Ok. Here's the question about this scene. Did Pernell, Dan, and Mike conspire to sit like this, without telling anyone they were going to do it? Or was it in the script that they do this? It would be just like one, two, or all three to do it on their own. I've seen clips from outtakes, from other TV shows and movies, where the bloopers and mistakes flowed with the scene, that they were left in. 

 

That's a great question! I can imagine them sitting dejected/exhausted like this was in the script, or indicated to some extent. Perhaps the location and the order in which they sat was organic. Or the direction may have been simply <exhausted, downtrodden> followed by the conversation and the cast achieved that as they wished to. That would be my best guess.

I wouldn't put it past one or all to have ad-libbed the scene and wonders of wonders it was left in.  I love it and it's priceless in the episode. 

There was likely a lot more ad-libbed than we know. I know the first comment about Joe's feet was ad-libbed (either Michael or Lorne talked about it in an interview, I can't remember which) and it happened so infrequently (yet frequently enough, if that makes sense?) from then on that I'm inclined to say each instance was ad-libbed.

🙈🙉🙊

Great. Now I'm going to be watching for possible ad libs when I watch Bonanza 

I'm betting it was in the script. Hoss says, "Oh, boy. I sure hate to see old Charlie's saloon", Joe says, "I hate to hear what Pa's going to say", and Adam, "Well, I ain't sayin' a word", referencing the hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil adage. 

 I have to say, I agree with @janet the wicked.

Thanks @janet the wicked I was about to go look up those same lines!

I amend my musings. Given a recap of the lines, having them sit just as they are, coupled with those specific lines, fits the adage so well. Time for a rewatch of that episode! 

 

Given the stories you sometimes hear about the way they goofed around on set, I wonder from time to time what was stage direction and what wasn't. I'm especially curious about how often the commentary about Joe getting his feet off the table/settee/furniture was simply Lorne adding it versus being in the script.

 

11 minutes ago, CareBear said:

I amend my musings. Given a recap of the lines, having them sit just as they are, coupled with those specific lines, fits the adage so well. Time for a rewatch of that episode! 

 

Given the stories you sometimes hear about the way they goofed around on set, I wonder from time to time what was stage direction and what wasn't. I'm especially curious about how often the commentary about Joe getting his feet off the table/settee/furniture was simply Lorne adding it versus being in the script.

 

I have a feeling it was more Lorne's spur of the moment command, but who knows? 

1 hour ago, CareBear said:

I amend my musings. Given a recap of the lines, having them sit just as they are, coupled with those specific lines, fits the adage so well. Time for a rewatch of that episode! 

 

Given the stories you sometimes hear about the way they goofed around on set, I wonder from time to time what was stage direction and what wasn't. I'm especially curious about how often the commentary about Joe getting his feet off the table/settee/furniture was simply Lorne adding it versus being in the script.

 

It’s a hilarious episode! And I’m pretty certain Joe loses a green jacket to the bull 

 

Love the idea that Lorne Greene was ad-libbing the lines about getting Joe’s feet down. It does seem like exactly the kind of thing that could just be thrown in at an opportune moment!

It seemed that Lorne never missed a beat with Joe's feet on the furniture, if he was out of the room...well, we know the brothers wouldn't say anything. 

3 minutes ago, AC1830 said:

It seemed that Lorne never missed a beat with Joe's feet on the furniture, if he was out of the room...well, we know the brothers wouldn't say anything. 

 

And it was just Joe, never Adam or Hoss. Clearly a bit between Lorne and Michael 

30 minutes ago, CareBear said:

 

And it was just Joe, never Adam or Hoss. Clearly a bit between Lorne and Michael 

Wish I could remember which episode had Adam blatantly putting his feet up and Pa not saying a word...

10 minutes ago, Tavia42 said:

Wish I could remember which episode had Adam blatantly putting his feet up and Pa not saying a word...

Hoss did it too. Can't recall the episodes though. 

The Scapegoat

 

The Pure Truth (Adam's foot on the settee!)

 

Broken Ballad

 

The Wooing of Abigail Jones

There's another one with Adam, I'm trying to think of it. But he stands with his foot on the table the way Hoss is in that last screencap.

 

Edited to add: someone has an excellent screencap of it on pinterest with a funny caption about the look on Ben's face in it but no episode info. I can't for the life of me think of which episode it's from.

Sadly, I don't have that one in my collection, but it does sound quite familiar. 

 

Found  this one from The Burma Rarity. 

Just now, AC1830 said:

Sadly, I don't have that one in my collection, but it does sound quite familiar. 

 

Found one from The Burma Rarity but I'm having trouble posting it. 

 

 I'd share the capture and caption, with credit, but I don't want to violate any rules and I have a feeling that could be a bit of a gray area. 

Just now, CareBear said:

 I'd share the capture and caption, with credit, but I don't want to violate any rules and I have a feeling that could be a bit of a gray area. 

I was able to post the one from Burma Rarity. Is it the one?  

4 minutes ago, AC1830 said:

I was able to post the one from Burma Rarity. Is it the one?  

 

It's not the exact capture I saw on pinterest, but I'm certain yours is in the same scene. And that episode would account for the look on Ben's face and the caption it inspired in what I saw 

 

Edited to add: Trying to keep up with posts and corral Pearl for the night, who has decided the dining table is delicious (that varnish is prolly 75 yrs old if it's a day,  there's no accounting for taste) is a full time job tonight  

@AC1830 Great collection of shots! I think I had that moment from The Scapegoat in mind