Author releases reference guide to TV's 'Dallas'

PRLog (Press Release) - Jan 07, 2008 -
Who shot J.R.? The world tuned in to find out, more than 25 years ago, as television history was made. And though decades have passed, the love for the classic primetime soap "Dallas" endures.

Now fans of the '80s show have another way to indulge their love in the new print version of "Destination: Dallas," a reference guide from the BRBTV series of books on classic TV.

Designed as a fun, easy-to-use companion guide to the show, which first aired from 1978 to 1991 on CBS, "Destination: Dallas" features a comprehensive cast list, a detailed character guide showing how all the characters relate, an episode guide that includes original airdate and title with each synopsis, "fun and useless" information about the show and its stars, a guide to the show's merchandise and much more. And for the show that made the careers of Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy and numerous others, as it wove in and out of the trials and tribulations of the Ewings and their sprawling Southfork Ranch near Dallas, Texas, that's a lot of ground to cover.

"This is designed to be a loving tribute and a useful resource," says author Billie Rae Bates, who first published "Destination: Dallas" as an electronic, interactive PDF book in 2003. "I didn't set out to create a 'story-behind-the-scenes' book, or a historical narrative, as that's already been done well, in both other books and on the web. Instead, this book, as with the other BRBTV titles, is a compendium of information, with alphabetized indexes, to have at your side in convenient hard copy while you're watching the show and curious to know when a certain episode originally aired or how a certain character relates to another one."

But at 314 pages, the book is more than alphabetized lists, Bates points out. "I couldn't get enough of the show when it originally aired," she says, "and I still love it now. So what I wanted to create was a fun reference book that's a celebration of what made the show great, as well. Beyond the classic 'Who Shot J.R.?' revelation, and the resurrection of Bobby in the shower, as well as the big-name celebrities that shared the scenes with the regular cast members, there's just so much to examine -- and have fun with -- in this groundbreaking soap."

Bates notes the enduring legacy of the series that made wheelin' and dealin' in the oil business look so easy in primetime. "Especially now, with the big-screen movie remake in the works -- which until recently had John Travolta attached -- and the fact that the episodes have been airing on SoapNet, 'Dallas' is a pop-cultural phenomenon that's not going to go away anytime soon."

"Destination: Dallas" is the second book in BRBTV's four-book series of reference guides to classic 1980s TV shows. The first book, "Dynasty High," a guide to TV's "Dynasty" and "The Colbys," was released in print in September 2004. The print edition of the third book, "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!", a guide to "The Dukes of Hazzard," was published in January 2006. Each of the three books is a trade paperback that sells on Amazon, BookSurge.com, Target.com and numerous other e-tailers. The retail price for "Destination: Dallas" is $18.99.

For this print edition of the "Dallas" guide, Bates expanded the celebrity interviews that she'd dabbled in for the "Dynasty" and "Dukes" guides. "I had a lot of fun with that," she says. "I was able to reach some of the more obscure cast members who haven't been as heavily interviewed over the years. Sasha Mitchell, for instance, who played not only James Beaumont on 'Dallas' but who also was huge as Cody Lambert on 'Step by Step.' Plus, Derek McGrath, who played Oswald Valentine, and others. They were all very entertaining! Mr. McGrath was chasing his dog around his home as he spoke to me on the phone from Canada! Mr. Mitchell, these days, builds computers."

"Destination: Dallas" is also still offered in full color as an electronic, interactive PDF file at BRBTV.com. At the cost of $5, the e-version contains the same content as the print version, but formatted to an 8.5-by-11-inch page for easy printing.

The purchase of a BRBTV electronic book entitles the purchaser to free future updates, Bates says, through BRBTV.com. She keeps the e-books updated for news and major events.

Bates, 39, of Metro Atlanta, says the projects come from a natural love of the classic shows as a teen in the 1980s.

"We all wanted to live at Southfork -- or take a ride in the General Lee -- didn't we?" she says. "Besides sources of exhaustive and accurate reference information, these books are designed to be a way to relive our own feelings of fun and escapism when we originally watched the shows."

Bates originally created the BRBTV concept on her off-hours while working for The Detroit News and living in downtown Detroit in 1998. Before her time editing and writing for The News, she worked as an editor and page designer for The Saginaw (Mich.) News and the Wausau (Wis.) Daily Herald. She was a team leader in the graphics and publishing department of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and also worked as a director of communication for a northern Michigan hospital system. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University.

Bates has published two fiction novels, "Rubi" and "Call Me Mary Magdalene," both based in Detroit, where she lived for seven years. She recently finished a third novel, set in the South, scheduled for a 2009 release.

For more information about the author or her books, click to http://www.brbtv.com or http://www.billierae.com. Bates also writes a daily blog covering news and events of the four BRBTV shows: http://brbtv.blogspot.com.