Mother’s Day on Waltons Mountain

In a time of tragedy and separation, a new generation joins the family as the Waltons come together to help each other…and celebrate Mother’s Day on Walton’s Mountain., The holiday finds three members of the clan facing personal crises. Ralph Waite, Michael Learned, Judy Norton-Taylor. Jonesy: Richard Gilliland. Ben: Eric Scott. Cindy: Leslie Winston. Directed by Gwen Arner., The second of three TV-movie spinoffs of the long-running series The Waltons, Mother’s Day on Walton’s Mountain marked the return of actress Michael Learned in the role of Olivia Walton, a part she had relinquished when her contract expired one year before the original series’ cancellation in 1981. Still consigned to a tuberculosis sanitorium, Olivia has only a few scenes in the film, though she does return to Walton Mountain in time to help her daughter Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) weather a crisis. It appears as if Mary Ellen, newly wed to longtime beau Jonesy (Richard Gilliland) will be unable to have children, thanks to an auto accident; meanwhile, the rest of the Walton clan has problems of their own, including son Ben’s (Eric Wilton) efforts to restore harmony between himself and his own wife Cindy (Leslie Winston). Of the original Waltons cast, only Richard Thomas, Ellen Corby and the late Will Geer were absent from the proceedings. Mother’s Day on Walton’s Mountain debuted May 9, 1982, on NBC.