J. R. Ewing subterfuges to plunder his foes' wealth. The original series concept was a blend of "Bonanza" with a rich, western patriarch and his three dissimilar sons, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" with its rival brothers, and their scheming wives, and "Romeo and Juliet" with two star-crossed lovers whose families are sworn enemies. The focus of the series was initially the feuding families, with J.R. just a supporting character, but his popularity grew and the producers acknowledged he became the breakout character. Two highly rated 1980 episodes became part of a cultural phenomenon that year known as "Who shot J.R.?". In
Their Eyes Were Watching God from slave times, its social difficulties, childish excitements, and endless exuberances... compared to this sort of story, the ordinary narratives of Negroes in Harlem or Birmingham seem ordinary indeed." For the "New York Herald Tribune", Sheila Hibben described Hurston as writing "with her head as with her heart" creating a "warm, vibrant touch". She praised "Their Eyes Were Watching God" as filled with "a flashing, gleaming riot of black people, with a limitless sense of humor, and a wild, strange sadness". "New York Times" critic Lucille Tompkins described "Their Eyes Were Watching God": "It is about Negroes... but really it