Bonanza was a hit western TV series that aired on NBC from 1959 to 1973. During that time frame the show became one of the biggest hits in NBC history while also racking up numerous critical and commercial accolades. Those are the known facts. Now let us dig in and tell you some of the lesser known facts. Listed below you’ll find some crazy facts about the hit TV show Bonanza!
There were no lead characters.
Behind the scenes the producers on Bonanza did everything in their power to keep the show on equal footing with each star. The lead characters, Ben, Adam, Joe, and Hoss all had equal screen time and their names were changed around in the opening credits at random. They got paid well too, as a trip to the cosmetic dentist wouldn’t cost them more than a penny of screen time.
There Were No Lead Characters
Bonanza is one of the most expensive shows in TV history.
Period produced TV shows are wildly expensive and Bonanza was the most expensive among them. Each episode cost nearly $150,000 to produce, from start to finish. Fortunately the show was so successful that it was easily worth the investment. This was before each actor on stage was charging production for laser teeth whitening and dental implants. Crazy stuff, especially for the time period.
Bonanza Is One Of The Most Expensive Shows In TV History
