Paradise (TV series)

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

Awards and nominations

References

• Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows

External links

• Paradise at the Internet Movie Database
• Paradise at TV.com
• Paradise at epguides.com