The Waltons: The Way Television Used To Be
The Waltons - do you remember that show? Or was it after your time? I clearly remember the whole family sitting down to watch The Waltons, and loving every minute of it. My younger brother (eight years younger), however, says he doesn't remember seeing it.The Waltons ran for nine years, and in its first year won 5 Emmy Awards, including the award for "Outstanding Drama Series". The DVD jacket for the first season describes it as: "The Landmark Series That Celebrates Family", and gives the following tagline: "They built their home on the timeless mountain that bears their name. They built their lives on even stronger stuff: the bedrock of family."
I hadn't seen any episodes of The Waltons since childhood, but since my parents bought the first season on DVD and loaned it to me, I'm finally getting around to watching it. And I keep thinking to myself "They just don't make television shows like this any more." Some, I'm sure, see that as a good thing. I see it as a loss of something simple and precious.
What is The Waltons about? Simply put, it's about Family. It's not about terrorists, high speed chases (ever seen a high speed chase in depression era vehicles?
), crime, magic, fame or politics...it's just about Family.And it deals with issues that families deal with, and issues that families dealt with during the depression era. Probably nothing that would make the current generation of television viewers sit up and take notice, or keep their attention for 48 minutes (that's right...those old television shows only had about 10 minutes of commercials, as opposed to the 15 to 20 minutes they have now).
Can you imagine a current television show taking a full length episode to explore the question of how a family would deal with having to sell a calf to pay for a broken truck axle? Or how about an episode that looks at how they would deal with four vagrants living in their barn (well, perhaps...if the vagrants were psychopathic killers!)?
Or how about this one - here's a description of an episode from the DVD jacket: "Does John-Boy have what it takes to be a family provider? A hunting trip makes him realize he's reluctant to destroy a life. Mary Ellen's tomboy ways are tested when confronted with the choice of buying a fancy dress or a catcher's mitt."
Here's another: "A young pastor staying with the family is a zealous preacher of fire and brimstone. John Walton believes in forgiveness and compassion. Caught in between this spiritual divide is John-Boy, who will learn the true meaning of grace."
Where's the excitement and the thrill seeking in that? I'm afraid, if you're looking for thrills and excitement like today's shows offer, you probably won't find it here. What you will find is well written, family stories that take the time to explore the feelings and reactions of people affected by the day to day struggles of life.
And just so you know, little brother...
it's not black & white, so you might enjoy it.
Posted On Aug 19, 2005 at 4:42 AM
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