As originally intended, Kathie Browne was to make between eight and ten Bonanza appearances as widow Laura Dayton, so as to prepare audiences for the wedding of Laura and Adam Cartwright-and the eventual exit from the series of Pernell Roberts. In addition, Guy Williams had been brought in as Adam's (and Roberts') potential replacement, Ben's nephew Will Cartwright. But the series' female fans responded negatively to the notion of Adam taking a bride, while the other cast members reportedly felt threatened by the charismatic Williams' presence on the set. As a result, both Browne and Williams were deftly written out of the show in the episode titled "Triangle." A sequel to the previous week's "The Pressure Game", this installment found Laura and Will suffering the pangs of guilt over their burgeoning romance, which left a temporarily wheelchair-bound Adam out in the cold. Everything turned out happily in the end-except perhaps for Kathie Browne and Guy Williams, who never appeared on the series again. Written by Frank Cleaver, "Triangle" first aired on May 17, 1964.
by Hal Erickson
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