Post-credits scenes are so common nowadays, it’s almost a surprise when there isn’t a clip teasing a sequel, or an extended universe, or the next Super Mario Bros. Movie. But cliffhangers are something special. They can entice an audience to feel the irresistable urge to watch a movie or tune into an episode just to see that lingering question answered. And nobody did it better than one TV show back in 1980, when a last-minute plot twist not only changed the trajectory of that show, but led to a cultural phenomenon that persists to this day.

Rob teaches Ray and Daniel about the iconic end to “Dallas”’s third season, when J.R. Ewing took a bullet from an unknown enemy; why audiences had to wait eight months to find out the identity of the mysterious culprit; how the sensation propelled Larry Hagman to international celebrity; Daniel’s and Ray’s personal favorite cliffhangers; the lengths to which the networks went to safeguard the premiere of the fourth season; and modern examples of great (and not so great…) cliffhangers. 

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TEAM

Ray Hebel

Robert W. Schneider

Mark Schroeder

Billy Recce

Daniel Schwartzberg

Natalie DeSavia

ARTICLESEPISODE CLIPS

Dallas Season 03e25 J.R. Ewing Gets Shot

Dallas Opening and Closing Theme 1978 - 1991 (Hd Surround)

People Magazine - “Who Shot J.R.?” (Commercial, 1980)

Dallas - Who Shot J.R Documentary

Larry Hagman Discusses “Who Shot Jr?” - TelevisionAcademy.com/Interviews

Dallas - Who Shot Jr? Reveal

Cbs News - Dallas Who Shot J.R.? Revealed (11/22/80) Dallas Season 03e25 J.R. Ewing Gets Shot

Dallas Opening and Closing Theme 1978 - 1991 (Hd Surround)

People Magazine - “Who Shot J.R.?” (Commercial, 1980)

Dallas - Who Shot J.R Documentary

Larry Hagman Discusses “Who Shot Jr?” - TelevisionAcademy.com/Interviews

Dallas - Who Shot Jr? Reveal

Cbs News - Dallas Who Shot J.R.? Revealed (11/22/80)

ADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS

“This Was A Thing” Theme Songs composed by Billy Recce

“Happy Bee”

• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro