Waltons 4.8: “The Competition”

Airdate: 10/30/75

Two engaging stories here, of equal measure: John-Boy gives a ride to a forestry student (Michael O’Keefe) who would like to observe how a lumber mill operates and stays with the family for a few days. Instantly, Mary Ellen and Erin develop crushes on him, and both vie for his attentions in the worst way. Ultimately, it is Erin he falls in love with, but, finding her too young, he decides to leave, leaving her heartbroken. In the other story, Olivia again wants to have another baby, but when she is told by the doctor it would be too risky at her age, decides to take in a foster child, an 8-month old baby girl. She knows it will be hard to let her go, and it is.


Second episode dealing with Olivia’s longing to have another child has a tearful final scene when Olivia must relinquish the baby to her adoptive parents. Other story is equally compelling, if only for its spotlight shedding on Erin and her heartbreak over Chad, the forestry student. He’s played by Michael O’Keefe, and the cavalcade of future 70s/early 80 stars continues: O’Keefe later starred in the underrated The Great Santini, but is best-known to today’s audiences as the underdog caddy in the now-classic Caddyshack.