While plenty of episodes of The Waltons challenged the status quo, the series, for the most part, kept its content fairly tame. Part of the appeal was its return to a simpler, more family-friendly time.

Creator Earl Hamner Jr. didn't necessarily present a false depiction of life in the 1930s and 1940s, but viewers came to expect a certain kind of episode when they tuned in to The Waltons.

According to actor Ralph Waite, who played John Walton Sr., pushing the series toward more risqué content came with risks of its own.

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"You begin to feel like you're violating audience expectations," Waite said in an interview with The Columbia Record. "We mustn't go too far. Viewers expect a certain mold. So there is a tendency to play it safe."

And when it came to playing it safe, there was perhaps no one better suited than Papa Walton. John Walton Sr. was there through the good times and the bad, always ready with a bit of advice.

"He's the good side of me," Waite said of John Walton.

Of course, an actor is only as good as his or her co-stars, and Waite was fortunate to spend nine years surrounded by talented performers. He particularly enjoyed working with Will Geer, who played Grandpa Walton.

After nearly a decade on The Waltons, Waite still hadn't grown tired of his castmates. Geer, in particular, had a knack for keeping things interesting.

"It's been a good life," Waite said. "You can get bored spending 11 hours on a set, but Will always manages to keep his interest up. He's a marvel. Put him anywhere, and Geer will have a ball."