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Date Posted: 19:58:57 01/15/22 Sat
Author: Rick
Subject: NBC airs final BONANZA episode “The Hunter” on January 16, 1973

This was the last first-run telecast of Bonanza, with Michael Landon and Tom Skerritt. While not the last episode made (“Duffy” with Tim Matheson was in early Nov. of 72’) but they wouldn’t air as the last one, because it didn’t center on a Cartwright, so they chose “The Hunter, which was filmed 4 months back in the fall of 1972.

The hellish and unattractive landscape in Mescal and Sabino Canyon, in Southern Arizona that was used, suited the Mad Hunter character that Landon borrowed from 1932’s “The Most Dangerous Game”.


Rick

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[> Re: NBC airs final BONANZA episode “The Hunter” on January 16, 1973 -- Gerry (Dooley), 08:13:32 01/16/22 Sun [1]

I thought it was a great episode. To this day I can't believe they cancelled this show in mid-season. I know it's a business and I know the ratings had sunk and without Dan Blocker it was just a shell but what a low thing to do to a once great show.There is a good interview with Tim Mathison on Word on Westerns on youtube regarding the end of the show.

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[> Re: NBC airs final BONANZA episode “The Hunter” on January 16, 1973 -- Rick, 18:35:08 01/16/22 Sun [1]

Actually, the series wasn’t doing that well when Dan Blocker was with them in the last 2 years. By the end of the 1971-72 season, it was knocked out of the top 10 by CBS and ABC. By April of 1972, No. 17. A rating this low hadn’t been recorded since 1960. In 1970, the change of format, loss of David Canary and the anti-violence mandating all were contributing factors in its decline. Going back to family stories in 1970 was all they had left to work with. Jamie was really never accepted by many and that failed. The chemistry wasn’t there anymore. They managed to still produce some good stories, although to a lesser degree. Also, the change to a new day and time didn’t help…NBC planned to cancel and Michael Landon tried to reason with them, but gave up…

Later in the year, I will share some rare stories about the 1972 era involving the final season…


Rick

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[> [> Re: NBC airs final BONANZA episode “The Hunter” on January 16, 1973 -- PONDEROSA PETE, 13:15:23 01/22/22 Sat [1]

Rare stories? Do tell, Rick. Do tell!

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[> Re: NBC airs final BONANZA episode “The Hunter” on January 16, 1973 -- Tim, 23:16:12 01/24/22 Mon [1]

I like several of the season 14 episodes. In my view "Forever" and "The Hunter" are classics.

"Stallion," "The Hidden Enemy" and "The Sound of Sadness" are effective stories. "First Love" is one of the better Jamie episodes. "The Marriage of Theodora Duffy" is my least favorite season 14 episode.

It's sad NBC didn't let them finish out the 14th season.

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[> [> Re: NBC airs final BONANZA episode “The Hunter” on January 16, 1973 -- Rick, 19:03:36 01/25/22 Tue [1]

NBC was just plain ungrateful. They paid the cast up front at the start of the season. The only time this had happened, as they had no intention of letting them film the remaining 11 episodes into early 1973. Lorne Greene was furious with them for it. They wouldn’t sign a new contract with David Dortort in October to keep making it, as the current one had expired. Pretty rotten thing they did.

Season 14 was a transitional one. A springboard for what could have been,


Rick

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