48 years ago today, on April 2, 1978, Dallas debuted on CBS, introducing viewers to the oil-rich Ewing family and igniting a primetime soap opera craze that would define a television era. The two-hour pilot, “Digger’s Daughter,” aired at 10 p.m. as the first of a five-episode miniseries, drawing 21.9 million viewers with its tale of Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) marrying Pamela Barnes (Victoria Principal) against the backdrop of feuding clans. Created by David Jacobs, the show exploded into a full series by fall, running 14 seasons and 357 episodes until May 3, 1991, and cementing its legacy with the infamous “Who shot J.R.?” cliffhanger that gripped 83 million fans in 1980.
You can find Dallas Seasons 2 through 14 free with Amazon Prime HERE.
Starring Larry Hagman as the scheming J.R. Ewing, Dallas blended melodrama with Texas-sized ambition, peaking at No. 1 in the Nielsens for 1980–81 and earning four Emmys across 18 nominations.
The television series Dallas premiered on CBS on April 2, 1978, as a five-part miniseries that quickly evolved into a full weekly drama. Created by David Jacobs, the show centered on the wealthy Ewing family and their sprawling Southfork Ranch in Texas, focusing on the oil business, family rivalries, and power struggles. Led by the ruthless patriarch J.R. Ewing, played by Larry Hagman, the series explored themes of greed, betrayal, and ambition through intricate storylines involving the Ewing brothers J.R., Bobby, and their wives, as well as rivals like Cliff Barnes. Its blend of melodrama, lavish lifestyles, and Texas-sized scandals captivated audiences, turning it into a cultural phenomenon during its prime-time run.
Dallas achieved massive popularity in the late 1970s and 1980s, becoming one of the highest-rated shows of its era and spawning international spin-offs and imitations. The famous Who Shot J.R. cliffhanger in 1980 drew record viewership and cemented the series’ legacy in television history. After 14 seasons and over 350 episodes, the original series concluded in 1991, though its influence endured through reunion movies, a 2012 revival series, and its impact on modern soap operas. The show defined the prime-time soap genre with its larger-than-life characters and endless scheming.
You can find Dallas Seasons 2 through 14 free with Amazon Prime HERE.
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