Top 5 TV Westerns

[Reddevil]

We have one going for movies, so how about television westerns? Granted there are not many current TV westerns if any, and those that witnessed the birth of TV will have a better view of the genre, but here are a few I grew up on even if they were mostly reruns when I saw them in the late 60's - early 70's. I was a kid so funny character names and music drew my attention.

1) The Wild Wild West - I loved the name Artemus Gordon and the cartoon opening. My mother did not allow me to watch it because of the violence so I watched it at a neighbors house after school.
2) Gunsmoke - Festus
3) Bonanza - Hoss
4) Daniel Boone - I really liked the theme song and find myself singing it for no reason even today. For that matter, my dad can still sing product advertisement ditties from his childhood which always cracks me up.
5) The Lone Ranger - The William Tell Overture

What are your favorite memories of this classic TV genre?

[wilson]

There's this...
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...and then there's everything else.

[Reddevil]

There's this...
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...and then there's everything else.

Hilarious! Remember when there was a rumor going around (heck it may have been true) that the Roadrunner was the most violent show on television? Seems to me The Wild Wild West was cancelled because of the violence, but that is something my mother probably made up. People were not as sensitive as they are now, but there was a movement to curb violence on television. If only they could see video games coming.

[camion]

I particularly enjoyed the "Greenbacks Unlimited" episode.

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[Bluegrassdevil1]

1. Deadwood

2. Kung Fu

3. Rawhide

4. Maverick

5. Gunsmoke

Lonesome Dove - fairly long miniseries, but obviously not a traditional long-form TV show

[HereBeforeCoachK]

5.The Rifleman -- awful show, but iconic opening, one of the best ever.
4. Bonanza / Big Valley combo - because between the two families, they owned all of California right?
3. Gunsmoke......because, well, Doc, Festus, and "MAAATH-YEW"
2. Wild Wild West: ahead of its time
1. F-Troop (terrible show, but I thought I'd mix it up....)

[CameronBornAndBred]

A few of the best Twilight Zone Episodes were westerns.

[HereBeforeCoachK]

4) Daniel Boone - I really liked the theme song and find myself singing it for no reason even today. For that matter, my dad can still sing product advertisement ditties from his childhood which always cracks me up.



HAH..."from the coonskin cap on the top of ole Dan....to the heel of his rawhide shooooooooes........the rippinest roarinest fightenist man....the frontier ever kneeew-ew..."

Yep, a classic....wuz a BIIIIIIIIG MAN

[Jeffrey]

Many years ago....

The Wild Wild West (James Bond + Wild West = James West)
The Big Valley (Heath was a stud and Audra was pure beauty)

More recently....

Deadwood (exceptional dialogue)

[dball]

5.The Rifleman -- awful show, but iconic opening, one of the best ever.
4. Bonanza / Big Valley combo - because between the two families, they owned all of California right?
3. Gunsmoke...because, well, Doc, Festus, and "MAAATH-YEW"
2. Wild Wild West: ahead of its time
1. F-Troop (terrible show, but I thought I'd mix it up...)

The Ponderosa was in Nevada, though I suppose Ben could have property next door.

[DU82]

I thought Nichols, with James Garner, was under appreciated.

(How many shows kill off the main character at the end of the first season?)

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Does Godless count as TV?

[HereBeforeCoachK]

The Ponderosa was in Nevada, though I suppose Ben could have property next door.

...yeah, let's go with that next door thing...(to compensate for bad memory...) And trivia thought? Is this the only Nevada series NOT set in Vegas???? Ever? (I suppose Reno had one or two)

[Indoor66]

...yeah, let's go with that next door thing...(to compensate for bad memory...) And trivia thought? Is this the only Nevada series NOT set in Vegas???? Ever? (I suppose Reno had one or two)

The Ponderosa ran from Virginia City to Lake Tahoe and included most of the area around Carson City. It was a huge area, even if mythical.

[dball]

...Is this the only Nevada series NOT set in Vegas???? Ever? (I suppose Reno had one or two)

Reno 911

High Mountain Rangers, one of several short lived Robert Conrad series.

Wasn't there a seies called Reno?

[left_hook_lacey]

Breaking Bad

[gotoguy]

Kung Fu

The Wild Wild West

Wanted: Dead or Alive

The Roy Rogers Show

Alias Smith and Jones

[Devilwin]

Bonanza

The Big Valley

Rawhide

Wagon Train

Gunsmoke

The Rifleman

The Virginian

The Rebel

Branded


Those were some I liked. My wife adds this one..One of the silliest, most unrealistic shows to come down the pipe, in my opinion..Dr Quinn Medicine Woman..(gag)

[Devilwin]

Anyone else besides me remember this one?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branded_(TV_series)

[HereBeforeCoachK]

Anyone else besides me remember this one?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branded_(TV_series)

It's like they took the character from Rifleman and dropped him into a new show. Interesting that the Rifleman, which was before my time, is one I remember.....and Branded was several years later, and I've no recollection.

[camion]

Anyone else besides me remember this one?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branded_(TV_series)

Well, I live with a lie.



Or was that a pie?

[TruBlu]

Can’t believe that no one has mentioned “Old Yeller”. Possibly because many folks, me included, cry like a baby. Only watched it once. Can’t watch again, because I know what happens.

[DukieInKansas]

4) Daniel Boone - I really liked the theme song and find myself singing it for no reason even today. For that matter, my dad can still sing product advertisement ditties from his childhood which always cracks me up.



HAH..."from the coonskin cap on the top of ole Dan...to the heel of his rawhide shooooooooes....the rippinest roarinest fightenist man...the frontier ever kneeew-ew..."

Yep, a classic...wuz a BIIIIIIIIG MAN

If you are going with theme songs - don't forget The Life and Times of Wyatt Earp (Hugh O'Brian) and Adventures of Jim Bowie. These were part of the Armed Forces Korean Network TV offerings in the 70s. Can still sing the Wyatt Earp chorus.