### Little House On The Prairie: Behind The Scenes Of The Hit Show
#### Landon Decides to Blow Up the Set
“Little House on the Prairie” captivated audiences for nine memorable seasons, an impressive run for any television series. Beginning its journey in 1974, the show had become a staple of family entertainment. However, by 1983, the landscape of television had shifted, and much of its original audience had grown up, leaving new episodes behind in favor of nostalgia. The time had come to bid farewell to this beloved series, but the crew was determined to end on a high note—quite literally, with a bang.
Michael Landon, the driving force behind the show, took the reins to write and direct the final episode. With creative control in his hands, Landon devised a dramatic and unprecedented finale: he decided to blow up the set, sparing only the iconic church and the titular “little house.” His reasoning was partly practical, suggesting that cleaning up the set would be easier if the buildings were already demolished.
The idea seemed audacious, yet somehow it gained approval. The crew meticulously prepared for this explosive farewell by filling the set’s buildings with dynamite. Landon believed that this bold move would provide a fittingly powerful conclusion to the pioneer saga. “I think it makes for a good strong pioneer ending,” he remarked, reflecting his vision of an unforgettable send-off.
When the final episode aired, it delivered one of the most apocalyptic endings in television history. The detonation of the set symbolized not just the end of a series, but the closing of an era. Fans watched in awe as the beloved town was obliterated, a striking and emotional finale that ensured “Little House on the Prairie” would remain etched in their memories forever.
