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Paradise (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Paradise is an American
Western
family television series, broadcast by CBS
from 1988 to 1991. Created by David Jacobs
and Robert Porter, the series presents the adventures of fictitious gunfighter Ethan Allen Cord, whose sister left her four children in his custody when she died.
as Cord, a professional gunfighter who was forced to take custody of the four children of his sister, a St. Louis
singer who was dying and unable to make any other arrangements for their care. Cord realized his profession was unsuitable to child rearing and decided to change, renting a farm
from Amelia Lawson (Sigrid Thornton
), who also owned the local bank in the small town of Paradise, California
(the origin of the title). Ethan tried to live a peaceful life, but was constantly haunted by his violent past and frequently called upon by the townspeople to defend them from lawlessness. Cord was close friends with John Taylor (Dehl Berti
), a Native American
medicine man
, who often provided him with wise counsel and insights into human nature.
In the third and final season some changes were made. A new opening sequence introduced the series' new name, Guns of Paradise, an apparent attempt to remind viewers the program, despite its title, was in fact a Western. Cord and Amelia were now engaged and in the process of building a new house, and Cord was in the process of achieving an official appointment to be the town's marshal
, the role he had essentially been fulfilling unofficially.
In a memorable two-part episode, Gene Barry
and Hugh O'Brian
recreated their famous 1950s television roles of legendary gunslingers Bat Masterson
and Wyatt Earp
. Robert Harland
, who co-starred in the 1960 television western Law of the Plainsman
made his last television appearance in 1988 on Paradise. The special two-part episode briefly launched the ratings-challenged series into the top 10 of the Nielsen Ratings.
In 1991, despite a loyal fan base and critical acclaim, after 3 seasons, the series was canceled amid low viewer ratings. CBS eventually replaced the series with Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. In the mid-90's, The Family Channel
ran Paradise in syndication
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
family television series, broadcast by CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
from 1988 to 1991. Created by David Jacobs
David Jacobs (writer)
David Jacobs in Baltimore, Maryland is a writer for television, most memorable for being the creator of the two dramas Dallas and Knots Landing....
and Robert Porter, the series presents the adventures of fictitious gunfighter Ethan Allen Cord, whose sister left her four children in his custody when she died.
Synopsis
Paradise starred Lee HorsleyLee Horsley
Lee Arthur Horsley is an American film, television, and theater actor known for starring roles in the television series, Nero Wolfe , Matt Houston , and Paradise . He starred in the 1982 cult film, The Sword and the Sorcerer, and recorded the audiobook edition of Lonesome Dove...
as Cord, a professional gunfighter who was forced to take custody of the four children of his sister, a St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
singer who was dying and unable to make any other arrangements for their care. Cord realized his profession was unsuitable to child rearing and decided to change, renting a farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
from Amelia Lawson (Sigrid Thornton
Sigrid Thornton
Sigrid Thornton is an Australian multi-award winning actress.-Early years:Thornton was born in Canberra, the daughter of Merle, a teacher of women's studies and writer, and Neil Thornton, an academic. She spent most of her formative years growing up and attending school at St. Peter's Lutheran...
), who also owned the local bank in the small town of Paradise, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
(the origin of the title). Ethan tried to live a peaceful life, but was constantly haunted by his violent past and frequently called upon by the townspeople to defend them from lawlessness. Cord was close friends with John Taylor (Dehl Berti
Dehl Berti
Dehl Berti was an Italian American actor who often played native Americans, perhaps best known for his appearance on the American TV show Paradise in the late 1980s...
), a Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
medicine man
Medicine man
"Medicine man" or "Medicine woman" are English terms used to describe traditional healers and spiritual leaders among Native American and other indigenous or aboriginal peoples...
, who often provided him with wise counsel and insights into human nature.
In the third and final season some changes were made. A new opening sequence introduced the series' new name, Guns of Paradise, an apparent attempt to remind viewers the program, despite its title, was in fact a Western. Cord and Amelia were now engaged and in the process of building a new house, and Cord was in the process of achieving an official appointment to be the town's marshal
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
, the role he had essentially been fulfilling unofficially.
In a memorable two-part episode, Gene Barry
Gene Barry
Gene Barry was an American stage, screen, and television actor. Barry is best remembered for his leading roles in the films The Atomic City and The War of The Worlds and for his portrayal of the title character in the TV series Bat Masterson, among many roles.-Personal life:Barry was born...
and Hugh O'Brian
Hugh O'Brian
Hugh O'Brian is an American actor, known for his starring role in the ABC television series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp .-Early years and career:...
recreated their famous 1950s television roles of legendary gunslingers Bat Masterson
Bat Masterson (TV series)
Bat Masterson is an American Western television series which showed a fictionalized account of the life of real-life marshal/gambler/dandy Bat Masterson. The title character was played by Gene Barry and the half-hour black and white shows ran on NBC from 1958 to 1961...
and Wyatt Earp
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp is a Western television series loosely based on the adventures of frontier marshal Wyatt Earp. The half-hour black and white series ran on ABC-TV from 1955 to 1961 and featured Hugh O'Brian as Earp. An off-camera barbershop quartet sang the theme song and hummed...
. Robert Harland
Robert Harland
Robert "Bob" Harland is a retired American actor whose principal work was done on television in the late 1950s and 1960s...
, who co-starred in the 1960 television western Law of the Plainsman
Law of the Plainsman
Law of The Plainsman is a Western television series starring Michael Ansara that aired on the NBC television network from October 1, 1959, until May 5, 1960. The character of Native American U.S...
made his last television appearance in 1988 on Paradise. The special two-part episode briefly launched the ratings-challenged series into the top 10 of the Nielsen Ratings.
In 1991, despite a loyal fan base and critical acclaim, after 3 seasons, the series was canceled amid low viewer ratings. CBS eventually replaced the series with Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. In the mid-90's, The Family Channel
Television networks preceding ABC Family
The cable television network ABC Family has gone through several different owners during its history. Stipulations in sales terms for the network require that the network maintain the word "Family" in its name.-CBN Cable :...
ran Paradise in syndication
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Lee Horsley Lee Horsley Lee Arthur Horsley is an American film, television, and theater actor known for starring roles in the television series, Nero Wolfe , Matt Houston , and Paradise . He starred in the 1982 cult film, The Sword and the Sorcerer, and recorded the audiobook edition of Lonesome Dove... |
Ethan Allen Cord |
| Jenny Beck Jenny Beck (actress) Jennifer "Jenny" Beck is an American actress best known for playing a young Elizabeth on V: The Final Battle and V: The Series... |
Claire Carroll |
| Matthew Newmark | Joseph Carroll |
| Brian Lando | Benjamin Carroll |
| Michael Patrick Carter | George Carroll |
| Sigrid Thornton Sigrid Thornton Sigrid Thornton is an Australian multi-award winning actress.-Early years:Thornton was born in Canberra, the daughter of Merle, a teacher of women's studies and writer, and Neil Thornton, an academic. She spent most of her formative years growing up and attending school at St. Peter's Lutheran... |
Amelia Lawson |
| Dehl Berti Dehl Berti Dehl Berti was an Italian American actor who often played native Americans, perhaps best known for his appearance on the American TV show Paradise in the late 1980s... |
John Taylor |
| John F. Bloom III | Tiny |
Awards
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | American Society of Cinematographers American Society of Cinematographers The American Society of Cinematographers is an educational, cultural, and professional organization. It is not a labor union, and it is not a guild. Membership is by invitation and is extended only to directors of photography and special effects experts with distinguished credits in the film... |
Won | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular Series' | Richard M. Rawlings, Jr. |
| Western Heritage Awards | Fictional Television Drama | James L. Conway, Joel J. Feigenbaum, Lee Horsley, David Jacobs, Robert Porter, and Sigrid Thornton (For episode "Stray Bullet") |
||
| 1991 | Western Writers of America Spur Award The Spur Award is an annual literary prize awarded by the Western Writers of America. Founded in 1953 with only four categories , the award today has expanded to include the following categories:... |
Best Television | Unknown (For episode "Dust in the Wind") |