Karen Grassle opens up about her fallout with Michael Landon

[TMC]

Little House on the Prairie star Karen Grassle incredible life story – from working the legendary Gloria Swanson to becoming a favorite TV mum. Karen also breaks a much-publicized LHOTP myth about Michael Landon and she reveals how her years on Little House were tainted by pay inequality. She opens up about her battle with the bottle and she reminiscences about working with June and Johnny Cash, Angela Lansbury and Kevin Costner.

Timecodes

• 0:00 – Intro
• 1:02 – Broadway with Gloria Swanson
• 5:27 – Landing the role of Ma on Little House on the Prairie
• 12:00 – Michael Landon
• 13:18 – LHOTP Mythbusting
• 15:00 – Going for a payrise
• 17:50 – Mending bridges
• 19:10 – Sobriety and her memoir
• 25:00 – Gil Gerard
• 25:48 – Johnny and June Carter Cash
• 28:20 – Murder She Wrote

[BestTVever]

Thanks for posting. Its important she mentioned that Katherine was so fed up with Michael that she boycotted the last episode. Also the actor that played Doc Baker hated Landon. In that deathbed interview she mentions, he told how even though he was a regular on the show, Michael refused to give him a contract. He was paid peanuts and would always refuse to give him a contract like the other regular actors. Landon was a intense and brilliant producer but a horrible person. For the love of God to cut out your wife from the script because she dare be treated equal.

[rusty spike]

I think that's the charm and brilliance of characters~ they play wonderful characters on TV and films, but the characters are antithesis of who they truly are. I watched enough of LHOP, Highway to Heaven and Bonanza to appreciate ML as an actor, but to have to work for Landon could be miserable, especially if challenged his views about anything.

[Steve_uk]

Originally Posted by rusty spike

I think that's the charm and brilliance of characters~ they play wonderful characters on TV and films, but the characters are antithesis of who they truly are. I watched enough of LHOP, Highway to Heaven and Bonanza to appreciate ML as an actor, but to have to work for Landon could be miserable, especially if challenged his views about anything.

Who would have thought Pa and Ma Ingalls were alcoholics? I wouldn't wish his death on my worst enemy. https://youtu.be/u7vlXKQLFds

[Sgt. Saunders]

I wonder if Melissa Gilbert, Melissa Sue Anderson and the other actors on LHOTP have publicly commented on Karen Grassle’s book on her experiences on the show and also working with the late Michael Landon?

[paul.austin]

I try to feel sorry for Landon dying at 54 and so painfully - but he caused it himself. Just because he died, does not make his crappiness any less crappy. As mentioned in this very thread, his actions were more malignant than his pancreas.

[rusty spike]

Originally Posted by Sgt. Saunders

I wonder if Melissa Gilbert, Melissa Sue Anderson and the other actors on LHOTP have publicly commented on Karen Grassle’s book on her experiences on the show and also working with the late Michael Landon?

They probably won't say much about it in a public venue. It won't add value to their public image and there may be backlash for attacking the reputation of a "beloved" dead man. These children actors (at the time of taping) may not have been aware of unequitable conditions between Karen and Michael.

[paul.austin]

Yeah. The man was a wanker but peoople in the wider world don't dare to say he was. It's not "cowardly" to to continue to revile someone who was reviled in life.

[lukaskm11@gmail.com]

I'm not a fan of any actor in real life but to be fair, I have watched a few interviews with Karen Grassle and she had kind and positive things to say about Michael Landon as a director and actor. She simply mentioned her fallout with him over the pay raise and mending fences after the show was over to paint an accurate depiction of what it was like on the set to show it wasn't all sunshine and roses. Radames Pera, the actor who played John Jr. said Victor French asked for a raise and was denied after a severe argument and when he did another show on the side to make more income, Landon got so mad he cut the whole Edwards family out of the narrative as a way of taking his frustrations out on the cast and crew--suddenly boom! The Edwards moved to California with no explanation, and we're supposed to believe John Jr. who showed the willingness to give up his scholarship, plow a field and build a house to prove his worthiness to Mary would dump her for a city girl with an attitude like Nellie! We got to know and care about him along with the other children in the show as a flawed but likeable protagonist with a creative writing obsession and then suddenly we're supposed to hate his guts.

I think Landon had a hard time making good relationships with his family, friends and coworkers because he went through a lot when he was young. I'm not saying we don't have free will but environment does play a role and if you grew up with neglectful and abusive parents, having good relationship building skills won't come easy to you because you didn't have a good example set for you as a child.

I also think his flair for putting the characters through one disaster after another in later seasons could have been his way of cutting the darkness out of himself.

[TMC]

Karen Grassle, "Ma Ingalls" from Little house on the Prairie joins John for a behind the scenes interview! Karen talks about her crazy audition for Little House on the Prairie with Michael Landon, the first time she met Melissa Gilbert, the hot weather conditions on the Little House on the Prairie set and the unfortunate poor treatment she received from Michael Landon in season 2 and 3. Karen also discusses talking with Michael Landon before he died and how their relationship ended on a great note. Karen also chats about her Little House book " Bright Lights, Prairie Dust". In addition, Karen and John have a great time talking about her working with screen legend, Gloria Swanson on Broadway, her fling with Gil Gerard, working with Johnny Cash and his wife, June on Little House and so much more. Thanks so much Karen!

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:01:04 Karen meeting Melissa Gilbert for the first time on the Little House set
• 00:02:13 The Little House cast bonds on the pilot
• 00:03:46 Was Karen intimidated by working with a star like Michael Landon?
• 00:04:58 Karen was not initially thrilled about the role of Ma Ingalls
• 00:07:36 Karen draws from her own mother for the role of Ma Ingalls
• 00:11:24 What Karen was like as a young woman
• 00:12:16 The weather was very hot at times on the set
• 00:13:18 Typical day on the set of Little House on the Prairie
• 00:16:16 Karen's favorite Little House on the Prairie episodes
• 00:16:51 Dirk Blocker guest stars and Michael Landon's tear jerker moment talking about Dan Blocker's death
• 00:19:55 Pay increase causes tension and belittlement with Michael Landon on the set
• 00:27:09 Working with Johnny Cash and his wife, June and the dramatic story of their son's accident
• 00:29:30 Working with Patricia Neal and Ray Bolgeron Little House
• 00:31:51 Karen's fling with Gil Gerard
• 00:33:28 Karen signs for two more years because she is offered a big contract
• 00:35:13 Wyatt Earp with Kevin Costner and Gene Hackman
• 00:37:35 Karen crazy audition for Little House on the Prairie
• 00:45:29 Michael Landon and his drinking/Karen also faces alcoholism
• 00:48:20 Karen's resolution with Michael Landon before his death
• 00:49:44 Working with screen legend, Gloria Swanson from the movie "Sunset Boulevard"
• 00:54:47 Karen's favorite charities
• 00:56:17 Karen sends a message to her fans

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by lukaskm11@gmail.com

I'm not a fan of any actor in real life but to be fair, I have watched a few interviews with Karen Grassle and she had kind and positive things to say about Michael Landon as a director and actor. She simply mentioned her fallout with him over the pay raise and mending fences after the show was over to paint an accurate depiction of what it was like on the set to show it wasn't all sunshine and roses. Radames Pera, the actor who played John Jr. said Victor French asked for a raise and was denied after a severe argument and when he did another show on the side to make more income, Landon got so mad he cut the whole Edwards family out of the narrative as a way of taking his frustrations out on the cast and crew--suddenly boom! The Edwards moved to California with no explanation, and we're supposed to believe John Jr. who showed the willingness to give up his scholarship, plow a field and build a house to prove his worthiness to Mary would dump her for a city girl with an attitude like Nellie! We got to know and care about him along with the other children in the show as a flawed but likeable protagonist with a creative writing obsession and then suddenly we're supposed to hate his guts.

I think Landon had a hard time making good relationships with his family, friends and coworkers because he went through a lot when he was young. I'm not saying we don't have free will but environment does play a role and if you grew up with neglectful and abusive parents, having good relationship building skills won't come easy to you because you didn't have a good example set for you as a child.

I also think his flair for putting the characters through one disaster after another in later seasons could have been his way of cutting the darkness out of himself.

I dont think anyone disputes Landon was a brilliant producer, director and actor. He brought the best scenes out of people. When people pass away people are not going to harp on negative stuff. Landon passed away relatively young. Landon was brutal to work with at times. Its one thing to deny a raise or share the wealth of the show with your onscreen wife. But Landon went further, he cut her out of many scenes in retaliation. Landon also treated the actor who played Doc Baker horribly. Doc Baker was a regular on the show almost its entire run. Yet Landon refused to give him a contract like the other actors. There are good and bad in all people. Landon had both like all people. In his shows he played the ultimate family man. Yet in real life he cheated on his wives like crazy. He also drank lots of vodka while directing Little House. He could be quite nasty at times. Having said that, of course he was brilliant in his craft. When people get sick and then die, most will bury the hatchet.

[biffbronson]

That's interesting regarding Landon's reaction when Victor French took the role on the Carter Country series (1977-79). If French's taking that didn't interfere with his work on LHoP, it's difficult to see why Landon would find it objectionable.

[Dianne3]

I have mixed feelings about Michael Landon.

His first wife is the wife we don't know much about. ML was only 19 when he married her - a widow with a young son. I read ML married her more to be a father to her son. She on the other hand was older who was marrying a teenager.

What bothers me is the son they adopted (the 2nd) who was returned because they were getting a divorce because ML was marrying wife No. 2.

Wife No.2 was first a mistress herself, so it's hard to care when she herself was cheated on.

As for ML's fued with Victor French, obviously they made up since they co-starred together in Highway to Heaven.

His 3rd wife never remarried.

One of ML's son is gay, who I'm guessing ML would accept that. His mother didn't. (I don't know if later she did).

The twin child actresses who played Carrie I read said that ML didn't make it fun for them on the set. The didn't enjoy acting.

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by Dianne3

I have mixed feelings about Michael Landon.

His first wife is the wife we don't know much about. ML was only 19 when he married her - a widow with a young son. I read ML married her more to be a father to her son. She on the other hand was older who was marrying a teenager.

What bothers me is the son they adopted (the 2nd) who was returned because they were getting a divorce because ML was marrying wife No. 2.

Wife No.2 was first a mistress herself, so it's hard to care when she herself was cheated on.

As for ML's fued with Victor French, obviously they made up since they co-starred together in Highway to Heaven.

His 3rd wife never remarried.

One of ML's son is gay, who I'm guessing ML would accept that. His mother didn't. (I don't know if later she did).

The twin child actresses who played Carrie I read said that ML didn't make it fun for them on the set. The didn't enjoy acting.

Yes that is another mixed bag on Landon. The twins say he never made acting fun. Alison wrote in her book that he treated all the kids as adults. Once there was someone that offered candy for the kids if they could do a good job in the scene. Landon freaked out and said NO. He said the kids need to do it because it was their job and not bribes of candy. He was all business and brought the best out of actors. But he was a brutal SOB many days.