Bonanza the Ponderosa was Virginia City, where the Cartwrights would go to converse with Sheriff Roy Coffee (played by veteran actor Ray Teal), or his deputy Clem Foster (Bing Russell). "Bonanza" was considered an atypical western for its time, as the core of the storylines dealt less about the range but more with Ben and his three dissimilar sons, how they cared for one another, their neighbors, and just causes. "You always saw stories about family on comedies or on an anthology, but "Bonanza" was the first series that was week-to-week about a family and the troubles it went through. "Bonanza"
Bonanza: The Next Generation Bonanza: The Next Generation Bonanza: The Next Generation is a 1988 American made-for-television western film and a sequel to the 1959–1973 television series "Bonanza" starring John Ireland, Robert Fuller, Barbara Anderson, Michael Landon Jr., Brian A. Smith and John Amos. None of the characters from the original series appears since the entire cast, with the exception of Pernell Roberts and Michael Landon, had died. Lorne Greene had signed to reprise his role as patriarch Ben, but died shortly before production began. He was replaced by veteran actor John Ireland, who played Ben's brother Aaron. The movie features Michael Landon Jr.