"Knots Landing" (1979) TV series 1979-1993

Creator:

David Jacobs

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14

Release Date:

27 December 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A popular night time soap opera, it followed the adventures of five families living in a small California community: Gary and Valene Ewing...

Plot Keywords:

California | Divorce | Soap | Marriage | Soap Opera

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 41 wins & 44 nominations

Cast

Michele Lee	...	Karen MacKenzie / ... (344 episodes, 1979-1993)
Ted Shackelford	...	Gary Ewing (333 episodes, 1979-1993)
Joan Van Ark	...	Valene Ewing / ... (319 episodes, 1979-1993)
Kevin Dobson	...	M. 'Mack' Patrick MacKenzie (287 episodes, 1982-1993)
William Devane	...	Gregory Sumner (259 episodes, 1983-1993)
Donna Mills	...	Abby Ewing / ... (233 episodes, 1980-1993)
Constance McCashin	...	Laura Avery / ... (190 episodes, 1979-1987)
Nicollette Sheridan	...	Paige Matheson (179 episodes, 1986-1993)
Pat Petersen	...	Michael Fairgate (163 episodes, 1979-1991)
Julie Harris	...	Lilimae Clements / ... (160 episodes, 1980-1987)

Runtime:

60 min (344 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-14 | Australia:PG | Iceland:12 (some episodes) | Iceland:L (some epiosodes) | Australia:M (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

Granada Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Trivia:

Two cast members remained with the series from the first episode in 1979 until the final episode in 1993: Michele Lee and Ted Shackelford. Lee is the only actor to have appeared in all 344 episodes.

Quotes:

Lilimae Clements: I know love is blind, but is it deaf and dumb too?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Night of 100 Stars II (1985) (TV)

The nighttime soap that ran the longest

I got into Knots Landing during its 4th season and I didn't watch it when it first began and when primetime soaps were becoming an in thing I wasn't interested in "Knots Landing" mainly because of the title and because it didn't hold viewers like the other shows (i.e. "Dynasty", "Dallas" and "Falcon Crest", but after watching it I became totally hooked on this show. I like the structure of the show where they all lived on the same block and took place of their lives and who were sleeping (mainly Abby) with who. This was a soap opera and now that I think of that show it was more interesting than "Dynasty" (which a show I cannot stand to look at on SoapNet), "Dallas" and "Falcon Crest". I was glad that they didn't have to wear these $10,000 dress (the female characters that is). Nor they made themselves jokes for a drama. Because it was more of a realistic drama than the other nighttime shows. I like the topics of the characters such as Gary's alcoholism, Karen's addiction to painkillers and Olivia's abuse on drugs. These characters had real issues and it made the show more to look at. I did catch the reruns on cable and was amazed how much I missed out on such as Sid's car accident, Abby and Richard's affair, and Abby's affair with Gary. Abby was the best! She was better than Alexis Carrington and was more real. She was soft hearted when it came to her kids, but Abby was more interesting than Alexis on "Dynasty". I remember when they fazed out on Kenny, Ginger and Richard which was sad because I did like Kenny and Ginger. When they brought on Greg and Ben it was cool. One of the only characters that I didn't like was Diana Fairgate. I was so glad when the actress Claudia Lonow was gone. I was happy they brought back Lisa Hartman (Black)as Cathy Geary than her first stint (Ciji Dunne). But Cathy was boring. They could of gave Lisa a little better to do. Now when Jill came on I thought her and Mack would of got it on, but enter Gary who had it on. I love Teri Austin and thought she was so beautiful. But it was noted that the only way to get through Gary's heart is to get him past Val (who was so boring, but I did say Gary and Val always belong together and thank God that CBS allowed to keep the show on to put them back together for a couple of more seasons) but it was the best finale they ever had when Jill attempts to murder Val. (I always remember that one because I was in my senior year in high school when that happened). But Jill bit the DUST!!! I also like Paige and all about her when the show focused on her because she was this young heroine, that all the women was not a young spring chicken (Karen, Val, Laura and not Abby). But it worked out for the show. I did like her love scenes with Tom (Joseph Gian). But the show was geared to put her and Greg together which they had great chemistry!!!! But of course I loved it when Greg was together with Laura and I cried myself when Laura died and how was Greg going to get by without Laura. I thought of her as one of those special characters that was sympethetic, unselfish, classy lady and the producers should of did whatever to keep Constance McCashin on the show. But there is Karen (Michele Lee, who was the best actress on the show). Karen was so awesome. She had her moments like putting Abby in her place, like Greg (even sometimes she wanted to kill him). Karen was great!!! I also like the fact that Abby started out as a garage girl going after horny alcoholics and a sleazeball (Richard), affair with Senator Greg and that ambitious Peter Hollister who wound up dead. This show was so good that it ran for 14 seasons and I wish it was still around for another 14 seasons. Maybe CBS could do another special like it did over 6 years ago. The best primetime soap in history