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

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Creator:

David Jacobs
(more)

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)

(more)

Series Directed by
Lawrence Kasha		(14 episodes, 1987-1990)
David Jacobs		(8 episodes, 1983-1987)
Kevin Dobson		(8 episodes, 1988-1993)
Michele Lee		(7 episodes, 1989-1992)
Joseph B. Wallenstein		(6 episodes, 1981-1982)
John Pleshette		(5 episodes, 1983-1991)
William Devane		(4 episodes, 1989-1992)
Roy Campanella II		(3 episodes, 1985-1987)
Nicholas Sgarro		(2 episodes, 1982-1990)
Beth Brickell		(2 episodes, 1987-1993)
Michael Lange		(2 episodes, 1991-1992)
Joan Van Ark		(2 episodes, 1992-1993)
Peter Ellis		(unknown episodes, 1989)
Neal Ahern Jr.		(unknown episodes)
Gabrielle Beaumont		(unknown episodes)
Robert Becker		(unknown episodes)
Menachem Binetski		(unknown episodes)
Jeff Bleckner		(unknown episodes)
Joe Coppoletta		(unknown episodes)
Linda Day		(unknown episodes)
Craig Denault		(unknown episodes)
Bill Duke		(unknown episodes)
Larry Elikann		(unknown episodes)
Kim Friedman		(unknown episodes)
Andre R. Guttfreund		(unknown episodes)
Randa Haines		(unknown episodes)
Mimi Kennedy		(unknown episodes)
Harvey S. Laidman		(unknown episodes)
Sheldon Larry		(unknown episodes)
Henry Levin		(unknown episodes)
Robert Lewis		(unknown episodes)
Victor Lobl		(unknown episodes)
Nancy Malone		(unknown episodes)
Joseph Manduke		(unknown episodes)
David Moessinger		(unknown episodes)
Edward Parone		(unknown episodes)
John Patterson		(unknown episodes)
David Paulsen		(unknown episodes)
Michael Peters		(unknown episodes)
Ernest Pintoff		(unknown episodes)
Michael Preece		(unknown episodes)
Timna Ranon		(unknown episodes)
Robert Scheerer		(unknown episodes)
Arthur Allan Seidelman		(unknown episodes)
James Sheldon		(unknown episodes)
Charles Siebert		(unknown episodes)
Alexander Singer		(unknown episodes)
Kate Tilley		(unknown episodes)
Paul Tucker		(unknown episodes)
Roger Young		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
David Jacobs		(344 episodes, 1979-1993)
Lynn Marie Latham		(38 episodes, 1985-1991)
James Stanley		(26 episodes, 1988-1993)
Diane Messina Stanley		(20 episodes, 1986-1991)
John Pleshette		(8 episodes, 1980-1982)
Joel J. Feigenbaum		(8 episodes, 1983-1986)
Lawrence Kasha		(8 episodes, 1986-1991)
Peter Dunne		(5 episodes, 1983-1985)
Michael Filerman		(4 episodes, 1983-1987)
William Devane		(4 episodes, 1987-1993)
James Houghton		(3 episodes, 1982)
Mona Houghton		(3 episodes, 1982)
Joseph B. Wallenstein		(2 episodes, 1981-1982)
Michael Petryni		(2 episodes, 1983)
Bernard Lechowick		(2 episodes, 1988-1990)
Loraine Despres		(unknown episodes)
Rob Gilmer		(unknown episodes)
Susan Goldberg		(unknown episodes)
William Hopkins		(unknown episodes)
Don Mueller		(unknown episodes)
Don Murray		(unknown episodes)
John Romano		(unknown episodes)
Lisa Seidman		(unknown episodes)
E. Jeffrey Smith		(unknown episodes)
Rogers Turrentine		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Michael Filerman	....	executive producer (344 episodes, 1979-1993)
David Jacobs	....	executive producer (344 episodes, 1979-1993)
Lawrence Kasha	....	producer / co-executive producer (203 episodes, 1984-1991)
Mary Catherine Harold	....	producer / co-producer (184 episodes, 1986-1993)
Lynn Marie Latham	....	producer (84 episodes, 1988-1991)
Bernard Lechowick	....	producer (84 episodes, 1988-1991)
Joseph B. Wallenstein	....	producer (52 episodes, 1980-1982)
Peter Dunne	....	producer (47 episodes, 1982-1984)
David Paulsen	....	supervising producer (30 episodes, 1985-1986)
Joel Okmin	....	associate producer / co-producer (3 episodes, 1990-1993)
John Romano	....	co-executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Christopher Klatman		(22 episodes, 1985-1991)
Joel Hirschhorn		(3 episodes, 1990)
Al Kasha		(3 episodes, 1990)
Larry Riley		(2 episodes, 1990)
J.A.C. Redford		(unknown episodes, 1982)
Kennard Ramsey		(unknown episodes, 1990-1991)

Series Cinematography by
Lowell Peterson		(22 episodes, 1990-1993)
Craig Denault		(2 episodes, 1990-1992)
John Elsenbach		(unknown episodes)
Robert F. Sparks		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Thomas Petersen		(27 episodes, 1990-1993)
Morton Tubor		(2 episodes, 1990)
Robert Phillips		(unknown episodes)
Howard Terrill		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Anthony Sepulveda		(26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Shawn Linahan		(unknown episodes, 1988-1990)
Camille H. Patton		(unknown episodes)
Mark Saks		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Ray Markham		(3 episodes, 1990-1993)

Series Set Decoration by
Sal Blydenburgh		(3 episodes, 1990-1993)

Series Costume Design by
Shannon Litten		(1 episode, 1993)

Series Makeup Department
Rebecca De Morrio	....	hair stylist (3 episodes, 1990-1993)
Barbara Minster	....	hair stylist (3 episodes, 1990-1993)
Nicky Schillace	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1990-1993)
Jeffrey Hamilton	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1990-1993)
Nina Kent	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Edward E. Vaughan	....	production manager (21 episodes, 1982-1984)
Rowe Wallerstein	....	unit production manager (3 episodes, 1990-1993)
R. Robert Rosenbaum	....	executive in charge of production (2 episodes, 1990)
Claude Lawrence Jr.	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rick Tunell	....	first assistant director (19 episodes, 1992-1993)
Rick Johnson	....	first assistant director (12 episodes, 1986-1987)
Bea Ellen Cameron	....	second assistant director (3 episodes, 1987-1993)
Neal Ahern Jr.	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1990)

Series Art Department
Michael Walsh	....	props (22 episodes, 1991-1992)
Marc Meisels	....	set dresser (8 episodes, 1989)
Gary Seybert	....	property master (3 episodes, 1990-1993)
Kirk S. Heinlen	....	assistant property master (unknown episodes)
Richard M. Kristy	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
James Bailey	....	foley artist (276 episodes, 1979-1990)
Vanessa Theme Ament	....	foley artist (68 episodes, 1981-1984)
Duncan McEwan	....	sound recordist (53 episodes, 1979-1982)
Robb Navrides	....	adr editor (12 episodes, 1991-1992)
Louis C. Williman	....	production sound mixer (3 episodes, 1990-1993)
John Asman	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Alfred J. Carranza	....	assistant sound editor (unknown episodes)
Derek Casari	....	dubbing engineer (unknown episodes)
Marty Church	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Albert Ibbotson	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Nicholas James	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Catt LeBaigue	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Mark L. Mangino	....	dialogue editor (unknown episodes)
George Nemzer	....	supervising sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Sandy Dvore	....	main titles design (57 episodes, 1987-1989)

Series Stunts
Jeffrey McDancer	....	stunts (4 episodes, 1989-1992)
Rick Avery	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Tom Elliott	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Andy Gill	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Larry Holt	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Ray Lykins	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Randy Peters	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Pat Romano	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Gagnier	....	first assistant camera (201 episodes, 1984-1991)
Earl C. Williman	....	gaffer (47 episodes, 1982-1984)
Peter McEvoy	....	second assistant camera (8 episodes, 1985)
Ben Beaird	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
John Bonfield	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Ken Sax	....	still photographer (unknown episodes)
Robert Schoenhut	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Scott C. Williman	....	electrician (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Barbara Miller	....	executive in charge of casting (3 episodes, 1990-1993)
Audrey Stanzler	....	assistant casting coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Annalisa Strickland	....	set costumer (29 episodes, 1987-1988)
Mitchell Ray Kenney	....	costumer (2 episodes, 1985)
Anna Schaeffer	....	costumer (2 episodes, 1990)

Series Editorial Department
Josef d'Bache-Kane	....	telecine transfers (35 episodes, 1982-1984)
Scott Klein	....	master colorist (unknown episodes)
John W. Stuart	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Jerrold Immel	....	composer: theme music (9 episodes, 1987-1993)
Diane Griffen	....	music editor (3 episodes, 1990-1993)
Gregory Sill	....	music supervisor (2 episodes, 1990-1993)
David Franco	....	music supervisor (unknown episodes)
Bruce Miller	....	conductor / music arranger (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Michael Avallon	....	driver (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Audrey Stanzler	....	assistant talent coordinator (35 episodes, 1984-1985)
Greg Richards	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1991)
James Stanley	....	executive script consultant (2 episodes, 1990)
Daniel Veluzat	....	location liaison (2 episodes, 1991)
Lynn Marie Latham	....	story editor (1 episode, 1985-1988)
Geoffrey Ryan	....	location manager (unknown episodes, 1985-1986)
Jon Bell	....	production assistant (unknown episodes, 1990-1991)
Scott Hamner	....	story editor (unknown episodes, 1990-1991)
Lisa Hackett	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Gene Kraft	....	title designer (unknown episodes)
David Michaels	....	production assistant / story editor (unknown episodes)
Don Mueller	....	dialogue coach (unknown episodes)
Irene Oncley	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Bill Sheehan	....	first aid nurse (unknown episodes)
Jeffrey T. Spellman	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Sharon Thurgood	....	studio teacher (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1979-1993)
• Lorimar Television
• Roundelay

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1979-1993) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Warner Bros. Television (1995-) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Castle/Bryant/Johnsen  main title design
• Ediflex Systems  edited on
• Laser Pacific Media  electronic laboratory services by (as Laser-Pacific Media Corp.)
• Pacific Film Laboratories  color (as Pacific Film Laboratory)
• Pacific Sound Services  digital sound editing and re-recording

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:

The theme song, written by Jerold Immel was re-arranged for every season.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in For Pete's Wake! (2007)

Abby vs. VaL

Even though Dallas was much more popular, Knots Landing was a much stronger, more realistic, and better written show. First of all, shows like Dallas and Dynasty insulted viewers intelligence by constantly keeping a character and changing the actor. Remember how Barbara Bel Geddes turned into Donna Reed on Dallas, and then back again. Or how Jeff Colby went to bed with Pamela Sue Martin and woke up with Emma Samms on Dynasty. This is not Broadway where someone just takes over someone else's role. When Constance McCashin left Knots, did a new Laura come on...NO!...she died and we all cried. That's why Knots Landing was a far superior serial. For fourteen years, viewers were engrossed in these people's lives, because you felt like you knew them. The best characters on the show were Val and Abby. And they're friendship turned feud was riveting. It was actually Val who convinced Abby to move to Knots Landing early in Season 2 while they were on a picnic. And she grew a deep attachment to Abby's daughter, Olivia, mainly because she needed to fill the void left when J.R. took her daughter, Lucy, away from her. It was Val who comforted Abby when her ex-husband ,Jeff, stole her children. And it was Val, not their Aunt Karen, who was Brian and Olivia's second mom. All of this made it even more scandalous when Abby had an affair with Gary. These women lived across the street from each other, and cared about each other. But Abby wanted Gary. The best scene of the entire series is during the episode "China Dolls", when Val finally confronts Abby. The seconds when Val is walking across that street from her house to Abby's seem like hours. And when she opens that door and Abby comes down those stairs in that pink bathrobe...it was so HOT! When Val asks Abby if she is having an affair with her husband, she looks right in Val's eyes and says "I'm not saying we're having an affair, and I'm not saying we're not, I am saying I can have him anytime I want him". When Val slaps Abby in the face, Abby actually gives her a look like...I know I deserved that because I know what I'm doing is wrong, but I want Gary and I don't care, so I'll take the hit. You actually feel like your watching your neighbors fight. There are no women like this on television anymore. These ladies could act. Donna Mills makes Joan Collins look like a cartoon character. And Joan Van Ark makes Linda Evans seem like an empty vessel. The scenes between Val and Abby over the next few seasons continued to shine. Val finally gets her revenge by becoming pregnant with Gary's babies, who is now married to Abby. And then Abby makes a comment to Scott Easton saying that she wishes the babies were never born. The fact that Easton takes her seriously makes the way for the best storyline of the series, and it is when Abby finally comes to her senses that we see how she truly cares for Val. When Abby finds Val alone on the beach and tells her she knows where the babies are, Val immediately knows she is going to see her twins. If it would have been anybody else, she probably wouldn't have believed them. But Abby doesn't mess around. When Abby is driving Val to her babies, they are alone in the car together, and you can feel all the years of history these two women have together. They were once like family, then bitter enemies, but through it all they are still in each others lives. They may not like each other, but they KNOW each other very well! Years later, when Laura dies, Val and Abby hug each other, sharing the pain of losing someone so close to them. Even though they don't like each other, they are once again sharing a very intimate moment. When they hug, you can feel they are reaching out to each other, actually comforting each other. And when Jill tries to kill Val and everyone thinks she tried to kill herself, Abby genuinely seems devastated by the news. When Val gets out of the hospital, Abby confronts her in Karen's kitchen, offering to help her in any way she can. And she REALLY means it. And now having to deal with psycho Jill, Val realizes that Abby is not so bad after all. The dynamics between these two actresses was phenomenal and understated. While Karen may have served as the shows backbone, it was Val and Abby who gave the show life, and spice. Both characters added depth and layers to the show that are unfounded on any other soap. Joan Van Ark, as the passive-aggressive Valene, who manages to drag everyone into her dramas and make her problems seem like the greatest problems in the world. And Donna Mills, as Abby, the greatest bitch in the history of television. Joan Collins' Alexis, and later Heather Locklears' Amanda on Melrose Place, were nothing more than Abby wanna-be's. No other bitch in television history had the multi-layered humanity of Abby Fairgate-Cunningham-Ewing. Even though she was a schemer and a manipulator, she had morals. She loved her children, and she would hurt people to get what she wanted, but nothing they couldn't recover from. Mac Macenzie once said..."Abby doesn't kill, she gets even". And that about sums it up. How amazing for once to see a woman not be a victim, and not have to pay for not being a victim. Through all their fascinating story lines, Val and Abby seem most real when they are playing off each other. And their feuds were the most dramatic moments of the series. If there is ever another Knots Landing reunion, how nice it would be to see Val and Abby sit down together for a cup of tea, and reminisce about all the insanity they've been through together.