# The Yellow Rose

The Yellow Rose is an American soap opera television series that was broadcast on NBC from October 2, 1983, until May 12, 1984. The series was produced by Paul Freeman and was at least partly inspired by the more coltish elements of the soap opera Dallas, and dealt with the intrigues of the Texas-based Champion family who owned a 200,000-acre cattle and oil ranch called "The Yellow Rose".
The Yellow Rose was canceled after one season of 22 episodes. In 1990, the series was rerun again on NBC along with Bret Maverick starring James Garner.

## Cast and characters

* Sam Elliott as Chance McKenzie, an ex-convict and the illegitimate son of the ranch's late owner Wade Champion
* David Soul as Roy Champion, one of Wade's sons
* Susan Anspach as Grace McKenzie, the ranch's housekeeper (eps. 1–9)
* Edward Albert as Ramon "Quisto" Champion, one of Wade's sons
* Noah Beery, Jr. as Luther Dillard, ranch hand
* Ken Curtis as Hoyt Coryell, ranch hand
* Tom Schanley as Whit Champion, Roy's son
* Michelle Bennett as Love Child "L.C." Champion, Colleen's daughter
* Cybill Shepherd as Colleen Champion, Wade's widow
Notable recurring characters include Will Sampson as ranch hand John Stronghart, Chuck Connors as Jeb Hollister, Roy's nemesis and former owner of the ranch, Steve Sandor and Deborah Shelton as Jeb's children, Lenny and Juliette Hollister, Kerrie Keane as Jeb's personal assistant Caryn Cabrera and Jane Russell as Rose Hollister, Chance's mother and Jeb's sister.

## Episodes

| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Viewers (millions) |
| 1 | "The Yellow Rose" | Harvey Hart | John Wilder | October 2, 1983 (1983-10-02) | 16.1 |
| 2 | "Divided We Fall" | Lee H. Katzin | Story by : John Wilder & Michael Zinberg Teleplay by : Paul F. Edwards & John Wilder | October 15, 1983 (1983-10-15) | 11.2 |
| 3 | "When Honor Dies" | Lee H. Katzin | Story by : John Wilder & Michael Zinberg Teleplay by : Jeb Rosebrook & John Wilder | October 22, 1983 (1983-10-22) | 8.4 |
| 4 | "Walls of Fear" | Burt Kennedy | Story by : John Wilder & Jeb Rosebrook Teleplay by : Sean Meredith | October 29, 1983 (1983-10-29) | 10.1 |
| 5 | "Sins of the Father" | Burt Kennedy | Story by : John Wilder & Michael Zinberg Teleplay by : Paul Savage & Kathleen A. Shelley | November 5, 1983 (1983-11-05) | 8.7 |
| 6 | "Breaking Trail" | Lee H. Katzin | Paul F. Edwards & John Wilder | November 12, 1983 (1983-11-12) | 11.8 |
| 7 | "Moving Targets" | Lee H. Katzin | Story by : John Wilder & Jeb Rosebrook Teleplay by : Paul F. Edwards | November 19, 1983 (1983-11-19) | 11.3 |
| 8 | "Trail's End" | Lee H. Katzin | Story by : John Wilder Teleplay by : John Wilder & Paul F. Edwards | November 26, 1983 (1983-11-26) | 8.9 |
| 9 | "A Question of Love" | Lee H. Katzin | John Wilder | December 10, 1983 (1983-12-10) | 10.3 |
| 10 | "Only the Proud" | Harry Falk | John Wilder | December 17, 1983 (1983-12-17) | 9.6 |
| 11 | "Divide and Conquer" | Lee H. Katzin | Paul F. Edwards, Lew Hunter & John Wilder | January 7, 1984 (1984-01-07) | 9.6 |
| 12 | "Hell Hath No Fury" | Jack Whitman | Colley Cibber & Paul Savage | January 14, 1984 (1984-01-14) | 11.5 |
| 13 | "Deadline" | Lee H. Katzin | Colley Cibber & Paul Savage | January 21, 1984 (1984-01-21) | 11.8 |
| 14 | "Land of the Free" | Lee H. Katzin | Paul Savage | February 11, 1984 (1984-02-11) | 10.4 |
| 15 | "Sport of Kings" | Harry Falk | Jerry Ziegman | February 18, 1984 (1984-02-18) | 10.7 |
| 16 | "Running Free" | Lee H. Katzin | Josef Anderson | February 25, 1984 (1984-02-25) | 10.5 |
| 17 | "Sacred Ground" | Harry Falk | Gerald Di Pego & Janet Kapsin | March 10, 1984 (1984-03-10) | 10.8 |
| 18 | "Debt of Honor" | William Wiard | Jeb Rosebrook | March 17, 1984 (1984-03-17) | 9.6 |
| 19 | "Chains of Fear" | Paul Krasny | Paul F. Edwards | March 24, 1984 (1984-03-24) | 10.6 |
| 20 | "Beyond Vengeance" | Bernard McEveety | Paul Savage | April 28, 1984 (1984-04-28) | 9.2 |
| 21 | "Villa's Gold" | Paul Krasny | Garner Simmons | May 5, 1984 (1984-05-05) | 9.7 |
| 22 | "The Far Side of Fear" | Gary Griffin | Cliff Gould | May 12, 1984 (1984-05-12) | 9.1 |

## US television ratings

| Season | Episodes | Start Date | End Date | Nielsen Rank | Nielsen Rating |
| 1983–84 | 22 | October 2, 1983 | May 12, 1984 | 90 | 10.1 |
* ↑ Tied with Manimal

## Theme song

The series' theme song "The Yellow Rose" — set to the tune of the traditional "The Yellow Rose of Texas" but with new lyrics referencing the setting of the show — was recorded by country singers Johnny Lee and Lane Brody. The song became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart on April 21, 1984.

## Home media

Warner Bros. released the complete series to DVD on May 3, 2011, consisting of all 22 episodes on a five-disc set. The set was released as part of the manufacture-on-demand Warner Archive Collection.