"Soaps," Douglas Sheehan theorized, "in a perverse way, are a celebration of the human condition. The soap isn't just the performance we see on the screen. It's an emotional relationship between the viewer and those characters. It is good to know how to cry for other people. That's what the theater always has done." In 1987, one soap took it to the limit. Before the final episode of 'The Colbys' went on air, one source connected to the soap told the press, "The cliffhanger will be totally outrageous...The piece de resistance will involve Fallon. It's the most outrageous cliffhanger that's ever been done. It's spectacular and very different and involves an alien life force. That's all I can tell you."
Between 1983 and 1987, Douglas could be seen on 'Knots Landing', "I'm supposed to be an international journalist who's involved in cable news..." Of 'Knots Landing', Constance McCashin observed, "We finished No. 11 (in the 1983-84) season and to compare us with 'Hill Street Blues' is really apples and oranges. We were really only discovered (in 1983). Before that we were a sleeper. I'm glad the network stuck with us." Creator David Jacobs recounted, "For 4 seasons we were one of TV's best-kept secrets. No one wanted to interview our stars; we weren't a hit and we weren't a flop. Then the network moved us opposite 'Hill Street Blues', instead of it wiping us out, we did better there than any other show ever had. All of a sudden, we're hot." Joan Van Ark added, "We've gotten better. Last year (1983) was the best so far. We beat 'Hill Street Blues.'" Douglas made the point, "'Hill Street Blues' is nothing more than a soap opera but they try to camouflage it. Viewers are recognizing that and it sort of turns them off. Fans of 'Knots Landing' are fiercely loyal and that's why our following is more steady."
"I'm Irish but I love the Scottish war pipes and Scottish history," Douglas made known. "I own several Irish kilts." Of acting, he said, "I've done a lot of television work...I was in 2 important series 'General Hospital' and 'Knots Landing.'" His role on 'Knots Landing' was said to have patterned after the Mel Gibson's character in the 1982 movie, 'The Year of Living Dangerously'. He also played polo. Of polo, he explained, "When James Gordon Bennett of the New York Herald brought it to the United States in 1876, it was a high society sport. But it was soon picked up by Texas cowboys whose influence on the game was enormous. Pretty soon, all the great polo players began buying Texas cow ponies because they handled so well on the field...I have been playing polo (since 1984). I had read about the British Raj and loved David Niven's books about the high life in old Hollywood. So when Bill Devane convinced me to take a few lessons, I was hooked."
