Knots Landing: The Early Years

[Jagger1966]

How does everyone feel about the first couple of seasons of Knots Landing? I loved this show, but when I saw the reruns on SoapNet a few years back I had a really hard time with the first two seasons. The self-contained episodes just didn't work for me the same way they did when I was a kid watching it in 1979.

[GHKissOff]

I have to agree about the first season, when I saw the reruns on TNT years back I thought this season was really bland. One of the reasons as you said self contained episodes this was a spin off of Dallas (which ironically started out the same way) it should of been more soap like from the get go. But during season two with the addition of Donna Dixon as Abby things started heating up, lets face it every good soap need a vixen to heat things up, the person we all love to hate, who wrecks havoc on the do gooders lives, so things did start to definately pick up then, but the show really did hit its stride in it third season when it did take on more of a soap theme.

[just deb]

you mean donna mills don't you.

[Jagger1966]

Now that I think about it, Donna Dixon would have been an interesting addition to the cast too!

[just deb]

teehee, jagger1966. good one.

[antmunoz]

When MELROSE PLACE started, it too had somewhat self-contained episodes, despite the fact that it spun off from BEVERLY HILLS, 90210 (which had become a soap but also started with self-contained eps).

It was only when Heather Locklear joined as Amanda that the show became a true, ongoing soap. Very much in the tradition of Donna Mills as Abby on KL.

[bputman]

Back to the original poster, I loved the first two seasons of Knots Landing, even if it had a different feel to it and some bland moments. I really think that feeling of family and middle class were at it's best then. Don Murray really made the show those first two years.