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

User Rating:

6.4/10   

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:

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

Quotes:

Abby Fairgate Cunningham Ewing Sumner: Give it to me!
Olivia Cunningham Dyer: Give you what?
[Abby pushes the cocaine on her nose and shoves it into her nostril]
Abby Fairgate Cunningham Ewing Sumner: Give me your car keys.
Olivia Cunningham Dyer: I have to have a car to go to school.
Abby Fairgate Cunningham Ewing Sumner: I told you I would not allow you to use drugs, you're not going to school. Give me your house keys.
Olivia Cunningham Dyer: What are you gonna do? Lock me out?
Abby Fairgate Cunningham Ewing Sumner: No, I'm not gonna lock you out. I'm gonna lock you in with me.
Brian Cunningham #2: [on a different show, Abby chops down the bathroom door, to stop Olivia from snuffing cocaine] Mom!
Abby Fairgate Cunningham Ewing Sumner: Go to bed, Brian.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Designing Women: And Justice for Paul (#1.15)" (1987)

one of TV's all time best dramas

Knots Landing,the TV stalwart through the 80's and some of the 90's was one of TV's best dramas. The characters were so real,they became as well known as family members. The series excelled in complex characters. From the strong women like Karen, Laura,Paige and Abby to the utterly fascinating flawed men like Greg Sumner and Gary Ewing.The show was not without its mistakes- not all the serpentine,complicated plots worked, and the reliance of the plots in later episodes on insane stalkers, was predictable. Nevertheless, when Knots stories jelled,the effects were often breathtaking. Who can forget the great moments like Sid's death and Karen's coping, Abby's marrying Greg in the middle of his romance with Paige, Laura's funeral,the return of Val's twins, the body under the cement, Olivia's drug addiction and Abby's intervention, Jill's shocking villainy revealed to Val...the list of great Knots moments goes on.There hasn't been a show like it on TV since. It is sorely missed.