The premise of using a television show to wax poetically about wet-on-wet painting wasn't all Ross nicked from Alexander. In "Bob Ross, Bill Alexander — Beyond the Pale" on the Painters Online website, Robert Philip Jones points out that some of Ross's catchphrases — "happy little trees," "the almighty knife" — were originally Alexander expressions, though he does grant that one — "we don't make mistakes; we just have happy accidents" — could be a purely Ross creation.
Yet, despite all this, it's Ross who has the cultish status. Why? Jones and Stanley (and many others) point to Ross's voice. Jones states that Ross's only serious contribution to the show's format was "[his] soft, hypnotic voice ... whether his art tuition was much good or not hardly mattered: Ross was the very best promoter of relaxation and sleep on US television at the time, and he still is on YouTube, 20 years after his untimely death." People would even watch his program not to learn how to do quick, passable paintings, but to zone out in blissful relaxation. Alexander's more energetic euphoria couldn't compete. Even though Ross may or may not have regurgitated Alexander's teachings, he still figure-headed a multi-million dollar industry by virtue of being Bob Ross. When faced with this, who'd blame Bill Alexander for being a bit bitter?
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