Bonanza or Gunsmoke? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Tiger32 · 06-22-2007, 04:28 PM

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

AB · 06-22-2007, 05:32 PM

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.

Tiger32 · 06-22-2007, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by annball1957

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.

Fontaine · 10-20-2013, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiger32

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?

Summer Reign · 10-20-2013, 09:08 PM

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

Marvo301 · 10-21-2013, 01:48 PM

I like Bonanza better.

tdr · 01-12-2015, 09:45 PM

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.

OH Nuts! · 01-12-2015, 11:50 PM

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

SameOleMe · 04-04-2015, 05:59 AM

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.

treky · 04-30-2015, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fontaine

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.

katmandu38 · 06-20-2015, 02:01 PM

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

Yong Fang · 07-13-2015, 08:50 PM

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.

Michael cole · 09-07-2015, 10:49 AM

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

HarryWild · 02-08-2016, 03:29 AM

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!

tdr · 02-11-2016, 09:51 AM

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.

10-20-2013, 09:08 PM	#5
Summer Reign Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 10, 2013 Posts: 136	I wasn't too keen on either show, but I always loved the Bonanza theme song
	__________________ One shouldn't stop having fun just because they are older; one becomes old when they stop having fun.

10-21-2013, 01:48 PM	#6
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,450	I like Bonanza better.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

01-12-2015, 09:45 PM	#7
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	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.
	Last edited by tdr; 01-13-2015 at 12:39 AM.

06-20-2015, 02:01 PM	#11
katmandu38 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 01, 2002 Location: tennessee Posts: 678	GUNSMOKE gunsmoke is the best western in tv history. especially the first 6 seasons.

06-22-2007, 04:28 PM	#1
Tiger32 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 14, 2002 Posts: 624	Bonanza or Gunsmoke? I love both of these Westerns, but which one do you like best?

06-22-2007, 05:32 PM	#2
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,426	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.

01-12-2015, 11:50 PM	#8
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	I like Bonanza a lot more as I'm a big fan of Michael Landon.

04-04-2015, 05:59 AM	#9
SameOleMe Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 16, 2013 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 15	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.

07-13-2015, 08:50 PM	#12
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	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.

09-07-2015, 10:49 AM	#13
Michael cole Henry Winkler Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 06, 2015 Location: Webster, Pennsylvania Posts: 761	I like both but I choose Bonanza. More family friendly. Gunsmoke, was more crime-fighting esque.

02-08-2016, 03:29 AM	#14
HarryWild Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 16, 2012 Posts: 454	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!

02-11-2016, 09:51 AM	#15
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	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.