Alison Arngrim, star of Little House On The Prairie, has delved into the show's history to unearth a plotline that would definitely not be used today. And for very good reason.
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The Nellie Oleson actress sat down with Dean Butler and Pamela Bob for an episode of the Little House 50 Podcast, where they recapped Episode 12 of Season 4. In this episode, a pretty controversial act happens, which is somehow even more controversial when you consider the production.
In the episode, "Here Come the Brides," Nellie Oleson (Alison Arngrim), who's 13, gets infatuated with Luke Simms (Bob Marsic), who's a late teenager. They share a kiss in the episode, which I know has already raised some eyebrows out there.
A 13-year-old kissing an 18-year-old is already an uncomfortable thing. But it gets even worse. While filming, Arngrim had just turned 15 and Marsic was 22. Yeeaahh... not great.
Alison Arngrim Recounts 'Little House On The Prairie' Moment That So Wouldn't Happen Today
Alison Arngrim recounts the above story in a hilarious manner. Although she incorrectly remembered Marsic's age (she thought he was in his late 20s thinking back), she remembered just how absurd the moment was.
"It's young girls — children — accosting a grown man who they have not been introduced to," she said, still not able to believe it. Frankly, Arngrim found how brazen the young girls were hilarious, if not outlandish.
"That would not happen today, right?" Bob jumped in. "That casting a full-grown adult to play or even kiss — and it was an innocent kiss, but it's a kiss — a minor"
Arngrim explained that these days, age gaps between kissing partners are scrutinized. It's a "huge deal" for minor actors to kiss minor actors now. And these days, you'll have intimacy coordinators on set, a role that didn't exist back then.
Although there wasn't an official intimacy coordinator, there was Marsic's girlfriend to keep an eye on things. And once again, Arngrim found it laughable. "I was like, does this woman think that I am a threat?"
"Really? This 15-year-old pimply girl? No," she continued. "No, I am not a threat to your relationship. I am not stealing your man."
