'Dallas' Reboot Scoop: Larry Hagman's (Still) in Play!

A Dallas reboot without J.R. Ewing? TNT can’t imagine it! Despite an internet report that the cabler’s remake of the classic CBS drama is moving ahead without Larry Hagman, Entertainment Weekly learned that the network is hopeful a deal can and will be reached with the original star.

TNT has already persuaded Linda Gray and Patrick Duffy to make appearances in the new version, which was penned by Cynthia Cidre (Cane) and focuses on the sons of J.R. and Bobby Ewing. The network remains high on the new iteration, even though it has yet to begin production on a pilot. “I don’t want to give away the plot, but [Cynthia] found something authentic to business and to Dallas that allows them to trade on the same dynamic of the super wealthy,” TNT/TBS programming head Michael Wright told Variety on Thursday. “Dallas was always something of an Upstairs Downstairs paradigm. If it wasn’t the rich and poor, it was attitude – entitlement versus a populist point of view. This covers all that.”

Meanwhile, Hagman told Entertainment Weekly in September that he continues to make appearances on behalf of Dallas, which syndicates in 60 countries today. ”It’s like an annuity, really,” Hagman, 78, said. ”I go out, they adore me, and then they pay you. What better job can you have?” He seemed willing to do the Dallas reboot.

This isn’t the first time that someone’s tried to revive the Texas oil family drama that aired from 1978 to 1991. In 2006, Twentieth Century Fox decided to adapt the soap for the big screen, closing deals with John Travolta, Jennifer Lopez, and Luke Wilson. But then research indicated that the Dallas brand didn’t mean much to younger moviegoers, says a source close to the project. Travolta and Lopez soon dropped out.

Ben McKenzie: Southland’s “Very Grateful” for TNT

Ben McKenzie called in to Ryan Seacrest’s radio show on Monday to talk about Southland’s revival on TNT.

Here’s what he had to say about TNT, how he found out Southland was canceled and his Halloween costume…

On learning of Southland’s cancellation: “We were ’sposed to premiere on NBC October 23 - we were on set shooting, I was making plans to go to New York with my publicist and the producers came to the set and said ‘We’re canceled!’

On being thankful for a second shot: “TNT’s a great network and we’re excited about it…..It’s very rare that a network show gets to have a second airing - we’re very grateful for that.”

On his Halloween costume: “I went as Jay Leno! He kind of canceled our show, so I thought…[I wore] The Jay Leno mask, jeans shirt and jeans that Jay Leno wears when he’s not in the suit.”

Southland will begin airing on TNT Tuesday, January 12th at 10:00 pm (EST).

Southland Lives, Thanks to TNT!

TNT has picked up the cop drama Southland and will air it on Tuesday nights starting in January.

The drama stars Ben McKenzie, Regina King and Tom Everett Scott, among others and, best of all, has the prominent gay character of officer John Cooper played by Michael Cudlitz (pictured above).

As you recall, NBC produced 13 episodes of the series (seven aired last spring) then in a bizarre move, canceled the series before it even made its scheduled season premiere this fall.

TNT, already home to such terrific dramas as The Closer, Saving Grace and Raising the Bar, will air all of the completed episodes of Southland. If the ratings are strong, the cable channel will produce new ones.

“This is a perfect opportunity for us to introduce the series to new viewers,” Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks, said in a statement.