Your LEAST favorite character from the main cast?

[J. R.'s Piece]

Vanessa from the final season.

What about Vanessa in the season before the final season?

Most definitely. They both annoyed the cap out of me.

They brought back your snapback?

I will say Karen....I liked her in some of the episodes but she had a way of getting on my nerves more times than I can count.

I will see how I feel about her on my third watching of Knots.

You could always try that best of version of the last two episodes of season nine, where to condense it to the length of one episode, Karen's scenes get removed.

 

[Natalia Patterson]

Ann bought comedy to the show. It was fun watching this Rich snobby lady turn into a humble homeless person. I loved her and Nick they were hilarious.

Vanessa was such a waste. She held no real significance at all. Her voice made me cringe. I think that the writers were running out of storylines.

I will say that shows like Dallas, Dynasty and Knots landing kept the thrill of wanting to watch. They would drag a storyline out so that you could get involved. How I miss these Shows.

 

[Natalia Patterson]

Probably Claudia. Kathleen Noone is a good actress, but most of her storylines didn't interest me very much. Other than when she was clashing with Anne Matheson.

I agree. I think that they struggled with this character. Her storylines were not that interesting. They could have left her and her annoying pathetic daughter out of the show. Neither one held any significance.

I do agree that some of the scenes with Ann were funny and interesting. Otherwise I was bored. She got on my nerves callong Greg " Greggy".

 

[Tatianna]

For me it was Diana. I agree with above poster, Diana was annoying. I suppose she was meant to be the "shadow" of her rebel mother, the way Karen described her college days, but I found Diana to be boring, whiney and a drama queen.

 

[Don Howard]

Paige suffered not from bad writing but from over-exposure. I felt the producers who created her were so enamored of their creation that they insisted on giving her too much screen time.

No doubt. They figured America could never get enough of that rack and her awesome thighs. She's fine until she opens her mouth.

 

[The Bride of Frankenpig]

For me it was Diana. I agree with above poster, Diana was annoying. I suppose she was meant to be the "shadow" of her rebel mother, the way Karen described her college days, but I found Diana to be boring, whiney and a drama queen.

:10

 

[ClassyCo]

Of the original core cast, I probably have to say Diana. I never really liked her, not at all really. Never really cared for Kenny, either. I preferred Ginger without Kenny. They should have just left Kenny go, and kept Ginger. I think it would have worked.

Of some of the later characters, I enjoyed Ciji, although her look-alike Cathy gradually got on my nerves. Didn't miss her once she left. Didn't really like Jean Hackney, but I enjoyed the overall storyline she was a part of. Not too crazy about Jill, either. Can take or leave her I guess.

Now, with the latest "new" characters (Note: I'm only shortly into Season 9), I must say I'm on the fence with Paige. I liked her when she came in, but what I don't like about her is how she's suddenly at the front. She seems to have "taken over" some of the screen time previously afforded to the original characters. I've read that this was because the new writers had created her, and because they weren't too positive as to how to "correctly" write the ones they didn't "invent".

Just some of my thoughts... My mind's drone a blank. If I had a complete cast list in front of me at the moment, I would probably have more.

 

[The Bride of Frankenpig]

Of the original core cast, I probably have to say Diana. I never really liked her, not at all really. Never really cared for Kenny, either. I preferred Ginger without Kenny. They should have just left Kenny go, and kept Ginger. I think it would have worked.

Of some of the later characters, I enjoyed Ciji, although her look-alike Cathy gradually got on my nerves. Didn't miss her once she left. Didn't really like Jean Hackney, but I enjoyed the overall storyline she was a part of. Not too crazy about Jill, either. Can take or leave her I guess.

Now, with the latest "new" characters (Note: I'm only shortly into Season 9), I must say I'm on the fence with Paige. I liked her when she came in, but what I don't like about her is how she's suddenly at the front. She seems to have "taken over" some of the screen time previously afforded to the original characters. I've read that this was because the new writers had created her, and because they weren't too positive as to how to "correctly" write the ones they didn't "invent".

Just some of my thoughts... My mind's drone a blank. If I had a complete cast list in front of me at the moment, I would probably have more.

Your wishes are orders Master:
https://sites.google.com/site/mundodallases2/knots/cast-reparto

You´re welcome (I didn´t like Diana, Cathy or Jill either!).

 

[Sarah]

Abby. Hateful. Don't get the sex appeal around her either.

 

[ClassyCo]

Your wishes are orders Master:
https://sites.google.com/site/mundodallases2/knots/cast-reparto

You´re welcome (I didn´t like Diana, Cathy or Jill either!).

Thanks for attaching a complete cast list.

I think I need to clear up what I meant about Cathy, though. I liked her when she came in, really liked her. The way she was first seen in Gary's hotel room, and his whole "double take" thing was great. And all the questions surrounding her first appearance: Is that Ciji? If so, why didn't she recognize Gary? Does she have amnesia? Did Ciji have a twin? Has Gary fell off his rocker? I really enjoyed all of that, and Gary's initial obsession with her. As I recollect, Cathy wasn't initially aspiring to be a singer. In one of Cathy's earlier episodes, she told Gary: "You want me to sing because she [Ciji] was a singer. I'm not Ciji, and I'm never gonna be Ciji." I clearly remember that. I think she just became one because Lisa Hartman herself was a singer; maybe that was a clause in her contract---let me sing, or I'm outta here! Who knows? (Oh, and I liked how Chip fell on the pitchfork with he saw "Ciji"!)

Anyhow, as time went on, Cathy became more of an "exterior" character. After her initial story-arc with Gary, she wasn't given a whole lot to work with. I did like her relationship with Joshua, primarily because Joshua was one of my favorite "villains" on the show. (Making him a televangelist was great and very creative!) However, what I didn't like was how Cathy just became a punching bag for him, and she was basically the "trophy" on his arm. Cathy had potential, certainly, but it wasn't fulfilled. Maybe that's why I ended up disliking her overall, because she just didn't live up to her hype. She was definitely a character this viewer didn't miss following her exit.

Abby. Hateful. Don't get the sex appeal around her either.

Now, as a devout Abby fan, I most disagree with you. I personally believe that Abby Cunningham was one of Soap Land's greatest villains. Beautiful, conniving, but somehow realistic and relatable. She wasn't any more hateful (to use your word) than J.R., Alexis, Angela, or any of the others. In the end, I think Abby comes in slightly behind J.R. as the "Big Four" night time soap's naughtiest "pot-stirrer".

 

[The Bride of Frankenpig]

Thanks for attaching a complete cast list.

I think I need to clear up what I meant about Cathy, though. I liked her when she came in, really liked her. The way she was first seen in Gary's hotel room, and his whole "double take" thing was great. And all the questions surrounding her first appearance: Is that Ciji? If so, why didn't she recognize Gary? Does she have amnesia? Did Ciji have a twin? Has Gary fell off his rocker? I really enjoyed all of that, and Gary's initial obsession with her. As I recollect, Cathy wasn't initially aspiring to be a singer. In one of Cathy's earlier episodes, she told Gary: "You want me to sing because she [Ciji] was a singer. I'm not Ciji, and I'm never gonna be Ciji." I clearly remember that. I think she just became one because Lisa Hartman herself was a singer; maybe that was a clause in her contract---let me sing, or I'm outta here! Who knows? (Oh, and I liked how Chip fell on the pitchfork with he saw "Ciji"!)

Anyhow, as time went on, Cathy became more of an "exterior" character. After her initial story-arc with Gary, she wasn't given a whole lot to work with. I did like her relationship with Joshua, primarily because Joshua was one of my favorite "villains" on the show. (Making him a televangelist was great and very creative!) However, what I didn't like was how Cathy just became a punching bag for him, and she was basically the "trophy" on his arm. Cathy had potential, certainly, but it wasn't fulfilled. Maybe that's why I ended up disliking her overall, because she just didn't live up to her hype. She was definitely a character this viewer didn't miss following her exit.

I agree with you in almost everything you say about Cathy. I just watched by first time her first two seasons (5 & 6) and IMHO I think she was overrated by the audiences at the time. Of course I can see she was eye candy and had a good voice, but she stayed 3 whole seasons in a show that considered itself as the most realistic primetime soap. It´s funny you mentioned that Cathy didn´t sing at the beginning because I also saw that. It´s when she came back at the beginning of Season 6 (out of a limb, to be honest...) that you could realize that she didn´t fit in there, unless she was Laura´s secret lesbian lover (by the way, the first thing she did when she came back was accepting Laura´s offer to live with her...). Next, she was singing in a club with a voice even more amazing than Ciji´s (and a bigger hair too!).

About Joshua, I disagree: I had the feeling they were not sure what to do with him (which, as far as we know thru the interviews, was not the case because his storyline was clearly mapped out). At first he even seems to be gay, then we know he´d been treated with scarce love and a lot of discipline by his father, then Joshua falls hopelessly in love with Cathy, and then Abby corrupts him by hiring him as a TV preacher. Honestly, I think that if played by another, much less talented actor than Mr. Baldwin, this had been a copycat of the Chip Daniels story. Just my 2 cents.

Edit to add that Ms. Hartman (or Cathy, we´ll never know) becomes the most annoying character in the show after the revelation of what really happened when Joshua died. She begins to oogle Ben and keeps sponging the poor Clemments-Ewing women...to end up biting the hand of the person who´s been feeding her (Val) trying to steal her husband. I thought that was a very big mistake from the writers because, again, it came to proof they were starting to run out of ideas. And don´t get me started about Cathy pouting and whining and self-pitying at whoever was listening to her. It´s here when I sorely regret they didn´t introduce Paige and Anne earlier because I do miss what they brought to the show.

 

[ClassyCo]

I agree with you in almost everything you say about Cathy. I just watched by first time her first two seasons (5 & 6) and IMHO I think she was overrated by the audiences at the time. Of course I can see she was eye candy and had a good voice, but she stayed 3 whole seasons in a show that considered itself as the most realistic primetime soap. It´s funny you mentioned that Cathy didn´t sing at the beginning because I also saw that. It´s when she came back at the beginning of Season 6 (out of a limb, to be honest...) that you could realize that she didn´t fit in there, unless she was Laura´s secret lesbian lover (by the way, the first thing she did when she came back was accepting Laura´s offer to live with her...). Next, she was singing in a club with a voice even more amazing than Ciji´s (and a bigger hair too!).

About Joshua, I disagree: I had the feeling they were not sure what to do with him (which, as far as we know thru the interviews, was not the case because his storyline was clearly mapped out). At first he even seems to be gay, then we know he´d been treated with scarce love and a lot of discipline by his father, then Joshua falls hopelessly in love with Cathy, and then Abby corrupts him by hiring him as a TV preacher. Honestly, I think that if played by another, much less talented actor than Mr. Baldwin, this had been a copycat of the Chip Daniels story. Just my 2 cents.

Edit to add that Ms. Hartman (or Cathy, we´ll never know) becomes the most annoying character in the show after the revelation of what really happened when Joshua died. She begins to oogle Ben and keeps sponging the poor Clemments-Ewing women...to end up biting the hand of the person who´s been feeding her (Val) trying to steal her husband. I thought that was a very big mistake from the writers because, again, it came to proof they were starting to run out of ideas. And don´t get me started about Cathy pouting and whining and self-pitying at whoever was listening to her. It´s here when I sorely regret they didn´t introduce Paige and Anne earlier because I do miss what they brought to the show.

Yes, I agree that Cathy was totally annoying and out-of-place by the start of Season 6, which is actually my favorite season of the show. I recollect David Jacobs saying that "they" (the producers, I'm guessing) "missed her [Hartman's] youth and popularity" after she was killed. The audience was "really upset" he said. I'm sure they were. I really liked Ciji. Anyhow, Cathy initially started as her own character. She wasn't all that interesting in singing, the big hair, or being famous. However, she morphed into that. I'm assuming the writers wanted a Ciji "clone" and that's what they got, but it didn't work as well as they hoped.... Not in my opinion anyhow. Following Joshua's death, Cathy became almost unbearable to watch. However, I must disagree with what you said. In my opinion, I don't the writers were running out of ideas for the whole show, but just for Cathy. Personally, all the other characters still had good stories in Season 7, although less superior to Season 5 and 6.

Again, I think Joshua was one of Knots Landing's best villains. Televangelists were becoming "big" celebrities in the 1980s; Billy Graham (already one), Jim and Tammy Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, etc. were all over the TV. Not to mention the scandals that surrounded the Bakkers and Swaggart ("real-life soap operas", as they have been dubbed). It was unique for Knots to add a TV preacher to their core cast; it was certainly very unlike any of the others ever did.

 

[The Bride of Frankenpig]

Yes, I agree that Cathy was totally annoying and out-of-place by the start of Season 6, which is actually my favorite season of the show. I recollect David Jacobs saying that "they" (the producers, I'm guessing) "missed her [Hartman's] youth and popularity" after she was killed. The audience was "really upset" he said. I'm sure they were. I really liked Ciji. Anyhow, Cathy initially started as her own character. She wasn't all that interesting in singing, the big hair, or being famous. However, she morphed into that. I'm assuming the writers wanted a Ciji "clone" and that's what they got, but it didn't work as well as they hoped.... Not in my opinion anyhow. Following Joshua's death, Cathy became almost unbearable to watch. However, I must disagree with what you said. In my opinion, I don't the writers were running out of ideas for the whole show, but just for Cathy. Personally, all the other characters still had good stories in Season 7, although less superior to Season 5 and 6.

Again, I think Joshua was one of Knots Landing's best villains. Televangelists were becoming "big" celebrities in the 1980s; Billy Graham (already one), Jim and Tammy Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, etc. were all over the TV. Not to mention the scandals that surrounded the Bakkers and Swaggart ("real-life soap operas", as they have been dubbed). It was unique for Knots to add a TV preacher to their core cast; it was certainly very unlike any of the others ever did.

Very interesting comments ClassyCo. I live in Spain and televangelists don´t exist (as such at least: we have a few radical catholic priests...). Hence this turn seemed too strange to me, though I must admit that Baldwin made me think of a younger Donald Trump when Joshua frowned or got mad at Cathy!!

I do enjoy most of the other characters´ storylines because I think they are written more organically, especially Bobby´s death changing Gary´s life through his bigger idealism re. Empire Valley and Lotus Point, his independence from Abby in all senses, his love for new excitement like car racing and philandering (even paying for them!) or finally opening his eyes about being the twins´ daddy. I mean, what else could they write for Gary in one single season? I´ll get into more detail about the rest of the characters later...

 

[Spells & Karma]

Of course I wouldn't want to have a Knots without Mack, but I think he was my least favourite.

Of the main main cast I disliked Mack the most.

On my last full Knots rewatch - the first in around a decade and a half - I was really looking forward to Mack's arrival. But after a season and a half was quite suprised to find I couldn't stand him.

I found his need to know/judge/fix everything really irritating. And his low key but narcissistic alpha male "my career/marriage/friends/children/clothes/latest obsession are more important than anyone else's because it involves me" thing wore thin with me too (Karen had the same vibe, but it didn't bother me half as much. Perhaps because alphas' behaviours as a rule trigger people of the same gender).

Mack takes the crown over later irritants such as Kate simply because as a core character in the centre of the action for eleven seasons it's pretty difficult to tune him out or reassure oneself that it will all be over soon. And because so many of the characters - and viewers - seem to adore him, which I just don't get. In that regard you could say I view Mack the way Jill Bennett viewed Val.

 

[ClassyCo]

Very interesting comments ClassyCo. I live in Spain and televangelists don´t exist (as such at least: we have a few radical catholic priests...). Hence this turn seemed too strange to me, though I must admit that Baldwin made me think of a younger Donald Trump when Joshua frowned or got mad at Cathy!!

I do enjoy most of the other characters´ storylines because I think they are written more organically, especially Bobby´s death changing Gary´s life through his bigger idealism re. Empire Valley and Lotus Point, his independence from Abby in all senses, his love for new excitement like car racing and philandering (even paying for them!) or finally opening his eyes about being the twins´ daddy. I mean, what else could they write for Gary in one single season? I´ll get into more detail about the rest of the characters later...

Well, I guess since you aren't used to televangelists, it would seem a bit unusual. Joshua came in 1983 (correct me if I'm wrong), and that's a time with a lot of televangelists were gaining nationwide popularity. Jim and Tammy Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart had their own TV stations, similar to Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer today.

I wonder how Joshua would have worked if he had been a "charismatic faith healer" like Benny Hinn, or more Pentecostalish like the Bakkers and Swaggart. Just an idea, something that could have been explored well I think. Maybe then he could have been caught in a love triangle, or healing scams. One can only wish...

 

[The Bride of Frankenpig]

On my last full Knots rewatch - the first in around a decade and a half - I was really looking forward to Mack's arrival. But after a season and a half was quite suprised to find I couldn't stand him.

I found his need to know/judge/fix everything really irritating. And his low key but narcissistic alpha male "my career/marriage/friends/children/clothes/latest obsession are more important than anyone else's because it involves me" thing wore thin with me too (Karen had the same vibe, but it didn't bother me half as much. Perhaps because alphas' behaviours as a rule trigger people of the same gender).

Mack takes the crown over later irritants such as Kate simply because as a core character in the centre of the action for eleven seasons it's pretty difficult to tune him out or reassure oneself that it will all be over soon. And because so many of the characters - and viewers - seem to adore him, which I just don't get. In that regard you could say I view Mack the way Jill Bennett viewed Val.

Mel, that´s very well-said, though I think I like Kevin Dobson so much that I forgive Mack´s annoyance. What it did bug me recently was how often he yelled at Karen (the wife who almost died the previous year, we must remember...) and how easily he took Jill´s hotel room key. But that´s the magic of "Knots", that uses a lot of little things to make the characters more multidimensional ignoring the fact that this may alienate some viewers. I like Karen and Michele Lee even more unconditionally, and have grown to appreciate Joan Van Ark´s craft of subtle acting beyond Val´s wacky world...

What I´m experiencing now by first time is noticing what a wishy-washy villain Abby was at the end of the day. I mean, where is that "J.R. with skirts" introduced in the second season? Because after the Wolfbridge debacle, her character never was the same. Season 6 showed her doing little dirty trick here and there, but her non-involvement with the babynapping by request of Ms. Mills made of Abby a weaker character. Now that I´m starting with the Olivia "Coke Saga", I realize that, despite Mills and Crowe´s wonderful acting, Abby went downhill from the moment that Gary slept with Cathy, because she lost control of her own world, even her most loved "possession", her daughter.

Even so, I think those two years (7th and 8th) were some of the best times of the Abster, along with Seasons 4 & 5 and also the beginning of Season 9. But seeing the slow process used to write Jill into the plot and the fact they always had a sort of "official villain" every season (aside from Abby), is another reason that marks the difference with the other primetime soaps. After Joshua, came schemers like Jill and Peter, Karen´s kidnapper, Jean Hackney, Ted Melcher, Danny Waleska et al. Honestly, it´s not funny at all watching Abby so humiliated by Gary in my current season, 7, so often, because it seems out of character for her.

Another thing I dislike is the way they are wasting the talent of the grand dame Julie Harris. I mean, how many times can she fall for a psycho and be indirectly responsible for his capture/death? Though I can´t wait for that scene when she bitchslaps that slutty Cathy...On the other side, Laura is doing so great in this season, just by reacting to the events and acts of her neighbors and her lover...How many times does she do her eye-rolling (and how elegantly!)? Her interaction with Ava Gardner the previous season was so amazing...I wonder where the series would have gone if she had stayed all the way. Oh and how unnerving can Sylvia Lean get!!!

 

[TheRealEwing]

For me, it's petulant, whining, eye-rolling Olivia. Everything is always all about her: Gary sleeping with Val and fathering the twins, Gary hooking up with Jill, Gary divorcing Abby, Abby sleeping with Peter, Abby dumping Charles... in all of these scenarios Olivia acts likes the wounded party, spitting out "how could you do that to me?" By the time, in Season 9, when she really DOES have a claim to being treated badly by her mother's machinations (Abby maneuvering to break up her relationship with Harold), I hate her so much that I want Abby to win this one for a change. I disliked Diana for her petulant attitude early on, but Diana's got nothing on Olivia.

Plus, the way they use her drug addiction to promote the ridiculous notion of pot being a gateway drug still rankles. Her violent reactions to Abby during that period are right out of Reefer Madness and utterly preposterous. Somebody should have screamed her off a roof.

 

[onthemarktexas]

The original post asked about main cast members but I see replies regarding main and supporting characters alike, so I'll add my two cents (in no particular order) - -

- Vanessa Hunt (annoying)
- Ben Gibson (passive/aggressive)
- Chip Roberts (untrustworthy)
- Jill Bennett (habitual liar)
- Mort and Bob (brown nosers)
- Paige Matheson (snooty)
- Al Baker (abrasive)

 

[Billy Nolan]

Of the main main cast I disliked Mack the most. I never quite understood how was it that other women found him attractive

yes, I felt the same way. I only liked him - if at all - at the beginning of season 4. He was always so convinced of himself and his opinion that he did not accept any other opinion or people next to him. He was over-moral, stuffy, old-fashioned and know-it-all. Oh yes: and overly authoritarian.
Nor can I understand that he was portrayed as a heartbreaker. I'm not a woman - but you can't call him attractive. Unless you're into toupees that turn gray over time.
Just my opinion.

 

[Screamboat Willie]

He was always so convinced of himself and his opinion that he did not accept any other opinion or people next to him. He was over-moral, stuffy, old-fashioned and know-it-all. Oh yes: and overly authoritarian.

I have no problem with the way he was written - Gary and Richard also had their own particular flaws - and it's all fine with me as long as the writing has a somewhat critical approach. "Poor Val" being the most soap-rules-defying example here, I think.
Perhaps Mack was given more leeway, even allowed him to revel in it, and then still trying to convince us that he was an awesome guy who was always doing the right things for the right cause.
I can't really criticize the character for what it is or what it's supposed be, but without sufficient criticism written into the story, those very feelings are kind of dumped on the viewers. And they will certainly apply their own personal preferences.
To compare: they never tried to trick us into thinking that Diana was a lovely innocent damsel in distress, but that actually made it easier to pick up those moments when she was (sort of ) lovely and vulnerable. Same with Greg and Paige.

Chase Gioberti could also be a self-righteous jerk (although, personally, I thought it made sense) but he certainly didn't get away with it, and he almost became his own worst enemy.

Nor can I understand that he was portrayed as a heartbreaker. I'm not a woman - but you can't call him attractive

Well I wouldn't say that Don Murray was much more handsome. Even Ted Shackelford wasn't a hunk in the traditional kind of way although I prefer the Gary before his pornish biceps work-out scenes. Either way, I'm willing to believe what the characters believe.
I can imagine that Paula Vertosick sees him as a relatively attractive, settled-down man. But sometimes, just the echo of one's former sexiness is enough to stimulate another person's sexual interest.

The de-sexualized, homey husband also makes it a challenge to bring out that horny sexy beast in him. I've read that somewhere.