Bonanza Premieres (September 12, 1959)

For the first two years, I never watched Bonanza on a consistent basis. Why? Because it aired at 7:30 pm on a Saturday night, and as any Canadian knows, that’s Hockey Night in Canada. But, by 1961, that changed when NBC moved its time slot to 9:00 pm on Sundays, airing after the Ed Sullivan Show.

So, why was it so popular? I wonder if the event chart can tell us.

Ah, so, as Hop Sing would say: the Yod pointing at Venus is why. It was probably the first TV western that appealed to women, and I think Michael Landon was the reason. Never underestimate the power of love.

Hmm.