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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,...

Since fans can't get back the cul-de-sac, Home & Family decided to bring the cul-de-sac back to fans!

On Thursday, the talk show will feature a special reunion of Knots Landing castmembers Joan Van Ark and Donna Mills, as well as Kevin Dobson, Michele Lee and Ted Shackelford. Even Alec Baldwin, who appeared on the Dallas spin-off from 1984-85, showed up via Skype.

The cast talked a lot about the primetime soap's legacy with hosts Mark Steines and Cristina Ferrare.

"David Jacobs, who created the show with Michael Filerman, said that Dallas was about 'them' and Knots Landing was about 'us,...

Since fans can't get back the cul-de-sac, Home & Family decided to bring the cul-de-sac back to fans! On Thursday, the talk show will feature a special reunion of Knots Landing castmembers Joan Van Ark and Donna Mills, as well as Kevin Dobson, Michele Lee and Ted Shackelford. Even Alec Baldwin, who appeared on the Dallas spin-off from 1984-85, showed up via Skype. The cast talked a lot about the primetime soap's legacy with hosts Mark Steines and Cristina Ferrare. "David Jacobs, who created the show with Michael Filerman, said that Dallas was about 'them' and Knots Landing was about 'us,...

Since fans can't get back the cul-de-sac, Home & Family decided to bring the cul-de-sac back to fans! On Thursday, the talk show will feature a special reunion of Knot's Landing castmembers Joan Van Ark and Donna Mills, as well as Kevin Dobson, Michele Lee and Ted Shackelford. Even Alec Baldwin, who appeared on the Dallas spin-off from 1984-85, showed up via Skype. The cast talked a lot about the primetime soap's legacy with hosts Mark Steines and Cristina Ferrare. "David Jacobs, who created the show with Michael Filerman, said that Dallas was about 'them' and Knot's Landing was about 'us,...