“Fight Team Fight!”

I Can See Your Feedsack, Pa!; or Hey, You’re the One Who Slept With Noël Coward (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: “Fight Team Fight!” [sic] Airdate: October 13, 1980 Written by Don Balluck Directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: The other football one. RECAP:  WILL: Do you think people assume Walnut GroovyContinue reading ““Fight Team Fight!””

“Laura Ingalls Wilder” (Part One)

A Haaaarrrrrvest of Friends; or Harvey Equipment (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: “Laura Ingalls Wilder” [sic] Airdate: September 22, 1980 Written and directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Zaldummo learns a lesson about cash on the barrel when he gets cheated on a land deal. But who cares about that, this one’s reallyContinue reading ““Laura Ingalls Wilder” (Part One)”

“He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not” (Part One)

New York CITY?!; or It Took a Gay Guy To Teach Nels To Be a Man (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: “He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not” [sic] Airdate: May 5, 1980 Written and directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL:  Almanzo shows his true colors when Pa insists Laura can’t marryContinue reading ““He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not” (Part One)”

Sweet Sixteen

That’s Professor Pint To You; or Two Girls, One Churn?  (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: Sweet Sixteen Airdate: February 25, 1980 Written by John T. Dugan Directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Suddenly and magically, Laura becomes a grown-up woman teacher, which inexplicably makes Almanzo fall in love with her. Guest-starring theContinue reading “Sweet Sixteen”

Wilder and Wilder

It’s a Beef Butt Roast; or Almanzo Furioso (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: Wilder and Wilder Airdate: February 11, 1980 Written by John T. Dugan Directed by Maury Dexter SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Half the town goes sex-crazy when Almanzo’s puke of a little brother comes to visit and a new student matriculates. (ZeroContinue reading “Wilder and Wilder”

“May We Make Them Proud” (Part Two)

The Nineteenth-Century Betty Hazelden; or Nellie, You’re Letting This Place Go to the Dogs (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: “May We Make Them Proud” [sic] Airdate: February 4, 1980 Written and directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY: Mary has lost her marbles with grief, so the show locks her in a hotel room to focusContinue reading ““May We Make Them Proud” (Part Two)”

“May We Make Them Proud” (Part One)

“She’ll Be Fine”; or Mary’s Baby Was Ugly . . . But Not Too Ugly to Live! (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: “May We Make Them Proud” [sic] Airdate: February 4, 1980 Written and directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: [screams uncontrollably] RECAP: We live in bad times, everybody. We’re down inContinue reading ““May We Make Them Proud” (Part One)”

Mortal Mission

Much Ado About Mutton; or Selling Poison Meat to Blind Orphans? What Kind of Show Is This? (a recap by Will Kaiser – Menz Weekend edition) Title: Mortal Mission Airdate: March 12, 1979 Written by John T. Dugan Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Half the town nearly dies of anthrax, andContinue reading “Mortal Mission”

The Godsister

Far From Heaven; or How Do You Solve a Problem Like Carrie? (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Godsister Airdate: December 18, 1978 Written by Don Balluck Directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Two Carries? Utter insanity! RECAP: [UPDATE: It’s occurred to me that at no point during this episode did anyContinue reading “The Godsister”

Blind Journey, Part One

Whoa, We’re Halfway There; or When Ames the Heart (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: Blind Journey, Part One Airdate: November 27, 1978 Written by John T. Dugan Story by Carole Raschella, Michael Raschella, and John T. Dugan Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: RECAP: ROMAN: Sixteen-plus??? What’s happened to this showContinue reading “Blind Journey, Part One”