The Way I See It A Look Back at My Life on Little House

by Anderson, Melissa

• ISBN13: 9780762759705
• ISBN10: 0762759704
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-05-04
• Publisher: Globe Pequot

Summary

When other girls her age were experiencing their first crushes, Melissa Sue Anderson was receiving handwritten marriage proposals from fans as young, and younger, than she was. When other girls were dreaming of their first kiss, Melissa was struggling through hers in front of a camera. From age eleven in 1974 until she left the show in 1981, Melissa Anderson literally grew up before the viewers ofLittle House on the Prairie. Melissa, as Mary, is remembered by many as "the blind sister"and she was the only actor in the series to be nominated for an Emmy. InThe Way I See It, she takes readers onto the set and inside the world of the iconic series created by Michael Landon, who, Melissa discovered, was not perfect, as much as he tried to be. In this memoir she also shares her memories of working with guest stars like Todd Bridges, Mariette Hartley, Sean Penn, Patricia Neal, and Johnny Cash. In addition to stories of life on the set, Melissa offers revealing looks at her relationships off-set with her costars, including the other Melissa (Melissa Gilbert) and Alison Arngrim, who portrayed Nellie Oleson on the show. And she relates stories of her guest appearances on iconic programs such asThe Love BoatandThe Brady Bunch. Filled with personal, revealing anecdotes and memorabilia from theLittle Houseyears, this book is also a portrait of a child star who became a successful adult actress and a successful adult. These are stories from "the other Ingalls sister" that have never been told.

Author Biography

Melissa Sue Anderson is an Emmy–Award winning actress known to millions for playing Mary Ingalls on the NBC television series Little House on the Prairie, which aired from 1974 to 1983. She played First Lady Megan Hollister in the 2006 miniseries 10.5: Apocalypse. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Born and raised in California, she lives in Montreal, Canada, with her husband, television producer and screenwriter Michael Sloan, and their two children.

Table of Contents

Contents Preface: “I think it’s a … Western.” Chapter 1: TOO WELL-FED AND A SEVEN YEAR CONTRACT Chapter 2: THE PILOT, COOGAN’S LAW, HIVES AND WHIPLASH SEASON ONE JUNE, 1974-FEBRUARY, 1975 Chapter 3: “COUNTRY GIRLS” / ”A HARVEST OF FRIENDS” Chapter 4: “TOWN PARTY, COUNTRY PARTY” / ”THE LOVE OF JOHNNY JOHNSON” AND EATING FOR THE CAMERA 101 Chapter 5: “THE RACCOON” / ”THE VOICE OF TINKER JONES” Chapter 6: “THE AWARD” Chapter 7: MAGIC MOUNTAIN IN DISGUISE SEASON TWO MAY, 1975-JANUARY, 1976 Chapter 8: “FOUR EYES” Chapter 9: “THE CAMP OUT” / ”THE GIFT” AND “THE LONLIEST RUNNER” Chapter 10: “REMEMBER ME, PARTS I & II” / “SOLDIER’S RETURN” SEASON THREE MAY, 1976-FEBRUARY 1977 Chapter 11: “THE COLLECTION” / “I’LL RIDE THE WIND” Chapter 12: “THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON” SEASON FOUR MAY, 1977-January, 1978 Chapter 13: TIMES OF CHANGE” / ”THE HANDYMAN” AND “THE CREEPER OF WALNUT GROVE” / “THE AFTERMATH” Chapter 14: I’LL BE WAVING AS YOU DRIVE AWAY” PARTS I & II SEASON FIVE MAY, 1978-JANUARY, 1979 Chapter 15: “THE WEDDING”, THE EMMY’S AND COOKING? WITH STEVEN SPEILBERG SEASON SIX MAY, 1979-JANUARY, 1980 Chapter 16: I WAS A BLIND PIONEER AND YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD PROBLEMS SEASON SEVEN MAY, 1980-JANUARY, 1981 Chapter 17: “BLIND JUSTICE” AND “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME” SEASON EIGHT MAY, 1981-JANUARY, 1982 Chapter 18: “A CHRISTMAS THEY NEVER FORGOT” AND “WHERE PIGEONS GO TO DIE” Chapter 19: REFLECTIONS Epilogue

Excerpts

AN EXCERPT
I spotted Mike across the stage and headed in his direction. My heart was racing, and my stomach was tied up in a huge knot.
“Um . . . Uh . . . Hey, Mike?”
He turned, saw me, and smiled. “Hey, darlin’, how ya doing?”
“Uh, well, good . . . I guess.” I was now having trouble looking him in the eye.
“Something on your mind, Missy?”
And then, out it came. “Is it true? Are you really going to make me go blind next season?” I waited for what seemed forever for my answer.
“Yes, Missy, you will be going blind next season.”
My heart sank. I felt sick. The tears sprung up and out before I even had time to digest this news. I couldn’t hold them back. I madly tried to think of something, anything else, so I would stop crying and not humiliate myself any further.
Just about the time I almost really lost it, Mike said, “Don’t worry, Missy. It’s going to be great. You’ll see.” He gave me a big hug.
“R-r-really?” I sobbed. “You’re not going to write me out?”
“Of course not,” he said. . . .“You have a great future ahead.”
I knew he wasn’t just saying it to make me feel better; he wasn’t that kind of guy. He went on to explain what would happen to Mary, and the show, and how he knew this would be a great opportunity for me. I trusted Mike and chose to accept the wonderful feeling of relief that had come over me.