retrogasm:

I think Hollywood tried to punish our wild ways from the 1960s by giving us sedated bullshit in the 1970s like Holly Hobbie, Little House on the Prairie, The (goodnight John Boy) Waltons, and Grizzly Adams…

I think shows like these (and Holly Hobbie) were great entertainment for many people, hence why they did well and are remembered well. No one I know who watched thought of them as punishment or bullshit. They were enjoyed then and are now television classics.