J.R.'s Masterpiece

The plot of the episode featured the funeral service of J.R. Ewing, as well as the memorial service, held at the Dallas Petroleum Club.

Guests in attendance include Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval), J.R.'s longtime rival who comes to pay his "disrespects"; Gary Ewing (Ted Shackelford),{{cite web |url=https://screencrush.com/dallas-larry-hagman-jr-ewing-funeral-cameo/ |title='Dallas' Preview: J.R.'s Funeral To Bring Back Which Characters? |work=Screen Crush |first=Kevin |last=Fitzpatrick |date=15 January 2013 |access-date=8 March 2013}} J.R.'s reformed alcoholic brother; Ray Krebbs, J.R.'s half brother; Lucy Ewing (Charlene Tilton), Gary's daughter and J.R.'s niece; J.R.'s second wife Cally Harper Ewing (Cathy Podewell); and Mandy Winger (Deborah Shelton), J.R's longtime mistress in the 1980s.{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/s203/dallas/news/a451410/dallas-stars-confirmed-to-return-for-jr-funeral.html |title='Dallas' stars confirmed to return for JR funeral |publisher=Digital Spy |first=Morgan |last=Jeffery|date=16 January 2013 |access-date=8 March 2013}} Appearing as themselves are Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones,{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/dallas-funeral-j-r-honors-larry-hagman-140550410.html |title='Dallas' funeral for J.R. honors Larry Hagman |publisher=AP (Yahoo News) |first=Frazier |last=Moore |date=8 March 2013 |access-date=8 March 2013}} and Dallas mayor Mike Rawlings.

As a result of Hagman's death, and therefore his character's, the remaining season's plot will focus on the same question raised in the original series, "Who shot J.R.?" dubbed into "Who killed J.R.?"{{cite news| url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/s203/dallas/news/a464852/dallas-exec-on-jr-murder-plot-theres-a-delicious-reveal.html|title='Dallas' exec on JR murder plot: 'There's a delicious reveal'|last=Jeffery|first=Morgan|date=March 11, 2013|work=Digital Spy|access-date=12 March 2013}}

Larry Hagman appeared in seven of the fifteen episodes slated for the season before his death. The plot of the season had to be retooled in order to compensate for the character's absence.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/10/dallas-j-r-ewing-funeral_n_2274473.html|title='Dallas' Season 2: TNT Soap Sets Date For J.R. Ewing's On-Screen Funeral|date=December 10, 2012|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=12 March 2013}}

Producers were keen for Victoria Principal's character, Pamela Barnes Ewing to make a return appearance to the show, especially following the death of J.R.{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/s203/dallas/news/a444656/dallas-producers-want-victoria-principal-for-jr-ewing-funeral.html |title='Dallas' producers 'want Victoria Principal for JR Ewing funeral' |work=Digital Spy |first=Morgan |last=Jeffery |date=12 December 2012 |access-date=8 March 2013}} In response to rampant speculation, Principal released a statement explaining the reason she would not be appearing any more as Pam.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2013/03/victoria-principal-dallas-not-returning-tnt-series-443969/ |title=Victoria Principal Won't Appear On TNT's 'Dallas' Series |work=The Deadline |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |date=1 March 2013 |access-date=8 March 2013}}

Hagman's sudden death from throat cancer had caught the writing team off-guard; it was revealed J.R.'s absence from earlier first-season episodes was written in to accommodate Hagman, who was being treated for cancer.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2012/11/how-will-larry-hagmans-death-affect-tnts-dallas-376552/ |title=How Will Larry Hagman's Death Affect TNT's 'Dallas'? |work=Deadline |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |date=4 November 2012 |access-date=8 March 2013}} This was also not the first time J.R.'s absence from the show had to be written in. Cynthia Cidre's original pilot script included J.R. in a relatively important role to the series, but due to contractual disputes between Hagman and TNT, she was made to rewrite the script to utilize archive footage of the character, as well as reduce characters Sue Ellen Ewing and Bobby Ewing to recurring characters.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2010/12/good-bye-j-r-dallas-ready-to-move-on-without-larry-hagman-over-money-demands-91110/ |title=Good-Bye J.R.? 'Dallas' Ready To Move On Without Larry Hagman Over Money Demands |work=The Deadline |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |date=16 December 2010 |access-date=8 March 2013}} As negotiations with the actors were completed, the roles of the series veterans were restored in the pilot and beyond.

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{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb episode|2594184|J.R.'s Masterpiece}}

{{Dallas (TV series)}}

Category:2013 American television episodes

Category:Dallas (TV franchise) episodes

Category:Television episodes about funerals