Knots Landing

[Soaplovers]

It's why I liked in the reunion movie that Paige finally decided to choose herself instead of being always second choice for Greg.  

[Chris B]

I think it would’ve just been a mystery story but their chemistry was so strong that I wouldn’t be surprised if they went there with it. 

I think it would’ve just been a mystery story but their chemistry was so strong that I wouldn’t be surprised if they went there with it. 

[Khan]

I think Ann Marcus was planning to have Val unearth some big secret about Greg in the course of writing his biography.  (My money was on a long-lost son.)

Edited May 19, 2023 by Khan

[SoapDope]

I think I remember reading it was Val finding Laura still alive. 

[Khan]

It would certainly tie in with that scene of Greg visiting Laura's gravesite in the season 13 finale.  But I think any plans to bring back Laura would have been doomed to fail.  Constance McCashin was irreplaceable, IMO, and given her feelings about being let go from the show, I doubt the producers could have convinced her to return, too.  In a perfect world, though, they could have lured her back - either as Laura, or as her twin or lookalike.

Edited May 20, 2023 by Khan

[SoapDope]

I agree. CM was given the shaft and would probably never return. They would have had to do some serious courting/butt kissing to make her even consider it. 

Speaking of those last seasons, why was Stacy Galina (Kate) considered such a find ?  Even when they did the 1997 reunion she was brought back with Gary's child in tow and given major airtime. 

[Khan]

It boggles my mind to this day, @SoapDope, lol.  I truly don't know what the show saw in Galina that they brought her back as a new character after killing her off as Mary Frances.

One of my biggest issues with the Lechowicks is how often their casting choices felt lacking.  This is true not just on KNOTS LANDING, but on all the primetime shows they worked on: "Homefront," "Second Chances," "Hotel Malibu," "That's Life," "Wild Card," etc.  For every Michelle Phillips or Nicollette Sheridan, there were too many Penny Peysers and Melinda Culeas.

Edited May 24, 2023 by Khan

[kalbir]

One of several sweet young things that the CBS primetime soaps got on the cheap in the off the rails plus budget mode era. See also Cathy Podewell, Kimberly Foster, Lar Park Lincoln, Andrea Thompson.

[Soapsuds]

I loved Lar Park Lincoln. The rest including Galant were horrible.

[Vee]

Andrea Thompson has had a real weird career. I will credit her for leaving CNN at the height of the Iraq War and speaking out at a very dangerous time to be doing that, whether her exit was really about that conflict or her becoming a minor scandal for the network because of her racy resume.

[Khan]

Kimberly Foster and Cathy Podewell were appropriate choices for the kind of show that DALLAS had become by the late '80's and early '90's.  Andrea Thompson (and Gisele) might have been the worst thing to happen to FC - yes, worse than even Kristian Alfonso, lol.

[Chris B]

These are all strong, dynamic young actresses who fit well on their shows. Stacy Galina was dull as dishwater. I also think it was a mistake to kill off Mary Frances and bring her back as Kate. 

[kalbir]

Nicollette Sheridan did not become a regular cast member until Season 10, but did you find that she ate the show during the final five seasons?

[Soapsuds]

Funny how they used names of fictional characters with real names of the Knots crew.

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[DRW50]

Her brief scenes with Greg as Mary Catherine packed a real punch, and someone seemingly realized it had been a mistake to kill that character off. The idea of having her under the thumb of a control freak mother, and reminding Greg of his failures as a father, was not bad. When they moved away from that and just started writing her as a generic heroine in season 13, there was nothing of value to be found.