Fame Connections: Knots Landing

 

Knots Landing is an American night time Soap Opera that ran for 14 seasons on CBS from 27th December 1979 to 13th May 1993, following the lives of the residents of Sea View Circle, a Californian Cul-de-sac.  Created by David Jacobs, he presented it to CBS in 1977 but they wanted something more saga like, so he went away and came up with Dallas. When that was a hit he re-pitched Knots Landing as a spin off following the black sheep of the Ewing family, Gary to a new life in California. 

After 14 years and 344 episodes the show came to an end but 4 years later in 1997 the cast reunited for a 2 part Miniseries titled "Back To the Cul-de-sac".

Fame was filmed at the MGM Studios in Culver City. Lorimar productions which produced Knots Landing, Dallas and Falcon Crest also filmed on the MGM lot. The fame cast have talked hour their sound stage was near the Knots Landing and Dallas sets and they would often mess around on the other show's sets. 

In 1986 during Fame's final Season the MGM Lot was sold to Lorimar Telepictures and the studios were renamed.

There were quite a few directors who worked on both Fame and Knots Landing including:  Allan Arkush, Robert Scheerer, Michael Peters, Nicholas Sgarro, Peter Levin and Lorraine Senna. Other crew members who worked on both shows include Dan Yale and Duncan McEwan who both worked in the sound departments. Also writer Parke Perine worked on both shows.

Episode titles like "Choices", "Secrets", "Expose" and Homecoming" were used on both shows.

In 1982 during Knots' 4th season they introduced a character as a resident singer, Ciji, played by Lisa Hartman on the show meaning like Fame, many episodes included a song performances. When the characters was killed off at the end of that season the public response was so strong that Lisa Hartman was brought back as a look a like character who also turned out to be a singer, named Cathy Geary. Knots Landing like Fame only has 2 seasons released on DVD and the issues with music rights have prevented further releases.

A few Fame cast members appeared in Knots Landing over the years.

Ann Nelson appeared in 6 episodes from Seasons 11 & 12 from 1990 to 1991 playing Mrs Richfield a rich investor who the Summer Group were doing business with.

Dick Miller made an appearance in the Season 4 Episode "To Have and To Hold" in 1983 playing Al Spanky who was a witness at Karen and Mack's Wedding in Las Vegas.

Ken Swofford played Sheriff Pickings in the 1983 Season 5 episode "Nowhere To Run" involved in capturing Chip Roberts who was on the run for murder.   

    

Graham Jarvis appeared briefly in a 1991 episode from season 13 titled "I Claudia" playing George Ammons an oceanographer.

A number of the actors who played the kid's parents in Fame had roles on Knots Landing:

Louis Giambalva who played Danny's father in 2 episodes of season 4 on Fame appeared as Phil Harbert  in 9 episodes of Knots Landing in 1986 from seasons 7 and 8 an old friend of Greg and Mack's who is responsible for kidnapping Karen.

Jennifer Rhodes who appeared in 3 episodes of Season 4 of Fame as Nicole's Mother, also appeared in small roles in 3 episodes of Knots Landing. In Season 1 in 19800 she played a chair person at a school meeting and in Season 12 from 1990 she played an Attorney in 2 episodes.

Barry Jenner who played Holly's Father in the season 4 episode "Reflections" appeared in 5 episodes of Knots Landing as Jeff Cunningham, Abby's ex husband who ends up kidnapping their children when he thinks Abby is an unfit mother.

Royce Wallace who played Leroy's Mother in the Season 1 episode "Reunions" on Fame, played Martha a restaurant employee in the Knots Landing episode "Encounters" from season 4 in 1982.

There were also a couple of other Fame guest stars that had roles in Knots Landing:

Stuart Pankin who played the game show host Happy Burke in the Season 4 episode "Wishes" on Fame, also played Benny Appleman a con man associate of Anne Matheson in 9 episodes of Season 13 inn 1991. 

Lew Ayres who played Bert Kline the older man who Doris inadvertently  fell in love with when she dresses as a senior citizen in the Season 3 episode  of Fame "A Way of Winning" also played Andrew Douglas in the 1982 episodes of Knots Landing from Season 3 titled "Silver Shadows", a dying movie director who becomes infatuated with Abby believing she looked like a classic movie star he was once in love with.

William Allen Young who played Lydia's ex boyfriend in "Passing Grade" appeared in 7 episodes of Knots Landing during season 14 in 1992 & 1993 playing Cliff Templeman

Gigi Vorgan played Holly's anorexic friend Tina in the Season 4 episode "Reflections" and she also played Greg Sumner's assistant Carol in 13 episodes of Knots Landing from 1983 to 1987.