Several long running Dallas cast members debut during the second season. Most notably Susan Howard, who became a series regular in Season 5, made her first appearance as Donna Culver. Additionally, Don Starr, Fern Fitzgerald, Paul Sorensen, Robert Ackerman, Sherril Lynn Rettino, Barbara Babcock, James Brown, Karlene Crockett, John Zaremba, and Meg Gallagher all appeared for the first time. Also, after being played by Donna Bullock in Season 1, and briefly by Ann Ford and Nancy Bleier in Season 2, Jeanna Michaels finally joined the cast as Connie Brasher, Bobby's secretary, during Season 2, thus becoming the final and longest lasting actress in the role, playing her until Season 4. David Ackroyd and Joan Van Ark appeared as Lucy's parents Gary and Valene Ewing. In 1979, both characters returned in their own series, Dallas spinoff Knots Landing, with Ted Shackelford replacing Ackroyd, and continued to appear in Dallas until the mid 1980s. Both characters returned for the series finale "Conundrum" in 1991. Colleen Camp appeared as Kristin Shepard, a character recast by Mary Crosby the following year, receiving an "also starring" billing. Morgan Fairchild appeared as the first of three actresses to play Jenna Wade, with Jenna later portrayed by Francine Tacker in Season 3, and by series regular Priscilla Presley from Seasons 7–11. Laurie Lynn Myers appeared as Jenna's daughter Charlie, later portrayed by Shalane McCall from Seasons 7–11. Martha Scott appeared in one episode as Patricia Shepard, but returned for recurring episodes during seasons 3 and 9.
Crew
Series creator David Jacobs writes the first two episodes of the season, introducing the characters of Gary and Valene, and continues as creative consultant until halfway through the season, when he left Dallas to create Knots Landing. Producer Leonard Katzman writes and direct his first episodes, and replaces Jacobs as showrunner, remaining on the show until its closure in 1991. Additional writers include the returning Camille Marchetta and Arthur Bernard Lewis, as well as newcomers Darlene Craviotto, Jim Inman, Worley Thorne, Rena Down, D. C. Fontana and Richard Fontana. Lee Rich and Philip Capice continue to serve as executive producers. Katzman serves as producer, and Cliff Fenneman as associate producer. Arthur Bernard Lewis was promoted executive story editor, with Camille Marchetta serving as story editor.
DVD release
The second season was released, alongside season one, by Warner Home Video on a Region 1 DVD box set on August 24, 2004. The box includes five double-sided DVDs, and, alongside the two seasons' 29 episodes, it also include a SOAPnet’s Soap Talk Dallas reunion featurette, and three commentary tracks, by actors Larry Hagman and Charlene Tilton, and series creator David Jacobs.
