Knots Landing

Behind the Scenes

The actors had more input than actors on other 1980s primetime soaps. In 1987, the writers wanted Mack (Kevin Dobson) to have an extramarital affair with Anne (Michelle Phillips.) Michele Lee, who played Mack's wife Karen, protested this to David Jacobs, saying, "There has to be one stable couple on the show." http://www.knotslandingonline.com/joan_van_ark_interview.html The extramarital affair storyline was nixed, and Michelle Phillips, who had been signed to a contract, was written out for a few seasons before returning in 1990. When she did return, Anne did not persue Mack. William Devane, who played Greg Sumner, re-wrote most of his character's dialogue, to the point where, in co-star Michele Lee's words, "most people (on set) were (probably) frightened of him." http://www.knotslandingonline.com/michele_lee_interview.html The Gary/Val/Abby triangle that provided story throughout the mid-1980s was suggested by Ted Shackelford and Joan van Ark in 1980, and the producers hesitated for a year and a half before going through with it in 1982. http://www.knotslandingonline.com/joan_van_ark_interview.html The famous storyline where Valene's babies got kidnapped in 1984 was originally dreamed up as one of scheming Abby's plots. Donna Mills, who played Abby, acknowledged that her character was evil but didn't think she was that evil. Fearing the audience would never forgive her character for kidnapping another woman's babies, she asked the writers to make Abby cause the kidnappings by accident, and the writers complied.

Related Topics:
1987 - 1990 - 1980 - 1982 - 1984

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The writing team of Bernard Lechowick and Lynn Marie Latham (who were the head writers from 1986 to 1991) was controversial among both fans and actors. Their humor-imbued style of writing made them the favorites of Michele Lee, while John Pleshette (who at that point directed "Knots Landing" episodes) felt they were "awful people." http://www.knotslandingonline.com/john_pleshette_interview.html Joan van Ark, whose character was struck by a brain illness in season 12 and proceeded to thereafter go crazy, felt that Latham and Lechowick had turned her character into the "village idiot." Joan van Ark and Donna Mills' favorite "Knots Landing" writer was Peter Dunne, http://www.knotslandingonline.com/joan_van_ark_interview.html who was responsible for making Knots Landing a top ten show in 1984.

Related Topics:
1986 - 1991 - 1984

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Season 13 saw a large ratings drop for the show after creator David Jacobs had a health crisis and pulled back his involvement in production. Jacobs has publically stated that the way he knew the show was in trouble when waitresses at his favorite diner, whom he heard gossiping about Knots Landing every Friday during past seasons, suddenly stopped discussing the show in late 1991. He attempted to save face by shutting down production on November 20, 1991 http://www.knotslandingonline.com/ted_shackelford_interview.html, firing head writer John Romano, and replacing him with Ann Marcus.

Related Topics:
1991 - John Romano - Ann Marcus

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