• Show: Dallas
• Airtime: Wed., 9 8/c on TNT
• Rating: TV-14 DLSV (suggestive dialogue, coarse or crude language, sexual situations, violence)
• Genre: Drama
• Cast: Josh Henderson, Jesse Metcalfe, Jordana Brewster, Julie Gonzalo, Brenda Strong, Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray, Larry Hagman
• Ok for Ages: 14+
• Official Site: http://www.tntdrama.com/series/dallas/

Parents Should Know: This updated version of the iconic nighttime soap features characters who do just about everything wrong. They lie, scheme, steal, manipulate, blackmail, and crave greed and power (and that’s just in the first 15 minutes). Iffy content includes scantily-clad women, simulated sex under the sheets, make-out sessions, and squabbles that turn into fist-fights. Language includes “hell,” damn,” “sh*t,” “a**hole,” and “whore.” The TV-14 rating is on target, and the show is ok for teens. Just make sure they realize that positive family relationships, upstanding lifestyles, and role models are definitely not the norm on Dallas.

Review: There’s something comforting about watching a show you used to watch 34 years ago, only updated with a new generation and new stories. It’s like Dallas was never off the air. Like it was just yesterday that I watched Bobby and J.R. Ewing squabble over things like oil rights, honorable motives, and that darn Barnes family. Remember that Bobby was married to a Barnes. Pamela was Cliff’s sister. Cliff and J.R. were mortal enemies. That’s what made it all so fun.

But really, the story hasn’t changed much over the years. Instead of Bobby and J.R., now we have their sons squabbling over similar things. Josh Henderson plays John Ross Ewing, the son of J.R. (Larry Hagman) and ex-wife Sue Ellen (Linda Gray, who looks fantastic). Jesse Metcalfe plays Christopher Ewing, the adopted son of Bobby (Patrick Duffy), who’s now married to Ann (Brenda Strong – nice to actually SEE her rather than just hear her voice as the dear departed Mary Alice on Desperate Housewives).

Much of the action still takes place at Miss Ellie’s beloved Southfork Ranch (she and Jock have both passed on, but they’re still part of the show). Bobby owns the ranch now, except he’s just discovered that he has cancer, and decides he wants to sell the ranch to a land conservancy. Except, of course that’s not how it goes down, because J.R. is still in the picture and he wants that ranch.

When the show begins, J.R. is in a nursing home suffering from clinical depression. But it isn’t long before he’s back in action, plotting nefarious schemes with that beloved glint in his eye. He puts that big white cowboy hat on, and it’s like we’re right back where we were 34 years ago. For the record, Larry Hagman turns 81 in September.

The younger Ewings are mini-me’s of their fathers. John Ross not only acts like J.R., he even looks like a younger version of him. And like his dad Bobby, Christopher is the moral compass of the show. While John Ross is fired up about finding oil under the surface of hallowed Southfork, Christopher is researching alternative fuel options such as methane. Unfortunately, he doesn’t anticipate inadvertently starting an earthquake on the other side of the planet. Back to the drawing board on that one.

And, of course, there are women. In the pilot episode, Christopher marries Rebecca (Julie Gonzalo), who’s not as innocent as she looks. And both boys have a history with Elena (Jordana Brewster), who moved to Dallas from Mexico with her parents when she was eight years old. Her mother Carmen was the beloved cook to the Ewing clan, and Elena, John Ross and Christopher grew up together. She and Christopher were once engaged, but a misunderstanding called it off, and now she’s with John Ross.

Dallas is super-fun to watch. It has enough references to the original Emmy-winning show to satisfy fans who watched it during its 13-year run from 1978 to 1991. It carries the original feud to the next generation, but refreshes it with an environmental storyline (the word “fracking” even comes up). And while the younger generation is wired into modern technology, J.R. scoffs at the idea. “Old fogies like me don’t email,” he sneers. “They talk to each other in person.”

I watch a lot of TV for my job, and there aren’t many shows I truly look forward to watching every week. But I can’t wait to see what happens next on Dallas. Greed may not be good in theory, but it sure is fun watching the Ewings implode over it.