The eighties was definitely the decade of the nighttime soap. Fans flocked to Dallas, Dynasty and Falcon Crest to see how the super rich lived, worked and played. Created by David Jacobs (one-time writer of Family and later producer of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman) in conjunction with producer Michael Filerman (who also co-produced Falcon Crest), Knots Landing was initially rejected by CBS in 1978, because they preferred the more flashy and flamboyant Dallas. However, after Dallas became a huge success, CBS asked Jacobs to retool Knots Landing as a spinoff of Dallas, hoping to extend it’s success. It’s safe to say the plan worked like a charm; both Dallas and Knots Landing ran for fourteen seasons.
According to the series producers, Knots Landing was loosely inspired by the 1973 Ingmar Bergman movie, Scenes from a Marriage but with four marriages. However, by the second season, the writers to move away from that original premise in favor of a more typical soap opera, complete with copious amounts of bed hopping and backstabbing. Much of this activity is due to the arrival of Donna Mills’ Abby Cunningham to the Seaview Circle cul-de-sac. My friends and I used to refer to her as J.R. Ewing in drag. Right from the start, Abby mixes things up and she likes it that way.
Here’s a brief backstory of the series and its connection to Dallas. Gary Ewing (Ted Shackelford) was the son of Jock Ewing and Miss Ellie. Considered the black sheep of the family, he became an alcoholic and was never treated as an equal by his father and eldest brother J.R. However, Gary was loved by his mother and younger brother Bobby. Gary met Valene (Joan Van Ark) when he was 17 years old and she was 15 years old. They were married briefly and Gary left Southfork Ranch (and later Valene). With Gary gone, J.R. had Valene followed and run out of town as he took her daughter (and manipulated Gary) away from her. Several years have passed and they remarried. As a wedding present, Miss Ellie bought the couple a house on the quiet cul-de-sac, Seaview Circle. Gary, still struggling to stay sober, has a job at Knots Landing Motors, where he’s worked his way up to Vice-President. K.L. Motors is owned by mechanic/engineer Sid Fairgate (Don Murray), who is also Gary’s neighbor. Laid back Sid is married to outspoken activist Karen Fairgate (Michele Lee). The couple has three teenage children: Diana (Claudia Lonow), Eric (Steve Shaw), and Michael (Patrick Petersen). Gary and Val’s other neighbor’s are newlyweds Kenny and Ginger Ward (James Houghton, Kim Lankford). However, this season their marriage is on the rocks because Kenny was having an affair with one of his singers. However, unexpected developments just might bring the couple back together. Also living in the cul-de-sac are unemployed attorney Richard Avery (John Pleshette), a egotistical womanizer and his wife Laura (Constance McCashin), is moving quickly up the ladder at her real estate office – and making more money in one commission than Richard made all year. Into that mix blows Abby Cunningham (who happens to be Sid’s sister), with her sexy swarm, big attitude and two pre-teen children.
While Sid somehow remains oblivious to his younger sister’s scheming ways. Karen is suspicious of everything she says and does. However, the series producers are anything but subtle. If Abby isn’t walking around in short shorts, she’s wearing a bikini and taking a dip in a pool or hot tub. She flirts with virtually every male in town and makes it her personal mission to destroy both Richard and Gary’s marriages.
While Knots Landing was often considered the “middle class” Dallas, these folks obviously had more money than the average middle class American, even if they weren’t rolling in money the way the folks over at the Southfork Ranch were. This fact is vividly pointed out in several storylines during season two. At the begin of the season when Sid is arrested for rape, the woman who is falsely accusing him of the crime, lives in a total dump with an equally conniving mother who when warned by Karen what a trial will do to them both, just waves her hand and says, “Look at this place! Trial is going to be a vacation!” The economic divide between the two is as big as Texas. In Moments of Truth, a group of thugs invade Ginger’s baby shower and the female leader says to Karen, “Husband, kids, decent house, nice car. Great American dream, right? People like you: rich, pretty, privileged people. You buy what you want. People like me – we never could. And it gets harder every day. Lady don’t you understand? There’s a war going on between the haves and the have-nots. People like you and people like me.
Even though the folks in Seaview Circle are clearly more than middle class, at least for the second season producers did seem to be trying to create a more issue oriented show than their sister series. Even the statement by the thug eluded to some series economic issues. In the midst of a lot of bed hopping, the writers took on such serious issues as Teen drug use and sex. Both these issues are handled with a surprising degree of sensitivity, given the fact that it’s a soap opera where the adults have uncontrollable libidos. Make no mistake though, in the end, Knots Landing: The Complete Second Season is a traditional eighties soap: cat fights, backstabbing and bed hopping; just the way we liked them.
Here are the 18, one-hour episodes of the four-disc box set Knots Landing: The Complete Second Season, as described on its insert:
DISC ONE
Hitchhike
No good deed goes unpunished: Sid picks up a hitchhiker, who promptly accuses him of rape.
Hitchhike Part II
As Sid’s rape drama draws to a close, a new drama begins: gorgeous, conniving Abby Cunningham settles in Knots Landing.
Remember the Good Times
Gary introduces fellow alcoholic Earl Trent to A.A.. Karen has her first showdown with Abby.
Chance of a Lifetime
Career moves: Gary cozies up with crooks; Richard quits his job for a plum post with a big Chicago law firm.
Kristin
“She’s from Dallas.” Not content with ruining loves in Big D, Kristin Shepard extends her talents to Knots Landing.
DISC TWO
Step One
Karen and Diana patch up their tattered relationship when they Put On a Happy Face.
Breach of Faith
The scandal is juicier than a T-bone steak when tempers and libidos heat up at a cul-de-sac barbecue.
Scapegoats
After a run-in with Frank and Roy, Gary needs $50,000 – fast. Who has that kind of dough? Enter J.R. Ewing.
A Family Matter
J.R. is in town for an oil convention – and a round of backstabbing and power plays. So Cal style.
Choices
Rejections slips. Sid is oblivious to Linda’s seduction, Richard gives Laura the brush-off and Abby tires of Richard.
DISC THREE
A State of Mind
When her ex files for custody of their children, Abby fights back with her most effective weapon: sex.
Players
Linda finally has Sid right where she wants him: lip to lip and miles from home after their car conveniently breaks down.
The Loudest Word
Brotherly love. Bobby Ewing arrives in Knots Landing to lend Gary support when Val undergoes surgery.
Moments of Truth
Ginger’s baby shower ends in suspense and terror when armed robbers take the partygoers hostage.
DISC FOUR
Man of the Hour
A visiting teen’s weakness for weed ensnares Eric in lies, family strife and near tragedy.
More Than Friends
Earl Trent suggests a can’t-fail plan to Val: sleep with me to get revenge on our cheating spouses.
Designs
J.R. is back in town. So is trouble: Sid’s new, unpatented engine design is stolen.
Squeezeplay
White-knuckle time: Jeff kidnaps his kids, the FBI runs a sting to nab Frank and Roy, and someone drains the brake fluid from Sid’s car.
Knots Landing: The Complete Second Season is presented in 1.33:1 full screen; there are some compression issues and the episodes have a generally fuzzy appearance. The colors are a bit faded but this is not surprising since the episodes are nearly 25 years old.
The Dolby Digital English mono audio track accurately represents the original broadcast presentation. Dialogue is fairly clear, though you may notice a slight hiss if you’re watching on a home theater system. Subtitles in English and French are available, as well as closed captioning for the deaf and hearing impaired.
This set has no special features.
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