News
‘Knots Landing’ Premiered 40 Years Ago Today: Remembering The Greatest Primetime Soap Of Them All
It wasn’t Dallas that was proved to be the longest running primetime soap opera, but it’s spin-off Knots Landing, and forty years ago on this date, back on December 27th, 1979, the characters we loved from the Southern California cul-de-sac of Seaview Circle, began to capture our hearts and strike our fancy.
Originally, when the show made its debut on CBS, the series episodes were self-contained, but shortly thereafter, following the sudsy cliffhangers of Dallas, ‘Knots’ changed into the serialized storytelling format, especially with the arrival of bad girl seductress Abby Cunningham (Donna Mills), and when all was said and done, it gave viewers some of the juiciest cliffhangers ever, serving them up on a weekly basis, better than anyone else. ‘Knots’ lasted 14 seasons and would end its run on May 13th, 1993.
‘Knots’ creator, David Jacobs said part of his inspiration for the series came from the classic 1977 film by Ingmar Bergman’s”Scenes from a Marriage”. And as ‘Knots’ fans know, the show revolved around several couples in its humble beginnings; the Ewings (Val and Gary), the Fairgates (Karen and Sid), the Averys (Laura and Richard) and the Wards (Ginger and Kenny). After Don Murray exited the series as Sid, it opened up the canvas for ‘Knots’ heroin, Karen played by Michele Lee. In fact, Michele received the series only acting Emmy nomination for her performances in Sid’s death episodes.
Even though the other primtime soaps were glitzier,(Dallas, Dynasty, Falcon Crest), and in the public conscience (Who Shot J.R? – Dallas), ‘Knots’ continued to be the little engine that could, bringing more realistic stories and issues of the day to the forefront.
Photo: Lorimar
The series finally cracked the top ten, just once, back in 1985. Over the years the cast included: Ted Shackleford, Joan Van Ark, Michele Lee, Kevin Dobson, Donna Mills, William Devane, Costance McCashin, Nicollette Sheridan, Julie Harris, Alec Baldwin, Lisa Hartman, and so many more. In addition, well-known daytime soap stars came to ‘Knots’ including: Jane Elliot, Peter Reckell and Kathleen Noone.
In its 344 episodes during its 14-year run, who can ever forget when … Val’s twins were taken for her, and the cliffhanger when she is almost reunited with them! Karen’s drug addiction, Abby’s daughter, Olivia’s (Tonya Crowe) drug addiction, Laura’s videotape that she leaves for her friends and her beloved Greg Sumner when she succumbs to cancer, an unhinged Jill Bennett forcing pills down Val’s throat at gunpoint to make it look like she committed suicide, and all the other familial storylines, affairs, revenge plots, murder, corporate intrigue and takeovers.
In this primetime soap, it was the women who were the key and central figures of the story and they were played to perfection each in their own right by longtime series stars: Michele Lee, Joan Van Ark and Donna Mills. (And Constance McCashin up to when she was killed-off the show). One thing is for sure … Thursday nights at 10pm have never been the same since its departure.
So, today on its 40th anniversary, check out the videos below which include: the original pilot opening of ‘Knots”, the opening title sequences over the 14 years, the gut-wrenching cliffhanger where Val sees her twins, the emotional moment when Sumner sits alone and weeps as he watches Laura’s goodbye message, Abby dealing with her daughter;’s drug addiction, and the now classic Karen “polyanna” speech.
Then, share your remembrances and favorite moments as we celebrate Knots’ 40th anniversary via the comment section below.
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I sure miss this show! The storyline with Jill Bennett forcing Val to take pills just tore our hearts out. This show emphasized relationships as well a storylines (in contrast to today’s shows that emphasize storylines only). First class show all the way.
YES. & didn’t Jill kill herself, in order to blame Val or Gary?
Yes she did. Took pills, stuck her finger in a little hole in the trunk to shut it. Oh the random things we remember!
YES! I miss that show
This was the best of the prime time soaps…since Peyton Place but i liked them all..Alec Baldwin should had been included as a daytime star as he played Billy on The Docotrs!!!
Donna Mills, Ted Shackleford, Joan Van Ark and and kevin Dobson all did daytime too
Awesome show, simply the best, they don’t make this way anymore!
When will this be on a streaming service!!!
The best soap ever the baby storyline was done so well Joan Van Ark deserved a Emmy just a great soap
Oh Kay, the memories that storyline brings back! I remember rewatching that “Val sees her twins” scene over and over….so powerful. With all the dreck available on DVD, WHERE IS KNOT’S?
Oh, I did the exact same thing. I kept rewinding our Beta vcr over and over. The score music from that scene has been in my head ever since. I still get chills and tears watching it-so glad I’m not alone.
Knots IMO was by far the BEST nighttime drama on television and like you said Michael, Thursday nights have never been the same…of course TV hasn’t been the same in years but that’s a whole other subject…I didn’t start watching Knots until the second year when they decided to make it into a serial…By the way, Jaime Lyn Bauer actually guest star on Knots for an episode.
OMG! I remember watching on Thursday nights. I remember when Sid died & how sad that episode was-
I LOVED Abby and her affair with Gary; WOW. I remember Olivia’s escalating drug addiction. Remember when Paige slept with Karen’s son? OMG. #fire
Oh God,those were the days! I so loved that show, also Dallas, Falcon Crest, starting with Peyton Place and many others. There were so many of those night time soaps, as I called them. Never missed one!
Violet and all…Add Dynasty to list. What a cast. Also on my list, and while not a traditional soap, was The Thornbirds.
rose, I replied days ago, but maybe everyone’s on vacation as none of my replies have been posted, to you and others as well.Anyway, I just wanted to say I also loved Dynasty and do you remember Flamingo Road and the night time spin-off of Lisa with Eileen Fulton, from ATWT? Don’t remember the name.
Violet, wasn’t it called OUR PRIVATE WORLD? The great Eileen Fulton will never be forgotten in DAYTIME history. My mom started watching ATWT in 1968 (ish) just for Lisa.
Was it Our Private World or Our Private Lives?
Rose, thanks for mentioning my all-time favorite, THE THORN BIRDS. We watch the DVDs twice a year and reread the novel every other year. Talk about appointment TV!
You and me both, Violet. All the great actors and good writing that made those shows a part of our lives even today. Looking forward to them got me through many a dull work day!
You just had to go & rebreak my heart with that Grey & Laura clip. Sobs……
Thanks for sharing those clips. I started watching at 10 years old with my grandmother the very first night (yep, she let me stay up until 11). Knots has endured as my favorite television show of all time. The saga of Val’s twins, which culminated from multiple seasons worth of stories involving Lotus Point, The Wolfbridge Group, Dr. Ackerman and every character on the canvas, was the greatest soap umbrella story I have ever seen. To me it was Shakespeare. And that frustratingly fantastic season finale sent my teenage self into a tailspin for the entire summer. Happy 40th!
Yes! I agree with all of this! I was 11 when I started watching, the very first night (it was Christmas break, and we were all at my grandparents’ house)… and I watched every week till the finale in May 1993. Season 6… oh, Val’s babies. It was just… phenomenal stuff… like you said, Shakespeare. Joan Van Ark was just incredible. Goodness, I love and miss this show. So glad I’m not alone.
Knots Landing lasted 14 years and is one of the best. Great cast, great stories and great cul-de-sac! Can we go back for a re-union on CBS?
Great acting by the entire cast! One standout among many was when Val finally saw her twins. Riveting!
I thought that story arc with Olivia’s drug problem was phenomenal. If Val had been Olivia’s mother, she would have just utterly collapsed; if it had been Karen, she’d have spent her time wringing her hands and agonizing over what she’d done wrong and trying to be “supportive” and what not. But not Abby! No indeed; she handled it in true Abby fashion, got right down to work and starting taking care of business–and from that moment, the drugs did not have a chance! It was totally different from the way I had seen kid-is-taking-drugs storylines handled on any other show, and it was totally in character for Abby, and it was a riot to watch. I can remember laughing out loud at that scene where she took the hammer to the bathroom door. Bravissima to Donna Mills; that storyline was probably her best work on Knots–and that’s saying something.
Is the series available on any of the streaming services?
I have searched everywhere and can only find clips on YouTube whereas the others like Dallas are available in full episodes. Anyone have any info on streaming this show?
Knots Landing was much more satisfying than any other nighttime soap because it took itself seriously in the right places. Noteworthy were the use of music, lighting and editing. A lot of classic scenes have already been discussed but I remember one in which Paige went to a hospital to visit her mother. The scene opens with Paige walking towards the camera down a long hallway all alone carrying a flower. Then there’s drama in the hospital room. Then it closes with Paige walking away from the camera down that long hallway and pausing to drop the flower either onto the floor or into the trash. Very well done. Also, the scenes with Anne and Klaudia in which they have voice over thought conversations as well as what they actually say. So clever and fun to watch! One more that I remember is Greg’s monolog with his father’s portrait. At the end of the scene, they used lighting to fade out as though it were on stage instead of in a tv studio. So well done.
News
OLTL Alums & ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s’ Melissa and David Fumero Welcome Their Second Son
Llanview’s Carrr-lott-a should be happy about this, even if it’s ‘bitchy bangs’ who is the baby mama!
News over the weekend has former One Life to Live and star of NBC’s comedy series, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Melissa Fumero (Ex-Adriana) giving birth to her second child, and on Valentine’s Day, no less.
Photo: JPI
Melissa and her husband, the former Cristian Vega of One Life to Live, (and more recent cast member of the drama Power), David Fumero, welcomed into the world their new son.
The beautiful couple named their newborn, Axel. They already have a a 3-year-old son, named Enzo.
The proud parents each to to their Instagram accounts with a special photo and a message. Melissa shared “Welcome to the world, Axel You have made Valentine’s Day my new favorite holiday! 💗❤️❤️💙💙,”
While David shared: “I got the best #valentines #day Present!! Mama is a master at baking these! I’m a lucky dude! Welcome to the world Axel! 2/14/20″
Congratulations to Melissa and David on the newest addition to the Fumero clan!
Share your well-wishes for Melissa, David and little Axel via the comment section below.
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💙 Welcome to the world, Axel You have made Valentine’s Day my new favorite holiday! 💗❤️❤️💙💙
Days Of Our Lives
Chandler Massey Talks More On The DAYS WilSon Departure On The Freddie & Alyssa Show
As promised by Freddie Smith (Sonny, DAYS) earlier in the week, his on-screen co-star, Chandler Massey (Will) was the special guest on the Freddie & Alyssa Show. The podcast spend most of the episode giving Chandler and Freddie’s perspective of what happened and how they found out how they were being written-off Days of our Lives as beloved couple, WilSon.
While Freddie and Chandler do not in any way reveal what happens in the final six episodes they taped, or what was contained in the scripts, Chandler expressed that it wasn’t until they received the six and final script of their promised six episodes, when the show resumed production after its long hiatus, that they realized what was happening.
Photo: JPI
During the podcast, both men talked about their disappointment of being written-off the show; saying that have always been good employees doing what the soap had been required and requested of them throughout their time on the NBC daytime drama series.
Check out more below on the podcast.
So, what do you think of the sentiments shared by Freddie and Chandler in this discussion on their departure from DAYS? Comment below.
Days Of Our Lives
It’s a Wrap For DAYS Galen Gering As He Shares Special Message To Fans: “I Hope You Know How Thankful I Am To Have Had You At My Side”
Today is a bittersweet day for longtime daytime favorite, Galen Gering. While on Wednesday; he is celebrating his birthday! (Happy birthday, Galen!), he is also finishing up his last day at Days of our Lives as Rafe Hernandez; a role he has played for the last ten years-plus.
In a heartfelt posting on his Instagram, Galen shared special thanks to all of his fans who watched his during his run in Salem.
Gering expressed: “Thank you all so much for the incredible birthday wishes. I’ve always seen birthdays as a day of reflection, an opportunity to look back at where I’ve been and where I’m going. So, it’s oddly befitting that today also happens to be my last day at Days. Man…I have such great memories from the last 10 years. Onscreen I’ve fought for marriages and fought evil twins. I’ve put people in prison and been imprisoned. And offscreen, I’ve made friendships that I will have for a lifetime. All the while, I’ve been so fortunate to have the love and support of the greatest fans in the world. I hope you know how thankful I am to have had you at my side. With that said, the journey continues and I hope to bring you along for the ride. Thanks for the memories Days of our Lives. Like sands through the hourglass… Love Y’all”
Share your well-wishes to Galen on his birthday and also for a job well-done as DAYS Rafe via the comment section below. But first see his post with longtime co-stars, Kristian Alfonso (Hope) and Alison Sweeney (Sami).
That is followed by a video clip of Galen’s appearance on the Cliff Dorman Podcast where he first announced his exit from DAYS.
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THE BACHELOR: “I Want Crazy” Hometowns Brings More Drama With Victoria F. And Later A Surprise Elimination
GH’s James Patrick Stuart Talks on Valentin’s Downfall and Potential Rise to Power
General Hospital Delivers Super-Sized Promo: The Truth About Wiley To Be Revealed
OLTL Alums & ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s’ Melissa and David Fumero Welcome Their Second Son
DAYS Wally Kurth On The Exit Of Freddie Smith and Chandler Massey: “These Two Wonderful Actors & Terrific Young Men, Consistently Gave Their Best”
DAYS Kate Mansi Learns The Ropes Of Directing A Multi-Cam Soap In New DOOL App Series
Chandler Massey Talks More On The DAYS WilSon Departure On The Freddie & Alyssa Show
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Valentin’s World Crumbles; Anna & Finn Put On The Brakes
It’s a Wrap For DAYS Galen Gering As He Shares Special Message To Fans: “I Hope You Know How Thankful I Am To Have Had You At My Side”
It’s a Wrap For DAYS Galen Gering As He Shares Special Message To Fans: “I Hope You Know How Thankful I Am To Have Had You At My Side”
DAYS Wally Kurth On The Exit Of Freddie Smith and Chandler Massey: “These Two Wonderful Actors & Terrific Young Men, Consistently Gave Their Best”
GH’s James Patrick Stuart Talks on Valentin’s Downfall and Potential Rise to Power
Eileen Davidson and Galen Gering Join the Cast of Blake Berris’ Upcoming Film, ‘Fangirl’
GH’s William deVry Teases That Julian Will Hit The Sheets Twice: But With Whom?
General Hospital Delivers Super-Sized Promo: The Truth About Wiley To Be Revealed
Freddie Smith Reveals That He and Chandler Massey Will Be Exiting DAYS
Chandler Massey Talks More On The DAYS WilSon Departure On The Freddie & Alyssa Show
Y&R Releases Eric Braeden 40th Anniversary as Victor Newman Promo Ahead Of Tribute Episode
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Valentin’s World Crumbles; Anna & Finn Put On The Brakes
General Hospital Delivers Super-Sized Promo: The Truth About Wiley To Be Revealed
Y&R Releases Eric Braeden 40th Anniversary as Victor Newman Promo Ahead Of Tribute Episode
Y&R To Celebrate The 40th Anniversary of Eric Braeden With Three Special Episodes
General Hospital Releases Extended Promo “We Have To Lean Into Hope”
Knots Landing’s Joan Van Ark, Michele Lee & Donna Mills Share Backstage Memories, Watch Back Classic Scenes & Remember the Cul-De-Sac On Its 40th Anniversary
General Hospital Extended Promo Reveals: Turf War, Cassadine Family Drama & Nelle’s Plan For Wiley Take Center Stage
The Can’t-Miss Week of Days of our Lives: What Happened The Night Adrienne Died? And … More Questions Answered
How Do Your Favorite Soaps Ring In The New Year? (Previews)
‘Knots Landing’ Premiered 40 Years Ago Today: Remembering The Greatest Primetime Soap Of Them All
Holiday Episodes On the Soaps (Previews)
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Days Of Our LivesFebruary 13, 2020It’s a Wrap For DAYS Galen Gering As He Shares Special Message To Fans: “I Hope You Know How Thankful I Am To Have Had You At My Side”
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UncategorizedFebruary 16, 2020DAYS Wally Kurth On The Exit Of Freddie Smith and Chandler Massey: “These Two Wonderful Actors & Terrific Young Men, Consistently Gave Their Best”
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General HospitalFebruary 17, 2020GH’s James Patrick Stuart Talks on Valentin’s Downfall and Potential Rise to Power
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Days Of Our LivesFebruary 12, 2020Eileen Davidson and Galen Gering Join the Cast of Blake Berris’ Upcoming Film, ‘Fangirl’
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General HospitalFebruary 10, 2020GH’s William deVry Teases That Julian Will Hit The Sheets Twice: But With Whom?
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General HospitalFebruary 17, 2020General Hospital Delivers Super-Sized Promo: The Truth About Wiley To Be Revealed
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Breaking NewsFebruary 12, 2020Freddie Smith Reveals That He and Chandler Massey Will Be Exiting DAYS
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Days Of Our LivesFebruary 14, 2020Chandler Massey Talks More On The DAYS WilSon Departure On The Freddie & Alyssa Show