I did not have Megyn Kelly feuding with Little House on the Prairie on my 2025 Bingo card.
A couple of days ago, Netflix announced that they would be adapting Laura Ingalls Wilder’s classic Little House on the Prairie book series for a new TV show. Many probably remember that the books have already been made into a TV series once before, but for those don’t, the original adaptation was incredibly popular.
Actors and actresses Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, and Rachel Lindsay Greenbush all starred in the show that aired between 1974 and 1982. It ran for nine seasons, boasted over 200 episodes and won four Primetime Emmy awards. Little House on the Prairie also acted as the first ever show that actor Jason Bateman (Arrested Development, Ozark) starred in.
The original TV series is beloved across generations, and it seems as though the streaming service thinks they can strike gold once more by remaking the show that they say will “offer a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the American West.”
Little House on the Prairie, a reimagining of the Laura Ingalls Wilder book series, is coming to Netflix!
Part family drama, part survival tale, and part origin story, the series will offer a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the American West. pic.twitter.com/FRDG7XMPi4
— Netflix (@netflix) January 29, 2025
Rebecca Sonnenshine, who has previously worked on The Vampire Diaries and The Boys, will serve as executive producer for the new take on the old classic. Speaking about her excitement for the project, Sonnenshine said she plans to adapt the original novels for a modern audience:
“I fell deeply in love with these books when I was 5 years old. They inspired me to become a writer and a filmmaker, and I am honored and thrilled to be adapting these stories for a new audience.”
And Netflix’s Vice President of Drama Series, Jinny Howe, claims that the producer has a “fresh take” on Ingalls’ story:
“Little House on the Prairie has captured the hearts and imaginations of so many fans around the world, and we’re excited to share its enduring themes of hope and optimism with a fresh take on this iconic story.
Rebecca’s vision threads the needle with an emotional depth that will delight both new and existing fans of this beloved classic.”
Despite both Sonnenshine and Howe expressing their enthusiasm for bringing Little House on the Prairie back, the same can’t be said for the internet at large. Many online have voiced a, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” point of view. Why rehash a show that already exists? And has held up through the years?
There’s also a concern that the new show could “go woke,” as the masses love to say, because it’s slated to be a Netflix production. I mean, the concerns are valid…
Even Megyn Kelly sent out a message on social media warning Netflix about the new series:
“Netflix, if you wokeify ‘Little House on the Prairie,’ I will make it my singular mission to absolutely ruin your project.”
.@Netflix if you wokeify Little House on the Prairie I will make it my singular mission to absolutely ruin your project. https://t.co/RkAO8vPq65
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) January 30, 2025
That message right there struck a nerve with one of the original show’s cast members.
Melissa Gilbert played main character Laura Ingalls in the series, appearing in all 204 episodes. She was evidently offended by Megyn Kelly’s threat, and decided to fire back at the former Fox News anchor on Instagram, saying:
“Watch any episode on any streaming platform anywhere in the world. Apparently Megyn tweeted (I’m not on that platform) asking that Netflix not ‘woke-Ify’ their ‘Little House’ remake. Ummm…watch the original again.
TV doesn’t get too much more ‘woke’ than we did. We tackled: racism, addiction, nativism, antisemitism, misogyny, rape, spousal abuse and every other ‘woke ‘ topic you can think of. Thank you very much.”
Sounds like Gilbert doesn’t quite understand what woke means… tackling tough and complex issues like racism or addiction doesn’t make one “woke.” In fact, most of these issues on the original LHOTP series were approached from a decidedly Christian point of view.
Even her own fans pointed it out in the comments:
“With all due respect and kindness, your comment does not have anything to do with being woke. Those were issues that have gone on for decades. That is not the kind of woke that Miss Kelly was speaking about.”
“I don’t consider any of those topics as “woke” and if anyone does they are so sadly misinformed.”
“Is there any celebrity that doesn’t bow down to this woke nonsense? This was not a woke show, and by trying to depict that it was is destroying it’s popularity.”
“You don’t even understand the word woke. How embarrassing for you Laura.”
“Yeah but they addressed all of those issues with a Christian perspective, something that is treated in an extremely hostile manner these days.”
“You obviously don’t know what woke is.”
Who would have thought that a story about a family living in the 1700s could stir up so much controversy in the 21st century?
I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if Megyn Kelly claps back…
