I’m really excited today, recappers. We’re diving into Season 1, Episode 2 of Little House on the Prairie, “Country Girls.” Ladies and gentlemen, Nellie Oleson is in the house! I was only ten when this episode aired in 1974, and while I may have seen it once or twice as a kid since then, it’s been decades. If it’s not apparent, I haven’t watched Little House since it first aired, and even then, I only watched the first few seasons. As a fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s historic fiction series, and a bigger fan of all the books and biographies Continue Reading
Creepy Children’s Shows of the ’70s: What Were They Thinking?
In the ’70s, what was often considered wholesome family programming could also traumatize a kid. Not that shows were violent or inappropriate, but the characters, despite their supposedly positive message, were flat-out scary. Whether it was claymation, makeup, bad lighting, or over-the-top costumes, the ’70s weren’t short on creepy children’s shows. As someone born in the mid-60s but growing up primarily in the 70s, I’m not sure we necessarily thought these shows were creepy at the time. Some of the characters, like WitchiePoo from H.R. Pufnstuf and the Sleestak and Cha-ka from Land of the Lost, certainly did give off Continue Reading
The Brady Bunch: S1E1: The Honeymoon
Today, we’re recapping “The Honeymoon.” The very first episode of The Brady Bunch. In the late 60s and early 70s, Friday night was the night! First, the Brady Bunch, then the Patriridge Family. Then bed. But older teenagers and grown-ups watched Room 222 and Love American Style afterwards, because apparently they were inappropriate for youngsters like me. Today, we’re going to focus on one of the best 70s sitcoms ever, The Brady Bunch! Here’s the story…of the Brady Bunch. I loved this show. Watching it weekly on a Friday night, surrounded by my parents and my many brothers and sisters, Continue Reading
Introducing the Very Special Episode: A Staple of 70’s, 80s, and 90s TV
Back in the day, if a sitcom advertised a “Very Special Episode,” kids knew they were in for a lecture. At first, they fell for the con. How could they miss an episode that is being advertised as “very special?” They did their homework, ate everything on their plates, and even helped to clean up after dinner. Nothing would get in the way of viewing something advertised as a Very Special Episode. This is especially true in the days before VCRs, DVDs, and DVRs became mainstream. If kids missed an episode, they missed it. They had to watch that puppy Continue Reading
Little House on the Prairie: S1E1 – A Harvest of Friends
I listed “Harvest of Friends” as Season 1, Episode 1, the first episode of “Little House on the Prairie.” Please note that I obtained my information from IMDb, Wikipedia, Little House on the Prairie Wiki, and the boxed set. Originally, the Little House on the Prairie pilot was a TV movie and not counted as an “episode.” I know that’s how the streaming services currently list Little House, but we’re going pre-streamers here at Recapping the Oldies. Now then… When we last saw the Ingalls family in the Little House on the Prairie Pilot episode, the family had to leave Kansas Continue Reading