Bonanza season 2
Bonanza | |
---|---|
Season 2 | |
Starring | |
No. of episodes | 34 |
Release | |
Original network | NBC |
Original release | September 10, 1960 June 3, 1961 | –
Season chronology | |
The second season of the American Western television series Bonanza premiered on NBC on September 10, 1960, with the final episode airing June 3, 1961.[1] The series was developed and produced by David Dortort, and season two starred Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon. The season consisted of 34 episodes of the series's total 431 hour-long episodes, the entirety of which was produced in color.[2] It aired on Saturdays from 7:30 pm–8:30 pm on NBC[3] and placed at number 17 in the Nielsen ratings.[4]
Synopsis
Bonanza is set around the Ponderosa Ranch near Virginia City, Nevada and chronicles the weekly adventures of the Cartwright family, consisting of Ben Cartwright and his three sons (each by a different wife), Adam, Eric ("Hoss"), and Joseph ("Little Joe"). A regular character is their ranch cook, Hop Sing. A new recurring character is added, sheriff Roy Coffee.
Cast and characters
Main cast
- Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright
- Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright
- Dan Blocker as Eric "Hoss" Cartwright
- Michael Landon as Joseph "Little Joe" Cartwright
Recurring
- Victor Sen Yung as Hop Sing
- Ray Teal as Sheriff Roy Coffee
Guest stars
- Julie Adams
- Charles Aidman
- Claude Akins
- Anna-Lisa
- Val Avery
- Parley Baer
- Bob Barker
- Arthur Batanides
- James Best
- Sidney Blackmer
- Neville Brand
- Geraldine Brooks
- Edgar Buchanan
- James Coburn
- Richard Coogan
- Ben Cooper
- Richard Davalos
- John Dehner
- Crahan Denton
- Patricia Donahue
- Dan Duryea
- Jack Elam
- Ross Elliott
- Leif Erickson
- John Ericson
- Jason Evers
- Myrna Fahey
- Eddie Firestone
- Dianne Foster
- Peggy Ann Garner
- Larry Gates
- Nora Hayden
- Henry Hull
- George Kennedy
- June Kenney
- Martin Landau
- Robert Lansing
- Barbara Lawrence
- Robert Maffei
- Gerald Mohr
- Ricardo Montalbán
- Leonard Nimoy
- Stuart Nisbet
- J. Pat O'Malley
- Dennis Patrick
- Judson Pratt
- Ford Rainey
- Maxwell Reed
- Stafford Repp
- Madlyn Rhue
- Keith Richards
- Ziva Rodann
- Jackie Russell
- Eddie Ryder
- Vito Scotti
- Karen Sharpe
- Frank Silvera
- Jan Sterling
- Stella Stevens
- Randy Stuart
- Karl Swenson
- Dan Tobin
- Franchot Tone
- Harry Townes
- Natalie Trundy
- Beverly Tyler
- Lee Van Cleef
- Katherine Warren
- Adam West
- Adam Williams
- Ian Wolfe
Production
Being in the same timeslot as Perry Mason, it took some time for the show to catch on. NBC saw improvement in the ratings toward the end of the premiere season and so renewed the series for another season.[5]
Episode 34, "Sam Hill", was the pilot episode for an unsold spinoff.[6]
Casting
Ray Teal was added as recurring character Sheriff Roy Coffee.[7]
Filming
Episode 8 of the season, "The Abduction", was filmed entirely on a Paramount soundstage.[8] Location shooting for episode 12, "The Savage", took place at Franklin lake in Hollywood and Iverson's Movie Ranch.[9] Iverson's Movie Ranch was also used for episode 23, "The Rescue".[10] Red Rock Canyon was used for episode 24, "The Dark Gate" and episode 27, "The Gift".[11] Episode 30, "Thunderhead Swindle", was filmed at Bronson Canyon.[12]
Episodes
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
33 | 1 | "Showdown" | Lewis Allen | Dean Riesner | September 10, 1960 |
34 | 2 | "The Mission" | James Neilson | Robert E. Thompson | September 17, 1960 |
35 | 3 | "Badge Without Honor" | Arthur Lubin | John Twist | September 24, 1960 |
36 | 4 | "The Mill" | John Rich | Halsted Welles | October 1, 1960 |
37 | 5 | "The Hopefuls" | James Neilson | E. Jack Neuman | October 8, 1960 |
38 | 6 | "Denver McKee" | Jacques Tourneur | Fred Freiberger and Steve McNeil | October 15, 1960 |
39 | 7 | "Day of Reckoning" | Richard H. Bartlett | Story by : Leonard Heideman Teleplay by : Leonard Heideman and R. Harner Norris | October 22, 1960 |
40 | 8 | "The Abduction" | Charles Haas | Herman Groves | October 29, 1960 |
41 | 9 | "Breed of Violence" | Johnny Florea | David Lang | November 5, 1960 |
42 | 10 | "The Last Viking" | Johnny Florea | Anthony Lawrence | November 12, 1960 |
43 | 11 | "The Trail Gang" | John Rich | Carey Wilber | November 26, 1960 |
44 | 12 | "The Savage" | James Neilson | Joseph Stone and Paul King | December 3, 1960 |
45 | 13 | "Silent Thunder" | Robert Altman | John Furia Jr. | December 10, 1960 |
46 | 14 | "The Ape" | James P. Yarbrough | Gene L. Coon | December 17, 1960 |
47 | 15 | "The Blood Line" | Lewis Allen | William Raynor and Myles Wilder | December 31, 1960 |
48 | 16 | "The Courtship" | James P. Yarbrough | Richard Morgan | January 7, 1961 |
49 | 17 | "The Spitfire" | William D. Faralla | Ward Hawkins | January 14, 1961 |
50 | 18 | "The Bride" | Alvin Ganzer | Richard Newman | January 21, 1961 |
51 | 19 | "Bank Run" | Robert Altman | N.B. Stone Jr. | January 28, 1961 |
52 | 20 | "The Fugitive" | Lewis Allen | Richard H. Landau | February 4, 1961 |
53 | 21 | "Vengeance" | Dick Moder | Marion Parsonnet | February 11, 1961 |
54 | 22 | "Tax Collector" | William Witney | Arnold Belgard | February 18, 1961 |
55 | 23 | "The Rescue" | William D. Faralla | Steve McNeil | February 25, 1961 |
56 | 24 | "The Dark Gate" | Robert Gordon | Ward Hawkins | March 4, 1961 |
57 | 25 | "The Duke" | Robert Altman | Story by : Theodore & Mathilde Ferro Teleplay by : William R. Cox | March 11, 1961 |
58 | 26 | "Cutthroat Junction" | Dick Moder | Nat Tanchuck | March 18, 1961 |
59 | 27 | "The Gift" | William Witney | Denne Bart Petitclerc and Thomas Thompson | April 1, 1961 |
60 | 28 | "The Rival" | Robert Altman | Anthony Lawrence | April 15, 1961 |
61 | 29 | "The Infernal Machine" | William Witney | Ward Hawkins | April 22, 1961 |
62 | 30 | "The Thunderhead Swindle" | Dick Moder | Gene L. Coon | April 29, 1961 |
63 | 31 | "The Secret" | Robert Altman | John Hawkins | May 6, 1961 |
64 | 32 | "The Dream Riders" | Robert Altman | James Van Wagoner and Jack McClain | May 20, 1961 |
65 | 33 | "Elizabeth, My Love" | Lewis Allen | Anthony Lawrence | May 27, 1961 |
66 | 34 | "Sam Hill" | Robert Altman | David Dortort | June 3, 1961 |
Release
The season aired on Saturdays from 7:30 pm–8:30 pm on NBC.[3] The timeslot was deliberate. It was a time when many people were shopping in department stores, and they could see the show displayed on color televisions at period when color television sets had not yet been widely adopted.[13] However, many people watching at home were still tuning in to Perry Mason in that timeslot.[13]
Reception
Variety gave the first episode of the season a better review than the previous season, writing that the acting and direction "were up to pro standards", and that the show "appears to have a good workable concept riding for it".[7]
Season two finished at number 17 in the Nielsen ratings.[4]
References
Footnotes
- ^ Shapiro 1997, pp. 71, 75.
- ^ Shapiro 1997, pp. 5, 65–157.
- ^ a b Brooks & Marsh 2007, p. 164.
- ^ a b "TV Ratings: 1960–1961". ClassicTVGuide.com. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ Greenland 2015.
- ^ Leiby & Leiby 2015, p. 51.
- ^ a b Leiby & Leiby 2015, p. 40.
- ^ Leiby & Leiby 2015, p. 42.
- ^ Leiby & Leiby 2015, p. 44.
- ^ Leiby & Leiby 2015, p. 48.
- ^ Leiby & Leiby 2015, p. 49.
- ^ Leiby & Leiby 2015, p. 50.
- ^ a b Shapiro 1997, p. 5.
Bibliography
- Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4.
- Greenland, David R. (2010). Bonanza: A Viewer's Guide to the TV Legend. BearManor Media. ISBN 978-1-62933-722-7.
- Greenland, David R. (2015). Michael Landon: The Career and Artistry of a Television Genius. BearManor Media. ISBN 978-1-59393-785-0.
- Leiby, Bruce R.; Leiby, Linda F. (2015). A Reference Guide to Television's Bonanza: Episodes, Personnel, and Broadcast History. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 9781476600758.
- McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
- Shapiro, Melany (1997). Bonanza: The Definitive Ponderosa Companion. Cyclone Books. ISBN 978-1-890723-18-7.