Lynda Hirsch on Television

Patrick Duffy (Bobby on "Dallas') is doing an all-day press tour. He loves it.

"What could be better?" he asks. "I get to talk about myself and a show I love."

Over the years, there were lots of rumors about a new version of "Dallas." "When I saw a script for this version, I knew it was the right one. I called Linda (Grey, who plays Sue Ellen) and Larry (Hagman, who plays J.R.) and told them they needed to read this script. Cynthia Cidre understood the characters. She was not just writing a story. With Linda and Larry in, the project was a go."

Duffy says he is still bereft over Hagman's recent death. "People always ask me to tell them a story about Larry," he says. "There is no one story. Larry was the greatest friend anyone could ever have. You always knew where you stood with him. There was never any pretense."

Duffy is one of those rare actors who have been a hit in more than one series. Like Michael Landon and Carroll O'Conner, audiences accepted him in more than one television character. From "Dallas," he went to the comedy "Step by Step." He had a recurring role on "Bold and Beautiful" (Steven) and is a spokesperson for several products.

"I have been lucky in my acting career," he says. "To be honest, I was just as happy when I was driving a truck or doing carpentry as I have been on television. I have always felt you need to do the best you can do in any career you have. It really is the process."

A practicing Buddhist who chants every day, Duffy says it centers him. "I do not want people to think I am a choir boy," he says. "There was a time when I drank too much. I didn't go to rehab or join a group; I was able to realize I was drinking too much. I continued to drink. I was able to do it in moderation. My wife cannot handle hard liquor. We share wine."

As for the younger set on "Dallas," he says: "It is what the show needed. It is important to mix the old with the new. Of course we want the viewers from all those years ago. We also want to entice new viewers."

DALLAS: Veronica's killer receives a frosty reception at the Venezuelan embassy. Pamela is outside the house overhearing their argument when she's taken captive by the killer's thugs.

Vicente arrives and pummels John Ross — he isn't going to get away with breaking their deal. Vicente holds a gun to Pamela's head and tells Christopher he's got an hour to get back or he'll kill his wife. One of Vicente's henchmen is with Christopher and tells him if there's any trouble, he'll text Vicente to kill all the hostages. Christopher gets the upper hand punches Vicente and then shields Elena with his body. A shot rings out, and a bleeding Vicente drops to the floor. Pamela agrees to give Christopher a divorce in exchange for 10 percent of Ewing Energies, an annulment after the twins are born and joint custody. Christopher tells John Ross that he's a sociopath just like his father. Bobby informs Sue Ellen that he has evidence on his computer against J.R. and John Ross. Opening the file, he is stunned when it disappears.

SNEAK PEEK: Pamela schemes.

SCANDAL: Cyrus, still feeling shut out, asks Olivia for advice. She tells him Millee will overstep the boundaries and Fitz will go back to confiding in him. Four Americans are taken hostage. They profess to be human rights workers, but in fact they are spies. Fitz decided to send in Navy SEALs to rescue them. The plan goes awry when the SEALs arrive and the hostages are gone. A mole has been giving the terrorists inside information. As Fitz searched for the mole's identity, one of the hostages is beheaded. Millie decides to do a private talk with the hostage's wives and spills state secrets. Fitz is outraged by her actions. Needing advice, he turns to Cyrus. David and Abby return to the bedroom, each one saying it has no real meaning. Huck, suffering PTSD from the waterboarding incident, does not do a good job of protecting David or bathing. A woman claiming she saw the man who may be the mole contacts David. The man on the street she points to is the head of the CIA. Jake continues to secretly Skype with Olivia. The man Fitz hired to spy on Olivia assures Fitz that Olivia is not seeing anyone.

SNEAK PEEK: Back to square one.

SMASH: Released from directing "The Wiz" because of his womanizing, Derek is thrilled when Ronnie drops out of "The Wiz" and asks him to direct her in a one-woman show. Cut from "Bombshell," Ivy considers dropping out of show business. Tom insists she is too talented to consider that. He is proven right when she gets the lead in a Broadway-bound show. After a few missteps, Kyle is thrilled when Derek listens to the show he and Jimmy wrote and is impressed. Jimmy wants Karen to be more than his mentor. Julia is blindsided when Eileen hires a show doc to fix the libretto for "Bombshell."

SNEAK PEEK: A not-so-happy musical.

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

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