Ep.29 - Rick Okie: From The Network To The Writers Room

Meet Rick Okie, officially the coolest person we know! He has been a successful writer, director, producer, showrunner, and executive in the television industry for over 30 years. Most recently Supervising Producer on the CBS mystery series "Elementary", he has worked in nearly every genre for the major broadcast networks, cable channels, syndication, and streaming outlets. Rick worked as Director of Current Programs at CBS and NBC (that’s the Little House connection) before turning his attention to writing and directing. He was headquartered at Universal for several seasons, winning nominations for both the Emmy (for "Quantum Leap") and Edgar (for "Simon & Simon") awards while running existing series and also creating his own, "Major Dad", for CBS. In addition, through his own production company (and with his friend, Dean – yes our Dean) he continues the ongoing production of documentaries. He is best known for writing, directing, and producing the globe-spanning back-to-the-battlefields series "Goin’ Back" for The Discovery Networks and writing/producing the PBS concert musical pledge special "Pa’s Fiddle". Rick talks to us about his role at Little House, (and eventually as a writer on "Highway to Heaven"), how he was the "Michael Landon Whisperer", and describes how Michael worked, conjuring up the deepest part of his emotional past to crack a Little House storyline. Endlessly fascinating tales of how Little House worked--from the writers' room, to the Network, to the behind-the-scenes happenings on and off set. Rick tells us how he got into the business, and how Michael Landon and Little House impacted the rest of his incredible career. And for our Patreon peeps, find out the inner workings of how Little House: A New Beginning was created, as well as more insider stuff about the infamous "SYLVIA" episodes. Exclusively on Patreon--Subscribe today! For more info go to: PATREON:   / littlehousepodcast   www.LittleHouse50Podcast.com to connect with our hosts and link to their websites. The merch shop is under renovation - we will keep you posted on the status! www.LivinOnaPrairieTV.com Check out this Award Winning Series created by Pamela Bob, with special guest stars Alison Arngrim and Charlotte Stewart. Little House 50th Anniversary Bus Tours - www.SimiValleyChamber.org select Little House 50th Anniversary and then Bus Tickets Facebook/Instagram/TikTok: Dean Butler @officialdeanbutler Alison Arngrim @alisonarngrim Pamela Bob @thepamelabob, @prairietv LITTLE HOUSE EVENTS August 16th-17th Tombstone, AZ Book Signing Address: 530 East Allen St. Tombstone AZ 85638 RSVP at Eventbrite: Tombstone Book Signing Event - Dean Butler & Special Guests August 30th-Sept. 1st Watertown, CT https://www.eventbrite.com/e/little-h... Address: Connecticut Convention Center 100 Columbus Boulevard Hartford, CT 06103 September 3rd-4th 2024, Lancaster, PA https://www.eventbrite.com/e/79280700... Farm & Home Center Address: 1383 Arcadia Road Lancaster, PA 17601 September 14th-15th Lyles, TN Johnny Cash’s Hideaway Farm Address: 9347 Old Highway 46 Lyle, TN 37025 Sept 27-29, 2024 SD Carrie Days Keystone Community Center September 27th-29th Mansfield, MO Wilder Days Address: 100 E Parksquare Mansfield, MO 65704 United States October 4th & 5th - Tulsa, OK October 18th & 19th - Almanzo Wilder Homestead November 16th & 17th - Branson, MO Branson Convention Center 200 South Sycamore Street Branson, MO 65616 December 6th-8th : Corsicana, TX https://www.eventbrite.com/e/92312427... CONFESSIONS OF A PRAIRIE BITCH-ALISON'S ONE-WOMAN SHOW August 1 at 7pm Oasis (298 11th St, San Francisco, CA 94103) Tickets at www.sfoasis.com *WITH A SURPRISE SPECIAL GUEST* ADDITIONAL SIGNINGS Alison and Melissa Gilbert will be appearing at: FAN X in Salt Lake City, Sept 26 - 28 https://fanxsaltlake.com/ FACEBOOK LIVE with PAMELA and DEAN https://fb.watch/sXZvDxawWr/