TNT's "Dallas" premieres to ratings record

The cast of TNT's "Dallas."

/ TNT

(CBS News) TNT's reboot of the landmark series "Dallas" premiered Wednesday to an average audience of  6.8 million viewers, making it the No. 1 scripted series premiere on cable so far this year, according to reports.

Read More: "Dallas" returns with new villainy - and J.R., too

The show, based on the drama first  broadcast in 1978, lured in 1.9 million in the most desired demographic-  adults 18-49, reports Entertainment Weekly.

TNT's "Dallas" features the next generation of Ewings - John Ross Ewing (Josh Henderson), the son of J.R. and Sue Ellen, and Bobby's son Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe).

But fans of the original landmark series, which ended its 14-season run in 1991, were also able to see some familiar faces. Larry Hagman reprises his role as J.R., Linda Gray portrays Sue Ellen and Patrick Duffy returns as Bobby.

The high ratings also helped TNT become the No. 1 network among basic cable on Wednesday, reports EW.

[rooney72]

I watched the first two episodes; and I try not to be one of those guys who begins with "back in the good old days..." but the new people on this show are typical of a lot of the young people on TV these days; they all look, sound, and act the same. They're generic pretty boys and girls; just not interesting enough to hold a show, and you just don't care abut them, so you don't care what happens to them. TV needs to start casting shows better. Knock on CBS all you want, they cast their shows well.

[FrankWV]

I enjoyed watching the "Re Boot" of Dallas. I remember watching Dallas from its very beginning in 1978 to its last season in 1991. What made Dallas unique was that it always "pushed the envelope" on different subjects within its storyline. What also was so captive was the marriage that Bobby (Patrick Duffy) and Pamela (Victoria Principal) had. They were the "Romeo and Juliet" of TV. It will be hard for them to capture that magic today. Lets hope that they find a way to bring back Victoria Principal. It would make a great "Cliffhanger" to end their first season. I can imagine Bobby answering the phone and on the other end is Pam, and Bobby drops the
phone and the screen fades to black. That would be monumental.

[mcorio47]

It is SO COOL that Dallas has returned with the same dynamics that made it a hit when I was a young adult! THANK YOU - I've had reality and stupid programs up to my eyeballs, and it is refreshing to see there are still good writers in America who can give us a few hours to escape the drudgery of day to day reality! J.R. is back bad as ever, and it's thrilling! I hope the writers will keep in sync with what made Dallas work in the first place and give us something to look forward to week to week - keep it fresh, keep it interesting, and keep it mysterious.... I don't think I remember "who" shot J.R., but I remember well that he got shot!!! GO DALLAS! So glad to have you back and hope you are here to stay again!

[hypnotoad72]

So they can't create a new soap opera with new characters anymore?

[mcorio47]

They don't need to create new characters. The originals are irreplaceable :) You are probably too young to remember! Nobody has ever been as dastardly as J.R. Ewing - a legend and still devious... lol... give it a chance... it was a GREAT show back in the day and for us oldtimer fans... it's brought back a lot of good memories and reminder of better days when TV was limited to a few channels of really good stuff!

[eastde]

Loved every minute of it and hope we can have another 20 seasons
of Dallas. Keep em coming!!!!

[andie52]

I predict low ratings when the novelty of this disaster ends and could someone please tell Larry Hagman to trim his eyebrows?

[wmdmia]

I walked into a Mexican restaurant on a weekday evening. The dining room was empty of customers and I was waited on by a middle age woman who sat me at a table then abandoned me. Fifteen min later I heard voices in the kitchen area. As no one was around and I was hungry I decided to follow the voices and find out what was happening. I walk through a doorway and there were five people, (restaurant workers I assumed) sitting on chairs watching a TV program. They were all so intensely watching this show that no one noticed that I had entered the room. After a moment the woman that seated me earlier noticed me and shot up apologizing while explaining that they were waiting to see who shot JR. I am sure that she assumed that I would comprehend what she was talking about. I did not. I had not watched TV for a number of years and did not know who JR was. I later found out that millions of American's were doing the same as these five and that the entire nation had been taken over by the creators of this TV program. I still do not know who shot JR. Thank God.

[enough-already]

These "remakes" of the original are like having left-over meals warmed up in the microwave. They're LIKE the original, just not as good. I'll pass, thanks.