Millions of viewers tuned in each week to see what was happening around the picturesque Ponderosa Ranch in Bonanza, one of the longest-running westerns to ever grace the television airwaves.

Bonanza followed the continuing saga of the Cartwright clan, led by the ever-wise, multi-widowed patriarch, Ben (Lorne Greene.) At his side were his loyal offspring – Adam (Pernell Roberts,) the architect who built their ranch house; Hoss (Dan Blocker,) the gentle giant and Little Joe (Michael Landon,) the impulsive and oft-emotional youngest son. They all lived on their thousand-acre ranch, The Ponderosa, on the shores of Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and just outside of Virginia City. Helping at the ranch was their personal chef of sorts, Hop Sing.

Each week, the virile ranchers would face some crisis that required them to rely on each other to protect their family, their neighbors or their land from evildoers in the Wild West. The Cartwright family unfortunately seemed to be more adept at finding trouble than finding love from the opposite sex. As any fan can attest, any female who caught the attention of one of these guys would either end up dead, or would ride off in the sunset with someone else. Oh well, at least they had each other (and Hop Sing, of course.)

For all of its popularity and longevity, Bonanza was surprisingly almost cancelled after its first season due to low ratings. Once the show was moved from its original Saturday evening time slot to Sundays, however, it would remain in the top-10 position until its final two years. It is also notable as one of the first series to ever be televised in color.

 In the late 80s, three made-for-television movies would revisit life on the Ponderosa, following the lives of the Cartwright offspring (who were apparently the result of immaculate conception.) In 2001, the short-lived series, Ponderosa, debuted – offering a prequel to the popular series.  It failed to capture the magic of the original series, however, and only lasted 20 episodes.