Summary: A light-hearted look behind the scenes at how one of Bonanza’s most cherished episodes just might have come to be.
Rated K, WC 1200
Studio Executives Series:
The Real History of “The Crucible”
Little Joe Cartwright’s Very, Very, Very Bad Day
The Roberts Dilemma
A Ponderosa Christmas . . . Or Maybe Not
Men of the Ponderosa: A Valentine’s Day Treat
On the Other Hand
Fake History
A Sharp Idea
Negotiating Clingers, Going Natural, and the Big-Ticket Item
The Real History of “The Crucible”
Studio Executive #1: . . . So, here’s what I’m thinking. Little Joe gets captured by a madman in the desert, and the guy tortures him. Big-time family reunion at the end. Whaddya think?
Studio Executive #2: Didn’t we just do that?
Studio Executive #1: Who cares? There’s, like, a million women who want to see Little Joe suffer. It’s weird, but it’s ratings.
Studio Executive #3: Stan’s right, though. Seems like every time we turn around, Little Joe’s suffering again. Landon’s got real bruises, you know. Every time he has to take his shirt off, we go into overtime covering them up. The makeup girls are complaining.
SE #2: (into the phone) Hey, Stella, send the makeup girls something nice. Flowers or tires or something. . . . None of your business why. Just do it! (hangs up) So, are we all set then? I’ll get somebody to write the thing over the weekend.
SE #3: Hey, here’s a thought. What if we had somebody else suffer instead?
SE #1: Like who? Hop Sing? (all laugh) Okay, I’ll see you all on Monday.
(Monday morning)
SE #2: What the hell is this? Did anybody read this piece of garbage?
SE #1: What’s wrong with it?
SE #2: What’s wrong with it? Are you kidding me? Little Joe is going to sit around for half an hour of this show, taking crap from the loony guy just because the guy’s playing on his honor and saying, “You claim you can’t be driven to kill”? Who’s gonna buy that?
SE #3: Stan’s right. Little Joe’s gonna take one look at this wacko and off him in self-defense, and we’re gonna have 37 minutes of airtime to fill.
SE #1: But it’s pretty good writing.
SE #2: Who cares? I’m gonna get a call from Landon’s agent any minute. I can just feel it.
SE #3: What does Landon have to complain about? He’s getting a big dramatic reunion with Pa at the end. Remember how well that went over in that episode about the white horse—what was it, “The Birthday Present” or something like that?
SE #1: I think it was “The Gift.”
SE #3: Who cares? His fan mail was up for weeks after that.
SE #2: I know, I know, but I’m telling you, this script just doesn’t work.
SE #1: Well, my wife’s brother wrote it, so you better figure out a way to use it. (long silence) Okay, here’s a “what if”. What if instead of Little Joe, we had Hoss get captured?
SE #2: You mean this wacko guy’s going to take the chance that Hoss won’t kick the bejesus out of him?
SE #3: It’s gonna be like a budget remake of “Of Mice and Men”—the first time Loony Guy cuts Hoss’ food ration, Hoss is gonna strangle him.
SE #2: This episode’s getting shorter and shorter.
(long silence)
SE #1: What if we had Lorne do that role?
SE #2: What, the loony guy?
SE #1: No, the one who gets captured. Ben Cartwright’s all about honor and crap like that. He’d go for this.
SE #3: And then what? A big mushy reunion at the end with Pa falling down, sobbing in his sons’ arms? Uh-uh. Never gonna go over with the ladies.
(another long silence)
SE #1: Hey! I got it! What if we swap it around so that Adam’s the one heading out to the desert and Joe’s staying in town to watch the trial?
SE #2: You think anybody’s gonna believe Joe would sit around and listen to a bunch of lawyers for three days? Heck, I don’t do that for three minutes if I get a choice.
SE #3: No, I think Phil’s on to something. Roberts has been complaining that Landon gets all the meaty stuff. Maybe we can get him to stop griping about the scripts if we give him something like this.
SE #2: Yeah, but there’s that big dramatic reunion at the end. I don’t know if he’ll go for that.
SE #1: Well, it’s not like we can get away with a handshake. “Hey, son, glad to see you’re not dead.” “Me too, Pa. What’s for dinner?” Roberts is gonna have to dig deep and get emotional and all that baloney.
SE #2: Tell him to watch how Landon does it. That guy can cry if he breaks a shoelace. I think he pulls a hair out of his nose or something.
SE #3: That’s it! Isn’t Roberts one of those Method actors or something? Tell him it’s an acting challenge. He’ll eat it up.
SE #1: So, is this it? We’ll get somebody to retype the script, flip the names, and it’s a go?
SE #2: I think it’s a go. What do you think, Ralph?
SE #3: It’s genius. Just wait. The ratings’ll go through the roof. Besides, it’s an emotional tour de force. I’m telling you, it’s Emmy material. It requires such an incredibly gifted and well-trained actor that practically nobody on TV today could manage it. Besides, someday the show will go into syndication, and I guarantee you, this episode’s gonna be the all-time favorite. (looks from one to the other) What do you think? Can we sell it to Roberts like that?
SE #1: Only one way to know. Let’s find him.
SE #2: Hey, guys, before we go, one more thing. Landon’s talking about wanting to write a script. What do you think about that?
SE #3: That kid is such a pain in the butt. Every time I turn around, he’s hanging over the camera guys’ shoulders and bugging them with questions. He’s driving everybody crazy.
SE #1: Maybe he wants to direct, too. And maybe he could do a little producing while he’s at it, and then the rest of us could go home.
SE #3: We could use him to replace all the stunt men, too. Heck, maybe he can play all four Cartwrights and give the other guys some time off.
SE #1: Why can’t he just relax and do his lines like everybody else? I swear, if he had his way, he’d have all our jobs.
SE #2: So, what should I tell him?
SE #1: Tell him if we ever run out of scripts, he’s our guy. (all laugh)
SE #3: Like that could ever happen. Come on, let’s go find Roberts and tell him about his shot at an Emmy.
SE #1: We got time for a doughnut or something first? I didn’t have breakfast.
SE #2: Sure, there’s no rush. I mean, really—it’s not like this episode’s gonna be any different from the other ones. (into the intercom) Hey, Stella, can you get some doughnuts in here?
SE #3: You mean future generations aren’t gonna be studying this friggin’ masterpiece for posterity? (all laugh as Stella comes in and sets a tray on the table) Hey, look, they got those chocolate frosted ones with the little colored jimmies on them. Stan, grab me a couple of those, will you?
* * *
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Tags: Family
Brilliant, just brilliant! You have the actors pegged perfectly. I read this right before bed and laughed like crazy. Roberts had to dig deep for this one, and he (to my surprise) pulled it off. Thanks, pjb, for some great laughs!
To tell you the truth, I didn’t think this would be my thing. You know, some parody around the actors and crew and stuff… But I saw it in the random stories and thought I’d just have a little peak because still I was a bit curious… and continued reading through it and giggled and really enjoyed it. So I totally liked it and was just being prejudiced before against certain kinds of stories I guess.
I didn’t laugh just at the actor jokes, but I also loved the kind of office/workplace humour there was as well. Like them kind of laughing at different kind of professionals and being a bit dismissive about others than their own team.
Andrina, I’m thrilled that you took a chance on this story and like it so much. I know exactly what you mean about thinking certain types of stories just aren’t your thing. Now, I’m wondering how many stories I might have enjoyed if I’d been more open-minded, the way you are.
Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed my little story!
So glad I stumbled on this. What a hoot! Had me laughing out loud (as usual). ‘Send the makeup girls flower or tires’ – priceless. If I were to put down all the funny lines I loved, the whole piece would be here. Marvellous. Thank you.
So glad you enjoyed it, June! Thanks for letting me know!
Lol!! Definately could see this taking place behind the scenes! Very nicely written!
Thanks, puppycuddles! So glad you enjoyed it!
Great one!
Thanks, FMCGirl!
Lol loved this ! Very funny
And if they ever want make up gals that don’t complain about covering Landons bruises I’m their gal !
I’ll let them know! So glad you enjoyed the story, Joesgal – thanks for letting me know!
Wow
It is funny!
I loved it!!!!
Thanks, Maria Vaz! So glad you enjoyed it!
Hilarious! I laughed throughout this delicious wee veenyet.
So glad you enjoyed this veenyet, Puchi Ann. (I see you also use the New England spelling! 😉 ) Thanks for letting me know!
This is hilarious!!
I was nearly in tears I was laughing so hard.
SE #1: What if we had Lorne do that role?
SE #2: What, the loony guy?
Oh my Gosh that was absolutely hilarious!
I’m one of the women who loves to see Joe suffer, and I’ve also wished that he had been the one who’d been captured, but like you said, the episode would have ended much too quick.
Anyway, this was absolutely hilarious!
–Jo
Fortunately, other episodes leave SJS fans well-satisfied–and they last the entire 48 minutes! So glad you enjoyed the story, Jo. Thanks for letting me know!
So funny and I daresay this scenario could have been more like truth than fantasy! Great Pjb and thanks for the laugh.
So glad you enjoyed it, Dodo! I like to think this is fiction, but who knows? 😀
PJB, this is great! Crazy or not, I could see it happening that way.
One question, and I *have* to ask…are you a fan of the movie “My Favorite Year”? When you said “tires” I nearly soiled my diaper. (MFY is on my top ten list of favorite movies.)
I absolutely LOVE “My Favorite Year”! But until you mentioned it, I never thought that this tire comment might have been an unconscious reference to that fabulous film. It just goes to show that you never know what’s going to surface from the depths of the brain.
Thanks so much for your comment – so glad you enjoyed the story! (Now, I’m going to spend the rest of the night trying to remember what, if anything, I was thinking when I wrote this!)
Makes sense to me! 🙂
That’s why I wrote it that way, Diane! So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks!
Thoroughly enjoyed this! I have no doubt that the actual behind-the-scenes conversation was pretty much identical to what you’ve portrayed here. Your humor has always been one the most sparkly gems in your writing crown, and it really shines here. I agree–definite Pulitzer material! 😉
You’re too kind, southplains! Many thanks for your lovely comments. I’ll make sure you’re on the guest list for my Pulitzer-acceptance party!
I think the technical term (invented by Lisamarie) is vee-niette. Though hers usually don’t break the fourth wall! 😆
Great explanation for how this episode came to be–I particularly liked the idea of a “low budget Of Mice And Men” version with Hoss! The throwaway reference to “The Gamble” was a delightful extra.
Thank you for this glimpse “behind the curtain” at our favorite show being created!
I thought it was veenyet. Just goes to show that I have a lot to learn!
So glad you enjoyed the story, sklamb! Thanks! (Extra credit for picking up on the reference to ‘The Gamble”!)
Oops! Yes, I think you’re right. I thought my rendition still looked a little off.
You may be right. I’m just using the New England spelling. Other parts of the country may spell it differently. 😀
Loved it! Usually I don’t like things that try to be funny and then they aren’t. The premise of this story was really clever and funny. Thanks for a great read.
I know what you mean about humor that tries and falls short, and it’s an enormous relief to hear that this story made the cut for you. So glad you enjoyed it, kima09! Thanks for your lovely comments!
Genius! Brilliant. Pulitzer prize material? Hmmmm
Oh, definitely Pulitzer material! Either that or the Nobel prize for fiction. We’ll see next year. 😉
Even if it doesn’t win those prizes, I’m so glad to know you enjoyed it. Thanks, Deanne!
Well Bravo ! It’s very original, and, maybe there was something like that when the staff spoke about a script, and before filming an episode.
It’s very original, and, even if I find “the crucible” a cult episode, and one of the best performance of Pernell (in” Bonanza”, of course), I appreciated the sense of derision of your story. I love second degree humor, and this kind of short story.
Congratulations.
Thank you, indiana! I’m so pleased that you enjoyed the story. I know “The Crucible” is a special episode for many members, so I wasn’t quite certain whether the humor would come through. Thanks for putting my mind at ease!
What a hoot! You have a GREAT sense of humor and it shows perfectly in this – should I say story? Snippet? Tell all? Anyway, great job, Jo!
Thanks so much, Pat! I don’t know what you call it – a vignette, maybe? In any case, I’m delighted that you enjoyed it so much. (And thanks for your help in posting – I’d still be trying to figure it out!)