Little House on the Prairie: Not So Picture-Perfect
If you think Little House on the Prairie was flawless, think again! This beloved classic, famous for its charm, wholesome stories, and adventure, came with its fair share of slip-ups. Despite its polished look, plenty of bloopers slipped past the editors.
I still find myself glued to reruns, just like my parents were years ago. In an instant, the show whisks us to the late 19th century, introducing us to the resilient Ingalls family. Watching now, its messages still shine — respect others, embrace honesty, and treasure family and friends. But if you have a sharp eye, you’ll spot a treasure trove of blunders sure to make you chuckle.
Laura’s Never-Ending Pregnancy
Laura announces her pregnancy late in season seven, surrounded by blooming flowers. Yet, by the next summer, she’s still expecting! Fans couldn’t help but wonder — just how long does a prairie pregnancy last? It felt like the writers lost track, a clear case of sloppy story management.
Nellie Oleson’s Secret Wig
We all remember Nellie Oleson, the show’s ultimate troublemaker, brilliantly played by Alison Arngrim. Interestingly, Nellie’s role on the show was much bigger than in the original books. Viewers loved to hate her — especially when she teamed up with her scheming mother, Harriet.
Nellie’s iconic blonde curls didn’t come easy. Alison’s hair was painstakingly styled using an old-fashioned curling iron heated in an oven — a painful, slow process. The solution? A wig, held in place with a large metal comb and dozens of metal hairpins.
The Colonel Sanders Cameo
One of the funniest bloopers? Colonel Sanders himself appears in a season eight episode, “Wave of the Future.” In the story, Nellie’s restaurant becomes a franchise. But as things spiral, she joins Charles and Nels to open a rival eatery.
Then comes the kicker — Colonel Sanders shows up offering Harriet a deal for her own chicken franchise. The problem? Sanders wasn’t born until 1890, and KFC didn’t appear until 1952! The show’s 1870s setting makes this a hilarious time-travel blooper. Rumor has it, though, that anytime fried chicken appeared on set, it really came from KFC — maybe the Colonel’s cameo wasn’t so far-fetched after all!
Where Are the Coats?
In “Bless All the Dear Children,” Laura’s baby gets kidnapped around Christmas in Minneapolis. But everyone’s walking around coatless — despite Minnesota’s famously freezing winters. This likely happened because the show was filmed in sunny Tucson, Arizona, during the summer.
Fashion Fails
In some episodes, you can spot Caroline’s bra — a major anachronism since bras weren’t invented until 1912! Several women also sport 1970s-style perms and curls, far from 1880s fashion.
Even the men seem out of place. Most appear clean-shaven, though in reality, adult men of the era wore full beards. Charles Ingalls himself famously had one! Clearly, the show’s grooming didn’t match the rugged times.
A Dummy on the Train
In the season five episode “The Odyssey,” an intense moment unfolds when someone tries to throw Albert off a moving train. Laura saves the day by shoving the villain off. But sharp-eyed viewers can spot a dummy awkwardly tossed into the grass, while a stuntman rolls dramatically nearby — a hilarious contrast!
Melissa Sue Anderson: Cold and Aloof?
Melissa Sue Anderson, who played Mary, won fans’ hearts. Yet, her co-stars struggled to connect with her. Melissa Gilbert and Alison Arngrim both shared in their autobiographies that Anderson — known as “Missy” — often seemed cold and distant. Rumors suggest her overprotective mother played a role in her keeping to herself.
Best Friends Off-Screen
On-screen, Nellie and Laura were fierce rivals. Off-screen? Alison Arngrim and Melissa Gilbert were best friends! When the cameras stopped, they were like sisters — enjoying sleepovers and pranking castmates. Who would have guessed that such a fun friendship blossomed behind the scenes?
Heartbreak in “My Ellen”
One of the show’s most emotional episodes, “My Ellen,” follows the tragic drowning of Ellen Taylor. Laura and Mary go skinny-dipping with Ellen, but when some boys pass by, the girls hide underwater. Sadly, Ellen becomes trapped and drowns.
At Ellen’s funeral, her grief-stricken mother blames Laura, delivering the gut-wrenching line, “YOU did this!” Strangely, none of the adults — not even Reverend Alden or Doc Baker — step in to comfort Laura. Instead, they leave her to suffer alone, a puzzling choice in the storytelling.
Michael Landon’s Frog Pranks
Pranks were a big part of the set’s culture. Michael Landon, ever the jokester, led many of them. Rachel Greenbush, who played Carrie, recalled how she and Melissa Gilbert would catch frogs during breaks. Landon would pop the frogs into his mouth and surprise castmates by letting them hop out — sending everyone into fits of laughter!
Melissa Gilbert’s Rift with Michael Landon
Though the cast shared strong bonds, things weren’t always smooth. Melissa Gilbert’s relationship with Landon hit a rough patch when she discovered his affair with Cindy Clerico, a much-younger makeup artist.
Gilbert had admired Landon as a father figure. Learning about the affair devastated her and the rest of the cast. Melissa Sue Anderson later reflected, “He really let me down.”
The Traveling Quilt
Sharp-eyed fans noticed the family quilt mysteriously appearing in different locations — on the Olsens’ bed, Charles and Caroline’s bed, and even others’. This double wedding ring quilt seemed to travel all over the set, a fun prop reuse.
Similarly, the Ingalls kids’ school route kept changing. Sometimes they crossed the bridge and passed the sawmill; other times, they appeared behind it. Continuity clearly wasn’t always top priority!
