EXTRA: The 1976 Walnut Groovy Awards

Well, who’da believed it, another season come and gone in the blink of an eye. (Actually, I thought we’d be much further along by now, but oh well.) As you may know, between seasons, we like to revisit the Walnut Groovy Awards . . . to my knowledge the only awards franchise in history thatContinue reading “EXTRA: The 1976 Walnut Groovy Awards”

Going Home

The High-Waisted Horny Hustle; or You’re the Main Character of the Show, You’re Not Going Anywhere (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: Going Home Airdate: March 31, 1976 Written and directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Charles freaks when a tornado destroys his crops, but yet another Magical Old Man materializes to showContinue reading “Going Home”

Soldier’s Return

Whip It Sad; or Six Degrees of Granville Whipple (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: Soldier’s Return Airdate: March 24, 1976 Written by B.W. Sandefur Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL:  Almost in time for Mother’s Day (and Fentanyl Awareness Day), we meet Mrs. Whipple’s son Granville, who loses his life toContinue reading “Soldier’s Return”

Centennial

An Ingall in Time; or Who Wrote This One, Jimmy Carter? (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: Centennial Airdate: March 17, 1976 Written by John Hawkins Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL:  An immigrant tries to help people understand what America is really all about. And because it is a fictional story,Continue reading “Centennial”

For My Lady

Widow House on the Prairie; or Tell Me Lies, Tell Me Sweet Widow Lies (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: For My Lady Airdate: March 10, 1976 Written by B.W. Sandefur Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL:  WILL: So in this one, Charles does handyman work for a hot woman so heContinue reading “For My Lady”

The Long Road Home

The Biggest Chuck-Hole of Them All; or The Strange Case of Richard Jaeckel and Louis Gossett, Jr. (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Long Road Home Airdate: March 3, 1976 Written by John Hawkins Directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Will Charles and Mr. Edwards survive a cross-country trek carrying dangerous blastin’Continue reading “The Long Road Home”

Troublemaker

Bye Bye Beadie; or Crab-Apple-pocalypse Now (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: Troublemaker Airdate: February 25, 1976 Written by John Hawkins Directed by Victor French SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: After the Bead loses a no-confidence vote, a psychopath takes her place. RECAP: Well, after the momentum of “The Runaway Caboose,” our run of good storiesContinue reading “Troublemaker”

The Runaway Caboose

Throw Carl From the Train!; or Throw Mary From the Train (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Runaway Caboose Airdate: February 11, 1976 Written by John Hawkins Story by Ernie Durham Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: A runaway caboose. RECAP:  DAGNY: While you were gone we watched two of theContinue reading “The Runaway Caboose”

A Matter of Faith

Ma-sery (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: A Matter of Faith Airdate: February 4, 1976 Written by B.W. Sandefur Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: It’s the one where Ma cuts off her leg. RECAP: Of all the BIG CLASSICS, this is one of the biggest, so it’s all hands on deckContinue reading “A Matter of Faith”

The Pride of Walnut Grove

The Crochet One; or Is This Rated Thirteen-Plus Because Charles Has Sex With Mrs. Whipple? (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Pride of Walnut Grove Airdate: January 28, 1976 Written by Arthur Heinemann Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Mary is sent to a math competition in Minneapolis, where she experiencesContinue reading “The Pride of Walnut Grove”