Patrick Duffy called 'Dallas' "the gift that keeps on giving" Tuesday on 'The Talk' (weekdays, syndicated on CBS). That's thanks to TNT's reboot of the series, which was originally canceled in 1991, starring Duffy, Larry Hagman, and Linda Gray. The three actors played the mainstays of the Ewing clan for 13 years, and became household names in the process.

Duffy described stepping back into the role of Bobby Ewing as "a real time warp situation," feeling as if no time had passed since the last time he was on the 'Dallas' set. "I haven't been Bobby for twenty years and Larry and Linda and I stepped back into the wardrobe, back on the set at the ranch, and it was as if we had been on our three-month hiatus and we were back at work," he said.

The major difference comes up, he said, when he looks in the mirror and realizes twenty years have indeed passed. "You have to talk louder to Larry now," he yelled, joking. Season one is already in production, and debuts in the summer of 2012.

'Dallas' reboot is a go! TNT has picked up the series.

"TNT has explored the possibility of an updated version of 'Dallas' for several years, but it wasn't until we read Cynthia Cidre's outstanding pilot script that we knew we had the foundation for a great new series," Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM), said in a statement. "It is incredibly exciting to see both new and familiar characters in the hands of a dream cast under the guidance of the enormously talented Cidre and Mike Robin. We couldn't be more pleased with how 'Dallas' has come together."


The new series focuses on the children of the original Ewings -- J.R.'s son John Ross and Bobby and Pam's adopted son Christopher. Josh Henderson ('Desperate Housewives') plays John Ross, while Jesse Metcalfe stars as Christopher.

Maybe in the end it will all turn out to have been nothing but a weird dream, but for now it looks like it's time to dust off those sequinned shoulder pads and get ready for The Oil Barons' Ball: The much-hyped 'Dallas' reboot is a "Go."

With new casting updates comes news that the rebooted 'Dallas' will contain some classic elements: Love triangles, betrayals, family clashes and, finally, Mr. J.R. Ewing himself.

According to deadline.com, 'Desperate Housewives' alum Josh Henderson has signed on to play J.R. and Su Ellen's son, John Ross. Producers say that the new drama will focus on the next generation of the Ewing dynasty as they squabble over power, money and women.

However, the old Southfork guard will still be scheming in the background: TNT has confirmed that the trio at the center of the original series, Larry Hagman (J.R.), Linda Gray (Su Ellen) and Patrick Duffy (Bobby) will all be returning.

You can't keep a Ewing down. Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray are in talks to join TNT's planned 'Dallas' sequel.

According to TV Guide, the veteran stars have read and enjoyed the scripts, but the contracts are far from signed.

"I read the script and liked it," Hagman told TV Guide. "A lot of it is exposition to explain what's happened since we went off in the '90s ... But they haven't made a firm offer yet. We're kicking ideas around, but nothing's been struck in gold. We'll see how it goes; I'm still ambivalent about it."

It was the daddy of all cliffhangers: Who Shot J.R?

On March 21, 1980, 'Dallas' viewers gasped as an unknown assailant shot J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman), the ultra-manipulative, double-dealing womanizer we loved to hate. The Texas oil baron had so many enemies, anybody could have pulled the trigger. Was it his bitter alcoholic wife Sue Ellen? His upright but resentful brother Bobby? His arch-enemy Cliff Barnes, who blamed him for stealing his daddy's oil business? Or any number of other relatives, business associates, mistresses (or their angry husbands), who had ample motive for revenge?

It was an unprecedented pop culture moment with "Who Shot J.R.?" T-shirts and Vegas laying odds about who the culprit would be. Ninety million people tuned in the next fall to find out that the shooter was Kristin, J.R.s sister-in-law whom he'd also been sleeping with.

The show never again reached such ratings heights, but the cliffhanger craze was born. Over the next 12 seasons, we were treated to crashes, fires and all kinds of bite-your-nails finales that left nearly every character's life on the line at some point. In honor of the 30th anniversary of that fateful shot, we count down 'Dallas's top 10 most memorable moments.

Watch out, J.R.: 'Dallas' is officially back.

The Hollywood Reporter confirms that TNT and producer Warner Horizon are working on a remake of the '80s staple, with 'Cane''s Cynthia Cidre on tap to write it.

Cidre created and served as executive producer on 'Cane,' the story of a Cuban-American family and its successful Florida-based rum and sugar cane business. The Sept. 2007 series premiere was huge for CBS, bringing in 11 million viewers; however, the show got lost in the shuffle during the 2007-08 WGA strike and, after going on hiatus to accommodate mid-season replacements, died in May 2008.

It worked for Star Trek, right? The CW has gone to the next generation well with both 90210 and Melrose Place the past couple of years, to less than stellar results. So would it even be a good idea for TNT to pick up a sequel series to the '80s classic Dallas?

The premise of the relaunch would be for the show to focus on the next generation of Ewings, featuring J.R. and Sue Ellen's son John Ross and Christopher, the adopted son of Bobby and Pam, as the new leads. The producers have already been in touch with original actors Larry Hagman, Linda Gray and Patrick Duffy to discuss their possible involvement.

While there's no guarantee of a series, it does look like a pilot at least will be filmed. They'd have to be careful to make sure it appeals to people who've never seen Dallas, because that's getting to be a long time ago now. But there's always room on television for a well written family soap opera. Me, I'm still holding out for a next generation iteration of Soap.

Are you available Saturday, November 8th? Will you be in Parker, Texas? If the answer to these questions is yes, then maybe you'll head out to Southfork Ranch for a reunion with cast members of the classic CBS mega-hit Dallas. In honor of the 30th anniversary of the primetime soap, several actors from the show -- those still around -- will gather for a huge celebration. J.R. -- Larry Hagman -- will be the unofficial host, with Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) and Bobby (Patrick Duffy) also confirmed. No, this is not a dream. It's a real anniversary get together!

And what's really terrific about this event, if you ask me, is that it's not a private party. You can buy a ticket and take part. Tickets go on sale August 22 and will cost between $100 and $1,000. And for that money there will be a chance to ask questions of the stars, enjoy a concert of country music, tour Southfork and watch a fireworks display. Presumably that will not be a re-enactment of "Who shot J.R.?"