“Back to School,” Part Two

Welcome to the Grove, Zaldamo; or Here’s Mud in Your Eye (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: “Back to School” [sic], Part Two Airdate: September 24, 1979 Written and directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: In the aftermath of the cinnamon-chicken holocaust, Laura gets punked, Nellie gets slimed, and Almanzo gets a knuckleContinue reading ““Back to School,” Part Two”

“Back to School,” Part One

Love is a Manly Splendored Thing; or Flippin’ Awesome (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: “Back to School” [sic], Part One Airdate: September 17, 1979 Written and directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Walnut Grove experiences an outbreak of immortal TV moments when a grown man named Almanzo Wilder comes to town. RECAP:Continue reading ““Back to School,” Part One”

EXTRA: The 1979 Walnut Groovy Awards

Well, it’s that time of year again, when I trudge down to our basement and try to find some memorabilia from the Walnut Groovy Awards. (You may recall the WGA was a ceremony held annually at the Thunderbird Minneapolis Hotel that recognized Little House’s best – and not-so-best – episodes, performances, music, memorable moments, andContinue reading “EXTRA: The 1979 Walnut Groovy Awards”

The Lake Kezia Monster

Ahoy, Magnificent Kezia!; or The Mercantile is Gonna Lose So Much Money This Summer (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Lake Kezia Monster Airdate: February 12, 1979 Written by John T. Dugan Directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Inspired by Kezia’s stories, Laura, Albert and Andy orchestrate a campaign of terror againstContinue reading “The Lake Kezia Monster”

The Sound of Children

What Could Go Wrong?; or Notice It’s Not “The SIGHT of Children” (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Sound of Children Airdate: February 5, 1979 Written by Carole and Michael Raschella Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Depressing One Alert. Mary and Adam experience the first tragedy in their attempts toContinue reading “The Sound of Children”

Blind Man’s Bluff

Bad Acrobat-itude; or If You Don’t Like That Ending, Blame God (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: Blind Man’s Bluff Airdate: January 15, 1979 Written by Arthur Heinemann Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: You may experience déjà vu as the show reimagines a previous episode. See if you can guess which one.Continue reading “Blind Man’s Bluff”

The Craftsman

This Might Be the Oldest Person Charles Has Ever Been Fatherly To; or The Acorn Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree? (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Craftsman Airdate: January 8, 1979 Written by Paul Wolff Directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Another Albert one: This time, he apprentices to an aphorism-spoutingContinue reading “The Craftsman”

The Cheaters

Oh Andy, You Came and Got A’s Without Studying; or In Season Four I Was The Boy (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Cheaters Airdate: November 20, 1978 Written by Arthur Heinemann Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Andrew Garvey falls into Nellie’s clutches when she volunteers to tutor him. RECAP:Continue reading “The Cheaters”

Fagin

Big Dickens Energy; or Alibert!: The Musical (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: Fagin Airdate: October 23, 1978 Written by Carole and Michael Raschella Directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Charles develops an unhealthy obsession with Albert. RECAP: We open on a shot of Charles Ingalls’s muscular shoulders trying to burst through Pinky.Continue reading “Fagin”

There’s No Place Like Home, Part Two

A Winner Don’t Quit on Themselves, Mr. Hanson; or Little House: The Final Yourney (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: There’s No Place Like Home, Part Two Airdate: October 16, 1978 Written by Michael Landon Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: The three families return to Walnut Grove to find Mr. HansonContinue reading “There’s No Place Like Home, Part Two”