David Jacobs is an American television writer, producer, and showrunner best known for creating two of the most iconic primetime soap operas in television history: Dallas and its spinoff Knots Landing. His work has left an indelible mark on the landscape of American television, helping to define the genre of serialized nighttime drama that captivated audiences throughout the 1980s and beyond. Jacobs’ ability to weave complex, character-driven narratives full of intrigue, betrayal, and family conflict made him one of the most influential figures in television, and his legacy continues to resonate through modern TV dramas.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
David Jacobs was born on August 12, 1939, in Baltimore, Maryland. Growing up in a culturally rich environment, Jacobs developed a love for storytelling at an early age. He pursued higher education with a passion for art and literature, eventually earning a degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. Jacobs initially aspired to be an illustrator, but his career took an unexpected turn when he decided to try his hand at writing. In the mid-1960s, he moved to New York City, where he began working as a freelance writer and editor for various magazines.
Jacobs eventually transitioned into writing for television, moving to Los Angeles in the 1970s to explore opportunities in the burgeoning entertainment industry. His early work focused on developing scripts for anthology series and pilots, where he gained valuable experience working with established television producers and showrunners. It was during this time that Jacobs’ interest in creating long-form, serialized storytelling began to take shape.
The Birth of Dallas
The creation of Dallas in 1978 marked the beginning of a new era in television drama, and it all started with David Jacobs’ innovative vision. The concept for Dallas was initially pitched as a straightforward drama about family dynamics, inspired by the social and economic tensions within American society. Jacobs originally envisioned a show that focused on the complexities of two families, one wealthy and one struggling, but network executives were more interested in creating a drama centered on wealth, power, and intrigue. Jacobs adapted his idea and thus the iconic Dallas was born.
Dallas centered around the Ewing family, a wealthy Texas oil dynasty embroiled in power struggles, corporate takeovers, and personal betrayals. At the heart of the show was the morally ambiguous and manipulative character of J.R. Ewing, portrayed by Larry Hagman. J.R. quickly became one of the most infamous characters on television, known for his ruthless business tactics and shameless scheming.
Jacobs crafted Dallas as a sprawling, multi-generational saga, combining elements of family drama, corporate intrigue, and romantic entanglements. What set Dallas apart from other dramas at the time was its serialized storytelling format, which allowed storylines to build over multiple episodes, culminating in dramatic cliffhangers that kept audiences hooked week after week. Jacobs’ ability to craft long-form, character-driven narratives was revolutionary for the time, as most dramas had traditionally focused on self-contained episodes.
The show’s defining moment came with the infamous “Who Shot J.R.?” storyline in 1980, a cliffhanger that left audiences across the globe in suspense for months. The episode in which the culprit was revealed became one of the highest-rated television episodes in history, cementing Dallas as a cultural phenomenon.
The Success of Knots Landing
While Dallas was thriving, David Jacobs was already working on another ambitious project: Knots Landing, a spinoff of Dallas that would go on to become one of the longest-running primetime dramas in television history. Initially, Jacobs had pitched Knots Landing before Dallas, envisioning a series about four middle-class couples living in a cul-de-sac, each facing their own personal and relational challenges. However, the network felt that the show lacked the necessary intrigue to capture audiences at the time. After the success of Dallas, CBS reconsidered, and Knots Landing was launched in 1979 as a companion series to Dallas.
While Knots Landing was connected to Dallas through shared characters—most notably, Gary Ewing (Ted Shackelford), the black sheep of the Ewing family—it had a distinct tone and style. Whereas Dallas was a glamorous soap opera about wealth and power, Knots Landing focused more on suburban life, with characters dealing with more relatable struggles, such as infidelity, addiction, financial troubles, and parenting. This focus on interpersonal drama and moral dilemmas gave Knots Landing its unique appeal.
Under Jacobs’ guidance, Knots Landing became a critical and commercial success, known for its sophisticated storytelling and well-developed characters. The show ran for 14 seasons, outlasting Dallas by two years, and developed its own dedicated fanbase. Jacobs’ skillful management of the series, along with his team of writers, ensured that Knots Landingevolved with the times, incorporating social issues and changing family dynamics into the fabric of the show. The series’ success solidified Jacobs’ reputation as a master of long-form storytelling in television.
Expanding His Influence in Television
Beyond Dallas and Knots Landing, David Jacobs continued to work in television throughout the 1980s and 1990s, contributing to a number of other series that built on his experience with serialized storytelling. In 1985, he created Paradise, a Western drama set in the late 19th century, which focused on a gunfighter trying to live a peaceful life while raising his niece and nephew. Though the show was not as long-lasting as his previous works, it demonstrated Jacobs’ ability to branch out into different genres.
In addition to Paradise, Jacobs created the short-lived series Four Corners in 1998, a family drama set in New Mexico. Although the show only aired for a few episodes, it further illustrated Jacobs’ commitment to creating character-driven stories that focused on family dynamics and interpersonal relationships, hallmarks of his earlier work.
The Legacy of Dallas and Its Revival
The influence of Dallas on American television cannot be overstated. The show helped popularize the serialized drama format, paving the way for later primetime soap operas such as Dynasty, Falcon Crest, and Knots Landing. Jacobs’ work on Dallas revolutionized the way television dramas were structured, proving that long-form, character-driven storytelling could attract large, dedicated audiences and achieve sustained success over multiple seasons.
The legacy of Dallas was so enduring that it inspired a revival series, which aired on TNT from 2012 to 2014. The new series continued the story of the Ewing family, with original cast members such as Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy, and Linda Gray reprising their roles, while introducing a new generation of characters. Jacobs was involved in the revival as an executive consultant, ensuring that the spirit of the original show was maintained while updating it for modern audiences. Though the revival was short-lived, it demonstrated the lasting appeal of Jacobs’ creation and its impact on television history.
Jacobs’ Approach to Storytelling and Impact on TV Drama
One of the key aspects of David Jacobs’ success as a television creator and producer was his approach to storytelling. Jacobs emphasized character development and emotional complexity in his writing, ensuring that his shows were about more than just shocking plot twists and dramatic moments. The strength of his characters—whether it was J.R. Ewing’s moral ambiguity or the relatable struggles of the residents of Knots Landing—made his shows stand out in an era where soap operas were often dismissed as frivolous.
Jacobs’ ability to craft multi-layered characters allowed his shows to tackle serious themes, including infidelity, power struggles, class disparity, and moral dilemmas, while still keeping audiences entertained with the larger-than-life drama and intrigue that primetime audiences craved. His storytelling laid the groundwork for future television dramas, particularly those that embraced serialized, character-driven narratives, from The Sopranos to Breaking Bad and beyond.
David Jacobs’ work as a television creator, writer, and producer has had a lasting influence on the medium, particularly in the realm of serialized drama. His groundbreaking work on Dallas and Knots Landing helped to redefine what was possible in television storytelling, and his ability to blend interpersonal conflict with grand-scale drama captivated audiences for decades. Jacobs’ contributions to television remain a benchmark for quality writing and producing, with his legacy continuing to inspire generations of television creators and showrunners.