"The Best Western TV Shows" Topic

"The very best western shows on TV feature horses, guns, dirt, crime, lassos, and more! This list of the greatest western shows, ranked best to worst, also includes pictures from the shows when available. Popular western TV shows have been a staple of television since the early days of the silver screen--some of the very first programs to gain popularity. So vote up your favorite western TV shows or add any that aren't already on the list.

Shows set in the Wild West have declined in popularity over the last few decades, but plenty of people still go back and watch reruns of shows such as Gunsmoke and Bonanza. One of the most popular shows of the last few years set in the west is Deadwood, which is about a mining town in the years after the Civil War. If it is one of your favorite western TV shows, then vote it up so more people will watch it. Eventually, it may lead to more Wild West TV shows being produced.

Many of the programs on this list of the best western TV shows are from decades past, and that needs to be changed. Let others know just how great TV shows set in the west are and hopefully more will be made. If you're just wondering what the best western TV shows are, then just look at the list below…"
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And the High Chaparral? (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Add The Iron Horse. But it wants me to join something to do so.

Add Rin Tin Tin

Some were movies not series.
Some were not westerns like Firefly and Westworld
Some miniseries from the 1970-80s are not listed.
Even the Last Samurai is of that era but not a western.

Westerns have fallen out of favor cause American ain't the country it used to be. Doubt they'll ever make,a come back just like I doubt America will. Like the British Empire and more recently Russia aka the ussr we've started the inevitable decline leading to also ran status. Cheers

Don't count America out, but be patient. The next 30-50 years could be rough.

But as for Westerns--the Cisco Kid? Broken Arrow? Death Valley Days? Did I see Wagon Train on the list? And the actor who was the Wagon Train scout had a show of his own later. I remember a lot of Westerns. But it's hard for me to rate them through a half-century haze of nostalgia.

Of more modern mode I liked Hell on Wheels. Wasn't crazy about The Son.
Watched one episode of Godless so far.Seems pretty good.
Mark

Disney had a mini-series on The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca, which I liked when I was six or seven.
Grelber

"Disney had a mini-series on The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca, which I liked when I was six or seven"

My brother and I used to play out that shootout when we were about the same age-- throw a blanket over a card table and stack up some pillows for "fortifications"-- great fun!

Maverick was the show I enjoyed most, but there wasn't a night in the '60s where you couldn't find a choice of several Westerns on TV.

Before you wane too nostalgic over some of those shows you should watch them again. Some plots and production values were pretty bad. In spite of that comment I love the old series. Now, Tombstone (or was it Deadwood) a modern series, was so bad I could not sit through one episode. YMMV

F troop.

to Robert,
The (first) scout on Wagon Train was Robert Horton (who just died within (I think) the last year. His other Western was titled " a Man called Shenadoah" about a guy (HOrton) who had amnesia and went about the West searching for clues as to who and what he was. I liked it, but it only lasted for a year or two.

Gun smoke was great on both radio and television.

The Disney El Fargo Baca and Zotti series were both excellent.

I remember growing up watching Bronco, Cheyenne, The Virginian, The High Chaparral (visited the ranch house at the Old Tucson Studios in Arizona in 2004). Watched 1 episode of Deadwood part way through and gave up as it seemed to be an excuse for dropping the F-bomb as much as possible. He'll on Wheels started well but lost its way as it went on. Steve McQueen did a bounty hunter series before hitting the movies which was pretty good at the time.
Still enjoy a good Western.

Hey did that Steve McQueen series have him using a sawn-off Winchester? I vaguely remember a cowboy using one and asking my Grandad, to cut up one of my toy rifles :)

Have Gun, Will Travel is only 13th? Little House on the Prairie (which wasn't a Western) gets on twice (41st and 51st)? Fury and My Friend Flicks (which also weren't Westerns) are rated? And Death Valley Days isn't even mentioned? What a bogus list.

Oh!… so many good memories!!!… (big smile)

Sugarfoot?….

Amicalement
Armand

Palewarrior,

That sawn-off Winchester is called a mare's leg.

My favorite was The High Chaparral. They were often depicted working (which is what one does on a cattle ranch) rather than sitting around the house waiting to be taken hostage by this week's villain (Bonanza, The Big Valley).

Cheyenne Clint Walker
Wagon Train Clint Eastwood.

Dicymick:

I think Wagon Train starred Ward Bond and Robert Horton. Clint Eastwood's early role was Rowdy Yates on Rawhide.

Palewarrior, that's the one.

By the end of the list the only qualification seems to be there was a horse in one episode and a gun in another – and not necessarily the same episode. Grizzly Adams may not have ever had either one, I think I saw every episode of it but my memories of it may be even hazier than Dan Haggarty's

I enjoyed The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp for the story line. Enjoyed F Troop for the comedy.

There were lots of westerns like Boots and Saddle, How the West was won Miniseries, Broken Arrow Tales of Well Fargo Lawman to name just a few

Not to mention a "northwestern","Sgt. Preston Of The Yukon."

The family is enjoying The Pinkertons on Netflix. At TV-PG its working for us. Likable characters, 42 minutes, and fun enough. I just ignore the 9 year old when she asks "whats a prostitute?".