Who Done It (Dallas)
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"Who Done It" is the fourth episode of the fourth season ( 1980–81 season) and 58th overall of the American television series ''
Dallas Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
''. The episode was written by Loraine Despres, and revealed who had shot
J.R. Ewing John Ross "J.R." Ewing Jr. is a fictional character in the American television series ''Dallas'' (1978–1991) and its spin-offs, including the revived ''Dallas'' series (2012–2014). The character was portrayed by Larry Hagman from the serie ...
(played by
Larry Hagman Larry Martin Hagman (September 21, 1931 – November 23, 2012) was an American film and television actor, director, and producer, best known for playing ruthless oil baron J. R. Ewing in the 1978–1991 primetime television soap opera, ''Dal ...
) in the third season finale " A House Divided". The perpetrator's fate was revealed in the subsequent episode one week later.


Overview

For an eight-month-long period of
media Media may refer to: Communication * Media (communication), tools used to deliver information or data ** Advertising media, various media, content, buying and placement for advertising ** Broadcast media, communications delivered over mass el ...
frenzy after the broadcast of " A House Divided" episode (wherein ''Dallas'' archvillain J.R. Ewing was shot by an unidentified perpetrator outside his office), international oddsmakers created a set of odds for the possible
culprit A culprit, under English law properly the prisoner at the bar, is one accused of a crime. The term is used, generally, of one guilty of an offence. In origin the word is a combination of two Anglo-French legal words, culpable: guilty, and prit or ...
s. The favorite was Dusty Farlow, who was Sue Ellen Ewing's lover (Sue Ellen being J.R.'s wife), with odds installed at 6:4. Sue Ellen herself was given 25:1 odds, as was J.R.'s mother Miss Ellie Ewing. At 4:1 were Sue Ellen's sister and her husband's mistress, Kristin Shepard and banker Vaughn Leland, who fell victim to a J.R. swindle. After Sue Ellen's
fingerprint A fingerprint is an impression left by the friction ridges of a human finger. The recovery of partial fingerprints from a crime scene is an important method of forensic science. Moisture and grease on a finger result in fingerprints on surfac ...
s were found on the gun in subsequent episodes she became the favorite at 3 to 1 according to some oddsmakers, while others listed Kristin and
Cliff Barnes Clifford Barnes, played by Ken Kercheval, is a fictional character from the popular American television series ''Dallas (1978 TV series), Dallas''. The Barnes family are competitors and sometimes enemies of the Ewing family (Dallas), Ewing family ...
as favorites (Cliff being J.R.'s rival from childhood). J.R. Ewing is a
fictional character In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life person, ...
that William K. Stevens of ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' described as "the nastiest man on television, the
Iago Iago () is a fictional character in Shakespeare's ''Othello'' (c. 1601–1604). Iago is the play's main antagonist, and Othello's standard-bearer. He is the husband of Emilia, who is in turn the attendant of Othello's wife Desdemona. Iago hates ...
of Texas oilmen, the smiling snake of a star of Friday night TV's ''Dallas'', a man so venal, so low, so mean, so diabolical that he has become an absolute delight to an estimated quarter of a billion viewers around the globe." His ''New York Times'' colleague John J. O'Connor described him as "the eldest son of the oil-rich Ewing family..." who is "...a sadistic bully and a swindler" that "captured the public's imagination". Prior to the episode, there were numerous people to suspect for the attempted murder: *
Sue Ellen Ewing Sue Ellen Ewing is a fictional character and one of the female leads in the CBS primetime soap opera ''Dallas''. Sue Ellen was portrayed by Linda Gray and appeared on the show since its pilot episode, first broadcast on April 2, 1978. ''Dallas' ...
(
Linda Gray Linda Ann Gray (born September 12, 1940) is an American film, stage and television actress, director, producer and former model, best known for her role as Sue Ellen Ewing, the long-suffering wife of Larry Hagman's character J.R. Ewing on the C ...
), J.R.'s wife: J.R. had threatened to reinstitutionalize her for her bout with
alcoholism Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol (drug), alcohol that results in significant Mental health, mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognize ...
. *
Kristin Shepard Kristin Marie Shepard is a fictional character on the American television series ''Dallas (1978 TV series), Dallas'', played by Mary Crosby (1979–1981) and, briefly, by Colleen Camp (1979). The character also made one appearance on ''Dallas''s s ...
(
Mary Crosby Mary Frances Crosby (born September 14, 1959) is an American actress. She played Kristin Shepard in the television series ''Dallas'' (1979–1981, 1991).
), J.R.'s ex-mistress and Sue Ellen's sister: J.R. broke his promise to marry her and gave her 24 hours to leave town. J.R. threatened to have her framed for prostitution in response to business pressure she put on him. *Dusty Farlow (
Jared Martin Jared Christopher Martin (December 21, 1941 – May 24, 2017) was an American film and television actor. He was best known for his role as Steven "Dusty" Farlow in the 1978 series ''Dallas'' and for roles on two science fiction TV series, ''The ...
), Sue Ellen's lover: Supposedly killed in a plane crash. *Vaughn Leland (
Dennis Patrick Dennis Patrick (born Dennis Patrick Harrison; March 14, 1918 – October 13, 2002) was an American character actor, primarily in television. Early years Patrick was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Career Patrick is known for his work in ...
), J.R.'s business partner: J.R. swindled him out of $20 million (US$ million in dollars). *
Miss Ellie Ewing Eleanor "Miss Ellie" Ewing Farlow (maiden name Southworth) is a fictional character from the primetime CBS television series ''Dallas'', a long-running serial centered on the lives of the wealthy Ewing family of Dallas, Texas. Created by writer ...
(
Barbara Bel Geddes Barbara Bel Geddes (October 31, 1922 – August 8, 2005) was an American stage and screen actress, artist, and children's author whose career spanned almost five decades. She was best known for her starring role as Miss Ellie Ewing in the t ...
), J.R.'s mother: J.R. mortgaged the family ranch, unbeknownst to his parents, and had plans to drill for oil on the property. *
Cliff Barnes Clifford Barnes, played by Ken Kercheval, is a fictional character from the popular American television series ''Dallas (1978 TV series), Dallas''. The Barnes family are competitors and sometimes enemies of the Ewing family (Dallas), Ewing family ...
(
Ken Kercheval Kenneth Marine Kercheval (July 15, 1935 – April 21, 2019) was an American actor, best known for his role as Cliff Barnes on the television series ''Dallas'' and its 2012 revival. Early life Kercheval was born on July 15, 1935, in Wolcottville ...
), J.R.'s brother-in-law (through his sister's marriage to Bobby Ewing) and business rival: His father
Digger Barnes Digger or diggers may refer to: * Excavator, heavy construction equipment consisting of a boom, dipper, bucket and cab on a rotating platform known as the "house". * Backhoe loaders and backhoes are often known as diggers or mini diggers in Britis ...
was swindled by J.R.'s father
Jock Ewing John Ross "Jock" Ewing Sr. (1909–1982) is a fictional character in the American television series ''Dallas'' created by David Jacobs. Jock was played by Jim Davis in the show's first four seasons from 1978 to 1981, and as a young man by Dale ...
out of his half of their combined oil company (Digger's side of the story; Jock claimed he had kept the company in his name due to Digger's recklessness), leaving him penniless except for some oil wells that J.R. had shut down. *Alan Beam (
Randolph Powell Randolph Powell (born April 14, 1950) is an American actor, best known for his roles on television. He was a leading cast member of the science fiction series ''Logan's Run'' also being known for the role of Alan Beam in the soap opera ''Dallas' ...
), Political fixer: Beam knew too much, making him expendable. After J.R. tried to extinguish him, he had motive. *Marilee Stone (
Fern Fitzgerald Fern Fitzgerald (born January 7, 1947 in Valley Stream, New York) is an American actress, best known for her recurring role as oil cartel businesswoman Marilee Stone in the CBS primetime soap opera ''Dallas'' from 1979 to 1989. She guest-starred ...
), widow of a business associate: Husband committed suicide as a result of business dealings with J.R. *
Bobby Ewing Bobby James Ewing is a fictional character in the American television series ''Dallas'' and its 2012 revival. The youngest son of Jock and Miss Ellie Ewing, he was portrayed by actor Patrick Duffy (1978–1985, 1986–1991). Bobby had been kill ...
(
Patrick Duffy Patrick Duffy (born March 17, 1949) is an American actor and director widely known for his role on the CBS primetime soap opera ''Dallas'', where he played Bobby Ewing, the youngest son of Miss Ellie, and the nicest brother of J.R. Ewing (pla ...
), mild-mannered brother: Sibling rival, who is fed up with J.R.'s handling of family business and slights to Bobby's wife. Although generally regarded as somewhat rivals of J.R. in the fictional world of ''Dallas'',
Gary Ewing Garrison "Gary" Arthur Ewing is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera, ''Knots Landing'', a spin-off of ''Dallas''. The character of Gary Ewing was first played by actor David Ackroyd in a 2-part ''Dallas'' season two episode "Reunion" in ...
(
Ted Shackelford Theodore Tillman Shackelford III (born June 23, 1946) is an American actor. He played Gary Ewing in the CBS television series ''Dallas'' and ''Knots Landing'' (1979–1993); since 2006, he has appeared in a recurring role on the CBS soap ''The You ...
) and his wife Valene (
Joan Van Ark Joan Van Ark (born June 16, 1943) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Valene Ewing on the primetime soap opera ''Knots Landing.'' A life member of The Actors Studio, she made her Broadway debut in 1966 in ''Barefoot in the P ...
) were not suspects due to their activity in the related ''
Knots Landing ''Knots Landing'' is an American prime time television soap opera that aired on CBS from December 27, 1979, to May 13, 1993. A spin-off of ''Dallas'', it was set in a fictitious coastal suburb of Los Angeles and initially centered on the lives of ...
'' world. Similarly, their daughter
Lucy Lucy is an English feminine given name derived from the Latin masculine given name Lucius with the meaning ''as of light'' (''born at dawn or daylight'', maybe also ''shiny'', or ''of light complexion''). Alternative spellings are Luci, Luce, Luci ...
(
Charlene Tilton Charlene L. Tilton (born December 1, 1958) is an American actress and singer. She is widely known for playing Lucy Ewing, the niece of brothers J. R. Ewing and Bobby Ewing (played by Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy), on the television seri ...
) had an alibi provided by liaisons with a married college professor. In order to preserve secrecy before the episode aired, multiple endings were filmed, including the aforementioned characters each firing the gun.


Plot summary

After a considerable number of suspects have been identified, Sue Ellen deduces that it was Kristin who shot J.R. At her psychiatrist's office, as she is discussing the gun and how it made its way to her bedroom, she remembers that the last time it was in her possession was when she was at Kristin's condo. She finds J.R. at home, when Kristin shows up and Sue Ellen reveals all. When Sue Ellen earlier showed up at her sister's apartment with the gun (looking for J.R.), Kristin calmly offered her a drink, with the knowledge that she was drunk and would most likely pass out. Once that happened, after placing Sue Ellen back in her car, unconscious, Kristin took the gun and shot J.R. and planted the gun in Sue Ellen's closet the next day in order to frame her. After J.R. hears everything and is about to notify the police, Kristin reveals she is pregnant with J.R.'s baby and threatens to reveal everything if the police are brought in. Facing the prospect of another scandal should his child be born in prison, J.R. decides the matter should be handled quietly.


Broadcast and reception

'"Who Done It'" resolved the " Who shot J.R.?"
cliffhanger A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode or a film of serialized fiction. A cliffhang ...
from the previous season, entitled " A House Divided". Some suggest that the resolution of the whodunit was delayed until the November "
sweep Sweep or swept may refer to: Cleaning * Sweep, the action of using a brush to clean * Chimney sweep, a worker who clears ash and soot from chimneys * Street sweeper, a person's occupation, or a machine that cleans streets * Swept quartz, a clean ...
" period as a ratings ploy by network
CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainmen ...
for the 1980–81 television season. Between 83 million and 90 million American viewers (or 76% of all U.S. television viewers in the United States in November 1980) watched the episode; the 53.3 Nielsen rating was the highest rating of any television episode in U.S. history, a record broken in February 1983 when the final episode of ''M*A*S*H'' aired (on the same network). "Who Done It" still attained the second highest Nielsen rating for a single television broadcast in U.S. history, and remains second on the list of all-time most watched U.S. television episodes (behind the 1983 ''M.A.S.H.'' final episode). ''Dallas'' went on to finish at #1 in the
Nielsen ratings Nielsen Media Research (NMR) is an American firm that measures media audiences, including television, radio, theatre, films (via the AMC Theatres MAP program), and newspapers. Headquartered in New York City, it is best known for the Nielsen rat ...
for three of the next four seasons as a result of the publicity this episode generated, although since the final episode of ''M.A.S.H.'' in 1983, the resolution episode of ''Dallas'' 1980 cliffhanger fell into the second most internationally watched single U.S. television episode in history (watched by about 360 million international viewers in more than 57 countries worldwide during the November 1980 broadcast). The episode also marked the start of widespread usage of
cliffhanger A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode or a film of serialized fiction. A cliffhang ...
s as a core element of television season finales in the United States since the 1980s, and also remained as the highest rated Friday primetime broadcast in U.S. television history (at the time when Friday nights experienced a steep decline in viewership by the end of the 20th century).


References


External links

* {{Dallas (TV series) 1980 American television episodes Dallas (TV franchise) episodes