Synopsis
Includes:
The Waltons: The Moonshiner (1978)
The Waltons: The Obsession (1978)
The Waltons: The Changeling (1978)
The Waltons: The Portrait (1978)
The Waltons: The Empty Nest, Part 2 (1978)
The Waltons: The Empty Nest, Part 1 (1978)
The Waltons: The Illusion (1978)
The Waltons: The Captive (1978)
The Waltons: The Calling (1978)
The Waltons: The Yearning (1978)
The Waltons: Day of Infamy (1978)
The Waltons: The Boosters (1978)
The Waltons: The Beau (1978)
The Waltons: The Pin-Up (1979)
The Waltons: The Conscience (1979)
The Waltons: The Obstacle (1979)
The Waltons: The Parting (1979)
The Waltons: The Burden (1979)
The Waltons: The Attack (1979)
The Waltons: The Legacy (1979)
The Waltons: The Outsider (1979)
The Waltons: The Torch (1979)
The Waltons: The Tailspin (1979)
The Waltons: Founders' Day (1979)
The Waltons: The Moonshiner
Jason (Jon Walmsley) takes it upon himself to reform his cousin Boone Walton (Morgan Woodward), who is a bit too fond of moonshine liquor. This proves difficult when Bonne befriends the Baldwin sisters, who of course have been brewing up their own special family "recipe" for years. Meanwhile, Olivia (Michael Learned) clashes with the hyper-judgemental Corabeth (Ronnie Claire Edwards) when John-Boy's former fiancee Daisy (Deirdre Lenihan) returns with her out-of-wedlock daughter Melissa (Brandi Tucker) in tow. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Obsession
While cramming for her nursing-license exams, Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) stays alert by popping "wake-up" pills. Before long, she's hooked on the stimulants, and a near-fatal accident results. Now she must turn to her former beau Dr. Spencer (Robert Christopher Woods) to help her shake her addiction. Meanwhile, a reluctant Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) is pressed into service as a "divorce counselor" when Sissy Tucker (Cissy Wellman) walks out on her husband Yancy (Robert Donner). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Changeling
As she rapidly approaches the age of 13, Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) is having more than the usual share of difficulty adjusting to the changes in her mind and her metabolism. Her burden is increased when, after listening to a ghost story spun by her friend Aimee (Rachel Longaker), Elizabeth imagines that she has witnessed a supernatural manifestation. Elsewhere, Jason (Jon Walmsley) takes a temporary radio job as advice-to-the-lovelorn expert "Uncle George"--little realizing that the mercurial Corabeth Godsey (Ronnie Claire Edwards) is hanging on his every word. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Portrait
While exploring an abandoned mansion, Erin (Mary Elizabeth McDonough) befriends a reclusive artist named Derek Pembroke (Jared Martin), who is haunted by a profound tragedy in his past. Soon thereafter, it is learned that Pembroke is a former mental patient--a disturbing bit of information that comes to light just as Erin turns up missing! And in a somewhat lighter vein, Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) and Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) attempt to capture a wild songbird as a present for Grandma (Ellen Corby)...but must settle for a "mild" one. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Empty Nest, Part 2
In the conclusion of The Waltons' two-part Season Seven opener (originally telecast as a single two-hour episode), John Walton (Ralph Waite) wonders if he should leave the Mountain for a lucrative out-of-town job, thereby turning over the family business to the comparatively inexperienced Ben (Eric Scott). Elsewhere, Erin (Mary Elizabeth McDonough) learns a disturbing fact about her boss as she settles into her new job in Charlottesville; storekeeper Ike Godsey (Joe Conley) bristles when his social-climbing wife Corabeth (Ronnie Claire Edwards) installs several "refined" changes at their place of business; and the family prepares to celebrate Grandpa's birthday--without Grandpa, who has recently passed away. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Empty Nest, Part 1
The opening two-part episode of The Waltons' seventh season (originally telecast in a single two-hour timeslot) is dedicated to the memory of Will Geer, who had died in the summer of 1978. Also conspicuous by her absence is semi-regular Nora Marlowe, who had also passed away, as neighbor Flossie Brimmer. The loss of both Grandpa and Mrs. Brimmer is duly acknowledged as the Walton family leaves 1940 behind and enters 1941, a year that will yield many dramatic changes in their lives. For starters, John Walton (Ralph Waite) is faced with a choice between remaining with his struggling lumber business on Waltons' Mountain or accepting a more lucrative job out of town; and John's daughters Erin (Mary Elizabeth McDonough) and Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) follow the lead of their brother John-Boy , moving out of the family home and into their own apartment. Peggy Rea, who would later join the series' cast as the Waltons' cousin Rose Burton, is here seen as the girls' landlady Mrs. Boren. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Illusion
The Waltons' African-American neighbor Verdie Foster (Lynn Hamilton) is pleased and proud when her college-educated daughter Esther (Lynne Moody) returns to the Mountain. But Esther is frustrated by her lack of success in the working world -- the result of general prejudice against her gender and specific prejudice against her race. Esther's anger is matched (and then some!) by Verdie when storekeeper Ike Godsey (Joe Conley) posts an honor roll listing the names of the men from Walton's Mountain who are serving in the military...a list separated into "white" and "colored" columns. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Captive
Frustrated by her humdrum existence on Walton's Mountain, socialite-turned-storekeeper Corabeth Godsey (Ronnie Claire Edwards) secretly begins drinking. Before long, she is on the verge of becoming a full-fledged alcoholic, and despite the concerted efforts of John (Ralph Waite) and Olivia (Michael Learned) she may already be beyond help. Meanwhile, the Walton boys struggle manfully--and fail spectacularly--to teach sister Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) how to drive. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Calling
The Baldwin sisters are visited by their young cousin Mary Frances Conover (Stacey Nelkin), who has been living in a convent. When Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) falls in love with Mary Frances, she is faced with a tough decision: whether to return the boy's affections, or to remain faithful to her lifelong dream of becoming become a nun. Meanwhile, Ben hires a likeable new lumberyard worker named Beau (Bruce French), who is harboring a disturbing secret. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Yearning
When a "skunk attack" forces the Mountain's new minister Andy March (Sean Thomas Roche) to move in with the Waltons, Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) develops a crush on the handsome young prelate. Elsewhere, the Baldwin sisters hope to sell their father's diaries to a Hollywood movie company, even though the documents stir up unpleasant memories for Miss Emily (Mary Jackson). And a grief-stricken Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) tries to adjust to life without her husband Curt, who has been reported killed in the Pearl Harbor attack. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: Day of Infamy
December 7, 1941: The Waltons are among the first people on the Mountain to hear the news that the Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor. Especially affected by this catastrophic event is Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor), whose husband Curt (Tom Bower) is serving with the Medical Corps in Hawaii. Likewise nervously awaiting further news is neighbor Verdie Foster (Lynn Hamilton), whose son Josh is also stationed at Pearl Harbor. In the midst of this unfolding crisis, Ben helps matters not at all by introducing his new girlfriend Cindy, who dresses a tad too provocatively for everyone's taste. Though Robin Eisenmann appears as Cindy, the role would soon be taken over on a regular weekly basis by Leslie Winston. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Boosters
When Ben (Eric Scott) announces plans to start up a fancy motel, Corabeth (Ronnie Claire Edwards) offers him financial assistance -- with the understanding, of course, that she'll be given a generous share of the profits. Conversely, John (Ralph Waite) opposes Ben's plans, causing a serious rift between father and son. Meanwhile, Yancy Tucker (Robert Donner) "graduates" from a correspondence-school barber college; unfortunately, there aren't too many people around who are willing to have their hair trimmed by a musclebound moonshiner! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Beau
The recently widowed Grandma Walton (Ellen Corby) is unexpectedly reunited with Marcus Dane (Arthur Space), who had been her sweetheart some 50 years before. Although Grandma is still loyal to Grandpa's memory, Marcus is quite a charmer, and it looks as if she might capitulate -- much to the dismay of granddaughter Elizabeth (Kami Cotler). Elswehere, Yancy Tucker (Robert Donner) makes a patriotic effort to convert moonshine liquor into automobile fuel...with plenty of the expected collateral damage. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Pin-Up
Budding photojournalist Ben (Eric Scott) takes a picture of his sister Erin (Mary McDonough), who happens to be dressed in fetchingly brief shorts. The photo quickly gains wide exposure at the local army base, and before long Erin is basking in fame as "The Jefferson County Cutie" -- which, needless to say, does not meet with the approval of her father John (Ralph Waite). On a more serious note, the newly widowed Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) has become obsessively overprotective of her infant son John Curtis. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Conscience
Now that John-Boy is a war correspondent for "Stars and Stripes," his brothers Ben (Eric Scott) and Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) are anxious to get into uniform and serve their country as well. On the other hand, brother Jason (Jon Walmsley) is reluctant to enlist, sincerely believing that it is wrong to take the life of a fellow human being. Of course, he could register as a conscientious objector -- but wouldn't such an action forever brand him as a coward? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Obstacle
The Waltons play host to John-Boy's college friend Mike Paxton (Dennis Redfield), who has been wounded and paralyzed in the war. Consumed with bitterness and self-pity, Mike initially rebuffs the family's efforts to help himself get his act together -- and worse, by the time he has actually decided to buck up and face life again, his confidence is dashed to bits by insensitive defense-plant owner J.D. Pickett (Lewis Arquette). Elsewhere, Ben (Eric Scott) and Ike Godsey (Joe Conley) rehearse an act for the local USO, while Jason (Jon Walmsley) lobbies to join a military band unit. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Parting
Ostensibly because John (Ralph Waite) has been working too hard, Olivia (Michael Learned) suggests that he go on a vacation with her to Virginia Beach. In truth, Olivia must go to the beach clinic to undergo some medical tests. Diagnosed with tuberculosis, she is advised to leave home and enter a sanitarium in Arizona -- but how can she break this news to her family? Meanwhile, Ben (Eric Scott) tries to expand his "saleable" skills; and Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) can't understand why her cakes don't taste as good as Grandma's. Neva Pattersonis seen as Olivia's Aunty Kate, a role previously played by Louise Latham. This episode marks the last regular series appearance by Michael Learned (Olivia), though she would return for a few scattered episodes in Season Eight. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Burden
Narrowly escaping death when a car falls on him, Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) decides to change his ways and become a man of God. Unfortunately, he is unable to enroll in divinity school because he has no undergraduate degree, so he hits the road to "spread the word" as a traveling preacher -- and gets into a heap of trouble as a result. Meanwhile, Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) puts her heart and soul into a fascinating school project. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Attack
Under intense pressure to keep his store solvent while still obeying the new wartime price and rationing restrictions, Ike Godsey (Joe Conley) suffers a heart attack. As the Waltons lend a helping hand at the store, Ike is pressured by his wife Corabeth to sell the place and retire -- and to prove that he'd be better off staying at home, she nearly kills her husband with kindness! Also keenly aware of wartime priorities and shortages are Ben (Eric Scott) and Jim-Bob (David W. Harper), who hope to strike it rich by manufacturing their own sugar. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Legacy
Having spent a lifetime pining over her lost love Ashley Longworth, Miss Emily Baldwin (Mary Jackson) is ecstatic when it seems that Ashley has returned to Walton's Mountain -- and more miraculously, he hasn't aged one bit! Actually, the new arrival on the Mountain is not Ashley Longworth but instead his look-alike son, Ashley Jr. (played by a pre-"Commander Riker" Jonathan Frakes). But Miss Emily refuses to accept that the younger Longworth is not her former sweetheart incarnate...and it is this delusion which may prove disastrous when Ashley Jr. begins courting Erin (Mary McDonough). Meanwhile, John (Ralph Waite) is finding out how difficult it is to raise daughters without the help of Olivia, especially when Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) asks his advice before purchasing her first bra. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Outsider
The Walton family is unpleasantly surprised when Ben (Eric Scott) comes home at the ungodly hour of 3 a.m. in the company of his girlfriend Cindy (Leslie Winston, in her first series appearance). No sooner has the family adjusted to this development than Ben drops the big bombshell: he and Cindy have just gotten married! In the days that follow, the suspicions of the younger Walton kids are aroused concerning the reason that Ben made so sudden a decision, while the fiercely independent Cindy balks at being ordered about by her new husband. Elsewhere, Corabeth Godsey (Ronnie Claire Edwards) is in for a bit of a letdown when she purchases a fountain that she had loved as a youth. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Torch
John (Ralph Waite) discovers that the new owner of the Dew Drop Inn is his former sweetheart Callie May Jordan (Dorothy Tristan). Once everyone else finds this out, they begin to worry that John might "forget himself" with Callie May in the absence of his wife Olivia -- which, as it turns out, is just what Callie May is hoping for. Despite his preoccupation with converting his pool emporium into a canteen for soldiers, Ike Godsey (Joe Conley) takes it upon himself to explain the facts of life (so to speak) to the amorous Callie May. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: The Tailspin
Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) is having more trouble than usual with his schoolwork, and his driving has gotten progressively worse. But he isn't worried about such mundane matters, not when he is on the verge of enlisting in the Army Air Corps. Alas, it turns out that the source of Jim-Bob's problems is poor eyesight -- and of course, this means that becoming a military pilot is out of the question. Meanwhile, Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) continues to adjust to widowhood, even as one of her late husband's best friends, Chuck Turner (Kevin Geer), decides to start courting her...with unexpected results. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Waltons: Founders' Day
Walton's Mountain may be in for a name change when both the Baldwins and the Godseys come across evidence that their families, and not the Waltons, were the first to settle on the mountain. The Baldwin sisters are so certain that they will be able to prove their "ownership" that they begin formulating plans for a gala Founder's Day celebration -- only to have their bubble burst by dear old Grandma Walton (Ellen Corby). Elsewhere, Jason (Jon Walmsley) is under great pressure to compose a classically-based piece for his final examination at Klineberg Conservatory. This final episode of The Waltons' seventh season is capped by the touching "closure" narration of the adult John-Boy Walton, which was written by series creator Earl Hamner under the assumption that the series had been cancelled by CBS (It wasn't). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
