Paradise (TV series)

Paradise
Also known as ''Guns of Paradise''
Genre Western
Created by David Jacobs
Robert Porter
Written by Thomas C. Chapman
Theresa G. Corigliano
Peter Dunne
Joel J. Feigenbaum
David Jacobs
Roberto Loiederman
Robert Porter
Directed by Cliff Bole
Michael Caffey
Peter Crane
Harry Harris
Nick Havinga
Michael Lange
Kim Manners
Richard M. Rawlings, Jr.
Joseph L. Scanlan
Robert Scheerer
Starring Lee Horsley
Jenny Beck
Matthew Newmark
Brian Lando
Michael Patrick Carter
Sigrid Thornton
Dehl Berti
Theme music composer Jerrold Immel
Composer(s) Bruce Babcock
Christopher Caliendo
Christopher Klatman
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 3
No. of episodes 56 (List of episodes)
Production
Producer(s) Joel J. Feigenbaum
James L. Conway
David Jacobs
Running time 60 minutes
Production company(s) Roundelay Productions
Lorimar Television
Release
Original network CBS
Original release October 27, 1988 – May 10, 1991

Paradise (later renamed Guns of 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.

Synopsis

Paradise, set from 1890 and on,[1] starred Lee Horsley 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.

After the second season ended the show went on hiatus to make some changes. It returned to the air in January 1991 for its shortened and final third season. A new opening sequence introduced the series' new name, Guns of Paradise, an apparent attempt to remind viewers that 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.[2]

In 1991, despite a loyal fan base and critical acclaim, after three seasons, the series was canceled amid low viewer ratings. CBS eventually replaced the series with Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. In the mid-'90s, The Family Channel ran Paradise in syndication.

Cast

Actor Role
Lee Horsley Ethan Allen Cord
Jenny Beck Claire Carroll
Matthew Newmark Joseph Carroll
Brian Lando Benjamin Carroll
Michael Patrick Carter George Carroll
Sigrid Thornton Amelia Lawson
Dehl Berti John Taylor
John F. Bloom III Tiny

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipient Result
1989 American Society of Cinematographers Award Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular Series Richard M. Rawlings Jr. Won
1990 Nominated
International Monitor Award Best Editor – Film Originated Entertainment M. Edward Salier and Lorimar (For episode "Burial Ground") Nominated
1989 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Main Title Theme Music Jerrold Immel Nominated
Outstanding Cinematography for a Series Richard M. Rawlings Jr. (For episode "Long Lost Lawson") Nominated
1990 Outstanding Hairstyling for a Series Linda Leiter Sharp (For episode "A Gathering of Guns") Nominated
Viewers for Quality Television Award Best Quality Drama Series Nominated
Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series Lee Horsley Nominated
Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series Sigrid Thornton Nominated
1989 Western Heritage Award Fictional Television Drama David Jacobs, Robert Porter, James L. Conway, Joel J. Feigenbaum, Sigrid Thornton and Lee Horsley (For episode "Stray Bullet") Won
1991 Western Writers of America's Spur Award Best Television "Dust in the Wind" Won
1989 Young Artist Award Best New Television Series Nominated
Best Young Actor in a Nighttime Drama Series Brian Lando Nominated
Matthew Newmark Nominated
Best Young Actress in a Nighttime Drama Series Jenny Beck Nominated
Best Young Actor Under 9 Years of Age Michael Patrick Carter Nominated
1990 Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series Matthew Newmark Nominated
Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series Jenny Beck Nominated
Best Young Actor Guest Starring in a Television Series Mark Ballou Nominated
Michael John Burns Nominated
Best Young Actress Guest Starring in a Television Series Crystal McKellar Nominated
Outstanding Performance by an Actor Under 9 Years of Age Michael Patrick Carter Nominated
1991 Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series Matthew Newmark Nominated
Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series Jenny Beck Nominated
Best Young Actor Supporting or Recurring Role For a TV Series Brian Lando Nominated
Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor Under Nine M.P. Carter Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Movie clip; see at: 1:17
  2. ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N0FBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7agMAAAAIBAJ&dq=paradise%20gene%20barry%20ratings&pg=6944%2C721979
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