Bonanza season 4

The fourth season of the American Western television series Bonanza premiered on NBC on September 23, 1962, with the final episode airing May 26, 1963. The series was developed and produced by David Dortort, and season four 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. Season four was aired on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. It ranked #4 in the Nielsen ratings, the highest rated Western for the 1962–1963 season.

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, Adam, Eric, and Joseph. A regular character is their ranch cook, Hop Sing.

Cast and characters

Main cast

Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright
Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright
Dan Blocker as Eric "Hoss" Cartwright
Michael Landon as Joseph "Little Joe" Cartwright

Recurring

Victor Sen Yung as Hop Sing
Ray Teal as Sheriff Roy Coffee
Bing Russell as Deputy Clem Foster

Production

Casting

Bing Russell was added to the series as recurring character Deputy Clem Foster beginning with episode 18, "Half a Rouge".

Filming

On location filming for season four took place at Incline Village for episode 1, "The First Born"; episode 2, "The Quest", and episode 7, "The War Comes to Washoe". Additional locations were Griffith Park for episode 29, "Five into the Wind", and Bronson Canyon for episode 32, "Rich Man, Poor Man"

Episodes

Release

Season four aired on Sundays from 9:00pm10:00pm on NBC.

Reception

Season four ranked #4 in the Nielsen ratings, the highest rated Western for the 1962–1963 season.