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Little House On The Prairie - General Discussion

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jason88cubs
jason88cubs

Walnut Grove was  a nice quiet town, a town with happiness, a friendly town, with a wave and a smile. No tornadoes, no plagues, hardly any sickness. The one day it all changed. A creepy feeling crawle

Egg McMuffin
Egg McMuffin

WKRP creator Hugh Wilson spoke of his frustration at trying to beat Little House in the ratings. “Every time we gain on 'em, they set a house on fire or blind another child.”

Jacqs
Jacqs

We are still a family even though we are now just a thread. Just imagine us as now being Pa's two room shanty which he never bothered expanding, despite Grace, Albert, James, Cassandra etc...

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bunnyblue

bunnyblue

11 hours ago, Kyle said:

“May We Make Them Proud”: After tossing away a lit pipe in the basement of the blind school, Albert kills Adam Jr and Alice Garvey.

Damn, way to spoil the episode, Peacock. I don't know if there's anyone watching LHOTP anymore that has never watched it before, but that's still a hell of a spoiler. 

I do agree these episode descriptions are pretty hilarious.

  • LOL 4
Katy M

Katy M

6 hours ago, bunnyblue said:

Damn, way to spoil the episode, Peacock. I don't know if there's anyone watching LHOTP anymore that has never watched it before, but that's still a hell of a spoiler. 

I do agree these episode descriptions are pretty hilarious.

I don't mean to be "that guy" but if you don't want to be spoiled or TV shows that have been off the air for years, or even just been aired recently, you should stay off the discussion boards for that particular show.

Pirpana

Pirpana

1 hour ago, Katy M said:

I don't mean to be "that guy" but if you don't want to be spoiled or TV shows that have been off the air for years, or even just been aired recently, you should stay off the discussion boards for that particular show.

I don't think bunnyblue is upset to Kyle for spoiling it for him/her but rather pointing out how TV channel doesn't give a damn with their episode descriptions. They really shouldn't give plot away like that.

Blergh

Blergh

(edited)
4 hours ago, Superclam said:

I'm watching "The Craftsman" now. Who was a bigger jerk than this guy? 

https://littlehouse.fandom.com/wiki/Judd_Larrabee

Textbook TV bigot. 

Yeah, but so was Harriet but at least she was a broader character and (as Miss MacGregor put it) 'a fool' AND she did (sometimes) see the error of her ways.

You think how he treated a dying Jewish carpenter was bad (and I can't help but think that ML knew EXACTLY how ironicly counterproductive Larrabee was in doing so).

Spoiler

His next (and last) episode had 'The Barn Burner" had him attack Andrew Garvey to get back at Jonathan AND then after the injured boy accidentally started the fire which burned the Garvey barn, Larrabee was accused (and tried for said burning). It was only due to Joe Kagan (who, incredibly for that time and place had been put on the jury) somehow not being sure and wanting a fair trial instead of a kangaroo court for even such a despicable person that young Andy fessed that he had done it.  Larrabee instead of having ANY conscience or gratitude towards Mr. Kagan just nastily dissed him (including calling him the n-word). This would prompt the hithero unknown Mrs. Larrabee (Joan Tompkins - the widow of Karl Swenson LHOTP Lars Hanson) to wash her hands of him saying he'd gone too far with his bigotry and that she regretted not doing so sooner before he tainted their sons with it (although with both of the performers in their 60's, it seemed a bit of a stretch that they could have had teenaged sons). Larrabee was last seen bitterly declaring not needing anyone else in his life!

On a chilling note Larrabee was played by Don 'Red' Barry whose actual name was Donald Barry de Acosta- and had a reputation for being argumentative with his co-workers yet would work steadily in movies and TV even to the last year of his life before he ended it via a self-inflicted gunshot at age 68 in 1980 ( while police were investigating a 'domestic dispute' between himself and his second estranged wife). 

Edited by Blergh
Mr. Sparkle

Mr. Sparkle

15 minutes ago, Blergh said:

Yeah, but so was Harriet but at least she was a broader character and (as Miss MacGregor put it) 'a fool' AND she did (sometimes) see the error of her ways.

She was pretty obnoxious in this episode and was joining in with Larrabee in the anti-Semitism. Nels, of course, was having none of it. I can think of at least 4 episodes where Harriet learns a valuable lesson and sees the error of her ways, at least until the next time. 

In addition to being anti-Semitic and racist, Larrabee was also anti-wolf. 

15 minutes ago, Blergh said:

On a chilling note Larrabee was played by Don 'Red' Barry whose actual name was Donald Barry de Acosta- and had a reputation for being argumentative with his co-workers yet would work steadily in movies and TV even to the last year of his life before he ended it via a self-inflicted gunshot at age 68 in 1980 ( while police were investigated a 'domestic dispute' between himself and his second estranged wife). 

That is shocking. Apparently he wasn't much different from his character. 

jird

jird

13 hours ago, bunnyblue said:

Damn, way to spoil the episode, Peacock. I don't know if there's anyone watching LHOTP anymore that has never watched it before, but that's still a hell of a spoiler. 

I do agree these episode descriptions are pretty hilarious.

Plus I love how it makes it sound like they were two separate acts: first Albert threw away a pipe, then he went off and killed Alice and the baby.

  • LOL 2
libgirl2

libgirl2

On 7/17/2021 at 1:28 PM, Blergh said:

Yeah, but so was Harriet but at least she was a broader character and (as Miss MacGregor put it) 'a fool' AND she did (sometimes) see the error of her ways.

You think how he treated a dying Jewish carpenter was bad (and I can't help but think that ML knew EXACTLY how ironicly counterproductive Larrabee was in doing so).

  Reveal spoiler

His next (and last) episode had 'The Barn Burner" had him attack Andrew Garvey to get back at Jonathan AND then after the injured boy accidentally started the fire which burned the Garvey barn, Larrabee was accused (and tried for said burning). It was only due to Joe Kagan (who, incredibly for that time and place had been put on the jury) somehow not being sure and wanting a fair trial instead of a kangaroo court for even such a despicable person that young Andy fessed that he had done it.  Larrabee instead of having ANY conscience or gratitude towards Mr. Kagan just nastily dissed him (including calling him the n-word). This would prompt the hithero unknown Mrs. Larrabee (Joan Tompkins - the widow of Karl Swenson LHOTP Lars Hanson) to wash her hands of him saying he'd gone too far with his bigotry and that she regretted not doing so sooner before he tainted their sons with it (although with both of the performers in their 60's, it seemed a bit of a stretch that they could have had teenaged sons). Larrabee was last seen bitterly declaring not needing anyone else in his life!

On a chilling note Larrabee was played by Don 'Red' Barry whose actual name was Donald Barry de Acosta- and had a reputation for being argumentative with his co-workers yet would work steadily in movies and TV even to the last year of his life before he ended it via a self-inflicted gunshot at age 68 in 1980 ( while police were investigating a 'domestic dispute' between himself and his second estranged wife). 

I remember seeing the actor but didn't know the whole story. 

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Blergh

Blergh

17 hours ago, libgirl2 said:

I remember seeing the actor but didn't know the whole story. 

  I've never heard of anyone commenting on the late Mr. Barry's views of other ethnicities ,and, oddly enough, none of the surviving LHOTP  cast have commented about how it was to have worked with him.

However, in retrospect, I have to wonder if ML might have cast him in the role knowing how difficult and troubled he was and believing he could somehow believably channel that into such a self-destructive, hateful role. 

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Zella

Zella

(edited)
2 minutes ago, icemiser69 said:

Given all of the years that Harriet acted like a jerk, it was a wonder that someone didn't bump her off before the series ended.

I am astonished that anyone still used that store. Like, after a certain point, I just figured the entire town must have loved being shit on by Harriet on the regular because there is no way I would have shopped there, even if I had to trek to Mankato every time I needed supplies, let alone socialized with her or invited her to events. 

Edited by Zella
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Blergh

Blergh

17 hours ago, icemiser69 said:

I missed the very first part of, The Voice of Tinker Jones.

But I just have to ask, why did Charles side with Harriet and her husband Nels when they wanted to add the Oleson's bell to the church?  Who in their right mind would side with the Oleson's when it came to anything?  Did Charles think it would end with a plaque?  There would have been more demands.

Tinker Jones put in all of his time and hard work into making the bell, and the adults didn't offer him a dime.  Yes, the children helped, by "acquiring" the metal for melting and also helped in the bell making process.   But still, Tinker Jones deserved something.

I agree that it seemed to make little sense for Charles to side with Harriet on this one. However, since she WAS the storekeeper and he may not have thought it was worth them getting all their supplies in Mankato, it could be that (for once) Charles thought it was more practical to side with Harriet on this. Also, perhaps he may have thought if the Olesons' donated the bell outright, he and the other struggling farmers would have been off the hook to raise funds for it- and a plaque would have been a small price for it.

Of course, the only positive reason to have possibly sided with Mr. Kennedy would have been that he was the father of Mary's pal Christy Kennedy who she declared 'was going to be her best friend' on the girls' first day of school but would only appear in ten episodes in the first two seasons  before vanishing altogether. Melissa Sue Anderson actually said  in her autobio that the performer(Tracie Savage) WAS her best friend on the set but why she quickly wound up being a background character before disappearing altogether went unaddressed. 

Yes, I like the storyline of the children taking matters in their own hands after the adults split the town over this feud AND Tinker Jones making a bell everyone loved (and I agree it's sad that they never used that character played by the talented Chuck McCann again). Of course, if one listens to the bell used at the end of that episode it has a much different pitch than the one used for the rest of the series. In fact, it's somewhat closer to a Russian church bell than the US Midwestern barn dinner bell the viewers are familiar with. 

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Zella

Zella

1 minute ago, Superclam said:

Doc Baker has remarkable detective skills for a country doctor. Able to determine the cause of the fire in 3 minutes. "A pipe. Someone just threw it away for some reason." You can totally tell that from a basement full of cinders. 

In an alternate universe, Doc Baker would have starred in CSI: Walnut Grove as the Gil Grissom-esque character. 

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jird

jird

20 minutes ago, Snow Apple said:

Here's a story that Alison has about Sean Penn. Hope the link works.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/little-house-star-alison-arngrim-explains-the-great-debt-she-owes-sean-penn-155942827.html

He was in Money Crop, too???

2 hours ago, Superclam said:

CLOSE THE DOOR AND TAKE THE BABY!! CLOSE THE DOOR AND TAKE THE BABY!! 

 

NO ONE WOULD LEAVE THE BABY. NO ONE.

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Katy M

Katy M

2 hours ago, Superclam said:

That lullaby scene is freaking chilling AF!! 

 

Doc Baker has remarkable detective skills for a country doctor. Able to determine the cause of the fire in 3 minutes. "A pipe. Someone just threw it away for some reason." You can totally tell that from a basement full of cinders. 

Albert confessed it, but due to doctor patient confidentiality he had to just pretend he knew:)

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Mr. Sparkle

Mr. Sparkle

25 minutes ago, Katy M said:

Albert confessed it, but due to doctor patient confidentiality he had to just pretend he knew:)

This was well after Albert's tell-tale heart was ticking. Doc went down the next day (into the basement that wasn't really smoking and was largely cleared of debris, miraculously) to instantly determine the cause of the fire. 

Egg McMuffin

Egg McMuffin

(edited)

There is no mother who would have leave someone else to take her baby out of danger if she was able to do it herself. Mary’s maternal instincts would have kicked in and her son would have been her highest priority.

Also, Alice should have smashed the window (preferably not using the baby to do it) and tossed the baby to Hester Sue.

The whole thing is just completely ridiculous. At least write it so that Mary could not physically reach the baby to begin with so there’s a valid reason for Baby Kendall to be trapped. Or just not do that gruesome story. If they really wanted to get rid of Alice (no objections here) then they could have used Little House’s accidental death of choice - a stagecoach accident, complete with bloody hand of death.

Edited by Kyle
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Mr. Sparkle

Mr. Sparkle

32 minutes ago, jird said:

I forgot how much I love Harriet Oleson in Money Crop. She is really nice to the pregnant lady whose husband is missing, and kicks the mean guys off the mercantile steps with her broom. Nels is surprisingly indifferent.

That's such an odd episode, and one I didn't see during my original run in the 80s. Of course, we never see that couple again. 

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Mr. Sparkle

Mr. Sparkle

2 hours ago, Kyle said:

There is no mother who would have leave someone else to take her baby out of danger if she was able to do it herself. Mary’s maternal instincts would have kicked in and her son would have been her highest priority.

Also, Mary and Adam are sitting outside safe, and THEN they notice the baby isn't with them. I hate to play the "as a parent" card, but as a parent, that's just not how it works. 

But like we've all pointed out, it's just bad/lazy writing to get to that situation. 

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debraran

debraran

(edited)
44 minutes ago, Superclam said:

Also, Mary and Adam are sitting outside safe, and THEN they notice the baby isn't with them. I hate to play the "as a parent" card, but as a parent, that's just not how it works. 

But like we've all pointed out, it's just bad/lazy writing to get to that situation. 

Michael wrote that but he had done much better. Again, maybe as an actor in Hollywood he learned to compartmentalize well but that was shown in 1980, he was divorcing Lynn, which was done in 1982 I think and married in 1983. Tabloids were rampant with junk. I rarely bought them but the headlines were enough. He lost endorsements then, including Kodak I think.

I don't know if it effected his work but sometimes you had to shake your head. He knew children, he knew parenting, he knew what he wrote went against every instinct parents have human or animal. Was the end result that important? IDK, but it could have been way more believable.

Edited by debraran
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Mr. Sparkle

Mr. Sparkle

47 minutes ago, debraran said:

Michael wrote that but he had done much better. Again, maybe as an actor in Hollywood he learned to compartmentalize well but that was shown in 1980, he was divorcing Lynn, which was done in 1982 I think and married in 1983. Tabloids were rampant with junk. I rarely bought them but the headlines were enough. He lost endorsements then, including Kodak I think.

Makes some sense, as the quality started to steadily decline after Season 5, which would be about that time. 

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Egg McMuffin

Egg McMuffin

Or maybe he was just burned out. I was on another board and someone was asking about series stars who get “executive producer” titles. We discussed how most of the time, it’s just a vanity credit, and the star isn’t really the showrunner. Landon is one of the very few exceptions - he was the series star and the showrunner and head writer and often the director. That’s gotta take its toll after awhile. I’m hard pressed to think of anyone else who had that breadth of responsibility. Maybe Pamela Adlon on “Better Things”, but even she isn’t producing 22 hours of material every season.

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Zella

Zella

I'm sure Landon was burnt out, but it seems like he was more burnt out with the show than the workload since he immediately hopped into the same setup with Highway to Heaven. 

I do agree the level of creative control he exerted does seem a bit unusual. I've been watching Justified for the first time lately, and that's a show that is mentioned as a bit of an exception to the "in name only" executive producer title for Tim Olyphant since, by all accounts, he was very involved in the show's production and creative development.

A lot of commentary on the show mentions how frequently ideas he had that were used but, unlike Landon, he is never credited as a writer or director on any episode. But there seems to have been a real spirit of collaboration on that set in general that I don't think Landon would have ever allowed. 

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debraran

debraran

7 hours ago, Zella said:

I'm sure Landon was burnt out, but it seems like he was more burnt out with the show than the workload since he immediately hopped into the same setup with Highway to Heaven. 

I do agree the level of creative control he exerted does seem a bit unusual. I've been watching Justified for the first time lately, and that's a show that is mentioned as a bit of an exception to the "in name only" executive producer title for Tim Olyphant since, by all accounts, he was very involved in the show's production and creative development.

A lot of commentary on the show mentions how frequently ideas he had that were used but, unlike Landon, he is never credited as a writer or director on any episode. But there seems to have been a real spirit of collaboration on that set in general that I don't think Landon would have ever allowed. 

Yes, Landon had an ego and he did like a lot of control. Any bad feedback he got on movies or shows was about that. That's why also LHOP actors were happy and surprised if he let them change something, they only would ask once as "Alice" did with Katherines' prompting. . (Katherine did more, she just didn't care) lol ☺️

He did write a lot but not all and many were directed and written by others. He reused scripts or wrote some "borrowed" by others. (as did other shows) Directing I feel was his passion or just being on set to oversee.

Most of my favs were not written by him, although he had talent. Pretty much the first season wasn't written by Mr Landon, I loved Wisdom of Solomon, I'll be Waving As You Drive Away" For my Lady, Handyman, etc.  He did do "Richest Man in Walnut Grove" which was touching and that feeling was lost later.

I also agree he wanted a clean slate, to move on to other projects and not let anyone else keep LHOP or allow spinoffs. It was tired by then and the scripts awful with a few good ones sprinkled in.  I can't watch ones after Nellie leaves and Nancy comes and Laura is an adult acting like a child at times. I would watch the morphine ones to just see some "old crew" back in Walnut Grove but he destroyed it with new family and no core members left way before it blew up

 

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Blergh

Blergh

17 hours ago, Kyle said:

There is no mother who would have leave someone else to take her baby out of danger if she was able to do it herself. Mary’s maternal instincts would have kicked in and her son would have been her highest priority.

Also, Alice should have smashed the window (preferably not using the baby to do it) and tossed the baby to Hester Sue.

The whole thing is just completely ridiculous. At least write it so that Mary could not physically reach the baby to begin with so there’s a valid reason for Baby Kendall to be trapped. Or just not do that gruesome story. If they really wanted to get rid of Alice (no objections here) then they could have used Little House’s accidental death of choice - a stagecoach accident, complete with bloody hand of death.

Or maybe just have had her die from an ailment but the death NOT be depicted- only Doc Baker telling Jonathan 'I'm sorry, Jonathan' then the aftermath.  Also, one can't help but wonder how dangerous it had to have been  to film that whole burning school sequence. 

One question that never got cleared up was where was Hester-Sue supposed to be sleeping in the weeks after the fire. Adam and Mary got to stay in Nellie's Hotel and the students seemed to have been boarded out  to local families  (though none were at Casa Ingalls) but they never said exactly where Hester-Sue was during that time except that she seemed to have stayed close by. 

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jird

jird

1 hour ago, icemiser69 said:

I was not happy when Half Pint traded her horse to Nels for a stove to give to her mom for Christmas.   That pony deserved a better fate than becoming the property of Nellie Oleson.

I am surprised that Nels didn't check with Charles first, to make sure that it was okay for Half Pint to give up her pony.   Yes, it would have ruined the story, but Nels comes off as a complete jerk by not checking with Charles first.  He took advantage of Half Pint.

I don't think he took advantage of her, especially because he'd only offered her $5 earlier. Charles said in front of Nels earlier that it was Laura's horse and it was up to her whether to sell or not. I agree that it seems weird he wouldn't have double-checked with Charles, but I chalk that up to the time, and perhaps Nels thinking that "country folk" do things differently. 

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