Knots Landing

Knots Landing

Knots Landing is an American primetime television soap opera that aired from December 27, 1979 to May 13, 1993 on CBS. Set in a fictitious coastal suburb of Los Angeles in California, the show centered on the lives of four married couples living in a cul-de-sac, Seaview Circle...

: Back to the Cul-de-Sac was a miniseries that served as a reunion show for the primetime soap opera

Soap opera

A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...

 Knots Landing. It aired in two two-hour parts on May 7 and May 9, 1997.

The reunion miniseries brought back former cast members William Devane

William Devane

William Joseph Devane is an American film, television and theater actor.-Life and career:Devane was born in Albany, New York in 1937 or 1939 , the son of Joseph Devane, who was Franklin D. Roosevelt's chauffeur when he was Governor of New York...

, Kevin Dobson

Kevin Dobson

Kevin Patrick Dobson is an American film and television actor of Irish descent, who is primarily known for his roles on television. His most prominent roles were as Lt. Theo Kojak's trusted partner, Det. Bobby Crocker on the popular 1970s TV crime drama Kojak, and as Karen MacKenzie's second...

, Michele Lee

Michele Lee

Michele Lee is an American singer, dancer, actress, producer, director and frequent game show panelist of the 1970s. She is best-known for her role as Karen Cooper Fairgate MacKenzie on the 1980s prime-time soap opera, Knots Landing...

, Donna Mills

Donna Mills

Donna Mills is an American actress, most well known for her role as Abby Fairgate Cunningham Ewing Sumner on the primetime soap opera Knots Landing.-Early years:...

, Ted Shackelford

Ted Shackelford

Ted Shackelford is an American actor best known for his role as Gary Ewing on the CBS television series Knots Landing, in which he starred from 1979–93...

, Joan Van Ark

Joan Van Ark

Joan Van Ark is an American actress, most notable for her role as Valene Ewing, which she originated on the CBS series Dallas and continued for thirteen seasons on its spin-off, Knots Landing...

, Michelle Phillips

Michelle Phillips

Michelle Phillips is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She gained fame as a member of the 1960s group The Mamas & the Papas, and is the last surviving original member of the group.-Early life:...

 and Stacy Galina

Stacy Galina

Stacy Galina is an American actress, best known for her role in the television drama Knots Landing. She first appeared in the series in a guest role, playing Mary Frances Sumner in 1990, before joining the regular cast as Kate Whittaker for the last three seasons of the show...

 in starring roles. It also included cameo appearances by former cast members Tonya Crowe

Tonya Crowe

Tonya Crowe is an American actress, best known for playing Olivia Cunningham on Knots Landing during the 1980's.-References:...

, Brian Austin Green

Brian Austin Green

Brian Austin Green is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of David Silver on the television series Beverly Hills, 90210, a role he played from 1990 to 2000. Green also starred in the sitcom Freddie and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Since 2009, he has appeared in a recurring...

, Kim Lankford

Kim Lankford

Kim Lankford is an American actress and businesswoman.-Personal life:She is an ex-girlfriend of Warren Zevon. Kim Lankford has never been married or had any children.-Acting career:...

, Claudia Lonow

Claudia Lonow

Claudia Lonow is an American actress, comedian and performer turned television writer and producer.-Early life:Claudia Lonow was born and raised in New York City, where she attended the High School of Music and Art, and began studying acting.Born Claudia Rapaport, she is the daughter of JoAnne...

 and Patrick Petersen

Patrick Petersen

Patrick Petersen is an American actor best known for his role as Michael Fairgate in the television drama Knots Landing. His character was the son of "Karen Fairgate MacKenzie"...

.

The reunion was met with mixed reviews. Key cast member Nicollette Sheridan

Nicollette Sheridan

Nicollette Sheridan is an English film and television actress. She is best known for her roles as Edie Britt on Desperate Housewives and as Paige Matheson on Knots Landing.-Early life:...

 initially refused to appear, and then only agreed to a brief scene. A video tape of the Laura Avery-Sumner character's message to her family (recorded before her death ten years earlier) was re-dubbed with another actress's voice as Constance McCashin

Constance McCashin

Constance McCashin is an American actress.McCashin was born in Chicago. She is best known for her role as Laura Avery Sumner on the prime time drama Knots Landing, which she played from the show's debut in 1979 until 1987 when the character died of a brain tumor and her funeral was the basis of...

, who played Laura, refused to let the clip of her voice be used.