Pahonu wrote:
Four Cartwright marriages, four deaths of young women. If this was happening today, Ben would have Perry Mason on retainer and there'd be a podcast hosted by Hop Sing titled
"The Cartwrights: Murder Clan USA or Just Unlucky in Love?"
I love that podcast title!
Ivan wrote:
Hey, if Hop Sing is hosting a podcast... I'm right there!!!
Meestah Cot-light!!
Hi Guys,
I always enjoyed when Hop Sing would get angry at the Cartwrights and chew them out, the other actors seemingly did as well.
Hoss's impressed, awed reaction after Hop Sing beats up Mike Mazurki with a flurry of karate chops on the street in Virginia City is hilarious -
"I'm never gonna complain about his burnt chicken again"
Somebody should do a tongue in cheek podcast on the Cartwrights as original gangstas.
The death toll amongst those unfortunate enough to cross them must number in the many dozens.
In the first episodes before the writers/production staff found their way, Ben was a crazed zealot equating the Ponderosa with the Promised Land, his boys
ready to actually kill someone merely for the crime of trespassing.
Victor Sen Yung initially found fame as Charlie Chan's uber Americanized son Jimmy Chan, amusingly put down constantly by his father.
The series coined good box office even after it moved to poverty row studio Monogram, as it was especially popular with the black and native american communities,
as in their eyes, for once the hero wasn't white.
I got a chuckle at how obtuse the panel was on To Tell The Truth, a mere year after Bonanza ended its run, when 3 of the 4 panelists couldn't tell Yung apart from the 2 imposters.
After all, his face had literally been seen by a billion viewers and more across the planet as Bonanza played everywhere.
I recall watching this TTTT, as soon as Victor came out we all blurted out "Hop Sing!"
He was on because he had been shot struggling with armed terrorists after his plane was hijacked and the FBI was storming it.
He was down on his luck and alone when he passed at 65, his body undiscovered for 10 days.
Pernell Roberts stepped in to pay all his funeral costs, and gave the eulogy.
"Number Two Son very promising detective...promise very much produce very little"
Charlie Chan
At 70 something!!
I do want to see that episode. One of these days I shall. I don't think any Cartwright ever got as far as marrying someone. Until this episode. The girl usually dies before any wedding can happen.
