Michael Landon Jr.’s Heartfelt Quest to Revive TV’s ‘Family Experience’

At its height, Hollywood perfected the art of storytelling for television and the world was better for it.  Writers spent years honing their craft to help produce programs and entertainment that would stand the test of time.

These writers wove together stories, characters, and dialogue that reflected our own experiences and at the same time made us think a little deeper or aim a little higher. 

One man who knows more than most about this art form, and the loss of it, is Michael Landon Jr.   

“It used to be that during the evening hours, the whole family would gather to watch a story that would affect them in some way,” Landon says.  “It was a family experience. Today it’s all fractured.” 

As the son of one of America’s favorite dads on screen, he watched Michael Landon write, produce, direct, and star in hundreds of TV episodes. 

The late Michael Landon, of course, was beloved as Little Joe on the hit series “Bonanza,” a show that blended Western adventure, traditional American values, basic moral lessons, and great nuggets of wisdom.  His next wildly successful series, “Little House on the Prairie,” is an American classic that also lives on in reruns. And finally, his heartwarming “Highway to Heaven” series helped us see a purpose beyond ourselves and encouraged us to never lose faith.  

Michael Landon Jr. has his own long list of accomplishments in the industry. He has done everything from working the cameras on major movie sets to writing, directing and producing his own feature films. His successful 2003 film “Love Comes Softly” was a huge challenge to produce.

“It took 10 years to make that film,” Landon recalls in an interview for The Daily Signal.  “It wasn’t easy. We started with one company and went to several others before it was finally approved for full production by Hallmark.” 

Inspired by the books by Christian author Janette Oke, “Love Comes Softly” became by far the highest rated movie in the history of the Hallmark Channel. No wonder it spawned seven sequels and two prequels.

In 1991, Michael Landon died of pancreatic cancer at age 54. Michael Landon Jr., now 51, continues to carry on his father’s legacy in a variety of ways. The challenges he faces, however, are a bit different than those his father encountered 30 years ago.  Why? 

“Hollywood used to be a ‘place,’ but today it really doesn’t exist,” Landon says. “There are so many kinds of independent companies outside of Hollywood now.  That change has made the process much more competitive and expensive.  Everyone is trying to offer something unique and garner the most attention.”

Landon adds:

Because of this change, parents today are up against multiple challenges.  They’re not just monitoring what their kids watch on four to five main network channels and in movie theaters. They’re trying to monitor 189 channels at home, commercial content, movies, and 24/7 access to online entertainment on mobile devices as well.

Landon must have watched a few episodes of this mom’s life.  Monitoring is definitely a major challenge.  Even the commercials today are inappropriate and disgusting.

Try watching a Major League Baseball game as a family.  As soon as an inning is over, you’re diving for the remote to mute the girl in the football jersey talking about erectile dysfunction.

I’m the mother of a 9-year-old and a 14-year-old.  Honestly, I’ve tried to enjoy those laugh-track, quick-line, slapstick, inch-deep shows on Disney or Nickelodeon, and it’s just not possible.  The scripts are simplistic and geared specifically to the targeted age group.

Think about it.  When was the last time you sat down with your whole family and watched a scripted TV show that everyone of each age group actually enjoyed? 

We’re not talking some sing-off contest or reality show.  We’re talking a well-written, thought-provoking, high quality show with an intriguing story line, believable characters, adventure, suspense, humor, subplots, and meaningful dialogue among well-developed characters. 

Landon says he sees the benefits of the expansion of content and diversity in entertainment choices. But he also sees some danger. 

“The downside is that we’ve lost that television family hour completely, and we’ve lost the art of a scripted show for the whole family,” Landon says, adding:

It’s niche viewing with TVs and other devices everywhere in the house.  It doesn’t encourage group viewing, but instead makes it easier for everyone to be separate, viewing their own content choices in their own spaces.  As a result, the family genre has been completely neglected by TV channels, writers, and producers for more than 20 years.

What about all of the companies that are beginning to have greater influence on the industry?  I’m specifically interested in his thoughts on the new companies producing Christian movies, which are getting huge audiences in movie theaters nationwide.  

“I think those movie companies that are specifically targeting the Christian viewers with faith-based movies are doing a great job,” Landon says.  “They’ve found an audience that had been ignored, that would attend their movies in order to receive a message. They’ve been very successful with their model.  What’s interesting though, is that the viewing habits of Christian vs. non-Christian Americans are very similar.” 

Thank you to those who sent b-day wishes yesterday! And Happy Father's Day to all – miss and love you so much, Dad!

— Michael Landon Jr. (@MLandonjr) June 21, 2015

I ask whether consumers who have walked away from television because of the lack of wholesome content could do something to make a difference in encouraging a return to quality, scripted programs for the whole family.

“Yes. The market is always driven by the consumer,” he says. “At some point, the consumer needs to decide if they’re willing to change their viewing habits. That will be the challenge.”

Landon adds:

Studios and networks have what I call gatekeepers.  Those are the folks who decide, ‘OK, we’re going to make this feature film or that sitcom.’  Another problem is funding.  When someone tries to enter into the family- friendly genre like Paxnet or Up, they are usually underfunded.  It would be nice if that genre was better funded and the only way to do that is with higher viewing numbers.  Ultimately, if a show is not watched by enough people, it gets canceled.

So, what can the average American mom do to encourage more quality family programming?  I like Landon’s answer:

It takes a success in order to make more success, so do everything you can to make sure quality shows are a success. Search for quality shows and get behind them.  Spread the word to friends to program their DVRs or watch episodes live as much as possible.  If there’s a [TV] network that you go to, it helps to write them or message them and tell them why you like a program. Figure out who the gatekeepers are at the networks and write them too.

Landon says that writing to sponsors of a show you like, thanking them for sponsoring it, is effective as well.  “A united effort could make enough of a noise to make a difference,” he says.

Most recently, Landon produced and directed the first season of Hallmark Channel’s “When Calls the Heart,” a series based on Janette Oke’s books on the Canadian West. The TV show is a big success.

The fan base has done exactly what Landon prescribes as necessary to encourage shows to continue production. Avid fans of “When Calls the Heart” call themselves “Hearties.” They organized and wrote to Hallmark executives, show sponsors, actors, and producers to lobby for more seasons.  It worked. 

“It took eight years of a long, difficult ordeal to get ‘When Calls the Heart’ produced,” Landon says. “We proved that there was an audience out there that had been underserved for too long.  The viewers jumped on it immediately and the show is now shooting its third season.”

Landon’s latest project is a Christmas movie, “Heaven Sent,” and he is in the process of finalizing distribution. This beautiful film proves once again Landon’s commitment to excellent storytelling. 

It’s great to know the Landon legacy is in good hands. We’re all better for it.