DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Contributors

ALEX STRACHAN

MIKE HUGHES

KIM AKASS

MONIQUE NAZARETH

ROGER CATLIN

GARY EDGERTON

TOM BRINKMOELLER

GERALD JORDAN

NOEL HOLSTON

 
 
 
 
 
Larry Hagman, Comic Book Hero
November 27, 2012  | By Ed Martin  | 14 comments
 

Sometimes it feels as if the power of television — or what television once was — is never clearer than with the passing of a genuine legend of the medium. That has surely been true during the days following the death of Larry Hagman. He was that rare television performer who achieved historic pop culture success in two vastly different iconic series, the campy comedy I Dream of Jeannie and the most successful serial in the history of American television, Dallas.

For many of us, childhood memories of his wide-eyed Major Anthony Nelson learning to live with and eventually love Barbara Eden’s effortlessly appealing Jeannie-in-a-bottle mean almost as much as those from our young adulthoods of his unrelentingly greedy businessman J.R. Ewing engaging in endless power-plays for control of Ewing Oil. Looking back, I can’t imagine my life without the countless hours spent enjoying both of those shows — especially all those Friday night TV parties with family and friends watching Dallas.

How perfect, then, that Hagman was able to take a prolonged final bow by returning to the grander of those two roles, the seemingly unconquerable J.R. It was a rare opportunity that seemed to bring as much joy to him as to the millions of Dallas fans who had to endure a punishing twenty-one years between the end of the original show and the beginning of TNT’s continuation of the franchise earlier this year. (A smattering of Dallas reunion movies in between simply did not suffice.)

I haven’t a clue how the new series will continue without him, but I know it must, in grand style and for years to come, if only as a tribute to a man whose work touched several generations of television viewers. Surely J.R. will have to pass away, because this role is as impossible to recast as Ralph Kramden, Lucy Ricardo, Archie Bunker or Mary Richards, to name but a few of the timeless television characters that his name belongs in the company of.

Aside from Major Nelson, J.R. Ewing and his other, lesser-known television and movie roles, there is another character Hagman was once associated with that has not been acknowledged in any of the stories about his death that I have come across in print, online or on television.

Back in the Fifties, when Hagman was an up-and-coming actor seeking to make a living in New York City, he was hired by acclaimed cartoonist Leonard Starr as the model for a character in Starr’s hugely popular comic strip series, Mary Perkins On Stage. Hagman provided the likeness for Jed Potter, the hot-tempered son of a legendary movie actor.

The story of Jed Potter has been assembled in the second volume of the On Stage reprint series published by Classic Comics Press. In fact, a rendition of Hagman circa 1958 is featured on the cover of the book.

Like almost everyone who wrote about television during the last 25 years, I was fortunate to have had several brief chats with Hagman during that time, most of them at various CBS parties and events. I still treasure the autographed $100 bill emblazoned with his face and the words In Hagman We Trust that he gave me after we talked at a Fox party just a few years ago about his guest role on FX’s Nip/Tuck.

During that conversation I mentioned that I was familiar with On Stage and had read the Jed Potter story. That’s when he smiled and produced the Hagman c-note. Apparently he enjoyed being reminded of his long-ago brush with comic strip stardom almost as much as he did surprising people with those custom designed artificial bills.

 
 
 
 
 
Leave a Comment: (No HTML, 1000 chars max)
 
 Name (required)
 
 Email (required) (will not be published)
 
QKFOS
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 1  | Go to page: 
14 Comments
 
 
We repair conestogas, reefers, low beds, step-decks, hotshots, and pretty much every other kind of trailer in use.
Feb 20, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
As with showers, our professional designers can assist you in making the finest choice.
Feb 19, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
Explore more about It can be simple to overlook weekly comforter cleaning or even be unsure how frequently it must be done.
Feb 2, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
Explore more about Show me your friends and I will show you your future! We all know it. The voices we allow to speak into our lives are important!
Feb 2, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
Wow! Such an amazing and helpful post this is. I really really love it. It's so good and so awesome. I am just amazed. I hope that you continue to do your work like this in the future also
Feb 2, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
Thanks because you have been willing to talk about information with us. we shall always appreciate all you have done here because I am aware you're very focused on our.
Feb 1, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
You make so many great points here that I read your article a few times. Your views are in accordance with my very own for probably the most part. That is great content for your readers.
Jan 30, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
Luminous Skin Lab is a Scottsdale Facial Spa specializing in organic facials, and advanced skin treatments Services include organic facials, micro channeling, micro needling, dermaplaning, Hydrofacial in Scottsdale , chemical peels, LED Topical Light Infusion, microcurrent, and skin rejuvenation packages.
Jan 29, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
Find out why 1000s of offices and home owners trust us when it comes to their roofs South Chicago Roofing, Installation, , Chicago Roof Replacement.
Jan 26, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
no code web app builder have become increasingly popular in recent years as they offer a fast and easy way to create a web app without any coding skills. While there are many great no code website app builders on the market, the best one for you will depend on your specific needs and requirements. Take the time to weigh the pros and cons of each platform before making your final decision.
Jan 25, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
Wow! Such an amazing and helpful post this is. I really really love it. It's so good and so awesome. I am just amazed. I hope that you continue to do your work like this in the future also
Jan 24, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
was last seen between 1:30 am and 2:00 am on April 1, 2006, at a bar called the Ugly Tuna Saloona with best friend, Clint Florence, as well as another friend, after finishing up his midterms for the semester. Brian was supposed to be leaving for vacation with his girlfriend in Miami for spring break on April 3, however, Brian never made it to the airport. After the investigation into his disappearance had begun, footage from the Ugly Tuna Saloona was recovered by police, showing Brian on an escalator going to the bar's main entrance at 1:15 am, and again at 1:55 am outside of the bar before moving back towards the entrance to the bar, off-camera. Brian was never seen on camera leaving the bar after that.
Jan 24, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
Noel
Very nice, Ed. That's a piece of Hagman's resume I did not know.
Nov 30, 2012   |  Reply
 
 
kathy
Awesome...TVWW, and in this case writer Ed Martin, have once again proved how truly excellent they are in their stories...and finding tidbits to share with their readers. Again, I say TVWW you are Awesome.
Nov 27, 2012   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 1  | Go to page: