The TV Western.... it is American mythology, the rough and tumble pioneer spirit battling for independence, justice and the dream of a better future. Love them! In the 1959 television season, there were over 30 Western tv series spread over the 3 US Networks! I suppose it was only a matter of time the genre imploded from over saturation. Now Westerns are a rarity. But let's now return to those simpler days of yesteryear......
MY TOP TEN FAVE WESTERNS:
10. THE LONE RANGER (1949-1957) simplistic and straight forward, good versus bad, heroism and justice... corny and dated to some, but I think the world could use more of it.
09. THE WILD, WILD WEST (1965-1968) The 60s spy craze comes to the Old West, it a show that borders on steampunk and sci-fi. A fun romp. There were two sequel tv movies and an atrocious big screen movie that is only worth watching for Salma Hayek.
08. THE BIG VALLEY (1965-69) Screen legend Barbara Stanwyck as the family matriarch in this much edgier Bonanza style show. Plus, future bionic man Lee Majors as the bastard son Heath!!
07. THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (1998-2000) A great cast and reimagining. A series with so much potential but was cancelled too soon.
06. ZORRO (1957-1961) Walt Disney brought cinematic production values and serialized storytelling to this fantastic series. Ahead of its time and still a joy to watch.
05. LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE (1974-1983) Grew up with this show. Own the entire series on dvd. Introduced my daughter to this show at age 5, she loves it. Maybe she will introduce her family to it one day. Timeless. Perfect.
04. DEADWOOD (2004-2006) An amazing short lived HBO series that is currently filming a sequel!
03. MAVERICK (1957-1962) James Gardner, a movie star who did tv. Always likeable and endearing. He could play the scoundrel like no one else. The series spawned a couple of sequel series and an excellent big screen version with Mel Gibson.
02. GUNSMOKE (1955-1975) There is a reason this was the longest running tv western, it was simply excellent. It was told stories most other tv shows viewed as taboo. It could be ruthless at times. It was always earnest. And Justice was always paramount. It later spawned a few reunion tv movies.
01. KUNG FU (1972-75) this show challenged every Western trope and cliche. It was philosophical, it was trippy, it was COOL!!! Carradine rocks the role of Caine, an on the run Shaolin monk searching the West for his half brother, and helping all those he encountered with compassion and powerful slo-mo martial arts. The series spawned a reunion movie and a modern day sequel series.
It is da BEST!
This list would incomplete if I did not mention the
GREATEST TV WESTERN EVER produced, except it was not a regular series, but an epic Mini-Series....
LONESOME DOVE (1989) an adaption of the amazing novel by Larry McMurty, it starred Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall. It is television at its finest. It spawned multiple spin-off tv movies, some good, some bad, and a syndicated tv series.
Hi-yo Silver, away!!!!