Why ‘Bonanza’ Was Nearly Canceled After 6 Episodes — And What Saved It
Bonanza is now considered one of the most popular Western series of all time, spanning 14 seasons and becoming the first prime-time network Western to film in color. But, did you know that, early in its run, the highly-rated landmark series was almost canceled?
The show got off to a rough start. In fact, many consider the pilot episode, which premiered on September 12, 1959, to be “pretty bad,” according to the Los Angeles Times. Bonanza expert and head of the series’ estate Andrew J. Klyde shared, “Lorne Greene had said that the pilot had everything in it but the kitchen sink. Kind critics called it a good pilot episode that showcased the potential of the series.
It was also originally scheduled opposite super-hit Perry Mason, which made it tough for the show to get a toehold when it came to ratings.
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It had a rocky start,” said Klyde. “It was filmed in color, so it cost 25% more than other series. That was a big problem. The decision makers in New York decided to cancel the show after the first half-dozen shows.”
Fortunately, the show — centered around the Cartwright family and Ponderosa ranch, held together by Lorne Greene’s Ben Cartwright and his sons Adam (Pernell Roberts), Hoss (Dan Blocker) and Little Joe (Michael Landon)— was given some time to find an audience and eventually found its groove. “It needed a little time for an audience to develop,” creator David Dortort told the Los Angeles Times. It moved to Sundays at 9pm in 1961 and stayed there until its final season, which helped it to blossom.
Klyde added that if you rewatch the pilot today, the characters are almost unrecognizable, as the series changed a lot over the course of a decade. Do you remember watching the pilot episode? And did you keep up with the show for 14 seasons? If you want to rewatch the magic, you can watch the first two seasons of Bonanza on Tubi and other free streaming services.
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TV Westerns of the 50's & 60's
September 2021
’50s and ’60s TV Westerns roundup, celebrating the shows and stars of their golden age.
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