Ponderosa
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About
Ponderosa is a television series developed by Bonanza creator David Dortort for PAX-TV that ran for the 2001–2002 television season. Envisioned as a prequel to the long-running NBC series Bonanza, it had less gunfire, brawling and other traditional western elements than the original. Bonanza creator David Dortort approved PAX TV's decision to hire Beth Sullivan, creator and executive producer of Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman to oversee scripts and executive produce, which some believe gave the series a softer edge. Ponderosa was canceled after one season, in part because of disappointing ratings and high production costs. Although Sullivan had hoped to film the series in and around Los Angeles, PAX decided to film in Australia to reduce costs. Series "show runner" Sullivan sustained severe injuries in a car crash only twelve days after the airing of the first season's last episode. The show should not be confused with Ponderosa, the title used for Bonanza reruns aired on NBC during the summer of 1972.
Cast
Daniel Hugh Kelly
as Ben Cartwright
Gareth Yuen
as Hop Sing
Bruce Dickinson
as Big Dan Larson
Brad Dourif
as Maurice 'Frenchy' Devereaux
Jim Knobeloch
as Jack Wolf
Jared Daperis
as Little Joe Cartwright
Nicki Wendt
as Shelby Sterrett
Matt Carmody
as Adam Cartwright
Drew Powell
as Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright
Josephine Byrnes
as Margaret Greene
Fernando Carrillo
as Carlos Rivera De Vega
Seasons
Episodes
Season 1
Pilot (1)
Bonanza is back in the guise of ""Ponderosa"". This episode is very good, telling the back story of what went on as Ben Cartwright got the deed to the Lake Tahoe property. Unfortunately, someone else also wants the property, so he can strip-mine it and turn the land into a waste-land. Ben's wife and Little Joe's mother is killed when the store in which Ben is working in at the time is blown up by the miner, the one who takes her death the worse is Little Joe. Shortly after this (and because of it) Ben is awarded the property. All seems to be said and done, but as Ben and the boys are building the house, in the middle of the night the miner sneaks onto the property and pours kerosene all over the house and ignites it. Little Joe takes Ben's gun and goes hunting down the miner, not realizing the new trouble he could be causing because of it. Meanwhile, two other characters come into play. The first is Carlos (Fernando Carrillo), a Mexican Soldier who returns to the town after being in the
Pilot (2)
Bonanza is back in the guize of ""Ponderosa"". This episode is very good, telling the back story of what went on as Ben Cartwright got the deed to the Lake Tahoe property. Unfortunately, someone else also wants the property, so he can strip-mine it and turn the land into a waste-land. Ben's wife and Little Joe's mother is killed when the store in which Ben is working in at the time is blown up by the miner, the one who takes her death the worse is Little Joe. Shortly after this (and because of it) Ben is awarded the property. All seems to be said and done, but as Ben and the boys are building the house, in the middle of the night the miner sneaks onto the property and pours kerosene all over the house and ignites it. Little Joe takes Ben's gun and goes hunting down the miner, not realizing the new trouble he could be causing because of it. Meanwhile, two other characters come into play. The first is Carlos (Fernando Carrillo), a Mexican Soldier who returns to the town after being in the
Joaquin
While selling some cattle to a fellow rancher, Adam and Little Joe witness an amazing sight, a Mexican walks up to the rancher and shoots him at point blank range . . . the rancher gets up and brushes himself off. It seems as if they were testing out a bullet proof vest. Later, in town. We find Hauss staring at a Wanted Poster for a bandit named Joaquin with a very high price on his head. The same bandit who was at the ranch comes behind him, razzes Hauss about if they'll catch the bandit or not and walks away. It is now breakfast-time the next day, Carlos comes riding up with someone strapped to his horse. It was the same man that Joe and Adam saw at the ranch, and Hauss saw in town, after being patched up by Shelby (Nicki Wendt), he identifies himself as Joaquin. He also explains that he is wanted for murder in towns several hundred miles apart . . . and they were committed on the same day. As he recovers, he gives Adam a birthday wish that Ben couldn't, the oppurtunity to handle a g
Bare Knuckles
Going against Ben's explicit wishes, Hauss goes up against a bare-knuckles fighter named Iron Hands Malloy (Joseph Clements). Hauss thinks he's developed a new and surprising punch that will knock the fighter off his feet. He does so -- in a test bout, whic was a means to peak everybody's interest in the fight. As things progress, Adam does some research, only to discover that the fighter went under several other names and was expelled from the official circuit for using several cheating methods, one of which is holding a rock in his hand and pounding on his opponent if his opponent gets too close to winning, and as Hauss begins to win against Iron Hands . . ..
Promise
Adam kills a robber, and he promises the dying man that he will take care of his children and widow. Also, a man comes to town claiming that he's the great grandson of George Washington's personal slave.
Homeland
Carlos is overjoyed and Ben and his sons are amazed when Carlos beautiful and spirited eighteen-year-old sister, Isabella, appears at what until recently had been the Rivera family's ranch. Carlos had presumed she'd died in a fire in Mexico. Isabella is overjoyed at being reunited with the brother she'd feared had died in the Mexican-American war, but she's also heartbroken to learn that her former home has been sold to Margaret Davis as a war reparation. Since she's now homeless, Ben takes Isabella into the already-crowded Ponderosa, but events take a dismaying turn when a sheriff from Texas arrives in town on the trail of a ""killer"" and discovers that Isabella rode in on the murdered victim's horse. The sheriff threatens to arrest Isabella, but Ben takes responsibility for her custody, offering to stand trial for whatever crime, if any, the sheriff decides to try her for if she flees. Fearful for Isabella's life, Isabella and Carlos do flee, but when they learn what Ben has done, the
Quarantine
When the town is quarantined because of an illness for which the townspeople blame the Cartwrights, vigilantes set out to destroy their home.
Secrets and Lies
A man comes to Eagle Station wanting Adam, to write about the 'true story' of the Donner Party. But the meeting causes Ben to reflect on a bad experience from his own past.
Where does Ponderosa rank today?
Ponderosa is #5429 on the Bowood.TV Daily Streaming Charts today.
- Highest: #5429
- Top 10: 0 days
- Top 100: 0 days
Watch Ponderosa Online Free — All Episodes in HD
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About Ponderosa
Ponderosa is a television series developed by Bonanza creator David Dortort for PAX-TV that ran for the 2001–2002 television season. Envisioned as a prequel to the long-running NBC series Bonanza, it had less gunfire, brawling and other traditional western elements than the original. Bonanza creator David Dortort approved PAX TV's decision to hire Beth Sullivan, creator and executive producer of Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman to oversee scripts and executive produce, which some believe gave the series a softer edge. Ponderosa was canceled after one season, in part because of disappointing ratings and high production costs. Although Sullivan had hoped to film the series in and around Los Angeles, PAX decided to film in Australia to reduce costs. Series "show runner" Sullivan sustained severe injuries in a car crash only twelve days after the airing of the first season's last episode. The show should not be confused with Ponderosa, the title used for Bonanza reruns aired on NBC during the summer of 1972. Across 1 season and 20 episodes, originally airing on Pax TV.
Ponderosa Cast and Characters
The cast features Daniel Hugh Kelly (as Ben Cartwright), Gareth Yuen (as Hop Sing), Bruce Dickinson (as Big Dan Larson), Brad Dourif (as Maurice 'Frenchy' Devereaux), and Jim Knobeloch (as Jack Wolf). Their performances are a major reason Ponderosa has built such a passionate audience.
Where to Watch Ponderosa Online
Want to watch Ponderosa online without paying? Bowood.TV is the easiest way. Click play and the series starts in seconds. No popups, no "5 day trial that auto-charges" — just the show.
▶ Watch Ponderosa NowWhy People Are Watching Ponderosa
Ponderosa flies under the radar but it deserves your attention. What makes it work is emotional weight that hits where it counts. If you enjoy English storytelling that doesn't follow the same tired beats, this is the kind of show you'll end up recommending to friends.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ponderosa
Where can I watch Ponderosa online for free?
You can watch Ponderosa online free on Bowood.TV. Just open the page and hit play — no signup, no subscription, full HD streaming on phone, tablet, or desktop.
How many episodes does Ponderosa have?
Ponderosa has 20 episodes across 1 season. All episodes are available to stream right here on Bowood.TV.
Is Ponderosa good? What's the rating?
Ponderosa holds a 7.0/10 rating based on 2 reviews — well above average.
Who is in the cast of Ponderosa?
The main cast includes Daniel Hugh Kelly, Gareth Yuen, Bruce Dickinson, and Brad Dourif, plus a strong supporting ensemble.
Is Ponderosa available in English?
Yes — Ponderosa was originally produced in English and that's the version you'll stream here on Bowood.TV.
When was Ponderosa released?
Ponderosa first aired in 2001.
Do I need an account to watch Ponderosa on Bowood.TV?
No. Bowood.TV is free and you can watch Ponderosa without creating an account. Sign-up is optional — only useful if you want a personal Watchlist or to comment on episodes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Ponderosa for free?
You can watch Ponderosa online for free on Bowood.TV. All 20 episodes across 1 season are available to stream in HD without a subscription, signup, or paywall. Just open the show page and press play.
How many seasons and episodes does Ponderosa have?
Ponderosa currently has 1 season and a total of 20 episodes. The series status is "Ended", so the episode count may grow as new seasons are released. You can browse the full episode list on Bowood.TV and continue watching from where you left off.
What is Ponderosa about?
Ponderosa is a television series developed by Bonanza creator David Dortort for PAX-TV that ran for the 2001–2002 television season. Envisioned as a prequel to the long-running NBC series Bonanza, it had less gunfire, brawling and other traditional western elements than the original. Bonanza creator David Dortort ap… It belongs to the Western, Drama genres.
In which language is Ponderosa originally available?
Ponderosa was originally produced in English. On Bowood.TV the show is available in its original English audio, which is the most authentic way to experience the dialogue, music, and performances. Check the player options on the watch page for available subtitle tracks.
When was Ponderosa first released?
Ponderosa first premiered on September 9, 2001 (2001). The series has since concluded its run.
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