Little House On The Prairie - General Discussion

[jird]

On 3/13/2021 at 1:07 PM, Pirpana said:

 

PS. I think I need to emphasize, I do actually like this show even though all my posts are complaining of their nature more or less. It's funnier to be nitpicky, I guess!

Same, I love the show. I think it's a sign of how much we love it that we've watched the episodes enough times to notice all these things!

[CountryGirl]

So I came across this sad news about Reverend Hale (from S9 - the one where Mr. Edwards thinks new, hunky Rev Hale is trying to replace Rev Alden).

I had no idea he was murdered.

He was supposed to start work on North & South one week after his death and it makes me wonder which character he was set to play. 

[Zella]

I've watched a few episodes of season 9 now, and it is so boring. I may have a form of Stockholm Syndrome, but I think I miss Charles and his manly chest? Season 8 was horribly stupid, but it was entertainingly so. I think the most excitement I've had watching season 9 was figuring out midway through an episode that Robert Loggia was in it. (I missed him in the credits.) Him trying to kill his family and taking Laura hostage was pretty meh though. I am holding out for that damn orangutan! 

As for liking the show, I genuinely enjoyed the first 3 or 4 seasons. I hadn't found this thread at that point, but it was so good! 

Edited March 15, 2021 by Zella

[jird]

40 minutes ago, CountryGirl said:

So I came across this sad news about Reverend Hale (from S9 - the one where Mr. Edwards thinks new, hunky Rev Hale is trying to replace Rev Alden).

I had no idea he was murdered.

He was supposed to start work on North & South one week after his death and it makes me wonder which character he was set to play. 

I had no idea either!

And I am not trying to be snarky, but I got completely distracted by the inclusion of how he was "sitting in the van, playing his bagpipes." What?

 

[libgirl2]

7 hours ago, jird said:

I had no idea either!

And I am not trying to be snarky, but I got completely distracted by the inclusion of how he was "sitting in the van, playing his bagpipes." What?

 

What a sad loss. Who knows what he more could have done. 

Edited March 16, 2021 by libgirl2

[jird]

Here is a helpful quiz in case you've ever wondered what LH character you are!

https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/which-little-house-on-the-prairie-character-are-you/

I am Hester Sue, and I'm okay with that.

[Zella]

12 minutes ago, jird said:

Here is a helpful quiz in case you've ever wondered what LH character you are!

https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/which-little-house-on-the-prairie-character-are-you/

I am Hester Sue, and I'm okay with that.

I got Ma. 

[Mr. Sparkle]

I got Pa!! 

You are responsible and highly sensitive to your environment. You are loyal to your family and tradition. You are generous with your time and energy for the good of others. Have you ever thought of being an advocate or city leader?

I'm typing this with my shirt off, of course. 

[Zella]

13 minutes ago, Superclam said:

I got Pa!! 

You are responsible and highly sensitive to your environment. You are loyal to your family and tradition. You are generous with your time and energy for the good of others. Have you ever thought of being an advocate or city leader?

I'm typing this with my shirt off, of course. 

How do your ribs feel? 

[Mr. Sparkle]

8 minutes ago, Zella said:

How do your ribs feel? 

My ribs are broken but my spirit is not. Gonna be hard to stack these sacks of grain remotely. 

[Zella]

20 minutes ago, Superclam said:

My ribs are broken but my spirit is not. Gonna be hard to stack these sacks of grain remotely. 

I'm proud of you, Charlie! 🤣

[jird]

1 hour ago, Superclam said:

My ribs are broken but my spirit is not. Gonna be hard to stack these sacks of grain remotely. 

Just wait until the quiz identifies Mary and Laura, and then you'll have help!

[CountryGirl]

I got Reverend Alden. Not sure how I feel about that.

You are a natural counselor. Your intuition makes you approachable and understanding. You tend to have a great faith either in a higher power or humanity.

2 hours ago, Superclam said:

I got Pa!! 

You are responsible and highly sensitive to your environment. You are loyal to your family and tradition. You are generous with your time and energy for the good of others. Have you ever thought of being an advocate or city leader?

I'm typing this with my shirt off, of course. 

RIP CountryGirl. 

[Katy M]

I'm Hester Sue and I think for a tv quiz those questions were kind of hard, LOL.

[jird]

26 minutes ago, Katy M said:

I'm Hester Sue and I think for a tv quiz those questions were kind of hard, LOL.

That's because we Hester Sues don't have time to ponder questions all day, we have tables waiting for coffee refills, and bad dating decisions to make!

[babyhouseman]

I'm Mrs Oleson. I think I'm insulted.

[BigBingerBro]

Am I the only one that got Miss Beadle?   That was a shocker

[Lisa418722]

3 minutes ago, BigBingerBro said:

Am I the only one that got Miss Beadle?   That was a shocker

I did too.  I was not expecting that.  

[jird]

33 minutes ago, babyhouseman said:

I'm Mrs Oleson. I think I'm insulted.

You are smart and decisive!

[Zella]

7 minutes ago, jird said:

You are smart and decisive!

And business savvy! 

[Mr. Sparkle]

2 hours ago, jird said:

That's because we Hester Sues don't have time to ponder questions all day, we have tables waiting for coffee refills, and bad dating decisions to make!

In case of fire, please shut. the. door. 

[CountryGirl]

21 hours ago, jird said:

Here is a helpful quiz in case you've ever wondered what LH character you are!

https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/which-little-house-on-the-prairie-character-are-you/

I am Hester Sue, and I'm okay with that.

Hester Sue is pretty awesome, except for that one time when she opened the cellar door and let the fire spread and kill Mrs. Garvey and Adam Kendall Jr. 

12 hours ago, Superclam said:

In case of fire, please shut. the. door. 

Jinx!

[Katy M]

22 minutes ago, CountryGirl said:

Hester Sue is pretty awesome, except for that one time when she opened the cellar door and let the fire spread and kill Mrs. Garvey and Adam Kendall Jr. 

I'm going to put most of the blame on Albert. And then on Mary for not just kicking Adam in the you know where and grabbing the baby instead of letting him pull her away.

[CountryGirl]

2 hours ago, Katy M said:

I'm going to put most of the blame on Albert. And then on Mary for not just kicking Adam in the you know where and grabbing the baby instead of letting him pull her away.

That's fair.

I know I've said this one million times but no parent, blind or otherwise, would WALK AWAY from a baby when the house is on fire.

[Katy M]

1 hour ago, CountryGirl said:

That's fair.

I know I've said this one million times but no parent, blind or otherwise, would WALK AWAY from a baby when the house is on fire.

And all so easily fixed just by everyone in different places when the fire started.  It was so stupid.  there was no reason that Mary couldn't help lead the other children out while carrying her baby.  

[Tamiele]

I took the quiz and I am Ma.  I don't mind being her.  I loved her.

On another note, I can watch reruns of Bonanza and LHOTP and enjoy them very much.  Highway to Heaven just seems dated and hasn't aged well.  It surprises me since ML had creative control of most of all 3 series.  I guess period series stand up to the passing of time much better.

 

[Mr. Sparkle]

45 minutes ago, Tamiele said:

Highway to Heaven just seems dated and hasn't aged well.  It surprises me since ML had creative control of most of all 3 series.  I guess period series stand up to the passing of time much better.

 

I used to watch reruns in the early 90s, very late at night/early in the morning. I don't remember a single episode, which does indicate the state I was in when I watched them. 

Edited March 17, 2021 by Superclam

[debraran]

1 hour ago, Superclam said:

I used to watch reruns in the early 90s, very late at night/early in the morning. I don't remember a single episode, which does indicate the state I was in when I watched them. 

I agree, I was excited when I saw the reruns on instead of LHOP (which was pushed later) years ago. Some were okay but so corny and the hair and clothes for some reason didn't age well with me.

MASH and ER I can watch because the clothes are uniforms and even on ER, except for a few odd hair styles, it aged well. Raymond too, a bit outdated but the comedy was timeless. Something about Highway just doesn't flow.

Edited March 17, 2021 by debraran

[jason88cubs]

Charles after hearing anything bad happening and he wasnt there  "Why couldn't I have been there? I could have played the hero!"

[Tamiele]

On 3/13/2021 at 1:40 PM, Superclam said:

Yes, I think that's the point of this page, and the whole site. You can make fun of something and still watch it every time it's on! 

Yes!  This is so me!!

About a week ago I posted asking about where I could possibly watch the 3 TV special movies that came after the series was cancelled.  Several of you gave great feedback and, unfortunately, due to living in Canada, the streaming services suggested don't always show up here.  I've decided to buy the movies.  Got all 3, including shipping, for under $20.  As much as the show can be so cheesy, I do have my favorite episodes and it will always be in my heart. It's only been in the last 3 years or so that I was able to see the pilot episode on Vision TV.  As far as I can recall, I had never watched that before.  I was 4 when it first aired.  I was 5 years old when my Aunt bought me one of the books - These Happy Golden Years - as the TV series was coming out.  I loved it all.

 

I teared-up yesterday in the Laura Ingalls Wilder 2-part marriage episode.  That final scene where Eliza Jane is narrating her thoughts as she hugs Almanzo.  Her departure from the show.  I wish they could have hooked her up with Harv Miller but it certainly made for a very moving ending.

Does anybody know if the cast receive any royalties from the show being in reruns for all these years?  I hope so.  Such a lovely group of people.  I hope Jonathon Gilbert is happy in his quiet existance somewhere and hopefully cashing his cheques.

 

[jason88cubs]

19 minutes ago, Tamiele said:

Yes!  This is so me!!

About a week ago I posted asking about where I could possibly watch the 3 TV special movies that came after the series was cancelled.  Several of you gave great feedback and, unfortunately, due to living in Canada, the streaming services suggested don't always show up here.  I've decided to buy the movies.  Got all 3, including shipping, for under $20.  As much as the show can be so cheesy, I do have my favorite episodes and it will always be in my heart. It's only been in the last 3 years or so that I was able to see the pilot episode on Vision TV.  As far as I can recall, I had never watched that before.  I was 4 when it first aired.  I was 5 years old when my Aunt bought me one of the books - These Happy Golden Years - as the TV series was coming out.  I loved it all.

 

I teared-up yesterday in the Laura Ingalls Wilder 2-part marriage episode.  That final scene where Eliza Jane is narrating her thoughts as she hugs Almanzo.  Her departure from the show.  I wish they could have hooked her up with Harv Miller but it certainly made for a very moving ending.

Does anybody know if the cast receive any royalties from the show being in reruns for all these years?  I hope so.  Such a lovely group of people.  I hope Jonathon Gilbert is happy in his quiet existance somewhere and hopefully cashing his cheques.

 

didnt the actor who played Doc Baker say something about lack of royalties?

[debraran]

3 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

didnt the actor who played Doc Baker say something about lack of royalties?

I never heard anyone talk of royalties but I do remember people complaining about bad pay and "being cheap". I feel if they got good royalties they wouldn't have been hurting as much later. Melissa was in debt at one point. Some shows pay really well but it all varies a lot.  When I googled info on it I saw big differences in negotiations. I would love to think Jon had checks coming in but Richard Bull said 'He took his money and left". I read the royalties can lessen over years too so Alan Alda might make 1.50 an episode now but he gets something.

 According to one rough calculation, if each of the stars of the hit '90s sitcom "Friends" received residuals at the normal SAG-AFTRA rates, they would get around $10,000 in residuals for each episode of the show in syndication [source: Andres]. With 236 episodes in reruns, that would add up to a handsome residual check of $2,360,000 per actor. In actuality, the "Friends" cast negotiated even higher residuals, with one estimate earning them closer to $20 million a year in syndication [source: Farrow].

Getting a big residual depends a lot on what the stars of the show negotiated during their time on the series. In 2016, Dawn Wells, star of '60s hit and perennial rerun "Gilligan's Island" said that a "misconception is that we must be wealthy, rolling in the dough, because we got residuals. We didn't really get a dime. Sherwood Schwartz, our producer, reportedly made $90 million on the reruns alone" [source: Farrow].

Edited March 18, 2021 by debraran

[Zella]

My excitement at the return of Nellie has been crushed by the realization this is going to be a Nancy-centric episode. God help me. 

[Zella]

Oh I meant to comment on this a couple of days ago when I watched the episodes where Matthew is introduced, but it seems like they've retconned poor Mr. Edwards to be the new Pa. 

[Tamiele]

That is unfortunate that the Little House cast was unable to be paid for the reruns.  Jerry Seinfeld is worth almost a billion and most of that came from the reruns in syndication.  His situation was a bit more unique in that it was his show and he made sure he got a large share.  I wish our 70s TV stars could have had theirs as well.  Sad that they got screwed.  

[Tamiele]

8 hours ago, Zella said:

My excitement at the return of Nellie has been crushed by the realization this is going to be a Nancy-centric episode. God help me. 

Did you ever think you’d actually be happy to see Nellie reappear?! It sounds unbelievable but she really mellowed out with Percival.  I was happy to see her grow up and find love. 

[debraran]

29 minutes ago, Tamiele said:

That is unfortunate that the Little House cast was unable to be paid for the reruns.  Jerry Seinfeld is worth almost a billion and most of that came from the reruns in syndication.  His situation was a bit more unique in that it was his show and he made sure he got a large share.  I wish our 70s TV stars could have had theirs as well.  Sad that they got screwed.  

Don't know that 100% but I'm sure it was asked at one of the interviews they had. I doubt characters like Doc Baker etc would get what Karen would have. I know MG had money issues and back taxes etc so not the deal some shows got.  . I know the Brady girls said they got nothing. Being a child and not having a good negotiator hurt. It also meant some stars like in Seinfeld got more a year because they wouldn't get anything later. Really varies show to show.

Karen had said about pay in general

Still, life on “Little House” wasn’t always smooth sailing. In fact, the outlet noted Grassle has previously spoken out on facing pay inequities on the show.

“[Michael was] prodigiously talented,” she said. “A complicated character from a dysfunctional family who loved his crew. But when the show was in the top 10 and I said, ‘Gee, it is time to renegotiate my contract,’ Michael did not want to pay me. It was very difficult.”

Edited March 19, 2021 by debraran

[alexa]

On 3/17/2021 at 3:44 PM, Tamiele said:

I took the quiz and I am Ma.  I don't mind being her.  I loved her.

On another note, I can watch reruns of Bonanza and LHOTP and enjoy them very much.  Highway to Heaven just seems dated and hasn't aged well.  It surprises me since ML had creative control of most of all 3 series.  I guess period series stand up to the passing of time much better.

 

I didn’t watch highway to Heaven at the time but am watching some episodes now.  Some episodes are really good while others are not, kind of like Little House, lol.  I do find his Jonathon character as very meddling at times.  He just shows up and tells people what to do, lol.  Like this one he is a substitute teacher and some of the things he does would never be allowed by a school district.  

[jason88cubs]

It's crazy to think back then if you had a medical emergency , it could take you hours to find teh Doctor. If he wasn't at his office he could be anywhere!

 

But I wonder if the Doc would have like a chalkboard on his door and would put where he was going in case someone had to reach him? They didn't do that on the show but I would imagine in real times they would do that?

[jird]

I watched the Laura and Almanzo get married 2 parter yesterday. Funny how Almanzo insisted on putting off the wedding because they didn't have their own house (saying it might take a year), but in the previous episode he was insisting they get married the next month. Where did he propose they were going to live then?

Also, I will go to my grave with rage against Harv Miller.

Edited March 19, 2021 by jird

[Zella]

6 hours ago, Tamiele said:

Did you ever think you’d actually be happy to see Nellie reappear?! It sounds unbelievable but she really mellowed out with Percival.  I was happy to see her grow up and find love. 

I actually liked Mellow Nellie less than Bad Nellie! 😄 I couldn't stand her in the first couple of seasons, but I started finding her way more entertaining than Laura well before she turned nice. 

[jason88cubs]

(Charles anytime he entered a new town) "What child can I adopt

[Mr. Sparkle]

3 minutes ago, jason88cubs said:

(Charles anytime he entered a new town) "What child can I adopt

This show with any kid: "real nice parents you got there, it would be a shame if anything happened to them." 

[Zella]

I'm actually on Charles's side for once. Edwards just claimed he was the one who called Laura Half Pint first, and on Charles's behalf, I got so enraged. I may have cracked a rib. Send help. 

Am I delusional? I know for a fact that is not true in the books, and I am 99.9% sure it is not true of the show either. 

[Mr. Sparkle]

Remember, Season 9 is for novelty purposes only. 

[Zella]

It's also the episode that rips off Dr. Baker's May-December romance story. 

You know, I think adding orangutans to each episode may have dramatically improved season 9. 🙃

[Zella]

Man, I usually like Edwards, but now he's bitching about living alone. What happened to the kid he adopted the previous episode?!?! 

Will try to cease rage-live-blogging. 

 

[Pirpana]

^No way, we quite like it! 😄

That and your previous post are schoolbook examples of show's writers' way to write anything that would fit for given particular scene, no matter if it's in conflict with what's happened or said earlier. Mind you, it's not just for this show. Don't know if you guys have ever watched a Canadian series called Road to Avonlea. It had a character called Aunt Eliza who always remembered to say she's only had one beau in her life. Except the guy always had different name and completely different life story!

[Zella]

This is something that modern serialized TV does do better, in my opinion--consistency in the narrative. Not that I haven't seen some newer shows also have some maddening inconsistencies. I've been watching a lot of older TV shows from the 60s lately, too, besides LHOTP, and in some ways, the more episodic nature of the episodes is a nice break from trying to keep track of some massive sprawling storyline like you see in more contemporary prestige TV. But the complete "no fucks given" about backstory consistency in the older stuff is still astonishing to me. 

[Mr. Sparkle]

1 hour ago, Zella said:

It's also the episode that rips off Dr. Baker's May-December romance story. 

Edwards and the blind girl? That one is hard to take.