Little House On The Prairie - General Discussion

[jason88cubs]

idk why but I love the episode "plague"

 

I feel like it really shows how close the community is together

[jason88cubs]

I always wondered what the hours for Oelson's was. I'm sure it was 24/7 for emergencies but actual store hours

 

6 am to 5pm?

[Katy M]

55 minutes ago, jason88cubs said:

I always wondered what the hours for Oelson's was. I'm sure it was 24/7 for emergencies but actual store hours

 

6 am to 5pm?

I think they probably close at 4.  This is a farming community and everyone was early to bed, early to rise, and they're clearly closed early enough for the family to eat supper together. That probably happened at 5 or so.  Plus, in the winter, it would be dark at 4.  And, of course, they're closed on Sundays.  And I don't think Harriet would take kindly to be woken up at 2 in the morning.  I'm not sure what kind of mercantile emergency would justify that in her mind.

[alexa]

36 minutes ago, Katy M said:

I think they probably close at 4.  This is a farming community and everyone was early to bed, early to rise, and they're clearly closed early enough for the family to eat supper together. That probably happened at 5 or so.  Plus, in the winter, it would be dark at 4.  And, of course, they're closed on Sundays.  And I don't think Harriet would take kindly to be woken up at 2 in the morning.  I'm not sure what kind of mercantile emergency would justify that in her mind.

Definitely no emergencies.  There was the episode that Isaiah went there to get emergency alcohol when he was in a drunken phase, and they weren't open, so he went off to the church to pray instead 🙂   I can also picture a couple of other episodes of people knocking on the door and noone answering at random times.  

[jason88cubs]

40 minutes ago, Katy M said:

I think they probably close at 4.  This is a farming community and everyone was early to bed, early to rise, and they're clearly closed early enough for the family to eat supper together. That probably happened at 5 or so.  Plus, in the winter, it would be dark at 4.  And, of course, they're closed on Sundays.  And I don't think Harriet would take kindly to be woken up at 2 in the morning.  I'm not sure what kind of mercantile emergency would justify that in her mind.

Emergencies such as the plague when they had to get blankets and everything (they were closed because Nels answered Charles from the upstairs window) , I recall Nels giving Laura some stuff when she said Mary had a stomachache during the episode where the three guys took over the blind school. There was another one as well I can't remember when Nels told them get whatever they need from the storage room and they were closed if i recall

[jird]

22 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

idk why but I love the episode "plague"

 

I feel like it really shows how close the community is together

Me too. I like any of the episodes that involve the whole town, including the one where Miss Beadle tries to kill all the kids by sending them home in the blizzard.

[jason88cubs]

1 hour ago, jird said:

Me too. I like any of the episodes that involve the whole town, including the one where Miss Beadle tries to kill all the kids by sending them home in the blizzard.

That was insane, how quick that snow fell lol

[jird]

8 minutes ago, jason88cubs said:

That was insane, how quick that snow fell lol

That episode was inspired by a real event, and there is a great book about it called The Children's Blizzard. And by "great," I mean fascinating and also terrifying.

[jason88cubs]

52 minutes ago, jird said:

That episode was inspired by a real event, and there is a great book about it called The Children's Blizzard. And by "great," I mean fascinating and also terrifying.

Thanks! Ill have to check it out!

 

Thats also one of those episodes where it seems like they make it look like the Ingalls lived much farther than they did in other episodes

 

I also think LHOP did a really good job of the weather. Like if it wa sblustery and cold they played it off really well, like you truly believed it was blustery and cold

[Snow Apple]

In The Christmas They Never Forgot, I always felt bad for Royal even though it wasn't his place to tell Almanzo about Santa Claus.

[jird]

3 hours ago, Snow Apple said:

In The Christmas They Never Forgot, I always felt bad for Royal even though it wasn't his place to tell Almanzo about Santa Claus.

Me too! Not giving him any presents at all was pretty harsh.

[CountryGirl]

That actually played out a little bit in my house growing up. I'm the youngest of my six and my brother (the next closest in age at 2 years older) took it upon himself to tell 8-year-old me that there wasn't a Santa. 

To which I responded, "I don't believe you." And also, "Santa doesn't bring gifts if you don't believe in him."

My parents overheard this and chose to not comment.

Until Christmas morning came around and I got my Santa gift (Barbie townhouse) and my brother got...nothing. Background - Santa brought our most-coveted item and hid it somewhere in the living room (unwrapped but with a bow and with a scrawled so as to disguise my mom's handwriting message on it in Sharpie). 

My brother, realizing the full ramifications of attempting to spoil the fun for me, piped up with, "I was just testing you. Of course, there is a Santa." 

And roughly 30 minutes later, my mom pretended to hear something in the garage and lo and behold, a bike from Santa was found. 

To which I said, "See. You have to believe."

Topic? I feel for Royal but also kind of get the parents here. They could have met him halfway as mine did with my brother.

[jird]

Your parents are awesome.

Also, the Barbie Townhouse was the best thing ever. I begged and begged for one, and also got one for Christmas, but my Mom didn't like Barbies, so the townhouse's occupants were various small stuffed animals and my Native American woman action figure. Ma would not have approved!

Edited December 16, 2020 by jird

[debraran]

4 hours ago, jird said:

Me too! Not giving him any presents at all was pretty harsh.

I didn't like that at all, and I really didn't like Hester Sue's story. That was not a good story really, she couldn't go into a store because she was black, she got a doll the slave owner gave her dad but and he "borrowed" the suit he was supposed to clean to show her Santa did exist (at least that year) I hate when they show a nice slave owner and you are supposed to think how nice that was for everyone. At least with the Todd Bridges story, it was more realistic although I wondered if he really could have gone on the coach by himself back then and we know only in Walnut Grove could he go to school. The only one I liked was Caroline's. It seemed very realistic for the time.

Edited December 16, 2020 by debraran

[Mr. Sparkle]

The fates have come together to have both UPTv and Hallmark showing both episodes of "He Was Only 12" today. I think I'll go with the "neither" option. 

[jason88cubs]

I really enjoy "the Pride of Walnut grove" The fact that they were so proud of Mary and helped contribute money

 

If that dont bring a tear to your eye well then I dont know to say

[alexa]

1 hour ago, jason88cubs said:

I really enjoy "the Pride of Walnut grove" The fact that they were so proud of Mary and helped contribute money

 

If that dont bring a tear to your eye well then I dont know to say

I agree with that part, but if I remember correctly this was in a string of episodes that Mary was being kind of annoying.  I think in this one it had to do with her not doing as well as she wanted (I can't remember exactly), and she kept going on about it.  Other than that I enjoyed it too.  

[jason88cubs]

25 minutes ago, alexa said:

I agree with that part, but if I remember correctly this was in a string of episodes that Mary was being kind of annoying.  I think in this one it had to do with her not doing as well as she wanted (I can't remember exactly), and she kept going on about it.  Other than that I enjoyed it too.  

Yea she was upset tat she didnt get first and that everyone would be disappointed in her since she didnt win. I can understand that feeling. I likely would have felt the same

[alexa]

5 minutes ago, jason88cubs said:

Yea she was upset tat she didnt get first and that everyone would be disappointed in her since she didnt win. I can understand that feeling. I likely would have felt the same

Yeah, I didn't really understand because I knew she knew better given that she came from Walnut Grove and there was a lot of competition, but at any rate, in the end it all worked out, as it usually does!  lol

[Snow Apple]

It seems whenever Mary travels, the pattern is that she gets her hope up, get disappointed, and then a happy ending. The one with the test, and then the one where she reunite with John who dump her but then she meets Bobby Brady on the train.

[alexa]

7 minutes ago, Snow Apple said:

It seems whenever Mary travels, the pattern is that she gets her hope up, get disappointed, and then a happy ending. The one with the test, and then the one where she reunite with John who dump her but then she meets Bobby Brady on the train.

Yes, the Bobby Brady thing was funny!  And yes you are right, travelling isn't always so good for Mary for at least part of the episode.  I was disappointed that Bobby never actually moved to Walnut Grove--I mean we never saw them get together after that 🙂

[jird]

15 minutes ago, alexa said:

Yes, the Bobby Brady thing was funny!  And yes you are right, travelling isn't always so good for Mary for at least part of the episode.  I was disappointed that Bobby never actually moved to Walnut Grove--I mean we never saw them get together after that 🙂

His character's name was Patrick, and one of the episodes shortly after that was the one with Patrick and the balloon guy, so I think it was maybe supposed to be the same character. Fake Patrick was way cuter than both Bobby Brady and balding balloon guy.

[alexa]

16 minutes ago, jird said:

His character's name was Patrick, and one of the episodes shortly after that was the one with Patrick and the balloon guy, so I think it was maybe supposed to be the same character. Fake Patrick was way cuter than both Bobby Brady and balding balloon guy.

Oh, I didn't realize they were one and the same character!  Thanks for that info... 

[jason88cubs]

2 hours ago, Snow Apple said:

It seems whenever Mary travels, the pattern is that she gets her hope up, get disappointed, and then a happy ending. The one with the test, and then the one where she reunite with John who dump her but then she meets Bobby Brady on the train.

I think any episode that had Mary traveling always had a situation of "we don't have enough money"

[BetterButter]

‘Little House On The Prairie’ Reboot In The Works By Anonymous Content, Paramount TV Studios

[debraran]

9 hours ago, BetterButter said:

‘Little House On The Prairie’ Reboot In The Works By Anonymous Content, Paramount TV Studios

Time will tell, it seems like this is more like the books maybe? The movie was never made so it would be nice. Not very much information yet.

[debraran]

mistake

Edited December 18, 2020 by debraran
dupicate

[CountryGirl]

I prefer to think of Bobby Brady as Fake Patrick and the cute one as Real Patrick.

I'm sorry, but I can't take anyone seriously looking like this:

Although it was a cute callback to Melissa Anderson appearing on The Brady Bunch as Millicent aka the girl Bobby kissed, causing him to see "skyrockets."

Speaking of ridiculous looks, WTAF was Mary thinking to prefer this guy?

I mean he looked almost twice her age. Not as old as Dumb Abel McKay looked but still.

Patrick was so much cuter:

Also, Mary can STFU when she got on her high horse at the end and dramatically told Cass to "well, you go be with your balloon and leave us alone" after treating Patrick like shit all episode. If I had been Patrick, I would have turned and walked away.

 

[alexa]

1 hour ago, CountryGirl said:

I prefer to think of Bobby Brady as Fake Patrick and the cute one as Real Patrick.

I'm sorry, but I can't take anyone seriously looking like this:

Although it was a cute callback to Melissa Anderson appearing on The Brady Bunch as Millicent aka the girl Bobby kissed, causing him to see "skyrockets."

Speaking of ridiculous looks, WTAF was Mary thinking to prefer this guy?

I mean he looked almost twice her age. Not as old as Dumb Abel McKay looked but still.

Patrick was so much cuter:

Also, Mary can STFU when she got on her high horse at the end and dramatically told Cass to "well, you go be with your balloon and leave us alone" after treating Patrick like shit all episode. If I had been Patrick, I would have turned and walked away.

 

I totally agree with you on that episode.  Mary was awful and stupid.  Not that I love Mary, but that was totally out of character for her and made no sense.

[Mr. Sparkle]

Man, I hate that balloon episode. So much stupid in one hour. 

[jason88cubs]

2 hours ago, Superclam said:

Man, I hate that balloon episode. So much stupid in one hour. 

but not as bad as teh "dreaming of being indians" episode

[debraran]

9 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

but not as bad as teh "dreaming of being indians" episode

True, when scripts weren't fresh as the first couple of years, borrowed from Bonanza or Walton's, they could get a little "out there". This opinion piece was okay but I agree, people remember LHOP stuff more than the Waltons because of the fact (I feel) that Walton's was more realistic and not as over the top. Watching a show that came first on Walton's and later on LHOP, the script is less subtle on LHOP.

Most people who stopped watching LHOP years ago, conveniently forget the bad shows unless someone reminds them or how bad they were. They choose to remember the pilot or a party or a Xmas show. That's fine, the rest of us who tune in on DVD or Amazon, we pick and choose what we watch. I erase the "mistakes" for me, the ones that annoy or make me cringe, the waste of talent. I have a feeling unless his ego was too big, if Michael lived and saw his show in 2020 eyes, he'd agree with a lot of what critics say and maybe even would have made a pioneer movie for Xmas with some of the old characters but not LHOP theme. He knew how to do some things very well and touching on what America needs and tugging on heartstrings, I know he could have still done it well.

https://www.vulture.com/2012/04/does-little-house-on-the-prairie-hold-up.html

 

Edited December 19, 2020 by debraran

[alexa]

1 hour ago, debraran said:

True, when scripts weren't fresh as the first couple of years, borrowed from Bonanza or Walton's, they could get a little "out there". This opinion piece was okay but I agree, people remember LHOP stuff more than the Waltons because of the fact (I feel) that Walton's was more realistic and not as over the top. Watching a show that came first on Walton's and later on LHOP, the script is less subtle on LHOP.

Most people who stopped watching LHOP years ago, conveniently forget the bad shows unless someone reminds them or how bad they were. They choose to remember the pilot or a party or a Xmas show. That's fine, the rest of us who tune in on DVD or Amazon, we pick and choose what we watch. I erase the "mistakes" for me, the ones that annoy or make me cringe, the waste of talent. I have a feeling unless his ego was too big, if Michael lived and saw his show in 2020 eyes, he'd agree with a lot of what critics say and maybe even would have made a pioneer movie for Xmas with some of the old characters but not LHOP theme. He knew how to do some things very well and touching on what America needs and tugging on heartstrings, I know he could have still done it well.

https://www.vulture.com/2012/04/does-little-house-on-the-prairie-hold-up.html

 

It was funny because I don’t think I had ever known they showed the family in Kansas, as I had always just seen the start of the show as moving to Walnut Grove.  So I started my last rewatch because that Kansas movie/pilot was on, so I added the show to my dvr.  It does show that Landon could do some real episodes that add value to the show.  Plus in between the crazy episodes there are some very touching episodes and moments, which is what carries this show.  One episode that was surprising to me was when I think they moved to the city, and it was Mary’s birthday maybe?  And they had that sweet family dinner with the others that also moved to the city.  I think Laura had done some nice speech to Mary or something, and pa got his fiddle back, and played it, etc.  I don’t remember that scene much before but it is moments like that which keep the show relevant.

[Mr. Sparkle]

12 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

but not as bad as teh "dreaming of being indians" episode

Y'know, I've never actually seen this episode in either my first run in the 80s of watching, or my pandemic watching. I know it gets a bad rap and sounds offensive. I did see "The Godsister" once in the 80s, and never watched it again. 

Basically, there are some great episodes of this show, and some real clunkers. I can skip large portions of Seasons 8 and 9. 

[Wonkabar5]

While on the whole, the Waltons was/is more “toned down,” it too could/can be counted on to have more than a few *clunkers* of its own. As we are all aware,  Lolol 

Landon was either *Very, very Good or Very, very Bad *when he decided to *both* write AND direct specific episodes.  I have a migraine at the moment, so I probably shouldn’t even be attempting to write this, but I seem to remember Season 2’s  “REMEMBER ME, PARTS 1 AND 2,”  which I think he both wrote and directed.  Yeah, he knew how to tug on the heartstrings,  without overdoing it.  When Alicia (Kylie Richards) gently takes Mr. Edwards’ hand, it gets to me every time.  I hope I have the correct episode.

 

[debraran]

5 hours ago, Wonkabar5 said:

While on the whole, the Waltons was/is more “toned down,” it too could/can be counted on to have more than a few *clunkers* of its own. As we are all aware,  Lolol 

Landon was either *Very, very Good or Very, very Bad *when he decided to *both* write AND direct specific episodes.  I have a migraine at the moment, so I probably shouldn’t even be attempting to write this, but I seem to remember Season 2’s  “REMEMBER ME, PARTS 1 AND 2,”  which I think he both wrote and directed.  Yeah, he knew how to tug on the heartstrings,  without overdoing it.  When Alicia (Kylie Richards) gently takes Mr. Edwards’ hand, it gets to me every time.  I hope I have the correct episode.

 

Yes, he did that one, he ended it well, was a bit drawn out with the people you knew would never get the kids but that hand was priceless.  🙂

He also did The Lord is my Shepherd and I felt the same, some parts were so good and some just silly. He didn't write my favorite 2 part show or direct, when Mary goes blind. It was Claxton directing and Carole Raschella and Michael Raschella writing. I thought they did a great job. Earned Melissa an Emmy nod

Hope you feel better.

Edited December 19, 2020 by debraran

[methodwriter85]

23 hours ago, CountryGirl said:

I prefer to think of Bobby Brady as Fake Patrick and the cute one as Real Patrick.

I'm sorry, but I can't take anyone seriously looking like this:

Although it was a cute callback to Melissa Anderson appearing on The Brady Bunch as Millicent aka the girl Bobby kissed, causing him to see "skyrockets."

Speaking of ridiculous looks, WTAF was Mary thinking to prefer this guy?

I mean he looked almost twice her age. Not as old as Dumb Abel McKay looked but still.

Patrick was so much cuter:

Also, Mary can STFU when she got on her high horse at the end and dramatically told Cass to "well, you go be with your balloon and leave us alone" after treating Patrick like shit all episode. If I had been Patrick, I would have turned and walked away.

 

I will never forget how Alison Arngrim's "school rival" type hatred for Melissa Sue Anderson permeated her book because it was hilarious and she really didn't give a fuck. She pretty much spilled that Michael Landon was going to indefinitely postpone Mary going blind because he wanted to use her as a teen dating romance heroine while Melissa Gilbert was still too young to do it, and Melissa Sue Anderson didn't get along with any of the guys they paired her up with so Landon just went ahead and made her blind.  

 

 

Edited December 19, 2020 by methodwriter85

[alexa]

3 hours ago, methodwriter85 said:

I will never forget how Alison Arngrim's "school rival" type hatred for Melissa Sue Anderson permeated her book because it was hilarious and she really didn't give a fuck. She pretty much spilled that Michael Landon was going to indefinitely postpone Mary going blind because he wanted to use her as a teen dating romance heroine while Melissa Gilbert was still too young to do it, and Melissa Sue Anderson didn't get along with any of the guys they paired her up with so Landon just went ahead and made her blind.  

 

 

That is interesting, but kind of makes sense.  One thing I noticed in the last rewatch was how many stories Mary had before going blind, kind of like a last hurrah.  But I also noticed there was a lot of Mary and Pa together when she always seemed closer to Ma.  I am guessing it was more about Michael Landon wanting to be in the spotlight with her?  Like when she went blind and called out for Pa...I think Ma would have made more sense.  

[methodwriter85]

5 hours ago, alexa said:

That is interesting, but kind of makes sense.  One thing I noticed in the last rewatch was how many stories Mary had before going blind, kind of like a last hurrah.  But I also noticed there was a lot of Mary and Pa together when she always seemed closer to Ma.  I am guessing it was more about Michael Landon wanting to be in the spotlight with her?  Like when she went blind and called out for Pa...I think Ma would have made more sense.  

Yeah, if I was to guess, they were probably going to hold off making Mary blind for another season or two while they waited for Laura to grow up to start the Almanzo storyline. But Landon abruptly shifted course at late season 5/early season 6. That explains why Laura is still wearing pigtails when she meets Almanzo- I think he was introduced earlier then they expected him to be. 

As for Landon, yeah, he totally put himself into the spotlight whenever he could. 

 

[debraran]

5 hours ago, methodwriter85 said:

Yeah, if I was to guess, they were probably going to hold off making Mary blind for another season or two while they waited for Laura to grow up to start the Almanzo storyline. But Landon abruptly shifted course at late season 5/early season 6. That explains why Laura is still wearing pigtails when she meets Almanzo- I think he was introduced earlier then they expected him to be. 

As for Landon, yeah, he totally put himself into the spotlight whenever he could. 

 

I thought in her book (Melissa Sue) it was pretty planned out when it was and she knew and they discussed it and her worry about it. In her book she said, "Am I going blind next season?" and cried. He told her it had to happen before she got too old. Maybe the shows with eyesight were more so she could have more range beforehand and the contrast would be greater. The first episodes of her blind were better than many with Laura, her learning, teaching, some of the blind school episodes but her stories were less. You knew when they made Adam see, it was down hill from then and even the idea of a child back then when both blind (how many babies could he kill off?) I think she left at the right time knowing she was just going to stand there and look at nothing while Adam had freedom and ran etc. But it didn't happen right away.

I gave away her book years ago but you can read parts of the printed version on amazon. You can search words and "blind" brought up all the parts with her talking to Michael and later scenes. He said she did so well with Johnny Cash episode and Soldiers Return, they knew she'd carry this well. I appreciated the work she did to prepare for it and got nice feedback from it.

Edited December 20, 2020 by debraran

[Wonkabar5]

@debraran:  Thanks. I feel a bit better this am. 😀

In response to the news tidbit that there will be a LHOTP reboot- didn’t Ed Friendly already try that in 2005, with the Disney LHOTP miniseries that was supposed to be the pilot to a future series (based much more on the books)? 

That mini went nowhere ( too much criticism) and now Friendly has sadly passed on. 

 

[debraran]

2 hours ago, Wonkabar5 said:

@debraran:  Thanks. I feel a bit better this am. 😀

In response to the news tidbit that there will be a LHOTP reboot- didn’t Ed Friendly already try that in 2005, with the Disney LHOTP miniseries that was supposed to be the pilot to a future series (based much more on the books)? 

That mini went nowhere ( too much criticism) and now Friendly has sadly passed on. 

 

Yes and a movie that was bantered about for a bit and not made for the big screen. From 2016 :

https://time.com/4196166/little-house-prairie-movie-adaptation/

This show always had issues with doing specials (Michael didn't like them) and movies or mini series never would come to fruition. I don't give this high hopes but we will see. 

They also were bad about giving really good toys or replica's to fans. Dolls never looked like them and any playset would have made millions. Can you imagine getting the house, then adding on barn, animals, extras like horses or buggies. How I would have loved that even as an adult. ; ) They best they had were so so colorforms and paper dolls and a lunchbox.

 

Edited December 20, 2020 by debraran

[Wonkabar5]

 Hmmm. I’m really not that excited for a reboot at this point.  I have wonderful memories of my childhood and LH (with some nightmares thrown in, which prompted my mom to call a “time-out” on the show for a while, LOL), but I have no idea what  TPTB will ultimately do to it.  See Netflix’s AOGG. 

I don’t think it will be possible to adapt any more than LH Big Woods in today’s climate.

Toys/Games??  I own a few interactive kiddie literature books, which I originally bought for my niece, but seem to be more suited for older kids/young adults, and just well, adults.  Husband and I “played” with them  Lol. 

{{P and P- 2 versions, Secret Garden}}}

Edited December 20, 2020 by Wonkabar5

[jird]

The Last Farewell is on, and Charles said, "I hate to have to tell the Carters" (about the town being repossessed), and all I could think was, "No you don't!" There is nothing in the world Charles likes more than delivering bad news, as painfully slowly and dramatically as possible. If he could deliver bad news with his shirt off, that would be his best day ever.

[Mr. Sparkle]

2 hours ago, jird said:

If he could deliver bad news with his shirt off, that would be his best day ever.

HAHAHAHAHA!!! If he could then punch somebody, he could die happy! 

[Wonkabar5]

Apologies if this has been posted before.  PBS American Masters is airing a LIW profile on Dec. 29, 2020.   Tess Harper narrates.  Appearances by historian Carolyn Fraser (“Prairie Fires”),  Louise Erdrich, Pamela Hill, other authors we may recognize, and supposedly (I think I read this correctly), Half-Pint, Manzo, Nellie in present day specifically for the program. I wonder what they will be asked, and what may have been left on the cutting room floor?  (Wink) 😉

After watching, we should have a discussion if we really think a reboot is possible, and if so, what it may actually end up looking like in today’s day and age.  What network  or cable entity will be willing to take this on? 

Edited December 21, 2020 by Wonkabar5

[jason88cubs]

1 hour ago, Wonkabar5 said:

Apologies if this has been posted before.  PBS American Masters is airing a LIW profile on Dec. 29, 2020.   Tess Harper narrates.  Appearances by historian Carolyn Fraser (“Prairie Fires”),  Louise Erdrich, Pamela Hill, other authors we may recognize, and supposedly (I think I read this correctly), Half-Pint, Manzo, Nellie in present day specifically for the program. I wonder what they will be asked, and what may have been left on the cutting room floor?  (Wink) 😉

After watching, we should have a discussion if we really think a reboot is possible, and if so, what it may actually end up looking like in today’s day and age.  What network  or cable entity will be willing to take this on? 

In my opinion the reboot wouldnt' have the heart the original show did. As far as picking it up? I could see it becoming a netflix or hulu exclusive? maybe AMC?

[alexa]

1 hour ago, Wonkabar5 said:

Apologies if this has been posted before.  PBS American Masters is airing a LIW profile on Dec. 29, 2020.   Tess Harper narrates.  Appearances by historian Carolyn Fraser (“Prairie Fires”),  Louise Erdrich, Pamela Hill, other authors we may recognize, and supposedly (I think I read this correctly), Half-Pint, Manzo, Nellie in present day specifically for the program. I wonder what they will be asked, and what may have been left on the cutting room floor?  (Wink) 😉

After watching, we should have a discussion if we really think a reboot is possible, and if so, what it may actually end up looking like in today’s day and age.  What network  or cable entity will be willing to take this on? 

Thanks for telling us about this program.  I have loved all of the books that go in more detail, so this should be good.  I also love how involved with LIW Dean Butler has remained.

[Wonkabar5]

You are most welcome.  After perusing some of the previews (quotes, not sounds, though), I think I know where the program is going to go. Very conflicted.   I don’t know how many librarians and teachers were interviewed about their feelings concerning the value, ***if any,*** , or lack thereof, of having todays children read the series.

This of course reminds me of that unforgettable scene in Series 8 or 9 ???  when that little girl in present day 198- , runs to her local library, and checks out one of the books, with a big smile on her face.  🙂   I think that was filmed irl @ the Tucson public library. 

Please help me out here,lolol.

I’ve got more to say, but it’s not sounding very articulate at the moment. Sigh. About Landon and why he may have wanted to veer some from the books as the original premise.  Not just ego based. 

Oh, the Caboose epi I like, even if Pa does save the day, iirc.

 

[debraran]

I feel the books, as good as some were , were just too boring for prime time TV. He also wanted a more sanitized version of the times. He did show bigots, but they never were, they were nice to everyone and I think that would have been every religion, race, even sexual orientation if that was shown then. He always wanted to show how to treat people even if it wasn't done then.

One book I vaguely remember and thought was good, was The Long Winter. I remember the twisting of sticks/twigs and hay and how little food they had, the unrelenting snow and wind and cold. That would have made a more gritty and real show or movie but even on LHOP Michael would rather show a rape or addiction rather than how really hard it was to live day to day. He'd go to work when a tornado hit but always came home and family was fine. Other times neighbors helped but really many times they all were in the same boat.

I think the Xmas barrel theme would have been a nice holiday show too and shown how much they loved getting gifts and magazines to look at slowly.

Edited December 21, 2020 by debraran