I love both of these Westerns, but which one do you like best?

I've seen more reruns of Gunsmoke, but I like Bonanza the best. It had a little more humor in some of the episodes and of course having Little Joe was a plus.

I've seen more reruns of Gunsmoke, but I like Bonanza the best. It had a little more humor in some of the episodes and of course having Little Joe was a plus.

I agree. But I don't like the episodes without Hoss. After Dan Blocker died, the series continued for another year.

I agree. But I don't like the episodes without Hoss. After Dan Blocker died, the series continued for another year.
How did they explain the absence of Hoss? Or Adam, for that matter? Were they referred to afterwards?

I wasn't too keen on either show, but I always loved the Bonanza theme song :D

I like Bonanza better.

While I watch(ed) both, Gunsmoke is my #1.
Reasons:
1) Both series are centered on a 'family' type unit; in Bonanza ['B'] it's a literal family, in Gunsmoke ['G'] its several close friends in Dodge City. In B, the "boys" are men, not much younger than their Pa; Michael Landon [Little Joe] is the only one who is really young enough to be Lorne Green's [Ben C's] son (and really looks it!). So actors already in their 30's saying "Yes, Pa," "No, Pa," and "Thank you, Pa," to another actor about 50, makes it hard to focus on the fiction-- or a lot of people, including myself, think.
2) The "bad guys" on G really look like bad guys-- dirty, crude, sadistic-- with the exception, often outstanding, of their teeth, which are too white. B is just too cleaned up in that regard. You might argue that there is a basis for that, in that Virginia City was a center of fortune, and had many 'white collar' criminals. But even the miners and trappers are too clean and well-dressed.
3) In B, there is some latent, undeclared hypocrisy in that it's obvious that Ben C. came to the territory and established huge land holdings and wealth, and he must have done that by many claims and buyouts, and made all that money from lumber and mining before cattle became the chief endeavor. Yet he condemns clearcutting and further mining projects, and attempted takeovers of smaller landholders' spreads. And the Indians, in particular the Utes-- he respects their land rights and way of life, but how much did he do to upset it before by taking 100 square miles? He seems to think he was/is entitled to everything the newer fortune-chasers are not just because he came in an earlier settler period (but not before the Utes).
4) Related to #3, B is often on the margin of a "quasi-western," meaning it is clearly about modern themes more than situations contemporary to its own setting [Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman would be the best example of a 'quasi-western']. Ben C., for example, tries to help a smart Jewish kid get into a service academy, while their Congressman at first refused to recommend him, and Ben defended a man with 2 wives based on his religion. It's really hard to see a 19th century very wealthy man who wants to keep things as they are for himself and his sons as not being quite conservative.
5) G represents suffering and revenge on a more believable level, which was a theme of that time period. "Mrs Stone" [Bette Davis] has waited 6 years for her sons to get out of prison and carry out her revenge hanging of Matt Dillon, which has been her only purpose in living for those years, and she almost gets it done, but it is crossed by the most unlikely person involved. But she never turns away and is killed in the end. In B, revenge plots are more often ended by something like parallel reasoning, which was not the reality of the time.

Those are my main reasons. Anyone's reasons may eventually come down to which actors they like or how 'colorful' the characters are. That's okay with me; just as you may disagree with my stated reasons. Both good shows.

I like Bonanza a lot more as I'm a big fan of Michael Landon.

For me it's a push. I think Gunsmoke is a better representation of Old West life, but I liked Bonanza's production work better, and some of the plots. With that being said I've missed the middle 5 years of Gunsmoke (about '61-'66) and the final 3-4 seasons of Bonanza, so my opinion may not be fully formed.

How did they explain the absence of Hoss? Or Adam, for that matter? Were they referred to afterwards?
they said Hoss was killed in an accident (I forget what but I think it was while trying to save someone) and I think they said that Adam enrolled in a school "back east".
I saw one of the "lost" episodes on Encore Westerns where 1 or 2 guys (I forget which) who worked with Adam on a whaling ship came to the Ponderosa. That's the only time I can remember Adam being mentioned in any of the "lost" episodes.

gunsmoke is the best western in tv history. especially the first 6 seasons.

I have not watched Bonanza in years, but I have watched Gunsmoke lately, and love that show, and really for a show of that era, especially for the 1960's and early 1970's was ahead of its time in the writing and why it survived CBS' so called "Rural Purge". It was almost cancelled in 1967, but the network's President's wife loved it, so it was moved to Monday's and went back to the top 15 for about 8 more years.

Dodge City was crazy. Drunk rednecks with guns. Everyone had guns. Crazy people riding through town shooting guns, or wanting to duel someone, or all the killing, the fighting, more shooting, killing, drunks. In real life, Marshall Dillion, Miss. Kitty and Doc would have left that nutty town years ago.

I watched a lot of Bonanza in my life and have enjoyed it. The two shows are sort of similar and had a similar formula. When Dan Blocker died, the show died.

I like both but I choose Bonanza. More family friendly. Gunsmoke, was more crime-fighting esque.

In Bonanza, there was a fourth brother! He made only one appears and never seen again! He might have been the oldest son of Ben who was a black sheep of the family! It been 30 years since I saw this episode but it was unusual and remember it!

A 4th brother? I've never seen or heard of a 4th brother on Bonanza. Do you perhaps mean the cousin?-- I think Will Cartwright, played by Guy Williams [Zorro, Lost in Space] was his name. He came and buddied up to his uncle and cousins, but turned out to be a crook, if I recall right.

Both shows were good but I'll give a slight edge to Gunsmoke because it had a more realistic portrayal of the west

A 4th brother? I've never seen or heard of a 4th brother on Bonanza. Do you perhaps mean the cousin?-- I think Will Cartwright, played by Guy Williams [Zorro, Lost in Space] was his name. He came and buddied up to his uncle and cousins, but turned out to be a crook, if I recall right.

The only "4th brother" I can think of is Little Joe's half brother, Clay Stafford. He appeared in one episode - the first episode in season 4 - called "First Born." Ben's 3rd wife (and Joe's mother) Marie was married and gave birth to one child with her first husband. She was told he died of "the fever" but he was really taken by her in-laws and raised by them. In a later episode they change a bit of Marie's backstory but in this episode I think Marie and her first husband were still together when this happened.

Clay is Joe's half brother so I guess he could be considered the "4th brother." Ben definitely welcomed him into the family and moved him into the main house when he found out that Clay was Marie's son. He caused trouble for the family and ended up leaving after some miners beat Joe up because of him, and he was never seen again.

Gunsmoke because its better when its in the long hour format and it has Matt & Kitty together in the same show.

gunsmoke is the best western in tv history. especially the first 6 seasons.

I couldn't agree more !! I watch Gunsmoke everyday and I love the black and white episodes. I grew up watching the color ones on Saturday nights. I was so excited to find the black and white shows on the western channel. And the 30 minute episodes are truly classic.

I think Gunsmoke has a lot of humor. Especially between Chester and Doc, very funny.

when you say "the western channel" do you mean ENCORE WESTERNS?

A 4th brother? I've never seen or heard of a 4th brother on Bonanza. Do you perhaps mean the cousin?-- I think Will Cartwright, played by Guy Williams [Zorro, Lost in Space] was his name. He came and buddied up to his uncle and cousins, but turned out to be a crook, if I recall right.

Yes, it was Guy Williams! I thought he was a brother but may have been a cousin! I just view Guy William's screen test for role of Lost In Space too! Very entertaining!

The only "4th brother" I can think of is Little Joe's half brother, Clay Stafford. He appeared in one episode - the first episode in season 4 - called "First Born." Ben's 3rd wife (and Joe's mother) Marie was married and gave birth to one child with her first husband. She was told he died of "the fever" but he was really taken by her in-laws and raised by them. In a later episode they change a bit of Marie's backstory but in this episode I think Marie and her first husband were still together when this happened.

Clay is Joe's half brother so I guess he could be considered the "4th brother." Ben definitely welcomed him into the family and moved him into the main house when he found out that Clay was Marie's son. He caused trouble for the family and ended up leaving after some miners beat Joe up because of him, and he was never seen again.

Yes I remember the ending - was Clay Stafford, Guy Williams?

when you say "the western channel" do you mean ENCORE WESTERNS?

yes I am referring to the Encore Western channel. It may be my favorite channel.

Neither! :rofl: :rofl:

yes I am referring to the Encore Western channel. It may be my favorite channel.
mine too. Only I wish they'd start showing BONANZA again; and not just the lost episodes, the entire series.

Yes I remember the ending - was Clay Stafford, Guy Williams?

Clay Stafford was played by Barry Coe.

Guy Williams played Will Cartwright, nephew of Ben and cousins of Adam, Hoss and Joe, in a few episodes during season 5.

I love both of these Westerns, but which one do you like best?

I personally liked Gunsmoke better than Bonanza. Matt Dillon would back hand you in a skinny minute and while there was gunplay on Bonanza, it was hard for me to wrap my head around 3 grown men living with their Pa on a ranch. Still I love both shows as they each bring a unique look to the old west. There was no other Marshall television who could walk in Matt Dillons shoes. Watch the for couple seasons when he was downright aggressive. That folks is a real man, something missing from society today. Then again thats just one old guys opinion, but one my wife says she is glad she got her one!

I grew up in a "Bonanza" household. Not sure if that's because my parents were giving me role models, or whatever. But we watched them every weekend, for years and years.

I don't think that I ever saw Gunsmoke until I started watching it on TVLand, in the very early 2000's.
Between TVLand running the color episodes and the Insp network giving good play to the black and white era...I think I've seen just about every one, at least twice.

I prefer Gunsmoke because the villains are portrayed as real people with issues they are dealing with/in pursuit of.

Most westerns portray "bad guys" as some sort of synthetic evil doer who get's out of bed in the morning thinking "okay, since I'm the bad guy, what can I do today that is really rotten"?

And I don't believe the vast majority of villains think that way.

Their motives might be selfish, or the result of torment, or mental illness....but usually they are just trying to thrive in their own twisted way, with inadequate respect for authority.
And I think Gunsmoke captures that mindset better than Bonanza.

I think that Bonanza (and many others) tend to exaggerate the driving evil inside their villains mostly as a way to sanctify the goodness of their heroes.

And I've argued this point with die-hard Gunsmoke fans ad-nauseam: "Morgan" is a far better episode than "Mannon"

Same actor playing the villain in both episodes, but "Morgan" pretty much nails it as far as the authentic 'bad guy' persona.

Gunsmoke by a mile. It's easily one of the top five best dramas in TV history. The best thing about Bonanza was the theme music.

Gunsmoke by a mile. It's easily one of the top five best dramas in TV history. The best thing about Bonanza was the theme music.

You know who the guitarist is playing the Bonanza intro, right?

Just the man called "the most recorded man on earth", the man claimed to have played on 10,000 different pop tunes, he played the guitar on Barry Maguire's "Eve of Destruction", he played the guitar overdubs on the Monkee's "Last Train to Clarksville", he played on the 5th Dimension's "Age of Aquarius", most all of the Partridge Family's top ten hits, Played that three chord riff at the end of the Cowsill's hit "Hair", played most all the guitar overdubs on all the Mamas and the Papas hits , the guitar on the soundtrack for the movie "For a few Dollars More",....and many many more

Core member of the loose knit tribe of studio musicians called "The Wrecking crew" - Tommy Tedesco

https://vimeo.com/124344604