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Post by patriciaanne on Aug 19, 2020 5:01:37 GMT -5
Well perhaps in that way The Waltons became even more true to life. I know that I've had runs in my life where everything seemed to be on an upturn. And then all of a sudden I'd have a run where I was living inside a country song. 😉
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Post by whisper on Aug 19, 2020 5:19:11 GMT -5
I don't see it as tragic, kids grow up, and stuff happens. But I get what you are saying, I much prefer the early series too.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2020 10:05:42 GMT -5
With regard to John-Boy, he never seemed to get back his old passion and enthusiasm. Just compare The Achievement to The Revel. Essentially, it's the same story, with John-Boy heading to New York to get a novel published. The first time he's successful and enters an exciting new chapter of life. The second time he's a failure and ends of sleeping in the park. It just felt like he'd lost something of himself. To be fair to JB, he was excited the first time because everything was brand new. He had these ideas to go to the big city for years and it was such a big stretch for a country, mountain boy to achieve, that yes, his enthusiasm is going to be high. You should have seen me getting my first horse or training my first obedience titled dog. I was over the moon. Now, several horses latter and something like 10 titles on my dogs, you could not drag me to a horse show or a dog show. My initial enthusiasm is gone. No, I did not fight in a war. We seldom hold the same torch for things as life goes by.
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Post by dayton3 on Aug 21, 2020 14:05:09 GMT -5
Wasn't Olivia's absent caused by Michael Learned's battle with alcoholism?
But I'll agree that Richard Thomas's absence really hurt the show though probably not as much as Ralph Waite's absence in part of the last season (a cost cutting move by the network).
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2020 16:02:26 GMT -5
I thought she went to go star in TV program, Nurse
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Post by Brenda on Aug 21, 2020 16:41:16 GMT -5
I’ve never heard that she left The Waltons due to alcoholism. I think she left because she was becoming bored with the character. Yes, she did go on to star in the series Nurse, but I think that was a couple of years after she left The Waltons.
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Post by Brenda on Aug 21, 2020 16:53:59 GMT -5
Here’s an article about Michael Learned which has probably been posted here on the forum in the past. I feel like I’ve read it before. There is a paragraph that describes why she left the show. She also says she later regretted leaving. Fox News: You left 'The Waltons' in 1979, which was before the show came to an end in 1981. Do you regret that decision?
Learned: Yes, there’s been times when I’ve regretted it only in that it probably would have been better to complete the whole show. But frankly, when John-Boy came back with a new face and a new voice, it was like something happened. I just couldn’t do it anymore… and also, I felt a lot of the times I was sitting around for 14 hours saying, ‘More coffee John.’ The fact is, I was bored. And I thought I had enough money, which wasn’t true.www.foxnews.com/entertainment/the-waltons-star-michael-learned-looks-back-at-shows-success-personal-regrets
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Post by alanankrett1 on Aug 21, 2020 17:21:14 GMT -5
I have seen an interview with Michael where she mentioned about the coffee repitition. She also mentioned that she got bored with the show. I am glad that in your post Michael comments on the John Boy situation. I didn't like that situation either. It was bad enough that Richard left, but to replace him with an alternative John Boy just made it worse.
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Post by Easton on Aug 21, 2020 20:52:01 GMT -5
I’ve never heard that she left The Waltons due to alcoholism. I think she left because she was becoming bored with the character. Yes, she did go on to star in the series Nurse, but I think that was a couple of years after she left The Waltons. I'm sure I heard in an interview she did that she was battling alcoholism before The Waltons. Work was piecemeal at best and she had plenty of time to sit at home and get drunk to try to forget her misery. I'm also sure that she auditioned with a good 'buzz' on. The show gave her a reason not to drink, very similar to Ralph Waite who also battled alcoholism.
Does anyone else recall that interview?
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Post by wacokyd on Aug 21, 2020 21:59:14 GMT -5
This is from Wikopedia: In a 2002 article she wrote for Daily Word, a publication of the Unity Church, Learned states that at the time she was cast in The Waltons, she had "hit rock bottom". Then, at age 32, Learned realized she was an alcoholic. Taking herself to former husband Peter Donat's cabin on the California coast, she decided to "get sober" and that her time there was the beginning of a spiritual journey. Learned further stated in the article that she has been sober since 1977.[8]
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Post by Easton on Aug 22, 2020 8:32:20 GMT -5
^ Thank you. At least I know my rememberer is still working.
I scoured YouTube but couldn't fine the interview I had seen earlier. However, I found this delightful interview with Michael on Australian television in which she opens up about her personal life before and after The Waltons. The bit at the end in which she speaks of her youngest son talking to her about her drinking is a 'lump in the throat' moment:
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Post by jason88cubss on Aug 22, 2020 14:46:47 GMT -5
I think season 6 is pretty strong but season 7 is when it falters
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Post by whisper on Aug 23, 2020 6:29:57 GMT -5
^ Thank you. At least I know my rememberer is still working.
I scoured YouTube but couldn't fine the interview I had seen earlier. However, I found this delightful interview with Michael on Australian television in which she opens up about her personal life before and after The Waltons. The bit at the end in which she speaks of her youngest son talking to her about her drinking is a 'lump in the throat' moment:
That's interesting what Michael says about the new John Boy. It must have been very difficult for that young actor (sorry don't know his name) . I wonder if he gelled with the rest of the cast.
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Post by alanankrett1 on Aug 23, 2020 8:27:43 GMT -5
Hi Whisper
The actors name is Robert Wightman. What did Michael say about him please. The quality of the interview is not very good. Not on this phone anyway.
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Post by whisper on Aug 23, 2020 8:48:08 GMT -5
Hi Whisper The actors name is Robert Wightman. What did Michael say about him please. The quality of the interview is not very good. Not on this phone anyway. Hi alanankrett . I think I have the wrong clip. I saw somewhere she said it was time to go when John Boy woke up with a different face and voice.
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