The Ponderosa is a television series developed by Bonanza creator David Dortort for PAX-TV (now known as ION) that ran for the 2001–2002 television season. Envisioned as a prequel

Prequel

A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...

 to the long-running NBC series Bonanza

Bonanza

Bonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...

, it had less gunfire, brawling and other traditional western elements than the original. Bonanza creator David Dortort approved PAX TV's decision to hire Beth Sullivan

Beth Sullivan

Beth Sullivan is an American film and television writer and producer, best known as the creator of the long-running CBS series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman....

, creator and executive producer of Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman to oversee scripts and executive produce, which some believe gave the series a softer edge. The Ponderosa was canceled after one season, in part because of disappointing ratings and high production costs. Although Sullivan had hoped to film the series in and around Los Angeles, PAX decided to film in Australia to reduce costs. Series "show runner" Sullivan sustained severe injuries in a car crash only twelve days after the airing of the first season's last episode. Some fans of Bonanza may not feel that The Ponderosa is a prequel, either in storyline or character development, as the cast was presented somewhat differently from the Cartwrights of Bonanza, some of the most iconic figures in television history.

Cast

• Matthew Carmody as Adam Cartwright
• Daniel Hugh Kelly
  Daniel Hugh Kelly
  Daniel Hugh Kelly is an American stage, film and television actor. He may be best known for his role on the 1980s ABC TV series Hardcastle and McCormick from 1983-1986 for which he also wrote and directed...
  
   as Ben Cartwright
• Drew Powell
  Drew Powell
  Drew Powell is an American actor. He he is best known for his role as Hoss Cartwright on the PAX series The Ponderosa, and for his guest roles on Malcolm in the Middle and Leverage.-Life and career:...
  
   as Hoss Cartwright
• Jared Daperis
  Jared Daperis
  Jared Daperis is an Australian actor . He has received a Young Artist Award nomination. Daperis' recent film work has been compared to that of a "young Mel Gibson", whilst co-stars have likened him to the late "Heath Ledger"...
  
   as Little Joe Cartwright
• Brad Dourif
  Brad Dourif
  Bradford Claude "Brad" Dourif is an American film and television actor who gained early fame for his portrayal of Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and has since appeared in a number of memorable roles, including the voice of Chucky in the Child's Play franchise, Younger Brother in...
  
   as Frenchy
• Josephine Byrnes as Margaret Green
• Fernando Carrillo
  Fernando Carrillo
  Fernando Enrique Carrillo Roselli is a Venezuelan actor.Carrillo was married to fellow Venezuelan actress Catherine Fulop, whom he met on the set of Abigail, one of the most popular South American soap operas of the 1980s...
  
   as Carlos Rivera de Vega
• Sara Gleeson as Tess Greene
• Nicky Wendt as Shelby Sterritt
• Gareth Yuen
  Gareth Yuen
  Gareth Yuen is an Australian actor who portrays the character Dax Lo, the Blue Ranger on the 2007 television series Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive...
  
   as Hop Sing
• Jaqueline Aries as Isabella Maria Rivera de Vega (episodes 10-16)
• Marcella Toro as Isabella Maria Rivera de Vega (episodes 6–7)
• Peter Stefanou
  Peter Stefanou
  Peter Stefanou is an Australian actor, who has had many television and theatre roles. Peter is best known for his recurring role of Vince Lavise on McLeod's Daughters. He is known to international audiences for his role in Ponderosa, a prequel to the NBC television series Bonanza...
  
   as Jorge

Continuity

While a number of minor (or perceived) inconsistencies exist between The Ponderosa and Bonanza, a few glaring retcons are present. Most notable among these is the fate of Little Joe's mother, Marie. In the original series, Marie's death was depicted in the episode "Marie, My Love" as a result of falling off a horse in front of the Ponderosa ranch house. Meanwhile in the new series Marie is killed in Virginia City by a miner who is trying to murder Ben Cartwright. Making the situation even more confusing, the pilot for the original series identifies Little Joe's mother as "Felicia" and not Marie.

Episode list

Title	Original Airdate	Episode	Production
Pilot (Part 1)	September 9, 2001	01	101
	Ben Cartwright moves his family to Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest... , seeking to open a cattle ranch. Trouble arises, however, when a mining prospector seeks to claim the same property as Cartwright.
Pilot (Part 2)	September 9, 2001	02	102
	After his third wife is murdered by the prospector, Ben seeks an end to the developing feud. At the same time, Little Joe decides to take matters into his own hands and goes after the killer. At the same time, Ben hires Carlos and Hop Sing to work at his ranch.
Joaquin	September 16, 2001	03	103
	Hoss and Little Joe are in for a shock when an accused gunman known as "Joaquin" is rumored to be in town. Joaquin is a well known outlaw who teaches Adam how to shoot a pistol, something that his father refuses him to have.
Bare Knuckles	September 23, 2001	04	104
	Hoss decides to challenge "Iron Hands" Malloy, a renowned fighter, to a boxing match. However Adam does some digging and finds that this particular fighter is known for his cheating...
Promise	September 30, 2001	05	105
	After Adam shoots and kills a robber, he makes a promise to watch out for the man's family. At the same time a former slave named Samuel Washington, but who in reality is Samuel Newborn shows up in town peddling items that he claims are passed down from George Washington's mansion.
Homeland	October 14, 2001	06	106
	Carlos is reunited with his long-lost sister Isabella whom he had been separated from during the Mexican–American War Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S... . Destitute and homeless, Ben agrees to take her in, but when a sheriff enters town on the trail of a killer things become complex as Isabella's horse once belonged to the murdered man.
Quarantine	October 28, 2001	07	107
	A deadly illness afflicts the area, putting the town under a quarantine.
Secrets & Lies	October 14, 2001	08	108
	An author whose adopted son lived through Donner Party Donner Party The Donner Party was a group of American pioneers who set out for California in a wagon train. Delayed by a series of mishaps, they spent the winter of 1846–47 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada... seeks out Adam, of all people, to write the "true story" of what happened. At the same time, Ben does some soul-searching in regards to past mistakes while secrets hidden by Margaret and Shelby are revealed.
The Legend of John Riley	October 18, 2001	09	109
	When a known traitor who fought for Mexico against his country of birth, one John Riley, takes up residence at the Ponderosa, a wedge is driven between members of the Cartwright family and their friends. Particularly upset is Tess, who opposes the man because her own father was killed in the Mexican-American War.
Brother vs. Brother	December 2, 2001	10	110
	A dance is being held in town and everyone is trying to find the perfect date. Tess tries to woo Adam, but is too late when Isabella asks him first. Margaret and Shelby also get in on the fun, both battling for Ben's affections.
Where the Heart Is	December 16, 2001	11	111
	A friend of the family comes to town seeking to bring Little Joe out from Nevada and to back to Ben's old home in New Orleans.
Treasure	January 6, 2002	12	112
	Adam, Carlos, and Hoss find a treasure map in the hands of a dead man. The three decide to follow it to the riches apparently hidden by the man, but, as one would expect, they are being followed by others who know about the map.
Spoils of War	January 13, 2002	13	113
	A former friend of Carlos' named Manuel comes to Ponderosa. He reacts with shock and disgust at Carlos' employment with the Cartwrights as it was the Americans who defeated their people in the Mexican-American War. At the same time, he sets into motion a plan to retake the land around Lake Tahoe. It is the last episode with Carlos as he is killed by a robber that is working with Manuel.
A Time to Win	January 20, 2002	14	114
	An entrepreneur comes to town, builds a new hotel, and seeks to expand the town's market, but what is he really after?
Blind Faith	February 10, 2002	15	115
	A rainmaker with a beautiful daughter named Judith comes to town. Hoss immediately falls for her, but can the good reverend really perform miracles?
Lesser of Evils	February 17, 2002	16	116
	Isabella's childhood sweetheart, long thought dead, arrives at the Ponderosa and wants to pick up where they left off. Isabella is torn between doing just that or trying to continue her blossoming relationship with Adam.
Comes a Horse	March 24, 2002	17	117
	An illness sweeps through the cattle all around Lake Tahoe, leading to calls to destroy all the livestock.
Grown Ups	April 28, 2002	18	118
	Hoss and Tess discover an abandoned baby and consider marrying in order to raise the child together.
Samson and Hercules	May 5, 2002	19	119
	Hoss sets out to end wolf fights that are being held in town as a gambling event.
Fugitive	May 12, 2002	20	120
	Sam Newborn returns on the run after a new law states that escaped slaves in any territory must be captured and returned to their owners.

DVD release

Shortly after the series first aired, four episodes were released on two DVDs. The first DVD featured both parts of the pilot episode, while the second featured "Brother vs. Brother" and "Treasure".

On May 25, 2004, The Ponderosa: Season 1: Volume 1 was released. This set collects the first ten episodes of the series. As of yet there are no announced plans to release the last ten episodes of the series on DVD.

External links

Matt Carmody's Official Website
http://www.mattcarmody.com

Drew Powell's Official Website
http://www.drewpowell.com