Knots Landing - Opening Credits

Opening Credits

Knots Landing had five completely different styles of opening credits over its 14 years, in contrast to Dallas, which changed only to a variation on its original style for its final two seasons.

(December 27, 1979 – March 26, 1981) The original opening of Knots Landing designed by Wayne Fitzgerald features a spinning overhead shot of a California beach which dissolves to a spinning skyview of roads and houses, gradually zooming in to a freeze-frame of the Seaview Circle cul-de-sac. The camera then zooms in to the top of each house in turn, showing a brief shot of the couples who reside in each house. Photo credits for each of the main actors then appear in a shape superimposed over the cul-de-sac. This title sequence was used only during seasons 1 and 2.

(November 12, 1981 – May 14, 1987) Knots Landing unveiled a new opening at the start of season 3. In what is probably the best-remembered introduction, the sequence designed by Gene Kraft features the title scrolling from right to left followed by a parade of clips of the show playing in boxes. Each cast member is credited below a big box showcasing a close-up of their character, accompanied by three or four smaller boxes showing that character in a scene with other characters.

(September 24, 1987 – May 18, 1989) At the beginning of the ninth season, Knots Landing's producers decided to break tradition with the opening. The intro designed by Sandy Dvore now features a slow panning over a painting similar to the splattered style of Jackson Pollock. As the zig-zag panning continues, the cast montage appears, featuring black and white shots of the actors inside of small ovular cameos. The posed cameos were dropped in the 1988–89 season in favor of color close-ups taken from the show.

(September 28, 1989 – May 16, 1990) The eleventh season of Knots Landing saw the show unveil its fourth title sequence. The new opening designed by Castle/Bryant/Johnsen now showcases sandcastle structures of the cul-de-sac houses as well as some skyscrapers representing Los Angeles on a beautiful beach. It is the only version of the opening without pictures of the cast. The camera twists through this sandcastle community with only the actors' names appearing. Another and never-seen particularity appears right from the second episode of this season: the opening splits in two. The cutting takes place during the staff credits. The main theme is adapted as well. Between the two parts of the opening is presented a summary of what happened in the past episodes.

(September 13, 1990 – May 13, 1993) To redefine the show for the 1990s, Knots Landing made one final change to the opening credits by returning to its famous across-the-screen style of scrolling clips. This version was designed by Castle/Bryant/Johnsen to be "safe" for the 1990s. Eventually it would bring Knots Landing through its final three seasons on the air.