David Jacobs, the writer and producer who changed the face of television in the 1980s by creating the primetime soap operas Dallas and Knots Landing, has died. He was 84.
Jacobs died Sunday at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, his son Aaron told The Hollywood Reporter. He had battled Alzheimer’s over the years and died of complications from a series of infections.
Dallas in its original incarnation aired for 14 seasons and 357 episodes, starting out as a five-part miniseries in April 1978 before wrapping in May 1991, and it was the No. 1 show in the Nielsen ratings after its fourth, fifth and seventh seasons. Meanwhile, the spinoff Knots Landing debuted in December 1979 and also ran for 14 seasons — and 344 episodes — a solid Thursday night staple through May 1993.
Based on his work as a story editor for the ABC drama Family, Jacobs had scored a deal at Lorimar Productions, where he struck up a friendship with Michael Filerman,...
Jacobs died Sunday at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, his son Aaron told The Hollywood Reporter. He had battled Alzheimer’s over the years and died of complications from a series of infections.
Dallas in its original incarnation aired for 14 seasons and 357 episodes, starting out as a five-part miniseries in April 1978 before wrapping in May 1991, and it was the No. 1 show in the Nielsen ratings after its fourth, fifth and seventh seasons. Meanwhile, the spinoff Knots Landing debuted in December 1979 and also ran for 14 seasons — and 344 episodes — a solid Thursday night staple through May 1993.
Based on his work as a story editor for the ABC drama Family, Jacobs had scored a deal at Lorimar Productions, where he struck up a friendship with Michael Filerman,...
- 8/23/2023
- by Chris Koseluk
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
1979: General Hospital's Laura wanted a job at the disco.
1987: Lizzie demanded answers on Ryan's Hope.
1989: As the World Turns' Shannon lost her baby.
2007: One Life to Live's John arrive to arrest Lindsay."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1970: Murial Williams returned to Another World as Lenore's (Judith Barcroft) mother, Helen Moore. Williams remained with the show until April 8, 1976.
1976: Rosemary Forsyth debuted as Laura Horton on Days of our Lives.
1977: On Another World, Mac (Douglass Watson) listened in through the intercom as...
1987: Lizzie demanded answers on Ryan's Hope.
1989: As the World Turns' Shannon lost her baby.
2007: One Life to Live's John arrive to arrest Lindsay."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1970: Murial Williams returned to Another World as Lenore's (Judith Barcroft) mother, Helen Moore. Williams remained with the show until April 8, 1976.
1976: Rosemary Forsyth debuted as Laura Horton on Days of our Lives.
1977: On Another World, Mac (Douglass Watson) listened in through the intercom as...
- 8/26/2019
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1967: Dark Shadows' Maggie remained frustrated locked in a cell.
1983: General Hospital faced a hostage crisis.
1993: As the World Turns' Hal and Barbara were remarried.
1996: All My Children's Hayley and Brian wanted to relive their prom."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1967: On Dark Shadows, locked in a cell in the Old House basement, Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott) opened the music box when she heard Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) coming, pretending that she had been listening to it. He didn't believe her and...
1983: General Hospital faced a hostage crisis.
1993: As the World Turns' Hal and Barbara were remarried.
1996: All My Children's Hayley and Brian wanted to relive their prom."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1967: On Dark Shadows, locked in a cell in the Old House basement, Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott) opened the music box when she heard Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) coming, pretending that she had been listening to it. He didn't believe her and...
- 6/14/2019
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1995: The exorcism of Days of our Lives' Marlena began.
1997: General Hospital's Monica wanted to shoot Pierce.
2001: All My Children's Anna heard her daughter's voice.
2006: Days of our Lives' Sami met Ej Dimera."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1938: Radio soap opera Joyce Jordan, M.D. debuted on the Mutual Network. Elspeth Eric was the original actress to play Joyce, who worked at Heights Hospital. Other cast members during the show's run included Bill Johnstone and Agnes Moorehead. Note: Three decades later...
1997: General Hospital's Monica wanted to shoot Pierce.
2001: All My Children's Anna heard her daughter's voice.
2006: Days of our Lives' Sami met Ej Dimera."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1938: Radio soap opera Joyce Jordan, M.D. debuted on the Mutual Network. Elspeth Eric was the original actress to play Joyce, who worked at Heights Hospital. Other cast members during the show's run included Bill Johnstone and Agnes Moorehead. Note: Three decades later...
- 5/30/2019
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
A lot of slashers in the early ‘80s leaned on a mystery component, so it would only seem natural that the small screen would adapt this method to attract the horror crowd; however, being unable to show anything by network standards leaves you with only the mystery of the killer to fall back on. Such is the case with Deadly Lessons (1983), a fun enough slasher without the slashing and a stacked cast.
Originally broadcast on March 7th as The ABC Monday Night Movie, Deadly Lessons was schooled by Alice/One Day at a Time on CBS and NBC rolled out their own movie competition; but ABC always had a knack for attracting strong casts and interesting horror based material. Deadly Lessons has the cast part nailed, and offers up an interesting enough thriller as long as you’re not expecting too many slasher tropes, small screen or not.
Open up...
Originally broadcast on March 7th as The ABC Monday Night Movie, Deadly Lessons was schooled by Alice/One Day at a Time on CBS and NBC rolled out their own movie competition; but ABC always had a knack for attracting strong casts and interesting horror based material. Deadly Lessons has the cast part nailed, and offers up an interesting enough thriller as long as you’re not expecting too many slasher tropes, small screen or not.
Open up...
- 10/7/2018
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
1966: A ghost emerged from Josette's portrait on Dark Shadows.
1978: Lucy was devastated when Gary & Val left Dallas again.
1982: Karen Fairgate met Mack Mackenzie in Knots Landing.
1985: General Hospital's Frisco was determined to go undercover."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1955: Actor James Dean died in a car crash at age 24. The Rebel Without a Cause star had connections to a number of people who would one day work in the world of soap operas, including director Lela Swift and writer William Bast (co-creator of The Colbys).
1966: On Dark Shadows, David Collins (David Henesy...
1978: Lucy was devastated when Gary & Val left Dallas again.
1982: Karen Fairgate met Mack Mackenzie in Knots Landing.
1985: General Hospital's Frisco was determined to go undercover."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1955: Actor James Dean died in a car crash at age 24. The Rebel Without a Cause star had connections to a number of people who would one day work in the world of soap operas, including director Lela Swift and writer William Bast (co-creator of The Colbys).
1966: On Dark Shadows, David Collins (David Henesy...
- 10/3/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1978: Gary and Valene Ewing returned to Dallas.
1984: Primetime soap Paper Dolls premiered on ABC.
1986: One Life to Live's Jessica Buchanan was born.
2011: All My Children aired for the final time on ABC."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1942: On radio soap opera Clara, Lu & Em, Clara (Fran Allison) was sick.
1969: On The Doctors, Mike Powers (Peter Burnell) picked up Julie Forrest (Ginger Gerlach) at the train station, and brought her to his parent's home. Julie told Matt (James Pritchett) and Maggie (Lydia Bruce) about her upbringing.
1975: On Ryan's Hope, Jillian Coleridge (Nancy...
1984: Primetime soap Paper Dolls premiered on ABC.
1986: One Life to Live's Jessica Buchanan was born.
2011: All My Children aired for the final time on ABC."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1942: On radio soap opera Clara, Lu & Em, Clara (Fran Allison) was sick.
1969: On The Doctors, Mike Powers (Peter Burnell) picked up Julie Forrest (Ginger Gerlach) at the train station, and brought her to his parent's home. Julie told Matt (James Pritchett) and Maggie (Lydia Bruce) about her upbringing.
1975: On Ryan's Hope, Jillian Coleridge (Nancy...
- 9/25/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1979: General Hospital's Laura wanted a job at the disco.
1987: Lizzie demanded answers on Ryan's Hope.
1989: As the World Turns' Shannon lost her baby.
2007: One Life to Live's John arrive to arrest Lindsay."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1970: Murial Williams returned to Another World as Lenore's (Judith Barcroft) mother, Helen Moore. Williams remained with the show until April 8, 1976.
1976: Rosemary Forsyth debuted as Laura Horton on Days of our Lives.
1977: On Another World, Mac (Douglass Watson) listened in through the intercom as Dave (David Ackroyd) told Pat (Beverly Penberthy) he had always been in love with Rachel.
1987: Lizzie demanded answers on Ryan's Hope.
1989: As the World Turns' Shannon lost her baby.
2007: One Life to Live's John arrive to arrest Lindsay."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1970: Murial Williams returned to Another World as Lenore's (Judith Barcroft) mother, Helen Moore. Williams remained with the show until April 8, 1976.
1976: Rosemary Forsyth debuted as Laura Horton on Days of our Lives.
1977: On Another World, Mac (Douglass Watson) listened in through the intercom as Dave (David Ackroyd) told Pat (Beverly Penberthy) he had always been in love with Rachel.
- 8/24/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1967: Dark Shadows' Maggie remained frustrated locked in a cell.
1983: General Hospital faced a hostage crisis.
1993: As the World Turns' Hal and Barbara were remarried.
1996: All My Children's Hayley and Brian wanted to relive their prom."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1967: On Dark Shadows, locked in a cell in the Old House basement, Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott) opened the music box when...
1983: General Hospital faced a hostage crisis.
1993: As the World Turns' Hal and Barbara were remarried.
1996: All My Children's Hayley and Brian wanted to relive their prom."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1967: On Dark Shadows, locked in a cell in the Old House basement, Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott) opened the music box when...
- 6/14/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1995: The exorcism of Days of our Lives' Marlena began.
1997: General Hospital's Monica wanted to shoot Pierce.
2001: All My Children's Anna heard her daughter's voice.
2006: Days of our Lives' Sami met Ej Dimera."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1938: Radio soap opera Joyce Jordan, M.D. debuted on the Mutual Network. Elspeth Eric was the original actress to play Joyce, who worked at Heights Hospital.
1997: General Hospital's Monica wanted to shoot Pierce.
2001: All My Children's Anna heard her daughter's voice.
2006: Days of our Lives' Sami met Ej Dimera."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1938: Radio soap opera Joyce Jordan, M.D. debuted on the Mutual Network. Elspeth Eric was the original actress to play Joyce, who worked at Heights Hospital.
- 5/30/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
The Eyes of Laura Mars (1978) was an unpopular thriller with a clever premise. Laura would have visions whenever a killer attacked someone, and she witnessed the murders through his eyes. Naturally, TV had to take a crack at the premise, which brought us Mind Over Murder (1979), a thriller that adds a few wrinkles to the basic premise and ends up being the more enjoyable of the two.
Originally airing on October 23rd as part of The CBS Tuesday Night Movies, Mind Over Murder bore down against NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies and ABC’s Three’s Company/Taxi/Hart to Hart lineup. Not hard to tell where the majority of viewers planted their eyeballs this night, but those who stayed with “the eye” were treated to a mostly effective thriller with some genuinely unsettling moments. You shouldn’t have too much Tripper in your diet, after all.
Let’s...
Originally airing on October 23rd as part of The CBS Tuesday Night Movies, Mind Over Murder bore down against NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies and ABC’s Three’s Company/Taxi/Hart to Hart lineup. Not hard to tell where the majority of viewers planted their eyeballs this night, but those who stayed with “the eye” were treated to a mostly effective thriller with some genuinely unsettling moments. You shouldn’t have too much Tripper in your diet, after all.
Let’s...
- 11/12/2017
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
I don’t like rituals, period. Whether straitlaced (Christian) or darkly purposed (Satanic), I just find them creepy…and off. So while I won’t stand on ceremony, I will watch, with fascination, films that trot out such pageantry. One of my favorites is a two part TV mini-series, The Dark Secret of Harvest Home (1978). Oh, and its horror, but I’m sure you already guessed that.
Originally airing on NBC Monday, January 23rd (in the NBC Monday Night at the Movies slot) and Tuesday the 24th, 1978, Dark Secret was up against the CBS juggernaut of M*A*S*H/One Day at a Time/Lou Grant. But while many were watching Hawkeye, Schneider, et al crack wise, something insidious was brewing over at The Peacock.
Pull out your yellowed copy of TV Guide and let’s have a look shall we?
The Dark Secret Of Harvest Home (Monday-Tuesday, 9pm,...
Originally airing on NBC Monday, January 23rd (in the NBC Monday Night at the Movies slot) and Tuesday the 24th, 1978, Dark Secret was up against the CBS juggernaut of M*A*S*H/One Day at a Time/Lou Grant. But while many were watching Hawkeye, Schneider, et al crack wise, something insidious was brewing over at The Peacock.
Pull out your yellowed copy of TV Guide and let’s have a look shall we?
The Dark Secret Of Harvest Home (Monday-Tuesday, 9pm,...
- 10/9/2016
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Remember Kinvig, Clone, Not With A Bang? These are the UK sci-fi sitcoms you’re unlikely to see on comedy best-of lists…
With E4 sci-fi comedy commissions, Tripped and Aliens, and in-development Channel 4 projects, Space Ark and Graham Linehan/Adam Buxton collaboration The Cloud, in the works, a new crop of sci-fi sitcom could be making its way to UK TV.
Making funny sci-fi on a small-screen budget is tough enough without the additional pressure of having to attract viewers more traditionally down-to-earth in their sitcom tastes. Sci-fi sets and effects can be seen as prohibitively expensive by comedy commissioners (which is perhaps why the best UK sci-fi sitcoms of recent years has been on BBC Radio), and the genre’s niche status doesn’t scream mainstream hit. Over the years, one or two stand-outs have managed to straddle the sci-fi and comedy TV worlds, but plenty more have stumbled in the attempt.
With E4 sci-fi comedy commissions, Tripped and Aliens, and in-development Channel 4 projects, Space Ark and Graham Linehan/Adam Buxton collaboration The Cloud, in the works, a new crop of sci-fi sitcom could be making its way to UK TV.
Making funny sci-fi on a small-screen budget is tough enough without the additional pressure of having to attract viewers more traditionally down-to-earth in their sitcom tastes. Sci-fi sets and effects can be seen as prohibitively expensive by comedy commissioners (which is perhaps why the best UK sci-fi sitcoms of recent years has been on BBC Radio), and the genre’s niche status doesn’t scream mainstream hit. Over the years, one or two stand-outs have managed to straddle the sci-fi and comedy TV worlds, but plenty more have stumbled in the attempt.
- 7/23/2015
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
“Unsafe” is the adaptation of one of my favorite Law & Order episodes, 1993′s “American Dream.” That episode was not only well-done, but featured a great performance from Zeljko Ivanek (one of my favorite franchise guest stars), so I was expecting a lot from “Unsafe.”
It delivers.
The uncovering of a shallow grave that contains a badly decomposed body is the starting point for Brooks and Devlin. Thankfully, they’re able to identify the victim by his watch and the pin that was in his knee: David Ackroyd. There’s one major hitch: Steel had already convicted Luke Slade (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider‘s Iain Glen) of Ackroyd’s murder. Ronnie and Matt have to reopen Slade’s case when they realize that where they found the body isn’t where Slade’s accomplice testified that it would be, and the cause of death is completely different. When this gets out...
It delivers.
The uncovering of a shallow grave that contains a badly decomposed body is the starting point for Brooks and Devlin. Thankfully, they’re able to identify the victim by his watch and the pin that was in his knee: David Ackroyd. There’s one major hitch: Steel had already convicted Luke Slade (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider‘s Iain Glen) of Ackroyd’s murder. Ronnie and Matt have to reopen Slade’s case when they realize that where they found the body isn’t where Slade’s accomplice testified that it would be, and the cause of death is completely different. When this gets out...
- 10/23/2010
- by Brittany Frederick
- TVovermind.com
Five years after his now legendary performance as Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, Dolph Lundgren was enjoying considerable success having starred in a trio of films that include Red Scorpion, (the original) The Punisher and as popular toy figure He-Man in Masters of the Universe. The films ranged from okay to just plain awful, but Lundgren had an onscreen presence that was more than just his six foot five frame. The guy had personality and for a native of Stockholm, Sweden, he could easily adopt an American accent. The nineties saw Lundgren in a string of action films that included Showdown in Little Tokyo with the late Brandon Lee, Universal Soldier with Jean-Claude Van Damme and the Keanu Reeves vehicle Johnny Mnemonic which to this day remains Ludgren's last film that had an American theatrical release. By the close of the decade Lundgren's films were only released straight to video sin the U.
- 12/25/2009
- LRMonline.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.