'Little House's' Alison Arngrim Says Melissa Sue Anderson Was “prom queen type” - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-17-2010, 07:59 PM

Little House on the Prairie” star Alison Arngrim says competition between her, Melissa Gilbert and Melissa Sue was so high that she is amazed they “didn’t kill each other.”

In an appearance on FoxNews.com’s “The Strategy Room,” Arngrim said she became very close with Melissa Gilbert while working on the hit NBC show from 1974 until 1981, but the two did not bond with “prom queen type” Melissa Sue Anderson.

“Melissa Gilbert and I wound up bonding and becoming best friends like sisters and Melissa Sue became sort of the ‘frenemy,’” Arngrim said. “So we were with her all day but I guess she was like, ‘I’m not hanging out with you two. She was just sort of appalled by Melissa Gilbert and I.”

Promoting her new memoir “Confessions Of A Prairie Bitch,” Arngrim said “You have three teenage girls at the worst of the preteen years and you’re thrown into this thing and you’re in competition, we’re child stars …I’m amazed we didn’t kill each other.”

But the tension didn’t end between the teen stars; Arngrim also argued that it existed between stars Michael Landon and Katherine MacGregor.

Actress Alison Arngrim on FoxNews.com's 'The Strategy Room' (left) and as Nellie Oleson on 'Little House on the Prairie.'
“It was kind of wild because Michael was very much a control freak, in a good way, and then here you had this woman saying ‘I don’t want to do it that way, I think we should do this,’” she said of MacGregor. “It was kind of fun to watch the fireworks when that happened.”

Arngrim’s book also reveals details about her life, including sexual abuse in her childhood and her teen years as an outcast.

One way she coped with that was to get her aggression out by playing catty Nellie.

She says she was grateful for the opportunity “to vent all of your hostilities and all of your angst. To do all of those things you’re told never to do … to be all of those things and let it all out.”

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment...tertainment%29

catlover79 · 06-17-2010, 08:14 PM

Melissa Sue Anderson also mentions in HER book that tensions existed big time between Michael Landon and Karen Grassle. As for her relationship with Melissa Gilbert, MSA basically says that they were not encouraged to be close friends. In fact, she doesn't say much at all about Melissa Gilbert - which may really be saying a lot. Or maybe not. Who knows??

Jude The Obscure · 06-17-2010, 08:19 PM

It's basically like any job situation--there are some co-workers you like and "click" with and others you just tolerate.

catlover79 · 06-17-2010, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude The Obscure

It's basically like any job situation--there are some co-workers you like and "click" with and others you just tolerate.

Basically.

Retro4Life · 06-17-2010, 09:41 PM

It'd be nice to think that the characters who loved each other onscreen also had a similar relationship offscreen (via the actors that played them, of course).

It's always disappointing to find out that's not true. But like Jude said, it's the way things work. I wouldn't want the burden of having to have a close relationship with the people I work with (and if you knew most of them, I'm sure you'd instantly understand why!

).

Sounds like Arngrim's book is going to be a 'no holds barred' type but it doesn't sound vicious or petty. Glad she's doing better after years of turmoil.

Sterling Holobyte · 06-18-2010, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Melissa Sue Anderson also mentions in HER book that tensions existed big time between Michael Landon and Karen Grassle.

What???

You never would have known it by watching them onscreen. They were the perfect couple.

catlover79 · 06-18-2010, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sterling Holobyte

What???

You never would have known it by watching them onscreen. They were the perfect couple.

Yup - Karen Grassle even came close to quitting the show at one point midway through the series run. They eventually patched things up.

Larn_Conner · 01-07-2012, 11:10 PM

I've read both Gilbert's and Arngrim's books and I noticed the point where Alison gets the idea Anderson is a troublemaker is when Gilbert walks into the makeup room and tells her stuff about Anderson. Both girls recount this tale.

I wonder if perhaps Melissa Gilbert was perhaps insecure and felt threatened by Melissa Anderson's looks and started a campaign against her? Melissa Gilbert was the "star" and the other girls were gonna rally around the one who had the clout on the show and Micheal's ear.

Haven't read Melissa Anderson's book, but I hear it doesn't go into personal attacks like Gilbert and Arngrim's do. I'd say that speaks volumes about their personalities. Also, which ones trashed their lives and who grew old gracefully? I think that tells a tale.

Sorry if this was an old post and shouldn't have been resurrected.

06-17-2010, 07:59 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	'Little House's' Alison Arngrim Says Melissa Sue Anderson Was “prom queen type” Little House on the Prairie” star Alison Arngrim says competition between her, Melissa Gilbert and Melissa Sue was so high that she is amazed they “didn’t kill each other.” In an appearance on FoxNews.com’s “The Strategy Room,” Arngrim said she became very close with Melissa Gilbert while working on the hit NBC show from 1974 until 1981, but the two did not bond with “prom queen type” Melissa Sue Anderson. “Melissa Gilbert and I wound up bonding and becoming best friends like sisters and Melissa Sue became sort of the ‘frenemy,’” Arngrim said. “So we were with her all day but I guess she was like, ‘I’m not hanging out with you two. She was just sort of appalled by Melissa Gilbert and I.” Promoting her new memoir “Confessions Of A Prairie Bitch,” Arngrim said “You have three teenage girls at the worst of the preteen years and you’re thrown into this thing and you’re in competition, we’re child stars …I’m amazed we didn’t kill each other.” But the tension didn’t end between the teen stars; Arngrim also argued that it existed between stars Michael Landon and Katherine MacGregor. Actress Alison Arngrim on FoxNews.com's 'The Strategy Room' (left) and as Nellie Oleson on 'Little House on the Prairie.' “It was kind of wild because Michael was very much a control freak, in a good way, and then here you had this woman saying ‘I don’t want to do it that way, I think we should do this,’” she said of MacGregor. “It was kind of fun to watch the fireworks when that happened.” Arngrim’s book also reveals details about her life, including sexual abuse in her childhood and her teen years as an outcast. One way she coped with that was to get her aggression out by playing catty Nellie. She says she was grateful for the opportunity “to vent all of your hostilities and all of your angst. To do all of those things you’re told never to do … to be all of those things and let it all out.” http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment...tertainment%29
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06-17-2010, 08:14 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Melissa Sue Anderson also mentions in HER book that tensions existed big time between Michael Landon and Karen Grassle. As for her relationship with Melissa Gilbert, MSA basically says that they were not encouraged to be close friends. In fact, she doesn't say much at all about Melissa Gilbert - which may really be saying a lot. Or maybe not. Who knows??
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

06-17-2010, 09:41 PM	#5
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	It'd be nice to think that the characters who loved each other onscreen also had a similar relationship offscreen (via the actors that played them, of course). It's always disappointing to find out that's not true. But like Jude said, it's the way things work. I wouldn't want the burden of having to have a close relationship with the people I work with (and if you knew most of them, I'm sure you'd instantly understand why! ). Sounds like Arngrim's book is going to be a 'no holds barred' type but it doesn't sound vicious or petty. Glad she's doing better after years of turmoil.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

06-17-2010, 08:19 PM	#3
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	It's basically like any job situation--there are some co-workers you like and "click" with and others you just tolerate.

01-07-2012, 11:10 PM	#8
Larn_Conner Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 06, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 15	I've read both Gilbert's and Arngrim's books and I noticed the point where Alison gets the idea Anderson is a troublemaker is when Gilbert walks into the makeup room and tells her stuff about Anderson. Both girls recount this tale. I wonder if perhaps Melissa Gilbert was perhaps insecure and felt threatened by Melissa Anderson's looks and started a campaign against her? Melissa Gilbert was the "star" and the other girls were gonna rally around the one who had the clout on the show and Micheal's ear. Haven't read Melissa Anderson's book, but I hear it doesn't go into personal attacks like Gilbert and Arngrim's do. I'd say that speaks volumes about their personalities. Also, which ones trashed their lives and who grew old gracefully? I think that tells a tale. Sorry if this was an old post and shouldn't have been resurrected.