0 shares 29 View comments Who shot JR? In the summer of 1980, it was the question that swept the world. It was emblazoned on T-shirts, mugs, billboards and newspapers, made the Ten O’clock News, kept bookies busy for months and was even mentioned in Parliament. Nearly 400 million people in more than 57 countries tuned in to watch scheming oil baron JR Ewing gunned down in the closing episode of the third series of Dallas. Even the U.S. election wasn’t immune when Jimmy Carter’s Republican opponents wore badges saying, ‘A Democrat shot JR’. And a session of the Turkish Parliament was suspended so legislators could get home in time to tune in. Loveable lunatic: Larry Hagman's off-screen life often rivalled that of his alter-ego JR Ewing in terms of excitement and entertainment Then when, months later, the video tape identifying the culprit finally arrived in London by plane, it was transported to the BBC under armed escort. Such was the global grip of America