Surprising Secrets from the Set of Little House on the Prairie

The series started strong, earning big ratings in its first season. But when the second season aired, viewership dropped sharply, and NBC seriously considered canceling it. To save the show, the network moved it from Wednesday to Monday nights, hoping to reach a bigger audience.

The change worked — by the third season, ratings bounced back. NBC planned to end the show after season four, but its growing popularity convinced them to keep it going. It stayed in the top 30 for years and remained a fan favorite until its final cancellation in 1983.