Saying goodbye to a television show is not an easy task, but how do you give a sendoff to a series that has been on the air for over ten seasons?
Bonanza wasn’t just a Western show; in its time on the air, it became the Western show. Families around the country loved to watch The Cartwright Boys and their adventures.
After the departure of Pernell Roberts and the death of Dan Blocker, the Bonanza cast certainly grew smaller, but the series was no less beloved. So, when it finally came time to end the series in 1973, the crew trusted one of their own to tell the story.
Michael Landon wrote and directed the final episode of Bonanza, “The Hunter. ” Landon is best known as Little Joe Cartwright, but throughout his time on Bonanza, he also discovered a love for writing. He pursued that dream throughout the series and penned several episodes.
In an interview with the Shreveport Journal, Landon described his writing process as difficult but worthwhile. “Now that I earn my living as an actor, director, and writer, I’d have to say that the writing part is the hardest,” he said. “There are various little ways that an actor or a director can ‘cheat’ his way through a scene – but there’s no way in the world for a writer to speed through what is the blueprint for the whole thing.”
With his love of writing coupled with his love for the series, Landon seemed to be the perfect fit to set Bonanza to rest. Ultimately, it seemed that Landon was the best man for the job because of his love for the craft, not for the popularity it gave him.
“Fame was never part of the attraction, even before I became famous,” Landon said during an interview with the Lancaster New Era. “It still isn’t. I like being an actor because it’s the kind of work I enjoy. I’m very lucky to have the opportunity to act.”