Yeah, Pa's a lot more than a little over-the-top in this maiden voyage -- a sort-of would-be Mormon-style patriarch with a side helping of John Brown thrown in; a regular Bible-thumpin' menace.
Lorne Greene gives it a run for its money, but few in '59 would have welcomed THAT guy into their home on a weekly basis. Mellow him out just a touch to the stiff-necked (but ultimately reasonable) Ben we all know and we're good to go.
Not much else to remark on, since they manage to get the setting and characters established without too much "clunk" factor, but one thing I must protest loudly and long, and hope never to see again even as a joke:
Adam Cartwright does NOT wear a powder-blue hat to town, even when he's courtin' -- let alone when he rides into Virginia City lookin' for a scrap.
The NBC peacock should be ashamed of itself.
Not the worst pilot I've ever seen, not by a long shot -- and Little Joe is just so dad-blamed charmin' mos' anybody'd be minded to tune into Episode 2 ...
Lorne Greene gives it a run for its money, but few in '59 would have welcomed THAT guy into their home on a weekly basis. Mellow him out just a touch to the stiff-necked (but ultimately reasonable) Ben we all know and we're good to go.
Not much else to remark on, since they manage to get the setting and characters established without too much "clunk" factor, but one thing I must protest loudly and long, and hope never to see again even as a joke:
Adam Cartwright does NOT wear a powder-blue hat to town, even when he's courtin' -- let alone when he rides into Virginia City lookin' for a scrap.
The NBC peacock should be ashamed of itself.
Not the worst pilot I've ever seen, not by a long shot -- and Little Joe is just so dad-blamed charmin' mos' anybody'd be minded to tune into Episode 2 ...
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