{"id":8381,"date":"2026-07-10T10:58:20","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T10:58:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/little-house-on-the-prairie-returns-a-look-back-at-all-the-scandals\/"},"modified":"2026-07-10T10:58:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T10:58:20","slug":"little-house-on-the-prairie-returns-a-look-back-at-all-the-scandals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/little-house-on-the-prairie-returns-a-look-back-at-all-the-scandals\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Little House on the Prairie\u2019 returns \u2013 a look back at all the scandals"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/wp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F3%2F2026%2F07%2Fprairie-30.jpg?quality%3D90%26strip%3Dall\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Not so wholesome.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLittle House on the Prairie\u201d is back with a new Netflix show, now streaming. The original \u201970s series had the ultimate family-friendly image \u2014 but behind the scenes, the cast of the classic show was embroiled in several scandals.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Based on the popular <a data-aps-asc-tag=\"pagesix-20\" data-aps-asin=\"0064400409\" data-wrapped-template=\"https:\/\/r.pagesixlink.com?btn_ref=org-282f0dd399864b44&amp;btn_url\" href=\"https:\/\/r.pagesixlink.com?btn_ref=org-282f0dd399864b44&amp;btn_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FLittle-House-Volumes-Set%2Fdp%2F0064400409%3Ftag%3Dpagesix-20%26asc_refurl%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fpagesix.com%2F2026%2F07%2F10%2Fentertainment%2Flittle-house-on-the-prairie-returns-a-look-back-at-all-the-scandals%2F%26asc_source%3Dweb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-nyp-affiliate=\"true\">book series<\/a> by Laura Ingalls Wilder (published in the 1930s), the original TV show was a classic of the era, airing on NBC from 1974 to 1983 (and also inspired several TV movies).\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Melissa Gilbert (pictured in \u201cLittle House on the Prairie\u201d) starred in the original show, which had a wholesome image.  <span class=\"credit\">NBCUniversal via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Michael Landon and Karen Grassle (pictured) starred in the original show, and were part of the not-so-wholesome behind-the-scenes scandals. <span class=\"credit\">NBCUniversal via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Set in the 1800s, the story followed the pioneer Ingalls family living their rural frontier life in Walnut Grove, Minnesota.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It starred Michael Landon as Charles \u201cPa\u201d Ingalls, Karen Grassle as Caroline \u201cMa\u201d Ingalls, <a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2025\/01\/25\/celebrity-news\/little-house-on-the-prairie-star-melissa-gilbert-left-la-because-it-wasnt-a-safe-place-for-her-to-age\/\">Melissa Gilbert <\/a>as Laura Ingalls, Melissa Sue Anderson as Laura\u2019s sister, Mary, and twins Lindsay and Sydney Greenbush as the third child, Carrie. Shannen Doherty was also in Season 9.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In honor of the new show, here\u2019s a look back at the scandals from the original.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Landon (pictured in \u201cLittle House on the Prairie\u201d) played a wholesome \u201cPa\u201d onscreen and told dirty jokes offscreen.  <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cIn the public eye, he had this squeaky clean image. But he told some of the dirtiest jokes I\u2019ve ever heard,\u201d former cast member Rademes Perna <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/entertainment\/kung-fu-star-radames-pera-little-house-on-the-prairie\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">told Fox News i<\/a>n a June 2020 interview.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Landon, who also directed and produced the show, <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/06\/10\/entertainment\/little-house-star-michael-landon-didnt-monitor-health-before-fatal-cancer-battle-i-blew-it\/\">died at 54 of pancreatic cancer <\/a>in 1991. The real-life father of nine was notorious for his behind-the-scenes behavior that clashed with his onscreen image.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>His onscreen wife, Karen Grassle, now 84, told Good Day New York in a 2021 interview that Landon would tell filthy jokes about the female anatomy when they were shooting scenes in bed together.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Landon (pictured with Gilbert,  Grassle, Anderson, and Lindsay Greenbush) talked about his \u201clibido\u201d on set.  <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Landon (pictured in \u201cLittle House on the Prairie\u201d) had a \u201csqueaky clean image\u201d that didn\u2019t match his behavior offscreen.  <span class=\"credit\">NBCUniversal via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In December, she<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/01\/02\/entertainment\/little-house-on-the-prairie-star-reveals-resentment-and-anger-towards-costar-michael-landon\/\"> told People<\/a> that she held \u201cresentment\u201d and \u201canger\u201d at her onscreen husband for his antics.<\/p>\n<p>In her 2021 book, \u201cBright Lights, Prairie Dust: Reflections on Life, Loss, and Love from Little House\u2019s Ma\u201d she wrote that he would openly talk about his \u201clibido.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t want to think about his penis,\u201d Grassle wrote, adding that he would be \u201cjubilant at the makeup table,\u201d boasting about \u201cthe benefits of bee pollen for the aging male.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Landon (pictured with his third wife, Cindy, and his kids Jennifer and Sean, in 1988) had an affair with Cindy when he was 43 and she was 18.  <span class=\"credit\">Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Landon (pictured in 1986) had three wives and nine children before he died of cancer at 54 in 1991.  <span class=\"credit\">Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Landon was still married to his second wife, Marjorie Lynn Noe, <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/11\/09\/michael-landon-bragged-about-sex-life-on-little-house-set\/\">when he had an affair with Cindy Clerico<\/a>. At the time, Clerico was 18 and Landon was 43. She went on to be his third wife, from 1983 until his death.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Clerico worked on the show \u2014 first as a stand-in for actress Melissa Francis, then as a makeup artist.<\/p>\n<p>Gilbert had looked up to her onscreen dad as a real father figure, and used to vacation with Landon and his second wife. She refused to attend his nuptials with Clerico.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Landon and his third wife, Cindy (pictured together in 1990) had an age gap of over 20 years and caused a scandal.  <span class=\"credit\">Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Landon (pictured in 1990) put Gilbert in a \u201chorribly uncomfortable position\u201d with his affair, Gilbert said.  <span class=\"credit\">Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>She wrote in her own 2009 memoir, <a data-aps-asc-tag=\"pagesix-20\" data-aps-asin=\"\" data-wrapped-template=\"https:\/\/r.nypostlink.com\/?btn_ref=org-19984c113c692001&amp;btn_url\" href=\"https:\/\/r.nypostlink.com\/?btn_ref=org-19984c113c692001&amp;btn_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FPrairie-Tale-Memoir-Melissa-Gilbert%2Fdp%2F1416599177%2Fref%3Dasc_df_1416599177%2F%3Ftag%3Dnypost-20%26linkCode%3Ddf0%26hvadid%3D343220104936%26hvpos%26hvnetw%3Dg%26hvrand%3D597440425986006064%26hvpone%26hvptwo%26hvqmt%26hvdev%3Dc%26hvdvcmdl%26hvlocint%26hvlocphy%3D9004207%26hvtargid%3Dpla-455168196183%26psc%3D1%26ref%26adgrpid%3D71765243751%26asc_refurl%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2021%2F11%2F09%2Fmichael-landon-bragged-about-sex-life-on-little-house-set%2F%26asc_source%3Dweb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-nyp-affiliate=\"true\">\u201cPrairie Tale\u201d<\/a>: \u201cI can\u2019t take sides [in his divorce], yet he\u2019s done something that\u2019s turned my world into angry, opposing sides\u2026 I was put in a horribly uncomfortable position.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Doherty defended Landon on a 2024 episode of her podcast, \u201cLet\u2019s Be Clear with Shannen Doherty.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Shortly before her death at 53 from cancer, the actress said, \u201cI don\u2019t care what anybody else\u2019s experience was like. I know the truth about that man, and he was just unbelievable.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Anderson and Gilbert (pictured in \u201cLittle House on the Prairie\u201d) had a cold relationship.  <span class=\"credit\">NBCUniversal via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Anderson (pictured in \u201cLittle House on the Prairie\u201d) reportedly didn\u2019t get along with several co-stars. <span class=\"credit\">NBCUniversal via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Perna, now 65,\u00a0played John, who was Mary\u2019s love interest in Seasons 2 and 3. Behind the scenes, however, their relationship wasn\u2019t so friendly.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Perna told Fox News in 2020 that some of the cast members \u201cwarmed up to me right away, and others did not.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>He cited Anderson, 63, as part of the latter group.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Radames Pera and Anderson (pictured in \u201cLittle House on the Prairie\u201d) didn\u2019t get along, he said. <span class=\"credit\">NBCUniversal via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Perna (pictured at the Actors Fund Looking Ahead Awards in 2016) said it was \u201cfrustrating.\u201d  <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cMelissa Sue, who I was supposed to have the most interaction with, was a couple of years younger than me. She was probably 13 and I was 15,\u201d he noted.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>When their characters\u2019 relationship turned romantic, \u201cI think that she just wasn\u2019t ready for that type of acting yet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cKung Fu\u201d actor added that despite his \u201cbest efforts to be professional with her\u201d and work on developing \u201cthe on-screen chemistry between our characters,\u201d she refused to \u201chave any part of that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>He called it \u201cvery frustrating\u201d as a \u201cprofessional actor\u201d to be met with \u201cthat kind of, what really amounts to basically unprofessional resistance.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Anderson and Gilbert (pictured in \u201cLittle House on the Prairie\u201d) weren\u2019t close behind the scenes.  <span class=\"credit\">NBCUniversal via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Gilbert (pictured in \u201cLittle House on the Prairie\u201d) said Anderson was \u201ctough on me.\u201d  <span class=\"credit\">NBCUniversal via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The onscreen sisters reportedly had a cold relationship behind the scenes. In her memoir, Gilbert said she never found a \u201csisterly kinship\u201d with Anderson because she \u201cwasn\u2019t easy to get along with.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/watch\/?v=1574426849857236\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a resurfaced video interview<\/a>, Gilbert said, \u201cShe was tough on me both off and on camera, but on camera especially.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Speaking on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=HRnjM_fUZlM&amp;\">Harvey Brownstone Interviews<\/a> in 2024, Anderson attributed her behavior to being \u201ca very shy child.\u201d\u00a0She added, \u201cI wish I had been\u2026more easygoing about everything.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Gilbert and Anderson (seen here with Veanne Cox and Betty Buckley) reunited in Dec. 2025 and said they had \u201chealing talks.\u201d <span class=\"credit\">melissagilbert\/Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Anderson (pictured in 2022) and Gilbert said they can \u201cmove forward.\u201d  <span class=\"credit\">WireImage<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In December 2025, Anderon and Gilbert <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/12\/28\/entertainment\/little-house-on-the-prairie-stars-melissa-gilbert-melissa-sue-anderson-reunite\/\">reunited, took a photo together,<\/a> and said that they put their decades-long feud behind them.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>At the time, Gilbert wrote on Instagram that the former onscreen sisters had a series of \u201clong, healing talks.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>She added, \u201cThe past is now just that and we can move forward as the sisters\/friends we always wanted to be.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Gilbert (pictured at husband Timothy Busfield\u2019s trial on Jan. 20, 2026 in Albuquerque, New Mexico) supported her husband through child sex abuse charges.  <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Gilbert (pictured at a hearing on Jan. 20, 2026) defended her husband and stood by him, amid child sex abuse charges.  <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In January, Gilbert\u2019s husband, Timothy Busfield, was slapped with <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/01\/21\/us-news\/actor-timothy-busfield-spotted-for-first-time-since-jail-release-as-he-faces-child-sex-abuse-charges\/\">child sex abuse charges<\/a>, on allegations that he inappropriately touched 7-year-old twin boys while working on Fox\u2019s \u201cThe Cleaning Lady\u201d in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>That same month, Gilbert <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/01\/26\/entertainment\/melissa-gilbert-breaks-silence-on-husband-timothy-busfields-child-sex-abuse-charges-after-his-release\/\">publicly spoke out to support him, <\/a>posting on Instagram,\u00a0\u201cThe reality is that Tim Busfield is my love, my rock, my partner in business and life. He is my comfort and my council.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She also said that her husband has \u201cthe strongest moral compass of any human I have ever known.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Gilbert (pictured with husband Timothy Busfield in 2022) called him \u201cmy comfort\u201d and asked the judge to keep him \u201csafe\u201d after he was charged with child sex abuse.  <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Busfield (pictured in court) has appeared in court on child sex abuse charges.  <span class=\"credit\">Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Busfield, who <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/01\/13\/us-news\/timothy-busfield-surrenders-to-cops-denies-child-sex-abuse-allegations-all-lies\/\">denied the allegations<\/a>, was formally charged Feb. 6 with four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child under 13.<\/p>\n<p>On Feb. 21, \u201cThe West Wing\u201d actor pleaded not guilty after waiving his arraignment and appearances at pretrial proceedings. His trial is scheduled to start in May 2027.<\/p>\n<p>Gilbert supported her husband at court hearings and <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/01\/18\/entertainment\/timothy-busfields-wife-melissa-gilbert-pens-letter-asking-judge-to-protect-husband-in-jail-after-child-sex-abuse-arrest\/\">wrote a letter to the judge<\/a>, calling him \u201cmy sweet husband\u201d and imploring the judge to keep him \u201csafe.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>During a \u201cGood Morning America\u201d interview in June, she revealed that <a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2026\/04\/06\/celebrity-news\/melissa-gilbert-knew-about-timothy-busfields-past-sexual-assault-allegations-pre-marriage\/\">she was aware of previous sexual assault allegations against Busfield<\/a> before they married in 2013.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m neither naive nor am I complicit,\u201d Gilbert said. \u201cI talked to him about it. I asked him questions about it. I heard his side of the story \u2014 which nobody has ever heard \u2014 which is the truth,\u201d she claimed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2026\/07\/10\/entertainment\/little-house-on-the-prairie-returns-a-look-back-at-all-the-scandals\/\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Not so wholesome.\u00a0 \u201cLittle House on the Prairie\u201d is back with a new Netflix show,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8382,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/prairie-30.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8381"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8381\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}