The last weekly episode of the TV series 'Knots Landing' went on air in May 1993. About 14% of the 93 million plus TV households at the time were counted watching (roughly 13 million homes with TV sets). It was the 13th most popular program that week, tied with 'The Wonder Years'. Susan Lucci observed, "Obviously, there must be a reason why 'Dallas' and 'Knots Landing' have survived for so long. They're both such good shows and so well written and with wonderful casts."
Michael Filerman made the point "We were always a stepchild to 'Dallas' and were always treated as such." It was noted, "'Knots Landing' was born in an altogether different TV era." However Michele Lee maintained, "Originally, we didn't know. In year 2 or 3, we were saying, 'Gee, this could last 7 years'. And in year 10, 11 and 12, I was saying, 'If they play their cards right, this could go 20' which I still maintain it probably could have...People who never watched our show will never know how delightful our show was on so many levels for so long."
Michael Filerman made the point "We were always a stepchild to 'Dallas' and were always treated as such." It was noted, "'Knots Landing' was born in an altogether different TV era." However Michele Lee maintained, "Originally, we didn't know. In year 2 or 3, we were saying, 'Gee, this could last 7 years'. And in year 10, 11 and 12, I was saying, 'If they play their cards right, this could go 20' which I still maintain it probably could have...People who never watched our show will never know how delightful our show was on so many levels for so long."
In 1997, the 2-part sequel 'Back to the Cul-de-Sac' went on air. The first part of the 'Knots Landing' reunion and the 'Ellen's' coming-out episode went head to head. On that night, one in every 3 TV sets switched on were watching the Ellen DeGeneres sitcom (roughly 36 million viewers altogether). Joan Van Ark believed, "An audience is going to return to characters that they felt they knew and that they connected with every Thursday night. And they want to reconnect with the people...They want to be with those friends again."
Of the character of Valene Joan voiced, "I see her as the living embodiment of Tammy Wynette singing 'Stand by Your Man.'" Jazz musician Stan Kenton confessed in 1975, "I hate country and western music. It is ignorant music and perverted music. As a professional musician – a jazz musician- I abhor it. The country and western music is...the lowest form of contemporary music. It's a lot of whining and crying...It is music for the masses...Country music is like television..."
"'Knots Landing,'" David Jacobs disclosed, "was never about its plots. What it's really about is the people that we've seen (since 1979). They're dealing with the same problems they dealt with earlier, but in a different time and at a different point in their lives." Teri Austin made known, "I told the writers I didn't want to be only a bitchy-style vixen. I didn't want to be a Joan Collins. I didn't want to be nasty for nasty's sake. There is some of that in Jill, but she's also a career woman. I think (in 1986) you'll see her being used as a lawyer more and actually going into court and I like that about her. A lot of the other women don't really have jobs and you never actually see them working."
Julie Harris played Joan Van Ark's on-screen mother, "I like the character. I like her being vulnerable and selfish and contrary and self-deceiving. I think she always feels she's going to be a country singer in Nashville. She lived in those dreams, but we've gotten away from that. (In 1985) the story was with my son, played by Alec Baldwin, but he died. He was in an accident, which I sort of precipitated. I was not a good mother. I was always chasing rainbows."
The Roches sisters had been singing together since 1975. Terre Roche made the observation in 1990, "I was just thinking that in 1979, when we did our first record, it was almost a novelty to be playing acoustic guitar. And that record was done live with 3 acoustic guitars. Now, that's changed. People are playing combinations of acoustic and electric instruments, which we're doing also – it's the 3 of us and we have 3 guitars and some synthesizers." One critic remarked back in 1980, "There is not much middle ground encountered in assessments of The Roches. Generally, people either love them or hate them." But Terre argued, "That's definitely a much better reaction. The worst thing is when people don't notice. That's when you start to think that maybe you should be doing something else. When people hate you, at least you know that you’re having a really strong effect."
"When ('Knots Landing') did end," David admitted, "there was a certain relief. There was a lot less work to be done. But David Selznick once ran into Somerset Maugham who had retired as a writer...And Selznick asked him, 'Do you miss writing?' And Maugham said, 'No, but I miss the company of my characters'. That sort of expresses the way I feel about 'Knots Landing'...You never get away from it, even though it's not on the air anymore. It's still there, and it's nice to see them again (in 1997)."
Of the character of Valene Joan voiced, "I see her as the living embodiment of Tammy Wynette singing 'Stand by Your Man.'" Jazz musician Stan Kenton confessed in 1975, "I hate country and western music. It is ignorant music and perverted music. As a professional musician – a jazz musician- I abhor it. The country and western music is...the lowest form of contemporary music. It's a lot of whining and crying...It is music for the masses...Country music is like television..."
"'Knots Landing,'" David Jacobs disclosed, "was never about its plots. What it's really about is the people that we've seen (since 1979). They're dealing with the same problems they dealt with earlier, but in a different time and at a different point in their lives." Teri Austin made known, "I told the writers I didn't want to be only a bitchy-style vixen. I didn't want to be a Joan Collins. I didn't want to be nasty for nasty's sake. There is some of that in Jill, but she's also a career woman. I think (in 1986) you'll see her being used as a lawyer more and actually going into court and I like that about her. A lot of the other women don't really have jobs and you never actually see them working."
Julie Harris played Joan Van Ark's on-screen mother, "I like the character. I like her being vulnerable and selfish and contrary and self-deceiving. I think she always feels she's going to be a country singer in Nashville. She lived in those dreams, but we've gotten away from that. (In 1985) the story was with my son, played by Alec Baldwin, but he died. He was in an accident, which I sort of precipitated. I was not a good mother. I was always chasing rainbows."
The Roches sisters had been singing together since 1975. Terre Roche made the observation in 1990, "I was just thinking that in 1979, when we did our first record, it was almost a novelty to be playing acoustic guitar. And that record was done live with 3 acoustic guitars. Now, that's changed. People are playing combinations of acoustic and electric instruments, which we're doing also – it's the 3 of us and we have 3 guitars and some synthesizers." One critic remarked back in 1980, "There is not much middle ground encountered in assessments of The Roches. Generally, people either love them or hate them." But Terre argued, "That's definitely a much better reaction. The worst thing is when people don't notice. That's when you start to think that maybe you should be doing something else. When people hate you, at least you know that you’re having a really strong effect."
"When ('Knots Landing') did end," David admitted, "there was a certain relief. There was a lot less work to be done. But David Selznick once ran into Somerset Maugham who had retired as a writer...And Selznick asked him, 'Do you miss writing?' And Maugham said, 'No, but I miss the company of my characters'. That sort of expresses the way I feel about 'Knots Landing'...You never get away from it, even though it's not on the air anymore. It's still there, and it's nice to see them again (in 1997)."
