Little House On The Prairie - General Discussion

[Blergh]

On 4/12/2025 at 4:56 AM, debraran said:

Yes, they were a little ADD with this episode and that's okay, it's not rehearsed but not quite live with some studying (well Dean didn't do his homework this time) lol   Alison will re-watch an episode especially if she wasn't in it. It also helps the memory.

I don't think it's odd that Jon went back to his life and isn't suddenly a social butterfly. Alison didn't answer Dean when he said he'd love for him to come with them (more money too with more fans coming) but Alison said soon after Simi "he sorta liked it" alluding to it being fun at times but overwhelming and not enjoyable. He made a lot of money which is good and it was nice of him to give his fans a nod and say Hi but we don't need him to continue if he doesn't want too. HIS book though would probably outsell others but I think he wants the bad blood to stay between him and others and in the past. Not everyone wants their diary read.

I liked seeing Allison's real hair, it was pretty and MSA said she though her real hair curled looked so much better but it was too much trouble to do daily. Melissa said she never said anything, just complimented the wig but she had very pretty hair always covered and pinching her during the day. (also very hot)

I look forward to whatever the next one will be. I'm glad Pam will do ones Dean wasn't in because he started so late in the episodes. They are a mixed bag depending on how it goes and sometimes they get off subject like we all do, but AA always has an insider tidbit. : )

Well, some are but not acting etc. Todd of course, Rachel who was in Little Women is, young man who played Graham, Kim Richards, Traci Savage who played Christy Kennedy. I'm sure most of the stars are still alive who did guest or costar.

We lost many more adult stars sadly.

AA more or less had stated that her own interaction with JG went into an abrupt decline after the Simi Valley 50th shindig in January,2024- the last communication evidently of him liking her wishing him a happy birthday a few months later via online. I imagine that he had his own curiosity re fan events satiated via that onetime special appearance and has no further interest in participating with his onetime colleagues or the fans all these decades later.  He didn't give any hint as to why he amscrayed or give his adoptive family a wide berth ASAP after the show's end but just admitted that he had done so (and it's unclear with he has resumed regular contacts with MG and the rest of the family since 2024). Virtually the ONLY disclosures he made was that he was currently single (but nothing about whether or not he might have  offspring via marriage or companionship) and that he actually HAD been a stockbroker for a time in confirmation of that 'Net rumor. I imagine that he may not  want to have fans ask him zillions of questions re his whereabouts/doings over the last four decades and may, in fact, have become savvy enough re investments from his stockbroker days to have enough monies to be comfortable on his own without doing reunion participation even these days!

AA has since said that the permanent Nellie wig  not only was hot but with all the zillions of hairpins and clips going into her genuine follicles and scalp, at best it felt like someone was digging their fingernails into said scalp for 'nine hours straight' during shooting days and she ALWAYS would feel the wig- and, at worst, when Nellie would have to lay down right on top of the wig with all those sharp points being directly pressed into her skin, it was downright torture. However,  she did say that not only did her hairdresser Gladys Whitten do her best to make AA as comfortable as possible AND kept things as sanitary as possible via pouring on the Sea Breeze onto her sometimes bloodied hair after taking off the wig, but Miss Whitten proved to be a supportive and entertaining partner in crime.

I'm not sure how many adult guest stars/ semi-regulars survive but I did learn yesterday that the recently deceased semi-regular Jack Lilley (age 90) had been a cousin of Butch Patrick ('Eddie Munster') whose actual legal name has always been Patrick Lilley.

[debraran]

1 hour ago, Blergh said:

AA more or less had stated that her own interaction with JG went into an abrupt decline after the Simi Valley 50th shindig in January,2024- the last communication evidently of him liking her wishing him a happy birthday a few months later via online. I imagine that he had his own curiosity re fan events satiated via that onetime special appearance and has no further interest in participating with his onetime colleagues or the fans all these decades later.  He didn't give any hint as to why he amscrayed or give his adoptive family a wide berth ASAP after the show's end but just admitted that he had done so (and it's unclear with he has resumed regular contacts with MG and the rest of the family since 2024). Virtually the ONLY disclosures he made was that he was currently single (but nothing about whether or not he might have  offspring via marriage or companionship) and that he actually HAD been a stockbroker for a time in confirmation of that 'Net rumor. I imagine that he may not  want to have fans ask him zillions of questions re his whereabouts/doings over the last four decades and may, in fact, have become savvy enough re investments from his stockbroker days to have enough monies to be comfortable on his own without doing reunion participation even these days!

AA has since said that the permanent Nellie wig  not only was hot but with all the zillions of hairpins and clips going into her genuine follicles and scalp, at best it felt like someone was digging their fingernails into said scalp for 'nine hours straight' during shooting days and she ALWAYS would feel the wig- and, at worst, when Nellie would have to lay down right on top of the wig with all those sharp points being directly pressed into her skin, it was downright torture. However,  she did say that not only did her hairdresser Gladys Whitten do her best to make AA as comfortable as possible AND kept things as sanitary as possible via pouring on the Sea Breeze onto her sometimes bloodied hair after taking off the wig, but Miss Whitten proved to be a supportive and entertaining partner in crime.

I'm not sure how many adult guest stars/ semi-regulars survive but I did learn yesterday that the recently deceased semi-regular Jack Lilley (age 90) had been a cousin of Butch Patrick ('Eddie Munster') whose actual legal name has always been Patrick Lilley.

Re the stockbroker part, if he was, he must have went to college. I know the Jon Gilbert they had at a college in many articles wasn't him but a guy with the same name (and was bothered by it) I wouldn't think it would be hard to find out where but that's a mystery too. Only thing I know is what Richard Bull wrote about his mom ignoring him and favoring MG.  He did say he was very smart and thought he was the smartest kid there. (although costars made him seem less so in books)

I'm sure his home life stunk and I wondered about abuse but it will be his private compartment in his life. I'm sure he tried and supposedly went out to eat with MG and her hubby after reunion but you can't erase things overnight. AA is usually honest (except for some lies told at reunions in past) about him now. Getting a thank you text has been about it. No Instagram updates. I know his nice speech at reunion was sweet and probably rehearsed but I hope he liked at least fooling around and getting some money. I figure at 70-90 a photo/autograph him and MG were charging, and with 10,000 + people there, he did okay. ; )  I think he made more than my yearly salary so good for him. I think it was on reddit someone wrote when their mom sold her home, she had big photos of MG and Sara but nothing really of Jon. This was copy of post I saw

 

•5mo ago

I kind of think this may be true.. the mother's estate in Encino which was purchased way back when she married Sara's father in 1975 was recently on the market. I was kind of flabbergasted to find the listing when googling about Melissa- and I see a grand living room with a huge portrait of Melissa on one side of the fireplace and an equally huge portrait of Sara on the other. Kind of blurred but unmistakable, especially with Sara's distinctive hairline! Jonathan had like a polaroid on the corner shelf.. ha lol. He had enough of that.

One thing I always found peculiar is that he played and went to school with many on the set and yet, except for Richard and Katherine, most are silent. Matthew, Patrick, etc seem to stay extremely quiet about him in interviews and Dean said "no gossip" but did tell about ML, so maybe he meant MG and people he still sees. I get it though, you stay out of it and let the ones involved sort it out. Having him do another event would bring in more money but I wouldn't bet on it.

That was awful what AA had to go through for the curls and I know they didn't have the quick curl devices they do today but she was a trooper. I do find it adds a layer of interest to know about certain things when watching an episode and even catching the goofs and missteps she mentions at times.

 

Edited April 13 by debraran

[Mr. Sparkle]

3 hours ago, debraran said:

AA is usually honest (except for some lies told at reunions in past)

Do tell...

[debraran]

47 minutes ago, Mr. Sparkle said:

Do tell...

Oh, I didn't mean for it to sound like that...it was just funny places she'd have Jon, he's in India, he's doing plays in some town in Calif, he's become a monk. I admit one time I looked up the play and there was a Jon Gilbert but his photos were not this Jon.

Once she said he did answer a letter she wrote him for the first time in years.  I don't think they wanted questions on him to dominate the conversation so in her style, she just would make it funny but never really answer or say where he was or the last they heard of him.

 

[debraran]

Quote

 

This was quite an  interesting interview. I almost half listened the first ten minutes thinking "same old" but Dean was very honest about Michael, Karen's book, how he didn't like to pay people (but Melissa) and even Kevin Hagan had regrets about that although they all had props for his work. He talked about how Melissa got her way all the time, ML pretty much told him, any creative differences, she wins. Period. : )  He talked about how Landon's horrible childhood could have had a different turn and we all are grateful it didn't and he brought it out in drama...sometimes a little over the top but he worked things out.

I like how he talks about how Michael wrote left handed on a legal pad and made magic and AA had talked about how he was writing Percival during filming another episode and then a hard working secretary would transcribe it to a script. I wonder if it was like doctor's handwriting ☺️

 

 

Edited April 14 by debraran

[Blergh]

Interesting points Mr. Butler made about ML's childhood having been so harsh but somehow he was able to use that angst to create something . . . memorable ( albeit sometimes warped). I wonder if ML ever got together with Don Knotts (1924-2006) who himself had had a rather nightmarish childhood  in destitution with a mentally ill hostile male parent yet became a very skilled comedian and performer. Despite Mr. Knotts having been in some Western movies, I don't recall those two ever professionally crossing paths.

 

Also, great tribute to Miss MacGregor's love and dedication of performing re how her transformation of Harriet from a grim, menacing villain to a wacky, 'foolish' villain.

It seems that he, AA as well as Ketty Lester stayed friends with Miss MacGregor long after the show's end virtually to the end of her life. I wonder if they bonded via this lasting friendship to  this person with a character none of them could have ever imagined encountering in their lived before meeting her.

On a shallow, ironic note while Mr. Butler was rather discomfited by his markedly being older than MG when they were playing suitors, then fiances, then spouses, I wonder how many folks not knowing the ages would think now guess  him to be somewhat younger than MG.

[debraran]

7 hours ago, Blergh said:

Interesting points Mr. Butler made about ML's childhood having been so harsh but somehow he was able to use that angst to create something . . . memorable ( albeit sometimes warped). I wonder if ML ever got together with Don Knotts (1924-2006) who himself had had a rather nightmarish childhood  in destitution with a mentally ill hostile male parent yet became a very skilled comedian and performer. Despite Mr. Knotts having been in some Western movies, I don't recall those two ever professionally crossing paths.

 

Also, great tribute to Miss MacGregor's love and dedication of performing re how her transformation of Harriet from a grim, menacing villain to a wacky, 'foolish' villain.

It seems that he, AA as well as Ketty Lester stayed friends with Miss MacGregor long after the show's end virtually to the end of her life. I wonder if they bonded via this lasting friendship to  this person with a character none of them could have ever imagined encountering in their lived before meeting her.

On a shallow, ironic note while Mr. Butler was rather discomfited by his markedly being older than MG when they were playing suitors, then fiances, then spouses, I wonder how many folks not knowing the ages would think now guess  him to be somewhat younger than MG.

Wow, look at this!

"The Don Knotts Show" Episode #1.20 (TV Episode 1971) - IMDb

Michael Landon portrays a hero returning to his hometown Charles Nelson Reilly plays a NBC tour guide with a lack of attractions. Loring and Davidson sing solos then join for a duet.

Director Norman Abbott

Stars: Don Knotts, John David Carson, John Davidson

Of course Michael was a hero, lol.  Maybe I can find that on youtube. : )

I couldn't with a quick search but DID find they both were on Donny and Marie, wasn't my fav show so I don't remember this, he's a trucker, Mr Landon and doesn't show his chest just his pumped up arms. ; )

I agree, today, Dean who said he was blessed with good genes, looks pretty young and I don't think anyone would see the almost 10 years now. 

I love the Katherine stories and will always mourn so many pearls of wisdom and comedy died with her. That last long interview the French interviewer did was maybe the last and I wonder if he did it at the home....Richard was done too. Not sure how long she was there. 

I'm glad Dean is polite but wont let people be unfair to the cast and puts the good and bad in separate sections, you can honor the good without ignoring the bad. No one on earth is a saint or the part they play. 

 

[Blergh]

15 hours ago, debraran said:

Wow, look at this!

"The Don Knotts Show" Episode #1.20 (TV Episode 1971) - IMDb

Michael Landon portrays a hero returning to his hometown Charles Nelson Reilly plays a NBC tour guide with a lack of attractions. Loring and Davidson sing solos then join for a duet.

Director Norman Abbott

Stars: Don Knotts, John David Carson, John Davidson

Of course Michael was a hero, lol.  Maybe I can find that on youtube. : )

I couldn't with a quick search but DID find they both were on Donny and Marie, wasn't my fav show so I don't remember this, he's a trucker, Mr Landon and doesn't show his chest just his pumped up arms. ; )

I agree, today, Dean who said he was blessed with good genes, looks pretty young and I don't think anyone would see the almost 10 years now. 

I love the Katherine stories and will always mourn so many pearls of wisdom and comedy died with her. That last long interview the French interviewer did was maybe the last and I wonder if he did it at the home....Richard was done too. Not sure how long she was there. 

I'm glad Dean is polite but wont let people be unfair to the cast and puts the good and bad in separate sections, you can honor the good without ignoring the bad. No one on earth is a saint or the part they play. 

 

I'd never seen (or heard about) the two of them appearing together on the Osmond sibs' show  in 1976 to do that sketch. ML sure seemed to double down on that 'Joisey' accent. I know he was born there way back when but he'd done his best to sound generically Western or Californian so I'm wondering if he was exaggerating his one-time speaking pattern. .or remembering it.

Also, I'll bet ML liked it when Mr. Knotts's character referred to him as a 'big ox'- as opposed to Mighty Mouse or (as Miss MacGregor supposedly told AA) a 'baby bantam rooster'!

Of course, his public persona was that of charming, rogue Little Joe or Boy Scout Pa Ingalls but I wonder how many of his colleagues before and after LHOTP might have watched that and thought that this hotheaded, intimidating trucker character wasn't far off the mark.

While it sure looked as though ML and Mr. Knotts had their fun playing these characters (with Mr. Knotts somewhat unearthing Barney Fife here), I somehow doubt that the two of them took that opportunity of comparing notes re rough childhoods backstage. It would have been interested had that happened,though (and each WOULD eventually discuss said childhoods for public record).

I wonder how the Osmond sibs' producers, writers were able to recruit them for this (especially ML who was in his salad days as Pa Ingalls).

 

Thanks for sharing this!

[Blergh]

Interesting Podcast with AA, Mr. Butler and the diligent Miss Bob covering 'The Campout' with AA going into the behind-the-scenes nitty gritty re her bonding with MG with their archenemy characters in the water. Also, all three pinpointed that this would be the episode in which Miss MacGregor got them to start making Harriet a comic rather than a strictly serious villain (though they did give her and Miss Grassle props in the one serious, warm scene they got to share before Nellie undid their friendliness via her Laura accusation).

However, it seems odd in retrospect that it was Laura and Nellie who not only clashed the whole 'campout' but that neither had much if anything to do with Mary (and even less to do with Carrie) the entire time!

[debraran]

On 4/22/2025 at 9:26 PM, Blergh said:

Interesting Podcast with AA, Mr. Butler and the diligent Miss Bob covering 'The Campout' with AA going into the behind-the-scenes nitty gritty re her bonding with MG with their archenemy characters in the water. Also, all three pinpointed that this would be the episode in which Miss MacGregor got them to start making Harriet a comic rather than a strictly serious villain (though they did give her and Miss Grassle props in the one serious, warm scene they got to share before Nellie undid their friendliness via her Laura accusation).

However, it seems odd in retrospect that it was Laura and Nellie who not only clashed the whole 'campout' but that neither had much if anything to do with Mary (and even less to do with Carrie) the entire time!

Yes, that was an odd episode in the sense that it was more about the river and getting caught and the poison ivy but I think they missed an opportunity to make Catherine and Caroline at least in that one episode, friendly until the next. It is not to say that they had to stay that way every time but as grown  adults, they were capable of it on occasion. It was "normal" to have those moments and okay to have an episode where they get along and no illness etc.
It also makes me wonder how Laura didn’t recognize poison ivy when she thought she had the same illness as Alicia, even though she didn’t have a fever. 

I did like hearing they had fun making it and it was fun at times. Carrie I can't remember being there and Mary did have a "part time" role but that flip flopped.

 

School Mom is next one, It just dropped and I put it below. Going to watch it during dinner.

Preview of topics :

And we ask the most important question: Why does Able look like he’s 42 years old? Able was played by Dirk Blocker, the son of Bonanza legend Dan Blocker and the best friend and mentor of Michael Landon, and shockingly, was only 17 when the episode was filmed. After his father, Dan’s passing, Michael Landon brought Dirk into the Little House family to honor his dad’s legacy—and wow, did he deliver. Alison and Dean also reveal a shocking tidbit about Miss Beadle’s stunt double (you won’t believe it!) and ask the pressing question: where does Miss Beadle actually live? Pa steps up in peak “Chesty Charles” fashion, cooking dinner for Caroline after her long day of teaching (ladies, we all know how hot that is—gentlemen, take notes). We also dive into how the relationship between Karen Grassle and Michael Landon shifted over time, leading to Karen’s role being gradually diminished. Alison opens up about how this impacted her and the rest of the cast—and how Karen still showed up, always delivering powerful, heartfelt performances. And of course, no Little House episode recap is complete without calling out the real villains of the Prairie: the school children. Seriously, Walnut Grove, do better! Honestly, the level of petty in that classroom (including Mrs. Oleson) is chef’s kiss terrible. This Ma-centric episode is a beautiful example of empathy, compassion, and patience. It tugs at every heartstring and proves once again why Caroline Ingalls remains the #1 mom of all time.

 

EDIT

dro

Edited April 24 by debraran

[debraran]

I enjoyed the recap although it wasn't a blow by blow of the episode. Dean starts off saying what I always felt, Karen was just luminous in this episode, it suited her and even at the end, she was so happy and sad leaving. The baseball moment, her taking on Harriet and the kids, a well acted episode. Quite a bit of talk on how well they did Miss Beadle's fall and who did her double. (still not sure)

I can't believe Dirk was just 17, he looked so much like his dad, whom I loved, but this was only his second acting credit. After that though he had quite a long career. He even got a BA later in life in education but I don't know if he ever did teach.  His dad had encouraged him early on to further his education and when he had a break in acting, he did.

Pam talked about how Denmark schools have classes in empathy from 6-16 and maybe WG kids needed some....although they came around toward the end. Karen was always good at teaching how to act but they did have their share of bullies.

Knowing how good of an actress Karen was, it was sad when ML started cutting her lines and scenes but these were still the "good years" and I love watching the earlier episodes.

There is an interview if anyone is interested on Dirk that was done 10 years ago and maybe not the best, but he touches on his dad and how he felt after he died. I can't seem to link it but it's from Jeff Pearlman if you google him and Dirk Blocker.

 

Edited April 24 by debraran

[Blergh]

On 4/24/2025 at 5:27 PM, debraran said:

I enjoyed the recap although it wasn't a blow by blow of the episode. Dean starts off saying what I always felt, Karen was just luminous in this episode, it suited her and even at the end, she was so happy and sad leaving. The baseball moment, her taking on Harriet and the kids, a well acted episode. Quite a bit of talk on how well they did Miss Beadle's fall and who did her double. (still not sure)

I can't believe Dirk was just 17, he looked so much like his dad, whom I loved, but this was only his second acting credit. After that though he had quite a long career. He even got a BA later in life in education but I don't know if he ever did teach.  His dad had encouraged him early on to further his education and when he had a break in acting, he did.

Pam talked about how Denmark schools have classes in empathy from 6-16 and maybe WG kids needed some....although they came around toward the end. Karen was always good at teaching how to act but they did have their share of bullies.

Knowing how good of an actress Karen was, it was sad when ML started cutting her lines and scenes but these were still the "good years" and I love watching the earlier episodes.

There is an interview if anyone is interested on Dirk that was done 10 years ago and maybe not the best, but he touches on his dad and how he felt after he died. I can't seem to link it but it's from Jeff Pearlman if you google him and Dirk Blocker.

 

Thanks for all that!

Yes, I think the Podcast hosts (and you) covered this very well. I was amazed at the younger Mr. Blocker's depth and unexpected dimensions during and in his life after this episode. I bit ironic that he and his late father [due to their large sizes] frequently were unfairly written off as dim bulbs despite both being far smarter than many would have initially expected. Oddly enough, despite the popularity of the character and the depth of this performance (to say nothing of his late father having been one of ML's besties before his tragic death), the surviving Mr. Blocker doesn't appear to have had much if anything to do with LHOTP fan reunions.

Yes, it was amazing to see Abel show his depth (re carving those figurines out of clay) and his tentative eagerness to learn after all the mocking he'd endured at the hands of the much younger (and smaller) children. But Harriet couldn't abide anyone besides Nellie getting a spotlight so she had to be rottenly cruel [even for her] by dissing Caroline's efforts and jeeringly repeating that slanderous,childish tag of 'Dumb Abel'. No wonder Caroline was furious! Yes, I totally agreed with Miss Bob especially that to hear a supposed adult deliberately mock a CHILD [even one so large as Abel] was just horrible. Sadly, when I first viewed this way back in '74, it seemed as though that act would have been too appalling not to have been universally called out by adult and younger audience members. However, sad to say, adults being openly contemptuous of those who have had challenges seem to be given more exposure if not given outright approval due to disses rather than manners, empathy or civility being encouraged in these times (and I'll leave it at that). Yeah, Miss Grassle (and Caroline) nailed it by writing out 'compassion' on the blackboard and rather beautiful handwriting (not easy to write large letters in cursive legibly especially when angry).  Though the Podcast didn't detail it, I also recall when the school board visited Caroline to ask her back and she told them what Harriet had done which prompted Mr. Hansen to insist on Nels taking Harriet 'to [their] surrey' because evidently Mr. Hansen was ready to lose his temper and possibly use profanity about what had happened yet somehow didn't want to Harriet to hear what he had to say! Yes, Caroline returned after ONLY the Oleson kids avoided boycotting Harriet's schoolroom- and so did Abel (but, natch, proved to be a one-shot).

 The  thing that the show (and Podcast) never explored was why Miss Beadle herself didn't appear to have attempted to considered Abel as worth trying to teach despite the other students' cruel 'Dumb Abel' tag. I know that that would have taken away a good part of Caroline's arc but it just seemed a bit OOC that Miss Beadle wouldn't have tried to have helped prior to her accident (or even advised Caroline that Abel could possibly have used a little extra help). Also, oddly enough, despite Willie having CAUSED that accident via the prank of the snake scaring Miss Beadel's horse, I don't recall there having been any mention of any consequences for HIM for having  sparked the chain of events resulting in a grown person getting seriously injured! Even with that all that said, though, I was amazed that little Willie himself had been brave enough to have sought out then THROWN the snake (granted for a rotten prank- even giving the benefit of the doubt that Willie hadn't expected anything more than for Miss Beadle's horse to just neigh in fear but do nothing else).

Nice touch seeing Caroline (and Miss Grassle) play ball and make a home run! Oddly, I don't recall Miss Beadle ever attempting to participate in any recess/lunchtime games.  I imagine Miss Grassle likely had practiced running in the Victorian ankle-length skirt and possible high heeled boots prior to this.

Lastly, before I end this, when discussing Miss MacGregor's later far broader attempt at teaching  French via butchering the lingo, AA dropped the unexpected bio bit that Miss MacGregor herself HAD lived in Paris as a fashion model 'for about eight months' at some unknown pre-LHOTP time in her life. I wonder what led up to that venture as well its ending after that period of time (to say of how much detail did she share with AA about that otherwise hithero unknown part of her earlier life). Yeah, too bad that her bio seemed to have vanished into thin air despite her claiming in at least one interview to have written it and in search of a publisher before she entered the retirement home.

Thanks for this!

 

[debraran]

Yes I have noticed that there is no interviews with Dirk about Landon or photos. It seems Michael loved his dad but being a child, didn't bond with him later. It seems in interview, someone told ML about him for the part. I only found one photo on them together on the set, staged but this cute one of Dan and sons, Dirk closest to him I think is nice.

I agree, just having Miss Beadle say she tried and he was stubborn would have been enough.

I will always mourn the "missing bio" of Katherine and it would have been so interesting, she touched on her childhood but her life before acting would have been even more so. She did children's theater after LHOP ended to keep her foot in and that was sweet. I bet she kept them on their toes and they loved her ; ) The Wee Hollywood Vedanta Players it's called. I also wonder if some of Jonathan Gilbert‘s spiritual journey was influenced by Katherine at all or if they talked about things like that. 

Dirk worked a lot, but I'm glad he fought the stereotype of the big/dumb roles. Hoss wasn't dumb but he had more heart than brothers. His version of the episode where Charles buys the horses is sweet and called To Dream a Dream. I liked it better. Hoss was single and there wasn't the corny baby ending.

Edited April 26 by debraran

[Blergh]

I agree that the whole life story of Miss MacGregor sounds as though it would have been fascinating since via her interviews,etc. one gets the idea that she had, at best, a strained bond with her own mother (and an unknown bond with her father who seemed to be out of the picture when she was a tiny child) before she decided to become a performer to make her own way in the world with no true ties to family (and only the briefest ties to two husbands)  despite the odds. Now that AA dropped the Parisian modeling nugget, I have to wonder what  would have led her to have accepted that challenge and for that matter why she stayed eight months? I mean if it had been a disaster from Day One, one would have thought Miss MacGregor would been on the next boat/plane back to Stateside but she seemed to have been able to make a go of it for just over half a year. Yet, she somehow decided that the Parisian model's life wasn't to be her fate and came back.  I wonder if that had been before or after her first union (since it seemed she worked steadily if not richly  Stateside from the mid 1950's on). Well, if nothing else, Miss MacGregor was able to take some of her affected mother's traits and use them to make Harriet unforgettable far beyond any scripts!

And can anyone imagine Harriet's reaction a US born woman who'd run off to Paris to be a model. .then later becoming a Hindu after she became a recovering alcoholic? LOL

[tearknee]

Jenny Beck and Brenda T. could have actually played sisters on a show (or cousins if Walnut Heights made an appearance..)

[debraran]

Well, listening to Mr Dean Butler talk about the newest review, The Music Box, I was surprised that he was mentioning a new book his publisher is giving a nod too. I was thinking I admit, another, you just wrote your memoir. This book is about values then vs now with examples etc. I haven't heard him talk about it yet anywhere else. (working title not given yet) He said draft is due in Sept and they hope it's out for holiday's.  Good for him. They are riding on the fan response on anything LHOP and why not?

I know Alison has talked about how hard this episode was for her, but she also had a lot of fun with the dream sequences and so did Katherine. It was a bit over the top nuts!

This episode was very much Alison, Laura and her friend more than the others. I liked hearing about her views of Nel's and I tend to agree, he was a kind man, fair and a dad most would want. She doesn't believe he hit her and I can see that. Deep down he wasn't the type and it wouldn't have helped but I do think she was punished in some way. I realized we get to know characters, but she lived them and knew them. Same way rumor has it, Richard Bull didn't like the Molly episode going too far, it wasn't "him" but other factors might have made that happen. ML did divorce wife in 1982 and this was 1980.

They also discussed how the LHOP fan reunions etc are still very busy and I saw he did one with The Waltons. The picture with Richard Thomas was cool and I would have loved to see that get-together even if not as big of a fan of that show. If you have Instagram, there is a video of Dean talking to Richard about the car and his time playing Charles Ingalls 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hILus2OZw4Y&t=761s

.

 

 

Edited May 2 by debraran

[tearknee]

the 2005 adaption (i always feel sorry for the kid playing Laura -- being Kyle when you are a girl goes into 'Boy Named Sue' territory)

And I'd rather be a Kayla than something like Gertrude.

[Blergh]

@debraran

Now you've gotten me to wonder something re ML and Mr. Bull.

 Since AA and MG have repeatedly said that Mr. Bull was the Little House performer MOST like his character, could it be that since he WAS a devoted (and evidently faithful) spouse to his only wife that ML may have cooked up the storyline to have their characters have opposite reactions to their RL personas -particularly when ML was in the process of dumping his 2nd wife to cavort with his future 3rd wife? I  mean since ML knew the public would never accept Charles actually being tempted to step out on Caroline, could he decided to flip the script a bit via having Nels being the one who at least got tempted to step out with Molly while Charles stayed straight-laced and shocked at the idea when he saw Nels's flirtation? While I seriously doubt that the pragmatic  Mr. Bull would have approached his employer to express his disapproval  for not being a true spouse, I can imagine that he would have  found it difficult to  have completely hidden his  discomfort from ML.

Edited May 4 by Blergh

[Blergh]

OK, while I liked the main arcs of 'Blind Journey' ( Into of Hester-Sue, Long hike with camping out, Hester-Sue letting some of her initial guard down with Joe Kagan, Harriet being comic relief re hiking and crossing the raging torrent, Adam having to deal with unresolved issues via said raging torrent,etc)., there was one glaring problem with it IMO:

Apart from Samson himself, NONE of the blind students verbally reacted  ..to anything! I mean, yes Adam and Mary's original group were shown fake-cheerfully singing that song while walking out of the Winoka city limits [while Mary clearly sang sullenly] but that was the very last peep heard from ANY of them! No dialogue with them meeting and greeting Hester-Sue's students (nor vice versa), no chit-chatting as they were walking or camping, no verbal reactions to them sleeping outside in a pouring downfall or even crossing the any of the rivers much less to any of Harriet's antics,etc.

I understand that the focus was supposed to have been on the main characters, the new regular Hester-Sue and Samson instead of the audience being distracted by any convos from  these seemingly nameless blind students stoically walking,etc. this great distance.

However , I don't think it would have destroyed much less distracted from the focus if there had just been 'background' dialogue that could be heard  by the audience but with no distinct words annunciated (e.g. the stage trick of repeating 'peas and carrots'. .or even just going 'blah-blah-blah').

As it was, it just sounded as though the combined student body (Samson excepted) had all been rendered mute once they sang that farewell song back in Winoka!

 

[debraran]

3 hours ago, Blergh said:

OK, while I liked the main arcs of 'Blind Journey' ( Into of Hester-Sue, Long hike with camping out, Hester-Sue letting some of her initial guard down with Joe Kagan, Harriet being comic relief re hiking and crossing the raging torrent, Adam having to deal with unresolved issues via said raging torrent,etc)., there was one glaring problem with it IMO:

Apart from Samson himself, NONE of the blind students verbally reacted  ..to anything! I mean, yes Adam and Mary's original group were shown fake-cheerfully singing that song while walking out of the Winoka city limits [while Mary clearly sang sullenly] but that was the very last peep heard from ANY of them! No dialogue with them meeting and greeting Hester-Sue's students (nor vice versa), no chit-chatting as they were walking or camping, no verbal reactions to them sleeping outside in a pouring downfall or even crossing the any of the rivers much less to any of Harriet's antics,etc.

I understand that the focus was supposed to have been on the main characters, the new regular Hester-Sue and Samson instead of the audience being distracted by any convos from  these seemingly nameless blind students stoically walking,etc. this great distance.

However , I don't think it would have destroyed much less distracted from the focus if there had just been 'background' dialogue that could be heard  by the audience but with no distinct words annunciated (e.g. the stage trick of repeating 'peas and carrots'. .or even just going 'blah-blah-blah').

As it was, it just sounded as though the combined student body (Samson excepted) had all been rendered mute once they sang that farewell song back in Winoka!

 

I agree, I like the fill they do at parties and because I've seen them so many times before, I like to watch Katherine adlib and make dramatic motions, talk about the food etc.

I also found it odd watching it now vs many decades ago, that Mary married Adam without ever asking him when he became blind, what age, born that way etc. It seemed odd she was so out in the cold with that. He knew about her. I personally would have asked about it as soon as they decided to teach together or when she knew he was.

I joke with Carrie her contract said "paid by the word" but it does seem with extras they mute them even in the school, so I wonder if there is something to that.

[debraran]

I've been waiting for certain episodes with the podcasts but they aren't always the ones I want to hear about. The Cheaters wasn't a top 10 of mine but they did it this week. Pam was hot talking about how HORRIBLE Mrs Garvey was as a teacher, rude, embarrassing the kids posting grades, etc. Patrick is always logical and talked about how he didn't think his dad hit him, (he would have killed him being so big) and I think they joked about it. He said I'm sure he told me to tell my ma he did which is why it was the barn and not his room. ; )

He didn't talk so much about the episode but did mention how small the school actually was and he could feel Laura's breath if she was in back of him. He joked what was the big deal staying back, you were all together in one room, did you have to move up or down a seat?  lol

I actually liked the Melissa Sue Anderson one more below and how nice Alison and Dean were to her.

Melissa Sue on podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgvCT6SdzyE

 

Edited May 11 by debraran

[tearknee]

Carrie or Cassandra or Grace with the personality of Esther Coleman (or Ashley Oswalt at the end of Sinister) is a fanfic i may one day write ;)

[Blergh]

2 hours ago, debraran said:

I agree, I like the fill they do at parties and because I've seen them so many times before, I like to watch Katherine adlib and make dramatic motions, talk about the food etc.

I also found it odd watching it now vs many decades ago, that Mary married Adam without ever asking him when he became blind, what age, born that way etc. It seemed odd she was so out in the cold with that. He knew about her. I personally would have asked about it as soon as they decided to teach together or when she knew he was.

I joke with Carrie her contract said "paid by the word" but it does seem with extras they mute them even in the school, so I wonder if there is something to that.

Yes, though it helped that Harriet's ontask persona had been established prior to her being among other party guests! IOW, it was easy to imagine Harriet gesturing, making an odd remark that would carry above the party din,etc. Whereas, the audience knew nothing about any of the students' personalities (including Adam's and Mary's ) prior to this. The only fulltime student who had stood out was that one girl reading aloud a heartfelt plea for their school handyman to get better in 'The Man Inside' but I have no idea whether she was among the group who departed Winoka.

Even without vision, it's hard to imagine folks NOT in any way vocally reacting to virtually all the episodes' travails, antic and banter! But I guess ML just didn't want to chance these others distracting from the action and/or paying them for speaking parts instead of background parts.

Good point about it odd that Mary had never seemed to have asked Adam about his background prior to agreeing to join his new school much less marrying him. While one might possibly give her the doubt's benefit that they could have discussed some of these topics between times that they were depicted on the show, the whole business about HOW Adam had lost his eyesight as a boy seemed to have been a complete surprise until he fessed it to her after his extreme meltdown (and how NONE of the students didn't seemed to have heard his very loud sobbing, panting and cringing at the mortal dread of crossing that water- much less react to it was a bit bogus).

[Blergh]

2 hours ago, debraran said:

I've been waiting for certain episodes with the podcasts but they aren't always the ones I want to hear about. The Cheaters wasn't a top 10 of mine but they did it this week. Pam was hot talking about how HORRIBLE Mrs Garvey was as a teacher, rude, embarrassing the kids posting grades, etc. Patrick is always logical and talked about how he didn't think his dad hit him, (he would have killed him being so big) and I think they joked about it. He said I'm sure he told me to tell my ma he did which is why it was the barn and not his room. ; )

He didn't talk so much about the episode but did mention how small the school actually was and he could feel Laura's breath if she was in back of him. He joked what was the big deal staying back, you were all together in one room, did you have to move up or down a seat?  lol

I actually liked the Melissa Sue Anderson one more below and how nice Alison and Dean were to her.

Melissa Sue on podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgvCT6SdzyE

 

 

I have to agree with Miss Bob about how unfair Alice virtually to the point of cruelty was as a teacher to Andy. I mean, just because it's poles apart from openly favoring one's child over all the others (like Cory Matthews would re his daughter Riley in Girl Meets World even letting her call him 'Dad' in class), doesn't mean that these weren't also the marks of a rotten teacher!

I got amused at AA having her fun re the whole bogusness of Nellie having been able to legibly write (and read) ALL the cheat notes for all those tests inside  her jacket lining- and leave it to her to actually have made it part of her stand-up!

I also thought it was poignant how the elder Mr. Labyorteaux recalled how with his own father's health failing, he viewed Merlin Olesen's onset support as 'a lighthouse' while somewhat taking for granted the late Miss Parady's cordiality on set (since his own mother was still in good health and thus didn't need a 'mother figure')

 

Yeah, I agree that Jonathan would have likely pulverized the much smaller Andy had he actually 'whipped' him in the barn. However, he might have just swatted his own hand with the belt directly next to Andy's ear which would have spared his son from physical harm BUT startled him and caused temporary ringing of the ears that he wouldn't have forgotten nor wanted to chance having repeated!  Just as much of a theory as Mr. Labyorteaux's. LOL

I was a bit surprised at how AA barely touched upon Miss MacGregor actually injuring her via beating her with the sharp metal jacket buttons  instead of just swatting her with the cloth. I'd heard her go into more detail before about it. However, perhaps she just thought that she'd gone over that enough times as it was.  Of course, that was significant in the whole Harriet-Nellie dynamic in that Harriet showed she DID have her limits- namely she wasn't going to tolerate being humiliated by 'her Nellie'! Then, too, I think Nellie was also telling the truth when she vainly tried to deflect the punishment by saying 'You said you wanted me to be just like YOU!'

 

[debraran]

10 hours ago, Blergh said:

 

I have to agree with Miss Bob about how unfair Alice virtually to the point of cruelty was as a teacher to Andy. I mean, just because it's poles apart from openly favoring one's child over all the others (like Cory Matthews would re his daughter Riley in Girl Meets World even letting her call him 'Dad' in class), doesn't mean that these weren't also the marks of a rotten teacher!

I got amused at AA having her fun re the whole bogusness of Nellie having been able to legibly write (and read) ALL the cheat notes for all those tests inside  her jacket lining- and leave it to her to actually have made it part of her stand-up!

I also thought it was poignant how the elder Mr. Labyorteaux recalled how with his own father's health failing, he viewed Merlin Olesen's onset support as 'a lighthouse' while somewhat taking for granted the late Miss Parady's cordiality on set (since his own mother was still in good health and thus didn't need a 'mother figure')

 

Yeah, I agree that Jonathan would have likely pulverized the much smaller Andy had he actually 'whipped' him in the barn. However, he might have just swatted his own hand with the belt directly next to Andy's ear which would have spared his son from physical harm BUT startled him and caused temporary ringing of the ears that he wouldn't have forgotten nor wanted to chance having repeated!  Just as much of a theory as Mr. Labyorteaux's. LOL

I was a bit surprised at how AA barely touched upon Miss MacGregor actually injuring her via beating her with the sharp metal jacket buttons  instead of just swatting her with the cloth. I'd heard her go into more detail before about it. However, perhaps she just thought that she'd gone over that enough times as it was.  Of course, that was significant in the whole Harriet-Nellie dynamic in that Harriet showed she DID have her limits- namely she wasn't going to tolerate being humiliated by 'her Nellie'! Then, too, I think Nellie was also telling the truth when she vainly tried to deflect the punishment by saying 'You said you wanted me to be just like YOU!'

I missed that re Katherine and Alison jacket. Can you just elaborate a little? She was such a method actress. ; )

Yes I meant to mention Patrick has brought up his mentor in Merle many times and I'm glad he had him. He noted how his acting got better in time and they both got more comfortable with each other.

Miss Beadle was a good teacher but I think out of all of them, Caroline hit it out of the park in her short rein. She might have helped Willie find his sweet spot too back then if given more time ; ) He was smart but a mischievous kid. She also did the Stone Soup episode but that wasn't as focused on her.

I also wish some of the haters of MSA could hear her now on podcasts and with Alison and Dean and realize they are mature adults now and let past insults go.

Edited May 12 by debraran

[Blergh]

15 hours ago, debraran said:

I missed that re Katherine and Alison jacket. Can you just elaborate a little? She was such a method actress. ; )

Yes I meant to mention Patrick has brought up his mentor in Merle many times and I'm glad he had him. He noted how his acting got better in time and they both got more comfortable with each other.

Miss Beadle was a good teacher but I think out of all of them, Caroline hit it out of the park in her short rein. She might have helped Willie find his sweet spot too back then if given more time ; ) He was smart but a mischievous kid. She also did the Stone Soup episode but that wasn't as focused on her.

I also wish some of the haters of MSA could hear her now on podcasts and with Alison and Dean and realize they are mature adults now and let past insults go.

OK, long-short was when Alice showed Harriet the proof that Nellie had cheated via the answers in the jacket lining while it was in the script for Harriet to verbally yell at Nellie while chasing her across the street AND beating her with said jacket, Miss MacGregor was supposed to just hit AA with the rolled up cloth to make a noise but do minimal harm. However, as per AA, Miss MacGregor did indeed whack AA with the metal buttons projecting the full force so AA's screams were REAL since she actually DID get hurt.

I think Caroline likely could have given Willie that boost to enjoy education instead of treat it as a joke. Of course, Eliza Jane was OK but a bit high-strung while Etta Plum seemed to have had all the personality of a turnip [with zero hints of any kind of offtask life before or after her arrival in Walnut Grove]. Yes, Miss Beadle was the best while Alice was only marginally better than Mr. Applewood (in that she didn't personally physically abuse the students).

Yes, it was good to see not just DB but also AA herself learn to like MSA for herself as an adult instead of hanging onto childhood and teen misunderstandings about her (I definitely think their French fan mutual friend encouraged them to make peace). Although I don't claim to have any inside track, it seems that the only two regulars who don't appear to havequite let go of old differences with her are Radames Pera (though he seemed somewhat sympathetic to her not having the happiest homelife as a teen) and MG herself ( I'll leave it at that).

[jason88cubs]

i always thought a LHOP/Waltons crossover would be hilarious

[tearknee]

36 minutes ago, jason88cubs said:

i always thought a LHOP/Waltons crossover would be hilarious

Elizabeth versus Carrie, Cassandra and Grace?

[jason88cubs]

9 minutes ago, tearknee said:

Elizabeth versus Carrie, Cassandra and Grace?

i actually wrote a story of them meeting once. i think its on here

[Blergh]

7 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

i actually wrote a story of them meeting once. i think its on here

Interesting.

However,considering that the shows were roughly 60 years apart from each other  ,it's likely that Carrie, Cassandra and Grace would have been about Grandma Esther Walton's age but maybe one could imagine the Ingalls sisters having been lifelong pen pals via church of Grandma's who showed up taking a train/bus trip to Virginia. 

Edited May 15 by Blergh

[tearknee]

22 minutes ago, Blergh said:

Interesting.

However, considering that the shows were roughly 60 years apart from each other  ,it's likely that Carrie, Cassandra and Grace would have been about Grandma Esther Walton's age but maybe one could imagine the Ingalls sisters having been lifelong pencils via church of Grandma's who showed up taking a train/bus trip to Virginia. 

Yeah - it will have to be Carrie, Cassie and Gracie's granddaughters that become Lizzie Walton's best pals.

[debraran]

They reviewed Men Will be Boys today but it was more tidbits about the show and behind the scenes than the actual episode. Some funny stories about clothing they wore, how not so neat one of them was with wardrobe (got a note from ML) and you'll never look at the berry bush again the same way. ; ) But this comment from Patrick was funny and it brought back memories of Michael Landon saying  this under his breath. If you have intstagram.

https://www.instagram.com/stories/littlehouse50podcast/3633219409793391217?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=NzF5bms5cmUxbW9j

 

Or 35 min in podcast. S2 #60 - "Men will be boys" Recap (S5, Ep10) - with Patrick Labyorteaux

 

Edited May 16 by debraran

[Blergh]

Yeah, ML's line was a rare nod the reality of adult Prairie life- that one had to deal with LOTS of manure on a daily basis (and it seemed Charles and Jonathan were going to have to shovel it all out from the barn floor before they could think to sleep on the very same barn floor).

I also imagine that the Labyorteaux Bros 'race game' with them wearing the street clothes beneath their 19th century wardrobe not only kept them warm in the Sierra but also likely somewhat delayed the laundry for the on-camera wardrobe.

Yeah, the Bros as well as ML and Mr. Olsen sure seemed to have had their fun with this broader than usual episode (especially since Jonathan's character rarely got much of a chance to show his humorous side). Oh, and I agree that ML was hearkening back to some of the more fun scrappy-Little Joe dominating and getting behemoth-Hoss into scrapes Bonanza episodes.

Yeah, the Podsters and the elder Mr. Labyorteaux sure had their fun recounting the plot  and behind the scenes stuff for this episode. Yet, the one thing that wasn't addressed is why there was no participation from the younger Mr. Labyorteaux (who easily played the smartest character in this episode before he got spooked by the unexplained woodsman drifter). 

[debraran]

3 hours ago, Blergh said:

Yeah, ML's line was a rare nod the reality of adult Prairie life- that one had to deal with LOTS of manure on a daily basis (and it seemed Charles and Jonathan were going to have to shovel it all out from the barn floor before they could think to sleep on the very same barn floor).

I also imagine that the Labyorteaux Bros 'race game' with them wearing the street clothes beneath their 19th century wardrobe not only kept them warm in the Sierra but also likely somewhat delayed the laundry for the on-camera wardrobe.

Yeah, the Bros as well as ML and Mr. Olsen sure seemed to have had their fun with this broader than usual episode (especially since Jonathan's character rarely got much of a chance to show his humorous side). Oh, and I agree that ML was hearkening back to some of the more fun scrappy-Little Joe dominating and getting behemoth-Hoss into scrapes Bonanza episodes.

Yeah, the Podsters and the elder Mr. Labyorteaux sure had their fun recounting the plot  and behind the scenes stuff for this episode. Yet, the one thing that wasn't addressed is why there was no participation from the younger Mr. Labyorteaux (who easily played the smartest character in this episode before he got spooked by the unexplained woodsman drifter). 

Matthew isn't very vocal in these things and I felt lucky to see him in CT. I'd love to see him on with his brother and I wonder if he did something like that if I google Patricks's podcasts.  I know Matthew suffered a lot with the fires in LA, he lost his home, his kids school burned and his wife also worked there. Very unsettling for sure.  If I remember correctly did they say Kent McCray played the crazy person but uncredited?

No update on GFM Fundraiser https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-leslie-matt-rebuild-after-devastating-fire-loss

Edited May 18 by debraran

[Blergh]

3 hours ago, debraran said:

Matthew isn't very vocal in these things and I felt lucky to see him in CT. I'd love to see him on with his brother and I wonder if he did something like that if I google Patricks's podcasts.  I know Matthew suffered a lot with the fires in LA, he lost his home, his kids school burned and his wife also worked there. Very unsettling for sure.  If I remember correctly did they say Kent McCray played the crazy person but uncredited?

No update on GFM Fundraiser https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-leslie-matt-rebuild-after-devastating-fire-loss

Why would I not be surprised if Mr. McCray enjoyed playing a loose cannon after all those seasons of having to be the closest thing to a voice of reason on ML's set?

On a more serious note, it's very sad that the younger Mr. Labyorteaux seems to still be trying to put the pieces of his nuclear family's life back together four months after those horrible fires.  I suppose he'd have gone and done his elder brother's own Podcast first before doing the Prairie one had he felt up to it. 

I hope he and his family soon recover and rebuild their home and lives (and maybe he can take strength and inspiration from the more positive aspects of Albert's character in the early part of the show- as well as getting a good laugh at how Albert's savviness seemed on the verge not just impressing his chronologically elder bestie Andy but also permanently outflanking both their fathers but for the deus ex machina appearance of the woodland kook in nearly the last possible moment.

[debraran]

Well, they finally reviewed my favorite episode "Richest Man in Walnut Grove" and I enjoyed it. Little off topic chatty for 10 min but then they dove in. I was smiling when Dean said it was the first time he watched it, such a good one and said he was more involved in the "jump the shark" Blanche episodes. ; ) He missed a lot of the heart of the show.

They brought up many things we know about the magic ML did with this simple plot and the morals and themes and even a "goof" at the end with the money. All my watching, my eagle eye missed that too.

My favorite scene is Caroline in the fields and I still get a chill when he compliments her. No matter what went on with them off set, they had great chemistry and were good actors.

I loved how Alison discussed with Dean how the Ingall's always had the children apologize to Nellie or a person they wronged no matter how they were but when Charles said he'd never have Caroline do it, they were absent. I never thought about that, I feel too it might have been different if the kids were there. Of course the episode would fall flat too.

They  joked about the scene  I would like to unsee about Laura biting her toenails and Allison actually called her to ask her a few questions about that before the show l.  I think they are right that Michael Landon might’ve done that more as a joke and then just kept it in when she was supposed to be biting her nails on her hand or something. It was his type of humor.  

Dean brought up his new book in passing and how little content they have today for kids about treating each other well and understanding. It will be interesting to hear how he ties that all together.

 

Edited May 23 by debraran