Bonanza (season 8)

The eighth season of the American Western television series Bonanza premiered on NBC on September 11, 1966, with the final episode airing May 14, 1967.[1] The series was developed and produced by David Dortort. Season eight starred Lorne Greene, 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.[2] Season eight was aired on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. It was the third straight season the show held the #1 position in the Nielsen ratings.[3]

Bonanza
Season 8
Cast of Bonanza in 1959
Cast of Bonanza in 1959
Starring
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes34
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseSeptember 11, 1966 (1966-09-11) 
May 14, 1967 (1967-05-14)
Season chronology

Synopsis

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.

Cast and characters

Main cast

Recurring

Guest cast

Production

Filming

On location filming for season eight took place at the following:

Episodes

Bonanza, season 8 episodes
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
2361"Something Hurt, Something Wild"Lewis AllenJerry Alderman and William DriskillSeptember 11, 1966 (1966-09-11)
Laurie Ferguson (Lynn Loring) accuses Joe of assaulting her, setting off a feud between her family and the Cartwrights.
2372"Horse of a Different Hue"William WitneyWilliam R. CoxSeptember 18, 1966 (1966-09-18)
Ben has no idea that the outcome of a horse race he arranged has been fixed by an old friend of his, Colonel Robert Fairchild (Charles Ruggles).
2383"A Time to Step Down"Paul HenreidFrank ChaseSeptember 25, 1966 (1966-09-25)
Aging wrangler Dan Tolliver (Ed Begley) turns against the Cartwrights after his longtime friend Ben suggests that he should retire.
2394"The Pursued"William WitneyStory by: Thomas Thompson and Marc Michaels
Teleplay by: Thomas Thompson
October 2, 1966 (1966-10-02)
2405October 9, 1966 (1966-10-09)
The Cartwrights try to help a Mormon rancher (Eric Fleming) overcome persecution against his beliefs. Eric Fleming, Dina Merrill, Lois Nettleton and Vincent Beck guest star.
2416"To Bloom for Thee"Sutton RoleyJune RandolphOctober 16, 1966 (1966-10-16)
Hoss proposes marriage to Carol Attley (Geraldine Brooks), a woman with a hidden past which includes having killed her abusive first husband and fleeing from the associated murder charge.
2427"Credit for a Kill"William F. ClaxtonFrederick Louis FoxOctober 23, 1966 (1966-10-23)
Joe lets his friend Morgan Tanner (Dean Harens) take credit for killing a horse thief, but when the outlaw's brothers come after him to get their revenge he has to make a difficult decision to save his friend's life.
2438"Four Sisters from Boston"Alan Crosland Jr.John M. ChesterOctober 30, 1966 (1966-10-30)
Ben tries to stop a con artist from stealing an inheritance from four Boston sisters that are trying to prevent the auctioning of a property left to them by their uncle. Vera Miles guest stars.
2449"Old Charlie"William F. ClaxtonBob and Wanda DuncanNovember 6, 1966 (1966-11-06)
Teller of tales Old Charlie Conners (John McIntire) brags about killing an outlaw, so the dead man's brothers seek their revenge.
24510"Ballad of the Ponderosa"William F. ClaxtonStory by: Hendrik Vollaerts
Teleplay by: Rik Vollaerts and Michael Landon
November 13, 1966 (1966-11-13)
A balladeer blames Ben for his father's hanging. Randy Boone, Ann Doran, Roger Davis and John Archer guest star.
24611"The Oath"Gerd OswaldMartha WilkersonNovember 20, 1966 (1966-11-20)
Before his execution for murder, convicted man Big Charlie Monahan (Douglas Kennedy) has his son take an oath to kill the Cartwrights for revenge.
24712"A Real Nice, Friendly Little Town"Herman HoffmanHerman HoffmanNovember 27, 1966 (1966-11-27)
Hoss confronts a woman and her gun-toting sons after Joe is hit by a ricocheting bullet, but the mother seems to be more interested in protecting her kids than seeing justice done. Louise Latham, Mark Slade and Vaughn Taylor guest star.
24813"The Bridegroom"William F. ClaxtonWalter BlackDecember 4, 1966 (1966-12-04)
Joe romances Maggie Dowling (Joanne Linville) so widower Jared Wilson (Ron Hayes) will be jealous enough to ask for her hand in marriage.
24914"Tommy"William WitneyStory by: Mary Terri Taylor and Thomas Thompson
Teleplay by: Mort Thaw and Mary Terri Taylor
December 18, 1966 (1966-12-18)
The Cartwrights protect deaf-mute Tommy Miller (Teddy Quinn) and his mother from his stepfather, a vicious outlaw determined to take back his wife.
25015"A Christmas Story"Gerd OswaldThomas ThompsonDecember 25, 1966 (1966-12-25)
Singer Andy Walker (Wayne Newton) returns to Virginia City for Christmas with his scheming uncle, who plans to make a profit on the orphans' benefit.
25116"Ponderosa Explosion"William F. ClaxtonAlex SharpJanuary 1, 1967 (1967-01-01)
Joe and Hoss literally get more than they bargained for when a pair of con men lead them to invest in a pair of rabbits that subsequently multiply. Dub Taylor, Chubby Johnson, Chick Chandler and Phil Chambers guest star.
25217"Justice"Lewis AllenRichard WendleyJanuary 8, 1967 (1967-01-08)
Joe seeks revenge on the bank clerk who killed his fiancée. Beau Bridges, Lurene Tuttle and Shirley Bonne guest star.
25318"A Bride for Buford"William F. ClaxtonRobert V. BarronJanuary 15, 1967 (1967-01-15)
Hoss is certain that a saloon girl is only interested in a miner for his wealth. Lola Albright, Jack Elam, Paul Brinegar and Richard Devon guest star.
25419"Black Friday"William F. ClaxtonHerbert Kastle and John HawkinsJanuary 22, 1967 (1967-01-22)
Joe tries to save his friend Steven Friday (John Saxon) from dying in a gunfight to avenge one of his victims and planned for Friday the 13th.
25520"The Unseen Wound"Gerd OswaldFrank ChaseJanuary 29, 1967 (1967-01-29)
Ben tries to help his friend Sheriff Paul Rowan (Leslie Nielsen) after his wife Katherine (Nancy Malone) shows concerns about his health: the Sheriff has been driven to the breaking point by years of violence.
25621"Journey to Terror"Lewis AllenJoel MurcottFebruary 5, 1967 (1967-02-05)
After being suspected of being a member of Wade Hollister (John Ericson)'s gang, outlaws imprison Little Joe, Tom (Jason Evers) and Ellie Blackwell (Elizabeth Rogers) at the Blackwell farm.
25722"Amigo"William F. ClaxtonStory by: Jack Turley
Teleplay by: John Hawkins and Jack Turley
February 12, 1967 (1967-02-12)
Ben helps a wounded comanchero who is being pursued by a lynch mob, a band of terrorists and an angry Little Joe who has just lost a friend. Henry Darrow and Gregory Walcott guest star.
25823"A Woman in the House"Gerd OswaldJoel MurcottFebruary 19, 1967 (1967-02-19)
Ben protects a girl from her alcoholic husband, but she's unable to tell gratitude from love. Diane Baker and Paul Richards guest star.
25924"Judgement at Red Creek"William F. ClaxtonRobert SabaroffFebruary 26, 1967 (1967-02-26)
Joe comes to suspect that a pair of murder suspects is lying because the leader of a posse does not intend to bring them alive. John Ireland, Martin West and Harry Carey Jr. guest star.
26025"Joe Cartwright, Detective"William F. ClaxtonStory by: Oliver Crawford
Teleplay by: Michael Landon
March 5, 1967 (1967-03-05)
Joe gets hooked on detective novels and tries to use Scotland Yard techniques to prevent a bank robbery. Mort Mills, Ken Lynch and Ed Prentiss guest star.
26126"Dark Enough to See the Stars"Donald R. DavesKelly ColvinMarch 12, 1967 (1967-03-12)
A young ranch hand who is running from the law falls in love with a girl. Richard Evans and Richard Eastham guest star.
26227"The Deed and the Dilemma"William F. ClaxtonWilliam F. LeicesterMarch 26, 1967 (1967-03-26)
Ben tries to help the family of immigrant winemaker Giorgio Rossi (first introduced in episode 29 of season 7), but a racist neighbor complicates things. Jack Kruschen (as giorgio) and Brioni Farrell guest star.
26328"The Prince"William F. ClaxtonStory by: Melvin Levy
Teleplay by: John Hawkins
April 2, 1967 (1967-04-02)
The Cartwrights welcome Count Alexis (Warren Stevens) and Countess Elena (Claire Griswold), who are being targeted by thieves.
26429"A Man Without Land"Donald R. DavesSteve McNeilApril 9, 1967 (1967-04-09)
To get Matt Jeffers (Royal Dano)'s land, a foreman murders his son and frames Little Joe.
26530"Napoleon's Children"Christian NybyJudith and Robert Guy BarrowsApril 16, 1967 (1967-04-16)
Ted Arseneaux (Robert Biheller) believes that he is Napoleon and leads an army of young men in terrorizing Virginia City.
26631"The Wormwood Cup"William F. ClaxtonStory by: Joy Dexter
Teleplay by: Joy Dexter and Michael Landon
April 23, 1967 (1967-04-23)
A woman blames Joe for killing her brother and offers a thousand dollars to the man who will kill him in a fair fight. Little Joe tries to convince her that she's wrong, but it might be too late. Frank Overton, Judi Meredith and Clay Tanner guest star.
26732"Clarissa"Lewis AllenChester KrumholzApril 30, 1967 (1967-04-30)
The Cartwrights' Eastern cousin Clarissa Cartwright (Nina Foch) brings trouble when she visits to the Ponderosa.
26833"Maestro Hoss"William F. ClaxtonU.S. AndersonMay 7, 1967 (1967-05-07)
Phony fortune-teller Madame Marova (Zsa Zsa Gabor) causes earaches when she convinces Hoss he's a master violinist.
26934"The Greedy Ones"Donald R. DavesJames AmesburyMay 14, 1967 (1967-05-14)
Greedy gold hunters threaten to destroy the Ponderosa after a prospector claims to have found a sample there. Robert Middleton, George Chandler and William Bakewell guest star.

Release

Season eight aired on Sundays from 9:00 pm10:00 pm on NBC.[10]

Reception

The show held the #1 position in the Nielsen ratings for three straight seasons, with season eight being the final season to do so.[3]

Awards and nominations

Award Year[lower-alpha 1] Category Nominee(s) / Work Result Ref(s)
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards 1967 Individual Achievements in Cinematography—Cinematography Haskell Boggs and William F. Whitley Nominated [11]
  1. Indicates the year of ceremony.

References

Footnotes

  1. Shapiro 1997, pp. 107, 111.
  2. Shapiro 1997, pp. 5, 65–157.
  3. Leiby & Leiby 2015, p. 113.
  4. Leiby & Leiby 2015, p. 114.
  5. Leiby & Leiby 2015, p. 115.
  6. Leiby & Leiby 2015, p. 122.
  7. Leiby & Leiby 2015, p. 125.
  8. Leiby & Leiby 2015, p. 117.
  9. Brooks & Marsh 2007, p. 164.
  10. "Television Academy Emmy Awards & Nominations—Bonanza". emmys.com. Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.

Bibliography

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