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Date Posted: 02:05:06 09/07/11 Wed
Author: Rick
Subject: Bonanza's cancellation: November 1972

The cancellation was given on November 3, 1972 and Richard Collins told the crew over the weekend. Dortort was in very bad shape as one of the executives at NBC-New York told him on the phone the show was cancelled. Just so you know, there is no meeting or no ceremony when a series is cancelled. The heads of network programming include the VP and his staff. They look at the ratings, shares and other critical data to make the decision to renew or cancel.

Michael Landon became boss of the three actors and was very smart and intuitive a man. Smart enough to know that in 1970, he urged David Canary not to leave. He told him the show would degenerate without him. The fact that NBC could make more money by syndicating the show, than continuing to make it. He, Dan and Lorne just got paid $1 million each by NBC for selling their syndication rights to them before they would prepare the reruns to begin in 1972. Canary didn't heed the advice of his mentor and that cost him a job, but he returned in 1972, because they needed him back.

Mike was practically running the show in its last 6 years and knew the business game very well. Well enough to know the show would be cancelled and when NBC ended their contract with Dortort in October, this was a major sign of cancellation. The show's Nielsen ratings sunk to #52 that month and by Nov 3rd, it was cancelled. Mike quietly got a new contract at NBC as executive producer later in October. I'd imagine only Lorne knew about it, and no one else.

On Monday, November 6th, had programming heads arrive at Warner and the cast was told the show was cancelled. The final day of filming was on Wed the 8th. Mitch Vogel wasn't assigned to working any episodes at the time, so he was delivered a telegram at home. Greene was so upset, he refused to show up. He and Mike had done their only scenes for "Duffy" the week before on the front porch with Canary and Matheson, but they still had business to attend to. Mike was working on the editing for "The Hunter" in the studio's editing room.

The press conference was Mike's idea and since David wasn't in good shape, it was time to announce to the press that Bonanza was over. He called NBC publicist Bill Kiley and the news crew came to film the press conference to be televised on NBC. Before it started, he rigged himself in a stuntman harness and when he was done, one of the guys aimed the shotgun, and the harness was pulled back and Mike was "blown" over the boxes and vanished! Dortort was dismayed at this event, only to learn Mike had a new contract as executive producer for future TV projects with the network. The wrap party took place after filming of "Duffy" was done on the 8th and the booze was flowing everywhere.

Mike, David Canary, Tim Matheson, Hal Burton, Bill Clark and Bob Miles were there along with all the crew members. I don't know if Lorne was present, as he refused to show up that day and was very upset. David Dortort must have been there, as Richard Collins was. As for Mitch Vogel, I doubt it, as he had school and homework that day.

The press conference is said to be at You Tube and if anyone can locate it, please post it here.




Rick

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Replies:

[> Re: Bonanza's cancellation: November 1972 -- lhoplover, 08:33:28 09/07/11 Wed [1]

I think I saw Michael being blown of the stage shown on a Johny Carson show episode.

Jose

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[> [> Re: Bonanza's cancellation: November 1972 -- Andrew, 08:44:48 09/07/11 Wed [1]

On Youtube, are you kidding? I would love to see any clips of the stunt Landon pulled! That would be a real cracker to start off the day with the morning coffee!

Thanks for the extensive details Rick!

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[> [> Re: Bonanza's cancellation: November 1972 -- Rick, 18:43:48 09/07/11 Wed [1]

I think the footage is at You Tube, but it may have to a Tonight Show link to get there. Not sure.






Rick

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[> Re: Bonanza's cancellation: November 1972 -- Gogo, 06:31:12 09/08/11 Thu [1]

Here's the link for the clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ljjd5XGQCw&feature=related

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[> [> Re: Bonanza's cancellation: November 1972 -- Andrew, 08:27:39 09/08/11 Thu [1]

That's funny, and I enjoyed the interview that followed. That's seems a bit different then what I heard or read. I think I had orginally heard about it in an interview from a Little House member. Might of been Anderson or Gilbert, not sure which but that must be it. They just described it differently, but no matter. Odious instead of I'm out of here!

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[> [> [> Re: Bonanza's cancellation: November 1972 -- lhoplover, 16:48:42 09/08/11 Thu [1]

Odious and adios are two diferent thing. I think the first one means hatefull, while the second one is spanish for good bye.

Jose

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[> Re: Bonanza's cancellation: November 1972 -- Larry, 16:52:21 09/08/11 Thu [1]

Thanks for posting that clip Gogo, that is great stuff. Great find, thanks again!

Larry

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[> [> Re: Bonanza's cancellation: November 1972 -- Rick, 19:58:48 09/08/11 Thu [1]

In re-thinking, I don't think NBC sent a news crew to the press conference. It was just Bill Kiley and some others from NBC and the press. The footage would have been shown on ML biographies made years later. No doubt there were still photos taken on the set, but that's all that would exist.





Rick

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[> Re: Bonanza's cancellation: November 1972 -- Ray, 23:42:42 09/08/11 Thu [1]

Thanks for your very thoughtful post,Rick! Your knowledge and the time you spend on giving us posters so much Bonanza information is certainly much appreciated by this old Bonanza fan!

Thank you so much my Friend,again,for the martial arts links and all your valued electronics advice!

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