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| Image Alt: | Cast of Bonanza in 1959 |
| Starring: | |
| Num Episodes: | 34 |
| Network: | NBC |
| Episode List: | List of Bonanza episodes |
The third season of the American Western television series Bonanza premiered on NBC on September 24, 1961, with the final episode airing May 20, 1962. The series was developed and produced by David Dortort, and season three starred Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon. The season consisted of 34 episodes of a series total 431 hour-long episodes, the entirety of which was produced in color. At the start of the third season, the show was moved to Sundays at 9:00 p.m. In that time slot, the ratings soared and the series become second only to Wagon Train as the most popular program on American prime time television.[1]
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.
See also: List of Bonanza characters.
Season three's writing introduced changes into Lorne Greene's character, Ben Cartwright, after Greene threatened to leave the show. Originally written as a Bible-quoting codger who vowed to shoot anyone who came on his land, Ben Cartwright was a tyrant of a father. Greene wanted a more relatable character with a sense of humor and a healthy relationship with his sons. Dortort revised the character to be a warmer father, and focused more on family and personal justice. The changes contributed to the show's success as the new season moved into the #2 spot in ratings.
This season marked the beginning of script writing for Michael Landon. His initial treatment was a handwritten script of about 30 pages. Frank Chase helped him complete the script, which ultimately became the April 2, 1962 episode, "The Gamble".
While filming episode 31, "The Dowry", on location, Pernell Roberts's horse, Sport, slipped and fell while going downhill on a muddy path. After Sport fell, Blocker's horse, Chub, who was following closely, stumbled over him. Roberts and Blocker jumped off their mounts as they had been trained to do, but both actors were injured. Roberts sprained his neck, while Blocker broke his collarbone and shoulder and would miss one episode then wear a sling for the remainder of the season.
Location shoots for the season included Incline Village for episode 9, "The Countess", and Iverson's Movie Ranch for episode 27, "The Gamble".
See also: List of Bonanza episodes.
The season aired on Sundays from 9:00pm10:00pm on NBC. This was a move from the season one and two timeslot of Saturdays from 7:30pm8:30pm on NBC.
In its new season three time slot, the ratings soared and the series become second only to Wagon Train as the most popular program on American prime time television.
As the show became more popular, celebrities requested to do the show. A November 11, 1961 episode of Maverick, "Three Queens Full", parodied the show using Jim Backus as Joe Wheelwright, who, along with his sons Henry, Moose, and Small Paul, all lived on their ranch known as the Subrosa.