Although most episodes of The Waltons had moments dealing with books and writing strung through them, there are certain episodes that were based around or portrayed events in a writer’s life particularly well. These three are my favorites:
The Typewriter
Coming near the beginning of the first season, “The Typewriter” was one of the first episodes to concentrate specifically on John-Boy’s writing ambitions. When he submits his first story to a magazine (the now-defunct Collier’s Weekly), it’s returned because they don’t accept handwritten manuscripts. So he borrows a prized antique typewriter from the eccentric Baldwin sisters…and manages to lose it. Some of my favorite scenes in this episode come near the beginning: where John-Boy dares to show someone his story for the first time (yes, they point out the grammar errors first and you have to nervously ask how they liked the story itself), and where the rest of the family, who know he’s always writing but aren’t really aware of what he’s writing about, start to ask questions and become more interested.
The Book
In the third season, now attending college, John-Boy begins a new writing class and is properly overwhelmed by his classmates’ matter-of-fact descriptions of their highbrow and high-concept projects and their condescending questions about his ‘themes’ and ‘approach.’ Hoping to bolster his confidence, Olivia takes some of his stories to a ‘publisher’ she saw advertised, who claims they’d like to publish his collection. John-Boy’s exultation carries him a little too far, affecting his work, his behavior toward his family…and causing him to overlook some of the fine print in his contract…
One thing I find rather interesting is that the problems presented in the first half of the episode are never really resolved as such. John-Boy’s snobbish classmates are happy to accept him as soon as they find out he’s going to be published, apparently forgetting their low opinion of his work. Similarly, John-Boy no longer has any worries about the quality of his own work as soon as he knows it’s going to be published. Publication means validation. This still seems to be a common view, but when you really look at it in light of a situation like that in “The Book,” it’s extremely subjective.
The Prophecy
This episode is not specifically about writing—the main story is about John Walton Sr.’s reluctance to attend his high school reunion, feeling like a failure beside his more financially successful former classmates. But meanwhile, John-Boy is once again down in the dumps because a well-meaning and pessimistic professor gave him a personal lecture on how writers, no matter how good they are, never make a living from writing. This is a fine example of how the most skilfully-written episodes of The Waltons used a subplot to echo themes from the main plot, as Johns Sr. & Jr. both come to understand that the meaning of true success is not measured by money.
As a sidenote, I was amused at how, in spite of his struggles with the literary elite in “The Book,” John-Boy displays a little snobbishness of his own while trying to compile a list of writers who make a living. When Mary Ellen suggests Mary Roberts Rineheart (whose debut novel The Circular Staircase I read over the weekend, incidentally), he explodes indignantly, “Oh, be serious! I’m not talking about people who write murder mysteries.” Mary Ellen sensibly retorts, “We’re talking about writers making money, and lots of it.”
What are your favorites writing-related episodes or moments from The Waltons? Or other favorite TV shows?
I'm not sure I've even seen an episode of The Waltons. Of course I've heard of the show and know a little about it, but if I actually saw any episodes, I was too young to remember. Thanks for the recap of the writing related episodes though. Very interesting. I love when TV shows talk about writing.
Interesting post–I never watched the Waltons because I was never home- I grew up being a workaholic child-teen-adult who now finally has time to waste watching television. Only problem they don't have too many good shows like the one you just wrote about, and wrote about very well. Now, I prefer movies or reality shows. Reality shows because I don't have to listen to bad dialogue and stupid plots.
The Waltons sound like a good show.
I'm so glad you mentioned the Waltons. I really need to get it on DVD so my daughter can watch it. And I'll enjoy it too! Your description of those writer episodes made me smile. How did he lose a typewriter? I guess I'll have to wait and see.
Kelly, that's pretty much how I was until we got the DVDs a few years ago. I'd seen a few reruns and had a vague idea what the show was about, but that was it. Now it's one of my favorites.
The Desert Rocks – I really don't watch any TV either. We watch movies or DVD sets of older classic TV like The Waltons. It is a good show – I think the first few seasons are the best.
Rosslyn, I'm sure you will enjoy it! Glad you liked my post.
"As a sidenote, I was amused at how, in spite of his struggles with the literary elite in "The Book," John-Boy displays a little snobbishness of his own while trying to compile a list of writers who make a living. When Mary Ellen suggests Mary Roberts Rineheart (whose debut novel The Circular Staircase I read over the weekend, incidentally), he explodes indignantly, "Oh, be serious! I'm not talking about people who write murder mysteries." Mary Ellen sensibly retorts, "We're talking about writers making money, and lots of it."
I like that episode very much, especially the actual reunion scene. As for Mary Ellen's remark, I got a huge kick out of it. A great leveler.
Another interesting episode that challenged John-Boy's development as a writer is the one where the veteran writer teaches him how to edit his work, but never sits down to write himself – he's always waiting in vain for that one big story. The trap of talking about writing instead of writing. I also liked when John-Boy ran the newspaper.
Yes! That was "The Literary Man" in season one. I hadn't seen that one in a long time, so I guess I forgot about it…or perhaps my conscience was still smarting from hearing that 'talking about writing' conversation the first time around. 🙂 Thanks for mentioning it.
An excellent post. The Waltons is a favorite show, I watched it every week while it was on (obviously, I'm older than the other commenters) and have the first few seasons on DVD as well. I don't like all of the episodes, but the majority of them are well worth watching!
Richard – thanks! I agree with you, most of the episodes are really good. I prefer the earlier seasons myself.
Love, love, love this show. At least the first 6 or so years. When they were grown I lost interest. But those first years were so terrific. I still watch them occasionally today.
I remember John Boy as my favorite in the show not only because of his interesting and generally respectable personality, but because he and I share a common hobby and it was fascinating to watch him struggle with the same problems I have.
One of my favorite writing episodes in The Waltons was The Literary Man–in which John Boy meets an accomplished writer who causes him to question his validity as a writer with the idea that he has to have some "big story" to tell. I used to think the same thing until I was forced to give up that one "big story" that all my other ideas had been orbiting around. Giving it up was good for my writing career because it gave me an open mind. The episode gave me a lot to think about and watching John Boy interpret it in his own way was fun.
You won't believe this, but I've just discovered Mary Roberts Rinehart when I picked up an original copy of The Street of Seven Stars. I don't usually read (or write) fiction, but I LOVED this book. It occurred to me, because I loved The Walton's so much, that Mrs. Rinehart being so well known through those decades, that someone MUST have mentioned her on the show! Alas I was right, and I thank you for the info. Love your website.