"I want people to laugh and cry, not just sit and stare at the TV"

In this quote, Michael Landon expresses his desire for people to experience a series of feelings while enjoying tv. He thinks that simply sitting and looking at the TV is inadequate; he desires viewers to be fully engaged and bought what they are watching. Landon values the power of laughter and tears, as they can evoke strong emotional reactions and create a much deeper connection between the audience and the content. He wants tv to be more than simply a meaningless activity, however rather a source of entertainment that can make people feel and experience a series of feelings.