Your Ideal Bonanza: - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

KatieAnn · 11-29-2015, 06:50 PM

What would you change about Bonanza if you could? My ideal Bonanza would have kept the family whole, and I think that ideally David Dortort should have cast someone other than Pernell Roberts as Adam. My understanding is that Dortort knew from the beginning that Roberts didn't like what the show was about.

Perhaps Dortort hoped that Roberts would grow to like the role and didn't anticipate how much trouble he'd be, but I don't think that 6 seasons with Pernell would be worth losing the character of Adam. I would have much rather had some other actor playing Adam if it meant the character stayed on screen for the entire run of the show - and I wouldn't have known Pernell Roberts as Adam. I think another actor could have played the character just as well, and unlike the other actors in their roles, Pernell's portrayal didn't define the character of Adam.

This is a....magic wand type scenario, since realistically David Dortort couldn't have known, back in 1959, just how unhappy his choice for Adam could become as the years went by.

Michael cole · 11-29-2015, 09:06 PM

I Would have Kept all of the family members except Adam Cartwright. I did not like his character very much. As far as season wise, I think it ran a decent time and ended at a good time so I'd keep the amount of season's The same.

OH Nuts! · 11-30-2015, 01:42 AM

I think Bonanza is a great show; thoroughly enjoyed every episode I watched. So, as far as I'm concerned, if it works don't fix it!

KatieAnn · 11-30-2015, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael cole

I Would have Kept all of the family members except Adam Cartwright. I did not like his character very much. As far as season wise, I think it ran a decent time and ended at a good time so I'd keep the amount of season's The same.

That's interesting. Adam's not my favorite but I liked that Hoss and Little Joe had an older brother. And while the episodes that feature Adam as the main character aren't my favorites, I do like having him in episodes where they are all featured.

KatieAnn · 11-30-2015, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

I'd say they should have packed it in after Dan Blocker died, but you can't blame them for trying to keep the show going while it was popular.

Bonanza was probably fading in the season before Dan Blocker died - it wasn't as strong a show as it had been in earlier seasons - and they should have probably stopped when he died, but I think that they tried going on for the sake of the fans at that point. It must have been really sad for viewers back then.

KatieAnn · 11-30-2015, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OH Nuts!

I think Bonanza is a great show; thoroughly enjoyed every episode I watched. So, as far as I'm concerned, if it works don't fix it!

I think that once I found out about why the Adam character was written off the show (because the actor didn't like playing the role) it made me wonder about what Dortort's long term plan for the show would have been if Adam hadn't left. He would have kept the family together, and I would have liked to have seen that version of the series even though I agree that what we have does work and remains great viewing.

View Poll Results: What would your ideal Bonanza be?
Bonanza would have been cancelled after 6 seasons, when Pernell left, going out on top	0	0%
Bonanza would have gone on post Adam for 2/4 seasons, going out in the middle, with a proper finale	1	25.00%
Bonanza would have recast Adam after Pernell left, keeping the core family whole	0	0%
Pernell would never have played Adam, another actor would have for the entire run of the show	0	0%
The Bonanza that exists is ideal, 14 seasons, 6 with Pernell, 7 & a half without him, no finale	3	75.00%
Other: Explain in the comment section	0	0%
Voters: 4. You may not vote on this poll

11-29-2015, 06:50 PM	#1
KatieAnn Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 15, 2011 Posts: 520	Your Ideal Bonanza: What would you change about Bonanza if you could? My ideal Bonanza would have kept the family whole, and I think that ideally David Dortort should have cast someone other than Pernell Roberts as Adam. My understanding is that Dortort knew from the beginning that Roberts didn't like what the show was about. Perhaps Dortort hoped that Roberts would grow to like the role and didn't anticipate how much trouble he'd be, but I don't think that 6 seasons with Pernell would be worth losing the character of Adam. I would have much rather had some other actor playing Adam if it meant the character stayed on screen for the entire run of the show - and I wouldn't have known Pernell Roberts as Adam. I think another actor could have played the character just as well, and unlike the other actors in their roles, Pernell's portrayal didn't define the character of Adam. This is a....magic wand type scenario, since realistically David Dortort couldn't have known, back in 1959, just how unhappy his choice for Adam could become as the years went by.

11-29-2015, 09:06 PM	#2
Michael cole Henry Winkler Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 06, 2015 Location: Webster, Pennsylvania Posts: 761	I Would have Kept all of the family members except Adam Cartwright. I did not like his character very much. As far as season wise, I think it ran a decent time and ended at a good time so I'd keep the amount of season's The same.
	__________________ Happy Days Fan

11-30-2015, 01:42 AM	#3
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	I think Bonanza is a great show; thoroughly enjoyed every episode I watched. So, as far as I'm concerned, if it works don't fix it!