Little House on the Prairie(NBC)
Premiere: September 11, 1974
End: February 6, 1984
Little House on the Prairie was an American western television series broadcast on NBC from September 11, 1974 to February 6, 1984. Based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's best selling Little House books, it told the story of a family growing up in Walnut Grove, Minnesota in the 1870s and 1880s. Laura Ingalls Wilder was portrayed by Melissa Gilbert, her father Charles portrayed by series producer Michael Landon, her mother Caroline played by Karen Grassle. Laura's two siblings were eldest Ingalls daughter Mary, played by Melissa Sue Anderson, and her younger sister Carrie, played in a alternating role by Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush. In the fourth season, Melissa Sue Anderson was written out of the show by creating an episode(based on actual events)where Mary goes completely blind and is sent to a blind school in Iowa, where she meets her future husband Adam. Meanwhile, Laura finds her true love in the form of Almanzo Wilder. They marry in season 7 and Laura has a daughter named Rose in season 8. In season 9, Charles and Caroline moved the family to Burr Oak, Iowa, but Laura and Almanzo remain in Walnut Grove. New characters were added, including Almanzo's niece Jenny. The season was canceled after 19 episodes, but the series lived on for 2 years in movie form.
Best Episodes:
Season 1, Episode 13-14 "The Lord Is My Shepherd"
Laura is jealous of the sudden attention given to her infant brother Charles Frederick, and refuses to pray for him when he becomes sick. When the baby dies, Laura is guilt-ridden. Believing that her father would rather have a son, and following a sermon where it is said that the higher you are, the more likely God is to hear you, she runs into the mountains and prays for God to take her and give her Pa a son. While up on the mountain, she meets a strange man named Jonathan(Ernest Borgnine), who helps her to realize it's she her Pa wants. Charles, who has spent the day looking for her, and Laura have a tearful reunion.
Laura is jealous of the sudden attention given to her infant brother Charles Frederick, and refuses to pray for him when he becomes sick. When the baby dies, Laura is guilt-ridden. Believing that her father would rather have a son, and following a sermon where it is said that the higher you are, the more likely God is to hear you, she runs into the mountains and prays for God to take her and give her Pa a son. While up on the mountain, she meets a strange man named Jonathan(Ernest Borgnine), who helps her to realize it's she her Pa wants. Charles, who has spent the day looking for her, and Laura have a tearful reunion.
Season 2, Episode 9 "Remember Me"
Julia Sanderson is diagnosed with terminal cancer. She resolves to find a home for her three children: John Jr, Alicia, and Carl, but dies before she succeeds. The task is left to Charles Ingalls, who finds the task difficult, as no one wants to adopt three children together. That is, until Isaiah Edwards(Victor French) steps in and offers to adopt them, marrying his beau Grace on the spot so they can be a real family.
Julia Sanderson is diagnosed with terminal cancer. She resolves to find a home for her three children: John Jr, Alicia, and Carl, but dies before she succeeds. The task is left to Charles Ingalls, who finds the task difficult, as no one wants to adopt three children together. That is, until Isaiah Edwards(Victor French) steps in and offers to adopt them, marrying his beau Grace on the spot so they can be a real family.
Season 4, Episode 21 "I'll Be Waving AsYou Drive Away"
Mary's dreams are shattered when she learns she will almost certainly go blind. When this comes to pass, Mary has trouble accepting her newfound fate. Charles and Caroline send her to a blind school in Iowa, where she meets a new teacher, Adam Kendall, that is just as demanding as she. With Adam's help, she slowly learns to accept her new life.
Mary's dreams are shattered when she learns she will almost certainly go blind. When this comes to pass, Mary has trouble accepting her newfound fate. Charles and Caroline send her to a blind school in Iowa, where she meets a new teacher, Adam Kendall, that is just as demanding as she. With Adam's help, she slowly learns to accept her new life.
Season 6, Episode 18-19 "May We Make Them Proud"
Albert inadvertently causes a fire at the Blind School when he smokes a pipe in the basement and leaves it there. The results of the fire are catastrophic: Alice Garvey and Mary's infant son are both killed when Alice goes to save him, but stops on the way to help another boy. Mary refuses to believe her son is really dead, and Jonathan starts drinking, unable to cope with the loss of his wife. Albert is guilt-ridden, but is unable to reveal his part in the fire, even after the pipe is discovered as the cause. Mary finally comes to after being in shock when Albert plays her a music box the same as Baby Adam's. Albert is so shaken he runs away from home. He goes to find his biological father, but learns he's dead. Finally, Charles and Jonathan(who has snapped out of his depression) help him come to terms with what happened. Adam's father donates the money for a new blind school, named for Alice and Baby Adam.
Albert inadvertently causes a fire at the Blind School when he smokes a pipe in the basement and leaves it there. The results of the fire are catastrophic: Alice Garvey and Mary's infant son are both killed when Alice goes to save him, but stops on the way to help another boy. Mary refuses to believe her son is really dead, and Jonathan starts drinking, unable to cope with the loss of his wife. Albert is guilt-ridden, but is unable to reveal his part in the fire, even after the pipe is discovered as the cause. Mary finally comes to after being in shock when Albert plays her a music box the same as Baby Adam's. Albert is so shaken he runs away from home. He goes to find his biological father, but learns he's dead. Finally, Charles and Jonathan(who has snapped out of his depression) help him come to terms with what happened. Adam's father donates the money for a new blind school, named for Alice and Baby Adam.
Season 6, Episode 23 "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not"
Laura has officially fallen in love with Almanzo Wilder, and accepts his proposal. However, Almanzo leaves town after being told by Charles that they must wait two years to get married. Almanzo gets two jobs to prove himself and to help Laura with the blind school, but falls ill with pneumonia. Laura cares for him, and Charles agrees that they will only have to wait one year to get married. Meanwhile, Nellie also falls in love with businessman Percival Dalton. She changes because of him, and is heartbroken when he decides to leave. She proposes to him, he accepts, and they marry.
Laura has officially fallen in love with Almanzo Wilder, and accepts his proposal. However, Almanzo leaves town after being told by Charles that they must wait two years to get married. Almanzo gets two jobs to prove himself and to help Laura with the blind school, but falls ill with pneumonia. Laura cares for him, and Charles agrees that they will only have to wait one year to get married. Meanwhile, Nellie also falls in love with businessman Percival Dalton. She changes because of him, and is heartbroken when he decides to leave. She proposes to him, he accepts, and they marry.