LOS ANGELES – NOVEMBER 15: CBS Television advertisement as appeared in the November 15, 1980 issue of TV Guide magazine. An ad for the drama DALLAS. The Who Shot J.R.? revelation in the episode “Who Done It?” which aired on CBS, Friday, November 21, 1980. DALLAS features Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing. The CBS fall campaign features the slogan, Looking Good Together (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)
CBS via Getty Images
It remains the greatest cliffhanger in television history.
Forty-five years ago today, in 1980, the world finally learned that Mary Crosby’s bratty Kristin Shepard was the one who pulled the trigger and shot Larry Hagman’s irresistibly devious J.R. Ewing on the CBS smash hit Dallas. And don’t worry — Kristin didn’t get away with it for long. In the 1981 season-four finale, J.R.’s longtime rival Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval) discovered her body floating in the Ewing swimming pool.
Karma, as they say, can be a real bitch.
Suspects Galore
As a diehard Dallas fan who recently revisited the entire series, I secretly hoped the trigger finger might belong to Sue Ellen’s (Linda Gray) creepy therapist, Dr. Simon Ellby, who I assumed was secretly obsessed with J.R.’s long-suffering wife. The list of suspects was staggering — from Cliff and Bobby to Pam, Lucy, Ray, “Dusty” Farlow, Alan Beam, Vaughn Leland, and Miss Ellie or Jock. Heck – even Gary or Val could have popped in from spinoff Knots Landing with a gun!
In a scene from ‘Dallas,’ cast member gather in a hospital to hear the fate of recently shot character J.R. Ewing in an episode called ‘No More Mr. Nice Guy,’ June 1980. From left, Mary Crosby (as Kristin Shepard), Linda Gray (as Sue Ellen Ewing), Ken Kercheval (standing at rear) (as Cliff Barnes), Peter Donat (as Dr. Miles Pearson), Patrick Duffy (as Bobby Ewing), Charlene Tilton (as Lucy Ewing), Barbara Bel Geddes (sitting) (as Eleanor Southworth ‘Miss Ellie’ Ewing), Steve Kanaly (as Ray Krebbs), and Jim Davis (1909 – 1981) (as John Ross ‘Jock’ Ewing). (Photo by CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)
Getty Images
A Nation on the Edge
In an era of just three broadcast networks, no streaming, and no social media, an estimated 83 million viewers tuned in — more than the number of voters in that year’s presidential election. Unfortunately, a scripted television event of this magnitude is unlikely to ever happen again.
The Magic of Waiting
Unlike today, when binge-watching abbreviated seasons has become the norm, there was something undeniably thrilling about waiting a whole week for the next episode. The suspense, speculation, and collective anticipation made every Friday night at Southfork a shared national obsession.
The Legacy of “Who Shot J.R.?”
Even decades later, “Who Shot J.R.?” remains a benchmark for television storytelling. It wasn’t just the mystery itself — it was the way a single show could capture a nation’s imagination, dominate conversations, and become a cultural touchstone. For fans old and new, it’s a reminder of a time when TV was appointment viewing, when cliffhangers weren’t just marketing tools but shared experiences that had everyone talking, theorizing, and eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the saga of the Ewings.
Personally, while I will never forget this iconic moment, I do have to admit there is actually one other cliffhanger conclusion I even liked better. Flashback to September 26, 1985 for the seventh season premiere of Knots Landing when Joan Van Ark as Val was finally reunited with her twins!
LOS ANGELES – JANUARY 4: Gary, played by actor Ted Shackelford, visits his wife Val, played by actress Joan Van Ark, at the restaurant where she works, in the CBS television series “Knots Landing.” (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)
CBS via Getty Images
I really miss the days of these classic cliffhangers. Don’t you?
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/marcberman1/2025/11/21/kristin-pulled-the-trigger-a-dallas-tv-flashback/
