-
-
-
Ponderosa : Season 1
-
Air date: 09 Sep '01 - 20 episodesPonderosa is a television series developed by Bonanza creator David Dortort for PAX-TV that ran for the 2001–2002 television season. Envisioned as a prequel to the long-running NBC series Bonanza, 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, creator and executive producer of Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman to oversee scripts and executive produce, which some believe gave the series a softer edge. 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. The show should not be confused with Ponderosa, the title used for Bonanza reruns aired on NBC during the summer of...
-
-
List of Episodes (20)
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
1. Pilot (1)
09 Sep '01Bonanza is back in the guise of ""Ponderosa"". This episode is very good, telling the back story of what went on as Ben Cartwright got the deed to the Lake Tahoe property. Unfortunately, someone else also wants the property, so he can strip-mine it and turn the land into a waste-land. Ben's wife and Little Joe's mother is killed when the store in which Ben is working in at the time is blown up by the miner, the one who takes her death the worse is Little Joe. Shortly after this (and because of i
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
2. Pilot (2)
09 Sep '01Bonanza is back in the guize of ""Ponderosa"". This episode is very good, telling the back story of what went on as Ben Cartwright got the deed to the Lake Tahoe property. Unfortunately, someone else also wants the property, so he can strip-mine it and turn the land into a waste-land. Ben's wife and Little Joe's mother is killed when the store in which Ben is working in at the time is blown up by the miner, the one who takes her death the worse is Little Joe. Shortly after this (and because of i
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
3. Joaquin
16 Sep '01While selling some cattle to a fellow rancher, Adam and Little Joe witness an amazing sight, a Mexican walks up to the rancher and shoots him at point blank range . . . the rancher gets up and brushes himself off. It seems as if they were testing out a bullet proof vest. Later, in town. We find Hauss staring at a Wanted Poster for a bandit named Joaquin with a very high price on his head. The same bandit who was at the ranch comes behind him, razzes Hauss about if they'll catch the bandit or not
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
4. Bare Knuckles
23 Sep '01Going against Ben's explicit wishes, Hauss goes up against a bare-knuckles fighter named Iron Hands Malloy (Joseph Clements). Hauss thinks he's developed a new and surprising punch that will knock the fighter off his feet. He does so -- in a test bout, whic was a means to peak everybody's interest in the fight. As things progress, Adam does some research, only to discover that the fighter went under several other names and was expelled from the official circuit for using several cheating methods
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
5. Promise
30 Sep '01Adam kills a robber, and he promises the dying man that he will take care of his children and widow. Also, a man comes to town claiming that he's the great grandson of George Washington's personal slave.
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
6. Homeland
14 Oct '01Carlos is overjoyed and Ben and his sons are amazed when Carlos beautiful and spirited eighteen-year-old sister, Isabella, appears at what until recently had been the Rivera family's ranch. Carlos had presumed she'd died in a fire in Mexico. Isabella is overjoyed at being reunited with the brother she'd feared had died in the Mexican-American war, but she's also heartbroken to learn that her former home has been sold to Margaret Davis as a war reparation. Since she's now homeless, Ben takes Isab
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
7. Quarantine
28 Oct '01When the town is quarantined because of an illness for which the townspeople blame the Cartwrights, vigilantes set out to destroy their home.
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
8. Secrets and Lies
04 Nov '01A man comes to Eagle Station wanting Adam, to write about the 'true story' of the Donner Party. But the meeting causes Ben to reflect on a bad experience from his own past.
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
9. The Legend of John Riley
18 Nov '01A man hunted for being a U.S. deserter who fought for Mexico comes to stay at the Ponderosa, causing a rift between Hoss (Drew Powell) and Tess (Sara Gleeson), whose father died in the war against Mexico.
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
10. Brother vs Brother
02 Dec '01Romantic woes are caused by a ""Ladies Choice"" dance: Margaret and Shelby learn that they both want to be escorted by Ben, and Tess settles for Hoss when Isabella asks Adam.
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
11. Where the Heart Is
16 Dec '01Marie's sister comes to the Ponderosa, but she doesn't get along well with the townspeople and she wants to take Little Joe back to New Orleans.
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
12. Treasure
06 Jan '02Adam, Hoss and Carlos discover a treasure map clutched in a dead man's hand and set out to claim the gold they think it leads to, unaware they are being followed.
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
13. Spoils of War
13 Jan '02Manuel, a man who once saved Carlos's life, unexpectedly arrives in town. Manuel is disturbed to see Carlos working for the people he believes stole the de Rivera ranch, so he devises a plan to get the land back, starting with Margaret and her spread.
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
14. A Time to Win
20 Jan '02Ben is distrustful of a stranger who comes to Eagle Station, builds a hotel and talks about his vision to expand the young town and put it on the stagecoach route.
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
15. Blind Faith
10 Feb '02Hoss falls for a the daughter of a reverend who claims that he can perform miracles.
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
16. Lesser of Evils
17 Feb '02Isabella receives a letter from her childhood love whom she thought had died in the war. She's torn between her old love and Adam, who is determined not to lose her.
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
17. Comes a Horse
24 Mar '02An epidemic strikes the town's cattle with Margaret suffering the most losses, and everyone wants to destroy the herds and sell the ranches to Jack.
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
18. Grown Ups
28 Apr '02When an abandonded baby is found, Hoss and Tess consider marrying and adopting the child.
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
19. Samson and Hercules
05 May '02Hoss is angered when he learns that Jack is staging wolf fights in town, and he vows to rescue the animals.
-
Ponderosa (2001)
-
20. Fugitive
12 May '02Samuel returns after being let go from the city newspaper due to his race. The Cartwrights convience Samuel to open a newspaper in Eagle Station. A new law is inacted which makes runaway slaves even in free states to have a price on their heads which puts Samuel in jeopardy.
-
