The Waltons

[Chris2]

Oh, the Hindenburg episode is kinda laughable. They projected some old black and white footage behind RIchard Thomas and then floated some burning bits of paper in front him him. This is where the show started to become more plot driven and less character driven.

They should have used that episode to explain the change in actors. John Boy gets too close to the Hindenburg and his face is burned. So Dr. Vance does some plastic surgery in return for a few bushels of apples or something. Voila!

 

[ClassyCo]

I'm currently watching The Waltons for the first time. I used to be put off by the series, it seemed boring whenever I tuned in, but if you give it a chance, it's actually interesting.

I'm watching season 5 right now and am experiencing the first real drop in quality. The grandmother is in the hospital for many episodes and while in the first seasons the grandparents' slightest health problem was a huge drama, it's suddenly accepted that the grandmother now has to be in the hospital for months.

The only plot that bothered me in the first seasons, especially in seasons 2 and 3, is that John Boy constantly had a new love interest, as if he was such a great catch that every young woman, not just in the mountains but also in college, wanted to be his girlfriend. Apparently the writers realized that they had overdone the plot, because from season 4 onwards not much happened in John Boy's love life.

Was there a Jump the Shark moment on The Waltons? I recently watched an episode in season 5 when John Boy won a writing competition and was able to witness the landing/crash of the Hindenburg and although this was supposed to be super impressive, it didn't fit with The Waltons for me. Season 5 also starts dealing with the World War II and here too I'm not sure how good (or not good) the journey will be for the Waltons.

My dad and younger brother are making their way through THE WALTONS, too. They're in Season 3.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Was there a Jump the Shark moment on The Waltons?

They re-cast John Boy in Season 6, and it's all downhill from there.



"Daddy --- did Mama tell you I've finished my first novel? I'm callin' it "The Vintage Years" and, no, I didn't plagiarize it -- no matter what those gossipy Baldwin sisters may say, all drunk on Their Recipe which had nothin' to do with my story...!"

My dad and younger brother are making their way through THE WALTONS, too. They're in Season 3.

If they want to stop after Season 5, I'll allow it.

 

[Sarah Danner]

The opening titles over the years went from Starring Richard Thomas to Starring Michael Learned to Starring Ralph Waite and finally to Starring Jon Walmsely (poor dude didn't get his picture with his name like John-Boy, Ma, Pa, Grandma and Grandfather.....just a mountain).

 

[ClassyCo]

The opening titles over the years went from Starring Richard Thomas to Starring Michael Learned to Starring Ralph Waite and finally to Starring Jon Walmsely (poor dude didn't get his picture with his name like John-Boy, Ma, Pa, Grandma and Grandfather.....just a mountain).

I've never paid attention to this before.

 

[TaranofPrydain]

They re-cast John Boy in Season 6, and it's all downhill from there.



"Daddy --- did Mama tell you I've finished my first novel? I'm callin' it "The Vintage Years" and, no, I didn't plagiarize it -- no matter what those gossipy Baldwin sisters may say, all drunk on Their Recipe which had nothin' to do with my story...!"

If they want to stop after Season 5, I'll allow it.

Richard Thomas did leave the show at the end of Season 5, but returned to play the part again in a "special guest star" situation in two episodes late in Season 6. The character didn't appear at all in season 7, which was also the first season after Will Geer died; that year had some good episodes, but several clinkers as well.

Thomas's role was recast partway through Season 8, in the episode entitled "The Waiting". Michael Learned, who had previously temporarily left the show toward the end of season 7 (she missed the last 8 episodes that year), was so outraged and incensed over the recast that she quit on the spot. The first episode with the replacement John-Boy was her last episode.

There are some good episodes in the last two seasons, but by the last season, it was clear that the show was winding down, with all the original leads gone by partway through the season. Even though none of them came back for the finale, it was still a nice episode.

 

[TaranofPrydain]

I'm currently watching The Waltons for the first time. I used to be put off by the series, it seemed boring whenever I tuned in, but if you give it a chance, it's actually interesting.

I'm watching season 5 right now and am experiencing the first real drop in quality. The grandmother is in the hospital for many episodes and while in the first seasons the grandparents' slightest health problem was a huge drama, it's suddenly accepted that the grandmother now has to be in the hospital for months.

The only plot that bothered me in the first seasons, especially in seasons 2 and 3, is that John Boy constantly had a new love interest, as if he was such a great catch that every young woman, not just in the mountains but also in college, wanted to be his girlfriend. Apparently the writers realized that they had overdone the plot, because from season 4 onwards not much happened in John Boy's love life.

Was there a Jump the Shark moment on The Waltons? I recently watched an episode in season 5 when John Boy won a writing competition and was able to witness the landing/crash of the Hindenburg and although this was supposed to be super impressive, it didn't fit with The Waltons for me. Season 5 also starts dealing with the World War II and here too I'm not sure how good (or not good) the journey will be for the Waltons.

Ellen Corby's (Grandma) sudden absence couldn't be helped..... She had a major stroke in real life partway through the season which pretty much robbed her of the ability to speak for a while, and even after recovery, it was hard for her to say more than a few little words at a time. She did temporarily return for the final episode of Season 6 the entirety of Season 7 (by which point Will Geer [Grandpa] had died in real life), and two guest spots in Season 8, but it was never the same as before....

As for jump the shark moments, the show gets more soapy in the last few seasons and more episodic. And cast members sometimes appear and disappear with no warning. There is an episode called "The Portrait" in Season 7, which, aside from one tiny subplot involving Corby, is a terrible episode. Seasons 6 and 7 are fine overall though, although Michael Learned is missed in the last eight episodes of the latter season.

I guess though that it is the last two seasons where things get sloppy. Learned, who briefly returned in Season 8, bails as soon as the replacement John-Boy hits (10 episodes into the season). A cousin is brought in with her two young grandchildren to try to bring younger children back into the mix...... I wasn't annoyed by the children, but they disappeared without a trace or explanation at the end of the season (They were not cast in Season 9 at all). But the final problem was the last season. As I mentioned, I liked the final episode. But Ralph Waite bailed and missed the last 14 episodes, and it is just weird not to have any of the five original leads around....

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Richard Thomas did leave the show at the end of Season 5, but returned to play the part again in a "special guest star" situation in two episodes late in Season 6. The character didn't appear at all in season 7, which was also the first season after Will Geer died; that year had some good episodes, but several clinkers as well.

Thomas's role was recast partway through Season 8,

So they didn't bring in a new John-Boy until Season 8?? For some reason, I'd thought it was at least a year earlier!

 

[TaranofPrydain]

So they didn't bring in a new John-Boy until Season 8?? For some reason, I'd thought it was at least a year earlier!

That's correct. Up to that point, I guess they thought that Thomas would continue to make occasional guest appearances given that he did two in Season 6, but he didn't make any in season 7, and I guess the writers wanted to bring the character back in, given that John-Boy was the original lead. But in doing so, they immediately lost Michael Learned who was such a pillar on the show, so it ultimately caused more harm than anything else.

 

[Chris2]

Michael Learned‘s contract expired at the end of the seventh year. She worked out a deal to take a leave from the show in the middle of season 7 and then make up those episodes at the beginning of season 8, before she was written out permanently. I know she has said that it was the recast of Johnboy that made her realize it was time to go. But in reality, she had already given notice. Actors in TV series in general can’t quit on the spot.

Also, Ralph Waite didn’t quit - he was actually let go! They wanted to save on budget and make the show “younger”. Terrible move. Earl Hamner wanted to do a spinoff called “The Young Waltons” (aka “Walton’s Mountain”) which would have focused on the next generation. The NBC movies done the year following the show’s cancellation were a further test of that idea. Note how each movie had new opening titles with “Walton’s Mountain” in the title. Waite was basically playing a supporting role, popping in to visit in each of the movies, which focused on the Walton kids, their spouses, and a recast Aimee Godsey.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

They wanted to save on budget and make the show “younger”. Terrible move.

It never works. And the executives just keep trying it.

 

[Monzo]

I'm still watching The Waltons for the first time and am now on season 7. I keep feeling like I've missed something, but when I check the episode order, I see that no episode was skipped.

John Boy's original run had a strange ending. He went to New York for his manuscript to sell and liked the city so much that he stayed there. The daily newspaper, which was so important to him, was never mentioned again.

Only when Grandma returned home did we find out that she had had a stroke. Before that, she had been in the hospital without the viewer knowing any details. It was nice that the grandparents had one last episode together, because in the next episode Grandpa suddenly died. The viewer didn't find out what happened. The grief wasn't really dealt with either, everyone seemed to want to live on for Grandpa, which is strange because in the first seasons every little thing could turn into a drama. When family goat Myrtle was in danger, some of the children almost lost their minds, but when things got really dramatic with the grandparents, everyone was brave.

Mary Ellen spontaneously married a man she had only recently met. As a viewer, however, you don't see much of her big love story; instead, her husband, a doctor, is drafted into the army, so Mary Ellen moves back to the Waltons. Is the news that came in one of the last episodes I watched, that Curtis had been transferred to Pearl Harbor, a bad omen? Could Mary Ellen become a widow?

It gets extremely strange in season 7 when Elizabeth is haunted by a poltergeist. Since the viewer saw the haunting, I was actually curious to see how the episode would be resolved, but there was no rational explanation at all. Elizabeth ordered the poltergeist to disappear and he disappeared.

 

[ClassyCo]

I'm still watching The Waltons for the first time and am now on season 7. I keep feeling like I've missed something, but when I check the episode order, I see that no episode was skipped.

John Boy's original run had a strange ending. He went to New York for his manuscript to sell and liked the city so much that he stayed there. The daily newspaper, which was so important to him, was never mentioned again.

Only when Grandma returned home did we find out that she had had a stroke. Before that, she had been in the hospital without the viewer knowing any details. It was nice that the grandparents had one last episode together, because in the next episode Grandpa suddenly died. The viewer didn't find out what happened. The grief wasn't really dealt with either, everyone seemed to want to live on for Grandpa, which is strange because in the first seasons every little thing could turn into a drama. When family goat Myrtle was in danger, some of the children almost lost their minds, but when things got really dramatic with the grandparents, everyone was brave.

Mary Ellen spontaneously married a man she had only recently met. As a viewer, however, you don't see much of her big love story; instead, her husband, a doctor, is drafted into the army, so Mary Ellen moves back to the Waltons. Is the news that came in one of the last episodes I watched, that Curtis had been transferred to Pearl Harbor, a bad omen? Could Mary Ellen become a widow?

It gets extremely strange in season 7 when Elizabeth is haunted by a poltergeist. Since the viewer saw the haunting, I was actually curious to see how the episode would be resolved, but there was no rational explanation at all. Elizabeth ordered the poltergeist to disappear and he disappeared.

Like all shows with any degree of longevity, THE WALTONS eventually ran out of steam and coasted along on name recognition, and in turn, pushed out some questionable material in the process. As I mentioned earlier, my dad and little brother are making their way through all nine seasons. They're in Season 6 now, and my dad tells me often, "It isn't as good as the early seasons."

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

It gets extremely strange in season 7 when Elizabeth is haunted by a poltergeist. Since the viewer saw the haunting, I was actually curious to see how the episode would be resolved, but there was no rational explanation at all. Elizabeth ordered the poltergeist to disappear and he disappeared.

Yes, the supernatural aspects of that episode were kind of over-the-top.

In contrast, Season 2's "The Ghost Story" (directed by Ralph Waite) was much better; its subtle, hushed, minimalist tone more effective.

I'm still watching The Waltons for the first time and am now on season 7. I keep feeling like I've missed something, but when I check the episode order, I see that no episode was skipped.

John Boy's original run had a strange ending. He went to New York for his manuscript to sell and liked the city so much that he stayed there. The daily newspaper, which was so important to him, was never mentioned again.

Only when Grandma returned home did we find out that she had had a stroke. Before that, she had been in the hospital without the viewer knowing any details. It was nice that the grandparents had one last episode together, because in the next episode Grandpa suddenly died. The viewer didn't find out what happened. The grief wasn't really dealt with either, everyone seemed to want to live on for Grandpa, which is strange because in the first seasons every little thing could turn into a drama. When family goat Myrtle was in danger, some of the children almost lost their minds, but when things got really dramatic with the grandparents, everyone was brave.

Mary Ellen spontaneously married a man she had only recently met. As a viewer, however, you don't see much of her big love story; instead, her husband, a doctor, is drafted into the army, so Mary Ellen moves back to the Waltons. Is the news that came in one of the last episodes I watched, that Curtis had been transferred to Pearl Harbor, a bad omen? Could Mary Ellen become a widow?

Sometimes series TV used to do that -- BONANZA never told you why Hoss Cartwright died. And where did GUNSMOKE's Miss Kitty go after 19 years? (I assume to run her aunt's brothel in San Francisco).

Ellen Corby's stroke and Will Geer's death received a ton of media coverage at the time. So they probably used that as a short-cut to get around the events on the show itself, or minimize them. But, again, television used to do that.

 

[Monzo]

I'm still watching The Waltons for the first time and am now at the beginning of season 8. It was unusual that Olivia was absent for a while in season 7 because she was suffering from tuberculosis, so it's all the more wonderful that she's back now.

What bothers me is that there are no real love stories for the children. We met Mary Ellen's husband in the same episode they got married, and Ben brought home his wife, whom no one had ever heard of. I think Ben & Cindy are better together than Mary Ellen & Curt were, but I don't really understand why Cindy feels comfortable with the Waltons.

I thought I was going to watch just a standard episode, with a cousin coming to visit with her two grandchildren (both brats), but at the end of the episode, it was decided that the three of them would move in with the Waltons. What a surprise, and unfortunately not a good one, because in the episodes I've seen so far, they take up too much space.

I haven't seen John Boy's recast yet, but I'm curious to see if he's more of a Karen Cellini, who doesn't fit the bill at all, or a Donna Reed, a good actor in the wrong role, or a Jack Coleman, who isn't ideal but is something you can live with.

 

[Barbara Fan]

I thought I was going to watch just a standard episode, with a cousin coming to visit with her two grandchildren (both brats), but at the end of the episode, it was decided that the three of them would move in with the Waltons. What a surprise, and unfortunately not a good one, because in the episodes I've seen so far, they take up too much space.

Absolutely, Aunt Rose looked like she hoovered up the Sunday roast - all of it and the children were bratty and annoying child actors

seen and not heard would have sprung to mind back then and I wish they were!! I didn't feel they added anything to the show x

 

[alexpaige]

I'm still watching The Waltons for the first time and am now at the beginning of season 8. It was unusual that Olivia was absent for a while in season 7 because she was suffering from tuberculosis, so it's all the more wonderful that she's back now.

What bothers me is that there are no real love stories for the children. We met Mary Ellen's husband in the same episode they got married, and Ben brought home his wife, whom no one had ever heard of. I think Ben & Cindy are better together than Mary Ellen & Curt were, but I don't really understand why Cindy feels comfortable with the Waltons.

I thought I was going to watch just a standard episode, with a cousin coming to visit with her two grandchildren (both brats), but at the end of the episode, it was decided that the three of them would move in with the Waltons. What a surprise, and unfortunately not a good one, because in the episodes I've seen so far, they take up too much space.

I haven't seen John Boy's recast yet, but I'm curious to see if he's more of a Karen Cellini, who doesn't fit the bill at all, or a Donna Reed, a good actor in the wrong role, or a Jack Coleman, who isn't ideal but is something you can live with.

Karen Cellini is the consensus, I think

 

[alexpaige]

Grandma's stroke wasn't referred to prior to her return to the series because at the time they had no idea whether her health would allow her to come back. CBS was also very worried about bringing her back on the show and being accused of exploiting her illness. So they were playing it by ear until the decision was finally taken to bring her back.

John-Boy's return was foisted upon the production team by CBS who were concerned about the dropping ratings, it wasn't Earl's idea. While the show was riding high he was left alone to do his own thing but as soon as the ratings started going down (once the regular cast had started to deplete) CBS decided they knew better about what would make the show work and started throwing their weight around. Every one of their brilliant ideas was a turkey and turned the show into a shadow of its former self, but wanting to squeeze every last bit of advertising revenue out of it, they kept renewing it for another season until it limped to the end of season 9.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Executives -- they're only there to help.

 

[Monzo]

I've now finished The Waltons for the first time. Unfortunately, the TV movies weren't repeated on tv, but I'm curious how they were. Were they an improvement over seasons 8 or 9, or did the quality deteriorate even further? Has any television series had more TV movies than The Waltons, or do they hold a record?

Since I'd already been warned about the quality of season 9, I wasn't too shocked, although there were some bizarre plots, like Curt's return from the dead, Elizabeth's kidnapping, or Corabeth's lookalike sister. Corabeth, by the way, is the only new character introduced over the course of the series who convinced me. In later seasons, she had a subplot in almost every episode, and it didn't bother me; I was actually grateful that she was there.

Before I saw The Waltons for the first time, I always felt sorry for Earl Hamner, because he had to witness how one of his creations, Falcon Crest, was ruined, but actually he had already experienced it before, because a lot was ruined on The Waltons in later seasons, although I think Falcon Crest was more ruined than The Waltons.

Despite all the criticism I found The Waltons worth watching, and I think the show has aged well. You don't get the feeling that the plots are out of style; they could still be told today in current series set in the 1930s and 1940s.