prime time
Prime time or the peak time is the block of broadcast programming taking place during the middle of the evening for a television show. It is mostly targeted towards adults (and sometimes families). It is used by the major television networks to ...
television
soap opera
A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...
that aired on
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainmen ...
from December 27, 1979, to May 13, 1993. A spin-off of ''
Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
'', it was set in a fictitious coastal suburb of
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
and initially centered on the lives of four married couples living on a
cul-de-sac
A dead end, also known as a cul-de-sac (, from French for 'bag-bottom'), no through road or no exit road, is a street with only one inlet or outlet.
The term "dead end" is understood in all varieties of English, but the official terminology ...
, Seaview Circle. Throughout its fourteen-year run, storylines included marital strife, rape, murder, kidnapping, assassinations, drug smuggling, politics, environmental issues, corporate intrigue, and criminal investigations. By the time of its conclusion, it had become the third-longest-running primetime drama on U.S. television after ''
Gunsmoke
''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central character ...
'' and ''
Bonanza
''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on U ...
'' and the last scripted primetime comedy/drama show that debuted in the 1970s to leave the air.
''Knots Landing'' was created by David Jacobs (one-time writer of ''
Family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Falcon Crest
''Falcon Crest'' is an American prime time television soap opera that aired for nine seasons on CBS from December 4, 1981, to May 17, 1990. The series revolves around the feuding factions of the wealthy Gioberti/Channing family in the California ...
''). Although a spin-off of ''
Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
'', the concept predates that series, and was rebuffed by CBS in 1977, as the network wanted something more "saga-like". Jacobs then created ''Dallas'', which the network accepted and premiered in 1978. After ''Dallas'' became a hit, Jacobs was then able to adapt ''Knots Landing'' as a spin-off series by way of incorporating characters introduced in the parent series. The series was largely inspired by a 1957 movie ''
No Down Payment
''No Down Payment'' is a 1957 drama film directed by Martin Ritt. It was written by Philip Yordan, who fronted for an uncredited and blacklisted Ben Maddow, and is based on the novel of the same name by John McPartland. The film stars Joanne Woo ...
'' and also by the 1973
Ingmar Bergman
Ernst Ingmar Bergman (14 July 1918 – 30 July 2007) was a Swedish film director, screenwriter, Film producer, producer and playwright. Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time, his films are known ...
television miniseries ''
Scenes from a Marriage
''Scenes from a Marriage'' ( sv, Scener ur ett äktenskap) is a 1973 Swedish television miniseries written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. Over the course of six hour-long episodes, it explores the disintegration of the marriage between Mariann ...
''.
Though initially not as popular in the ratings as ''Dallas'', ''Knots Landing'' ultimately outlasted it and garnered much critical acclaim. There were 344 episodes spanning 14 seasons of ''Knots Landing'' from 1979 to 1993. In 1997, much of the cast reunited for a two-part miniseries titled '' Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac''. In 2005, they reunited again for the non-fiction special '' Knots Landing Reunion: Together Again'' in which the cast reminisced about their time on the show. ''Dallas'' itself was revived in 2012, with Gary and Valene appearing in its second season. During nearly the entire run of the original series, ''Knots Landing'' occupied the same timeslot: Thursday nights at 10:00 p.m. For a while, it was moved to the 9:00 p.m. timeslot when ''Falcon Crest'' was moved to Thursday nights for its final season. When ''Falcon Crest'' ended its run, ''Knots Landing'' was moved back to its 10:00 p.m. timeslot and stayed there until it ended its run.
Backstory
Gary Ewing
Garrison "Gary" Arthur Ewing is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera, ''Knots Landing'', a spin-off of ''Dallas''. The character of Gary Ewing was first played by actor David Ackroyd in a 2-part ''Dallas'' season two episode "Reunion" in ...
(
Ted Shackelford
Theodore Tillman Shackelford III (born June 23, 1946) is an American actor. He played Gary Ewing in the CBS television series ''Dallas'' and ''Knots Landing'' (1979–1993); since 2006, he has appeared in a recurring role on the CBS soap ''The You ...
) was the middle son and
black sheep
In the English language, black sheep is an idiom that describes a member of a group who is different from the rest, especially a family member who does not fit in. The term stems from sheep whose fleece is colored black rather than the more comm ...
of the Ewing family from ''Dallas''. His father Jock ( Jim Davis) and elder brother J. R. (
Larry Hagman
Larry Martin Hagman (September 21, 1931 – November 23, 2012) was an American film and television actor, director, and producer, best known for playing ruthless oil baron J. R. Ewing in the 1978–1991 primetime television soap opera, ''Dal ...
) had never treated him as an equal, and viewed him as a weak link. At 17, Gary ran away from home and met 15-year-old waitress Valene Clements (
Joan Van Ark
Joan Van Ark (born June 16, 1943) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Valene Ewing on the primetime soap opera ''Knots Landing.'' A life member of The Actors Studio, she made her Broadway debut in 1966 in ''Barefoot in the P ...
) and quickly married her, producing a daughter,
Lucy
Lucy is an English feminine given name derived from the Latin masculine given name Lucius with the meaning ''as of light'' (''born at dawn or daylight'', maybe also ''shiny'', or ''of light complexion''). Alternative spellings are Luci, Luce, Luci ...
(
Charlene Tilton
Charlene L. Tilton (born December 1, 1958) is an American actress and singer. She is widely known for playing Lucy Ewing, the niece of brothers J. R. Ewing and Bobby Ewing (played by Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy), on the television seri ...
). The family arrived to
Southfork Ranch
Southfork Ranch is a conference and event center in Parker, in the US state of Texas, north of Dallas. It includes Ewing Mansion, the setting for the television series ''Dallas''.
History
The house was built in 1970 by Joe Duncan and was known ...
, the Ewing homestead, and found that Gary had risen in his family's estimations: Jock liked Valene and was proud to be a grandfather, and Gary's mother Miss Ellie (
Barbara Bel Geddes
Barbara Bel Geddes (October 31, 1922 – August 8, 2005) was an American stage and screen actress, artist, and children's author whose career spanned almost five decades. She was best known for her starring role as Miss Ellie Ewing in the t ...
) was thrilled to have him home. At his parents' insistence, J. R. started including him in dealings at Ewing Oil, but J. R. landed him with failing business deals and made it appear that Gary was at fault. These pressures forced Gary into
alcoholism
Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol (drug), alcohol that results in significant Mental health, mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognize ...
and, unable to cope with disappointing his family, he fled Southfork, leaving Valene and Lucy behind. Without Gary in his way, J. R. persecuted Valene until she left the ranch, and
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
, with infant Lucy. She headed to
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
to find her mother,
Lilimae Clements
Lilimae Clements (maiden name Patrick) is a fictional character from the long-running CBS soap opera, ''Knots Landing''. She was played by Julie Harris (American actress), Julie Harris between 1980 and 1987. Although not a series regular until Knot ...
(
Julie Harris
Julia Ann Harris (December 2, 1925August 24, 2013) was an American actress. Renowned for her classical and contemporary stage work, she received five Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Play.
Harris debuted on Broadway in 1945, against the wish ...
), but Lilimae turned her away. Shortly afterward J. R. found her, taking Lucy back to Southfork to be raised by "true Ewings" and threatening Valene with a warning against returning to
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
.
Years later, youngest Ewing brother
Bobby
Bobby or Bobbie may refer to:
People
* Bobby (given name), a list of names
* Bobby (actress), from Bangladesh
* Bobby (rapper) (born 1995), from South Korea
* Bobby (screenwriter) (born 1983), Indian screenwriter
* Bobby, old slang for a constabl ...
(
Patrick Duffy
Patrick Duffy (born March 17, 1949) is an American actor and director widely known for his role on the CBS primetime soap opera ''Dallas'', where he played Bobby Ewing, the youngest son of Miss Ellie, and the nicest brother of J.R. Ewing (pla ...
) and his wife
Pamela
Pamela may refer to:
*''Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded'', a novel written by Samuel Richardson in 1740
*Pamela (name), a given name and, rarely, a surname
*Pamela Spence, a Turkish pop-rock singer. Known as her stage name "Pamela"
* MSC ''Pamela'', ...
(
Victoria Principal
Vicki Ree Principal (born January 3, 1950),Las Vegas
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...
, and they convinced him to return home and visit Miss Ellie. At the same time, Lucy discovered that Valene had returned to Dallas and was working as a waitress in a diner, and began meeting with her in secret to avoid J. R.'s wrath. Lucy then engineered a meeting between her parents, which led to them reconciling and moving into Southfork together. J. R., upset and jealous that his parents were now lauding Gary's new start, saddled him with a failing company, the pressures of which led to him choosing to leave Southfork before he relapsed into drinking again. J. R. then forced Valene off the ranch again without letting her say goodbye to Lucy; instead, J. R. made out that Valene had abandoned her again, and taken a $5000 payoff from him.
A year later, Valene appeared at Lucy's college hoping for a reconciliation. Still thinking Valene had run out on her, Lucy rebuffed her. However, with help from Bobby, Lucy and Valene reconciled again and they maintained their relationship. Shortly afterwards, Valene revealed to Miss Ellie that she and Gary were still writing to each other, and planned to get married again. Gary returned to Dallas and mended his relationship with Jock, before marrying Valene for a second time. After they announced that they were planning to move to
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
, Miss Ellie bought them a new-build house as a wedding present.
''Knots Landing'' is officially spun off from ''Dallas'' in the third-season episode "Return Engagements".
Series synopsis
Season 1 (1979–80)
In the first episode, newly remarried Gary and Val move to Knots Landing,
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
in a
cul-de-sac
A dead end, also known as a cul-de-sac (, from French for 'bag-bottom'), no through road or no exit road, is a street with only one inlet or outlet.
The term "dead end" is understood in all varieties of English, but the official terminology ...
known as Seaview Circle. They meet their neighbors, Sid Fairgate (
Don Murray Don Murray may refer to:
* Don Murray (actor) (1929–2024), American actor
* Don Murray (clarinetist) (1904–1929), American jazz musician
* Don Murray (drummer) (1945–1996), American drummer and aminator
* Don Murray (footballer)
Donald Ja ...
), the owner of Knots Landing Motors, a used car dealership, and his wife
Karen
Karen may refer to:
* Karen (name), a given name and surname
* Karen (slang), a term and meme for a demanding woman displaying certain behaviors
People
* Karen people, an ethnic group in Myanmar and Thailand
** Karen languages or Karenic l ...
(
Michele Lee
Michele Lee is an American actress, singer, dancer, producer, and director. She is known for her role as Karen Fairgate MacKenzie on the prime-time soap opera ''Knots Landing'' (1979–1993), for which she was nominated for a 1982 Emmy Award ...
), the parents of three children: Diana (
Claudia Lonow
Claudia Lonow (born January 26, 1963) is an American actress, comedian, television writer and producer. She is best known for her portrayal of Diana Fairgate on ''Knots Landing'' (1979-1984, 1993).
Early life and education
Lonow was born Claud ...
Patrick Petersen
Patrick Petersen (born August 9, 1966) is an American actor best known for his role as Michael Fairgate in the television drama ''Knots Landing''. He played the role from episode one on December 27, 1979, to May 16, 1991, reprising the part for ' ...
). Also living on the cul-de-sac is corporate lawyer Richard Avery (
John Pleshette
John Pleshette (born July 27, 1942) is an American actor and screenwriter, best known for his role as Richard Avery on the television drama ''Knots Landing'', and for portraying Lee Harvey Oswald in the TV movie '' The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald ...
) and his
real estate agent
A real estate agent or real estate broker is a person who represents sellers or buyers of real estate or real property. While a broker may work independently, an agent usually works under a licensed broker to represent clients. Brokers and agen ...
wife
Laura
Laura may refer to:
People
* Laura (given name)
* Laura, the British code name for the World War I Belgian spy Marthe Cnockaert
Places Australia
* Laura, Queensland, a town on the Cape York Peninsula
* Laura, South Australia
* Laura Bay, a bay on ...
(
Constance McCashin
Constance McCashin (born June 18, 1947) is an American psychotherapist and former actress, best known for her role as Laura Avery Sumner in the CBS prime time soap opera, '' Knots Landing''.
Early life and career
McCashin was born in Chicago. S ...
), who have a young son, Jason. Other neighbors include the young couple Kenny Ward ( James Houghton), a record producer, and his wife Ginger (
Kim Lankford
Kim Lankford (born June 14, 1954) is an American businesswoman and retired actress, best known for her role as Ginger Ward on ''Knots Landing'' from 1979 to 1983.
Life and career
Lankford was born in Montebello, California. She made her screen ...
), a kindergarten teacher. Early in the series, Gary becomes a salesman at Knots Landing Motors, and deals with visits from his wealthy brothers from
Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
,
Bobby
Bobby or Bobbie may refer to:
People
* Bobby (given name), a list of names
* Bobby (actress), from Bangladesh
* Bobby (rapper) (born 1995), from South Korea
* Bobby (screenwriter) (born 1983), Indian screenwriter
* Bobby, old slang for a constabl ...
(guest star
Patrick Duffy
Patrick Duffy (born March 17, 1949) is an American actor and director widely known for his role on the CBS primetime soap opera ''Dallas'', where he played Bobby Ewing, the youngest son of Miss Ellie, and the nicest brother of J.R. Ewing (pla ...
) and
J. R. Ewing
John Ross "J.R." Ewing Jr. is a fictional character in the American television series ''Dallas (1978 TV series), Dallas'' (1978–1991) and its spin-off (media), spin-offs, including the Dallas (2012 TV series), revived ''Dallas'' series (2012– ...
(guest star
Larry Hagman
Larry Martin Hagman (September 21, 1931 – November 23, 2012) was an American film and television actor, director, and producer, best known for playing ruthless oil baron J. R. Ewing in the 1978–1991 primetime television soap opera, ''Dal ...
). Gary and Valene get a visit from their teenage daughter
Lucy
Lucy is an English feminine given name derived from the Latin masculine given name Lucius with the meaning ''as of light'' (''born at dawn or daylight'', maybe also ''shiny'', or ''of light complexion''). Alternative spellings are Luci, Luce, Luci ...
(
Charlene Tilton
Charlene L. Tilton (born December 1, 1958) is an American actress and singer. She is widely known for playing Lucy Ewing, the niece of brothers J. R. Ewing and Bobby Ewing (played by Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy), on the television seri ...
), although she decides to return to Dallas, and from Valene's estranged mother, Lilimae (
Julie Harris
Julia Ann Harris (December 2, 1925August 24, 2013) was an American actress. Renowned for her classical and contemporary stage work, she received five Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Play.
Harris debuted on Broadway in 1945, against the wish ...
). Sid and Karen deal with problems surrounding Sid's oldest daughter, Annie (
Karen Allen
Karen Jane Allen (born October 5, 1951) is an American film and stage actress. After making her film debut in ''Animal House'' (1978), she portrayed Marion Ravenwood opposite Harrison Ford in '' Raiders of the Lost Ark'' (1981), a role she lat ...
), Richard and Laura deal with the circumstances surrounding Laura's rape, and Kenny and Ginger's marriage hits the rocks when Kenny starts an affair with a young singer named Sylvie ( Louise Vallance). In the season finale, Gary relapses into alcoholism, endangering his marriage.
Season 2 (1980–81)
At the beginning of the second season, Sid's manipulative younger sister,
Abby Cunningham
Abby Fairgate (formerly Cunningham, Ewing and Sumner) is a fictional character from the CBS prime time soap opera ''Knots Landing'', a long-running serial about middle class life on the fictional cul-de-sac known as Seaview Circle in Los Angele ...
(
Donna Mills
Donna Mills (born Donna Jean Miller on December 11, 1940) is an American actress. She began her television career in 1966 with a recurring role on ''The Secret Storm'', and in the same year appeared on Broadway in the Woody Allen comedy '' Don ...
), a recent divorcée and the mother of two children, Olivia (
Tonya Crowe
Tonya Crowe (born January 24, 1971) is an American actress, best known for playing Olivia Cunningham, the daughter of Donna Mills's Abby Cunningham, in the CBS prime time soap opera, ''Knots Landing'', a role she played from 1980 to 1990 as well ...
) and Brian (Bobby Jacoby, later
Brian Austin Green
Brian Austin Green (born Brian Green; July 15, 1973) is an American actor, rapper, television personality and podcaster, best known for his portrayal of David Silver on the television series ''Beverly Hills, 90210'' (1990–2000). Green was al ...
), move to Knots Landing. Abby starts working for her brother at Knots Landing Motors and immediately takes an interest in Richard, beginning a rather open affair with him, and she makes sure that Valene discovers Gary having an affair with Judy Trent (guest star
Jane Elliot
Jane Elliot is an American actress, best known for her role as Tracy Quartermaine in the ABC daytime soap opera, ''General Hospital''.
Life and career
Elliot was born in New York City. She was married to Luis Rojas and has three children, Adria ...
), the wife of a man he befriended while in
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an international mutual aid fellowship of alcoholics dedicated to abstinence-based recovery from alcoholism through its spiritually-inclined Twelve Step program. Following its Twelve Traditions, AA is non-professi ...
. In the meantime, Laura starts an affair with her boss, Scooter Warren (
Allan Miller
Allan Miller is an American stage, film, and television actor.
Biography
Miller was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Anna (née Diamond) and Benedict Miller. He served in the U.S. Army after World War II during the occupation of Japan ...
), and Abby soon dumps Richard when her ex-husband, Jeff (
Barry Jenner
Barry Francis Jenner (January 14, 1941 – August 9, 2016) was an American actor.
Early life
Jenner was born January 14, 1941, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began acting during his college years at West Chester University, in Pennsylvania. A ...
), threatens to take her children from her. While separated from Kenny, Ginger starts a romance with the father of one of her students, although she and Kenny eventually reconcile. Near the end of the season, Jeff succeeds in taking Olivia and Brian from Abby, leaving her frantic. When Sid discovered some car parts that Gary and Abby had purchased were actually stolen, his brakes were tampered with to keep him from testifying in court. As a result, in the season finale, Sid's car plunges off a cliff.
Season 3 (1981–82)
At the start of the third season, Sid undergoes surgery but dies of his injuries. Karen becomes the head of Knots Landing Motors, subsequently firing Abby, although she was soon rehired. Meanwhile, Abby and Gary start an affair, and Ginger gives birth to a daughter, Erin Molly, and makes Karen her godmother. Karen's brother, Joe Cooper (
Stephen Macht
Stephen Robert Macht (born May 1, 1942) is an American television and film actor.
As the father of actor Gabriel Macht, he portrayed Henry Gerard, a Harvard University, Harvard professor in the US legal drama ''Suits (American TV series), Suit ...
), takes a job at
USC
USC most often refers to:
* University of South Carolina, a public research university
** University of South Carolina System, the main university and its satellite campuses
**South Carolina Gamecocks, the school athletic program
* University of ...
as a bookkeeper and briefly stays with the Fairgate family before leaving town. Valene's mother, Lilimae Clements, moves in with Gary and Valene, enabling Valene and Lilimae to gradually fix their estranged relationship. Laura plans to leave Richard and marry her real-estate sales boss, Scooter, but when Laura learns she is pregnant, she decides to reconcile with Richard and end her affair with Scooter. However, Richard loses his job and suffers a nervous breakdown, holds Laura hostage in their home at gunpoint. Laura subsequently sends Richard to a mental institution. After Karen passes up the opportunity to fund a methanol-powered vehicle project, Gary and Abby devote the majority of their time to making the deal without Karen's help. In the season finale, Valene discovers Gary and Abby's affair and leaves him.
Season 4 (1982–83)
In season four, Valene returns to the cul-de-sac and throws Gary out of the house, leaving him free to move in with Abby. He then inherits millions of dollars from his recently deceased father,
Jock Ewing
John Ross "Jock" Ewing Sr. (1909–1982) is a fictional character in the American television series ''Dallas'' created by David Jacobs. Jock was played by Jim Davis in the show's first four seasons from 1978 to 1981, and as a young man by Dale ...
( Jim Davis). Investing money in several ways, Gary takes an interest in a beautiful younger singer named Ciji Dunne (
Lisa Hartman
Lisa Hartman Black is an American actress and singer.
Career
After some minor television appearances, Hartman starred on the short-lived ''Bewitched'' spin-off, ''Tabitha'' during 1977–78. She subsequently appeared frequently on television in ...
). Valene releases her book, titled ''Capricorn Crude'', a thinly veiled exposé of the Ewings of Dallas. With the charges dropped against Sid Fairgate's killers, Karen seeks the help of federal prosecutor Mack MacKenzie (
Kevin Dobson
Kevin Patrick Dobson (March 18, 1943 – September 6, 2020) was an American film and television actor, best known for his roles as Detective Bobby Crocker, the trusted protege of Lt. Theo Kojak (played by Telly Savalas) in the CBS crime dr ...
), whom she starts dating and eventually marries mid-season. Valene's publicist, Chip Roberts (
Michael Sabatino
Michael Sabatino (born June 25, 1955 in Venice, California) is an American actor.
Personal life
Sabatino attended the University of California, Irvine, where he set a school record for the pole vault of 17½ feet.
He has been married to actres ...
), moves in with Valene and Lilimae, and trouble starts when he dates Diana and Ciji at the same time, later getting Ciji pregnant. Ciji insists on keeping the baby, much to Chip's annoyance and anger. Ciji also became close to Laura which angered Richard, and was also romantically linked to Gary. Ciji's dead body was later discovered on the beach, and there are many suspects, most prominently Gary, Valene, Chip, Richard and Abby. Richard realises his marriage is over and leaves Knots Landing, and Kenny and Ginger move to Nashville where she starts her music career. Karen learns that Chip's real name is Tony Fenice and that he's a fugitive wanted for assault and battery on a woman in Seattle, but is too late to stop Diana leaving town with him. The season ends with Gary sitting in jail, awaiting trial for Ciji's murder.
Season 5 (1983–84)
Gary is cleared of Ciji's murder, and the police hunt for Chip who is now their prime suspect. He is eventually arrested but not before he and Diana are married, which strains her relationship with Karen who becomes so stressed that she becomes addicted to prescription painkillers. Meanwhile, Sid and Abby's uncle dies, leaving Abby and (by default) Karen a land inheritance at Lotus Point, California. Without Karen's knowledge, Abby schemes to build a resort on the land while cutting Karen out of her plans. Abby then forms a company called Apolune, a secret subsidiary of Gary's corporation, and she convinces Gary to marry her so she can share the inheritance he got from his father. Valene begins a relationship with journalist Ben Gibson ( Douglas Sheehan), but after a one-night stand with Gary, she learns she is pregnant with twins. Valene decides not to tell Gary that he is the father, as he is now married to Abby, and as she had fallen in love with Ben. However, Ben could not accept that Valene was pregnant with another man's children and he and Valene break up. Abby hires a Ciji look-alike, Cathy Geary (also played by
Lisa Hartman
Lisa Hartman Black is an American actress and singer.
Career
After some minor television appearances, Hartman starred on the short-lived ''Bewitched'' spin-off, ''Tabitha'' during 1977–78. She subsequently appeared frequently on television in ...
), to keep Gary distracted so he would not learn about her crooked business dealings. Politician
Greg Sumner
''Knots Landing'' is an American prime time television soap opera that aired on CBS from December 27, 1979, to May 13, 1993. A spin-off of ''Dallas'', it was set in a fictitious coastal suburb of Los Angeles and initially centered on the lives of ...
(
William Devane
William Joseph Devane (born September 5, 1939) is an American actor. He is known for his role as Greg Sumner on the primetime soap opera '' Knots Landing'' (1983–1993) and as James Heller on the Fox serial dramas '' 24'' (2001–2010) and '' ...
), an old college friend of Mack's who was running for
U.S. Senator
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and powe ...
, receives the endorsements of Mack and Karen, as well as Abby, who wanted to buy herself a senator. Greg hires Mack to lead his Senate Crime Commission investigating the sinister Wolfbridge Group. Abby convinces Greg to get her an illegal land variance to build on Lotus Point but, after pressure from Wolfbridge, Greg pins it on Mack in order to discredit his investigation, thus ending their friendship. While a fugitive from the police, Chip falls on a pitchfork and dies after seeing Cathy, thinking she was Ciji back from the dead. After Karen's recovery from her drug addiction, she and Diana reconcile. Wolfbridge forces Abby into making them her partners in the Lotus Point development. Mack investigates the land ownership at Lotus Point and Laura confesses that Apolune is Abby's company. Gary decides to divorce Abby as he cannot trust her. When Mack fakes Gary's death to snare Wolfbridge, Karen leaves him, believing his obsession with Wolfbridge has cost them their marriage. In the season finale, Mack tries to trick Wolfbridge leader Mark St. Clare into trying to kill Gary again, but St. Claire's assassin accidentally shoots Karen instead. Abby is kidnapped by the Wolfbridge Group when they realized they've failed.
Season 6 (1984–85)
Greg kills Mark St. Clare, who was holding Abby hostage on a boat. After being shot, Karen refuses to have risky surgery, afraid that she would be paralysed or die like Sid did, but without it she only has months to live. Meanwhile, Gary and Abby reconcile and, along with Karen, they agree to become partners in Lotus Point. Lilimae's secret son and Valene's half-brother, Joshua Rush (
Alec Baldwin
Alexander Rae Baldwin III (born April 3, 1958) is an American actor, comedian, and producer. In his early career, Baldwin played both leading and supporting roles in a variety of films such as Tim Burton's ''Beetlejuice'' (1988), Mike Nichol ...
), whom Lilimae abandoned as an infant, arrives in Knots Landing and moves in with Lilimae and Valene. He soon starts a romance with Cathy, who has moved into the cul-de-sac with Laura and her children. Abby starts running a television station, World Pacific Cable, that Ben becomes a journalist for after Gary purchased it. Joshua also works at the station and later becomes a popular
televangelist
Televangelism (wikt:tele-, tele- "distance" and "evangelism," meaning "Christian ministry, ministry," sometimes called teleministry) is the use of media, specifically radio and television, to communicate Christianity. Televangelists are minister ...
. Abby is stunned to learn that Gary is the father of Valene's unborn twins, and Abby tells Scott Easton (
Jack Bannon
John James Bannon (June 14, 1940 – October 25, 2017) was an American actor. He was best known for his role as Art Donovan on ''Lou Grant'', a role he played for the duration of the series, from 1977 to 1982.
Early life
Bannon was born on June ...
), an influential lobbyist with shady connections, about her problem. As a favor to Abby, Scott arranges to have Valene's babies kidnapped at birth, though without Abby's approval. Valene is told the babies were stillborn, although she insists she saw them alive. Her mental health deteriorates and she leaves Knots Landing and goes to
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
. She assumes the identity of Verna Ellers (a character from one of her books) and works as a waitress. Karen and Mack reconcile, and Karen eventually gets the operation she needs in order to make a full recovery. Gary befriends the aging millionaire Paul Galveston (
Howard Duff
Howard is an English-language given name originating from Old French Huard (or Houard) from a Germanic source similar to Old High German ''*Hugihard'' "heart-brave", or ''*Hoh-ward'', literally "high defender; chief guardian". It is also probabl ...
), and Galveston offers Gary the opportunity to develop Empire Valley, a large piece of real estate. Galveston soon dies, and he leaves his millions to Greg, who is proven to have been his son. Assuming he had been left Empire Valley, Greg resigns from the Senate, but is shocked to learn that the land had been left to Gary. Greg's devious mother, Ruth (guest star
Ava Gardner
Ava Lavinia Gardner (December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an American actress. She first signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew critics' attention in 1946 with her perform ...
), comes to visit her son after Galveston's death. Ruth becomes close to Abby (since they have similar interests), but loathes Laura, who, by this time has started a relationship with Greg. Around this same time, Joshua and Cathy grow closer, and the two soon marry. Valene (still believing she is "Verna") becomes engaged to a man in
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
, but Gary finally finds her and brings her back to Knots Landing, where she rekindles her romance with Ben, but still believes her babies to be alive. Karen and Ben discover that Valene's doctor had paid off a nurse to assist in the kidnapping of Valene's children. Mack tracks down Valene's babies, who had been adopted illegally. Abby confides in Greg that she inadvertently caused the kidnapping of Valene's babies, but she now wants to get them back. In the season finale, Abby goes to Valene and tells her that she knows where her babies are, and the two go to the home of Sheila and Harry Fisher (Robin Ginsburg and
Joe Regalbuto
Joe Regalbuto (born August 24, 1949) is an American actor and director. He is known for his role as Frank Fontana on the CBS television sitcom ''Murphy Brown'', which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 1989.
Early life
Regalbuto grad ...
). Sheila disbelieves their claims that the babies were adopted illegally and shouts to warn Harry who takes off with one of the twins in his car.
Season 7 (1985–86)
After a frantic battle to expose the illegal black market adoption, Valene's children are returned to her, whom she names Betsy and Bobby. Valene and Ben agree to raise the children as theirs, and the two soon marry. Abby successfully covers her tracks in the matter by simply telling Gary that she had received a phone call for a "Mrs. Ewing" telling her where the babies could be found. Gary receives news of his brother Bobby's death and returns to Dallas for the funeral (Bobby Ewing's death was later explained as being a "
dream
A dream is a succession of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that usually occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. Humans spend about two hours dreaming per night, and each dream lasts around 5 to 20 minutes, althou ...
" on ''
Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
'' at the start of its tenth season in 1986, though this was never acknowledged on ''Knots Landing'' as Bobby was never mentioned again). Empire Valley went awry when Gary learns that Galveston Industries and its partners were secretly building an underground espionage operation there. Gary subsequently blows Empire Valley up. Peter Hollister (
Hunt Block
Hunt Block (full name Huntington Macdonald Block, born February 16, 1954) is an American actor. Block graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and has enjoyed a successful acting career over many decades.
Career
Blo ...
) goes to work for Greg, and with the help of Sylvia Lean (guest star
Ruth Roman
Ruth Roman (born Norma Roman; December 22, 1922 – September 9, 1999) was an American actress of film, stage, and television.
After playing stage roles on the east coast, Roman relocated to Hollywood to pursue a career in films. She appeare ...
) acting as his mother, Peter convinces Greg that he is also Paul Galveston's son, therefore making he and Greg half brothers. Jill Bennett (
Teri Austin
Teresa "Teri" Austin (born April 17, 1957) is a Canadian animal activist and former actress. She had her greatest acting success in the 1980s and 1990s, and is best known for her role as Jill Bennett in the CBS primetime soap opera '' Knots Landi ...
), Peter's sister, becomes Mack's new colleague, although Jill and Peter keep their relationship a secret as an effort to get revenge on the Galveston family for having wronged their family years before. Abby soon discovers that Sylvia is not Peter's mother and that Peter is not Galveston's son, therefore blackmailing Peter into paying her to keep their secret safe. In the meantime, Joshua becomes increasingly controlling and abusive towards Cathy, and in a moment of rage he tries to kill her but falls of the roof of a building and dies. Cathy soon starts an affair with Ben, who becomes her manager for her budding singing career but she later leaves town. Abby discovers that her daughter Olivia has developed a drug problem. A young woman named Paige Matheson (
Nicollette Sheridan
Nicollette Sheridan (born 21 November 1963) is an English-born American actress. She began her career as a fashion model before landing a role in the short-lived ABC primetime soap opera ''Paper Dolls'' in 1984, as well as starring in the roman ...
), comes to Knots Landing and explains to Mack that she is his illegitimate daughter. In the finale, Karen disappears and is being held hostage by a man in his basement.
Season 8 (1986–87)
Karen's kidnapper is revealed to be Phil Harbert (guest star
Louis Giambalvo
Louis Giambalvo (born February 8, 1945) is an American actor, frequently seen on television in guest roles.
Early life and education
Giambalvo was born and raised in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, where he attended Ca ...
), an old friend of Greg and Mack's from law school, who had become bitter towards Mack, having blamed him for causing the death of his wife. Karen escapes and Phil is killed after being hit by a car. Ben returns to Valene, promising to make their marriage work but faces problems from Jean Hackney ( Wendy Fulton), who tries to trick Ben into doing a mission for an underground organization to kill Greg. When Valene's babies are threatened, Ben reluctantly agrees to assist Jean. With Mack's help, Ben foils the plan, although Jean continues to threaten him and his family which prompts Ben to leave the country at the end of the season. Laura angrily blames Valene for not telling her about the plot to kill Greg. Laura also tells Greg that she is pregnant, but he is not enthusiastic about it, and she refuses to have an abortion. In the meantime, Paige reveals that she faked her death in order to escape the control of her wealthy grandparents, although Karen doubts the story, believing her to be an impostor. Also, Paige had developed a romantic relationship with Michael, Karen's son, but she soon tires of him and starts romancing Peter. Abby's daughter Olivia's drug addiction has worsened, eventually leading to the injuring of Lilimae in a car accident, and Abby resorts to desperate measures to get her clean. When her drug dealer beats up her younger brother Brian, Olivia finally admits to her addiction and decides to get clean. Olivia then becomes friends with Peter, and develops a crush on him, although he is interested in Paige. Peter, having become state senator with Greg's support, goes to the extreme to hide the fact that Jill is his sister, who has started a relationship with Gary. When Jill and Peter have an argument, Jill is injured in a fall from and Peter flees the scene to avoid any link to her or the accident. Paige's mother, Anne Matheson (
Michelle Phillips
Michelle may refer to:
People
*Michelle (name), a given name and surname, the feminine form of Michael
* Michelle Courtens, Dutch singer, performing as "Michelle"
* Michelle (German singer)
* Michelle (Scottish singer) (born 1980), Scottish wi ...
), whom Paige had said was dead, appears and tries to rekindle her love affair with Mack. When Mack refuses her advances, she turns her attention to Greg, who also turns her down, and she therefore leaves town. At the end of the season, Abby finds Olivia standing over Peter's dead body. With both assuming the other had killed Peter, Abby frantically buries his body under the soil at Lotus Point where cement is to be poured the following day. Some weeks later, believing she had successfully hidden Peter's body, Abby is informed by Karen that there is a crack in the cement foundations and that it has to be pulled up and redone.
Season 9 (1987–88)
When Peter's body is discovered, Olivia is charged with his murder, although Abby steps in to take the blame for her daughter. It is soon learned, however, that Paige accidentally caused Peter's death, although no charges are made against her. Laura decides to make up with Valene, but then tells Greg she is dying of a
brain tumor
A brain tumor occurs when abnormal cells form within the brain. There are two main types of tumors: malignant tumors and benign (non-cancerous) tumors. These can be further classified as primary tumors, which start within the brain, and seconda ...
, though he refuses to accept it. Laura leaves Knots Landing to die elsewhere, thus leaving Greg with their infant child, a daughter named Meg. Overcome with grief and feeling unable to raise the child himself, Greg asks Karen and Mack to adopt Meg, which they agree to. Meanwhile, Lilimae leaves town after starting a new romance, and Abby rekindles her love affair with her old flame, Charles Scott (
Michael York
Michael York OBE (born Michael Hugh Johnson; 27 March 1942) is an English film, television and stage actor. After performing on-stage with the Royal National Theatre, he had a breakthrough in films by playing Tybalt in Franco Zeffirelli's ''Ro ...
). Abby and Charles briefly marry, but when Abby discovers his ulterior motives about developing a Lotus Point Marina, she annuls the marriage after taking millions of dollars from him. Frank ( Larry Riley) and Pat Williams (
Lynne Moody
Emmalyn Paulette Moody (born February 17, 1950), known professionally as Lynne Moody, is an American film and television actress. Beginning her career in the early 1970s, Moody is best known her roles as Tracy Curtis–Taylor in the ABC televisio ...
) and their daughter Julie ( Kent Masters-King) move into Laura's old house on the cul-de-sac. Karen and Mack are initially suspicious of them, but become their friends upon learning they are in the
witness protection
Witness protection is security provided to a threatened person providing testimonial evidence to the justice system, including defendants and other clients, before, during, and after a trial, usually by police. While a witness may only require p ...
program. With business at Lotus Point reaching a low, Karen, Abby, and Gary agree to expand the marina to accommodate the business of Manny Vasquez (
John Aprea
Jonathan "John" Aprea (born March 4, 1941) is an American actor and comedian, best known for his role as the young Sal Tessio in '' The Godfather: Part II'' (1974) and on television as Lucas Castigliano in '' Another World'' from 1989 to 1992. ...
). Paige starts working for Greg, and becomes attracted to him. Paige and Michael go on an archaeological dig in
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
. When it is learned that Manny is selling illegal drugs through Lotus Point, Karen, Abby, and Gary try to stop him, but to no avail. Manny tells them that he will hold Paige and Michael hostage in Mexico unless they allow him to continue his dealings through Lotus Point. Gary takes an increased interest in Valene's twins, his biological children, much to the annoyance of Jill, who has moved in with Gary. Jill conceives an elaborate plan where she edits audio recordings of Ben's voice to make Valene think he was trying to contact her. In an effort to make Valene appear unstable, Jill steals the tapes, leaving Valene with no proof of Ben trying to contact her. In the season finale, Jill goes to Valene's home and, at gunpoint, she forces Valene to swallow sleeping pills, hoping it will appear that Valene has committed suicide. The following morning, Valene is found motionless on her bedroom floor.
Season 10 (1988–89)
Frank finds Valene unconscious and telephones for an ambulance. Valene survives and says that Jill had tried to kill her. While Jill has provided herself with an alibi, Valene's testimony is later proven true. With doubt on her innocence, Jill was left friendless and she thereby tied herself up and locked herself in the trunk of Gary's car, hoping to frame Gary for kidnapping her. When Jill dies in the trunk, Gary is charged with her murder, although Mack has the charges dropped when it is learned Jill had deliberately locked herself in the trunk. A con artist tried to extort money from Frank and Pat by threatening to reveal their whereabouts to the people that had threatened Pat's life years earlier. Mack halted the con artist, and used dental records from a deceased family to make him believe that the Sollars (the Williamses' original surname) were dead. Paige and Michael were eventually able to get out of Mexico, and Manny Vasquez's nephew, Harold Dyer ( Paul Carafotes), kills his uncle when he tried to kill Mack. Paige seduced Greg and the two became a couple, although their relationship soon ended when Greg decided to run for mayor of Los Angeles. Realizing Paige would not make a good political wife, Greg instead marries Abby, although Paige keeps her job with Greg's company. Greg tried to regain custody of his daughter Meg from Mack and Karen, but he lost the case. Later, Mack goes through a mid-life crisis and quits his job, and thereby starts his own law practice. Following a health and safety report, the Lotus Point land has to be sold. However, it was soon revealed that Abby had falsified the report after she discovered that there was oil underneath Lotus Point, and created a company to conceal who was buying the resort from her partners. Paige exposed that the whole thing had been initiated by Abby and her cohort Ted Melcher (
Robert Desiderio
Robert Desiderio (born September 9, 1951) is an American actor best known for his roles on television.
Life and career
Desiderio was born in
The Bronx, the son of Mary (née Demattia) and Anthony J. Desiderio. He and actress Judith Light marrie ...
), which infuriated Karen, who was determined to send Abby to jail for fraud. Abby narrowly avoided being imprisoned, and agreed to donate Lotus Point to city as a public park. Abby then leaves Greg and Knots Landing, accepting a Trade Envoy job in Japan (a job Greg himself wanted after losing the run for mayor). Paige, meanwhile, finds herself caught between Greg and Ted Melcher, one of whom is a murderer.
Season 11 (1989–90)
Valene and Gary become separately involved with another divorced couple, Danny (
Sam Behrens
Sam Behrens (born Stanley Birnbaum; July 24, 1950) is an American actor, best known for his roles as Jake Meyer on the ABC daytime soap opera ''General Hospital'', Danny Waleska in the CBS prime time soap opera ''Knots Landing'' and as Gregory Ri ...
) and Amanda Waleska (
Penny Peyser
Penelope Allison "Penny" Peyser is an American actress, writer, and filmmaker.
Early life
Peyser was born in Irvington, New York, and attended Irvington High School, where she starred in student musical theatre productions. She is the daughter ...
). Gary learns that Danny had beaten and raped Amanda, but when he tells Valene she refuses to believe him, and she ends up marrying Danny. However, when she realizes the truth, Valene tries to kick him out of her house. When Danny becomes violent, Valene takes her twins and moves in with Gary. The two rekindle their romance and eventually make plans to remarry. While drunk, Danny hits Pat Williams with his car, and she is left on life support in the hospital. When told that Pat is permanently brain dead, Frank decides to have her life support turned off. Olivia marries Harold, but they run into financial troubles when Abby cuts Olivia off financially. The couple soon make the decision to leave Knots Landing and move to Miami. Eric's wife Linda Fairgate ( Lar Park-Lincoln) moves in with Karen and Mack, and starts an affair with Eric's younger brother Michael. Linda then divorces Eric and finds employment with the Sumner Group, where she becomes a rival of Paige's. Greg's daughter, Mary Frances (
Stacy Galina
Stacy Galina (born September 24, 1966) is an American jeweler and former actress. She is known for her roles as Kate Whittaker and Mary-Frances Sumner in the CBS prime time soap opera ''Knots Landing''.
Early life
Galina was born in Baltimore, M ...
), visits him after a six-year estrangement and is shot dead in her father's office, making Greg believe that he had been the intended target. Greg himself had been shot by Mary Frances' activist boyfriend, Robert Scarrow (John David Bland), although he survives. Robert blames Greg for manufacturing poisonous chemicals that cause liver cancer, and he also admits to being the one that killed Mary Frances. Now broke, Paige's mother Anne returns to Knots Landing, in an attempt to cheat Paige out of an inheritance that her grandfather left her. Anne steals Paige's identity in an effort to obtain her daughter's money, although the plan soon goes awry. Paige soon falls in love with Tom Ryan (
Joseph Gian
Joseph Gian (born July 13, 1961) is an American actor and singer, probably best known for his role as Detective Tom Ryan in the television series '' Knots Landing''. He appeared on the program from 1989 to 1991 and again in 1993. Gian was the ...
), a crooked cop, and the two plan to marry, but Tom leaves Paige at the altar after Greg blackmailed him. Karen starts presenting a television talk show, but she becomes the target of an obsessive fan by the name of Jeff Cameron (
Chris Lemmon
Christopher Boyd Lemmon (born June 22, 1954) is an American actor and author.
Early life and education
Lemmon was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of actress Cynthia Stone and actor Jack Lemmon. Lemmon attended the Verde Valley School ...
), one of the show's producers.
Season 12 (1990–91)
Jeff starts a plot to murder Karen, but he is eventually caught and imprisoned. With Greg's health on a downward spiral, his half-sister Claudia Whittaker (
Kathleen Noone
Kathleen Noone ( O'Meara; January 8, 1945) is an American actress. She began her career as a singer in nightclubs and performed in musicals off-Broadway before making her television debut in the CBS daytime soap opera, ''As the World Turns'' (197 ...
) comes to town along with her daughter Kate (also
Stacy Galina
Stacy Galina (born September 24, 1966) is an American jeweler and former actress. She is known for her roles as Kate Whittaker and Mary-Frances Sumner in the CBS prime time soap opera ''Knots Landing''.
Early life
Galina was born in Baltimore, M ...
), who bears a striking resemblance to Greg's dead daughter Mary Frances. When she realizes she is not in Greg's will, Claudia arranges for him to get a liver so he will live. Kate meets Steve Brewer (
Lance Guest
Lance R. Guest (born July 21, 1960) is an American film and television actor, best known for his starring role in 1984's ''The Last Starfighter''.
Biography
Guest developed a serious interest in acting as a freshman while attending Saratoga H ...
), a man claiming to be her brother. Steve, who had been put up for adoption by Claudia, was the product of an affair between Claudia and Paul Galveston (her mother's dead husband, and Greg's biological father - which makes him both Greg's half-brother and nephew). Kate and Steve become good friends, but Claudia, who wants Steve gone, has him framed by placing a gun in his car. Since Steve was already a felon, the gun violated his parole and he was later gunned down trying to run away from the police. Mack befriends a high school student named Jason Lochner (
Thomas Wilson Brown
Thomas Wilson Brown (born December 27, 1972) is an American actor, who began his career at the age of 11 by playing "Augie" in the western film '' Silverado''.
Career
The son of a cattle rancher and rodeo queen, Brown received his first role by ...
), who was living with an abusive father. Jason later moves in with Mack and Karen, and dates Julie Williams. Frank, Julie's father, passes his lawyer bar exam and goes to work as an attorney at Mack's independent firm. Danny continues harassing Valene, and he soon assaults Gary with a baseball bat. After forcing Gary to drink alcohol, Danny puts him a car a sends it over a cliff, hoping to make his death appear accidental. However, the airbag saves Gary's life, but Danny is found dead in the Williams' swimming pool. In the investigation surrounding Danny's death, almost everyone is a suspect, although it was soon discovered that his death was accidental. Valene falls from a horse and suffers from psychiatric problems, but she soon recovers and she and Gary get married for the third time. Anne meets the scheming Italian Nick Schillace (
Lorenzo Caccialanza
Lorenzo Caccialanza (born January 28, 1955) is an Italian-born American football goalkeeper and actor.
Career
Football
Caccialanza played for several years in the Italian leagues before moving to the United States to pursue an acting career. ...
), with whom she romances and embarks on a series of illegal schemes in an effort to obtain wealth. Their plans backfire when Nick suddenly leaves town, leaving Anne homeless. Paige and Linda continue to despise one another, a mutual disliking that is further fueled when Linda has an affair with Greg. At the end of the season, Karen furiously pursues a group of teenagers after they paintball her for fun. A high-speed car chase results in a crash, and one of the teenagers in the crash is Jason.
Season 13 (1991–92)
Kate blames Claudia for Steve's death and removes her mother from her life, but they soon reconcile when Claudia attempts suicide. After some months of living on the streets, Anne meets the shady Benny Appleman (
Stuart Pankin
Stuart Pankin (born April 8, 1946) is an American actor. He is known for his role as anchor Bob Charles in ''Not Necessarily the News'' and as the voice of Earl Sinclair in '' Dinosaurs''. Stuart is also known for his portrayal of Commander Edward ...
), and the two try to scheme their way into getting money. Anne later agrees to pose nude for a magazine and she also becomes the host of a late-night advice show, which becomes a success. Linda, Eric's ex-wife, is murdered by Brian Johnston ( Philip Brown), who holds the MacKenzies hostage. Jason soon leaves Knots Landing for
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
, and, shortly thereafter, Julie decides to move away as well. Frank has a brief relationship with television producer Debbie Porter (
Halle Berry
Halle Maria Berry (; born Maria Halle Berry; August 14, 1966) is an American actress. She began her career as a model and entered several beauty contests, finishing as the first runner-up in the Miss USA pageant and coming in sixth in the Mis ...
), before he too leaves town. Gary invested in a project that turned energy from the ocean's tides into usable electric energy. The man behind the operation, Joseph Barringer (
Mark Soper
Mark Soper (born July 19, 1959) is an American actor, best known as Joseph Barringer in the television series ''Knots Landing'' and Michael Milton in ''The World According to Garp''. Soper is from Boyertown, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ...
), becomes Kate's boyfriend. Paige, meanwhile, joins Gary and her new boyfriend Pierce (
Bruce Greenwood
Stuart Bruce Greenwood (born August 12, 1956) is a Canadian actor and producer. He is known for his role as the American president John F. Kennedy in '' Thirteen Days,'' for which he won the Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion ...
) in a partnership. A former flame of Pierce's, Victoria Broyard (Marcia Cross), informs Paige that Pierce had killed his previous girlfriend, but Paige does not believe her. Paige is later shot by Pierce (who was aiming for Greg, whom he hated), temporarily paralyzing her. Pierce then kidnaps Paige, and holds her hostage on his yacht. Mack and Greg rescue her after she and Pierce fall into the water. Pierce's body is never found, and it is presumed he drowned. Alex Barth (
Boyd Kestner
Boyd Kestner (born November 23, 1964) is an American actor. Kestner starred in '' The Outsiders'' television series, and later became well known for his role as Alex Barth in the television drama '' Knots Landing''. He also appeared in the 1997 D ...
), the nephew of the Galveston housekeeper, blackmails Claudia for refusing to allow his ailing mother to receive treatment, thus leading to her death. Claudia also takes a disliking to Joseph and she arranges for him to get another job, thus ending his romance with Kate. Gary, who had been left bankrupt after investing his money to Tidal Energy, moves back to Seaview Circle with Valene. Mary Robeson (
Maree Cheatham
Maree Cheatham (also credited as Marie Cheatham, born June 2, 1940) is an American actress, who is known for her performances on the daytime soap operas '' Days of Our Lives'' (1965–68, 1970–71, 1973, 1994, 1996, 2010), ''Search for Tomorrow' ...
) arrives in Knots Landing and tells Valene she is Laura's biological mother and therefore Meg's real grandmother. Valene does not believe her, and while researching Mary in Florida, Valene is kidnapped. Later, when Paige gets into her car, she is horrified to see Pierce waiting for her in the back seat.
Season 14 (1992–93)
While trying to find Valene, Gary sees the car she was in explode. Greg decides to retire from the Sumner Group, and he leaves one third of the company to Claudia, a third to Paige, and the other third to Mack and Karen in a trust for Meg. Anne reveals she is pregnant, leading to Greg marrying her, but she discovers she suffered a "hysterical pregnancy". Meanwhile, Anne's old beau Nick returns and the two rekindle their affair and their old conniving ways. Mack seeks $1 million to get Mary Robeson to stop the custody battle over Meg. Claudia gives Mack $500,000 from the Sumner Group, and gives the other half to Nick to start a restaurant. Paige demanded an audit, but Claudia cannot get the money from Nick back because he already spent it. Karen condemns Mack's handling of Mary Robeson's efforts to win custody of Meg. She leaves him and goes to New York to stay with her daughter Diana. A shady organization run by Daniel Treadwell (
Daniel Gerroll
Daniel Gerroll (born 16 October 1951) is an English theatre, television and film actor.
Life and career
Gerroll was born in London, the son of Kathleen Cordelia (née Norman), a fashion model, and Harry Gerroll, a clothing designer. Gerroll h ...
) begins terrorizing everybody with its sights set on the Sumner Group. Gary starts a relationship with Kate. In the series finale, Karen returns to Mack, and the presumed dead Valene returns, revealing she had faked her death to hide from Treadwell's people, who had threatened to harm her for coming across secretive information. Treadwell's mysterious partner is revealed to be Abby, who has been orchestrating the takeover of the Sumner Group all along. However, Greg stops Abby by threatening to reveal her dirty dealings while she was in Japan. As Treadwell prepares to kill Nick, who was working for him, Treadwell himself was killed by Vanessa Hunt (
Felicity Waterman
Felicity Waterman (born 11 October 1964) is an English actress known for her role as Vanessa Hunt during the final two seasons of the television drama series ''Knots Landing'', and for her role as regular cast member Lt. Abigail Hawling on the ...
). Anne offers to divorce Greg so he can resume his relationship with her daughter Paige, whom he loves. Claudia decides to leave Knots Landing for Monaco, and at the airport, she runs into Anne and Nick, who are also leaving town. In the final scenes, back at Seaview Circle, Karen, Mack, Valene, and Gary prepare a barbecue as a new couple begin moving into Frank Williams' old home. Meanwhile, Abby arrives at the gathering and reveals that she has just purchased her old house in Seaview Circle. Valene simply smiles and welcomes Abby back, before she and Gary go home. In the final shot, Abby is left face-to-face with Karen and comments "Just like old times, isn't it?"
Cast and characters
Main cast
;Cast notes
Supporting cast
Throughout the show's fourteen seasons, there were a wide array of actors in supporting roles. The most notable of these include:
* Steve Shaw as Eric Fairgate (seasons 1–11), Sid and Karen's eldest son;
*
Bobby Jacoby
Robert Jayne (born July 16, 1973), also known as Bobby Jacoby, is an American actor, real estate developer and professional blackjack player.
Career
Starting his career as a child actor, he has appeared in many television series as well as film ...
(seasons 2–5) and
Brian Austin Green
Brian Austin Green (born Brian Green; July 15, 1973) is an American actor, rapper, television personality and podcaster, best known for his portrayal of David Silver on the television series ''Beverly Hills, 90210'' (1990–2000). Green was al ...
(seasons 6–10 and Reunion) as Brian Cunningham, Abby's son;
*
Michael Sabatino
Michael Sabatino (born June 25, 1955 in Venice, California) is an American actor.
Personal life
Sabatino attended the University of California, Irvine, where he set a school record for the pole vault of 17½ feet.
He has been married to actres ...
as Chip Roberts (seasons 4–5), Valene's publicist who murders Ciji and marries Diana;
* Joseph Chapman as Mark St. Claire (seasons 5–6), villainous character
*
Howard Duff
Howard is an English-language given name originating from Old French Huard (or Houard) from a Germanic source similar to Old High German ''*Hugihard'' "heart-brave", or ''*Hoh-ward'', literally "high defender; chief guardian". It is also probabl ...
as Paul Galveston (seasons 6 and 11), a millionaire industrialist who turns out to be Greg Sumner's biological father;
*
Ava Gardner
Ava Lavinia Gardner (December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an American actress. She first signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew critics' attention in 1946 with her perform ...
as Ruth Sumner Galveston (
Ava Gardner
Ava Lavinia Gardner (December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an American actress. She first signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew critics' attention in 1946 with her perform ...
(season 6), Greg and Claudia's wildlife photographer mother;
*
Hunt Block
Hunt Block (full name Huntington Macdonald Block, born February 16, 1954) is an American actor. Block graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and has enjoyed a successful acting career over many decades.
Career
Blo ...
as Peter Hollister (seasons 7–8), Jill Bennett's brother who poses as Paul's son and Greg's half-brother, eventually killed by Paige;
*
Ruth Roman
Ruth Roman (born Norma Roman; December 22, 1922 – September 9, 1999) was an American actress of film, stage, and television.
After playing stage roles on the east coast, Roman relocated to Hollywood to pursue a career in films. She appeare ...
as Sylvia Lean (seasons 7–8), a former fling of Paul Galveston's hired by Peter to pose as his mother;
*
Michael York
Michael York OBE (born Michael Hugh Johnson; 27 March 1942) is an English film, television and stage actor. After performing on-stage with the Royal National Theatre, he had a breakthrough in films by playing Tybalt in Franco Zeffirelli's ''Ro ...
as Charles Scott (season 9), Abby's childhood sweetheart and eventual third husband;
*
Lar Park Lincoln
Laurie Jill "Lar" Park Lincoln (née Park; born May 12, 1961) is an American actress. She appeared in the 1987 film '' House II: The Second Story'' as Kate, the 1988 horror film '' Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood'' as Tina Shepard, and ...
as Linda Fairgate (seasons 9 and 11–13), Eric's wife who has an affair with Michael, and uncredited as "Sally's Friend" (Season 10), with whom Gary accidentally strikes up a friendship over the phone;
*
Lynne Moody
Emmalyn Paulette Moody (born February 17, 1950), known professionally as Lynne Moody, is an American film and television actress. Beginning her career in the early 1970s, Moody is best known her roles as Tracy Curtis–Taylor in the ABC televisio ...
as Patricia Williams (seasons 9–11), wife of Frank and mother of Julie;
* Paul Carafotes as Harold Dyer (seasons 9–11), Olivia's mobster husband;
*
Kent Masters King
Kent Masters King (born August 5, 1974) is an American actress known for her appearances on the daytime soap opera ''General Hospital''.
Early life
Kent was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Her father, Dr. Richard D. King, is an Egy ...
as Julie Williams (seasons 9–13), Frank and Pat's teenage daughter;
*
Robert Desiderio
Robert Desiderio (born September 9, 1951) is an American actor best known for his roles on television.
Life and career
Desiderio was born in
The Bronx, the son of Mary (née Demattia) and Anthony J. Desiderio. He and actress Judith Light marrie ...
as Ted Melcher (seasons 10–11), Greg's murderous campaign manager when he runs for mayor;
*
Betsy Palmer
Betsy Palmer (born Patricia Betsy Hrunek; November 1, 1926 – May 29, 2015) was an American actress, who was known as a regular supporting film and Broadway actress and television guest star, as a panelist on the game show ''I've Got a Secret'' ...
as Virginia Bullock (seasons 10–12), Lilimae's sister and Valene's aunt;
*
Sam Behrens
Sam Behrens (born Stanley Birnbaum; July 24, 1950) is an American actor, best known for his roles as Jake Meyer on the ABC daytime soap opera ''General Hospital'', Danny Waleska in the CBS prime time soap opera ''Knots Landing'' and as Gregory Ri ...
as Danny Waleska (seasons 10–12), Valene's psychopathic third husband;
*
Penny Peyser
Penelope Allison "Penny" Peyser is an American actress, writer, and filmmaker.
Early life
Peyser was born in Irvington, New York, and attended Irvington High School, where she starred in student musical theatre productions. She is the daughter ...
as Amanda Michaels (seasons 10–11), Danny's abused ex-wife and girlfriend of Gary;
*
Melinda Culea
Melinda Culea (born May 5, 1955) is an American actress.
Early life
Culea was born on May 5, 1955, in Western Springs, Illinois. She worked as a model before acting.Dangaard, Colin (1983) "Melinda Culea: The Struggle Goes on", ''Milwaukee J ...
as Paula Vertosick (seasons 10–11), former Forest Ranger and romance of Greg's;
*
Joseph Gian
Joseph Gian (born July 13, 1961) is an American actor and singer, probably best known for his role as Detective Tom Ryan in the television series '' Knots Landing''. He appeared on the program from 1989 to 1991 and again in 1993. Gian was the ...
as Tom Ryan (seasons 11–12 and 14), a corrupt detective who romances Paige;
*
Lorenzo Caccialanza
Lorenzo Caccialanza (born January 28, 1955) is an Italian-born American football goalkeeper and actor.
Career
Football
Caccialanza played for several years in the Italian leagues before moving to the United States to pursue an acting career. ...
as Nick Schillace/Dimitri Pappas (seasons 12 and 14), bankrupt Italian playboy-turned-conman;
* Tracy Reed as Charlotte Anderson (season 12), Julie's English teacher and Frank's first romance after Pat's death;
*
Lance Guest
Lance R. Guest (born July 21, 1960) is an American film and television actor, best known for his starring role in 1984's ''The Last Starfighter''.
Biography
Guest developed a serious interest in acting as a freshman while attending Saratoga H ...
as Steve Brewer (season 12), Claudia's illegitimate son by Paul Galveston;
*
Mark Soper
Mark Soper (born July 19, 1959) is an American actor, best known as Joseph Barringer in the television series ''Knots Landing'' and Michael Milton in ''The World According to Garp''. Soper is from Boyertown, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ...
as Joseph Barringer (season 13), environmentalist businessman;
*
Bruce Greenwood
Stuart Bruce Greenwood (born August 12, 1956) is a Canadian actor and producer. He is known for his role as the American president John F. Kennedy in '' Thirteen Days,'' for which he won the Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion ...
as Pierce Lawton (seasons 13–14), Paige's unhinged lover;
*
Felicity Waterman
Felicity Waterman (born 11 October 1964) is an English actress known for her role as Vanessa Hunt during the final two seasons of the television drama series ''Knots Landing'', and for her role as regular cast member Lt. Abigail Hawling on the ...
as Vanessa Hunt (seasons 13–14), Kate's bisexual tennis cohort;
*
Maree Cheatham
Maree Cheatham (also credited as Marie Cheatham, born June 2, 1940) is an American actress, who is known for her performances on the daytime soap operas '' Days of Our Lives'' (1965–68, 1970–71, 1973, 1994, 1996, 2010), ''Search for Tomorrow' ...
as Mary Robeson (seasons 13–14), a woman claiming to be Meg's biological grandmother.
''Knots Landing''/''Dallas'' crossovers
Episodes
Between seasons 1 and 4 of ''Knots Landing'', there were nine episodes where ''Dallas'' characters appeared, played by their respective actors.
;Season 1 (1979–80 season)
* Episode 1: "Pilot". Guest starring
Patrick Duffy
Patrick Duffy (born March 17, 1949) is an American actor and director widely known for his role on the CBS primetime soap opera ''Dallas'', where he played Bobby Ewing, the youngest son of Miss Ellie, and the nicest brother of J.R. Ewing (pla ...
as
Bobby Ewing
Bobby James Ewing is a fictional character in the American television series ''Dallas'' and its 2012 revival. The youngest son of Jock and Miss Ellie Ewing, he was portrayed by actor Patrick Duffy (1978–1985, 1986–1991). Bobby had been kill ...
.
* Episode 2: "Community Spirit". Guest starring
Larry Hagman
Larry Martin Hagman (September 21, 1931 – November 23, 2012) was an American film and television actor, director, and producer, best known for playing ruthless oil baron J. R. Ewing in the 1978–1991 primetime television soap opera, ''Dal ...
as
J. R. Ewing
John Ross "J.R." Ewing Jr. is a fictional character in the American television series ''Dallas (1978 TV series), Dallas'' (1978–1991) and its spin-off (media), spin-offs, including the Dallas (2012 TV series), revived ''Dallas'' series (2012– ...
.
* Episode 6: "Home is For Healing" Guest starring
Charlene Tilton
Charlene L. Tilton (born December 1, 1958) is an American actress and singer. She is widely known for playing Lucy Ewing, the niece of brothers J. R. Ewing and Bobby Ewing (played by Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy), on the television seri ...
as
Lucy Ewing
Lucy Ann Ewing is a fictional character in the popular American television series ''Dallas''. The character is played by Charlene Tilton and first appeared in the series premiere on April 2, 1978. Tilton left the show at the end of season 8 in 19 ...
Mary Crosby
Mary Frances Crosby (born September 14, 1959) is an American actress. She played Kristin Shepard in the television series ''Dallas'' (1979–1981, 1991).
as
Kristin Shepard
Kristin Marie Shepard is a fictional character on the American television series ''Dallas (1978 TV series), Dallas'', played by Mary Crosby (1979–1981) and, briefly, by Colleen Camp (1979). The character also made one appearance on ''Dallas''s s ...
.
* Episode 9: "A Family Matter". Guest starring
Larry Hagman
Larry Martin Hagman (September 21, 1931 – November 23, 2012) was an American film and television actor, director, and producer, best known for playing ruthless oil baron J. R. Ewing in the 1978–1991 primetime television soap opera, ''Dal ...
as
J. R. Ewing
John Ross "J.R." Ewing Jr. is a fictional character in the American television series ''Dallas (1978 TV series), Dallas'' (1978–1991) and its spin-off (media), spin-offs, including the Dallas (2012 TV series), revived ''Dallas'' series (2012– ...
.
* Episode 13: "The Loudest Word". Guest starring
Patrick Duffy
Patrick Duffy (born March 17, 1949) is an American actor and director widely known for his role on the CBS primetime soap opera ''Dallas'', where he played Bobby Ewing, the youngest son of Miss Ellie, and the nicest brother of J.R. Ewing (pla ...
as
Bobby Ewing
Bobby James Ewing is a fictional character in the American television series ''Dallas'' and its 2012 revival. The youngest son of Jock and Miss Ellie Ewing, he was portrayed by actor Patrick Duffy (1978–1985, 1986–1991). Bobby had been kill ...
.
* Episode 17: "Designs". Guest starring
Larry Hagman
Larry Martin Hagman (September 21, 1931 – November 23, 2012) was an American film and television actor, director, and producer, best known for playing ruthless oil baron J. R. Ewing in the 1978–1991 primetime television soap opera, ''Dal ...
as
J. R. Ewing
John Ross "J.R." Ewing Jr. is a fictional character in the American television series ''Dallas (1978 TV series), Dallas'' (1978–1991) and its spin-off (media), spin-offs, including the Dallas (2012 TV series), revived ''Dallas'' series (2012– ...
Larry Hagman
Larry Martin Hagman (September 21, 1931 – November 23, 2012) was an American film and television actor, director, and producer, best known for playing ruthless oil baron J. R. Ewing in the 1978–1991 primetime television soap opera, ''Dal ...
as
J. R. Ewing
John Ross "J.R." Ewing Jr. is a fictional character in the American television series ''Dallas (1978 TV series), Dallas'' (1978–1991) and its spin-off (media), spin-offs, including the Dallas (2012 TV series), revived ''Dallas'' series (2012– ...
.
* Episode 6: "New Beginnings". Guest starring
Larry Hagman
Larry Martin Hagman (September 21, 1931 – November 23, 2012) was an American film and television actor, director, and producer, best known for playing ruthless oil baron J. R. Ewing in the 1978–1991 primetime television soap opera, ''Dal ...
as
J. R. Ewing
John Ross "J.R." Ewing Jr. is a fictional character in the American television series ''Dallas (1978 TV series), Dallas'' (1978–1991) and its spin-off (media), spin-offs, including the Dallas (2012 TV series), revived ''Dallas'' series (2012– ...
,
Patrick Duffy
Patrick Duffy (born March 17, 1949) is an American actor and director widely known for his role on the CBS primetime soap opera ''Dallas'', where he played Bobby Ewing, the youngest son of Miss Ellie, and the nicest brother of J.R. Ewing (pla ...
as
Bobby Ewing
Bobby James Ewing is a fictional character in the American television series ''Dallas'' and its 2012 revival. The youngest son of Jock and Miss Ellie Ewing, he was portrayed by actor Patrick Duffy (1978–1985, 1986–1991). Bobby had been kill ...
and Eric Farlow as
Christopher Ewing
Christopher Ewing is a fictional character from the American prime time drama series ''Dallas'' and the continuation series. The character was first written into the series in the episode " Starting Over", which first aired on December 11, 1981. ...
. This episode of ''Knots Landing'' was a direct sequel to the ''Dallas'' episode "Jock's Will", which aired on the same evening.
In addition to the above, the characters of Gary and Valene Ewing appeared in the following episodes of ''Dallas'', as listed below.
;Season 2 (1978–79 season)
* Episode 1: "Reunion, Part I". Featuring
David Ackroyd
David Ackroyd (born May 30, 1940) is an American actor, who first came to prominence in soap operas such as ''The Secret Storm'' and '' Another World''.
Early life
On May 30, 1940, Ackroyd was born in East Orange, New Jersey; he moved to Wayn ...
as
Gary Ewing
Garrison "Gary" Arthur Ewing is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera, ''Knots Landing'', a spin-off of ''Dallas''. The character of Gary Ewing was first played by actor David Ackroyd in a 2-part ''Dallas'' season two episode "Reunion" in ...
and
Joan Van Ark
Joan Van Ark (born June 16, 1943) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Valene Ewing on the primetime soap opera ''Knots Landing.'' A life member of The Actors Studio, she made her Broadway debut in 1966 in ''Barefoot in the P ...
as Valene Clements
* Episode 2: "Reunion, Part II". Featuring
David Ackroyd
David Ackroyd (born May 30, 1940) is an American actor, who first came to prominence in soap operas such as ''The Secret Storm'' and '' Another World''.
Early life
On May 30, 1940, Ackroyd was born in East Orange, New Jersey; he moved to Wayn ...
as
Gary Ewing
Garrison "Gary" Arthur Ewing is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera, ''Knots Landing'', a spin-off of ''Dallas''. The character of Gary Ewing was first played by actor David Ackroyd in a 2-part ''Dallas'' season two episode "Reunion" in ...
and
Joan Van Ark
Joan Van Ark (born June 16, 1943) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Valene Ewing on the primetime soap opera ''Knots Landing.'' A life member of The Actors Studio, she made her Broadway debut in 1966 in ''Barefoot in the P ...
Joan Van Ark
Joan Van Ark (born June 16, 1943) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Valene Ewing on the primetime soap opera ''Knots Landing.'' A life member of The Actors Studio, she made her Broadway debut in 1966 in ''Barefoot in the P ...
as Valene Clements
* Episode 14: "Return Engagements". Featuring
Ted Shackelford
Theodore Tillman Shackelford III (born June 23, 1946) is an American actor. He played Gary Ewing in the CBS television series ''Dallas'' and ''Knots Landing'' (1979–1993); since 2006, he has appeared in a recurring role on the CBS soap ''The You ...
as
Gary Ewing
Garrison "Gary" Arthur Ewing is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera, ''Knots Landing'', a spin-off of ''Dallas''. The character of Gary Ewing was first played by actor David Ackroyd in a 2-part ''Dallas'' season two episode "Reunion" in ...
and
Joan Van Ark
Joan Van Ark (born June 16, 1943) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Valene Ewing on the primetime soap opera ''Knots Landing.'' A life member of The Actors Studio, she made her Broadway debut in 1966 in ''Barefoot in the P ...
as Valene Clements
;Season 4 (1980–81 season)
* Episode 1: "No More Mister Nice Guy, Part I". Featuring
Ted Shackelford
Theodore Tillman Shackelford III (born June 23, 1946) is an American actor. He played Gary Ewing in the CBS television series ''Dallas'' and ''Knots Landing'' (1979–1993); since 2006, he has appeared in a recurring role on the CBS soap ''The You ...
as
Gary Ewing
Garrison "Gary" Arthur Ewing is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera, ''Knots Landing'', a spin-off of ''Dallas''. The character of Gary Ewing was first played by actor David Ackroyd in a 2-part ''Dallas'' season two episode "Reunion" in ...
and
Joan Van Ark
Joan Van Ark (born June 16, 1943) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Valene Ewing on the primetime soap opera ''Knots Landing.'' A life member of The Actors Studio, she made her Broadway debut in 1966 in ''Barefoot in the P ...
as
Valene Ewing
Valene "Val" Ewing (maiden name Clements, formerly Gibson, Waleska), portrayed by Joan Van Ark, is a fictional character in the CBS primetime soap opera ''Knots Landing'', a spin-off from the long-running series ''Dallas'', in which she also app ...
* Episode 2: "No More Mister Nice Guy, Part II". Featuring
Ted Shackelford
Theodore Tillman Shackelford III (born June 23, 1946) is an American actor. He played Gary Ewing in the CBS television series ''Dallas'' and ''Knots Landing'' (1979–1993); since 2006, he has appeared in a recurring role on the CBS soap ''The You ...
as
Gary Ewing
Garrison "Gary" Arthur Ewing is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera, ''Knots Landing'', a spin-off of ''Dallas''. The character of Gary Ewing was first played by actor David Ackroyd in a 2-part ''Dallas'' season two episode "Reunion" in ...
* Episode 12: "End of the Road, Part II". Featuring
Ted Shackelford
Theodore Tillman Shackelford III (born June 23, 1946) is an American actor. He played Gary Ewing in the CBS television series ''Dallas'' and ''Knots Landing'' (1979–1993); since 2006, he has appeared in a recurring role on the CBS soap ''The You ...
as
Gary Ewing
Garrison "Gary" Arthur Ewing is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera, ''Knots Landing'', a spin-off of ''Dallas''. The character of Gary Ewing was first played by actor David Ackroyd in a 2-part ''Dallas'' season two episode "Reunion" in ...
and
Joan Van Ark
Joan Van Ark (born June 16, 1943) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Valene Ewing on the primetime soap opera ''Knots Landing.'' A life member of The Actors Studio, she made her Broadway debut in 1966 in ''Barefoot in the P ...
as
Valene Ewing
Valene "Val" Ewing (maiden name Clements, formerly Gibson, Waleska), portrayed by Joan Van Ark, is a fictional character in the CBS primetime soap opera ''Knots Landing'', a spin-off from the long-running series ''Dallas'', in which she also app ...
;Season 5 (1981–82 season)
* Episode 8: "The Split". Featuring
Ted Shackelford
Theodore Tillman Shackelford III (born June 23, 1946) is an American actor. He played Gary Ewing in the CBS television series ''Dallas'' and ''Knots Landing'' (1979–1993); since 2006, he has appeared in a recurring role on the CBS soap ''The You ...
as
Gary Ewing
Garrison "Gary" Arthur Ewing is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera, ''Knots Landing'', a spin-off of ''Dallas''. The character of Gary Ewing was first played by actor David Ackroyd in a 2-part ''Dallas'' season two episode "Reunion" in ...
and
Joan Van Ark
Joan Van Ark (born June 16, 1943) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Valene Ewing on the primetime soap opera ''Knots Landing.'' A life member of The Actors Studio, she made her Broadway debut in 1966 in ''Barefoot in the P ...
as
Valene Ewing
Valene "Val" Ewing (maiden name Clements, formerly Gibson, Waleska), portrayed by Joan Van Ark, is a fictional character in the CBS primetime soap opera ''Knots Landing'', a spin-off from the long-running series ''Dallas'', in which she also app ...
* Episode 9: "Five Dollars a Barrel". Featuring
Ted Shackelford
Theodore Tillman Shackelford III (born June 23, 1946) is an American actor. He played Gary Ewing in the CBS television series ''Dallas'' and ''Knots Landing'' (1979–1993); since 2006, he has appeared in a recurring role on the CBS soap ''The You ...
as
Gary Ewing
Garrison "Gary" Arthur Ewing is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera, ''Knots Landing'', a spin-off of ''Dallas''. The character of Gary Ewing was first played by actor David Ackroyd in a 2-part ''Dallas'' season two episode "Reunion" in ...
Ted Shackelford
Theodore Tillman Shackelford III (born June 23, 1946) is an American actor. He played Gary Ewing in the CBS television series ''Dallas'' and ''Knots Landing'' (1979–1993); since 2006, he has appeared in a recurring role on the CBS soap ''The You ...
as
Gary Ewing
Garrison "Gary" Arthur Ewing is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera, ''Knots Landing'', a spin-off of ''Dallas''. The character of Gary Ewing was first played by actor David Ackroyd in a 2-part ''Dallas'' season two episode "Reunion" in ...
. This episode of ''Dallas'' was directly followed by an episode of ''Knots Landing'' on the same evening titled "New Beginnings"
;Season 9 (1985–86 season)
* Episode 1: "The Family Ewing". Featuring
Ted Shackelford
Theodore Tillman Shackelford III (born June 23, 1946) is an American actor. He played Gary Ewing in the CBS television series ''Dallas'' and ''Knots Landing'' (1979–1993); since 2006, he has appeared in a recurring role on the CBS soap ''The You ...
as
Gary Ewing
Garrison "Gary" Arthur Ewing is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera, ''Knots Landing'', a spin-off of ''Dallas''. The character of Gary Ewing was first played by actor David Ackroyd in a 2-part ''Dallas'' season two episode "Reunion" in ...
;Season 10 (1986–87 season)
* Episode 11: "Proof Positive". No ''Knots Landing'' characters appear in this episode, but the set normally used as Karen MacKenzie's (
Michele Lee
Michele Lee is an American actress, singer, dancer, producer, and director. She is known for her role as Karen Fairgate MacKenzie on the prime-time soap opera ''Knots Landing'' (1979–1993), for which she was nominated for a 1982 Emmy Award ...
) kitchen doubles as a set in a movie featuring Mandy Winger (
Deborah Shelton
Deborah Dale Shelton (born November 21, 1948) is an American actress, beauty queen, and songwriter who was Miss USA and appeared on ''Dallas'' for three seasons and a special guest return in 2013.
Pageants
In 1970, Shelton competed in the Miss V ...
Joan Van Ark
Joan Van Ark (born June 16, 1943) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Valene Ewing on the primetime soap opera ''Knots Landing.'' A life member of The Actors Studio, she made her Broadway debut in 1966 in ''Barefoot in the P ...
as Valene Clements in uncredited archive footage
; Season 14 (1990–91 season)
* Episode 22: " Conundrum". Featuring
Ted Shackelford
Theodore Tillman Shackelford III (born June 23, 1946) is an American actor. He played Gary Ewing in the CBS television series ''Dallas'' and ''Knots Landing'' (1979–1993); since 2006, he has appeared in a recurring role on the CBS soap ''The You ...
as
Gary Ewing
Garrison "Gary" Arthur Ewing is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera, ''Knots Landing'', a spin-off of ''Dallas''. The character of Gary Ewing was first played by actor David Ackroyd in a 2-part ''Dallas'' season two episode "Reunion" in ...
and
Joan Van Ark
Joan Van Ark (born June 16, 1943) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Valene Ewing on the primetime soap opera ''Knots Landing.'' A life member of The Actors Studio, she made her Broadway debut in 1966 in ''Barefoot in the P ...
Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
'', the character of
Bobby Ewing
Bobby James Ewing is a fictional character in the American television series ''Dallas'' and its 2012 revival. The youngest son of Jock and Miss Ellie Ewing, he was portrayed by actor Patrick Duffy (1978–1985, 1986–1991). Bobby had been kill ...
(
Patrick Duffy
Patrick Duffy (born March 17, 1949) is an American actor and director widely known for his role on the CBS primetime soap opera ''Dallas'', where he played Bobby Ewing, the youngest son of Miss Ellie, and the nicest brother of J.R. Ewing (pla ...
) was killed off in the final episode of the 1984–85 season. The following year, Duffy decided to return to ''Dallas'' and the character of Bobby was resurrected in the infamous "shower scene" at the end of the 1985–86 season. At the start of the 1986–87 season, it was revealed that Bobby's death and all but the final scene of the 1985–86 season had been a dream of Bobby's ex-wife, Pamela Barnes Ewing (
Victoria Principal
Vicki Ree Principal (born January 3, 1950),2012 continuation of ''Dallas'', rumors began surfacing that both Joan Van Ark and Ted Shackelford would reprise their roles as Valene and Gary Ewing on the new series. Shackelford passed on the small role the producers offered him during the first season, but accepted a multi-episode role during the second. Shackelford returned to ''Dallas'' for three episodes and Van Ark returned for one. This was the first time the characters had been seen since the 1997 miniseries '' Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac''. Although both Shackelford and Van Ark appeared in the 1991 series finale of ''Dallas'' playing "alternative" versions of Gary and Valene (the episode depicted an alternate reality in which J. R. Ewing had never been born), there have been no real crossovers of story or characters from ''Knots Landing'' to ''Dallas'' or vice versa since the 1985–86 season of each show (which, on ''Dallas'', turned out to be a dream had by
Pam Ewing
Pamela Jean "Pam" Barnes Ewing is a fictional character from the CBS primetime soap opera ''Dallas''. Pamela is portrayed by actress Victoria Principal, first appearing on the show in the first episode, entitled "Digger's Daughter", which was ...
). In the 2013 ''Dallas'' storyline, it is made clear that Gary and Val had still been living together at their home in California, though had recently separated due to Gary's brief relapse into alcoholism due to financial worries. At the end of their appearances on the new series of ''Dallas'', Gary and Val return to California together.
Behind the scenes
''Knots Landing'' was created by David Jacobs, whose original concept was a show based on "family issues and examining relationships at the middle class level".''Dallas: The Complete Story of the World's Favorite Prime-Time Soap'', pp. 4–5
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainmen ...
initially turned down this idea, as they wanted something more "glitzy" to put on the air, with wealthier characters, which would become ''
Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
''. Once that show became a success after the initial run as a five-episode miniseries, the producers decided to expand the roles of certain characters. They introduced
Lucy Ewing
Lucy Ann Ewing is a fictional character in the popular American television series ''Dallas''. The character is played by Charlene Tilton and first appeared in the series premiere on April 2, 1978. Tilton left the show at the end of season 8 in 19 ...
’s (
Charlene Tilton
Charlene L. Tilton (born December 1, 1958) is an American actress and singer. She is widely known for playing Lucy Ewing, the niece of brothers J. R. Ewing and Bobby Ewing (played by Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy), on the television seri ...
) parents, who had not been shown on-screen until that point,''Dallas: The Complete Story of the World's Favorite Prime-Time Soap'', pp. 28 in the two-part episode " The Reunion". After the success of ''Dallas'', Jacobs presented his initial idea again and created ''Knots Landing'', with some alterations of his original script. In an interview, Jacobs explained: " Well, that's pretty good, but you know-and then he pulled out the pages that we'd left for them a few years ago on ''Knots Landing'', or a year before on ''Knots'', and he said, 'Is there any way we can make this a spin-off?' I just took one of the couples and made it, you know, Val and Gary who had already been created on the parent series and putting them into the mix, but when you have four couples and you change one, you sort of have to change the dynamic all the way around. However, once I wrote the script, remarkably little changed from the script and the pilot as you would see it."
Gary Ewing was originally played by
David Ackroyd
David Ackroyd (born May 30, 1940) is an American actor, who first came to prominence in soap operas such as ''The Secret Storm'' and '' Another World''.
Early life
On May 30, 1940, Ackroyd was born in East Orange, New Jersey; he moved to Wayn ...
on ''Dallas'', but Ackroyd was unable to sign on for ''Knots Landing'', and Ted Shackelford assumed the role.''Dallas: The Complete Story of the World's Favorite Prime-Time Soap'', pp. 49 Joan Van Ark continued to play Val Ewing for the spin-off. Initially, it was presumed that Tilton would also be joining ''Knots Landing'' (and have Lucy move in with her parents to the Seaview Circle cul-de-sac), but the network decided to keep her on ''Dallas'' in order to keep the two shows separate. She did, however, make a guest appearance in the first-season episode "Home is for Healing".''Dallas: The Complete Story of the World's Favorite Prime-Time Soap'', pp. 61
The actors on ''Knots Landing'' had more input than actors on other 1980s primetime soaps. In 1987, the writers wanted Mack (Kevin Dobson) to have an extramarital affair with Anne (Michelle Phillips). Michele Lee, who played Mack's wife Karen, protested this to Jacobs, saying, "There has to be one stable couple on the show." The extramarital affair storyline was nixed, and Michelle Phillips, who had been signed to a contract, was written out for a couple of seasons before returning in 1990. When she did return, Anne did not pursue Mack. William Devane, who played Greg Sumner, re-wrote most of his character's dialogue, to the point where, in co-star Michele Lee's words, "most people (on set) were (probably) frightened of him". The Gary/Val/Abby triangle that provided story throughout the mid-1980s was suggested by Ted Shackelford and Joan Van Ark in 1980, and the producers hesitated for a year and a half before going through with it in 1982. The famous 1984 storyline where Valene's babies got kidnapped was originally envisioned as one of scheming Abby's plots. Donna Mills, who played Abby, acknowledged that her character was evil but did not think she was ''that'' evil. Fearing the audience would never forgive her character for kidnapping another woman's babies, she asked the writers to make the kidnappings a result of Abby's actions, but only by accident, and the writers complied.
Bruce Campbell
Bruce Lorne Campbell (born June 22, 1958) is an American actor and director. He is known for portraying Ash Williams in Sam Raimi's ''Evil Dead'' franchise, beginning with the 1978 short film ''Within the Woods''. He has starred in many low ...
, who appeared in a 1987 episode, would later marvel at "the ''speed'' and clinical precision" of the production as opposed to the low-budget films and television series he had acted in up until this point. In particular, he wrote that Michele Lee "ran the set like a drill seargent and laid out all the blocking."
The writing team of
Bernard Lechowick
Bernard Lechowick is an American television writer and producer. He grew up in Mentor, Ohio and is a father of two sons, Richard Latham Lechowick and Vincent Latham Lechowick.Lynn Marie Latham
Lynn Marie Latham is an American television writer, producer, and showrunner. Her initial foray into writing for television was as a story editor for the series ''Berrenger's'' in 1985. That same year, Latham became a writer for the nighttime seri ...
(the
head writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits. In fictional comedy o ...
s from 1986 to 1991) was controversial among both fans and actors. Their humor-imbued style of writing made them the favorites of Michele Lee, while John Pleshette felt they were "awful people." Pleshette, however, was not a regular cast member during their tenure (only making a guest appearance in 1987), and harbored resentment because the writing team, who had been represented by his wife, moved to a different agency. Joan van Ark, whose character was struck by a brain illness in season 12 and proceeded to thereafter go crazy, felt that Latham and Lechowick had turned her character into the "village idiot." Joan Van Ark's and Donna Mills' favorite ''Knots Landing'' writer was Peter Dunne, who was responsible for making ''Knots Landing'' a top ten show in 1984.
In 1987, CBS demanded that production costs be cut. This meant the firing of two regulars, Constance McCashin and Julie Harris. Season 13 saw a large ratings drop for the show after writer/producers Bernard Lechowick and Lynn Marie Latham left to create '' Homefront'' and creator David Jacobs had a health crisis and pulled back his involvement in production. Jacobs has publicly stated that the way he knew the show was in trouble was when waitresses at his favorite diner, whom he had heard gossiping about ''Knots Landing'' every Friday during past seasons, suddenly stopped discussing the show in late 1991. He attempted to save face by shutting down production on November 20, 1991, firing head writer
John Romano John or Johnny Romano may refer to:
* Johnny Romano (1934–2019), American baseball player
* John Romano (physician) (1908–1994), American physician and psychiatrist
* John Romano (writer) (born 1948), screenwriter and producer
{{human name dis ...
, and replacing him with
Ann Marcus
Ann Marcus (August 22, 1921 – December 3, 2014) was an Emmy Award-winning American television writer and film producer.
She graduated from Western College for Women, worked for the ''New York Daily News'' and ''Life'', where she worked with fa ...
. Cost cutting again plagued the series in its final season, when only 19 episodes were produced, and (with the exception of Michele Lee) regular cast members did not appear in every episode. Not wanting to compromise what he felt had been a good run, series creator David Jacobs described its end as a "mutual decision" between ''Knots Landing'' producers and the CBS Network, saying, "We don't know if they would have picked us up anyway...but even if they had, we would have had to pare away more to survive."
The series' signature cul-de-sac, Seaview Circle, was actually Crystalaire Place in Granada Hills, California, a suburban street in Los Angeles'
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley, known locally as the Valley, is an urbanized valley in Los Angeles County, California. Located to the north of the Los Angeles Basin, it contains a large portion of the City of Los Angeles, as well as unincorporated ar ...
about 20 miles north of the Pacific Ocean. The opening credits during the first two seasons were edited in such a way to make it appear that the cul-de-sac was closer to the beach. The aerial shots as seen in the opening and end credits from 1981 to 1987, were filmed at
Palos Verdes Estates
Palos Verdes Estates (''Palos Verdes'', Spanish for "Green Sticks") is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, situated on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The city was master-planned by the noted American landscape architect and ...
, an affluent coastal area of Los Angeles.
Music
The theme song, which lasted all 14 seasons was composed by
Jerrold Immel
Jerrold Immel (born 9 September 1936 in Los Angeles, California) is a United States television music composer, whose most famous works are the theme tune to the soap opera ''Dallas'' and ''Voyagers!''.
Before moving into scoring, Immel worked as a ...
. Immel, along with Craig Huxley composed the background music for the
pilot
An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its directional flight controls. Some other aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are also considered aviators, because they a ...
. The original background music cues by Immel and Huxley were never fully abandoned by the show, and were heard right through until the final season. The early Knots Landing background music cues heavily emphasized the
brass
Brass is an alloy of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), in proportions which can be varied to achieve different mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties. It is a substitutional alloy: atoms of the two constituents may replace each other with ...
section, and were often played with a very sparse bass line accompaniment. It was the only aspect of the series ever to win an Emmy award, for the music orchestration during its 1979–80 season.
By the debut of the fourth season in 1982 the lushness of the 1980s was in full swing and background cues were changed to reflect that style. The new dramatic cues emphasized full orchestral arrangements as formerly middle-class Knots Landing became upwardly mobile. The background music of seasons 4–7 was frequently composed by either Lance Rubin or Ron Grant.
Season 8 in 1986 introduced a completely new score for the show. New wave artists and bands had taken America by storm and the new style of music cues made good use of the synthesizer instead of a full orchestra. Bruce Miller was one of the main composers during this era. Updated orchestrations of the by-then familiar Lance Rubin cues were also re-arranged to be played by the synthesizer, and the Immel/Huxley cues were similarly utilized, albeit less commonly.
In the early 1990s, soft contemporary
acoustic music
Acoustic music is music that solely or primarily uses instruments that produce sound through acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means. While all music was once acoustic, the retronym "acoustic music" appeared after the adven ...
became popular and ''Knots Landing'' began incorporating this into its background music during season 12. Lance Rubin's music cues were mostly phased out at this point.
Patrick Gleeson
Patrick Gleeson (born November 9, 1934) is an American musician, synthesizer pioneer, composer, and producer.
Career
Gleeson moved to San Francisco in the 1960s to teach in the English Department at San Francisco State. Gleeson began experimentin ...
and Kennard Ramsey composed during this period.
Opening credits
''Knots Landing'' had five completely different styles of opening credits over its 14 years.
* (December 27, 1979 – March 26, 1981) The original opening of ''Knots Landing'' designed by
Wayne Fitzgerald
Wayne Fitzgerald (March 19, 1930 – September 30, 2019) was an American film title designer. Over a career that spanned 55 years, he designed close to five hundred motion picture and television main and end title sequences for top directors such ...
features a rotating aerial shot of a California beach which dissolves to a rotating aerial shot of roads and houses, gradually zooming in to a freeze-frame of the Seaview Circle cul-de-sac. The camera then zooms in to the top of each house in turn, showing a brief shot of the residents of each home. Photo credits for each of the main actors then appear superimposed over the shape of the cul-de-sac. In the pilot, however, it had the photo credits of the main actors shown superimposed over the house each of their characters live in.
* (November 12, 1981 – May 14, 1987) ''Knots Landing'' unveiled a new opening at the start of season 3. In what is probably the best-remembered introduction, the sequence designed by Gene Kraft begins with a fast-moving aerial shot of the ocean which then tilts up as it approaches the coastline, and the series title appears. The picture, except for the title, fades to black, and the title scrolls from right to left followed by a montage of clips of the show playing in small boxes. Each cast member is credited below a larger box showcasing a close-up of their character, accompanied by three or four smaller boxes showing that character in scenes with other characters.
* (September 24, 1987 – May 18, 1989) At the beginning of the ninth season, ''Knots Landing'' producers decided to break tradition with the opening. The intro designed by
Sandy Dvore
Sandy Dvore (August 28, 1934 – November 20, 2020) was an American artist, graphic designer, and title designer.
Biography
Sandy Dvore was born in Chicago, Illinois where he studied at the American Academy of Art from 1953-1954. He moved to ...
now features a slow panning shot over a painting similar to the splattered style of
Jackson Pollock
Paul Jackson Pollock (; January 28, 1912August 11, 1956) was an American painter and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement. He was widely noticed for his " drip technique" of pouring or splashing liquid household paint onto a hor ...
. As the zig-zag panning continues, the cast montage appears, featuring black and white shots of the actors inside of small ovular cameos. The posed cameos were dropped in the 1988–89 season in favour of color close-ups taken from the show.
* (September 28, 1989 – May 17, 1990) The eleventh season of Knots Landing saw the show unveil its fourth title sequence. The new opening designed by Castle/Bryant/Johnsen now showcases sandcastle structures of the cul-de-sac houses as well as some skyscrapers representing Los Angeles on a beach. It is the only version of the opening without pictures of the cast. The camera twists through this sandcastle community with only the actors' names appearing. From the second episode of this season, the opening splits in two. The cutting takes place during the staff credits. The main theme is adapted as well. Between the two parts of the opening is presented a summary of events in the past episodes.
* (September 13, 1990 – May 13, 1993) To redefine the show for the 1990s, Knots Landing made one final change to the opening credits by returning to the famous horizontal scrolling clips style, though with faster-moving, color-framed boxes which moved at different speeds and overlapped each other. This version was designed by Castle/Bryant/Johnsen to be "safe" for the 1990s.
Nielsen ratings
Though not as popular in the ratings as its parent series, ''Knots Landing'' eventually outlasted it and garnered much critical acclaim. The series peaked during the 1983–84 season with a 20.8 rating (when it finished in 11th place) and a 20.0 rating for the 1984–85 season (finishing 9th). This can be attributed, in part, to more dramatic storylines as the series became more soap opera-like, and the gradual inclusion of newer characters to interact with the original cast. By the 1988–89 season, ''Knots Landing'' was ahead of ''Dallas'' in the ratings, though audiences for both shows by this time were less than their earlier years. ''Knots Landing'' ended in 1993, two years after ''Dallas'' ended.
Reruns
Reruns of ''Knots Landing'' were first packaged into
syndication
Syndication may refer to:
* Broadcast syndication, where individual stations buy programs outside the network system
* Print syndication, where individual newspapers or magazines license news articles, columns, or comic strips
* Web syndication, ...
for off-network broadcast in local markets by Lorimar in 1985. Before the show opening, each episode was preceded by a "Lorimar Presents" logo, followed by a narrated recap of the previous episode with the theme music played under. The first 190 episodes (the first eight seasons) were packaged in this manner, but only the first 160 episodes (the first seven seasons) were syndicated to local stations.
''Knots Landing'' later appeared on the cable channel
TNT
Trinitrotoluene (), more commonly known as TNT, more specifically 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, and by its preferred IUPAC name 2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, is a chemical compound with the formula C6H2(NO2)3CH3. TNT is occasionally used as a reagen ...
in September 1992 and ran through May 1993; as with the syndicated run, only the first 160 episodes (the first seven seasons) were broadcast. TNT would later become the first network to broadcast all 344 episodes of ''Knots Landing'' during its second syndication run of the series beginning in 1995.
SOAPnet later acquired the rights to the series when it first went on the air in January 2000. ''Knots Landing'' has not been seen in United States syndication since SOAPnet quit broadcasting it in 2005.
International reruns
The UK satellite channel
CBS Drama
RealityXtra (formerly CBS Drama) is a British free-to-air television channel that centres its programming on American television shows produced by CBS. It is the sister channel of CBS Reality and is owned in partnership by AMC Networks and Para ...
began airing the series in its entirety starting from April 1, 2013. This was the first time the show had been rerun in the UK since the early 2000s when it was shown on UK Gold. Once CBS Drama completed the series in July 2014, the channel immediately began a second round of reruns, followed by a third in 2015.
RTÉ
(RTÉ) (; Irish language, Irish for "Radio & Television of Ireland") is the Public broadcaster, national broadcaster of Republic of Ireland, Ireland headquartered in Dublin. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on RTÉ Television, telev ...
television in
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
broadcast the first seven seasons in an early morning weekend slot in 2011.
Home media
The first season of ''Knots Landing'' was released on DVD on March 28, 2006, in Region 1. Fans of the series lobbied
Warner Home Video
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc. (formerly known as Warner Home Video and WCI Home Video and sometimes credited as Warner Home Entertainment) is the home video distribution division of Warner Bros.
It was founded in 1978 as WCI Home Video ...
via an online petition at www.knotslanding.net for further releases, and Warner Home Video released season two on April 14, 2009. No further seasons have yet been announced for release.
International broadcasts
* In the United Kingdom, the series premiered on
BBC1
BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, ...
on 26 April 1980, in a primetime Saturday night slot. Season 2 began a year later on May 8, 1981, now in a Friday night slot. Season 3 did not begin until September 16, 1983, but only the first 13 episodes of the season were shown, at which point the BBC pulled the series from its Friday night slot with no immediate plans of showing any more episodes. The BBC then brought the series back in October 1986, picking up from the middle of season 3 where they last left off, but now it was screened in the afternoon as part of their new daytime line-up. The BBC continued to screen the series in an afternoon slot until the end, though UK audiences tended to be three to four years behind US audiences. The series concluded on the BBC in January 1996.
* In Australia, the series premiered on the
Seven Network
The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
on February 4, 1981. The series ended on August 2, 1993.
* In France, the show was known as '' Côte Ouest'' (translated as West Coast) and was first shown on
TF1
TF1 (; standing for ''Télévision Française 1'') is a French commercial television network owned by TF1 Group, controlled by the Bouygues conglomerate. TF1's average market share of 24% makes it the most popular domestic network.
TF1 is par ...
in 1988 with a new lyrical theme song (composed by
Haim Saban
Haim Saban (; he, חיים סבן; born October 15, 1944) is an Israeli-American media proprietor, investor, and producer of records, film, and television. A businessman with interests in financial services, entertainment, and media, and an e ...
and
Shuki Levy
Shuki Levy ( he, שוקי לוי; born June 3, 1947) is an Israeli-American music composer and television producer. Levy's best known work is soundtrack compositions for children's television programs of the 1980s, such as ''The Real Ghostbusters ...
and sung in French by French male vocalist Claude Vallois). From 2000, the show was rerun from beginning to end on FoxLife, a now defunct satellite channel broadcasting on CanalSat provider.
* In Germany, the show was known as '' Unter der Sonne Kaliforniens'' (translated as Under the Californian Sun). The show began airing on
ZDF
ZDF (, short for Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen; ; "Second German Television") is a German public-service television broadcaster based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. It is run as an independent nonprofit institution, which was founded by all fe ...
on January 9, 1988.
* In the Philippines, the show was formerly aired on
GMA 7
DZBB-TV, Channel 7 (analog) and Channel 15 (digital), is the flagship TV station of Philippine television network GMA. The station is owned and operated by GMA Network Inc. with its studios are located at the GMA Network Center, EDSA corner ...
.
* In Sweden, the show was called ''JRs bror – Gary Ewing'' (JR's brother – Gary Ewing). The series premiered in 1988 on
TV3 Channel 3 or TV 3 may refer to:
Television
*Canal 3 (Burkina Faso), a commercial television channel in Burkina Faso
*Canal 3 (Guatemala), a commercial television channel in Guatemala
*Channel 3 (Algeria), a public Algerian TV channel owned by EPTV ...
.
* In Ireland, the show was not broadcast on terrestrial TV until 1989 (although viewers with access to BBC were able to watch earlier transmissions).
RTÉ
(RTÉ) (; Irish language, Irish for "Radio & Television of Ireland") is the Public broadcaster, national broadcaster of Republic of Ireland, Ireland headquartered in Dublin. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on RTÉ Television, telev ...
first broadcast the series daily in late 1989 as part of its early afternoon schedule. It proved to be popular and was eventually given an early evening timeslot in February 1991 when RTÉ moved the show (after showing the first nine seasons) from a daily afternoon timeslot, to a weekly primetime Thursday night slot on its sister channel Network Two (now
RTÉ Two
(RTÉ) (; Irish for "Radio & Television of Ireland") is the national broadcaster of Ireland headquartered in Dublin. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on television, radio and online. The radio service began on 1 January 1926, while ...
). All remaining episodes were shown without a break (the end of each season was followed by the first episode of the next season the following week) until Christmas 1993 when the final episode was broadcast followed by the retrospective ''Knots Landing Block Party''.
* In Israel, the show aired from 1990 on The Family Channel (later on renamed as Channel 3) on Cable TV on Fridays evenings at 19:00 for the first four seasons. Later on, it aired on Sundays at 21:45 for the season-and-a-half that followed, from February 1992. In November 1992, the show was rerun from the beginning, every weekday evening at 20:45. All 14 seasons had aired by 1994. ''Back To The Cul-De-Sac'' aired as a holiday special in autumn 1997.
* In Egypt, the series would start broadcast on Egyptian Channel 2 in the early 1990s and would continue to air for several years along with its contemporary ''
Falcon Crest
''Falcon Crest'' is an American prime time television soap opera that aired for nine seasons on CBS from December 4, 1981, to May 17, 1990. The series revolves around the feuding factions of the wealthy Gioberti/Channing family in the California ...
''.
* In Italy, the first season was named ''Da Dallas a Knots Landing'' (translated: ''"From Dallas to Knots Landing"'') though was eventually rebroadcast with the definitive name of ''"California"''. Only nine seasons were aired.
* In Spain, the series was aired by the regional channels under the FORTA umbrella. The series did not arrive in Spain until at least 1992, and initially was only aired in various regions, normally in a weekday afternoon slot accompanying ''Dallas'' which also arrived late in Spain. Neither series completed their run in Spain and neither have been rescreened there in full or in part.
* In New Zealand, the series aired during much of the 1980s, initially in primetime, but later in the decade once a week during the afternoon on TV One, after the daytime soaps ''
The Young and the Restless
''The Young and the Restless'' (often abbreviated as ''Y&R'') is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in fictional Genoa City (not the real-life similarly-named Genoa City, Wi ...
'' and ''
Days of Our Lives
''Days of Our Lives'' (also stylized as ''Days of our Lives''; simply referred to as ''Days'' or ''DOOL'') is an American television soap opera that streams on the streaming service Peacock. The soap, which aired on the American television net ...
''.
* In Finland, the series was aired by a regional channel, Helsinki TV, in mid-1980.
* In Venezuela, the series was on Venezolana de Television (the officially run Venezuelan TV Network), and was titled ''Vecinos y Amigos'' (Neighbors and Friends).
* In Namibia (originally known as South West Africa), the series was played on SWABC and was only shown until 1985.
* In the United Arab Emirates, the series was shown on its English-language network
Dubai 33 Dubai Channel 33 (originally branded as Ch33) was a national television channel transmitting terrestrially out of Dubai in English, targeting the expat community in the U.A.E. It was founded in 1977. Up until the late 1980s, it was a 12-hour channe ...
.
* In Guyana, the series was transmitted on NBTV Channel 9 and later on WRHM Channel 7. The series first aired in December 1994 (as television in Guyana didn't start until 1991) and lasted until February 1997.
* In Kenya, the series was broadcast on KBC (originally called VOK "Voice of Kenya" at the time).
* In Hong Kong, the series premiered on RTV on May 6, 1980, and aired on the channel of that name until July 24, 1982, where it later changed its name to ATV on September 24 in the same year. The show later returned to Hong Kong television on August 27, 1985, and continued airing on ATV until June 28, 1991.
* In Norway, the series first began airing on
TV3 Channel 3 or TV 3 may refer to:
Television
*Canal 3 (Burkina Faso), a commercial television channel in Burkina Faso
*Canal 3 (Guatemala), a commercial television channel in Guatemala
*Channel 3 (Algeria), a public Algerian TV channel owned by EPTV ...
in 1988.
Legacy
In the 2005 ''Knots Landing Reunion'' special, the cast along with creator David Jacobs, said that the lasting legacy of the show was their dealings with many of the issues real middle-class people were having. While its parent show ''
Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
'' was a show about the rich upper class, ''Knots Landing'' had this aspect as well but was much more about the struggles of parenting, drug addictions, spousal issues and many of the evolving problems in the 1980s and early '90s. The reunion special showed such subjects as: women's power in the workforce, the HIV/AIDS crisis and the matter of safe sex, the cocaine epidemic in the 1980s, and the ever-growing spread of crime in America (Michele Lee's character Karen alluded to this in a famous speech about not feeling safe and being happy being a
Pollyanna
''Pollyanna'' is a 1913 novel by American author Eleanor H. Porter, considered a classic of children's literature. The book's success led to Porter's soon writing a sequel, ''Pollyanna Grows Up'' (1915). Eleven more ''Pollyanna'' sequels, know ...
).
Screenwriter Alan Ball declared the show had been an inspiration to him when he created the hit series '' Six Feet Under,'' describing his show as "''Knots Landing'' set in a funeral home".
Screenwriter
Marc Cherry
Marc Cherry (born March 23, 1962) is an American television writer and producer. He is best known for creating the ABC dramedy series ''Desperate Housewives''.
Personal life Early life
Marc Cherry was born in Long Beach and lived briefly in ...
also confirmed the show was an inspiration to him when he created the hit series ''
Desperate Housewives
''Desperate Housewives'' is an American comedy-drama soap opera television series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Marc Cherry, Cherry Productions. It aired for eight seasons on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from Octobe ...
'', describing it as a cross between ''Knots Landing'', '' American Beauty'' and ''
Twin Peaks
''Twin Peaks'' is an American Mystery fiction, mystery serial drama television series created by Mark Frost and David Lynch. It premiered on American Broadcasting Company, ABC on April 8, 1990, and originally ran for two seasons until its cance ...
''.
When asked which character from film and TV history he wished he had created, Mike Kelley, the creator of
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
's popular prime time soap opera ''
Revenge
Revenge is committing a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. Francis Bacon described revenge as a kind of "wild justice" that "does... offend the law ndputteth the law out of office." Pr ...
'', said: "Abby Ewing. Donna Mills, you rocked my world."