I just can't embrace the Cartwright family and Bonanza. The show is too soap operatic for me.

Well written stories with excellent character development. Stories with a beginning, middle, and end. Modern writers should take heed. The moralism was often a bit heavy-handed, but maybe that was part of the schtick.

This will always be my favorite western TV show. Sometimes it was a little overacted and sometimes you had to question why three grown men would still be living under the thumb of their father. And yet, there was always a moral, a lesson to be learned. Perhaps, because it was written at a much simpler time, when we knew who the good guys were and what they stood for. My favorite character was little Joe, but I liked them all and enjoyed the interaction between the brothers. They don't make them like this anymore.

The best thing about this show was Hoss, Little Joe, I always wanted to see that bozo get his clock cleaned.