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Real-Life Dallas Personalities And TV "Dallas" Characters Say Goodbye To JR Ewing

Susanne Davidson
/
flickr.com

Monday night, the television show “Dallas” says goodbye to JR Ewing. And it’s also Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings’ television series debut. The funeral episode called "JR's Masterpiece" blurs the line between the fictional Dallas and the real one.

Actor Larry Hagman who played JR died in December while filming season two. And JR Ewing was killed  -- shot -- in last week’s episode. In the following episode, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings plays … the Mayor of Dallas. And he’s a little nervous about watching.

“I’m dreading it. I’m dreading it. I am, but it was a lot of fun," Rawlings said. "And “Dallas” has meant so much for Dallas it’s the least the city can do to tip a hat to that production company and everything they’ve done.”

Rawlings says he apparently didn’t flub his lines.

“I’m amazed they did not get left on the editing floor," Rawlings chuckled. "Jerry, Mark Cuban and I extend our condolences to the brother of JR, to Bobby.  And it’s a nice little, just a few moments.”

Jerry is Jerry Jones owner of the Dallas Cowboys. Mark Cuban is owner of the Dallas Mavericks. They’re alongside the Mayor at the funeral. Rawlings jokes he does not expect his TV debut tonight to send Hollywood calling asking him to play “the mayor” on other shows.

And, he does not know who shot JR. Rawlings says stay tuned. 

Former KERA reporter BJ Austin spent more than 25 years in broadcast journalism, anchoring and reporting in Atlanta, New York, New Orleans and Dallas. Along the way, she covered Atlanta City Hall, the Georgia Legislature and the corruption trials of Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards.