Ponderosa Steakhouse and Bonanza Steakhouse under the Metromedia Restaurant Group. The names of the restaurants were derived from the classic TV series "Bonanza", which was set at a place called Ponderosa Ranch. In 1963, Dan Blocker, who played Eric "Hoss" Cartwright on "Bonanza", started the Bonanza Steakhouse chain. The first Bonanza opened in Westport, Connecticut. Sam Wyly and his brother Charles Wyly bought the small Bonanza restaurant chain three years later. The company grew to approximately 600 restaurants by 1989, when the Wylys sold it to Metromedia. In 1965, Dan Lasater, Norm Wiese and Charles Kleptz founded Ponderosa in Kokomo, Indiana, moving the headquarters to
Meet the Family (TV series) the Mom. Hannah Hogan as the Sister. Jason DeRosse as the Brother. CityTV renewed the series for a second season which premiered on Saturday, September 13, 2014 and concluded February 21, 2015. The Season 2 cast is much larger and rotates each episode so that no two families are ever the same. Season 1 of Meet the Family was nominated for 4 Canadian Comedy Awards: Best TV Series. Best Writing in a TV Series: Derek Harvie, Ron Sparks, Matthew Doyle & Evany Rosen. Best Director of a TV Series: Derek Harvie. Best Actress in a TV Series: Liz Best. Season