| 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 |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 56 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Joel J. Feigenbaum James L. Conway David Jacobs |
| Running time | 60 mins. (approx) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | CBS |
| Original run | 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.
Contents |
Paradise 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.
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. [1]
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.
| 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 |
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | American Society of Cinematographers | 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 | Best Television | Unknown (For episode "Dust in the Wind") |