Paradise (1988 TV series)


Paradise is an American family Western television series, broadcast by CBS from October 27, 1988, to May 10, 1991. Created by David Jacobs and Robert Porter, the series presents the adventures of fictitious gunfighter Ethan Allen Cord, whose sister left her four children in his custody when she died.

Synopsis

Paradise, set from 1890 and on, starred Lee Horsley as Cord, a professional gunfighter who was forced to take custody of the four children of his sister Lucy, a St. Louis singer who was dying and unable to make any other arrangements for their care. Cord realized his profession was unsuitable to child rearing and decided to change, renting a farm from Amelia Lawson, who also owned the local bank in the small town of Paradise, California. Ethan tried to live a peaceful life, but was constantly haunted by his violent past and frequently called upon by the townspeople to defend them from lawlessness. Cord was close friends with John Taylor, a Native American medicine man, who often provided him with wise counsel and insights into human nature.

Cast

Main cast

Guest cast

In a two-part episode, Gene Barry and Hugh O'Brian recreated their famous 1950s television roles of legendary gunslingers Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp. The special two-part episode briefly launched the ratings-challenged series into the top 10 of the Nielsen Ratings. Robert Harland, who co-starred in the 1960 television Western Law of the Plainsman, made his last television appearance in 1988 on Paradise.

Production

Development

After the second season ended the show went on hiatus to make some changes. It returned to the air in January 1991 for its shortened and final third season. A new opening sequence introduced the series' new name, Guns of Paradise, an apparent attempt to remind viewers that the program, despite its title, was in fact a Western. Cord and Amelia were now engaged and in the process of building a new house; and Cord was in the process of achieving an official appointment to be the town's marshal, the role he had essentially been fulfilling unofficially.
In 1991, despite a loyal fan base and critical acclaim, the series was canceled after three seasons amid low viewer ratings. In the mid-'90s, The Family Channel ran Paradise in syndication.

Home media

On April 25, 2017, Warner Bros. released the first season of Paradise on DVD.

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
1989American Society of Cinematographers AwardOutstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular SeriesRichard M. Rawlings Jr.Won
1990American Society of Cinematographers AwardOutstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular SeriesRichard M. Rawlings Jr.Nomitated
1990International Monitor AwardBest Editor – Film Originated EntertainmentM. Edward Salier and Lorimar Nomitated
1989Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Main Title Theme MusicJerrold ImmelNomitated
1989Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Cinematography for a SeriesRichard M. Rawlings Jr. Nomitated
1990Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Hairstyling for a SeriesLinda Leiter Sharp Nomitated
1990Viewers for Quality Television AwardBest Quality Drama SeriesNomitated
1990Viewers for Quality Television AwardBest Actor in a Quality Drama SeriesLee HorsleyNomitated
1990Viewers for Quality Television AwardBest Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama SeriesSigrid ThorntonNomitated
1989Western Heritage AwardFictional Television DramaDavid Jacobs, Robert Porter, James L. Conway, Joel J. Feigenbaum, Sigrid Thornton and Lee Horsley Won
1991Western Writers of America's Spur AwardBest Television"Dust in the Wind"Won
1989Young Artist AwardBest New Television SeriesNomitated
1989Young Artist AwardBest Young Actor in a Nighttime Drama SeriesBrian LandoNomitated
1989Young Artist AwardBest Young Actor in a Nighttime Drama SeriesMatthew NewmarkNomitated
1989Young Artist AwardBest Young Actress in a Nighttime Drama SeriesJenny BeckNomitated
1989Young Artist AwardBest Young Actor Under 9 Years of AgeMichael Patrick CarterNomitated
1990Young Artist AwardBest Young Actor Starring in a Television SeriesMatthew NewmarkNomitated
1990Young Artist AwardBest Young Actress Starring in a Television SeriesJenny BeckNomitated
1990Young Artist AwardBest Young Actor Guest Starring in a Television SeriesMark BallouNomitated
1990Young Artist AwardBest Young Actor Guest Starring in a Television SeriesMichael John BurnsNomitated
1990Young Artist AwardBest Young Actress Guest Starring in a Television SeriesCrystal McKellarNomitated
1990Young Artist AwardOutstanding Performance by an Actor Under 9 Years of AgeMichael Patrick CarterNomitated
1991Young Artist AwardBest Young Actor Starring in a Television SeriesMatthew NewmarkNomitated
1991Young Artist AwardBest Young Actress Starring in a Television SeriesJenny BeckNomitated
1991Young Artist AwardBest Young Actor Supporting or Recurring Role For a TV SeriesBrian LandoNomitated
1991Young Artist AwardExceptional Performance by a Young Actor Under NineM.P. CarterNomitated