Hi everyone,

It's back to the hot weather today, after having a really pleasant week. I've finally had time to watch a few episodes from a tape that a member kindly sent to me a couple of weeks ago. I caught up on The Idol, a terrific episode and one that I really don't recall ever seeing before. I have heard a lot about this one, but it didn't ring too many bells for me, so it was nice to see it. I enjoyed the relationship between Hazel and Elizabeth very much, and also between Jason and Elizabeth after she found out that Hazel was dying.

I was also able to catch up on The Battle at Drucilla's Pond, The Outsider and The Pony Cart. I've seen each of these before, but they are great. One thing that struck me in one of the episodes, and I'm not sure if it was Battle at Drucilla's Pond or The Outsider, but I think the former, was that they used an unusual camera angle for many of the kitchen scenes. The camera seemed to be over the sink and we saw right from the kitchen sink window, across the kitchen preparation island bench thing they have, across the kitchen table and into the lounge room. It's not a camera angle that I recall seeing often, if ever before. Maybe some of you remember times when the camera seemed to be pointing from the kitchen sink window.

The Outsider was a terrific episode, and I loved how Grandma stood up for Cindy and really accepted her before anyone else did. I thought she would have been one who was most disapproving, but she wasn't. Lovely to see. They always gave very thoughtful gifts too. The wedding gifts were really nice, and the gifts that Martha Corinne gave in The Pony Cart were wonderful too. Special mementos to remember a special lady. Just a beautiful episode. I loved when she told John Boy off about telling her secret, and said that there were family lines that he wouldn't really like to know about but maybe that was were he got his inability to keep his word from! I also enjoyed the scene where she wouldn't allow Erin to go outside to meet her date. Instead she made Erin wait upstairs until her date was more polite and knocked at the door. She won him over very quickly.

Talk to you all next week. Have a good one.

Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

Hello! Has anybody seen the Tom Hank's film "Castaway"? I think that Joe Conley (Ike Godsey) was in the scene at the start of the film when Tom Hanks is having Christmas with his girlfriend's family. I think he was playing one of her family but I'm not sure - can anyone confirm this for me?

Katie

KAREN'S COMMENT: I believe that it was him Katie, but some readers have seen the film already and can probably add much more for you.

Some of us have been in touch with PAX TV about picking up The Waltons in the event that TNN does drop it. They have gone through the second season and are now starting the third season on TNN.(the fall of 1974) Friday they had The First Day and Monday they will have The Thoroughbred. This coming Friday will be The System and on my birthday will come The Spoilers.

I think The Tempest and The Whirlwind were episodes as you said that only make sense after you have thoroughly thought them through the way you have. A lot of veterans returned from World War II badly scarred both physically and mentally.

Donald

KAREN'S COMMENT: I have just been to the TNN site and they seem like they're gearing up for huge changes.

Hi Karen!

Just a short note to let you know how I felt about the episodes "The Tempest" and "The Whirlwind". I was a little disappointed actually, Mary Ellen and Curt were portrayed as a very strong couple, whom I imagined would be able to work through anything! However, when one has not had such life experiences I guess it is hard to truly relate. I also think that the absence of the original Curt threw everyone off balance! I do agree that while it was bittersweet to have it all end the way it did, Jonesy was a wonderful addition to the family. Many people choose to pick a favorite season of "The Waltons" and I will admit that if asked I will say that I enjoyed the earlier episodes, the original cast…but the more I think of it all the more it reminds me of reading a book, and my favorite books are the ones that are sagas…stories that follow families throughout history, from generation to generation. That's what "The Waltons" has been to me. A sweeping saga that allows you to go through time with them and see them all grow and change, as in real life. So, while Mary Ellen and curt dealt us a blow, it all worked out in the end and gave us a new face to love (Jonesy)!!! Was that a short note? Sorry Karen!

Judy

KAREN'S COMMENT: I think it's great to have comments, both for and against. Yes, I agree that it would have been better to have the original actor playing Curt. I have been trying to think if we had an Australian equivalent to The Waltons, and we certainly did. Has anyone ever seen The Sullivans? It's a family drama too, but a soapie as well in a way, but very well produced and written and set during World War 2. The children grow up and it's a saga really, just like you mention.

Hello Karen and everyone,

I haven't had a chance to post in a while. It is ski season in Vermont and my job has picked up tremendously. I do love it, so I don't mind having less time to myself. Next week I will be extremely busy since it is Presidents Day/Winter vacation week. The slopes will be filled with families and lots of stressed out mothers needing a massage from me <G>.

I have a few Waltons sightings for you. One Monday, I had some sick kids, so I couldn't work, my daughter and I had a video watching day. We watched Napoleon and Samantha (a Disney movie). Both Grandma and Grandpa are on it, and so is Ep Bridges.

Then, my husband was watching Black Sheep Squadron a couple of days ago. The guy that was the second Curt was in that. I will add a comment about that later.

Lastly, my husband gets this old house magazine. In the magazine, there was an article about families not living together into old age like they use to do. Well the first paragraph mentioned how the families pre-world war II lived like the Waltons. Even this old house recognizes a good show.

My thoughts on the Tempest and the Whirlwind. I loved the fact that we got to see MaryEllen happy again, it is hard to find a man who will love your child too. So it was nice that Jonesy loved John Curtis. I loved how he called him Johnny and sort of told MaryEllen that she was to formal about his name. I wasn't sure how I felt about the new Curt or them bringing him back until I saw Curt #2 on Black Sheep Squadron. He played a traumatized chaplain who counsels soldiers at the front. He was very good. I then thought that maybe he could do that same job better on the Waltons than the old Curt. I still think for continuity it would have been better to have the original person, but then again, they had a new John-boy for a while. Anyway, it wasn't a bad show, but it wasn't one of my favorites.

Night All, ----Jennifer

KAREN'S COMMENT: I think you're the first person to mention the movie with all 3 Walton actors in it! I watched Richard Thomas in The Pony Cart yesterday, and I really have to confess that I wish they hadn't replaced him with another actor as John Boy. I think that he had a charm all of his own and John Boy should have stayed with just RT. Just my humble opinion. :-)

I guess I'm just too realistic for my own good. I hated The Whirlwind and The Tempest, because the entire premise of Curt being still alive was just too unrealistic. In fact, I'd almost be willing to bet money that nothing like this happened to any of the Pearl Harbor survivors. What bothered me most was how it cheapened the romance between Mary Ellen and Curt and the pain people felt about Curt's death (Day of Infamy was excellent television). On top of that, there were several references to Curt after his death in which he was portrayed as a hero for his actions during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. And they all indicated strongly that he died a hero's death.

Frankly, I think the writers were searching hard for good storylines at that point in the series. They actually produced some decent stories, but these two seemed a product of laziness to look for something better. Plus, nighttime soap operas were coming into vogue at this time, so they were probably influenced there as well.

I've chosen to believe that didn't really happen -- that Curt is still dead, just like Bobby Ewing is still alive!

Jim

KAREN'S COMMENT: All really good points Jim. There were many indicators that he had died and died a hero, and I agree that they seemed to be searching for good storylines then. I guess it's hard to keep every season fresh and new, but they succeeded well with most episodes. I think I can forgive them for some not such good episodes, but still very watchable. :-))

Hello Karen and All, I know I have already sent a post, but I wanted to let you all know that Lewis Arquette -- JD Pickett died this weekend of heart failure. I know he wasn't a big part of the Waltons, but it is still sad none the less. I always love to watch Erin put him in his place. He was a comical part of the show.

Good Night All, ----Jennifer

KAREN'S COMMENT: I appreciated you letting me know of Lewis Arquette's death as I hadn't heard before this. How about if we have some special moments we enjoyed from some of his episodes next week?

I was watching the Brady Bunch a few weeks ago and I noticed the credits read Joe Conley..delivery driver.
In this episode there was no truck driver shown, only a sound of a truck when Peter opened the door and heard a truck drive off.

I thought it quite funny they would hire an actor to do a 'sound' scene.

Did anyone hear news of Lewis Arquette (J.D. Picket) passing away? I was out of the room and came in to see, what I think was a picture of Lewis on the screen. They were talking about Courtney Arquette from "Friends" and said it was a sad weekend for her with the death of her father.

Aussie regards

Kaz

KAREN'S COMMENT: What episode was this one Kaz? He did have a very small role in one of them where he delivered something to their door. Near the end of the first season I think. Lewis Arquette would have been Courtney Cox's father in law, since she's married to David Arquette.

I read in the entertainment news this week that Lewis Arquette that played J.D. Pickett died last Saturday of congestive heart failure. He was 65 and was the father of actors Rosanna, Patricia, Alexis and David Arquette.

Luke

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for some more information on Lewis's death Luke. I can't find much on the Internet about his death, but he did die on the same day as Laura Ingalls Wilder did!