Dallas seen on M-Net, renewed for a 3rd season in America, 'has many stories left to tell' and will continue to honour JR's memory.

Dallas, which will conclude its second season on M-Net in South Africa on Tuesdays at 20:30 with a two hour finale, has been renewed for a third season in America.

The third season of Dallas produced by Warner Horizon Television will have 15 episodes and is set to start early in 2014.

"Dallas has built a passionately loyal following with its expertly woven storylines, clever twists and turns and numerous outstanding performances by a cast that spans generations," says Michael Wright, the president and head of programming at the American TV channel  TNT in a press statement announcing the renewal.

"Although we said goodbye to Larry Hagman and his iconic character JR Ewing this year, Dallas has many stories left to tell and the Ewings will continue to honour JR's memory by keeping its audience surprised and delighted."

MUST-WATCH TONIGHT! DALLAS on M-Net at 20:30 delivers dramatic emotion with a special opening theme; Sue Ellen's emotional eulogy.

The biggest must-watch television spectacle on South African TV tonight is Dallas at 20:30 on M-Net for a simply cannot dare not miss, have-to-see SPECIAL episode right from the very beginning: a hugely special opening theme as a goodbye tribute to Larry Hagman and JR Ewing which will very likely make you emotional and have you in tears.

And if that doesn't do the trick, I can absolutely guarantee - GUARANTEE - you that the emotional, tearful, astounding, sad, raw, and genuinely emotional tribute and eulogy of Linda Gray as Sue Ellen in remembrance of JR Ewing/Larry Hagman WILL make you cry. It will.

JR Ewing's funeral is tonight at 20:30 in Dallas on M-Net and there is nothing else on television you rather need to watch than this special and emotional episode.

The opening theme of Dallas has been specially adapted. It will make you sad but it's PERFECT - the music of trumpet and organ, the mood, the changed opening images; all of which ends with JR Ewing closing the iron gate of Southfork Ranch and thereby symbolically closing a chapter.



Then there's Linda Gray. Or Sue Ellen. Wow. When you watch her talk, you will see that it's not really so much Sue Ellen as it's Linda Gray saying her last goodbye to Larry Hagman.

The performance is ... raw, haunting, and incredible - I would say tonight's episode of Dallas and Linda Gray's overwhelmingly emotional final goodbye to Larry Hagman and JR Ewing is the most heartwrenchingly, hauntingly true and real moment of television which you will see in a scripted TV drama in all of 2013.

Through all the drunkenness, through all the fights; through all the animosity and divorces, pain and heartache; revenge and betrayal and lies and hurt ...

"Yes, JR. The answer is yes. You were the love of my life."

Now go get tissues, and make sure to watch this special and gutwrenching episode of Dallas tonight at 20:30 on M-Net with someone you love, and have a bit of a cry together, and say goodbye to JR Ewing.

Victoria Principal won't return to the new Dallas seen on M-Net for what she calls a 'desperate reappearance'.

Actress Victoria Principal, primarily known for her iconic 80's role of Pamela Ewing in Dallas, has issued a statement saying she will definitely not be returning to the new Dallas seen in South Africa on pay-TV broadcaster M-Net.

The second season of Dallas just started on Tuesdays at 20:30 on M-Net and South African viewers will see Larry Hagman's character JR Ewing get killed in episode 7 which will be broadcast on 27 March.

In episode 8, entitled "JR's Masterpiece" which will be shown in South Africa on M-Net on3 April at 20:30, JR Ewing gets buried at Southfork as numerous characters from JR Ewing's past shows up, including Ray (Steve Kanaly), Gary (Ted Shackelford) and Lucy (Charlene Tilton).

Speculation started that Victoria Principal might be seen together with several other luminaries from the original incantation of the show for the funeral and storyline incorporating the death of JR Ewing following the real-life death of actor Larry Hagman.

Speculation suggested Victoria Principal could possibly not just return for a special guest appearance to honour Larry Hagman, but to also join the cast permanently or as a recurring star.

Now Victoria Principal says it will never happen and that she is not going to ever make what she calls "a desperate reappearance" after the character of Pamela was seen dying in a car crash in Dallas and written out.

"Since the inception of Dallas, the creators and fans around the world have referred to Bobby and Pam, as the Romeo & Juliet of Dallas. I could not agree more. And since the original author of this scenario, William Shakespeare, felt compelled to make theirs a tragic love story, of epic and unforgettable deathly loss, I think I shall respect that very successful example, and leave the legacy of Bobby and Pam's tragic love story, undisturbed and intact."

"When I filmed Pam's fatal car accident, for me that was the punctuation mark on my role as Pam. I cannot be held responsible for any choices made by producers, once I left Dallas, but I do take responsibility for my decision, not to risk tarnishing Bobby and Pam's love story, with a desperate reappearance. I made this decision a long time ago with a loving and respectful heart for Dallas, Bobby and Pam and all faithful fans."

BREAKING. Larry Hagman, JR Ewing from Dallas, dies aged 81 from complications due to throat cancer.

Larry Hagman, known for his iconic portrayal of JR Ewing in Dallas, has died. He was 81.

Larry Hagman died from complications due to throat cancer, Reuters reports.

The actor who's iconic role of the unscrupulous and power hungry Dallas oil baron JR Ewing in a cowboy hat enthralled generations of TV viewers - in an original series which ran for decades, followed by several made-for-TV movies, as well as a new TV series which started this year - suffered from liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver in the nineties after decades of drinking.

Reuters reports that Larry Hagman died on Friday in hospital. His co-star Linda Gray who played his long-suffering wife Sue-Ellen was at his bedside. Patrick Duffy who played his TV brother Bobby was also present.

Dallas came along in 1978 just after the start of television in South Africa in 1976. The advent of television and the growth in sales of TV sets - a new a buzzworthy technology for South Africans who up until that time were only used to radio, drive-in cinema and movie theatres, were enthralled by the glitzy and outrageous primetime soap broadcast on TV on Tuesday nights.

So big was the appeal, that restaurants and other public establishments in South Africa started to close on Tuesday nights when Dallas was on. South Africans stayed home en masse and watched or watched with neighbours who had television to follow the outrageous and terrible actions of JR Ewing from the Southfork Ranch in Texas who wheeled and dealed to get his way along with characters such as Miss Ellie, Bobby and Pamela.

When the conniving and villaineous JR Ewing got shot in the final episode of the second season, it was a hot on television that rang out across the world. Viewers across the globe were shocked and enthralled. The plot and last seconds moment not only gave rise to the coined-phrased "Who shot JR?" but essentially created the modern TV trope: to end a TV season of a massive cliffhanger which will keep viewers buzzing and guessing about a sudden, shocking plot point until the start of a new season.

An updated version of Dallas started earlier this year with the first season shown in South Africa on M-Net. And again, in a homage to the iconic show with its iconic theme music, on a Tuesday. Although South Africans will never stay home again for a TV show - any TV show - and restaurants will never empty again for television, Dallas recaptured viewers attention again to a degree with the new show which reunited several members from the original cast and introducing a whole new generation.

Larry Hagman has already filmed part of the second season of the new Dallas. Six of the second season's 15 episodes had already been filmed by Larry Hagman at the time of his death.

A statement released by the actors family: "Larry's family and close friends had joined him in Dallas for the Thanksgiving holiday. When he passed, he was surrounded by loved ones. It was a peaceful passing, just as he had wished for. The family requests privacy at this time."

Warner Bros. Television and the new Dallas' executive producers Cynthia Cidre and Michael Robin, says in a jointly released statement: "Larry Hagman was a giant, a larger-than-life personality whose iconic performance as J.R. Ewing will endure as one of the most indelible in entertainment history. He truly loved portraying this globally recognized character, and he leaves a legacy of entertainment, generosity and grace. Everyone at Warner Bros. and in the Dallas family is deeply saddened by Larry's passing, and our thoughts are with his family and dear friends during this difficult time."

The TNT TV channel which is showing the new Dallas in the US says in a statement: "All of us at TNT are deeply saddened at the news of Larry Hagman's passing. He was a wonderful human being and an extremely gifted actor. We will be forever thankful that a whole new generation of people got to know and appreciate Larry through his performance as J.R. Ewing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very difficult time."

Says Linda Gray in a statement: "Larry Hagman was my best friend for 35 years. He was the Pied Piper of life and brought joy to everyone he knew. He was creative, generous, funny, loving and talented, and I will miss him enormously. He was an original and lived life to the fullest ... The world was a brighter place because of Larry Hagman."

Says M-Net in a statement which is showing Dallas in South Africa: "Larry Hagman was a legendary actor who, with his passionate portrayal of JR Ewing, created the benchmark for TV villains. We salute him for the way in which he captured the imagination of millions of people around the world and turned fictional television story lines into newsworthy events. We're glad that he was a part of the recent new installment of Dallas and that M-Net on channel 101 could bring the series to our South African viewers. Larry Hagman and ol' JR will live on in television memory, but it's sad to know that the real man won't be there any more."

FIRST LOOK! One minute preview of the brand-new Dallas! And who will get it? M-Net? Fox Entertainment? Vuzu? I know who's already trying!

''All those fights over Ewing Oil ... and Southfork,'' says Bobby. ''We laid waste to everything in our path ... J.R. And for what? I don't want them to be like us.''

Cue the iconic TV themesong music...

''Television's landmark drama returns.''

Just like Beverly Hills, 90210 got a next generation upgrade to 90210, and Hawaii Five 0, Star Trek and the less successful Melrose Place all got a contemporary reboot as new shows, the iconic primetime television drama Dallas is definitely back!

Here's the first preview of the new show that will have a full first season of 10 episodes with Larry Hagman back as the iconic oil tycoon J.R. Ewing, Patrick Duffy as Bobby Ewing and Linda Gray as Sue Ellen.

Joining them is Josh Henderson as J.R.'s son John Ross Ewing, Jesse Metcalfe as Bobby's son Christopher Ewing, Julie Gonzalo as Christopher's fiancee Rebecca and Jordana Brewster as Elena, John Ross' girlfriend.

Dallas was shown in South Africa, multiple times, on TV1, SABC2 and M-Net Series (DStv 110). So what South African TV channel will try and get the new Dallas? The South African broadcasters that the new Dallas would be perfect for, would be M-Net, Vuzu (DStv 123), Top One (TopTV 150) or Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180).

Although Dallas was announced as a full first season pick-up in America just three days ago, I just reached out to my sources to find out if there's any takers. Kabam! TV with Thinus can exclusively reveal that ... Fox Entertainment on TopTV is strongly pursuing the broadcasting rights for the new Dallas. ''It is something that Fox is working on,'' a source disclosed to me a half hour ago.