The Waltons - The Comeback episode - Behind the Scenes with Judy Norton 

I forgot that Merle Haggard appeared on the show. I love Merle Haggard! I remember my older sister thought he was very handsome.

I think of all the people that was a guest on the Waltons Merle Haggard had to be my favorite. Such a wonderful performer and he always came across as just a down to earth guy. Did the rest of the kids get to visit with Mr. Haggard? Or pretty much just Jon? When I think of all the spectacular people that were on the show over the years, I cannot imagine how incredible it must have been to get to meet these people. I wonder Judy, for you, who made the biggest impression on you as an actress? Curious minds. :) Thank you again.

Nice to see them bring Red back for this episode. I still love Grandma's catch phrases ... Good Lord and Old Fool. Great episode ✌

Is that one of the scarves you bought on your anniversary trip? It's exquisite, and beautifully matches everything perfectly. Wear it always in good health forever! My grandmother used to say "wear it in good health"! Don't know where she got the saying from! Love you! Sissy was a great character addition, always wondered where their chemistry was so great, like "Jason & Toni"!

It was very good of them to get the legend Merle Haggard on the show. As many very familiar people as well. Great episode and very touching.

A friend told me he saw Gene Kelly perform singing in the rain with the streets and buildings scene at the Hollywood Bowl. I thought that was so cool. I can only imagine seeing the Walton's there. That would be so neat. I sure wish there was video on that performance. And you got to work with the Bakersfield legend himself...Merle Haggard. Wow what a life you have. Just wonderful 👍🏼😘

Love The Waltons. Such a calm and loving family amongst the depression Era. ❤🏠 Thx Judy! 👏 👏 ❤️ 😊

I loved this episode and your video/segment pertaining to it! Thank you Judy! 👍❤🙂

Another episode I love especially with Merle Haggard guest-starring thanks again Judy for these wonderful videos ❤

Another beautiful episode, thankyou Judy xx

This episode had to be as exciting for Jon Walmsley as the horse race episode was for you thanks to the great musician, Merle Haggard.

One of my favorite episodes..Merle was a hero to me so I loved him being a guest..I love how Olivia calmed down as she got a little older was very cool how that character was allowed to change

Merle was one of my favorites in the music industry. He was also an amazing impressionist who could do Jonny Cash and Buck Owens as well as many others

loved Merle Haggard singing Nobody's Darling. The way his voice kind of breaks midway. So wonderful. Thank you for sharing!

I love this one, Merle Haggard. And Jason gets his job at the Dew Drop. And of course Grand Ma and Olivia aren't happy. I'm still watching the Waltons today. Love it when John comes home a little happy. Lol

I've been waiting with bated breath for this!!

Wow! have so many of his records and never knew he was on the show.hi from lutz Florida USA

"The Gift" & "The Comeback" are among my favorite episodes in the entire run of The Waltons. Indeed, many of my favorite episodes are in the latter two-thirds of the series, as Jason, Mary Ellen, Erin, and Ben were coming of age and becoming co-lead characters in their own right. As fine an actor as Richard Thomas was, the show acquired greater texture and realism as it became less John Boy centric, imo🤓 (and a guest role for someone of Merle Haggard's stature was the ice cream on top of the cake 🤠🤠

Another great episode and segment which highlights that moment in one's life when bereavement seems to take up residence in it and only with gentle pursuasion and patience does it take leave. Having good caring associates around certainly helps. I loved the Yancy Tucker romance plot in this episode. Thank you for this segment and best wishes as always from your waltonian superfan in a warm England😉

Hi Judy! I love this episode :) I love how after Yancy talks with Johnboy, he finally comes out from hiding and goes to Cissy and they show up at the Walton house and everyone congratulates them. And I love the ending where Jason and Red are working on their music. Also I want to tell you I recently got a Waltons t-shirt in my favorite color purple 💜 and I hope you’re having a wonderful day ❤ Love, Jamie ~ huge Waltons fan ✨

I so love watching these episodes you do. I have always loved watching The Waltons, now I get the pleasure of watching you do the behind the scenes. Thanks for doing such a wonderful job!!

Thanks Judy! Very enjoyable.❤

happy birthday to richard thomas

❤thank you so much ❤

Merle did a great job in this. I loved every scene he had and he conveyed the melancholy over Seth's death so believably. I liked these episodes where we'd get a bigger look at a particular family member and their interests. And Cissy Wellman and Bob Donner to me could've had their own comedy/drama show. The secondary plots were always so strong too. Sometimes you remember the episodes based on that secondary plot!

Great behind the scenes thanks ❤

Road houses earn their reputation my dad loved them . dad and I went to them often but it was unspoken rule never tell grandma about the women who worked there and flirted with my dad constantly .The real Dew Drop Inn was a bit more tame inScottsville Va but my dad preferred the Ruckersville Va one where truckers used. You were lucky to work with a Legendary man like Will and meet all the people he worked with over a lifetime of great acting small and Big roles. Smartest move the Producer ever made was getting Merl for this episode as legendary singer song writer.

So many wonderful story lines in this episode & loved Mr Haggards music/voice.

Love this episode because of Yancy and Sissy...💗

The real Dew Drop Inn was located 15 minutes up the road in Scottsville. These kinds of roadhouses were still in operation in the area up into the late 90's. There were some rough customers in those places...Genuine mountain men who worked hard all week and were never sober on a weekend. I usually saw a few heavily bearded fellows who looked like they just came home from the Civil War!

great video judy

Merle Haggard is 1 of the best singers

Hello Judy I absolutely love the Waltons and your program! Two questions: 1. I was recently watching Stargate SG-1 and noticed you were in an episode. Could you tell us of your experience on that? 2. Why does the Waltons give a bad representation of Christianity? For example in the first season episode The Easter Story. The mom gets polio and they blame God for it by saying that it’s His Will. Then she is healed and God is no longer brought up in the situation. So they blame God when things go bad and praise themselves when things go good. If they were really Christians they would have had faith that God would heal her as she continued to therapy and they would have praised Him when she was healed.

Another fun aspect in the episode, was the next morning after his first night on the job at Dew Drop Inn, Elizabeth tries to wake a tired Jason to get ready for school and Jason says DAMN IT, ELIZABETH LEAVE ME ALONE! Elizabeth then lets Olivia know what he said to her but said she would have to put soap in her mouth if she repeated it? Olivia then tells Jason IF THERE'S ONE THING I WON'T TOLERATE, JASON WALTON IS YOU BRINGING THAT ROADHOUSE LANGUAGE INTO THIS HOUSE!!!😂😂😂😂😂

I know the Walton's was based on The Homecoming but, was it also based more on Spencer's mountain? I recently read online that Earl Hamner, Jr, wrote Spencer's Mountain book!!

merle haggard big star. mr walton drunk that was funny. i like yancy tucker. will geer great guy.

This might be a silly question but did they have real beer in the dewdrop inn?

Thanks Judy!!

I saw Merle in concert back in the 70s. He's a great guy, great entertainer.

The Walton’s i like this episode called the Comeback. I have a question who played Bobby bigalow on the Waltons? Did the actor really play in the hay stack gang?

Written by Jimmie Davis not Merle

An amazing episode. Thank you, Judy. What a nice opportunity to have met and work with Merle. Music, indeed can bring healing.

Hi Judy I loved hearing about this episode very interesting as always

Happy Monday Judy!! I have to say this episode always cracks me up a lot of funny parts. I don't remember seeing John a little tipsy in any other episodes but I thought it was great that Olivia didn't get angry she just gave him a look with a smile. Forgot to ask Cissy if she really was knitting or was it just a prop for the show. Loved how her plan to get Yancey fell right in place, and so enjoyed Merle in this episode! Thank you for another great video as always you are the BEST!! 🥰

A very satisfying episode. Love the continuation of "The Gift" in this musically-themed episode with Merle Haggard. I also enjoy Dorothy Shay as Thelma. Such a pleasant character. As many of you probably know, Dorothy was a successful singer in her own right, particularly of comedy-type songs. She also introduced Ketty Lester (later Hester Sue on LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE) to music industry people, which helped start Ketty's career. Ketty became well-known for her hit song "Love Letters." Dorothy was a very generous person. She appeared in nine episodes, the first being this one and the last being "The Return" in 1978, known for Richard Thomas's guest appearance in the show after having left the season before. Dorothy passed away on October 22, 1978, of a heart attack. Her character was written out of the series by saying that Thelma sold the Dew Drop Inn and moved to California. Judy, do you have any memories of working with Dorothy Shay? Please share.

I always enjoy this episode When it airs...and, in a better world...

Merle Haggard indeed recorded Nobody's Darling. Merle adapted the original lyrics slightly to give a different effect. But it was originally written and recorded by Governor Jimmie Davis in 1935. This would have been a song of that period. This episode aired in 1976 and Haggard recorded it in 1982.

Love behind the scenes. So happy to listen to these great episodes and great and talented actors. Jon is a great musician, and Merle Haggard was one of our favorite too. Tks for sharing Judy.

Another wonderful episode. Thank you Judy for bringing it back to us ❤️

What a delightful episode! I enjoyed your discussion about it very much, as I always do!

Great Episode Both Merle and Jon are talented

Certainly Yancy was his normal larikin self, but that expression on John's face really nailed it, I was laughing so much I was in tears after seeing that incident. I love the way the music really adds to the atmosphere.

I absolutely love Merle Haggard.

Today is my parents 24th Wedding Anniversery

Love this episode! Jon walmsley is so brilliantly talented ❤

🙂An interesting episode, I liked it very much. Judy do you know anything about how easy or difficult it is to get a particular person to appear as a guest star in a TV show? Do you know anything about that process? 🤔 Thank-you very much for making these videos.😊

Merle Haggard did an extremely good job portraying His part. Jon Walmsley was also extremely excellent in this episode.Jon is a great musician.l thought It was hilarious when John came back home drunk from the dew drop inn. I didn't actually think that John would be in that condition being such a Christian family that they are. Yancy and Cissy are so adorable. Love My Waltons Family. ❤️

1st of all, your scarf is striking! Looks great on you. I had forgotten how much I loved this episode on so many levels! Thank you for your multi points of interesting info.....a great combo of fun & serious. I always liked episodes that Jon could share his musical talents! What a memory of Merle Haggard! Thanks for quote from Jon. How special! 😊

Thank You again for another excellent job in explaining another episode of the Waltons.

Merle Haggard Okie from Muskogee classic !

I can only imagine how excited Jon Walmsley was to work with someone like Merle Haggard. My brother and I did a few Haggard songs when we used to entertain my dad at the nursing home.

Wonderful episode Judy. Great acting and touching scenes with Merle. Loved Yancy and Sissy.They were fun to watch. Thanks Judy💕

Love your top & accessories! A soft look, a soft beautiful look! You're a soft beauty Judy. ❤️❤️🙂

😆😆😆😆🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 Judy I .really loved this episode! It's a real good actor when you can play feeling tipsy by Ralph and how Michael reacts to him. Let's not even talk about Easter's sarcasm and so much more...amazing how all it's put together. and the quote from the book I didn't know existed, just awesome! Thank you and happy Monday to you and all

Love Sissy's dress at 6:27. She looks so cute in it.

I absolutely love these Behind the scenes Episodes

I just watched an old show with Ellen Corby in it. The Tall Man. The reluctant bride groom. Season 1 episode 23. Give it a look. It was pretty good!

This is another one of my favorite episodes. I just loved the storyline with Merle Haggard. I loved the music as well. Cissy was a fun addition to the show.

I really loved this episode because I’ve always been a big fan of the “Hag” 👍🏻🎶🎼🎵

Hello Judy 😊Loved this episode 😊Oh cool you seen Planet of The Apes stars Roddy McDowell with their costumes etc on, thats my fav film out of these movies the first one. Not keen on the modern movies 😐

Whenever Yancy was a part of an episode you knew you were in for a fun laughable time. Mary

Loved this episode! Meryl Haggard was one of the best

This is a wonderful episode. I would love to have seen Yancy and Cissy become more frequent on the series. Grandma: "Good Luck!" is priceless.

Merle Haggard did a good job portraying his part.Jon Walmsley also was cool in this episode.Jon was a great musician.I thought it was a commicle when Jonh came back home drunk from the do drop.

I really wished they could of had more,great musicians on the show ,it was so nice to see merle haggard have a small part

Quite an amazing rollercoaster this episode proved to be! Everything from seeing Merle Haggard believably playing a mournful and shattered Red Turner and regaining his purpose in life via Jason's encouraging him in music! That in itself was incredible! Then, I liked Zeb doing the 'bubble,bubble, toil and trouble' from 'Macbeth' (and couldn't help but think how this was evidence that Zeb had sought to educate himself more than others would have expected). Of course, one had to wonder why Esther was making soap for the family when soap was easily available in stores (e.g. Ivory) for decades but either store-bought soap was more expensive than saving then processing the ingredients in homemade soap and/or Esther didn't think cleaned as well as homemade soap! I liked how Sissy used the human quirk of counting on Yancy to consider a commodity (herself) more valuable if others were interested but even though it netted the result in the short term, marrying him didn't entirely prove smooth sailing in the long term!'Good luck', indeed as per Esther (who herself hadn't always had smooth sailing over the decades with Zeb). Great episode (even though it seemed Mary Ellen and Ben had little if anything to do here) and thanks for sharing this with us.

I do so wish that the The Waltons would be shown again in the U.K. It is sadly missed by so many.

This was another great episode but then that goes without saying because the entire series was great. Grandma's comments and facial expressions regarding Yancey and Cissy's budding romance are priceless. And what an special opportunity for Jon to work with Merle Haggard who was just awesome in this episode. ❤ 🎼

My mama loved Merle Haggard❤️ He was so talented, what a great voice!! Love that Nobody’s Darlin’ song he sang. Cissy is so cute and cheerful and happy. She has such great energy!!! That cracks me up when she says she’s Yancy’s fiancé and Grandma says”Good Luck” in that sarcastic tone, lol so funny!! Grandma thought Yancy was a good for nothing, lol. Cissy was so cute flirting with John Boy!!! Lol She made a great match for Yancy!❤️

I loved this episode..such a great showcase for Robert Donner and Cissy Wellman..and I love it more now that you interviewed Cissy. Thanks Judy once more for brightening my Monday😊❤️❤️

I always enjoyed seeing Jay Robinson in his various appearances on the Waltons as Jason’s music professor. He is famously remembered for playing Caligula in the blockbuster epic “The Robe“ in the 1950s.

Another one of The Walton's best episodes. Thank you Ms Judy. Loved the late Mr. Merle Haggard in this... excellent work/fun by all.

😢👉 the conflict part 1 that's not right to remove family off their land. Until John got shot . You'd think they could have built the road somewhere else.

I would imagine Jon Warmsley looking back now and realizing what a legend he was working with, or maybe he already knew at the time. Glad you said it about Yancy being a dope. 🤣🤣 Surprised that Cissy would be attracted to Yancy. Bob Donner played that character well. When John came home after drinking Olivia seemed like she had a look on her face like you went out and had a good time and didn't bring me. There was a lot going on in the episode. A little bit of everything. Great episode.

Did you or the others realize what a pop culture phonemon you were when other tv shows started the "good-night John Boy" line? I think it really placed The Waltons securely in people's minds as something not only to remember but as part of lives? But there is something that intrigues me, how did the producers or directors keep everyone on the show from the craziness of other shows of kid actors using drugs on set? I know Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges and Dana Plato were tragic cases of mishandling the drug use on the set. I know several tv shows in which drugs played a huge part in some event that led to deaths of actors. I understand the reality of drugs were part of the industry and to an extent probably still is, but what were the preventative measures against allowing that to be brought into where you all were working? Were the producers and directors very proactive in safeguarding you all on set from that?

I loved the picture of Jean Stapleton, I got to meet her in a restuarant in Washington, D.C. I just loved meeting her. Keep up the videos. Thanks for sharing

This was very interesting. So many story threads to follow. I love that at least for now, you are still doing these. It may end up being the only way I get snippets of seasons which came after the first four. It is always a refreshing walk down memory lane when life was both harder and yet also much simpler. Thanks, Judy.

Wonderful episode and you covered it perfectly. And your addition of the other event with Will was an extra that I loved. Thank you as always

I watched a video the other day that had a semi tour of Warner brothers back lot. They showed where the Walton’s house used to set and how you could see Griffith Park from where it was and that was Walton’s mountain. The house had been removed and apparently they were tearing down all the sets. They showed some other familiar sets also as recent as Animal Kingdom.

Jon can play that piano

I love to hear grandma saying drop him like a hot potato.

I would like to see you do an episode with Melissa Gilbert about the crossover guests between your two shows.

Yeah olivia gives oh is there going to be payback look

At 8:39 wow!

You are very cool Judy for sharing.

😘

Sweet

Cute

Jason going to the Do Drop in was good for Jason,it gave him money and gave him a rough edge;(they say Jackie O told the bodyguard 's, rough up JFK,to make him tough), working at the bar , it did the same for Jason!:Yanacy was not STUPID at all,it's good also Red got some closer and loosing Seth.

I love watching the Waltons.