Ponderosa (TV series)

Territory of Nevada, year 1849: ten years before the original Bonanza starts, the Cartwright family moves onto some scrub land. In this new land Ben Cartwright, a new widower, tries to raise his three young sons – at their late teens Adam and Hoss, and a pre-teen Joseph, commonly known as Little Joe.

• Matt Carmody as Adam Cartwright
• Daniel Hugh Kelly as Ben Cartwright
• Drew Powell as Hoss Cartwright
• Jared Daperis as Little Joe Cartwright

• Brad Dourif as Frenchy
• Josephine Byrnes as Margaret Green
• Fernando Carrillo as Carlos Rivera de Vega
• Sara Gleeson as Tess Greene
• Nicky Wendt as Shelby Sterritt
• Gareth Yuen as Hop Sing
• Marcella Toro (episodes 6–7) and Jaqueline Aries (episodes 10–16) as Isabella Maria Rivera de Vega
• Peter Stefanou as Jorge

• Christopher Kirby as Samuel Newborn
• Eddie Baroo as Virgil / Smitty
• Eliza Szonert as Myra

{{Episode table

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|overall=5

|title=18

|director=14

|writer=24

|airdate=20

|episodes=

{{Episode list/sublist|Ponderosa (TV series)

|NumParts = 2

|EpisodeNumber_1 = 1

|EpisodeNumber_2 = 2

|Title = Pilot

|DirectedBy = Simon Wincer

|WrittenBy = Beth Sullivan

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|9|9}}

|ShortSummary = Ben Cartwright moves his family to Lake Tahoe, seeking to open a cattle ranch. However, trouble arises when a mining prospector seeks to claim the same property as Cartwright. 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.

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}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Ponderosa (TV series)

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = Joaquin

|DirectedBy = Mark Piper

|WrittenBy = Kathyrn Ford

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|9|16}}

|ShortSummary = 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.

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Ponderosa (TV series)

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|Title = Bare Knuckles

|DirectedBy = Kevin James Dobson

|WrittenBy = Joe Viola

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|9|23}}

|ShortSummary = 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...

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Ponderosa (TV series)

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|Title = The Promise

|DirectedBy = Kevin James Dobson

|WrittenBy = Robert Hamilton

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|9|30}}

|ShortSummary = 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.

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{{Episode list/sublist|Ponderosa (TV series)

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|Title = Homeland

|DirectedBy = Kevin James Dobson

|WrittenBy = Jeanne C. Davis

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|10|14}}

|ShortSummary = Carlos is reunited with his long-lost sister Isabella whom he had been separated from during the Mexican–American War. 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.

|LineColor = 000000

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{{Episode list/sublist|Ponderosa (TV series)

|EpisodeNumber = 7

|Title = Quarantine

|DirectedBy = Kevin James Dobson

|WrittenBy = Joe Viola

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|10|28}}

|ShortSummary = A deadly illness afflicts the area, putting the town under a quarantine.

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Ponderosa (TV series)

|EpisodeNumber = 8

|Title = Secrets and Lies

|DirectedBy = Chris Langman

|WrittenBy = Kathryn Ford

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|11|4}}

|ShortSummary = An author whose adopted son lived through Donner Party 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.

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Ponderosa (TV series)

|EpisodeNumber = 9

|Title = The Legend of John Riley

|DirectedBy = Kevin James Dobson

|WrittenBy = Rick Najera

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|11|18}}

|ShortSummary = 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.

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Ponderosa (TV series)

|EpisodeNumber = 10

|Title = Brother Against Brother

|DirectedBy = Lewis Fitz-Gerald

|WrittenBy = Jennifer Tait

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|12|2}}

|ShortSummary = 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.

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Ponderosa (TV series)

|EpisodeNumber = 11

|Title = Where the Heart Is

|DirectedBy = Paul Faint

|WrittenBy = Jeanne C. Davis

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|12|16}}

|ShortSummary = Ben's sister-in-law comes to town with the intention of taking Little Joe back to New Orleans, determined to fulfill a promise she made to her sister before the Cartwrights moved to Nevada.

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Ponderosa (TV series)

|EpisodeNumber = 12

|Title = Treasure

|DirectedBy = Kevin James Dobson

|WrittenBy = Jennifer Tait

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|1|6}}

|ShortSummary = 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.

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Ponderosa (TV series)

|EpisodeNumber = 13

|Title = Spoils of War

|DirectedBy = Declan Eames

|WrittenBy = Kathryn Ford

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|1|13}}

|ShortSummary = A former friend of Carlos's named Manuel comes to Ponderosa. He reacts with shock and disgust at Carlos's 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.

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Ponderosa (TV series)

|EpisodeNumber = 14

|Title = A Time to Win

|DirectedBy = Declan Eames

|WrittenBy = Beth Sullivan

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|1|20}}

|ShortSummary = An entrepreneur comes to town, builds a new hotel, and seeks to expand the town's market, but what is he really after?

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Ponderosa (TV series)

|EpisodeNumber = 15

|Title = Blind Faith

|DirectedBy = Chris Thomson

|WrittenBy = Ron Green

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|2|10}}

|ShortSummary = A rainmaker with a beautiful daughter named Judith comes to town. Hoss immediately falls for her, but can the good reverend really perform miracles?

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Ponderosa (TV series)

|EpisodeNumber = 16

|Title = Lesser of Two Evils

|DirectedBy = Declan Eames

|WrittenBy = Joe Viola

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|2|17}}

|ShortSummary = 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.

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Ponderosa (TV series)

|EpisodeNumber = 17

|Title = Comes a Horse

|DirectedBy =

|WrittenBy =

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|3|24}}

|ShortSummary = An illness sweeps through the cattle all around Lake Tahoe, leading to calls to destroy all the livestock.

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}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Ponderosa (TV series)

|EpisodeNumber = 18

|Title = Grown Ups

|DirectedBy =

|WrittenBy =

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|4|28}}

|ShortSummary = Hoss and Tess discover an abandoned baby and consider marrying in order to raise the child together.

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Ponderosa (TV series)

|EpisodeNumber = 19

|Title = Samson and Hercules

|DirectedBy =

|WrittenBy =

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|5|5}}

|ShortSummary = Hoss sets out to end wolf fights that are being held in town as a gambling event.

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Ponderosa (TV series)

|EpisodeNumber = 20

|Title = Fugitive

|DirectedBy =

|WrittenBy =

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|5|12}}

|ShortSummary = 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.

|LineColor = 000000

}}

}}

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,[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00019PDP2 Amazon.com: The Ponderosa: Season 1: Vol. 1 – Prequel to the TV Classic Bonanza: Movies & TV: Ponderosa] The Ponderosa: Season 1: Volume 1 was released. This set collects the first ten episodes of the series. No plans have been announced yet to release the last ten episodes of the series on DVD.

A number of minor (or perceived) inconsistencies exist between Ponderosa and Bonanza, and a few glaring retcons are present.

• Most notable among these is the fate of Little Joe's mother. In the original series, her death was depicted in the episode "Marie, My Love" (4x20) as a result of falling off a horse in front of the Ponderosa ranch house.[http://www.tv.com/bonanza/marie-my-love/episode/98247/summary.html Bonanza: Marie, My Love – TV.com] In the new series, she is killed in Virginia City by a miner who is trying to murder Eli Orowitz.[http://www.tv.com/ponderosa/pilot-1/episode/76343/summary.html?tag=ep_list;title;0 The Ponderosa: Pilot (1) – TV.com] Making the situation even more confusing, the pilot for the original series identifies Little Joe's mother as Felicia and not Marie as in the original.
• The Hop Sing character is depicted not only as a cook, but also a family counselor and herbal healer.

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|0287260|Ponderosa}}
• [http://www.mattcarmody.com Matt Carmody's Official Website]
• [http://www.drewpowell.com Drew Powell's Official Website]

{{Bonanza}}

Category:PAX TV original programming

Category:2000s Western (genre) television series

Category:2000s American drama television series

Category:2001 American television series debuts

Category:2002 American television series endings

Category:American prequel television series

Category:American English-language television shows

Category:Period family drama television series

Category:Television shows set in Nevada

Category:Television shows filmed in Australia

Category:Television series set in the 1840s

Category:Fiction set in 1849

Category:Bonanza