Joel J. Feigenbaum combined the words "west" and "fall" to come up with the town "Wesphall" for the TV series, 'Knots Landing'. The town was first introduced to viewers in February 1985, during the Empire Valley storyline. Jeff Freilich told the 'New York Times', "In a serial, everything change has a domino effect. It was very much like running a marathon and being told a mile and a half was cut out of the track. All of a sudden your pacing is different."
Revealing he was dying, Paul Galveston urged Greg Sumner it was "time for you to take what's coming to you." Nielson (played by Richard Sarradet) told Sumner after Galveston's death, "They really need you out there at Galveston Industries. Senator, let me bottom-lined it for you, he (Paul Galveston) had a stroke and he won't recover. Now, we have very little time to make an orderly transition of power. One hitch in the transition phase and this whole deal could just (snapping his fingers) evaporate on you."
Paul Galveston had told Greg Sumner, "You'll never be president Gregory. You've made too many rash moves and bad deals. You slept with the wrong people – figuratively and literally. You've made too many mistakes. You might stay lucky enough to keep your senate seat but not to be president. Sure, you know that you're smart. You've always been smart.
"Smart enough to know that whatever power you might muster in the senate is nothing, a big zero, a joke, compares to the power you have if you come (work) with me. You've always understood power Gregory and crave it. You'll come for it. It's inevitable. You love power more than you value pride. Grow up laddie, come to grip with who you are and what it means to be who you are. Accept the responsibiliies and enjoy the fruits."
William Devane told the press, "On 'Knots Landing' I don't even get a script until right before you do it. I'm to be the villain. Once I do the acting it's out of my hands. If I do 'Macbeth' on the stage, I can control it and make the audience like Macbeth. But with film once you do the acting it goes to the editor and you have no control. Some of my best work was played off against reaction. I want my character to be understood. Basically, your job is to say your lines and don't get into Donna Mills' light. You don't know what the writers are going to do. I think this series is well done. They're wisely keeping the scripts from me until it comes time to shoot."
As the Empire Valley saga unfolded viewers were told of "diversionary tactics" Paul Galveston used to keep Mack MacKenzie from continuing with his investigation. He also reminded Greg, "(Don't) think the public is not paying attention," when Greg told him, "It's sad for me to have to tell you this, the public is no longer interested (in my past). They went to sleep a long time ago."
Don Murray told 'United Press International' in 1981, "A lot of the content of our shows (or episodes) could be taken from the pages of any daily newspaper – crime, pregnancy, divorce, social disorders. 'Dallas' is escapism and fun. It attempts to get people to forget their own problems. I think we provide viewers with some realistic solutions to their problems. We show them ways to break through daily tensions and escape from what is holding them down."
In one scene, Ruth Sumner Galveston told Greg, "They (George and Paul) were both your father. We were all in love - the 3 of us. I married the romantic one, Sumner, who flew planes. Galveston built them. But they were both your father Gregory. I am proud because it worked. Your genes, your upbringing. Everything brought you right to this moment. Now you're ready Gregory. You were brought up to be powerful and you love it and you want it because you're like me too. You know as well as I do. Power Gregory, real power, you love it. I didn't raise you to be a civil servant, running errants for lobbyists."
Don Murray continued, "At first we were compared with 'Dallas' because, after all, that's where we got our start. Two of our principal characters were brought over from 'Dallas' at the beginning. And during our first two years (1979-1981) on the air good old J.R. made appearances on the show. But very soon our association with 'Dallas' will be nil. Next Year (1981-82) we'll be running well on our own steam. Actually, 'Knots Landing' is a different style of show. Ours is more realistic. 'Dallas' is bigger than life."
In another scene, John Coblentz explained to Greg the Empire Valley project must stay top secret, "And that's the reason I recommended Paul Galveston in the first place. The organization needed a very special contractor for this system (satellite). It could not become public knowledge on Capitol Hill. If the arm committee got wind of it there would be endless debates for years to come.
"There are national policy makers who do not know what I'm about to tell you. They wouldn't understand if they were told. Your work in the senate is inconsequential. Perhaps hearing it from your father affects your ability to glean the meaning. Listen to me Gregory. Listen to the words. International communications. There are hundred of satellites orbiting in space carrying messages, some important, some essential to the security of the world.
"With our installation at Empire Valley, we would be able to send such messages and to receive them and to monitor messages between parties, between countries. Think of it, imagine knowing virtually everything that been said everywhere at anytime." Greg then asked, "And if you don't like what's been said you can change it?" John Coblentz replied, "When it suits our purposes. Think of it. Think of what it means. You are one of the few men who could genuinely make it work. Everybody is counting on you to help us out. Everybody. Everybody."
Don Murray maintained, "Personally, I think these nighttime soaps are better fare than cops and robbers shows or situation comedies. People can identify with the characters which gives them some insight into their own lives. It's almost impossible for a television show or movie to be totally realistic. The elements of drama and comedy must be applied. But we try to keep 'Knots Landing' as realistic as we can. I believe our show is adultly done. We provide realistic interrelationships among 4 middle class families, millions of whom tune in. That alone is a significant departure from 'Dynasty' and 'Dallas' which deal with enormous wealth and spoiled, selfish people."
Don Murray continued, "At first we were compared with 'Dallas' because, after all, that's where we got our start. Two of our principal characters were brought over from 'Dallas' at the beginning. And during our first two years (1979-1981) on the air good old J.R. made appearances on the show. But very soon our association with 'Dallas' will be nil. Next Year (1981-82) we'll be running well on our own steam. Actually, 'Knots Landing' is a different style of show. Ours is more realistic. 'Dallas' is bigger than life."
In another scene, John Coblentz explained to Greg the Empire Valley project must stay top secret, "And that's the reason I recommended Paul Galveston in the first place. The organization needed a very special contractor for this system (satellite). It could not become public knowledge on Capitol Hill. If the arm committee got wind of it there would be endless debates for years to come.
"There are national policy makers who do not know what I'm about to tell you. They wouldn't understand if they were told. Your work in the senate is inconsequential. Perhaps hearing it from your father affects your ability to glean the meaning. Listen to me Gregory. Listen to the words. International communications. There are hundred of satellites orbiting in space carrying messages, some important, some essential to the security of the world.
"With our installation at Empire Valley, we would be able to send such messages and to receive them and to monitor messages between parties, between countries. Think of it, imagine knowing virtually everything that been said everywhere at anytime." Greg then asked, "And if you don't like what's been said you can change it?" John Coblentz replied, "When it suits our purposes. Think of it. Think of what it means. You are one of the few men who could genuinely make it work. Everybody is counting on you to help us out. Everybody. Everybody."
Don Murray maintained, "Personally, I think these nighttime soaps are better fare than cops and robbers shows or situation comedies. People can identify with the characters which gives them some insight into their own lives. It's almost impossible for a television show or movie to be totally realistic. The elements of drama and comedy must be applied. But we try to keep 'Knots Landing' as realistic as we can. I believe our show is adultly done. We provide realistic interrelationships among 4 middle class families, millions of whom tune in. That alone is a significant departure from 'Dynasty' and 'Dallas' which deal with enormous wealth and spoiled, selfish people."
