Dean Butler Reveals That This ‘Little House’ Storyline Decided Whether the Show Would Get Cancelled
What To Know
- The “Days of Sunshine, Days of Shadow” episode was deliberately crafted by Michael Landon to test if Dean Butler and Melissa Gilbert could lead Little House on the Prairie without him.
- The two-part storyline, filled with intense hardships for Laura and Almanzo, resulted in high ratings and proved the show’s stars could successfully carry the series.
- This pivotal episode closely mirrored real-life events for the Wilder family and allowed the show to continue for another season with Laura and Almanzo at the forefront.
on a recent episode of The Little House 50 Podcast, Alison Arngrim, Dean Butler and Pamela Bob discussed a particularly interesting episode of Little House on the Prairie. The episode “Days of Sunshine, Days of Shadow” premiered in February 1982 and saw Almanzo Wilder stricken with diphtheria, then a stroke; not long after, Almanzo and Laura’s home was destroyed by a tornado. It was one of the darkest stories in the show’s history, but there was a good reason behind all of the tragedy — Michael Landon himself directed the two-parter as a deliberate experiment to see if Butler and Melissa Gilbert could carry the series without him, as he was ready to leave the series as an actor.
Butler, who played Almanzo, revealed the behind-the-scenes motivation during the podcast episode. “We need to find out if you and Melissa can carry this,” Butler recalled being told. “So they threw every calamity they could throw at us.” The pressure was high, but the gamble paid off. As Butler admitted, “As depressing as it was, the numbers were spectacular.”
Richard Hewett/TV Guide/NBC/Everett Collection
Landon was preparing to step away after Season 8, and producer Kent McCray wanted to know if audiences would stay invested if the focus shifted to Laura and Almanzo. The strategy worked; the two episodes ranked among the top shows of the week, proof that Gilbert and Butler could anchor the heart of Walnut Grove.
What makes the storyline all the more striking is how closely it mirrored history. In real life, Almanzo did contract diphtheria and suffered lingering health problems, while Laura faced her own trials caring for him. The show’s writers heightened that drama, giving viewers an unusually bleak stretch of episodes, while also showcasing the strength of the Wilder marriage. The show carried on for another season, with Laura and Almanzo at the forefront.
Where to Watch Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie airs regularly on networks like Hallmark Drama, Cozi TV and UPtv. The complete series is also available to stream on platforms such as Peacock and Amazon Prime Video, and DVD box sets remain a favorite for collectors who want to own every episode.
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September 2023
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