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Date Posted: 11:02:35 05/23/13 Thu
Author: Jarrod
Subject: Re: Michael Landon on critics...
In reply to: Rick 's message, "Re: Michael Landon on critics..." on 00:54:24 05/23/13 Thu

Well, some critics can provide understandings of what the artists attempted to do, but did not ultimately succeed at doing. And in many cases, a writer-director-performer like Landon may not have been fully conscious of what his efforts signified. Some critics can be critical and provide illumination and still be fans. That would be me. It distressed me when I looked at tv.com and saw that 'Forever' had the highest viewer ratings of any episode of S14. I think that is because this episode was highly publicized when it first aired and it has been discussed frequently over the years. I made a point of not including it my Top Five of S14, because I really do think it falls short of the mark in many areas. The story is too rushed, as I pointed out earlier, and its too manipulative to be taken casually for decent entertainment. Landon had better output on Bonanza in this writer's opinion, and better output on his later series. In my Top Five, I mentioned 'The Hunter.' But of course, that was a remake of the 1933 classic film THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME. So we cannot give Landon 100% credit for that one, though he demonstrates considerable skill reworking the concept for an hour-long western series.

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[> [> [> Re: Michael Landon on critics... -- Richard L., 13:26:18 05/23/13 Thu [1]

In this case, "Forever" was the first episode after Dan Blocker's death, and Bonanza fans were somewhat in shock, as I recall. The episode was something of a catharsis for the fans. The emotional scene between Joe and Ben was probably meant to be about Hoss' (Dan's) death, given that the viewer had just "met" Alice Harper the week before.

Alice, Little Joe's girlfriend/wife, was a more independent, sensible woman, and a little less "glamorous" than his usual girlfriends on the show. Bonnie Bedelia would have made a very good ongoing character on the show.

"Forever" was probably the right time and place to expand Bonanza into a show about Little Joe's new wife and child. That may have been the preferred move after Hoss' death, rather than make the episode about death and leaving that large void in the show.

Joe's character became more serious after Hoss' death, and he was ready to become "part Little Joe, part Charles Ingalls." Evidently, Ingalls was the role that Michael Landon really wanted to play. Too bad they didn't do it right then and there.

I thought the 2 episodes were well done, but yes, the whole thing was rushed along. I suppose they could have done 4 or 5 parts as they did with Adam and Laura Dayton.


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[> [> [> [> Re: Michael Landon on critics... -- Jarrod, 18:39:06 05/23/13 Thu [1]

It's hart to imagine 'Forever' with Hoss. Dan really didn't do romantic storylines much and I don't think it would have been very convincing. This does seem like a Joe story. If it had been made with Hoss, the leading actress would have to be someone else, because I do not think Dan and Bonnie Bedelia would have had much chemistry.


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[> [> [> [> Hoss could be very romantic -- SWC, 20:34:06 05/23/13 Thu [1]

Check out "The Newcomers (9/26/59) and "The Tall Stranger" (1/7/62). There are probably others but those two stick out. Dan Blocker was a fine actor and surely could have done "Forever".


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[> [> [> [> [> Re: Hoss could be very romantic -- Richard, 09:48:33 05/24/13 Fri [1]

Hoss did a great job in "The Tall Stranger," especially when he went after con man who married his girlfriend (Kathie Browne).


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