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

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:

Best Friends | Beautiful Woman | Soap | Divorce | Family

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 40 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 / ... (191 episodes, 1979-1987)
Nicollette Sheridan	...	Paige Matheson (179 episodes, 1986-1993)
Julie Harris	...	Lilimae Clements / ... (160 episodes, 1980-1987)
Pat Petersen	...	Michael Fairgate (154 episodes, 1979-1991)

(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)
Beth Brickell		(2 episodes, 1987-1993)
Joan Van Ark		(2 episodes, 1992-1993)
Peter Ellis		(unknown episodes, 1989)
Neal Ahern Jr.		(unknown episodes)
Reza Badiyi		(unknown episodes)
Gabrielle Beaumont		(unknown episodes)
Robert Becker		(unknown episodes)
Menachem Binetski		(unknown episodes)
Jeff Bleckner		(unknown episodes)
Joe Coppoletta		(unknown episodes)
Jerome Courtland		(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)
Michael Lange		(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)
Lorraine Senna		(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
Lynn Marie Latham		(38 episodes, 1985-1991)
David Jacobs		(31 episodes, 1979-1993)
James Stanley		(26 episodes, 1988-1993)
Diane Messina Stanley		(20 episodes, 1986-1991)
John Pleshette		(8 episodes, 1980-1982)
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)
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)
John Romano	....	co-executive producer (unknown episodes)
Richard Winnie	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Christopher Klatman		(22 episodes, 1985-1991)
J.A.C. Redford		(unknown episodes, 1982)
Kennard Ramsey		(unknown episodes, 1990-1991)

Series Cinematography by
Lowell Peterson		(22 episodes, 1990-1993)
Craig Denault		(unknown episodes, 1991-1992)
John Elsenbach		(unknown episodes)
Robert F. Sparks		(unknown episodes)

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

Series Casting by
Anthony Sepulveda		(27 episodes, 1990-1991)
Shawn Linahan		(unknown episodes, 1988-1990)
Camille H. Patton		(unknown episodes)
Mark Saks		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Raymond Beal		(1 episode, 1979)
Ray Markham		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Shannon Litten		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Nina Kent	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Barbara Minster	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Edward E. Vaughan	....	production manager (21 episodes, 1982-1984)
Claude Lawrence Jr.	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes)
Rowe Wallerstein	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rick Tunell	....	first assistant director (18 episodes, 1992)
Bea Ellen Cameron	....	first assistant director: second unit / key second assistant director / ... (unknown episodes, 1987-1993)

Series Art Department
Michael Walsh	....	props (22 episodes, 1991-1992)
Marc Meisels	....	set dresser (8 episodes, 1989)
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)
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 Stunts
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
Audrey Stanzler	....	assistant casting coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mitchell Ray Kenney	....	costumer (2 episodes, 1985)

Series Editorial Department
Josef d'Bache-Kane	....	telecine transfers (unknown episodes, 1983-1984)
Scott Klein	....	master colorist (unknown episodes)
John W. Stuart	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
David Franco	....	music supervisor (unknown episodes)
Bruce Miller	....	conductor / music arranger (unknown episodes)

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

Series Other crew
Greg Richards	....	production assistant (4 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

• CBS Television (1979-1993)
• Lorimar Television
• Roundelay

Distributors

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

Runtime:

60 min (344 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Granada Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

CBS Television

Trivia:

After 4 years of playing Richard Avery, John Pleshette wanted to leave the show in hoping to direct some episodes of Knots Landing, when the producers wouldn't allow him to at that time. Jacobs' gave Pleshette permission to direct the episodes, midway throughout Season 10.

Quotes:

Gregory Sumner: I thought I heard someone splashing out here.
Paige Matheson: I hope you don't mind.
Gregory Sumner: No, suit yourself.
Paige Matheson: I couldn't find a bathing suit.
Gregory Sumner: I can see that.
Paige Matheson: Well, why don't you join me?
Gregory Sumner: No, I never swim in shark-infested waters.
Paige Matheson: [Paige comes out of the pool naked] I couldn't find a towel either.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Grand Opening (#3.10)" (2002)

All-time best of the nighttime serial dramas

The second-longest-running drama on network television, Knots Landing was often overshadowed by the flashier serials Dallas and Dynasty. However, according to a Wall Street Journal article, Knots Landing's audience actually grew when the heyday of the nighttime soaps had passed, and it outlived its competitors. Its remarkable 14-season run was consistent in its use of believable plotlines and characters the viewers could care about. Knots Landing never insulted the intelligence of its audience while developing intricately intertwined relationships among the characters.

The series changed over the years, beginning as a California "Scenes from a Marriage" with four couples living on a cul-de-sac: Dallas transplants Valene and Gary Ewing, who had reunited after 15 years apart; Karen and Sid Fairgate, a community activist and the owner of a car dealership; Laura and Richard Avery, a bored housewife and a lawyer whose marriage was in trouble; and Ginger and Kenny Ward, the newlyweds. (The producers had developed Knots Landing before Dallas but created the latter when CBS wanted something flashier.) Over the years, Sid died and Karen remarried crusading attorney Mack Mackenzie; Richard abandoned Laura, who married politician/industrialist Gregory Sumner and later died; the Wards had numerous spats before moving to Nashville to pursue music careers; and Val and Gary divorced and married a third time. Sid's sister, Abby Fairgate, was introduced as a conniving vixen in the second season; her actions indirectly caused the death of her brother and directly caused the breakup of the Ewings. Others living on Seaview Circle at one time or another included Val's mother Lilimae Clements, second husband Ben Gibson and brother Joshua Rush; Joshua's wife Cathy Geary; Mack's daughter Paige Matheson and her mother Anne; Greg's sister Claudia Whitaker and her daughter Kate; and Pat and Frank Williams, whose family was under the federal witness protection program. Much of the action eventually moved to the Lotus Point resort or the Sumner Group offices, where underhanded business dealings flourished. However, the series ended where it all started, with the surviving original characters returning to the cul-de-sac.

Knots Landing was imbued with a sense of fun that never became camp, despite mind-boggling developments like the "return" of dead singer Ciji Dunne in the form of identical Cathy Geary. At its best, Knots Landing could make you laugh one moment and cry the next, as it did during the two-parter dealing with Laura's funeral. By this time, the actors knew their characters so well that they were able to improvise their own lines, which were incorporated into the script. Fans and TV critics acknowledged Knots Landing as the best of its genre. Perhaps more significantly, the show survived in its Thursday time slot against tough competition including Hill Street Blues and L.A. Law. Even though Knots Landing left the air in 1993, its fans still miss the show--particularly the memorable characters who lived through births, deaths, marriages, divorces, murders and love affairs. Often overlooked but still imitated, Knots Landing is a place where many viewers would like to return.