Ken Kercheval – Exclusive Interview

DallasTVshow.com: Ken, welcome to DallasTVshow.com. It's great to see you back as Cliff Barnes on TNT's Dallas.

Ken Kercheval: Thank you.

DallasTVshow.com: And most recently in the Twitter universe as well.

Ken Kercheval: I know, that's wild, it's crazy. I don't know how much I understand about Twitter. It's bizarre.

DallasTVshow.com: How are you adapting to social media?

Ken Kercheval: I guess it's good. It goes with the territory when it happens but the show has got an incredible response. It was super super big in the UK a long time ago but I think it's heading to be a major success as it was before.

DallasTVshow.com: The questions from the fans have been coming in. Mark in New York asks: Were you surprised when the series returned after all these years and what made you decide to play the role again?

Ken Kercheval: It had been talked about for a long long time. David Jacobs, the original creator, I shared a flight with him once and he said there had been so many scripts that had been offered and he said “No this wasn't right” and ultimately it has happened and I think the scripts are really good.

Ken Kercheval: They are extremely well written and all the characters interrelate so well. I can understand why it is doing well… it takes an audience to say if it's doing well or not. The second airing here was 4.9 million people and the network here, just after airing two episodes, came back and picked it up for fifteen more episodes. That's highly highly unusual.

DallasTVshow.com: Hannah in London asks: Fantastic there is a season two. You said on Twitter Cliff would be back. Have you been asked to appear in the second season? Would you do it if asked?

Ken Kercheval: I have not heard anything but I think the way these episodes end there is really no way it's possible he would not be back. No way.

DallasTVshow.com: You have come back for three episodes and it seems Cliff is wealthier than the Ewings at this point.

Ken Kercheval: It doesn't indicate where I made my money but the indication is that I have more money now than the Ewings ever did have.

DallasTVshow.com: Eric in Florida asks: Was it easy to get back into character?

Ken Kercheval: Oh yeah very easy. I know that guy too well.

DallasTVshow.com: Jamie Lynn in DC asks: What was it like working with Linda, Larry and Patrick again?

Ken Kercheval: It was great. It was almost like it had never stopped because we had a lot of good times together.

DallasTVshow.com: Hedda in Norway asks: Was it an easy decision to go back to playing Cliff? And do you prefer stage work?

Ken Kercheval: I am enthused about Dallas, of course I am. Why would I not be? But you know what I am also enthused about? I have been coming over to the UK to do White Christmas on stage over there… I really want to come back over there.

DallasTVshow.com: Do you prefer stage work?

Ken Kercheval: Always. I think most actors who start out on the stage that's their first love. I'm no exception.

DallasTVshow.com: Flamboy in Bavaria asks: What was it like working with Jesse and Julie on the new show?

Ken Kercheval: I think the younger cast is just excellent, I really do. Unfortunately I only got to do one scene… with the two of them and then… the last scene, with Rebecca.

Ken Kercheval: They are talented kids… They come to work prepared, no egos… Very respectful of all of us old timers.

DallasTVshow.com: Goldie in France asks: Will we see Cliff’s daughter Pamela Rebecca on the show? Or maybe Audrey Landers who played Afton?

Ken Kercheval: Audrey and I had a child. I don't know… I didn't even know I was going to be involved until very very late…

Ken Kercheval: When it came to the ninth episode… it has a really explosive cliff-hanger at the end, really explosive. I can't tell you what it is… even when I went down to do that ninth episode I hadn't seen a script.

Ken Kercheval: …On the way to the set I read the script and thought… it’s really explosive… Everybody on the set was saying “Wow this is really a zinger”… If it stays like it was written it will be a dynamite cliff-hanger.

DallasTVshow.com: KarenW asks: You always say that you played Cliff with humour. Is that the same this time?

Ken Kercheval: I do. I always did because from the very beginning Cliff would always get defeated by J.R. and then again and again.

Ken Kercheval: Finally I went to Leonard Katzman… and I said… for this guy to keep coming back he'd have to have gone and got a lobotomy… He said “No Ken, you've got five” and he pointed to the cheeks on his butt.

Ken Kercheval: …I thought the only way is to add some humour to it, just to say dust yourself off, get up and start all over again. At that point… I really tried to add humour to his character.

DallasTVshow.com: Nick in the USA asks: How is the relationship between actors and writers/producers different compared to the original CBS Dallas?

Ken Kercheval: Well I don't know. I can't answer that… You don't have any input either… I always say you go to work, I say my jokes, I get my check and I go home.

Ken Kercheval: I can say my dealings this time around have been as pleasant as can be. I do have great admiration for Cynthia because I think she has done a marvellous job of weaving story lines together… she told me the group of writers… sat down and watched every single episode of the previous Dallas.

DallasTVshow.com: A little-known fact fans bring up is that Cliff had a one night stand with Brenda Strong's character in the original series.

Ken Kercheval: I did? How can I possibly forget that? That's terrible. That's absolutely terrible. A one night stand. It wasn't good for either one of us, I don't know which one.

DallasTVshow.com: Judy asks: In TNT’s Dallas, can you tell us anything about the mysterious guy I keep reading about who is playing Eric Barnes?

Ken Kercheval: No no. I don't know either of those names. I have not heard of him. I don't know.

DallasTVshow.com: Afron in NJ asks: Linda said in an interview that she had a wonderful scene with you outside the Opera House that was cut. Can you tell us something about that scene?

Ken Kercheval: I have no idea why that was cut and there was another scene after that was cut as well… There was that one scene when I went to Linda's office and Larry was there, then there was a scene of Linda and I and then another scene later and they were both cut.

DallasTVshow.com: Can you tell us what transpired in those scenes?

Ken Kercheval: I was simply telling Linda that J.R. was never going to change and I was offering her support for her political campaign and she said… she couldn't take it. I said don't hang around J.R. because he is never going to change. The next scene, I don't think I should talk about.

DallasTVshow.com: Henry in Ottawa asks: There is speculation that Victoria Principal may return. Would you like to see Victoria back and how did you find working with her on the original?

Ken Kercheval: Victoria has kind of divested herself… I'm sure they have approached her… Victoria and I always got along very well together… we really had a marvellous chemistry between the two of us… She was terribly perceptive…

DallasTVshow.com: Slimjim in the USA asks: I adore Audrey Landers. Would you like to see her back on the show with Cliff?

Ken Kercheval: There could be a place for her of course… There is certainly a way to bring all that back together… Audrey is a sweet sweet lady… extremely hard worker…

DallasTVshow.com: Greg asks: You are doing a movie I believe — This Promise I Made. Can you tell me about that?

Ken Kercheval: …My hometown is like seven thousand population… She got in touch with my manager and my manager quoted her my price… probably the budget for the whole dam movie…

Ken Kercheval: …I went back there and filmed two scenes… I wish them well… it’s beyond low budget but I applaud their effort very much and I was glad to do it.

DallasTVshow.com: Are there any other projects coming up?

Ken Kercheval: I'm waiting to hear about Dallas and I'm to hear about being able to come back for White Christmas and that's it.

DallasTVshow.com: Before we go, do you have a message for fans?

Ken Kercheval: …I think there is a lot to look forward to in this new Dallas series… I think the story lines are very well intertwined, there's intrigue in it. I don't think they will be disappointed at all.

Ken Kercheval: …I think it's clever of them to have some of the old guard back… Larry, Linda, Patrick and myself are what the older viewers identify with… They are drawing from old Dallas and bringing us into the new. It jump starts the new. We will see.