Knots Landing

[kalbir]

Val's babies and Ava Gardner arc were the highlight of season 6 and to me the final 10 episodes of season 6 were the peak of the series.

Empire Valley started good in season 6 but became a mess in season 7.

[adrnyc]

It might be because I watched and enjoyed Dallas so much that I'm enjoying Season 7 of Knots since this is the year the two swapped producers/writers. I'd loved Seasons 4 and 5 of Knots but Season 6 just hit storylines I don't enjoy, I guess.

Funny enough (because they're both cul-de-sac shows,) I did the same thing with Desperate Housewives when I binged it. I disliked Season 6 so much that I stopped about 10 episodes in and skipped to the end. Had I not known that Vanessa Williams came on in Season 7, I probably would've stopped watching it altogether. (Glad I didn't though cuz VW was a shot in the arm for that show!)

[te.]

Exactly. Look at the Rita storyline on Dynasty - it dragged on way too long. On a daytime soap a few months of a impersonator switch is nothing.

Part of that is of course that prime time soaps have smaller ensembles, so dragging it out for too long doesn't really work since you end up in a stale-mate position. Add that long-term, actors leave prime time soaps after a few years and recasting doesn't really work in prime time. 

[Khan]

Exactly.

Plus, a primetime soap is just designed for a different kind of audience, one who might not typically follow a continuing drama (although, these days, what series isn't continuing, lol).  I don't want to say primetime soaps have to be more plot-driven, but you certainly don't have the luxury of time to develop characters that you do on daytime.  Therefore, characters have to be bolder and easier to classify; stories have to move quicker and be more linear; episodes themselves have to have more self-contained elements; and there have to be more allowances for spectacles like explosions and car crashes and whatnot, because the more sedate and studio-bound you are on a primetime soap, the more you risk boring the audience.

In fact, I always compare it to a televised sports event: a daytime soap is like watching the actual game, while a primetime soap is like watching the highlights later that night on the evening news.

Especially when nothing was happening other than Krystle being locked up for months and Rita attempting to murder Blake.  At the very least, it could have been used to launch several different storylines - "Krystle" assumes control of Denver Carrington and wages war against Alexis!  "Krystle" becomes attracted to Dex and the two have a torrid affair!  ANYTHING! - instead of just staying on the same note episode after episode and making everyone look utterly foolish.

Edited January 5 by Khan

[MissPalmer]

Please register in order to view this content

KL Spanish opening!

[DRW50]

Great find @MissPalmer

I don't believe this is on Youtube anymore so I am reuploading. A very grounded, if somewhat brittle, interview with Claudia Lonow. The most interesting part is probably when she says she doesn't care that she isn't in the opening, she's just glad to work. And of course not long after she got in the credits she was written out...

Please register in order to view this content

 

Edited January 7 by DRW50

[AbcNbc247]

Bad news, guys 

It seems that the Altadena mansion that was featured in the episode, “The Three Sisters” was destroyed in the wildfires. 

[DRW50]

That's awful. Such a beautiful location and such a unique episode. 

[Reverend Ruthledge]

I find Claudia Lonow very appealing in this interview and found Diana Fairgate so repugnant. It's a little discombobulating. 

Edited January 11 by Reverend Ruthledge

[AbcNbc247]

Out of all KL’s self contained episodes, it was one of my favorites.

Edited January 11 by AbcNbc247

[Chris 2]

Better than “Land of the Free”?

[DemetriKane]

Me too! I thought it was a fascinating idea. I wish it had happened. 

[Khan]

There was a history of cancer on both Gary and Val's sides of the family, so I thought it would've been powerful to see what would happen if Betsy or Bobby had been diagnosed with some form of cancer.  How would Gary and Val cope with the very real possibility of losing one of their children?  Would Gary be tempted to fall off the wagon again?  Would Val somehow find the strength to pull herself and Gary through the ordeal?  

[te.]

Donna Mills, Joan Van Ark and Michele Lee are putting together their own podcast:

https://michaelfairmantv.com/donna-mills-joan-van-ark-michele-lee-developing-knots-landing-themed-podcast/2025/01/15/

 

I'm happy about this! I've been enjoying Still the Place with Courtney, Laura and Daphne so I was actually hoping they'd do this. 

[Chris B]

As I was waiting for the show to be added to streaming, I bought the first two seasons on DVD to begin my rewatch early (perfect timing btw). There is commentary with JVA and Ted Shackelford and Joan did such an amazing job of preparing for it that I'd love to hear what she has to say on a podcast. The contrast between the two was so nice. She was able to provide details about the lighting, sets, directors and so many other things.