Country of origin United States Original network CBS | No. of episodes 24 | |
Original release September 23, 1978 (1978-09-23) – March 30, 1979 (1979-03-30) | ||
The second season of the television series Dallas aired on during the 1978–79 TV season.
Contents
Starring
In alphabetical order:
Also starring
Guest Star
Special guest stars
Notable guest stars
Several long running Dallas cast members debut during the second season. Most notably Susan Howard, who became a series regular in season five, made her first appearance as Donna Culver. Additionally, Don Starr (Jordan Lee), Fern Fitzgerald (Marielee Stone), Paul Sorensen (Andy Bradley), Robert Ackerman (Wade Luce), Sherril Lynn Rettino (Jackie Dugan), Barbara Babcock (Liz Craig), James Brown (Harry McSween), Karlene Crockett (Muriel Gillis), John Zaremba (Dr. Harlen Danvers), and Meg Gallagher (Louella Caraway Lee) all appeared for the first time. Also: after several short-lived casting attempts, Jeanna Michaels finally joined the cast as Connie Brasher, Bobby's secretary, becoming the final and longest lasting actress in the role.
David Ackroyd and Joan Van Ark appeared as Lucy's parents Gary and Valene Ewing. In 1979, both characters returned in their own series, Dallas spinoff Knots Landing, with Ted Shackleford replacing Ackroyd, and continued to appear in Dallas until the mid '80s. Colleen Camp appeared as Kristin Shepard, a character recast by Mary Crosby the following year, receiving an "also starring" billing. Morgan Fairchild appeared as the first actress to play Jenna Wade, portrayed by series regular Priscilla Presley in later seasons, and Laurie Lynn Myers appeared as Jenna's daughter Charlie, later portrayed by Shalane McCall. Martha Scott appeared in one sole episode as Patricia Shepard, but returned for recurring episodes during seasons 3 and 9.
Crew
Series creator David Jacobs writes the first two episodes of the season, introducing the characters of Gary and Valene, and continues as creative consultant until halfway through the season, when he left Dallas to create Knots Landing. Producer Leonard Katzman writes and direct his first episodes, and replaces Jacobs as showrunner, remaining on the show until its closure in 1991.
Additional writers include the returning Camille Marchetta and Arthur Bernard Lewis, as well as newcomers Darlene Craviotto, Jim Inman, Worley Thorne, Rena Down, D. C. Fontana and Richard Fontana. Lee Rich and Philip Capice continue to serve as executive producers. Katzman serves as producer, and Cliff Fenneman as associate producer. Arthur Bernard Lewis was promoted executive story editor, with Camille Marchetta serving as story editor.
DVD release
The second season was released, alongside season one, by Warner Bros. Home Video, on a Region 1 DVD box set on August 24, 2004. The box includes five double-sided DVDs, and, alongside the two seasons' 29 episodes, it also include a Soap Talk Dallas reunion featurette, and three commentary tracks, by actors Larry Hagman and Charlene Tilton, and series creator David Jacobs.