Dallas producer teases Ken Kercheval return

Cynthia Cidre, the executive producer of TNT’s revived Dallas, has revealed a few details about Ken Kercheval’s return to the legendary oil drama.

Last week it was revealed – to the delight of original series fans – that Ken Kercheval was heading back to Dallas as Cliff Barnes. The actor joins original cast members Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy and Larry Hagman on the revival of the iconic 1980s soap. Producer Cynthia Cidre has revealed that Kercheval will appear in 3 episodes of the new season and fans can expect the old Ewing/Barnes feud to feature.

“He returns to reunite with his nephew Christopher, whom he hasn’t seen in several years, and to try to rekindle a romance with his ex-love Sue Ellen [Linda Gray]…Along the way he pours salt on some old wounds in the Ewing clan, chief among them his old nemesis JR.” – Cynthia Cidre talking to TV Guide

The feud between Cliff Barnes and J.R Ewing (Larry Hagman) lasted the entire run of Dallas with each scheming against the other. The feud often threatened the stability of the marriage between Cliff’s sister Pam (Victoria Principal) and J.R’s brother Bobby (Patrick Duffy). At one point it resulted in Cliff’s attempted suicide causing the rest of the Ewing family to turn against J.R and kick him out of the family oil business.

“I don’t think Cliff’s going back to sit at a barbecue and enjoy some ribs….There’s got to be some conflict with JR, because that’s what the show was about.”

Also appearing, in the pilot at least, in the revived Dallas are fellow original series stars Charlene Tilton and Steve Kanaly. New cast members include Desperate Housewives alums such as Jesse Metcalfe, Josh Henderson and Brenda Strong.