Embedded Files
Like Dallas, Knots Landing was originally developed and written by David Jacobs. He actually pitched Knots Landing first, but executives were looking for something more epic. So he went back to the drawing boards and Dallas was born. Once the show gained popularity, the executives returned to Jacobs asking for something else. He pitched Knots Landing again but one of the families on the cul-de-sac would now be Gary and Valene Ewing who audiences had already been introduced to previously on Dallas. This time Knots Landing received the green light!
Though initially not as popular in the ratings as Dallas, Knots Landing ultimately ran longer. From 1979 to 1993 there were 14 seasons and 344 episodes primarily airing on Thursday nights throughout its run. By the time of its conclusion, Knots Landing had become the third longest-running primetime drama on U.S. television only following Gunsmoke and Bonanza.
In 1997, much of the cast reunited for a two-part mini-series titled Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac. In 2005, they reunited again for Knots Landing Reunion: Together Again in which the cast gathered to reminisce about their time on the show.
As sister soaps Dallas and Knots were sometimes intertwined, but also very much independent of one another. Detailed below are the crossover episodes that brought some of the characters of both worlds together.
From Dallas to Knots Landing: Valene and Gary Ewing
In the beginning, Knots Landing focused on four neighboring families: the Wards, the Fairgates, the Averys, and the Ewings. As time passed new characters (Abby Cunningham, Greg Sumner, and Paige Matheson to name a few) and settings (such as Lotus Point and Sumner Group) were introduced.
"Reunion: Part 1"
"Reunion: Part 1"
Dallas02.01 — Episode 6Saturday, September 23, 1978Directed by Irving J. MooreWritten by David Jacobs
Featuring David Ackroyd as Gary Ewing and Joan Van Ark as Valene Clements
Gary comes back to Southfork and reconnects with Valene. J.R. tries to stop them from reuniting.
"Reunion: Part 2"
"Reunion: Part 2"
Dallas02.02 — Episode 7Saturday, September 30, 1978Directed by Irving J. MooreWritten by David Jacobs
Featuring David Ackroyd as Gary Ewing and Joan Van Ark as Valene Clements
J.R. sets up Gary in business hoping he will fail.
"Secrets"
"Secrets"
Dallas03.04 - Episode 33Friday, October 12, 1979Directed by Leonard KatzmanWritten by Arthur Bernard Lewis
Featuring Joan Van Ark as Valene Clements
Valene returns to Dallas seeking Lucy's forgiveness. Pam does not tell Bobby about her pregnancy.
"Return Engagement"
"Return Engagement"
Dallas03.14 - Episode 43Thursday, December 20, 1979Directed by Gunnar HellströmWritten by David Jacobs
Featuring Ted Shackelford as Gary Ewing and Joan Van Ark as Valene Clements
Gary and Valene are back in Dallas and plan to be remarried. J.R. and Kristin go on a 'business trip' and are interrupted by Kristin's ex-boyfriend, Rudy Millington as well as news of the wedding.
"Pilot"
"Pilot"
Knots Landing01.01 - Episode 1Thursday, December 27, 1979Directed by Peter LevinWritten by David Jacobs
Featuring Patrick Duffy as Bobby Ewing
Gary and Valene Ewing move to Seaview Circle. Bobby comes to help.
"Community Spirit"
"Community Spirit"
Knots Landing01.02 - Episode 2Thursday, January 3, 1980Directed by Millicent SheltonWritten by Bruce Rasmussen
Featuring Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing
J.R. visits Knots Landing as he wants to drill for oil offshore and the community protests.
"Home is for Healing"
"Home is for Healing"
DallasKnots Landing01.06 - Episode 6Thursday, January 30, 1980Directed by Roger YoungWritten by Rena Down
Featuring Charlene Tilton as Lucy Ewing
Lucy comes to visit Knots Landing to see her parents, Valene and Gary. Lucy hopes that she will be happier with her parents, but due to past issues and Lucy's lifestyle in Dallas, things do not go quite as planned.
"No More Mr. Nice Guy, Part 1"
"No More Mr. Nice Guy, Part 1"
Dallas04.01 - Episode 55Friday, November 7, 1980Directed by Leonard KatzmanWritten by Arthur Bernard Lewis
Featuring Ted Shackelford as Gary Ewing and Joan Van Ark as Valene Ewing
J.R. is found unconscious on the floor outside his office. He has been shot. When Miss Ellie is too upset to talk, Lucy talks to Gary. He decides to go to Dallas, but Val is worried bout him facing this crisis.
"No More Mr. Nice Guy, Part 2"
"No More Mr. Nice Guy, Part 2"
Dallas04.02 - Episode 56Sunday, November 9, 1980Directed by Leonard KatzmanWritten by Arthur Bernard Lewis
Featuring Ted Shackelford as Gary Ewing
J.R. recovers in the hospital. Gary arrives from California. He tries to talk to Sue Ellen about being an alcoholic, but she denies any problems. He and Bobby talk about the hardships living at Southfork and the control that J.R. has over them. Miss Ellie asks Gary if he ever thinks about moving back to Dallas. When Gary says he is returning to California, J.R. says he would rush home too if he "was living next door to a pretty little bundle like Karen Fairgate."
"Kristin"
"Kristin"
Knots Landing02.05 - Episode 18Monday, December 18, 1980Directed by Nicholas SgarroWritten by Diana Gould
Featuring Mary Crosby as Kristin Shepard
Following her arrest for drug possession, Kristin Shepard arrives in Knots Landing after calling Valene for help. She is later caught in a compromising position with Kenny. She confides in Valene about her pregnancy and her hope to find someone to be the father of her baby.
"End of the Road, Part 2"
"End of the Road, Part 2"
Dallas04.12 - Episode 66Friday, January 23, 1981Directed by Irving J. MooreWritten by Leonard Katzman
Featuring Ted Shackelford as Gary Ewing and Joan Van Ark as Valene Ewing
Lucy is getting married. The happy event is clouded by Bobby's resignation from Ewing Oil as well as Miss Ellie's frustration with Jock over Gary.
"A Family Matter"
"A Family Matter"
Knots Landing02.09 - Episode 22Thursday, January 22, 1980Directed by Evan PeroneWritten by David Paulsen
Featuring Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing
J.R. is in town but Gary refuses to ask him for $50,000. Abby goes to J.R. to obtain the money by sleeping with him. However, J.R. will only give Gary the money if he asks for it himself, so Abby keeps trying to persuade Gary. Val asks Gary not to get in any deals with J.R., and she and J.R. have a nasty confrontation.
"The Loudest Word"
"The Loudest Word"
Knots Landing02.13 - Episode 26Thursday, February 19, 1981Directed by Kim FriedmanWritten by Joseph B. Wallenstein
Featuring Patrick Duffy as Bobby Ewing
Val is told she has a malignant growth in her colon and needs an operation. Gary feels guilty about how he's treated Val and has a breakdown. Bobby comes to support him while Val's in the hospital.
"Designs"
"Designs"
Knots Landing02.17 - Episode 30Thursday, March 26, 1981Directed by Nicholas SgarroWritten by Diana Gould & Robert Gilmer
Featuring Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing
J.R. is in town and wishes to patent an engine Sid invented. When Sid refuses, Abby steals the engine plans and gives them to J.R.
"The Split"
"The Split"
Dallas05.08 - Episode 85Monday, November 27, 1981Directed by Leonard KatzmanWritten by Leonard Katzman
Featuring Ted Shackelford as Gary Ewing and Joan Van Ark as Valene Ewing
Ellie receives a legal document from Jock that impacts control of Ewing Oil while he is in South America. She gathers the family, including Gary and Val, explaining the new distribution of Ewing Oil voting shares of the company: Ellie gets 30, J.R. gets 20, Bobby gets 20, Gary gets 10, Ray gets 10 and John Ross gets 10. Ellie controls John Ross's shares while he is away from Southfork, J.R. gets them if he is on the ranch.
"Five Dollars a Barrel"
"Five Dollars a Barrel"
Dallas05.09 - Episode 86Friday, December 4, 1981Directed by Irving J. MooreWritten by Leonard Katzman
Featuring Ted Shackelford as Gary Ewing
J.R. plots to acquire Gary's voting shares by promising to set him up with a business and for Gary to stay in California. Gary has his own plans.
"Daniel"
"Daniel"
Knots Landing04.02 - Episode 55Thursday, October 7, 1982Directed by Joseph B. WallensteinWritten by John Pleshette
Featuring Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing
J.R. buys the publishing company behind Val's book. Abby questions J.R. about Gary's future inheritance from Jock.
"Jock's Will"
"Jock's Will"
Dallas06.05 - Episode 108Friday, October 29, 1982Directed by Michael PreeceWritten by David Paulsen
Featuring Ted Shackelford as Gary Ewing
Miss Ellie painfully decides to declare Jock legally dead and the entire Ewing clan gathers at Southfork for the reading of the will. The terms of Jock's will could ruin the entire Ewing family.
"New Beginnings"
"New Beginnings"
Knots Landing04.06 - Episode 59Friday, October 29, 1982Directed by Lorriane Senna FerraraWritten by Mann Rubin
Featuring Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing, Patrick Duffy as Bobby Ewing, and Eric Farlow as Christopher Ewing
Gary goes to Dallas for the reading of Jock's will and Abby turns up to surprise him. Gary inherits millions from Jock, but is disgruntled by the terms of the will Val is also in Dallas on a book signing tour and J.R. informs her about owning the publishing company behind her book.
"The Family Ewing"
"The Family Ewing"
Dallas09.01 - Episode 192Friday, September 27, 1985Directed by Nick HavingaWritten by Leonard Katzman
Featuring Ted Shackelford as Gary Ewing
The Ewings gather to mourn Bobby.
Bobby Ewing was killed in the final episode of the 1984-1985 season of Dallas. This was necessitated as Patrick Duffy left the show to pursue other opportunities.
During the 1985-1986 season, Bobby's death impacted storylines on both shows. On Knots Landing, Bobby's death impacted on some of the characters:
Gary struggled to deal with his brother's death
When Gary returned to Texas for his brother's funeral, Abby and Greg took advantage of his absence to gain an advantage at Empire Valley
Valene named her baby son after Bobby after her late brother-in-law
As these events unfolded onscreen, behind the scenes Patrick Duffy was approached to return to Dallas. The final scene of the 1985-1986 season showed Pam Ewing open the shower and Bobby greeting her, "Good morning. The opening episode of the 1986-1987 season explained that the previous season of Dallas, including Bobby's death was all part of Pam's dream and never really happened.
However, the "dream" explanation was never applied to the events on Knots Landing. In fact, Bobby's return was never addressed or mentioned. There would be no more crossovers as there had been.
"Comings and Goings"
"Comings and Goings"
Dallas12.14 - Episode 295Firday, February 17, 1989Directed by Larry HagmanWritten by Mitchell Wayne Katzman
Featuring Joan Van Ark as Valene Clements in uncredited archive footage
As Sue Ellen moves forward with her movie about J.R., she enlists Lucy's help in providing material.
"Conundrum"
"Conundrum"
Dallas14.22 & 14.23 - Episodes 356 & 357Friday, May 3, 1991Directed by Leonard KatzmanWritten by Leonard Katzman
Featuring Ted Shackelford as Gary Ewing and Joan Van Ark as Valene Wallace
J.R. is drunk and dejected. He has lost his business to Cliff Barnes, his son has moved to England, and the ownership of Southfork was given to Bobby. He wants to end it all when he is visited by Adam, who offers to show him what a world where J.R. Ewing was never born would be like. In this alternate reality, Gary would be the first son and would run Ewing Oil into the ground. As a result, Jock died from a stress-related illness - or was it suicide? Heartbroken, Miss Ellie died two years later. Gary went on to become a successful divorce lawyer who never married. He meets Valene Wallace who is seeking an inheritance from her late husband's estate. They agree to go on a date together demonstrating that Gary and Val were always destined to meet.
"The Furious and the Fast"
"The Furious and the Fast"
Dallas02.07 - Episode 17Monday, March 4, 2013Directed by Rodney ChartersWritten by Julia Cohen
Featuring Ted Shackelford as Gary Ewing
Bobby decides to fight Sue Ellen and John Ross to regain control of Ewing Energies with the help of his brother Gary.
"J.R.'s Masterpiece"
"J.R.'s Masterpiece"
Dallas02.08 - Episode 18Monday, March 11, 2014Directed by Michael M. RobinWritten by Cynthia Cidre
Featuring Ted Shackelford as Gary Ewing
Friends and foes gather for J.R.'s memorial including Gary and Lucy.
"Ewings Unite!"
"Ewings Unite!"
Dallas02.09 - Episode 19Monday, March 18, 2013Directed by Steve RobinWritten by Bruce Rasmussen
Featuring Ted Shackelford as Gary Ewing and Joan Van Ark as Valene Ewing
J.R.'s will is read. Valene makes a surprise return to Dallas at the behest of Sue Ellen.
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