Review of The Waltons: Homecoming

This is not a review. I'm just befuddled... Grandpa Walton goes out to cut down a Christmas tree, with John Boy and Mary Ellen tagging along. On the way they stop at the family cemetery. Did I hear this correctly?? John Boy says he has only been to the cemetery once in his life?? And Mary Ellen has never seen it?? And this was while they were WALKING to get a tree off of their land??

Later, Erin looks into a tiny mirror and quips, "Dahling, I'm ready for my closeup.." '30s era setting quoting from Sunset Boulevard from 1950?

Please tell me, what inspires such oddball screen writing?