The Waltons – Review of The Foundling

Not too sure when this review was published but it is the earliest I have. This one looks at The Foundling, which was the opening episode aired for Season 1.

“Touted as an innovation in primetime series programming, “The Waltons” is certainly different from most of what’s been offered the past 10 years, but a new concept it isn’t. As family drama, with incidental comedy and melodrama, it has antecedents in shows such as “Mama” (big on video in the ’50s) and “One Man’s Family” in the old radio days. It is, however, probably the first series of its kind in an hour format, and whatever else it’s a welcome and refreshing break in the relentless prime-time march of sitcoms, action-adventure and variety.

Since it is different from all the shows around, and therefore out of the fail-safe groove (those designed to fall in the share range of 25 to 35), it’s the kind of series that can either boom or bust, one that after a slow build could soar into the plus-40 share regions or, rejected, go into fixed orbit at sub-20. Under the circumstances, it’s the right kind of gamble for CBS.

After getting praise for chancing it, CBS-TV undoubtedly will be criticized for slotting “Waltons” opposite two very hot series – Flip Wilson on NBC and “Mod Squad” on ABC – but in fact it’s an ingenious strategy. An ordinary new show would almost certainly get demolished there, and any established series could probably do no better than break even with the competition. But if a new kind of shire line “Waltons” should catch on in the way of, say, “All in the Family” everything in opposition is in trouble, and either ABC of NBC may find itself minus one established hit when the accounting is in.

Indeed, it may be that the tough time slot foreordained the series. That is, this spinoff of Earl Hamner’s Christmas teleplay, “The Homecoming”, might not have happened if there were not the dilemma of how to deal with Flip Wilson.

“The Waltons” has attractive elements that suggest hit potential, not the least of them a large and likeable resident cast, a rural setting (playing to CBS’ traditional rural advantage), and nostalgia for the morally stable peacetime days of the Great Depression. Built into the situation, as a constant overhanging peril, is the economic uncertainty of the thirties, making the struggle against poverty a continuing dramatic force.

Read in advance of air date, the script for the premiere, by John McGreevey, was depressingly hackneyed, straight out of the forgettable folksy fiction that used to run in the old Saturday Evening Post. But in execution, with much credit certainly to the tasteful, intelligent direction by Vincent Sherman – and also to the casting and filming – it played as a sweet and affecting chapter in a moderately sentimental series.

Richard Thomas, as the eldest of the seven Walton children with the soul of a poet, is narrator and principal character whose diary the series represents. But the focal interest in the premiere was a deaf-mute child left on the Walton doorstep who is taught to communicate with hand language by the other children before she is reclaimed by her parents. Erica Hunton gave a good performance as the mute child, and Kami Cotler, as the youngest Walton who grows jealous of the visitor, was a cut above the precocious and saccharine kid types who inhabit video sitcoms.

The remainder of the clan, Ralph Waite and Michael Learned (a female Michael) as the parents, Will Deer and Ellen Corby as the grandparents, and the other siblings, Judy Norton, Jon Walmsley, Eric Scott, Mary Elizabeth McDonough and David W Harper, impressed as an appealing and dependable ensemble.”

Written by Les.

My Comment: I found this review quite different as it looked at the different demographics the show might attract as well looking at the concept of The Waltons itself. One of the things I have loved about the show is that it is a show about family and having three generations of Waltons living in the one house, allows all sorts of audiences to watch it. There’s something for everyone. I always love a drama that explores family and The Waltons does just that. Looking back there probably weren’t too many other family dramas around at the time. A few came later but I think perhaps look a little dated now. With the Waltons being set in a particular era, it doesn’t seem to have that particular 70s look, although sometimes hair and costuming might suggest otherwise! “The Foundling” was the first episode aired, although not the first episode made. The first one made was “The Hunt”. It really potters along and introduces us to the Walton family very nicely. We see the family at their best as they take in this misunderstood little girl and all try to help her. Even though the family has little, John and Olivia feel that perhaps they should take this child in. It’s their good hearts that viewers really love. We now know how successful the show was and it’s lovely to read a bit about it as it was just starting its run.

Judy Norton (Mary Ellen) has been producing some fabulous Youtube videos looking at Behind the Scenes of The Waltons and here’s her take on The Foundling.