Pernell Roberts was a truly good man, a real actor in a sea of mediocrity. I remember Bonanza quite well, I tried to catch it every week...It was a good show, even after Pernell left it. Thanks for the upload, quite informative and entertaining.
I never saw anything more than mediocrity out of him in ANYthing.... the show did very well once they were finally rid of him... Entire families suffer when just one child continually throws temper tantrums and hissy fits and always has a shitty attitude...
My dad loved the westerns, and he had control of the TV. Every Sunday, without fail, it was Bonanza. My favourites, with no exceptions, were Little Joe and Hoss. Then Ben. Adam disappeared from the show before I can remember him. I hadn't completed my first decade at that time. How the years do fly.
I love Bonanza. And as much love for Pernell, he was nuts to leave. It was a wholesome show and full of good will.. Many episodes brought me and still bring me to tears. What is wrong with sons treating a father like the absolute leader of the family till the day he passes???
@@2352anneABSOLUTELY. He was a very attractive man. A would say CHARISMATIC. ? Can you believe that.. " Pa" was only 11 years older than him?? His role as a father, was just perfect. " May our good Lord, blesses you. RICHLY." 💒🛐🙏🕊🕊
Same here, but it was a Lorne Greene. It was 1968, we met him at a photo op. Ended up seeing him again, the same evening, at an after party. A lot of drinking going on, he fell asleep on our couch and left early the next morning for filming. But not before signing autographs for everyone.
I really liked Pernell Roberts, hw had a beautiful singing voice and he was a good actor. I love the show bonanza, I still watch it today on you tube. God bless him.
He played Trapper nearly 3X as long as Wayne Rogers did. The actor who played Jackpot on that series is one of Broadways golden voices (Brian Stokes Mitchell). Check him out singing in "Man of La Mancha".
It wasn't Bonanza anymore without Mr. Pernell Roberts, I wish I had met him, I never get tired of watching the first 6 season of that show with him, he was a great actor and singer and a great humantairan, thank you for this videoshed truths to this fine person.
I'm 35 now but when I was in 3rd grade my family and I sat in the booth next to him and his lady friend at a fish restaurant. My twin brother blew a straw wrapper at me and it missed and landed in her hair.... He just smiled and never said a thing to her 😂. My dad loves to bring that up. Really cool guy!
Each character had their own personalities. I like them all in character. I still watch the Bonanza re-runs today. It is a good wholesome family show with lots of life lessons.
Excellent video. Stellar narration (thank you!). When I was young, Hoss was my favorite but by around teen years (IIRC) Adam became my favorite. What a sexy gorgeous guy. I was heartbroken when he left and never watched the show after that. Wasn't the same.
I always laughed when Adam and Little Joe would pick on Hoss, only to have Hoss knock Adam across one side of the room and send Little Joe flying in the opposite direction. Then Ben comes down the stairs, telling them to stop picking on Hoss. 😂😂😂
Roberts had such a wonderful, calming voice. He played Adam as a calm, level headed, gentle man. Enjoyed when he sang with his guitar! He was great when he was interested in a woman... not always chasing, seemed sincere and romantic! In other shows, loved him as an Irishman, the accent and quietly devilish! He was a good actor!
Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright was really great him being on Bonaza, but when he decided it was time to leave the TV Western Show of Bonanza was never the same. At least he decided to expland his roles on TV & Movies.
I loved Bonanza. Each of the boys were my favorite for different reasons. I was sad when Pernell left the show, he was a bright spot, an educated man in the midst of a family of pioneers. I could see him studying at night, learning, and that was a good part of the part he played. I think Hoss was my favorite, kind of like that friendly uncle who joked a lot. Little Joe was a mess at times. And Greene? Followed him through the career, even to Battlestar Galactica. I saw Trapper John too, had to, loved MASH and he did a good job of being the older Trapper.
Pernell was an exceptional man. He was so humble and true. He will always have a special place in my heart. Missing him deeply. Loving him still. He will always b e my favorite in everythhing. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
He was way ahead of his time. He was just to sophisticated even though I love the show even today. I met Michael Landon in the early 90s. Very nice and a wonderful memory. Bonanza was and is will always be my favorite. I had a autograph photo of bonanza of all signed expect Dan blocker. I donated this picture to the greyhound retirement from racing. Even bonanza did more than people gave it credit for.
Nice donation. I have a signed "Little Joe" hat by Landon still in top shape. I kept it in a typewriter case for decades. I also have signed 8x10s of Greene, Landon, Canary, Vogel and Matheson (who played Griff in last season). May give to a western Museum. (Also Roy & Dale, Ben Murphy, Roger Davis, Clayton Moore., John Hart...)
Bonanza was must see TV for many back in the day. Watch a episode today and it is hilariously bad. It’s like a cowboy soap opera, but even lamer than your average soap opera. To be fair it was par for the course like most TV.
I have no idea if he has a grave but there is a park dedicated to Pernell Roberts' memory in Waycross, Georgia. It has a memorial with a sculpture of Pernell.
Exceptionally well done bio. Glad to see Landon & he got along post Bonanza- though Landon would rib him on some talk shows (such as Regis & Kathy Lee",). The characters of Hoss & Candy were/are my favs. BTY, small footnote. That song was "Mar-i-a". Beautifully done-none better. Blocker dead at 43 and Landon at 54. Yet the series is still seen everywhere.
So it sounds like both Landon and Roberts died from the same thing? I liked all of the characters but ok, maybe Adam a tad more. The Bonanza show did have Indians/Nativ3 Americans. Sounds like the Cartwright family knew some of them too.
I watched a very good interview with David Dortort who was Bonanzas producer. David summed it up Pernell wasn’t happy and literally during season 6 driving everyone mad. David said Pernell said he wanted off the show so David said fine as of now your off the show. The next day Pernells agent called and convinced David to at least let Pernell finish the season which he did. I watched a lot of Bonanza and there are several episodes where Pernell isn’t used very much. I wish he had been happy with his role but he wasn’t. Anyone reading this watch David Dortort. It’s a fascinating look back.
I realize that, this was posted, years ago. But, I wanted to make a correction... The song mentioned in the video was they called The wind Mariah'was the proper name not Maria.
According to David Dortort, Pernell also wanted more focus on his character. More episodes with him as the star. "The Crucible" from Season 3, was written for him primarily and Lee Marvin. After a long argument with David Dortort, he was told return his wardrobe and not return to the set. Pernell's agent contacted David and they worked it out for Pernell to finish his final season, number 6. Great actor. Loved his performances on the show. Rest in peace Adam Cartright 🙏🏼
I saw Pernell Roberts when he was on bonanza, when he left, we were like what happened to Adam it was a great show with all four. It’s too bad that he left. I watched him on trapper John MD. He was good on that he was just in the wrong time to have. All the interracial stuff He wanted it on television. It just wasn’t he has time for that as it is now, but he was still a great actor and we liked him. I have a question was Pernell Roberts black I have read that or heard it on TH-cam. It doesn’t matter to me if he was or not but I have heard that before. Thanks for having your channel.
Bonanza creator- producer David Dortort said he had problems w Pernell's ego, PR said he was on par w top stars like Steve McQueen. I vaguely recall he wanted a black actress to play a native woman. Why not either a native as a native or a black as a blacK? Almost as crazy as blue-eyed natives (Chuck Connors movie). A Jewish singer/ actor (Ed Ames) played a mixed-raced Indian named Mango on "Daniel Boone". John Wayne as an Asian dictator (lousy movie)? None of the Charlie Chan movies had an Asian Chan (but Asian sons- including Victor Sen-Yung). David Carradine as a white/ Asian priest "Kung Fu" and sequel. .A lot of Italians and Hispanics played natives then. I recall that long-running commercial with a teary-eyed "native" surveying pollution. He was Italian. But even the last Lone Ranger movie used a big name, white star as Tonto (another lousy movie). And that was just 12 years ago.
Hoss was my favorite, but I loved the entire show. I just wish Pernell would have reprised his role in the 1990s sequels. Everyone else was gone, he should have been running the Ponderosa at that time. I also wish Bonanza hadn't erased him when he left. I believe there was one reference to Adam in the seventh season. They should have talked about him for the rest of the series. Bonanza is still my all-time favorite TV show!
The first season was my favorite it was raw and intense. Hoss was my favorite Cartwright but i loved them all and i still watch the show 6 times a week on Me Tv❤❤❤
Pernell Roberts' decision to leave Bonanza offers a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of the entertainment industry and the personal values that guided his career.
He left because nobody liked him. Michael Landon once said that after he left, they just took the middle section of the table out to make it smaller. Don’t sound like any love was lost at all.
The larger question/topic of this video shouldn't be why did Pernell Roberts "QUIT" Bonanza, but, rather, WHY DID HE EVER JOIN? !!! If he was such a theatrical elitist that he thought TV was "bemeath" his "creative genius," and that his personality was DISRUPTIVE to the show (e.g., "petty," quick to anger, and "vindictive") when he coudn't call the shots or get things "his way," he should have had the decency and intellectual honesty to have never accepted the role. But, alas, making $10k per episode in the early to mid 1960s was SERIOUS $$$ (@ $350k to $400k per season in ... in 1960s money that would easily translate into 10x that amount in the present day) ... so his personal GREED trumped his "creative genius." Which is o.k. -- everyone in America is entitled to make the most $$$ honestly as they wish ... BUT they CAN'T "have it both ways" and demand creative control. If he lasted 6 seasons on the show, even if he wanted to start and then realize it wasn't his cup of tea, I'm sure his original contract was NOT for 6 years; he should have simply NOT signed a new one. Instread, apparently, LIKE A JERK, he "waited until just before" Season 7 to tell the Bonanbza producers that he wanted to quit. A true tool.
Trapper John was a favorite and I had no idea Trapper was based on a MASH character! I just enjoyed "doctor" shows like T.J.M.D., Marcus Welby and Quincy!
Before Bonanza began there was a lot of talk about why and how Television should be changed(I say "Should be" because, like an addict or a drunk, they're unlikely to change on their own). Then, the show that Pernell was part of from the beginning became the biggest show on TV. This is why this topic -- which seems unimportant now -- was such a shock when Pernell quit after 6 successful seasons. It was AFTER he left - which was right in the middle of the shocking events of the 1960s -- that television went through a LOT of changes -- mainly through world events. Starting with JFK's murder, TV News became very important to all, and soon after, the Vietnam War made the nightly News shows a "must-see" attraction(and thus, a lead-in for the network shows) and the Big 3 TV networks were able to fill out their schedules with popular shows -- which sold LOTS of Advertising. Another thing that grew in a dramatic way was TV sports, which became very popular because of innovative TV executives. And a big part of the reason for TV becoming so widespread and important was the Cold War(which Vietnam was part of; and something largely not thought of, as time went by -- and the Brainwashing became SO successful and widespread. Pernell Roberts left Bonanza because -- like Gunsmoke or Rawhide, nothing ever changed. There was no REAL drama. That was the 1960s. America had become largely a 'Watch it on TV" culture.
Don't forget that he did a small stint on Mash. I know he was on the first season but I'm not sure about the 2cd. 🤷♀️ Or even maybe the 3rd? No no no no, it was the first and possibly the 2cd. Yep. That's it. And I watched him in all of them. But I was a teenager, and didn't really pay attention to the shows seasons.😊
The director said he was always complaining and finally fired him. Appears he thought he was the next Olivier. Should have been grateful to have work in the field with a 95% unemployment rate. He did nothing for decades. Yep, he showed them...
Horse Cartwright died on May 13th, 1972. As they say, "13 is an unlucky number." The show was able to survive when Adam left, but it was doomed when Horse Carwright died. Well, just because the world had to cut its losses when the Cartwrights died doesn't mean we can't see them on film. Thank you for this video, and happy Easter.
A Dean Martin Celebrity Roast for Michael Landon had guest roaster Lorne Green saying Bonanza episodes were about a 47 year old father and his three 40 year old sons. 🤣😂😆 He also said that he had an almost real father/son relationship with Michael, based on the fact that as custmarily occurs, Landon never visited nor phoned him 🤣😂😆.
As usual Enjoyable episode. One small edit It was Trapper John MD The John being the aged character from MASH who left after season 3 I've barely seen Bonanza and liked it I remember Trapper John more clearly enjoying
I loved Trapper John MD!!! I did watch Bonanza growing up and I remember when he left the show. But back in the early 2000’s I was living in Malibu Beach RV Park and met him in the Ralph’s and SaveOn Drug Store a few times and got to talk to him and he was a very nice guy!!! I never knew he was a Stage Performer and Singer though till now… I am glad I got to meet him!!!
While it was not my favorite, I enjoyed "Bonanza;" Dan Blocker's Hoss character my most favored. In my opinion, Pernell Roberts' acting often had a bleed through impression that he, as an actor, did not like his role. As to "Trapper, M.D.," I always thought it was an injustice to mold it into a "spinoff" of the movie, M*A*S*H; Elliot Gould WAS Trapper John and it is not possible in my mind to see Roberts portray that character (nor the television series). Pernell Roberts, as an actor, was incredible and he was obviously an "actor's actor!" Sorry, just my opinion and observation.
IMO, the first year was the best of Bonanza. My favorite episode was when Little Joe went ahead to a town and a local hot lost a gunfight with him. The townsmen were getting set to give Little Joe a fare trial followed by a hanging. That is until cattle baron Ben Cartwright calmly informed the sheriff that he had huge herd coming up the trail pushed fifty a good number of tough cowhands and, when they finished, there would be no town left. Now that was believable. The Ben Cartwright of later years, when Adam left and it was the Little Joe and Hoss comedy hour, I stopped watching.
I liked Bonanza but Pernell did have a point some of the episodes were stinkers. I know a series can’t go on forever with every episode being top notch but if the ‘boys’ had been able to be more developed characters it might have helped the quality of stories. In some of the episodes Hoss is a wise,dependable ,responsible and respected character and in other episodes he is a naive,gullible and foolish.
I used to watch re-runs of Bonanza. The Adam character just seemed out of place to me. The character just did not have the comradery that the other characters had with one another. His character had a certain air about him... like he was better then the rest of them. Zero warmth.
1960's Civil Rights activists didn't worry about racial "diversity" in the cast of a silly TV show. Black people had far more serious concerns in the 60's - please read your history from credible, well-established first-hand accounts before inventing it.
Back in 1959,The tv set industry greatly desired an entertaining show, that would sell color TVs, and the network gave them bonanza. At the time, perhaps less than 1% of Americans had a color TV. IN 1965 it was just over 3%. By the time bonanza ended in 1973, that number just broke 50%.That show along with such as batman, had a lot to do with all those color tv sales. IF Roberts had his way, the show would have tanked pretty quickly, and a lot less color TVs sold. Rather then just pretend he was never a part of the show, they just should have done a hoss, and had the cast returning from Adams funeral after a tragic demise.
He was a truest non -racist Cartwright character - on and offset. DAN BLOCKER and LANDON followed his way as best they could. BONANZA started to die once PERNELL left the show.NBC liked PERNELL'S way of race-mixing, but they thought he was too ahead of his time and too extreme.
Pernell Roberts may be my favorite television actor. Thank you for a great overview of his Bonanza years. Well done.
Pernell Roberts was a truly good man, a real actor in a sea of mediocrity. I remember Bonanza quite well, I tried to catch it every week...It was a good show, even after Pernell left it.
Thanks for the upload, quite informative and entertaining.
I never saw anything more than mediocrity out of him in ANYthing.... the show did very well once they were finally rid of him... Entire families suffer when just one child continually throws temper tantrums and hissy fits and always has a shitty attitude...
My dad loved the westerns, and he had control of the TV. Every Sunday, without fail, it was Bonanza. My favourites, with no exceptions, were Little Joe and Hoss. Then Ben. Adam disappeared from the show before I can remember him. I hadn't completed my first decade at that time. How the years do fly.
I love Bonanza. And as much love for Pernell, he was nuts to leave. It was a wholesome show and full of good will.. Many episodes brought me and still bring me to tears. What is wrong with sons treating a father like the absolute leader of the family till the day he passes???
Yes, respect for elders went too soon...in their case Ben was the patriarch and creator of wealth.
PERNELL, was a very good looking charismatic man. Without him. Bonanza, was never the same again.."
@@luzesquivel2660... agree.
Bonanza wasn't the same without him.
I wish he had stayed.
My favourite Cartright. ❤❤❤
@@2352anneABSOLUTELY. He was a very attractive man. A would say CHARISMATIC. ? Can you believe that.. " Pa" was only 11 years older than him?? His role as a father, was just perfect. " May our good Lord, blesses you. RICHLY." 💒🛐🙏🕊🕊
I thought the show got silly. Running out of ideas. I mean Hoss buying an elephant. Elves in the woods. Etc. Visited the Ponderosa. Beautiful ranch.
Wow. So much I didn't know about Pernell... but I loved him in Bonanza.
I like Hopsing. I like when he got pissed off at Big Hoss and little Joe, he got very irate at them
My mom was an actress and once brought Pernell to our home for a home cooked meal. He was very nice and polite.
WOW!! just WOW! what a memory.
I bet, he was."
Wowzer you lucky so and so
Same here, but it was a Lorne Greene. It was 1968, we met him at a photo op. Ended up seeing him again, the same evening, at an after party. A lot of drinking going on, he fell asleep on our couch and left early the next morning for filming. But not before signing autographs for everyone.
@@jeffreyrogers8151 What an awesome story!! Lorne Greene could fall asleep on my couch any day .😄
"Adam" was my favorite Cartwright. He was a brilliant bad ass who could beat you up with his fists or his intellect.
I thought he was the most handsome of the Cartwright boys.❤
@@karenwaddell9396... me too.
When he left Bonanza it's like a light went out.
My favourite Cartright as well. ❤
He was an awesome versatile actor . Bonanza & Trapper John MD were his best 👍🏻👍🏻
Awesome was never a word I ever associated with that guy....
Pernell Roberts, was my favorite Cartwright👈🏼. Every Episode that he was in, I loved🥰. Because, with him in it, it was more enjoyable😂.
Agree 💯 %!
I loved every episode he was in.
It just wasn't the same after he left.
Adam was my favorite character. His acting talent was very obvious and he was very suave and charming.
I really liked Pernell Roberts, hw had a beautiful singing voice and he was a good actor. I love the show bonanza, I still watch it today on you tube. God bless him.
He left Bonanza to go to medical school and become a doctor on Trapper John, M.D.
😂😅😊😆☺️😁🤭 Very funny and clever................
That's because he couldn't make the grade in Veterinarian school. They said he didn't know how to work with animals.
@@rafanifischer3152 He seemed to work pretty good with Hoss.
He played Trapper nearly 3X as long as Wayne Rogers did. The actor who played Jackpot on that series is one of Broadways golden voices (Brian Stokes Mitchell). Check him out singing in "Man of La Mancha".
😂
It wasn't Bonanza anymore without Mr. Pernell Roberts, I wish I had met him, I never get tired of watching the first 6 season of that show with him, he was a great actor and singer and a great humantairan, thank you for this videoshed truths to this fine person.
💙💖💜 (Sylvana)
I'm 35 now but when I was in 3rd grade my family and I sat in the booth next to him and his lady friend at a fish restaurant. My twin brother blew a straw wrapper at me and it missed and landed in her hair.... He just smiled and never said a thing to her 😂. My dad loves to bring that up. Really cool guy!
Each character had their own personalities. I like them all in character. I still watch the Bonanza re-runs today. It is a good wholesome family show with lots of life lessons.
Excellent video. Stellar narration (thank you!). When I was young, Hoss was my favorite but by around teen years (IIRC) Adam became my favorite. What a sexy gorgeous guy. I was heartbroken when he left and never watched the show after that. Wasn't the same.
Loved Bonanza and all the Cartwrights. I would have loved to have been part of a family like that. RIP, Hoss, Little Joe, Ben, and Adam!
I always laughed when Adam and Little Joe would pick on Hoss, only to have Hoss knock Adam across one side of the room and send Little Joe flying in the opposite direction. Then Ben comes down the stairs, telling them to stop picking on Hoss. 😂😂😂
Roberts had such a wonderful, calming voice. He played Adam as a calm, level headed, gentle man. Enjoyed when he sang with his guitar! He was great when he was interested in a woman... not always chasing, seemed sincere and romantic! In other shows, loved him as an Irishman, the accent and quietly devilish! He was a good actor!
Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright was really great him being on Bonaza, but when he decided it was time to leave the TV Western Show of Bonanza was never the same. At least he decided to expland his roles on TV & Movies.
Loved Pernell. Saw him onstage in Gone With the Wind, the musical in San Francisco.
I loved Bonanza. Each of the boys were my favorite for different reasons. I was sad when Pernell left the show, he was a bright spot, an educated man in the midst of a family of pioneers. I could see him studying at night, learning, and that was a good part of the part he played. I think Hoss was my favorite, kind of like that friendly uncle who joked a lot. Little Joe was a mess at times. And Greene? Followed him through the career, even to Battlestar Galactica. I saw Trapper John too, had to, loved MASH and he did a good job of being the older Trapper.
Pernell was an exceptional man. He was so humble and true. He will always have a special place in my heart. Missing him deeply. Loving him still. He will always b e my favorite in everythhing. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
He was way ahead of his time. He was just to sophisticated even though I love the show even today. I met Michael Landon in the early 90s. Very nice and a wonderful memory. Bonanza was and is will always be my favorite. I had a autograph photo of bonanza of all signed expect Dan blocker. I donated this picture to the greyhound retirement from racing. Even bonanza did more than people gave it credit for.
Nice donation. I have a signed "Little Joe" hat by Landon still in top shape. I kept it in a typewriter case for decades. I also have signed 8x10s of Greene, Landon, Canary, Vogel and Matheson (who played Griff in last season). May give to a western Museum. (Also Roy & Dale, Ben Murphy, Roger Davis, Clayton Moore., John Hart...)
Bonanza was must see TV for many back in the day. Watch a episode today and it is hilariously bad. It’s like a cowboy soap opera, but even lamer than your average soap opera. To be fair it was par for the course like most TV.
I loved the Cartwright’s.
Fun fact:
Pernell Roberts has an absolutely amazing singing voice.
Check him out singing "They Call The Wind Mariah".
I have no idea if he has a grave but there is a park dedicated to Pernell Roberts' memory in Waycross, Georgia. It has a memorial with a sculpture of Pernell.
I still have a Crush on him till this day RIP Enticing Beutiful Piece of an theatrical Talented Man 🥰💛🦋☝🏿🙏
It's March 2024, and Bonanza is on tv 2 different networks and times. Loved it as kid of the 60's, still do.
he play the bad guy in a western or two and was very scary.he made a real good bad cowboy!
Saw him in The Man of La Mancha, he was astounding.
Pernell was a great actor who always gave a powerful and honest performance. Next to Lorne he was my 2nd favorite Cartwright!
He was my favorite on bananza when my sister's watched it. And I loved Trapper MD.
Exceptionally well done bio. Glad to see Landon & he got along post Bonanza- though Landon would rib him on some talk shows (such as Regis & Kathy Lee",). The characters of Hoss & Candy were/are my favs. BTY, small footnote. That song was "Mar-i-a". Beautifully done-none better. Blocker dead at 43 and Landon at 54. Yet the series is still seen everywhere.
So it sounds like both Landon and Roberts died from the same thing? I liked all of the characters but ok, maybe Adam a tad more. The Bonanza show did have Indians/Nativ3 Americans. Sounds like the Cartwright family knew some of them too.
I watched a very good interview with David Dortort who was Bonanzas producer. David summed it up Pernell wasn’t happy and literally during season 6 driving everyone mad. David said Pernell said he wanted off the show so David said fine as of now your off the show. The next day Pernells agent called and convinced David to at least let Pernell finish the season which he did. I watched a lot of Bonanza and there are several episodes where Pernell isn’t used very much. I wish he had been happy with his role but he wasn’t. Anyone reading this watch David Dortort. It’s a fascinating look back.
So right about hiring Native Americans to play Indians!
When Pernell left Bonanza, I quit watching it.
Metoo
Excellent video & sharing away 🥳❤️🙌🏾
I realize that, this was posted, years ago. But, I wanted to make a correction... The song mentioned in the video was they called The wind Mariah'was the proper name not Maria.
No coincidences❤❤❤ everything happens for a reason. Look at all the insights after 🎉
According to David Dortort, Pernell also wanted more focus on his character. More episodes with him as the star. "The Crucible" from Season 3, was written for him primarily and Lee Marvin. After a long argument with David Dortort, he was told return his wardrobe and not return to the set. Pernell's agent contacted David and they worked it out for Pernell to finish his final season, number 6. Great actor. Loved his performances on the show. Rest in peace Adam Cartright 🙏🏼
This was a good ole show ❤❤❤❤
I saw Pernell Roberts when he was on bonanza, when he left, we were like what happened to Adam it was a great show with all four. It’s too bad that he left. I watched him on trapper John MD. He was good on that he was just in the wrong time to have. All the interracial stuff He wanted it on television. It just wasn’t he has time for that as it is now, but he was still a great actor and we liked him. I have a question was Pernell Roberts black I have read that or heard it on TH-cam. It doesn’t matter to me if he was or not but I have heard that before. Thanks for having your channel.
Bonanza creator- producer David Dortort said he had problems w Pernell's ego, PR said he was on par w top stars like Steve McQueen. I vaguely recall he wanted a black actress to play a native woman. Why not either a native as a native or a black as a blacK? Almost as crazy as blue-eyed natives (Chuck Connors movie). A Jewish singer/ actor (Ed Ames) played a mixed-raced Indian named Mango on "Daniel Boone". John Wayne as an Asian dictator (lousy movie)? None of the Charlie Chan movies had an Asian Chan (but Asian sons- including Victor Sen-Yung). David Carradine as a white/ Asian priest "Kung Fu" and sequel. .A lot of Italians and Hispanics played natives then. I recall that long-running commercial with a teary-eyed "native" surveying pollution. He was Italian. But even the last Lone Ranger movie used a big name, white star as Tonto (another lousy movie). And that was just 12 years ago.
@@scottliberati5137there were Black Indians in the United States during the 1800’s. John Horse, for example, was a Black Seminole.
No, Pernell was not Black, he had Native American Ancestry going back on his Fathers side from "The People of One Fire Tribe" Creeks!
Adam Cartwirght...totally briliant....
Hoss was my favorite, but I loved the entire show. I just wish Pernell would have reprised his role in the 1990s sequels. Everyone else was gone, he should have been running the Ponderosa at that time.
I also wish Bonanza hadn't erased him when he left. I believe there was one reference to Adam in the seventh season. They should have talked about him for the rest of the series.
Bonanza is still my all-time favorite TV show!
Pernell Roberts was a good actor…but more importantly, he was a good human being.
Dan Blocker was my favorite. Pernell was a close second.
I loved bonanza, the whole cast was awesome. its too bad he didnt love it because of creative differences but glad that he was still in it.
Loved the character Adam and if I could buy get his albums I would! He’s a greater singer than actor in my opinion
The first season was my favorite it was raw and intense. Hoss was my favorite Cartwright but i loved them all and i still watch the show 6 times a week on Me Tv❤❤❤
Pernell Roberts' decision to leave Bonanza offers a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of the entertainment industry and the personal values that guided his career.
He was fair minded MAN!!!!😂❤😂
I'm a Ben fan and never thought Pernell Roberts was that good a singer or even actor.
Hoss was my favorite, but the mix of characters made the show a success.
He left because nobody liked him. Michael Landon once said that after he left, they just took the middle section of the table out to make it smaller. Don’t sound like any love was lost at all.
Personally I never liked Adam. I thought the show got better with just Ben, Hoss and Little Joe.
I really like Trapper John MD. Loved that show!😊
THEY CALL THE WIND, MA-RYE-AHH
Pernell Roberts was my favourite character on Bonanza
The larger question/topic of this video shouldn't be why did Pernell Roberts "QUIT" Bonanza, but, rather, WHY DID HE EVER JOIN? !!! If he was such a theatrical elitist that he thought TV was "bemeath" his "creative genius," and that his personality was DISRUPTIVE to the show (e.g., "petty," quick to anger, and "vindictive") when he coudn't call the shots or get things "his way," he should have had the decency and intellectual honesty to have never accepted the role. But, alas, making $10k per episode in the early to mid 1960s was SERIOUS $$$ (@ $350k to $400k per season in ... in 1960s money that would easily translate into 10x that amount in the present day) ... so his personal GREED trumped his "creative genius." Which is o.k. -- everyone in America is entitled to make the most $$$ honestly as they wish ... BUT they CAN'T "have it both ways" and demand creative control. If he lasted 6 seasons on the show, even if he wanted to start and then realize it wasn't his cup of tea, I'm sure his original contract was NOT for 6 years; he should have simply NOT signed a new one. Instread, apparently, LIKE A JERK, he "waited until just before" Season 7 to tell the Bonanbza producers that he wanted to quit. A true tool.
Trapper John was a favorite and I had no idea Trapper was based on a MASH character! I just enjoyed "doctor" shows like T.J.M.D., Marcus Welby and Quincy!
Before Bonanza began there was a lot of talk about why and how Television should be changed(I say "Should be" because, like an addict or a drunk, they're unlikely to change on their own). Then, the show that Pernell was part of from the beginning became the biggest show on TV. This is why this topic -- which seems unimportant now -- was such a shock when Pernell quit after 6 successful seasons.
It was AFTER he left - which was right in the middle of the shocking events of the 1960s -- that television went through a LOT of changes -- mainly through world events. Starting with JFK's murder, TV News became very important to all, and soon after, the Vietnam War made the nightly News shows a "must-see" attraction(and thus, a lead-in for the network shows) and the Big 3 TV networks were able to fill out their schedules with popular shows -- which sold LOTS of Advertising. Another thing that grew in a dramatic way was TV sports, which became very popular because of innovative TV executives.
And a big part of the reason for TV becoming so widespread and important was the Cold War(which Vietnam was part of; and something largely not thought of, as time went by -- and the Brainwashing became SO successful and widespread.
Pernell Roberts left Bonanza because -- like Gunsmoke or Rawhide, nothing ever changed. There was no REAL drama. That was the 1960s. America had become largely a 'Watch it on TV" culture.
The producer said one night Pernell asked him to be let out of his contract and he just said "sure" and wrote him out of the series. Just like that.
ACTUALLY PERNELL ROBERTS had to do 6 more episodes of Bonanza! Otherwise he would have been SUED for Breech of contract !
@@Jerry-up8bk Well gone is gone.
Going to have to run out and get that album.
Don't forget that he did a small stint on Mash. I know he was on the first season but I'm not sure about the 2cd. 🤷♀️ Or even maybe the 3rd? No no no no, it was the first and possibly the 2cd. Yep. That's it. And I watched him in all of them. But I was a teenager, and didn't really pay attention to the shows seasons.😊
The director said he was always complaining and finally fired him. Appears he thought he was the next Olivier. Should have been grateful to have work in the field with a 95% unemployment rate. He did nothing for decades. Yep, he showed them...
He did an episode of "The Big Valley" were he played an Irish rebel.
My favorite Cartwright was Haus!
Padraig "Patrick" Madigan!!!
Horse Cartwright died on May 13th, 1972. As they say, "13 is an unlucky number." The show was able to survive when Adam left, but it was doomed when Horse Carwright died. Well, just because the world had to cut its losses when the Cartwrights died doesn't mean we can't see them on film. Thank you for this video, and happy Easter.
These are all just baseless rumors
Although Pernell wanted more diversity on Bonanza, there wasn't much diversity on Trapper John.
Tinha sim,assuntos variados
He was a class act.
A Dean Martin Celebrity Roast for Michael Landon had guest roaster Lorne Green saying Bonanza episodes were about a 47 year old father and his three 40 year old sons. 🤣😂😆 He also said that he had an almost real father/son relationship with Michael, based on the fact that as custmarily occurs, Landon never visited nor phoned him 🤣😂😆.
Thanks👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Todos los Cartwrights son maravillosos ❤
Muchas gracias por tan hermoso video ❤
Te lo agradezco profundamente ❤
As usual Enjoyable episode. One small edit It was Trapper John MD The John being the aged character from MASH who left after season 3 I've barely seen Bonanza and liked it I remember Trapper John more clearly enjoying
Bonanza without Pernell Roberts was not the same!
I loved Trapper John MD!!! I did watch Bonanza growing up and I remember when he left the show. But back in the early 2000’s I was living in Malibu Beach RV Park and met him in the Ralph’s and SaveOn Drug Store a few times and got to talk to him and he was a very nice guy!!! I never knew he was a Stage Performer and Singer though till now… I am glad I got to meet him!!!
Mah rye ah. ❤
Dan Blocker, "Hoss" was my favorite on Bonanza, Pernell was my 2nd favorite.
I already know why he left but I just like looking at him
I know, right! He was very handsome.🥰. Adam was my favorite Cartwright ever since I was a kid.
Mine too when I was young, then as I got older I sort of got a thing for Ben. 🤣@@theresap.3305
Lorne greene also sang Bonanza theme tune
Mar riiiiah ...get your pronunciation correct!
😂❤
While it was not my favorite, I enjoyed "Bonanza;" Dan Blocker's Hoss character my most favored. In my opinion, Pernell Roberts' acting often had a bleed through impression that he, as an actor, did not like his role. As to "Trapper, M.D.," I always thought it was an injustice to mold it into a "spinoff" of the movie, M*A*S*H; Elliot Gould WAS Trapper John and it is not possible in my mind to see Roberts portray that character (nor the television series). Pernell Roberts, as an actor, was incredible and he was obviously an "actor's actor!" Sorry, just my opinion and observation.
IMO, the first year was the best of Bonanza. My favorite episode was when Little Joe went ahead to a town and a local hot lost a gunfight with him. The townsmen were getting set to give Little Joe a fare trial followed by a hanging. That is until cattle baron Ben Cartwright calmly informed the sheriff that he had huge herd coming up the trail pushed fifty a good number of tough cowhands and, when they finished, there would be no town left. Now that was believable. The Ben Cartwright of later years, when Adam left and it was the Little Joe and Hoss comedy hour, I stopped watching.
I liked Bonanza but Pernell did have a point some of the episodes were stinkers. I know a series can’t go on forever with every episode being top notch but if the ‘boys’ had been able to be more developed characters it might have helped the quality of stories. In some of the episodes Hoss is a wise,dependable ,responsible and respected character and in other episodes he is a naive,gullible and foolish.
I used to watch re-runs of Bonanza. The Adam character just seemed out of place to me. The character just did not have the comradery that the other characters had with one another. His character had a certain air about him... like he was better then the rest of them. Zero warmth.
1960's Civil Rights activists didn't worry about racial "diversity" in the cast of a silly TV show. Black people had far more serious concerns in the 60's - please read your history from credible, well-established first-hand accounts before inventing it.
Trapper MD was a great tv show.
I love him on Bonanza❤ he had swag!😅❤❤. Lil Joe was eye candy❤..but Adam!!🥰🤩😅
He considered his role trivial, and hated the western genre.
Back in 1959,The tv set industry greatly desired an entertaining show, that would sell color TVs, and the network gave them bonanza. At the time, perhaps less than 1% of Americans had a color TV. IN 1965 it was just over 3%. By the time bonanza ended in 1973, that number just broke 50%.That show along with such as batman, had a lot to do with all those color tv sales. IF Roberts had his way, the show would have tanked pretty quickly, and a lot less color TVs sold. Rather then just pretend he was never a part of the show, they just should have done a hoss, and had the cast returning from Adams funeral after a tragic demise.
I didn’t care for him on Bonanza but liked him on Trapper John.
Same here. Never like the character of Adam. Never did watch Trapper John either.
Those Indians weren't white they were Italians
Many Shakespearian actors
Like the dad on the brady brunch
Hated tv
Thought it was trite
But he still took that acting job…
So why take the role only to gripe and complain for the duration? The guy who played Mike Brady did the same thing.
There's the truth about Bonanza and then there is Pernell Roberts version.
They Call The Wind Ma-RYE-a . . . not Ma-REE-a 🙂
I saw him on bonanza and trapper but I also saw him on tombstone territory
Ahh, the poor artist’s tender psyche. It was walk before it was woke. No wonder I never missed him after he left.
Was he upset that Landon didn't attend his funeral?
I thought he was just full of himself
He was a truest non -racist Cartwright character - on and offset. DAN BLOCKER and LANDON followed his way as best they could. BONANZA started to die once PERNELL left the show.NBC liked PERNELL'S way of race-mixing, but they thought he was too ahead of his time and too extreme.
Always thought michael landon was the looker till i got older then switched to Roberts