I find it rather hilarious that Michael said of her (Olivia) big break, “I didn’t want to be pouring coffee the rest of my life”! 😂😂 Her role in “Nurse” was pivotal in my decision to be a nurse myself! (I never worked in a hospital as one though!?)
What really struck me about my conversation with Ms. Learned, was her apparent lack of appreciation for how significant an impact she made on all of us in her portrayal of Olivia Walton. She made it clear that she was bored by the role, because she saw herself as doing nothing more than “pouring coffee”. She seemed genuinely surprised by my efforts to impress upon her that she exemplified the ideal wife and mother, and that she was a valuable and cherished role model for an entire generation of women. I really loved this very candid and intimate interview with a true legend.
@@harveybrownstoneinterviews8980 I am jealous that you had the opportunity to talk to her. ;o) If I could talk to her, I would ask a million questions about her career. I was raised by a narcissist and an alcoholic, I knew my home wasn't right, but I didn't know what was a good home. I actually learned that from that show. I used to wish the character Olivia could show me what was right and wrong. It honestly made a difference in my life. I knew there was hope for some level of 'normal' someday. She's a fantastic actress. I have followed her career as long as I can remember. If I could tell her anything, it would be a simple, "Thank you. Her work meant something."
Thanks so much for this great interview with Miss Learned! Thank you, Miss Learned, for creating such a lovely Olivia! I will always love The Walton's and all who created the series! Kind regards! ✨🧡✨💐✨📚✨📝
One summer I was in Stratford sleeping in the park to see shows. Through hanging around in the arena loft after shows, I met many actors. I babysat Michael's children for a week or so and was allowed to sleep on their sofa. It was a blast.
My favorite show ever. I still watch it. Michael Learned is a treasure. My late father-in-law (Bernard Behrens) knew her and had only good things to say.
Oh my heavens, my heavens….this is so beautiful! You two are so special together. I have loved Michael for so long. As with most people, my Mother and I had a standing date every Thursday night to watch the Waltons. My Mother grew up on a farm during the depression and it always brought out memories and stories that she would share with me. It was such a bonding time for us. I had been acting in local things since I was 6 and knew I was going to be an actor and I held all of the actors on that show in such high esteem. It served as an acting class so often to watch them be so real and watch them be so great at their craft. Harvey, your beautiful heart and appreciation reached her and it made all of our hearts out here so happy! Thank you for your beautiful heart and that beautiful appreciation you have. Thank you for this show. I know you were serious about being in the audience as well as interviewing her and helping her draw out her life stories. You WOULD BE THE PERFECT PERSON and I hope you both do that. What a team. Two very genuine people. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻❤❤❤❤
Thank you so very much for your beautiful comments. Yes indeed I will be in the audience this summer in Petrolia, which is just 2 hours from my home. And if Ms Learned decides to write a memoir, I will absolutely be by her side to draw the story out of her!
A very touching interview, Ms. Learned is so humble and down to earth, your chemistry, Harvey brings out her candor with interesting nuances about the actor's life. I am hoping that you two will be working on her potential memoir! PS...thank you for mentioning the unforgettable Beulah Bondi!
When you think about, her role of Olivia was quite a challenge being that Michael was playing a character that was like 18-20 years older than she was at the time.
What a wonderful interview with Ms. Learned. My Brooklyn, NY family watched The Waltons every Thursday night and loved it! My parents grew up during The Depression in an urban environment but the themes of the show still resonated with all of us. I also thought Nurse was a fabulous show but back in those days, cancelling quality programs was more common than we would like to admit. Maybe that's why streaming is so popular. (Question for you Harvey: Have you interviewed anyone who wrote about or knew Eve Arden? The interview with the writer of Kay Ballard's documentary made me think of her and she was such an amazing character actress.) Thanks again, Harvey!
Thank you so much for watching my interview with Michael Leaned, and for your comment. Many of the stars I’ve interviewed knew and worked with Eve Arden, including Ruta Lee, Robert Wagner, Dee Wallace, Lesley Ann Warren, Jerry London, Ray Klausen, George Chakiris, Joan Van Ark and others. I hope you’ll check out our other interviews and consider subscribing to our RU-vid channel. It would mean the world to me!🙏❤️
What an absolute delight. You and Michael are wonderful together and her modesty and graciousness is heartwarming. Once again, dear Harvey, you have brought us an insight into someone very special.
Loving this interview. I have watched every single episode, I have the complete series. Loved the Homecoming, I look forward to winter with the Waltons to watch. I no longer watch the news and this series brings me joy. Thanks for this awesome interview with Michael!
Thank you so much for watching, and for your beautiful comment. I hope you’ll check out our other interviews and consider subscribing to our RU-vid channel. 🙏❤️
What a beautiful and interesting conversation. Your knowledge of Ms Learned's career, and your thoughtfulness and perceptivity make for a very engaging interview. Thank you!
This interview with Ms. Learned, was probably one of her more endearing. In some I’ve seen her in she has spoken well of The Waltons and then said some not so great things. It’s so easy to binge watch the show and form a ‘bubble’ and think “they are the character.” It’s so not true. Ms. Learned, in her role as Olivia, is an ideal - someone to strive to be , because as she said, she wasn’t perfect, but tried hard to do her best.
I recently purchased the Walton’s collection. I remember as an kid watching Spencer’s mountain with my mum and loved it .I remember watching bits and pieces of the Walton’s but not watching it regularly. So last yr I started watching judy Norton videos on you tube and had to have the collection. Watching the home coming movie a few yrs ago . I am so happy to have the collection and I hated that Olivier left . We all loved her and John , and for her she was everyone’s mum. I adored her and Ralph and was not surprised that they had an off screen affair, love you Michael the kids became annoying but grandma and grandpa and mum and daddy was wonderful. Looking back the kids were a little disobedient but daddy never seemed to scold or punish the kiddos . Xox from Sydney Australia
@@harveybrownstoneinterviews8980 you did a great job. Micheal seems a bit shy of the spotlight but she is delightful and actually more like Olivier then I thought. I’d love to see more of these interviews and I will watch some of your older ones . Thank you very much xox love from Sydney Australia
For me, Corby and Will Geer were hams - HAMS! The only way I can watch these shows which I am seeing for the first time, is to record them and then fast-forward when those two have lines. Looked like Corby tried to steal as many scenes and milk her scenes to the nth degree. But, different strokes for different folks. Also, when Richard Thomas left, man alive, took a while for me to adjust. He was so much a life force in that show and, I believe, twas he who made it just so watchable. Of course, Miss Learned did a spectacular job as well.
She said also that Ralph Waite and Will Geer often mooned her on the set! Imagine Earl Hamner's closing narration:"And so that was the last time dad and grandpa mooned anyone in the kitchen."
Okay, maybe I heard it incorrectly, really loving this interview but did she say Hal Linden passed? Because according to Wikipedia he is still kicking.
The only thing I watch on a regular basis is my The Waltons re-run 5 days a week. Olivia is luminious, radiant and the most interesting to watch without speaking a word of dialogue on the show. I would truly exhaust myself if I tried to do a rundown on all the heartfelt emotion I have for her. It All those incredible little Waltons moments that tell the story better than a partcular storyline can. Oh, Olivia Walton. Oh, Michael Learned. Fly free on that bicycle offered to you cheat from Ike Godsey's General Merchendise Store....Viva Judy Norton with her Waltons channel on RU-vid.
Earl Hamner even looked alot like Richard Thomas as a younger man (Richard Thomas played Earl Hamner on the show as the John Boy character (I always found that a pretty silly name)
I like Michael alot! She may not have become a star but I like her work. She has a small part in the one Bruce Lee film Dragon: The Bruce Lee story though she's wasted in that. She looks a lot like that other actress Loretta Long, the actress who played Susan on Sesame Street (there should have been a Waltons episode where the two of them play long lost sisters!). She and Ralph Waite really did get romantic behind the scenes on the Waltons though neither of them chose to pursue it.
@@harveybrownstoneinterviews8980 well my definition of a Star is when you mention a name to the average bloke on the street, and he knows right away who the person is. The average bloke on the street doesn't know Michael Learned. Of course there were big stars from decades ago-Charles Boyer, Charlton Heston, Gregory Peck,-that the average bloke wouldn't know today eitheir.
@nicholasjanke3476 if you had mentioned her name in the 70s, everyone would have known who she was. And everyone over 60 knows who she is. The younger generation don’t know her. But they don’t know who Lucille Ball was either. But that doesn’t make her any less a star.
