Synopsis
Includes:
The Waltons: The Home Front, Part 2 (1979)
The Waltons: The Home Front, Part 1 (1979)
The Waltons: The Innocents (1979)
The Waltons: The Silver Wings (1979)
The Waltons: The Waiting (1979)
The Waltons: The Violated (1979)
The Waltons: The Starlet (1979)
The Waltons: The Kinfolk (1979)
The Waltons: The Journal (1979)
The Waltons: The Spirit (1979)
The Waltons: The Fastidious Wife (1979)
The Waltons: The Diploma (1979)
The Waltons: The Wager (1979)
The Waltons: The Lost Sheep (1979)
The Waltons: The Medal (1980)
The Waltons: The Furlough (1980)
The Waltons: The Valediction (1980)
The Waltons: The Prodigals (1980)
The Waltons: The Idol (1980)
The Waltons: The Traveling Man (1980)
The Waltons: The Last Straw (1980)
The Waltons: The Inspiration (1980)
The Waltons: The Remembrance (1980)
The Waltons: The Unthinkable (1980)
The Waltons: The Home Front, Part 2
In the conclusion of The Waltons' two-part season eight opener (originally telecast as a single two-hour episode), newlyweds Ben (Eric Scott) and Cindy (new series regular Leslie Winston) nearly buckle under the pressure to start a family of their own; Erin (Mary McDonough) bristles at the condescending attitude of her boss J.D. Pickett (Lewis Arquette); and Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) has mixed feelings about the budding romance between her brother Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) and her best friend Aimee (Rachel Longaker). On a more serious note, local draft-board officer John Walton (Ralph Waite) has been threatened with dire consequences by Calvin Satterfield (George DiCenzo), who holds John responsible for the combat death of his son Tommy. The episode ends with more bad news from the battlefields of Europe -- and this time the topic of conversation is John's own son John-Boy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Home Front, Part 1
The Second World War has made quite an impact on Walton's Mountain as the eighth season of The Waltons gets under way. Fired up with patriotic fervor, everyone in the Walton family is involved in the war effort. For example, John Walton (Ralph Waite) is serving on the local draft board, Jason (Jon Walmsley) is an Army corporal, Erin (Mary McDonough) has taken a job at the metals plant owned by J.D. Pickett (Lewis Arquette), and the younger Walton siblings are closely monitoring the activities of the absent John-Boy, now a war correspondent in Europe. The good news in this first episode of a two-part story (originally telecast in a single two-hour slot) is that John's wife Olivia (Michael Learned) has returned from Arizona, where she was being treated for tuberculosis. The bad news is that a certain Calvin Satterfield (George DiCenzo) has threatened to kill John for advising Calvin's AWOL son Tommy (Glenn Withrow) to return to the Army -- advice that turned out to have tragic consequences. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Innocents
Erin (Mary McDonough) wants to open a daycare center on behalf of J.D. Pickett's female employees, but Pickett (Lewis Arquette) is determined to set up a tavern for his male workers instead. Meanwhile, Ike Godsey (Joe Conley) hopes to surprise his wife Corabeth (Ronnie Claire Edwards) by learning to dance before their next anniversary. This plan nearly wrecks his marriage when Corabeth becomes convinced that Ike is "stepping out" in more ways than one with his dancing teacher Rose (Peggy Rea). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Silver Wings
Working as a delivery man, Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) falls in love with one of his customers, Betsy Randolph (Patsy Rahn). It so happens, however, that Betsy is already spoken for: she is the wife of an Army air corps pilot. The plot takes a curious turn when Betsy's husband is killed in action. Elsewhere, girl scout Serena (Martha Nix) gets lost in the woods while trying to win a merit badge for hiking, obliging her uncle John (Ralph Waite) to look for her -- and to end up hiking right alongside Serena as she ventures into some decidedly treacherous territory. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Waiting
In the conclusion of a two-part story, the family gathers together to welcome back John-Boy from the battlefield in Europe -- but John-Boy is still in a coma as a result of injuries sustained from a plane crash. As Olivia sits patiently at John-Boy's bedside, hoping to make some sort of contact with him, she becomes close to her son's hospital roommate Sam, a young double amputee who has no family to come home to (Morgan Stevens, later to join the cast as Erin Walton's fiancé Paul Northridge, is here seen as Sam). Meanwhile, the formidable Aunt Rose (Peggy Rea) takes it upon herself to prepare the family's Thanksgiving dinner. Robert Wightman takes over from Richard Thomas in the role of John-Boy Walton in this episode -- which, ironically, also marks the final series appearance of Michael Learned as Olivia. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Violated
In the first episode of a two-part story, Red Cross volunteers Olivia (Michael Learned) and Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) attempt to find out why young bride Darcy Thatcher (Antoinette Stella) refuses to write to her soldier husband. It turns out that Darcy has been raped, and is reluctant to tell either her husband or the authorities, feeling that somehow she is responsible for the attack. As Mary Ellen ministers to the troubled Darcy, Olivia makes it her mission in life to bring the rapist to justice -- before the assailant falls victim to a revenge killing. Elsewhere, the Waltons receive some encouraging news about John-Boy; and Corabeth Godsey (Ronnie Claire Edwards) has very definite ideas about what to do with a financial windfall. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Starlet
A motion-picture production company wants to make a documentary about J.D. Pickett's factory, but Erin (Mary McDonough) tries to prevent them from pestering the other workers. To get Erin out of their hair, the producers promise to take her to Hollywood and make her a star -- and she falls for this line completely! Elsewhere, Jason (Jon Walmsley) pulls rank on his fellow soldiers to force them to accept a dinner invitation from the eccentric Baldwin sisters. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Kinfolk
Peggy Rea joins the cast as Rose Burton, the Waltons' aunt from Baltimore. Having come to Walton's Mountain to help the family out while Olivia (Michael Learned) continues her convalescence, Aunt Rose brings her two troublesome grandchildren, Jeffrey (Keith Mitchell) and Serena (Martha Nix), along for the ride. As it turns out, the kids' bad behavior stems from a very serious problem which Rose is reluctant to discuss with anyone. Meanwhile, Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) and Ike Godsey (Joe Conley) do their bit for the war effort by constructing a rather odd-looking air raid siren. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Journal
With John-Boy still missing in action somewhere in Belgium, his publishers ask the Walton family permission to publish his most recent manuscript. While the rest of the family is willing, Olivia (Michael Learned) flatly refuses, convinced that if she gives her consent, it would be the same as admitting that her son is dead. Elsewhere, cousin Jeffrey (Keith Mitchell) holds Ben (Eric Scott) responsible for the death of his beloved dog Restless. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Spirit
Just before Christmas, the Walton family becomes aware of a "spirit" who has been running loose on the Mountain and committing acts of petty thievery. Cousin Jeffrey (Keith Mitchell) locates the elusive thief, a young man named Paul (Ned Bellamy), and becomes his friend -- and nevermind that Paul happens to be a runaway German prisoner of war. And elsewhere on the Mountain, Cindy (Leslie Winston) and Corabeth (Ronnie Claire Edwards) cause a considerable amount of embarrassment for the menfolk with their Christmas-gift requests. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Fastidious Wife
Corabeth (Ronnie Claire Edwards) "helpfully" lends the pregnant Cindy (Leslie Winston) a book on marriage titled "The Fastidious Wife." Following the advice dispensed in the book, Cindy begins catering to the every whim of her hardworking husband Ben -- and wears herself to a frazzle in the process. Meanwhile, John (Ralph Waite) comes to regret his decision to allow Jeffrey (Keith Mitchell) and Serena (Martha Nix) to adopt a cat named Harold...especially when "he" turns out to be a "she" in a rather dramatic fashion! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Diploma
Unless John (Ralph Waite) can prove that he has graduated from high school, his lumber company will lose an important Army contract. Unfortunately, John's diploma is nowhere to be found, and thus he is forced to take a difficult equivalency test -- and he's none too happy about virtually returning to his scholar days at the tender age of 43. Elsewhere, new district nurse Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) tangles with a superstitious mountain family which refuses to accept any form of "new fangled" medical treatment. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Wager
J.D. Pickett (Lewis Arquette) and his male employees laugh out loud when Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) and Erin (Mary McDonough) enter a "ride and run" horse race staged by Pickett to raise money for the war effort. Defiantly, Erin bets J.D. a week's wages that she will win the race -- a very long shot indeed! And back at the Walton home, Jeffrey (Keith Mitchell) loses faith in humanity when he finds out that his favorite movie star didn't really sign the autographed photo on his wall. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Lost Sheep
Erin (Mary McDonough) wants to marry Ashley Longworth Jr. (Jonathan Frakes), but there is a major roadblock to their future happiness: unlike the deeply religious Waltons, Ashley is an atheist. His explanation that the War has soured him on the concept of God meets with shock and disappointment from Erin's family -- with the exception of her father John (Ralph Waite), who understands Ashley's spiritual crisis even if he doesn't condone it. Meanwhile, Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) is getting sick and tired of her "tag-along" cousin Serena (Martha Nix). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Medal
Arriving on Walton's Mountain to deliver a posthumous medal of valor to the family of Curtis Willard, Mexican-American paratrooper Eddie Ramirez (Enrique Castillo) almost immediately encounters hostility from the local bigots. Despite the all-pervading racial tension, Curtis' widow Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) finds herself falling in love with Eddie. Elsewhere on the romantic scene, Ike Godsey's wife Corabeth (Ronnie Claire Edwards) seems to be succumbing to "that old feeling" when her former beau Roger Westerby (Jordan Charney) pays a visit. Watch for a young Corbin Bernsen in a minor role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Furlough
Back home on furlough, John-Boy (Robert Wightman) has trouble remembering the details of the plane crash that had earlier left him in a comatose state. Even more perplexing are John-Boy's random references to some mysterious person named "Katie Ann." Quick, darting flashbacks to his wartime accident enable John-Boy to put the pieces back together, but it's a far from easy task. Elsewhere on the Mountain, middle-aged Ike Godsey (Joe Conley) is certain that the Army has made a clerical error when he receives his draft notice...until he ends up behind bars. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Valediction
It is the spring of 1944 on Walton's Mountain. As war correspondent John-Boy (Robert Wightman) prepares for his return trip overseas, his brother Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) is trying to figure out a way to avoid being chosen as his high school's class valedictorian; sister Erin (Mary Elizabeth McDonough) receives some dispiriting news from her erstwhile fiance; and brother Ben (Eric Scott) bids a tearful farewell to his wife and baby as he heads off to the Pacific front. Former series regular Ellen Corby makes a return appearance as Grandma Walton, while featured among Jim-Bob's classmates is a young, pre-Mask Eric Stolz. Although this is technically the final episode of The Waltons' eighth season, the "official" finale, a two-hour retrospective titled A Decade of the Waltons, was telecast by CBS on May 22, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Prodigals
Jeffrey (Keith Mitchell) and Josh (Todd Bridges) steal money from the Godsey's store to cover their losses in a crap game. But when the authorities catch up with them, Jeffrey magnanimously allows Josh take all the blame. And in another development, an insulting remark from a soldier convinces Ben (Eric Scott) that it is high time that he enlist in the Armed Forces -- even though he is a new husband and an even newer father. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Idol
Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) finds a kindred spirit in the form of the Mountain's new schoolteacher, a brilliant young woman named Hazel (Susan Krebs). Conversely, Corabeth (Ronnie Claire Edwards) is shocked by Hazel's "progressive" ideas, especially her plans to conduct a sex-education class. As it turns out, however, Hazel has a lot more to worry about than Corabeth's outrage. Elsewhere, Ben (Eric Scott) becomes so terrified at the prospect of becoming a father that he goes out and gets roaring drunk -- just when his pregnant wife Cindy (Leslie Winston) needs him most! Virginia Walton, the newest member of the family, makes her first appearance in this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Traveling Man
William Schallert makes his first appearance as Stanley Perkins, the peripatetic former boyfriend of Aunt Rose Burton (Peggy Rea). Now sooner has he arrive on the Mountain than Stanley has made clear his intention of proposing to Rose. But Rose hesitates, worried that she is holding Stanley back from a lucrative job offer in California (assuming, of course, that Stanley is telling the truth about that offer!). Meanwhile, Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) gets so fed up sharing a room with cousin Jeffrey (Keith Mitchell) that he moves into the hayloft in the barn--only to be left literally high and dry when the ladder falls down! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Last Straw
Already having great difficulty meeting his business deadlines, John Walton (Ralph Waite) is further stymied by a total breakdown of equipment at the lumberyard. Accordingly, John himself "breaks down"and announces his retirement, celebrating his new-found freedom in the company of his friend Ike (Joe Conley) at a local bar. When both men come staggering home three sheets to the wind, chaos ensues (as chaos often does). Elsewhere, cousin Jeffrey (Keith Mitchell) is a cinch to win an upcoming soapbox derby--mainly because he's the only contestant. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Inspiration
Former series regular Ellen Corby makes a return appearance in this episode, which revolves around a crisis in the home of the Baldwin sisters. Although Mamie Baldwin (Helen Kleeb) must have cataract surgery or risk total blindness, she refuses, citing the fact that her dear, departed daddy died on an operating table. John turns to Grandma and asks her to talk sense to Mamie -- if such a thing as possible. Elsewhere, Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) loses one boyfriend but gains another, thereby introducing Tony Becker in the semi-regular role of Drew Cutler. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Remembrance
The family plays host to Zadok Walton (Woodrow Chambliss), the highly eccentric cousin of the late Grandpa Walton. After a few rambling statements about a legacy of some sort, Zadok makes himself at home -- and before long it is obvious that he has no intention of leaving, causing great consternation amongst his kinfolk who have good reason to believe that Zadok is a bit gone in the head. And in a story development of farther-reaching significance, Jason Walton (Jon Walmsley) runs afoul of a tough female Army sergeant, Antoinette "Toni" Hazelton (Lisa Harrison in her first series appearance). After she butts into his affairs once too often, Jason tells her off in as loud and insulting a manner as possible -- and it is at this point that the two antagonists fall hopelessly in love. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Unthinkable
Jason (Jon Walmsley) befriends a young Polish-American Jew named Ted Lupinsky (Todd Susman). When Ted tells the Waltons that his grandfather died in an extermination camp, the story seems too incredible (and too horrible) to believe. Eventually, however, Ted persuades the family that he is telling the truth -- and along the way, he helps Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) overcome her feelings of rejection for being more intellectual and less frivolous than her classmates (one of whom is played by Erica Hunton, who previously essayed the title role in "The Foundling," the very first episode of The Waltons). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
