Bonanza season 9

The ninth season of the American Western television series Bonanza premiered on NBC on September 17, 1967, with the final episode airing July 28, 1968. The series was developed and produced by David Dortort. Season nine starred Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon. The season consisted of 34 episodes of a series total 431 hour-long episodes, the entirety of which was produced in colour. Season nine was aired on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. After three straight seasons at number one, it slipped to #6 in the Nielsen ratings.

Synopsis
Bonanza is set around the Ponderosa Ranch near Virginia City, Nevada and chronicles the weekly adventures of the Cartwright family, consisting of Ben Cartwright and his three sons (each by a different wife), Adam, Eric ("Hoss"), and Joseph ("Little Joe"). A regular character is their ranch cook, Hop Sing.

Main cast

 * Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright
 * Dan Blocker as Eric "Hoss" Cartwright
 * Michael Landon as Joseph "Little Joe" Cartwright
 * David Canary as "Candy" Canaday

Recurring

 * Victor Sen Yung as Hop Sing
 * Ray Teal as Sheriff Roy Coffee
 * Bing Russell as Deputy Clem Foster

Filming
On location filming took place at the following:


 * Ponderosa Ranch at Incline Village - "Desperate Passage", "Showdown at Tahoe"
 * Lake Tahoe - "Showdown at Tahoe"
 * Vasquez Rocks - "The Thirteenth Man"
 * Franklin Lake - "Star Crossed", "A Severe Case of Matrimony"
 * Bronson Canyon - "Committment at Angelus", "In Defense of Honor", "To Die in Darkness"

The episode "Showdown at Tahoe" used the M. S. Dixie II, an operating tour vessel on Lake Tahoe.

Release
Season nine aired on Sundays from 9:00pm–10:00pm on NBC.

Reception
After three straight seasons in the number one spot, it slipped to #6 in the Nielsen ratings.