Westerns and modern TV (cast, locations, show, actors)
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A more valid question might be: would westerns have been so popular if the same competition existed when they were airing every night of the week?
Well, if that competition had been "reality TV", I have no doubt that westerns would have triumphed. I really and truly think the viewing public has gotten dumber and dumber since the 50s and 60s. How else can one explain such things as the Kardashians and "Duck Dynasty"?
Well, if that competition had been "reality TV", I have no doubt that westerns would have triumphed. I really and truly think the viewing public has gotten dumber and dumber since the 50s and 60s. How else can one explain such things as the Kardashians and "Duck Dynasty"?
No idea, I don't watch reality shows other than "Master Chef."
A better comparison, I think, would be to all of the procedurals that fill up network programming.
Instead of people on horses with guns, we have people in cars with guns.
Instead of sheriffs and rangers, we have the FBI, NCIS, CIA, various and sundry police departments ("Blue Bloods," "Hawaii Five-0" "Major Crimes")...
Of course we do still have at least a few U.S. Marshalls as per "Justified."
Yes, the milieu may have changed, but, it is still good guys vs. bad guys.
And, no one has to clean up after the horses.
No idea, I don't watch reality shows other than "Master Chef."
A better comparison, I think, would be to all of the procedurals that fill up network programming.
Instead of people on horses with guns, we have people in cars with guns.
Instead of sheriffs and rangers, we have the FBI, NCIS, CIA, various and sundry police departments ("Blue Bloods," "Hawaii Five-0" "Major Crimes")...
Of course we do still have at least a few U.S. Marshalls as per "Justified."
Yes, the milieu may have changed, but, it is still good guys vs. bad guys.
And, no one has to clean up after the horses.
Difficult to say when one considers that back then, we did have the "Wild Wild West". James wasn't a Sheriff, he was US Secret Service. He didn't fight just bad guys, but rather, lots of "Arron Burrs".
Further, keep in mind that there were other shows on at that time, competing with him, such as all the ITE spy shows, The Baron, Primus, Man in the Suitcase, Secret Agent, and others like Man From UNCLE (prime time or otherwise) that could be dished out. The original Hawaii Five 0 existed then as well.
So to say today that we have all these other things instead.........isn't quite that accurate.
Difficult to say when one considers that back then, we did have the "Wild Wild West". James wasn't a Sheriff, he was US Secret Service. He didn't fight just bad guys, but rather, lots of "Arron Burrs".
Further, keep in mind that there were other shows on at that time, competing with him, such as all the ITE spy shows, The Baron, Primus, Man in the Suitcase, Secret Agent, and others like Man From UNCLE (prime time or otherwise) that could be dished out. The original Hawaii Five 0 existed then as well.
So to say today that we have all these other things instead.........isn't quite that accurate.
"Wild, Wild West" was still considered a western so not getting your point.
And, up until recently, we did have a show with a U.S. Secret Service agent as a main character - it was called "Warehouse 13."
Not a western, though, interestingly, it did deal in the some of the same sort of fantastical situations.
The topic of the thread is the prevalence of westerns on TV in the 50s and 60s vs. now.
To the OP's point, it is fair to note that "Hawaii Five-0" was considered ripe for resurrection while "Gunsmoke" and/or "Bonanza" were, so far, not.
Tastes change. Fantasy and comic books are a bigger draw this year.
My son and I were laughing the other night while I was watching "Constantine" and we realized that there are any number of shows on TV right now where the sight of blood raining from the sky could be considered a common occurrence.
Will we look back in 50 years and wonder where all of the zombies, vampires and demons went?
"Wild, Wild West" was still considered a western so not getting your point........
You were saying that in today's world of programming
"Instead of sheriffs and rangers, we have the FBI, NCIS, CIA, various and sundry police departments ("Blue Bloods," "Hawaii Five-0" "Major Crimes")..."
................and I was pointing out that back then, we had them as well. For example, as I recall the opening to one show (it wasn't "Secret Agent" but some other ITC (and not ITE) show), the hero is shown going out to his car, talking in a voice over about all the agencies around these days, and then goes into how NATO had its own intelligence agency.
Especially after James Bond took off, TV back then, too, had agencies all over the place....and as James West showed, all over time as well.
EDIT: I took a look at the first season of "Danger Man" and the opener, and that's what I was referring to above, only he didn't say NATO, but a "messy job". Oh well, I was referring to a show I saw over 40 years ago, once.
Last edited by TamaraSavannah; 12-15-2014 at 11:46 AM..
The problem with Westerns is that there is an element of sameness about so many of them. The formula is very predictable after a while. Handsome stranger rides into town and must save the town (or the pretty farmer's widow) from the ruthless cattle baron or corrupt sheriff or bandits. Sheriffs and bandits and cattle get kind of snooze-worthy after a while.
The sad thing is that Western history is a lot more interesting than any Western TV show I have ever seen.
I mean look at Bass Reeves. Never given a decent film or TV treatment, yet was one of the most successful law men in all of history. His real life is more exciting than any fiction.
The topic of the thread is the prevalence of westerns on TV in the 50s and 60s vs. now.
To the OP's point, it is fair to note that "Hawaii Five-0" was considered ripe for resurrection while "Gunsmoke" and/or "Bonanza" were, so far, not.
Tastes change. Fantasy and comic books are a bigger draw this year.
My son and I were laughing the other night while I was watching "Constantine" and we realized that there are any number of shows on TV right now where the sight of blood raining from the sky could be considered a common occurrence.
Will we look back in 50 years and wonder where all of the zombies, vampires and demons went?
You're point about "Hawaii Five-0" is well taken. But I also think it points out why we'll never see more regular westerns on TV again.....Hollywood isn't capable. The latest incarnation of "Hawaii Five-0" shows a complete inability to make something of quality, so any westerns they would attempt would likely be just as lame.
I also understand your point about fantasy and comic books. Those type of movies and TV shows have been big. It is too bad, however, that comic books themselves are not as big as they were in the 50's and 60's. Of course, when you charge $3.99 for a single comic book, it's no wonder.
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