The Inside Story of 1993’s ‘Bonanza: The Return’

When Bonanza: The Return premiered on NBC on November 28, 1993, it was meant to bring one of television’s most beloved Westerns back to life for a new generation. The original Bonanza, which ran from 1959 to 1973, followed the Cartwright family at the Ponderosa Ranch near Lake Tahoe. Created by David Dortort, the series became one of NBC’s longest-running hits, and Dortort returned as executive producer for the revival film nearly two decades later. Bonanza: The Return aimed to continue that legacy, revisiting with the Cartwrights; though many of the show’s original actors had passed, the sons of several, including Michael Landon Jr. and Dirk Blocker, appeared in the film.