I love the end the scene with Fisher's saying goodbybe to the twins without any words. The body language and gestures of the actors were just amazing to express the moment.
I cry every time I watch this part. Val and the Fisher's were victims in this baby stealing/selling scheme. Harry knew deep down that the adoption was shady, but that's how much he loved his wife. And poor Sheila, after all her heartache from miscarriages, she finally had the babies she always wanted, and then lost them. The way her and Val interact with each other, not a word, just tears, it gets me choked up every time!
I fully agree with you. I do remember that some episodes later, I believe that Val gets a letter from the Fishers that Sheila is pregnant but I am not sure which episode it was. As I recall, Val was touched by this and very happy.
Keith Hunter You're right, Val does get word from them about their pregnancy. If I remember correctly, they send gifts for the twins on their first birthday, and a letter telling Val they're expecting.
Knots Landing always did have great storyline. Yes I do think the babys storyline was probably the best, but there was so many good story's. Remember when Hunt Block Peter was killed? Remember how the story was? Just A A+ show this was
Wow! What a wonderful scene. That's why Knot's Landing lasted on the air so long because it knew how to reach people's hearts with common(or uncommon) issues. Hoping for a reboot of the series.
I have never seen a more moving dramatic scene on television than when the Fishers say goodbye to Val's twins. No words in the last couple of minutes, just the music and flawless acting. I never understood why "Knots Landing" never won an Emmy Award nor why Joan Van Ark did not win one. There was no better drama on television in the mid-1980s. Thank you for posting the scene.
Keith Hunter Very well said. KNOTS did tons of these throughout their run. Just amazing show all around! Have you seen the clip of Van Ark at the ranch when she's told by Mack that Gary is dead? The ambulance pulls away and Van Ark chases after it screaming for Gary in disbelief as Mack runs after her? The scene is so real that it is actually painful to watch. It's on here somewhere. Now you talk about an Emmy performance.
I think Joan Van Ark and Michele Lee may have won Soap Opera Digest Awards in the 1980s but there was never any Emmy nominations, which was an outrageous oversight. I agree with you. The scene when Val finds out that Gary is "dead" while she is pregnant with his twins was very painful to watch, unbelievably gut wrenching and heartbreaking. I remember the original airing in March 1984. I thought Gary was really dead although I thought it was strange that his family from "Dallas" did not attend. That was fishy, and, of course, during the funeral Gary appears in a black shirt and we realize he was not dead after all. Great drama. I still miss the show even after 23 years.
I see this and know - we have just a limit of words to use. This sceen shows so much. All of these moments has one in common: The change during acting. Emphaty, love, pain, loss, sense of guilt....look to vals Mom. There is so much more than a word could express. Thank you for Upload
This scene is a great example of why "Knots Landing" was the best nighttime drama in the mid 1980s. The Fishers were collateral victims of the baby stealing storyline and it was in Valene's character to recognize their pain to and allow them closure even though it was painful for her as well.
another of Van Arks outstanding performances...her facial expressions and acting in this is brilliant...her face in scenes and her movements just says it all she never has to say nothing...brilliant!
As usual, the acting is first rate and the emotional layers of the scene are so intense. Julie Harris who conveys Lila Mae's guilt over abandoning Val all those years ago (and Joshua!). And Joan Van Ark channeling Valene's pain over being forced to give up Lucy. So much going on in this scene.
Joe Regalbuto is such an amazing Actor. He worked with Candice Bergen in Murphy Brown, played a Real Estate Executive in The Leona Helmsley Story and even played an Emotionally Abusive Boyfriend on The Golden Girls.
Yes, the family and friends are gathered for the twins' first birthday, and Val is reading the cards aloud. After reading one from Ben's Aunt, she begins to read the next card happily and then her mood changes and she stops. Ben takes the card from her hand and he continues reading it aloud, discovering the card was from Harry & Sheila Fisher. Val is clearly a little distressed, because it brings back those memories of the many months she was not with them and, frankly, Sheila Fisher's instability. Val looks down and Karen and Mack look a little somber as Ben continues to read the last sentence where Harry announces Sheila is pregnant. That news of course overcomes Val with relief and she does one of her classic happy/almost crying moments. Karen and Mack also smile with relief. And then the party continues. I nice way to put a finishing touch on the story line.
I agree! At the end of the scene with them opening the gifts, isn't that when Val opens the gift from Gary with him giving the twins 1/2 of Empire Valley? In the next episode Val goes to see Gary to return the gift and they have a great scene where Gary felt betrayed that she did not tell him the babies were his, and she still would not acknowledge it. I think Jill Bennett overhears this but it was another 2 seasons before Jill went psycho.
Watching this 5 years later I have to add, that I wish Val & The Fishers stayed in touch over the years & maybe had them on here & there. The Fishers did write to Val & let the family know they were finally expecting a child of their own.
Joan Van Ark is amazing...she always made you feel. Didn’t expect to cry watching these olds clips. Wow. Was aware of Knots back in the day was more a Dynasty fan. Came to Knots around the crazy Jill time. I was a teen then & didn’t appreciate the nuanced acting, writing, overall quality at the time.
THIS SCENE WAS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! THE WAY MRS. FISHER HELD VALENE HUGGED HER WAS FANTASTIC THAT WAS HER WAY OF SAYING "IM SOOOO SORRY FOR WHAT WE DID FORGIVE ME FORGIVE US".😢
This aired in 1985 & is seriously such beautiful TV. I watched. I viewed this story on SoapNet years later. In 85 , I was 6. The production stood the test of time. I crying 22 years after I saw that return lol.
As much as the twins are Val's You can still feel the pain from The Fishers. If this scene is still making fans cry imagine what powers can be if there was a reboot. I'm thinking about starting a petition to release the series on DVD or streaming services. Any suggestions
Neat you got this from when this was on tnt's lunch box tv.When I stared watching it.Do you have the clip when Gary tells abby that he is divorcing her?
This scene changed things without words. The "father" who says goodbye to the twins lovingly but with distance and the "mother" with all her emotions comes to the lady's. First Vals face shows distance, rejection, caution. -After all she was very strong in this scene. She said to her volks that they should stay calm. She stopped her mother to call the police, she stopped joshua to be a protector for her because she doesn't needed it. She talked to the "father" and was able to show emphaty.- A weak person couldn't do anything of it. Back the "mothers scene". In her pain she was looking for closeness and has given val a little hug. From mother by heart to real mother. Not to much and everything build on feelings for love for the twins. Very simple but also not easy to show, I think. Maybe in real situations but not if cameras and lots of people are on set. Great great acting.
This scene is just crazy good... No dialogue; and the back story being the separation/abandonment issues that both Lilimae and Valene had with their children in the past.
Wow! This scene is extremely touching! I never had a chance to watch this series but in my opinion, all the actors in this scene did a great job! Soap operas had a really good quality back then. I wish I could see this series and I wonder if it has been released on DVD. I loved Dallas, btw, and I know Val of this series was Lucy's mother.
l always felt the writers should have brought Mrs..Fisher back in another season as a deranged lunatic. Her husband had died and she had a miscarriage and stole the twins from school. lt would have been a perfect cliffhanger when Valene gets the call that the twins were kidnapped by Mrs. Fisher..
Sheila Fisher was equally a victim in this situation. She didn't know that the babies were adopted through shady means. Robin Ginsburg, who portrayed Sheila, also did an outstanding job in this scene where she conveyed the pain of bidding goodbye to the children. Unfortunately, Ms. Ginsburg's acting career was brief.
If you guys think Joan Van Ark is a fine dramatic actress you should see her doing comedy. She started in a short-lived medical sitcom called, Temperature's Rising with Cleavon Little and James Whitmore
Husband Harry Fisher was played by actor Joe Regalbuto. A year after his appearance on Knots Landing, we would be cast in the sitcom "Murphy Brown," which would be his biggest career success. Wife Sheila Fisher was played by actress Robin Ginsburg. Robin only appeared in minor roles in a few films and TV series, and I believe has been out of the spotlight since the 1990s.
@@executivedirector7405 It is interesting how people in show business can play for a while, then find something else they want to do and move on. It would make an interesting article about this sort of thing.
I vividly remember thinking that at the end of the scene while the heartbroken Fishers were going back to their car. the camera got a close up of Val,Karen&Lilli Maes faces to show their emphaty for the Fishers and lastly a shot of Joshuas' ice cold unfeeling expression..that the producers/writers were giving the audience a tiny glimpse/hint of the "real" Joshua emerging
