A conversation with Larry Hagman

On Sunday, Nov. 7, CBS will air “Dallas Reunion: Return to Southfork,” with original “Dallas” cast members Victoria Principal (Pamela Barnes Ewing), Linda Gray (Sue Ellen), Patrick Duffy (Bobby Ewing), Charlene Tilton (Lucy Ewing Cooper), Ken Kercheval (Cliff Barnes), Steve Kanaly (Ray Krebbs), Mary Crosby (as Kristin Shepard of “Who Shot J.R.?” infamy) — and the famous (or infamous) J.R. (John Ross) Ewing Jr. himself in the person of his portrayer, Larry Hagman.

It’s been more than 25 years since the series began what would ultimately be a 13-year run watched weekly by millions of people around the world. On Nov. 7, the stars will once again meet at the Southfork Ranch, the Ewing family home and site of much of the drama that took place over the show’s 356 episodes.

***

“You’ll see us doing a lot of talking about the show,” Larry Hagman says. “We all have our memories of what it was like to be a family on-screen and, in a very real way, off-screen as well. You know,” he adds, “we probably spent more time with each other in those years than with our families.”

There was a press item that Hagman was surprised by what some of his former cast mates said as they all reminisced together.

“I have no idea where that (report) came from,” Hagman says. “Actually, what happens when people get together to reminisce about shared events, is that you realize that not everyone necessarily remembers the same thing the same way. Anyway, we all had a great time getting together as friends and as people who shared the extraordinary experience of working on an extraordinary show.”

And speaking of extraordinary, asked to account for the series’ remarkable appeal to audiences through the years, Hagman says, “First, it’s about family — maybe the all-time dysfunctional family, but it’s still family. And we all have families, and can relate in our own way to the dynamics between and among the Ewings. Also, it’s a show about privilege and power, and while we don’t all have that — at least not in the way J.R. had it — we’re still fascinated by those who have it and how they use it.”

Or abuse it?

“Not really,” Hagman says. “I’ve known a lot of people like J.R., and they believe they’re doing just what they should be doing. As a matter of fact, when I meet some of them they’ll tell me just how much they always admired old J.R.”

The Texas-born 73-year-old actor, who, by his own admission, had been a strong drinker, underwent a liver transplant in 1995, an event that he later described as his second chance at life. Asked about his health today, he says, “I feel just fine, and I keep busy. My wife (Maj Axelsson) and I like to travel. We’re going to Germany later this year. And wherever we go, we meet people who watched ‘Dallas’ and like to talk about their favorite episodes.”

And what are some of Larry Hagman’s favorite episodes — besides, no doubt, the “Who Shot J.R.?” cliffhanger at the end of the second season?

“Well, watch the show and find out for yourself,” Hagman says, adding with a chuckle, “you might be surprised.”

***

IN FOCUS: Comedian Elayne Boosler is the host of PAX-TV’s new game show, “Balderdash,” which tests the ability of its contestants — all of whom are performers — to present information that may or may not be true and to discern which is a fact or which is a fib.

Boosler, who is the only woman to host a game show, says she sometimes thinks she’s in a time warp.

“I was a fan of shows such as ‘I’ve Got A Secret’ and ‘What’s My Line’ when I was a kid, and I would wonder what it would be like to be a contestant on those shows. And sometimes I would think how great it would be to be the host. And here I am. And I love it. I’m having a great time doing the show, and people tell me they’re having a great time watching it.”

DIAL TONES: John Wells, executive producer of “The West Wing,” says the new season will have several changes, including moving key characters around. For example, Leo (John Spencer) will have a heart attack, and C.J. (Allison Janney) will become White House Chief of Staff. Jimmy Smits (“NYPD Blue”) will be coming on as a potential Republican candidate for the presidency. Also, look for Abbey (Stockard Channing) to become more involved with the health of her husband, President Bartlet (Martin Sheen), because of changes in his MS condition.

Keith Carradine, who stars in the new ABC series “Complete Savages,” was visiting a friend when he smelled smoke and traced it to a next door apartment, where he found a fire had broken out. Carradine’s timely intervention helped prevent the blaze from spreading to the rest of the building.

Sweeps Stuff: On Nov. 7, Jill Hennessy’s “Crossing Jordan” character, Jordan Cavanaugh, will cross over to “Las Vegas.”

Former “ER” star Julianna Margulies (“The Grid”) returns to NBC for a two-episode stint on “Scrubs” airing Nov. 9 and 16.