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 (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 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
Guest cast
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.
Awards and nominations Award Year Category Nominee(s) / Work Result Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards 1963 Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction and Scenic Design Earl Hedrick (scenic designer) and Hal Pereira (art director)
References Footnotes
Bibliography
External links
Bonanza season 4 at TV Guide