met. But, I want to take a moment to say thank you
for all the Friday nights during my childhood. Before cable came to
Beechwood Road, there was only three or four channels, and once that
theme song started, it was truly an hour of escapism. While it might
be more of a goal to have a life like those lived by people in the
likewise fictional towns of Mayberry or Waltons Mountain, who
wouldn’t have loved to have been JR Ewing for a day? (Even without
the love scenes with Linda Gray, though they were a plus!) To the man
who earned moniker “The Mad Monk Of Malibu” due to his somewhat
irreverent ways, I simply say “Thanks for the memories.” Rest in
Peace!
