Little House on The Prairie just doesn't work without Michael Landon. You can argue this for the rest of his TV work too, like his role as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza or Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven. He was one of television's best actors before passing away at 54 years old. Landon left a lasting legacy behind and it was especially prominent for Jason Bateman. He used to play Landon's son in the show and clearly took a lot from the experience. Now, he's reflecting on his impact.
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Recently, Bateman spoke with Conan O'Brien on his SiriusXM podcast. There, he reflects on childhood on set for Little House on The Prairie. "I was starting to really notice what this magic trick is of making fake life," Jason reflects. "We all look through the paper towel tube when you're a kid... And outside that tunnel, it's stuff you can't see, the microphone and the lights and all that stuff. And so just inside that tube needs to be pristine."
The pristine setup doesn't work without Michael Landon's work directing, producing, starring, and writing for the show. Bateman lauds him with one hell of a comparison: George Clooney.
Jason Bateman Compares Michael Landon to George Clooney
Jason explains how seamless it was working with Michael Landon and how it compares next to George Clooney as a modern day example. "George Clooney would be the perfect comparison today," Bateman says. "His ease with people, with the process, with the business, with Just Joe on the street. Women are crazy about him. Guys wanna be his buddy. Watching him juggle all those balls and be this leader and presence on a set and be kind with people, but also be kind of a stern boss if he needs to, that was pretty inspirational."
All of this positive experience with Landon aided Bateman later on in life as he tried to apply what he learned for his own directing. "I wanted to turn my history of doing sitcoms into a positive instead of the negative that I felt it was at the time, and let all that experience maybe get me hired as a director," Jason adds.
