Little House On The Prairie - General Discussion

[mustbeme]

They have looped around to the beginning again today....man I really needed A Harvest of Friends, I love that first season.

[debraran]

Me too, I left it this morning after the awful Baby Rose gets stolen episode and came home to Country Party. ; )

 

[tearknee]

Sad what happened to Sarah Coleman. Losing her twin must have been devastating to Jennifer. Sarah lives on as Baby Rose in LHOTP.

[Blergh]

On 11/8/2024 at 3:39 AM, tearknee said:

Sad what happened to Sarah Coleman. Losing her twin must have been devastating to Jennifer. Sarah lives on as Baby Rose in LHOTP.

What interesting is that after the show was over, Miss Donati and her late sister were able to grow up without any spotlight and it would only be during the 50th Anniversary celebrations when Miss Donati brought the proof to Dean Butler,etc. that she and her late twin had played his infant daughter Rose that she opted to make this known. Thankfully, the surviving cast has appeared to have embraced her for her (and her late twin's) earlier contributions and this may bring comfort to her.

[jason88cubs]

https://www.walnutgrovecast.com/charles-puts-a-little-something-special-in-pipe-finally-understands-carrie/

 

Hilarious

[jason88cubs]

Just realized they could have a episode where Caroline puts the banker and Miss Beadle together

[Blergh]

19 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

Just realized they could have a episode where Caroline puts the banker and Miss Beadle together

I'm not sure Mr. Sprague would have been interested.

However, I'm a bit surprised that there never was an episode with Miss Beadle attempting to get together with Doc Baker- even if they wound up crashing and burning but wanting to resume a platonic bond, it still would have been an interesting ep,IMO.

[shipmate]

Watching Sweet 16, which is arguably one of my favorite episodes in the whole series. Like others, I really wish we would’ve had a handful of episodes at least with the courtship between Laura and Almanzo versus going straight to engagement and marriage.

on a different note, one of my best friends was able to attend one of the cast reunion events and just surprised me with an autographed photo from Dean Butler. It will be treasured!

[debraran]

40 minutes ago, shipmate said:

Watching Sweet 16, which is arguably one of my favorite episodes in the whole series. Like others, I really wish we would’ve had a handful of episodes at least with the courtship between Laura and Almanzo versus going straight to engagement and marriage.

on a different note, one of my best friends was able to attend one of the cast reunion events and just surprised me with an autographed photo from Dean Butler. It will be treasured!

That's so cool! I never got to see him in CT (except in passing) but I hope to one day.

I didn't like how Almonzo was so pigheaded in that episode, ordering her to pick him or her dad but I like that it wasn't rushed. I hate when everything happens in 2 wks. 

And Percival arrives which is nice too.

 

12 hours ago, Blergh said:

I'm not sure Mr. Sprague would have been interested.

However, I'm a bit surprised that there never was an episode with Miss Beadle attempting to get together with Doc Baker- even if they wound up crashing and burning but wanting to resume a platonic bond, it still would have been an interesting ep,IMO.

I think Sprague might have courted Harriet's niece but seemed to like his quiet life. Doc was such a nice man, educated and kind and caring and no single woman in town wanted to at least have a conversation with him or ask him to have a picnic lunch or something acceptable? I liked Mr Simms but wish it was at least thought of. They did with Grace and Mr Edwards. I still hoped Stanley's wife had him come by to check on her and baby and they started to have feelings over time. But alas, we can only hope wherever they were walking too in the end, he ended up with someone who appreciated him.

Edited November 13 by debraran

[Blergh]

3 hours ago, debraran said:

That's so cool! I never got to see him in CT (except in passing) but I hope to one day.

I didn't like how Almonzo was so pigheaded in that episode, ordering her to pick him or her dad but I like that it wasn't rushed. I hate when everything happens in 2 wks. 

And Percival arrives which is nice too.

 

I think Sprague might have courted Harriet's niece but seemed to like his quiet life. Doc was such a nice man, educated and kind and caring and no single woman in town wanted to at least have a conversation with him or ask him to have a picnic lunch or something acceptable? I liked Mr Simms but wish it was at least thought of. They did with Grace and Mr Edwards. I still hoped Stanley's wife had him come by to check on her and baby and they started to have feelings over time. But alas, we can only hope wherever they were walking too in the end, he ended up with someone who appreciated him.

Charlotte Stewart has said that she was always told that Miss Beadle would  eventually make her exit  so that Almanzo Wilder's sister Eliza Jane could take over as teacher and this would set the stage of Laura meeting Manley.

Hence, since  she was about due for her exit, Miss Beadle couldn't have seriously courted Doc Baker since HE was going to stay around. Thus they had to bring in the newbie Adam Simms to woo then wed her!

Still, I have  to wonder how (or if) ML was so sure that the show would have lasted so long as to be able to have Laura's eventual meeting with her new teacher's brother happen.

P.S. While (of all folks) Mary was depicted as being a substitute for the heavily pregnant new Mrs. Simms, oddly enough there was no mention of who (or even IF) there was a Walnut Grove teacher from the time Mrs. Simms permanently retired to have her son/ Mary went blind then went to blind school to the time Mrs. Garvey returned from Winoka with her family. I mean, that was roughly a year or even 18 months with NO teacher depicted or mentioned.

[tearknee]

Then what did the kids do for those 18 months -- Nellie would have been a lot less restrained for one with no teacher.

[Blergh]

2 hours ago, tearknee said:

Then what did the kids do for those 18 months -- Nellie would have been a lot less restrained for one with no teacher.

That's a good question! I know the focus of those roughly 12-18 months was on the birth of Grace, Mary losing her sight then becoming a blind school teacher, and then Walnut Grove being ruined by a monsoon forcing the three main families to relocate to Winoka . However it was a big FAIL of ML not to even once have had the script allude to the possibility that there might have been some other teacher guiding the school age kids between Miss Beadle's getting Simmed and Mrs. Garvey's newfound calling after Winoka!

[tearknee]

"Walnut Grove being ruined by a monsoon forcing the three main families to relocate to Winoka".

don't they drift in off the sea?

ML = Baldrick?

 

[debraran]

Love this ! https://www.facebook.com/share/r/7be32qnAWraGcYTW/?mibextid=UalRPS

[Blergh]

13 hours ago, debraran said:

Love this ! https://www.facebook.com/share/r/7be32qnAWraGcYTW/?mibextid=UalRPS

That's amazing what this family has done and nice of them to give them a tour of their home to the 'son-in-law' Dean Butler. They sure made the basic Little House actually look cozier and more livable than the show's with even modern amenities included. Of course, since it IS a private home, it can't be toured by fans like a museum. At least though with Mr. Butler's video, viewers have a better idea of what the inside of the LHOTP home might have looked like than with the  pile of wood sitting in  Stan Ivar's storage shed.

[debraran]

Here are some pictures of one in France that Alison highlighted a few years ago. I don't know about bathroom but I am assuming if meant to be used it does somewhere. Pictures are a bit dark but I love how they copied the walls that are undone and Carrie's bed so close to parents, the carvings, the shepherdess.

https://laurasprairie.com/little-house-replica-france/

This is a video in French and Alison has a cameo but there is a better one I remember but can't find right now. She went there years ago and was amazed.

https://www.facebook.com/M6MediaBank.fr/videos/283310859312830/?extid=CL-UNK-UNK-UNK-AN_GK0T-GK1C

 

[Blergh]

18 hours ago, debraran said:

Here are some pictures of one in France that Alison highlighted a few years ago. I don't know about bathroom but I am assuming if meant to be used it does somewhere. Pictures are a bit dark but I love how they copied the walls that are undone and Carrie's bed so close to parents, the carvings, the shepherdess.

https://laurasprairie.com/little-house-replica-france/

This is a video in French and Alison has a cameo but there is a better one I remember but can't find right now. She went there years ago and was amazed.

https://www.facebook.com/M6MediaBank.fr/videos/283310859312830/?extid=CL-UNK-UNK-UNK-AN_GK0T-GK1C

 

I wonder if anyone will try to make their own 'Oleson's Mercantile'- complete with  store, storeroom. . raucous parlor, three upstairs bedrooms and bathroom complete with its own tub and shoddily installed commode?

[debraran]

6 hours ago, Blergh said:

I wonder if anyone will try to make their own 'Oleson's Mercantile'- complete with  store, storeroom. . raucous parlor, three upstairs bedrooms and bathroom complete with its own tub and shoddily installed commode?

Now that would be something...they could sell things to the fans. ; ) No using commode though!! lol

We have Sturbridge Villiage in MA near me that is like that type of town. They used to have before Covid, sleepovers in a home to be like the pioneers. I loved their store, OUR prices unfortunately but quaint and old fashioned candy etc.

On another note the podcast with Dean and Allison has a patreon version for those who pay money and they gave a sneak peek on youtube. Discussed Michael and his funeral and how he is like Jim Henson.

I heard last podcast they'd like to get Charlotte Stewart which would be nice. She has a lot of stories.

 

Edited November 16 by debraran

[Blergh]

8 hours ago, debraran said:

Now that would be something...they could sell things to the fans. ; ) No using commode though!! lol

We have Sturbridge Villiage in MA near me that is like that type of town. They used to have before Covid, sleepovers in a home to be like the pioneers. I loved their store, OUR prices unfortunately but quaint and old fashioned candy etc.

On another note the podcast with Dean and Allison has a patreon version for those who pay money and they gave a sneak peek on youtube. Discussed Michael and his funeral and how he is like Jim Henson.

I heard last podcast they'd like to get Charlotte Stewart which would be nice. She has a lot of stories.

 

I would agree! I can't say I'd have imagined that the performer playing Miss Beadle would have lived anything besides a prim and proper life offstage but she she sure showed that still waters run deep via her autobio (at least Miss Stewart herself).

[debraran]

I don’t know how I missed this, but what a lovely interview and pictures. I love picturing her at the spa with Katherine McGregor.😊

https://walnutgroovy.com/2023/06/26/charlotte-stewart-the-walnut-groovy-interview/

[Blergh]

On 11/18/2024 at 2:20 PM, debraran said:

I don’t know how I missed this, but what a lovely interview and pictures. I love picturing her at the spa with Katherine McGregor.😊

https://walnutgroovy.com/2023/06/26/charlotte-stewart-the-walnut-groovy-interview/

FWIW, Miss Stewart went into a little more detail in her autobio about that spa time with Miss MacGregor (including a garlic raid[!]) and, in addition to the depiction of these two performers letting their hair down and being quite different from their characters, it appears that none of the fellow spa clients recognized who these two were. Now whether they clients were genuinely ignorant of LHOTP or were just being polite and pretending to, I'm not sure but it was good to think that they were able to do something fun together- and were left alone.

Edited November 20 by Blergh

[Blergh]

On 11/16/2024 at 4:34 AM, debraran said:

Now that would be something...they could sell things to the fans. ; ) No using commode though!! lol

We have Sturbridge Villiage in MA near me that is like that type of town. They used to have before Covid, sleepovers in a home to be like the pioneers. I loved their store, OUR prices unfortunately but quaint and old fashioned candy etc.

On another note the podcast with Dean and Allison has a patreon version for those who pay money and they gave a sneak peek on youtube. Discussed Michael and his funeral and how he is like Jim Henson.

I heard last podcast they'd like to get Charlotte Stewart which would be nice. She has a lot of stories.

 

I'm sorry I didn't comment on it early but AA claimed that via a meet up at a meet-and-greet and then getting stuck in an airport, the late Carroll Spinney had a rousing convo with her in which they compared notes about ML and the late Jim Henson's workaholic, intense characters!  They had a fun time together (and I had the feeling AA wished she could have had more talks with him) capping it off with Carroll Spinney giving her an autograph with the words 'Oscar Loves Nellie!'

Too bad no one ever thought to have AA guest on Sesame Street in her 'Nellie' character but then they may have gotten too spooked by how scared their young viewers (and furious their parents were) when Margaret Hamilton guested as the Wicked Witch of the West who made trouble with Oscar. They NEVER reran that episode (and it was only recently that it would resurface on YouTube) so maybe they didn't want to chance Nellie doing a repeat!

[debraran]

8 hours ago, Blergh said:

I'm sorry I didn't comment on it early but AA claimed that via a meet up at a meet-and-greet and then getting stuck in an airport, the late Carroll Spinney had a rousing convo with her in which they compared notes about ML and the late Jim Henson's workaholic, intense characters!  They had a fun time together (and I had the feeling AA wished she could have had more talks with him) capping it off with Carroll Spinney giving her an autograph with the words 'Oscar Loves Nellie!'

Too bad no one ever thought to have AA guest on Sesame Street in her 'Nellie' character but then they may have gotten too spooked by how scared their young viewers (and furious their parents were) when Margaret Hamilton guested as the Wicked Witch of the West who made trouble with Oscar. They NEVER reran that episode (and it was only recently that it would resurface on YouTube) so maybe they didn't want to chance Nellie doing a repeat!

Yes that would have to be when she was nicer....but I loved when Mr Rogers had Hamilton on, he showed her both ways and taught the children what was real and not real. I wasn't as afraid of her after that ; ) I'm so glad AA had that encounter and I know she treasures it.

 

Edited November 21 by debraran

[Blergh]

The odd thing about the SS Margaret Hamilton guest spot was that TWotW actually  temporarily transformed herself into the cute little old lady [like Cora the Maxwell House Storekeeper] that Miss Hamilton had become to 'infiltrate' the Street. Yes, if they had done a segment in which she came on the show and did a step by step transformation like she did on Mister Rogers, it would have worked fine and been apt AND had not scared the viewers. However, that show DID scare the viewers enough to keep it from being rerun!

Back to topic, I'm also glad that AA got to have that convo with Mr. Spinney- and it's interesting that he seemed to consider his iconic characters of Big Bird and Oscar to be callings for him to do for the sake of the children (despite the very real struggles of having to perform totally encased in costume) in much the same way AA has considered Nellie  (despite the tortuous  wig,etc.)to have been a calling for her to use for good!

 

 

[Fool to cry]

Watching the 1938 Frank Capra movie You Can't Take it With You and holy crap it is a trip seeing someone you ever know only as an old coot so young:

 

 

 

Edited November 24 by Fool to cry

[Mr. Sparkle]

I wouldn't have recognized him unless I heard him speak. 

[Blergh]

4 hours ago, Fool to cry said:

Watching the 1938 Frank Capra movie You Can't Take it With You and holy crap it is a trip seeing someone you ever know only as an old coot so young:

 

 

 

One OT footnote is that in the last edition of the International Herald Tribune  published in Paris in June,1940 before Paris fell to the NAZIs, that movie was listed as playing in the US American Cinema scheduled for the very day the NAZIs marched into Paris.

I have no idea whether there was anyone around run that movie much less if any brave patrons attempted to see that movie. ..or whether it wound up that the management/projectionist managed to .. .take it with them while fleeing Paris!

In any case, it was a funny movie  and I'm glad Mr. Taylor got to be in it!

[jason88cubs]

Thanksgiving with the Ingalls

(Wake up early)

(Ma makes breakfast, Charles trips over blanket, breaks a rib)

(Mary reads from a book out loud as Caroline rolls her eyes)

(Laura gets out of chores)

(Carrie says breakfast is "Gooo daf gfuhfheif" which makes Charles laugh and Caroline feel insulted)

(Caroline realizes they have no vanilla so Charles rides into town but falls off buggy breaking a rib)

(Charles buys Vanilla and some tobacco and charges it, which reuslts in Harries saying "Well' I'm sure YOUR thankful for us allowing you to run credit which angers Charles)

(Charles walks out angirly missing  a step breaking another rib and Nels chases him to apologize)

(Charles goes back home but sees a house on fire runs in saves a family of 5 and invites them to dinner)

(Charles tells Caroline who feels even more stressed cooking dinner, as Mary continues reading Caroline shouts "PUT DOWN THE BOOK AND HELP COOK)

(Charles grabs Caroline by shoulder softly whispering in her ear as Caroline thinks (Gosh, where is Chris the handyman!")

 

(Laura comes home and Charles asked if she did chores, she lies and says yes Charles catches her lie but says its ok, she can do no wrong)

 

(Charles puts the new family to work making them due the chores as Lauraa just stands and watches)

 

(Mr Edwards comes hootin and hollerin bringing his special pie, Laura says it looks good and Mr Edwards says "no missy you cant have any of this!" as Caroline rolls her eyes)

 

(Dinner time comes as everyone in crammed at the table, people keep getting elbowed, Charles just laughs and says "This is what Thanksgiving is all about)

 

(Everyone gets a few bites of all the food as Caroline was only expecting 5 people and instead theres 11)

(Charles plays his fiddle as everyone is dancing while Caroline just sits there with a forced smile. The new fmaily tells Charles how amazing this is and Charles says "just move on in!!! and the family cheers)

(out of nowhere Chris the Handyman walks in looks at Caroline and says "All i can think of today is how I want your apple fritters!")

 

Charles is in shock and gets up to fight him off but trips over Jack and breaks a rib. Chris grabs Caroline, kisses her and grabs her taking her away)

(Laura and Mary look at each other shrug their shoulders and continue dancing with the new family)

 

(Edwards is still just eating away asking Charles if he can have his pie, Charles says "I havent even taken a bite as Edwards eats the pie)

(Nels and Harriet show up to apologize and tell Charles his credit can be used anytime for anything and Charles starts crying talking about hwo wonderful of a community this is)

 

(Just then Chris and Caroline come back as she tells Charles she could never leave him and she made a mistake. Chris apologizes and Charles shakes his hand and invited him to live with them and Chris accepts)

 

(Charles goes outside as everyone follows and they wal to the mercantile as Charles plays the fiddle as the whole town joins all dancing and celebrating as Mr Edwards continues his pie and Charles looks at the camera and winks)

Edited November 28 by jason88cubs

[Blergh]

The only thing you left out would have been for Chris to have offered to adopt Carrie- and Carrie to accepted the offer with everyone waving them off in the closing credits. ..then never mentioning Carrie's existence again for the rest of the show!

[debraran]

9 hours ago, Blergh said:

The only thing you left out would have been for Chris to have offered to adopt Carrie- and Carrie to accepted the offer with everyone waving them off in the closing credits. ..then never mentioning Carrie's existence again for the rest of the show!

She did love her Uncle Chris....probably would have been happier!

[Blergh]

Yes, not only would Carrie have been happy (not just happier) being raised by someone who actually seemed to enjoy her company instead of being annoyed at having to endure her company but it's likely that none of the other Ingallses (with the possible exception of Grace) would have missed her.

Even the time she fell down the well and Caroline seemed upset and went on a tear against Miss Beadle, after Carrie was FOUND safe and sound, neither Charles, Caroline nor her other sibs seemed even remotely  relieved or grateful to have her back!

[tearknee]

WDYT of:

Young Grace Ingalls suddenly having the personality of Wendigo-Gage Creed but having the intelligence, knowledge and skills of the 1956 Rhoda Penmark?

(Pa: "Half-pint, help me!" -- Laura: "Sorry Pa, it's sweeps!")

[Blergh]

Ever wonder how Laura might have known so much of her foes' carryings on for 'the books'?

 

I mean, how would she have known about Nellie's fullblown tantrum after being found out for having faked her paralysis with her destroying a 'country girl' doll AND throwing a toy horse while  screaming 'I HATE you, Laura Ingalls!'?

All I can think of is that either Willie fessed up shortly after because he thought Nellie had gotten totally unhinged and didn't want to chance Laura being a total sitting duck OR Nellie herself fessed it years later after she and Laura became besties (like right around the time Nellie visited from NYC in her Jiffy Pop coiffure) !

[tearknee]

Alt-universe: A better episode with a competent -- and more minded towards a TTZ/TOL style -- showrunner: Carrie realizes a little too late that she's going to rub Jack's furry back again sooner than she ever expected: 

 

 

[Blergh]

Forgive my pre-turn-of-the-Millenial Luddite brain but what do the 'TTZ/TOL' acronyms stand for?

I'm truly clueless about the above terminology.

[Mr. Sparkle]

I believe in this case it's The Twilight Zone/The Outer Limits

 

[tearknee]

11 minutes ago, Mr. Sparkle said:

I believe in this case it's The Twilight Zone/The Outer Limits

 

Yes.

[Blergh]

OK, thanks for the explanation.

P.S. Though I'm still not sure what the significance of the photo with Laura and Caroline is supposed to be.

[tearknee]

it's from the "oh, damn!" scene - hence my joke.

 

The waxy makeup on MG makes her look like she's on display at Madam Tussauds.

[Blergh]

12 minutes ago, tearknee said:

it's from the "oh, damn!" scene - hence my joke.

 

The waxy makeup on MG makes her look like she's on display at Madam Tussauds.

That's one way to . ..wax philosophically.

Seriously, Charles and Caroline reacted as though Carrie had told them to [blank]off.

I don't know why one or both of them didn't just calmly tell her 'Now, Carrie, that's not a word suited for the dinner table so please say 'darn' or 'drat' when getting frustrated from now on!'

 No wonder she barely said anything around them!

P.S. And it would have served Charles right had Laura replied when Charles asked her if she knew what words were profane, "Yes, Pa! That's why I know better than to say them in front of you and Ma!'

Edited December 2 by Blergh

[tearknee]

"Seriously, Charles and Caroline reacted as though Carrie had told them to [blank]off".

(Monty Python's Life of Brian: "How shall we 'fuck off', oh Lord?")

 

[tearknee]

Saw the follow-up to BBR again recently - who of "us" doesn't love to snark on  how Mary is wearing strong makeup including quite a bit of orange rouge when she's catatonic? ;)

Visible makeup on female characters - even kid characters that are not supposed to be wearing any - seemed to be a thing from the 1970s through to the '90s:

 

[jason88cubs]

16 hours ago, Blergh said:

That's one way to . ..wax philosophically.

Seriously, Charles and Caroline reacted as though Carrie had told them to [blank]off.

I don't know why one or both of them didn't just calmly tell her 'Now, Carrie, that's not a word suited for the dinner table so please say 'darn' or 'drat' when getting frustrated from now on!'

 No wonder she barely said anything around them!

P.S. And it would have served Charles right had Laura replied when Charles asked her if she knew what words were profane, "Yes, Pa! That's why I know better than to say them in front of you and Ma!'

I have thought the same thing!!! You would have thought Carrie had insulted Ma's Apple Fritters or something!!

 

DON'T LET ME HEAR YOU TALK LIKE THAT AGAIN!!!

 

(Carrie never talks again)

[crazy8s]

5 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

DON'T LET ME HEAR YOU TALK LIKE THAT AGAIN!!!

(Carrie never talks again)

Probably not a difficult feat, since she rarely spoke before.

The real question is did any of the Ingalls family even notice?

[debraran]

10 hours ago, crazy8s said:

Probably not a difficult feat, since she rarely spoke before.

The real question is did any of the Ingalls family even notice?

I caught about 5 min of the "well" episode and even then, I know she was tired etc, but she couldn't even say "mama" weakly.  "Just look dirty Carrie" and let people hug you". Then we'll go back to ignoring you again.  Make sure that hole is filled up or we might lose Grace next year.

Say what you want about Carrie, I feel bad for the twins and the hate they get. They did do commercials and did a good enough job to get them noticed. I feel as a young child, talent is one thing but she also seemed afraid of ML too in interviews. MG saw the wrath and he kept them on their toes, you knew your lines, you didn't mess up and depending on his mood, got more compassion or just annoyance. I'm sure working with kids all day is taxing and who wants to do a lot of takes but he was in control. If he wanted to be goofy fine, you went along but other times, no. My point is I think she was afraid at times and intimidated. I noticed when Gil Gerard was on set, when Mike wasn't in many scenes, he didn't direct etc, she was better. Karen mentioned they all had a lot of fun with him (no jokes about her please) : )    It's like having a favorite uncle, but I wonder how much was just not being a good fit, but it just wasn't known early enough.

This article doesn't say much, their website is down now they used to have with a lot of info, but as much as the show was about Laura and then Mary, I felt bad they were made out to be 3 or 4 the whole show and even in school couldn't answer a question or ask one? Ma couldn't help with homework once in a while. No they have her tell Albert she hates math and goes to the outhouse. (scream!)

 

https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/little-house-on-the-prairie-michael-landon-never-made-it-fun-for-us-carrie-actor-lindsay-greenbush-said.html/

 

Edited December 3 by debraran
https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/little-house-on-the-prairie-michael-landon-never-made-it-fun-for-us-carrie-actor-lindsay-greenbush-said.html/

[tearknee]

Landon had many, many, problems - likely PTSD and other things that were never treated. Some people that are treated like Mike was by his mother* turn into József Barsi-types. Mike didn't, but he still hurt others with much of his off-screen behavior.

 

* there is still a deep-seated unwillingness to admit girls and women can be child abusers and pedophiles -- sadly this is often made worse by those who should and do know better.

[Blergh]

1 hour ago, debraran said:

I caught about 5 min of the "well" episode and even then, I know she was tired etc, but she couldn't even say "mama" weakly.  "Just look dirty Carrie" and let people hug you". Then we'll go back to ignoring you again.  Make sure that hole is filled up or we might lose Grace next year.

Say what you want about Carrie, I feel bad for the twins and the hate they get. They did do commercials and did a good enough job to get them noticed. I feel as a young child, talent is one thing but she also seemed afraid of ML too in interviews. MG saw the wrath and he kept them on their toes, you knew your lines, you didn't mess up and depending on his mood, got more compassion or just annoyance. I'm sure working with kids all day is taxing and who wants to do a lot of takes but he was in control. If he wanted to be goofy fine, you went along but other times, no. My point is I think she was afraid at times and intimidated. I noticed when Gil Gerard was on set, when Mike wasn't in many scenes, he didn't direct etc, she was better. Karen mentioned they all had a lot of fun with him (no jokes about her please) : )    It's like having a favorite uncle, but I wonder how much was just not being a good fit, but it just wasn't known early enough.

This article doesn't say much, their website is down now they used to have with a lot of info, but as much as the show was about Laura and then Mary, I felt bad they were made out to be 3 or 4 the whole show and even in school couldn't answer a question or ask one? Ma couldn't help with homework once in a while. No they have her tell Albert she hates math and goes to the outhouse. (scream!)

 

https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/little-house-on-the-prairie-michael-landon-never-made-it-fun-for-us-carrie-actor-lindsay-greenbush-said.html/

 

IIRC, ML got rid of one kid performer after a single day of the kid thinking it was a place to play so if he thought so ill of the Greenbush twins, I wonder why he kept them instead of either recasting Carrie or having  Carrie sent to boarding school.

Please note, I'm NOT putting down the sisters' abilities or anything (and think that they COULD have done more had they been given things to do besides the lame lines and situations ML gave them) but it appears he had a dim view of them and  had this reflected in how all but Chris No-Name treated Carrie after the first few seasons.

[tearknee]

Working with Rachel and Robyn to discover their strengths and tailor the scripts to those, would have been good. Many actors are not "bad" per se, they just need to be given direction or the words and actions in the script tailored to the actor that is cast.

[Blergh]

14 hours ago, tearknee said:

Working with Rachel and Robyn to discover their strengths and tailor the scripts to those, would have been good. Many actors are not "bad" per se, they just need to be given direction or the words and actions in the script tailored to the actor that is cast.

I agree- and, at the very least, not have the rest of the family be depicted as though they barely tolerated Carrie's presence would have been good.

BTW, I've heard the story that their mother came up with the idea of having them billed as 'Lindsey Sidney Greenbush' as a means to keep their [semi-] anonymity offstage via using their middle names instead of their first names AND having them billed as though it was a single performer instead of twins.

However, if a random fan had been able to deduce that these were twins instead of just one performer, how much more difficult for them to have found out the actual first names- and how was she able to train the girls not to respond to the middle names in public (especially if they had been called by the middle names onset)?

[debraran]

Yes from what I read, they didn't have an easy life but their website is now down, been for a while. It had lots of photos I never saw before and questions and answers etc. Had the word Sunshine in it. I hope they just didn't want to keep it up and it wasn't anything else. 

I found this info on one of their husbands online. Lindsay has been married to Daniel Sanchez since 2014. They originally met on the Little House set at Big Sky Ranch in Simi Valley (where exterior scenes were filmed) when she was a small child and he was a teenager who lived nearby. She has said Michael Landon allowed him to watch the filming at Big Sky Ranch. Decades later, they met again and married in the same spot where they first met. That is kind of cool ; )

You can always Monday morning quarterback but being a sensitive type and knowing how good the twins were going to many LHOP events, I hope they got more love than they read about. I wasn't always flattering either in reviews but I know a lot of it wasn't just them, it was the script, the direction and just who didn't want to try as mentioned above, to tailor a few lines more to them and their strength.

Even watching the first "I'll be waving" episode as Mary is loaded up in wagon, Laura says goodbye, they have Carrie stand there looking at her. Laura hugs Carrie, but she can't say goodbye to her sister or Mary to her? No kiss, no "miss you?"  That was so odd.

 

 

Edited December 4 by debraran