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Post by awesomemixtape10 on Jan 26, 2014 23:13:57 GMT -5
Jon Walmsey had really brought emotion to the show especially towards the end. David Harper was really good and he should have gotten into acting after the Waltons. As the series progressed Judy Norton really brought something to the show. It was hard to tell with Kami Cotler with her being so young. Eric Scott played his part well. The only one I really felt was not so great was Mary McDonough. She seemed bland or maybe it was because her part was. Ive posted this b4, but we have a lot of new members.. This is Jim-Bob stealing a car
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Post by JeriJet on Jan 27, 2014 8:00:31 GMT -5
Jon Walmsey had really brought emotion to the show especially towards the end. David Harper was really good and he should have gotten into acting after the Waltons. As the series progressed Judy Norton really brought something to the show. It was hard to tell with Kami Cotler with her being so young. Eric Scott played his part well. The only one I really felt was not so great was Mary McDonough. She seemed bland or maybe it was because her part was. I thought Judy brought a lot to the series from Day One !! The MaryEllen role was one of the best of the children's parts.... gave her much to work with.... other than John-Boy, the rest of the kids were practically non-existent at first.
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Post by Sussie of Teckelhut Acres on Feb 4, 2014 10:14:55 GMT -5
When I think of the acting talents in the children I do not even consider Richard Thomas as he was years ahead of everyone else, growing up in the Thespian world. Not to say that I do not like him. But he was already an actor well before he played his role on The Waltons. So comparing him to the rest of "the kids" would be like comparing apples to oranges.
While many people thought that Judy Norton's character came off rather bossy, I related it to the fact that she was the oldest girl in the family. Mary Ellen was at an age of seeking independence, being totally annoyed with her brothers and sisters at times and wanting to "get away". I have met many teens at that age going through that exact same thing. Reminds me of a sign I once saw that said "Attention teenagers. Get out and earn a living while you still think you know everything" LOL
Acting would have came easy for Kami Colter. When she first started, she was still at the age of "toys and make-believe". Because acting is basically playing make-believe, it usually comes natural to young children. (Which is also the reason allot of child actors fail as they get older. They have lost that ability to play make-believe) I am pretty sure that there were many times that the script was not exactly followed and she just played the scene. I know that's what I used to do.
David Harper played his character well. Jim-Bob was the youngest of three older brothers. Ask any boy who grew up being the youngest boy and they will tell you that it was best to just listen, learn and speak only when you really needed too. It was the smart thing to do. LOL! Yes he used to pick on Elizabeth but both he and her were the youngest children. They could not pick on the older children, so they picked on each other.
Some people thought of Mary McDonough's character as being bland. But actually I think she played the part well. Erin was the victim of the "middle sister syndrome". Allot of middle sisters feel like they are a bit lost. Not the oldest but not the baby any more.
Jon Walmsley's character was a musician. Musicians are, as a rule, sensitive. It is due to the love of music. Everything affected Jason in some way or another because he was sensitive. You could see it in his eyes. It takes good acting to do that.
Eric Scott. I always liked his character. Ben was a go getter. Always willing to help. "Jump in and get it done with a smile on your face" kinda guy. He is like that in real life too. I feel that the part of Ben came natural to him
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2014 15:11:55 GMT -5
When I think of the acting talents in the children I do not even consider Richard Thomas as he was years ahead of everyone else, growing up in the Thespian world. Not to say that I do not like him. But he was already an actor well before he played his role on The Waltons so comparing him to the rest of "the kids" would be like comparing apples to oranges. While many people thought that Judy Norton's character came off rather bossy, I related it to the fact that she was the oldest girl in the family. Mary Ellen was at an age of seeking independence, being totally annoyed with her brothers and sisters at times and wanting to "get away". I have met many teens at that age going through that exact same thing. Reminds me of a sign I once saw that said "Attention teenagers. Get out and earn a living while you still think you know everything" LOL Acting would have came easy for Kami Colter. When she first started, she was still at the age of "toys and make-believe". Because acting is basically playing make-believe, it usually comes natural to young children. (Which is also the reason allot of child actors fail as they get older. They have lost that ability to play make-believe) I am pretty sure that there were many times that the script was not exactly followed and she just played the scene. I know that's what I used to do. David Harper played his character well. Jim-Bob was the youngest of three older brothers. Ask any boy who grew up being the youngest boy and they will tell you that it was best to just listen, learn and speak only when you really needed too. It was the smart thing to do. LOL! Yes he used to pick on Elizabeth but both he and her were the youngest children. They could not pick on the older children, so they picked on each other. Some people thought of Mary McDonough's character as being bland. But actually I think she played the part well. Erin was the victim of the "middle sister syndrome". Allot of middle sisters feel like they are a bit lost. Not the oldest but not the baby any more. Jon Walmsley's character was a musician. Musicians are, as a rule, sensitive. It is due to the love of music. Everything affected Jason in some way or another because he was sensitive. You could see it in his eyes. It takes good acting to do that. Eric Scott. I always liked his character. Ben was a go getter. Always willing to help. "Jump in and get it done with a smile on your face" kinda guy. He is like that in real life too. I feel that the part of Ben came natural to him This is an excellent and well thought-out post, teckelhut.
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Post by Sussie of Teckelhut Acres on Feb 4, 2014 20:32:50 GMT -5
Thank you Dowsee
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Post by JeriJet on Feb 5, 2014 14:18:53 GMT -5
By the late 1950’s, or early 1960’s, I had developed a great interest in the nature of talent and creativity and produced a couple of papers on the general subject while in college…. Throughout my life, working with many actors and writers, this interest continued and as recently as a couple of years ago, a person approached me to discuss the same subject -- Stephen Schwartz’s biographer.
The upshot appears to be this: there is little consensus out there as to what definitively leads to success when utilizing one’s talent/creativity… Meaningful understanding of the nature of talent and/or creativity remains elusive….One may well have a certain innate ability which comes to no real success – hence, so many “one-hit wonders.” (There’s a great novel in everyone?) Success seems to follow no discernible pattern, whether considering children or adults…. Exuberance and hard work can help but are not the only answers -- timing, good luck, good PR, etc., figure in tremendously…. There are many fine actors who never achieved commercial success, nor were they seeking fame and fortune. The most successful true actors generally follow a path which includes continuing stage performances while taking roles on-screen (tv, film) in order to support their “calling.” It is sadly true that stage actors are not paid very well.
Precisely what strengths and knowledge someone brings to acting cannot be generalized – it differs widely from person to person. For instance, It is not necessarily the connection to “make-believe” that creates a good child actor – consider Ron Howard and Melissa Gilbert – both were serious about their craft at a very early age (for Ron, perhaps 5 years old)…. Most of the Walton child actors seem to have “come by it naturally” and did a great job, regardless of what they did later in life.
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Post by Sussie of Teckelhut Acres on Feb 5, 2014 21:09:59 GMT -5
it differs widely from person to person. For instance, It is not necessarily the connection to “make-believe” that creates a good child actor – consider Ron Howard and Melissa Gilbert – both were serious about their craft at a very early age (for Ron, perhaps 5 years old)…. Most of the Walton child actors seem to have “come by it naturally” and did a great job, regardless of what they did later in life. Keep in mind that both those mentioned, much like Richard Thomas, had grown up around people who were involved in the film industry or the entertainment business.
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Post by coriscapnskip on Feb 21, 2014 23:08:32 GMT -5
As far as characters, here are my favorites in order: Erin, Ben, John-Boy, Elizabeth, Jim-Bob, Jason, Mary Ellen.
I seem to be in the minority with Erin as my favorite Walton and Jan as my favorite Brady! They both have that kind of restless, edgy, bordering on whiny and shrill middle child thing going on with which I somehow really identify, and they played the parts well with what they were given to do. I don't see how anyone could call Erin bland! She could be quite temperamental and moody but never bland.
As far as poor acting, hands-down winner is Robert Wightman as John-Boy Number Two. They had a challenge in choosing someone with similar looks to Richard Thomas without having a wildly different personality taking the character too far in other directions--but that shouldn't mean having so little personality as to practically do nothing with anything the character was given to do. He was adequate and didn't make me actually dislike him, but no more.
Judy Norton in particular did better as a younger character and not so well as she grew older, but was capable of fine acting at times. I wouldn't call any of them really bad. David W. Harper as Jim-Bob was so natural he didn't appear to be acting at all.
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Post by navywife on Feb 23, 2014 11:37:51 GMT -5
I am going to play neutral and say I like them all. There are scenes or full episodes where I think each child actor shined or disappointed. It could have been their acting or it could have been the script/storyline. I do think they grow into their characters as the show progresses.
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Post by RebeccaLee on Mar 14, 2014 18:53:41 GMT -5
I liked them all. Some shows they were better than others but overall I liked all theh actors and still do. The seasons themselves now that is another story. I usually watch only up to when Grandma comes home from the hospital. Once Grandpa was gone, the first Johnboy, Olivia...well it just lost that "something". I still watch the later seasons now and then but ....
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bucky
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Post by bucky on Mar 19, 2014 18:11:34 GMT -5
They both have that kind of restless, edgy, bordering on whiny and shrill middle child thing going on with which I somehow really identify, and they played the parts well with what they were given to do. Count me as one who thinks all these child actors were outstanding in their parts. We wouldn't still be watching if they weren't. And I agree that each portrayed their respective character as he or she was developed by the writers. I think sometimes we confuse our dislike of a character, whatever the reason - for some of the men here I've noticed that is Erin - which is a tribute to Mary's acting for bringing that (as you describe it) restless, edgy, whiny, shrill child to life. I might add that's also a pretty good description of Richard Thomas's John-Boy at different points in the series - except he wasn't a child. Jim-Bob, who many of the women seem to like, was to my mind the most one-dimensional of the children. John-Boy, Mary-Ellen, Erin and Ben were written as prone to temperamental outbursts while Jason, Ben and Elizabeth were given more even-tempered characters. I think they did what they were asked to do.
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Post by awesomemixtape10 on Mar 24, 2014 21:21:35 GMT -5
Among the kids, who were the better actors? The acting was inconsistent among the kids with the exception of John-Boy, but Mary Ellen was the best perhaps. Erin was quite bad. Elizabeth was good as a child, and then not so good as an adult. Ben was decent, even good at times . Jason not so good. Jim-Bob decent. "Erin was quite bad." Everytime I read that, I crack up. I think She got a lot better the last couple of seasons. she must be doing something right, she is the only one of the kids still getting jobs(besides Richard of course). However, Like I have said countless times,I cant stand the character of Erin.
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Post by Sussie of Teckelhut Acres on Mar 24, 2014 21:49:39 GMT -5
she is the only one of the kids still getting jobs(besides Richard of course). I think allot of the "kids" just moved on to other things in life rather than actually trying to pursue acting further.
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Post by Syddie Rose on Mar 27, 2014 13:19:22 GMT -5
I'll preface this by saying I don't think any of the kid's acting was spectacular, but I believe most of that had to do with the screenwriters.
I thought John Boy was pretty consistent. Richard's acting was based on the script, so if it was bad, improvising didn't make matters much better.
Jason was my second favorite. I thought he was fantastic most of the time!
Ben, not so much. I mean, I think he got better as the show progressed, but as a kid, he was hard for me to watch.
Jim-Bob...not so much. He was fine in the first couple of seasons, but he was always my least favorite of the boys.
Mary Ellen was my least favorite until season 4. Then she gets much better and is the most convincing out of the girls.
Erin stays consistently blah. I thought she was the prettiest of the girls, but nothing exciting ever happens to her.
Elizabeth stayed stupid for too long. The curse of being youngest on a tv show...you're always the youngest. That is until you're 15 and finally hit puberty, then the writers finally give you your one episode. And that's when the show ends. I thought her acting was great until season three or so, and then it kinda went down hill.
All that being said, I love the show and the kids. I just think that the writing (for the kids) could have been much better. The line deliveries were painful at times.
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Post by coriscapnskip on Mar 27, 2014 17:57:29 GMT -5
Erin stays consistently blah. I thought she was the prettiest of the girls, but nothing exciting ever happens to her. A couple of earlier episodes did focus on Erin and she led quite the life in later seasons, both tragic and glamorous at times.
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