Bonanza a chance to fully develop before the show's abrupt cancellation in November 1972 (with last episode airing January 16, 1973). Many fans, as well as both Landon and Greene, felt that the Hoss character was essential, as he was a nurturing, empathetic soul who rounded out the all-male cast. For 14 years, the Cartwrights were the premier western family on American television and have been immensely popular on cable networks such as TV Land, INSP, Family Channel, and the Hallmark Channel. The series currently airs on Me-TV, TV Land, INSP, and Encore Westerns. TV Land airs "Bonanza" from only the
The Virginian (TV series) McIntire and Stewart Granger portraying different characters. The series ran for nine seasons—television's third longest running western, behind "Bonanza" at 14 seasons and 430 episodes, and "Gunsmoke" at 20 seasons and 635 episodes. The series is loosely based on "The Virginian: Horseman of the Plains", a 1902 western novel by Owen Wister. Percy Faith composed the theme. When Revue Productions' hour-long series "Wagon Train" moved from the NBC network to ABC, "The Virginian" was proposed to replace it. From the beginning, the series was filmed in color on 35mm film. Set in the late 19th century, and loosely based on