By Del Duduit
Please don’t judge me when I tell you that I cannot recall ever watching a single episode of Little House on the Prairie.
I didn’t watch much television growing up because I was the youngest of four boys and was either watching or playing sports or defending myself from my older brothers.
The premise of the popular show is wonderful and wholesome, but I just never sat down to watch it.
My wife never missed it growing up and knew the cast members by heart.
Today, our daughter-in-law and five-year-old granddaughter own the entire series on DVD, which they have thoroughly enjoyed watching.
A few months ago, I was invited to participate in this past weekend’s Roy Rogers Festival in Portsmouth, Ohio. When I found out that Alison Arngrim would be featured at the event, I thought I better do some research to find out more about her.
She played the “lovable” character, Nellie Oleson, on the hit show from 1974 to 1981. She was the prissy, spoiled brat on the hit show, and the daughter of Nels and Harriet, the wealthy general store owners who often butted heads on how to raise their children. Nellie usually got whatever she wanted from her mother, and she and her brother, Willie, made a lot of enemies.
Forty years later, people still think she’s a brat.
She told Angie and me on Saturday that when her fiancé called his parents to tell them he was going to marry the woman who played Nellie Oleson, the phone went silent. When her future father-in-law finally spoke, he asked his son with caution if she was anything like Nellie.
“I’ve had things thrown at me in parades and have been told I was the meanest person ever,” she said. “Since I’ve been 11 years old, I’ve been cussed out and told off for being Nellie.”
Today, Alison is a stand-up comedian and a riot to talk with.
She didn’t run from the stereotype of the character that made her famous but has actually embraced it, although she describes how many child stars want to distance themselves from roles that made them household names.
Melissa Gilbert, who was cast in the starring role as Laura Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie, has played many other characters in her career. “But what does everyone say when they meet her?” Alison asked. “They say, ‘How’s Half Pint?’” (Note: This was the nickname bestowed upon her by her television father, Charles Ingalls, played by Michael Landon.)
Characters and reputations stick with people.
Instead, Alison has found success poking fun at Nellie.
“Do you have any idea what I’ve had to put up with all my life? Do you?” she says loudly during her routine with a cynical grin and laugh. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to be Nellie Oleson?”
Then she starts to rant on stage about being typecast and about all the terrible things people say to her.
People fell out of their chairs laughing and I knew I stumbled onto something.
Alison Arngrim
Alison does this comedy in such a way that it leaves her audiences in stitches.
“People fell out of their chairs laughing, and I knew I stumbled onto something,” she added.
Alison did not run from her past, but accepted it.
You might be in a similar circumstance and are remembered for an act you “performed” years ago.
How do you come to terms with something that might have made you look bad? Running away from it might appear to be the easiest way out, but it’s seldom the answer.
You may have been mean and cruel like Nellie, but you can change and become a new character.
You can’t escape things you have done in the past, but you can admit and own up to them and learn lessons from your actions.
The great thing about Alison is that she accepts the character that made her a household name and has found a way to make people smile through her comedy.
Although Nellie was not who you want your child to be, Alison has come up with a way to capitalize on the opportunity to make others laugh.
And that’s important today.
I enjoyed my conversation with her and can say for a fact that she was a delight and nothing like the character she is known for portraying.
There is a distinct difference in real life and make-believe television, although some people obviously can’t tell them apart.
But you can forget about the past mistakes of your real life and let God put you into a new role as the star of the show.
Christ can make anyone lovable.
I’ve made some poor decisions before, but fortunately, my blunders didn’t play out on a family television show in front of millions of viewers. But they happened.
Follow me on Twitter here.
Did I run? No. But I learned.
Your past mistakes don’t prevent you from having a promising future. You can overcome them, but the Lord must be the director and producer of your next starring role in life.
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
(Isaiah 43: 18 KJV)
The audition is easy. Just ask Him for the part, and you’ve got the job.
And ACTION!
Be sure to join me live on #PJNET every Tuesday at http://PatriotJournalist.com/?meta=2
Del Duduit is an award-winning writer and author who lives in Lucasville, Ohio with his wife, Angie. They attend Rubyville Community Church. Follow his blog at delduduit.com/blog and his Twitter @delduduit. He is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency.
His latest book, Dugout Devotions: Inspirational Hits from MLB’s Best – may be purchased from New Hope Publishers here, or on Amazon here.
MY NEW CHAPTER 