By Laura Salas
Dan Blocker was considered as one of Robert Altman’s top choices for the lead role in the movie M*A*SH. However, Altman’s request was not granted by the producers. The movie was still a huge success, but it would have been interesting to see which role would have been written for one of TV’s favorite actors.
Mercurie
When Bonanza first premiered, TV’s conventional method of depicting fathers was a dimwitted man often managed by their wives. However, producer David Dortort wanted something different. He wanted Ben to be an admired father-figure worthy of respect. Dortort insisted the show also ditch the 30-minute limit for a full hour show to better explore the character.
Blocker died unexpectedly. Because of that it was announced that Hoss would be killed in an accident in an episode of the show. It was the very first time in television history that a show had dealt with, or even mentioned, the death of one of its characters.
On the first season of Bonanza, the production was not yet sure if the viewers would love the show because the main characters were not as well-known as the other actors in the industry. In response, many famous stars were brought in for guest appearances. The show’s producers paid those actors more than the show’s actual stars. By the second season the show’s ratings were increasing and the show’s actors had become bonafide stars.
We mostly heard the theme song on its instrumental version. However, it really had lyrics. The song was created by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans and there is footage of the lead actors singing those lyrics. Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker and Michael Landon sang a lyric version for the pilot, but it never aired. Famed singer Johnny Cash recorded his own version of the Bonanza theme song.
