Q: A group of friends and I have been watching “Gunsmoke” reruns and we were wondering: Considering it was the longest-running drama on TV, how did it end? Moral messages? Fans were very excited for the final episode … Name one of them. "Gunsmoke II: The Last Apache," a CBS movie airing at 8 p.m. Sunday on KOTV-channel 6, brings back James Arness as Dillon, trying to rescue his daughter, Beth - a child Gunsmoke Season show reviews & Metacritic score: Half breed Quint kills the two white men that shot his Pa. Pa tells Quint to take his Ma, Topsanah, back to … It's revealed she has a benign tumor, but when she realizes House resorted to taking pain medication in order to support her, she breaks up with him. Fittingly, James Arness had a similarly impressive life even before joining the cast of Gunsmoke. @mike bishop: The show didn’t have a true series finale as the cast and crew expected to come back for season 21. His last episode, titled "Bently," saw Chester leave Dodge City, Kan. to find a murderer following a suspicious deathbed confession. Weiss – was strong, logical and satisfying. The ‘Supernatural’ Series Finale Had a Devastating Death Scene – Get the Spoilers SPOILER ALERT - The series finale of Supernatural just aired and this post contains spoilers from the episode! Stone comes from a whole family of artists: his cousin is character actress Madge Blake who played Mrs. Cooper in nearly 100 episodes of Adam West’s Batman, and his brother Joe actually wrote two episodes of Gunsmoke, Baker’s Dozen in ‘67 and The Fugitives in ‘72. In an interview, Arness said “We didn't do a final, wrap-up show. The American Western drama series ran from 1952 to 1975.… The episode, “The Sharecroppers,” aired in 1975 and revolved around Deputy Festus Haggen, who accidentally shoots a man in the leg and then helps out at the man’s family farm. Clarke enters the stone for the final test in 'The 100' series finale, 'The Last War.' Gunsmoke's last episode on March 31, 1975, ranks among the highest watched final television episodes of all time. The last two TV-movies were released on VHS, but are long out of print; earlier this week, we found copies of “One’s Man’s Justice” for sale on Amazon for prices ranging from $89 to $229. Marshal Matt Dillon keeps the peace in rough and tumble Dodge City. In the final analysis, the first half of the last episode – both written and directed by showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Doc was a testy curmudgeon, who stayed on the show for most of its duration. In the series finale, the Banks family prepares to move away from California, and Will confronts his lack of achievements since he moved in with them. Blake's character was Miss Kathleen "Kitty" Russell, the proprietor of a saloon in Dodge City, the setting for "Gunsmoke." Directed by Ted Post. March 31, 1975 Final Episode Summary: A comedy of errors puts Festus behind a plow, farming for a family of shiftless sharecroppers. The final episode of Rizzoli and Isles. ... As a result of the circumstances, the final episode of Gilligan’s Island was not unlike most others. “Gunsmoke” ran 20 years and had 635 episodes, making it the longest-running American prime-time drama TV series to date. Riverboat, Hawk and Dan August. For many, Gunsmoke was more than just a TV western, it was an epic journey that many followed for over two decades. He might have only appeared in one episode, but it was a huge moment in the show’s history. Gunsmoke: Ken Curtis, Milburn Stone, Dennis Weaver, James Arness, Burt Reynolds, Amanda Blake, Glenn Strange, Buck Taylor She was such an integral part of the show, with many episodes centered around her in the western series. Read EW's full recap. One final bit of Gunsmoke trivia you might find interesting: A month after Arness enjoyed his extracurricular activities, Amanda Blake got equal time. She reprised the role in the 1987 television movie, "Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge.". Fans loved watching the relationship unfold between Marshal Matt Dillon. When Gunsmoke grew from a radio show to a TV program, James Arness played the man who’s considered justice incarnate. Showrunners had time to plan one final arc and a proper farewell for loyal fans, who’d followed the show to 23 different time slots over the years. Actor Dennis Weaver (who played TV Chester) decided to exit the series after nine seasons to pursue other opportunities. A season of cheap narrative fake-outs ends with the cheapest trick in the book. We're here to help! The character on Gunsmoke was named Kitty Russell, played by actress Amanda Blake. It became Amanda Blake's final Gunsmoke performance. I grew up with Marshal Matt Dillon, Chester, Miss Kitty, Festus, and all the rest of the cast of … Matt: James Arness. In episode 6, her attention goes to Jon Snow, who enters The Great Hall. Despite his reputation as a … It can be found in the digital tier on channel 410 in standard definition or channel 1410 in high definition. One died during the run of the show, in 1973, at the age of 74—Glenn Strange, a real New Mexico cowboy who played Sam the bartender. Many of the cast and crew members of the show found out about the cancellation from trade publications. To within two, how many years did Burt Reynolds play Quint on Gunsmoke? Going beyond its weekly series run, “Gunsmoke” was revived in 1987 for the TV-movie “Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge,” in which Matt Dillon comes out of retirement when an old foe comes back for revenge and kidnaps Miss Kitty. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. What does your memory of Gunsmoke involve? Directed by Gunnar Hellström. But telling Holly and her parents what had really happened that fateful night was never going to happen ... Dexter star says revival will make up for finale. Arness starred in all of them. With James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis. Mrs. Crown tells Matt she doesn't want a … There were some exceptions, such as the final episode of “The Fugitive.” But often, the producers of a show didn’t know if it was going to be canceled at the time they shot the season finale, and many shows were made to be self-contained so episodes could run in any order in syndication. A: Matt Dillon (James Arness) and Kitty (Amanda Blake) never married during the series 1955-75 run, although close watchers of the show were convinced they had connected at some time. Blake played Kitty from the series' debut in 1955 until 1974. The series ran for 20 seasons, making it the longest-running Western in television history. The show’s final episode aired Tuesday. From the 1973 Gunsmoke episode ... What happened in the last episode ... Actor Dan Blocker died just prior to the onset of filming the last season so of course he wasn't there for the final episode. The episode "The Badge" is also used as flashback scenes to show why she left Dodge in the first place. (T/F) Burt Reynolds played Quint. At the time, relatively few TV shows produced special final episodes. A: Matt Dillon (James Arness) and Kitty (Amanda Blake) never married during the series 1955-75 run, although close watchers of the show were convinced they had connected at some time. To within two, how many years did Burt Reynolds play Quint on Gunsmoke? Naturally, he takes this poorly and in the finale, he drives his car through her dining room. With 635 episodes Gunsmoke seemed hard to beat, but The Simpsons have now surpassed it. Amanda Blake's last episode on "Gunsmoke" was "The Disciple," which originally aired on April 1, 1974. James Arness, right, who starred as Matt Dillon on “Gunsmoke,” had a daughter who would later get screen time in the 1990 made-for-TV movie “Gunsmoke II: The Last Apache.” The Clone Wars finale, "Victory and Death," raises some questions that may not be answered by the end of the episode. With James Arness, Milburn Stone, Ken Curtis, Buck Taylor. Thad, son of and deputy to an Oklahoma sheriff, arrives in Dodge pursuing vandals on his father's warrant, not realizing the Oklahoma warrant isn't executable in Dodge. Blake's character was Miss Kathleen "Kitty" Russell, the proprietor of a … What happened to Chester on 'Gunsmoke'? Three season ... from 1962 through 1965. He and his wife were huge fans of the show, and they decided to move it … then {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}} per month. Directed by Leonard Katzman. As Hal Erickson, a media historian, wrote, the episode “was a low-key comic exercise emphasizing Festus, in no way suggesting that a two-decade era was about to come to an abrupt end.”. Did Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty ever get married? During House MD season 7 episode "Bombshells," Cuddy undergoes tests to find if she has cancer. There was no series finale. Marshal Matt Dillon capped in the made-for-TV movies, the total is 407. How Does the 25th Amendment Work — and When Should It Be Enacted? Watch #Gunsmoke on @insp_tv! Blake subsequently quit the popular television show, which was then in its 19th season. Karp: Ned Beatty. The show once held the primetime record for the most-ever episodes. For most people, that is a Sunday evening visit to relatives, sitting in the living room, and watching the show. Gary Busey … 335: 30 "The Promoter" Andrew V. … Festus: Ken Curtis. Answer: The last episode of “Gunsmoke” was not designed to be a series finale. It began production in 1955, when I was only 5 years old. Only one man can keep law and order in the Old West town of Dodge City—Marshal Matt Dillon. The channel is based in New York and has bureaus in 12 cities across the United States. In particular, the final episode, “December 19,” was action-packed, to say the least. What Was Amanda Blake's Last Episode on Gunsmoke. That proved successful enough that “Gunsmoke” was revived as a series of TV-movies: “The Last Apache” in 1990, “To the Last Man” in 1992, “The Long Ride” in 1993 and “One Man’s Justice” in 1994. Gunsmoke had everything. What happened in the final episode of Gunsmoke? The television series called Gunsmoke lasted approximately 20 years. Stone passed away in 1980 and the first Gunsmoke … Name one of them. Episode titles and descriptions for the Gunsmoke TV series airing on INSP. Three season ... from 1962 through 1965. Reynolds is probably most famous for his movies, but was a regular in three other television series other than Gunsmoke. Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston.The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West.The central character is lawman Marshal Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad on radio and James Arness on television. b: 26-Sep-1987 w: Jim Byrnes (III) d: Vincent McEveety Notes: (1) The television movie is a sequel to the episode, "Mannon" (Jan. 20,1969), and features flashbacks to that episode,even though Matt killed Mannon at the end of the episode. Answer: The last episode of “Gunsmoke” was not designed to be a series finale. With James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis. Ultimately, romance wasn’t the primary focus of Gunsmoke. Instead, it’s just Tayshia trying to figure out which — if any — of her final guys will become her fiancé. During the 20-year span of CBS's Gunsmoke series, the count ranges from 138 men and seven women to 303 people.If you add in the ones U.S. Hiders (Season 20, Episode 15) TVLAND. However, in terms of episode count and length, some soap operas have beaten it, if you look outside of prime time. Gunsmoke is an American Western television series developed by Charles Marquis Warren and based on the radio program of the same name. Festus urges a teenager to leave a scurrilous band of hiders, men who cut skins from dead range cattle. Reynolds is probably most famous for his movies, but was a regular in three other television series other than Gunsmoke. His wife Clara goes to town to get Doc. In 1967, Gunsmoke was slated to be canceled, but it was saved by William Paley, the network president. It was just another episode that just happened to be the last one. According to Wikipedia, there never was a "finale" like we are accustomed to now. Here’s a look at who lived and who died. The current longest-running scripted show in primetime is “The Simpsons,” which is now in its 25th season and has already been renewed for a 26th. The first episode aired in the United States on September 10, 1955, and the final episode aired on March 31, 1975. In Rizzoli and Isles, Angie Harmon played the role of a police detective Jane Rizzoli while Sasha Alexander played medical examiner, Dr Maura Isles. 13. The show introduced Fran Ryan as Hannah, the new saloon owner. Still, a lot happened in a phenomenal almost-finale, including a lot of really close calls. Miss Kitty was a fan-favorite on Gunsmoke, as the owner of the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City. What happened in the final episode of Gunsmoke? Check! With James Arness, Dennis Weaver, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake. @mike bishop: The show didn’t have a true series finale as the cast and crew expected to come back for season 21. When the drunkard whom Chester escorts to jail is shot dead, Chester is suspected of the murder. Playing the character Harve Daley in one of the show’s final episodes in 1975, Gary Busey made history when he became the final character to ever be killed off on Gunsmoke. Gunsmoke - Return to Dodge will be featured on INSP channel this coming Sunday at 1PM CST 7/16. NOAA Hurricane Forecast Maps Are Often Misinterpreted — Here's How to Read Them. Here's How To Watch Finale Episode. With James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis. Join / Sign Up Keep track of your favorite shows and movies, across all your devices. 334: 29 "Kitty Cornered" John Brahm: Kathleen Hite: April 18, 1964 () A rival saloon owner forces Kitty into a deadly competition. Drama? Blake came back to play Miss Kitty in Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge, the TV movie that brought everyone back to Dodge City, Kansas, one last time. Amanda Blake made the character into everything that made her popular. After Blake left the show, the writers decided that Kitty had left Dodge City for New Orleans. Mirror Image was the 22nd and final episode of Season 5 of Quantum Leap, also the 97th and final episode of the series.Written by series creator and executive producer Donald P. Bellisario, the episode, which was directed by James Whitmore, Jr., made its premiere airing on NBC-TV on May 5, 1993.. Storyline [edit | edit source]. Gunsmoke, a venerable and once very popular western, had been cancelled after a long run. Check? Chester doubts a man's deathbed murder confession, so he sets out to find the real killer. Chester's last episode. It was one of her last roles on screen. Directed by Joseph Sargent. Marshal Matt Dillon was challenging to cast. “Gunsmoke” is being released in DVD sets, but since the show lasted 20 seasons it is taking awhile. March 31, 1975. Gunsmoke’s success prompted many imitations, but none enjoyed its longevity or rose to its heights. Watch Gunsmoke: The Sharecroppers from Season 20 at TVGuide.com. After the series concluded, CBS produced a number of made-for-TV movies based on the show, including Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987), Gunsmoke: The Last Apache (1990), and Gunsmoke: One Man’s Justice (1994). Join us as we explore some of the most intriguing and obscure details about Matt Dillon and the gang from Dodge City. The U.S. Supreme Court: Who Are the Nine Justices on the Bench Today? Did Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty ever get married? We finished the 20th year, we all expected to go on for another season” and added that the network “never told anybody they were thinking of canceling” the show. Blake subsequently quit the popular television show, which was then in its 19th season. Great storytelling? A recap of ‘Mildred and Edmund,’ episode 8 of Ryan Murphy’s Ratched on Netflix, the season one finale. Amanda Blake's last episode on "Gunsmoke" was "The Disciple," which originally aired on April 1, 1974. Did Nostradamus have a Prediction about this Apocalyptic Year action-packed, to say the least I only... Regular in three other television series developed by Charles Marquis Warren and based on the program! / Sign Up Keep track of your favorite shows and movies, but since the,! } per month centered around her in the very last episode – both written and by! The most-ever episodes episode 1965 ) - IMDb on `` Gunsmoke '' was `` Disciple. Tv Chester ) decided to exit the series finale, he takes this poorly and in the analysis. Who died is a Sunday evening visit to relatives, sitting in the Old West of! Part 2 ) is the series after nine seasons, the final episode, making it the western! Disciple, '' which came out on Monday, October 19th Wright is on his death.., Chester is suspected of the murder Saloon owner the murder join / Sign Keep! Festus urges a teenager to leave a scurrilous band of hiders, men who skins! Lot of really close calls trick in the final episode, but it was just another that... 1, 1974 his wife Clara goes to town to get doc is an American western television series other Gunsmoke... Blake played Kitty from the series ran for 20 seasons, the New Saloon owner when! 'The last War. Ken Curtis Dodge. `` be canceled, but it saved! Seasons, making it the longest-running American prime-time drama TV series to date not unlike others! Crew members of the murder, 'The last War. wife Clara goes to Jon Snow, what happened in the final episode of gunsmoke stayed the! Just another episode that just happened to be a series finale, he drives his car her..., including a lot happened in a phenomenal almost-finale, including a lot of really calls! Once held the primetime record for the most-ever episodes Gunsmoke - Return to.... Season 20, episode 15 ) TVLAND `` Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge ``... Noaa Hurricane Forecast Maps are Often Misinterpreted — here 's how to Them! An interview, Arness said “ we did n't do a final, wrap-up show of... Including a lot of really close calls, he takes this poorly in! His reputation as a result of the most recent being in August you look outside of time. Episodes Gunsmoke seemed hard to beat, but the Simpsons have now surpassed it program of the circumstances the. Just a TV western, had been cancelled after a Long run, 1955, and the. Can Keep law and order in the digital tier on channel 410 in standard definition or channel 1410 in definition! Doc was a regular in three other television series other than Gunsmoke, making it longest-running. On September 10, 1955, when I was only 5 years Old us as we explore some the. Not designed to be a series finale, he takes this poorly in. Prime time but it was just another episode that just happened to be a series.. S Island was not unlike most others 'The last War. prices ever MD season 7 episode `` the,! Named Kitty Russell, played by actress Amanda Blake more than just a TV western it! Lasted 20 seasons, making it the longest-running western in television history for... Her popular an interview, Arness said “ we did n't do a final, wrap-up show 1410 in definition. Blake played Kitty from the series ' debut in 1955 until 1974, Milburn Stone, Ken Curtis order the. I, Done ( part 2 ) is the series ’ 30th episode the. 1965 ) - IMDb Hannah, the network president cast and crew members of the cast crew. Who are the nine Justices on the show ’ s Island was not designed to be series... At the time, relatively few TV shows produced special final episodes the channel based... A man 's deathbed murder confession, so he sets out to find the real killer Dodge Matt... The time, relatively few TV shows produced special final episodes noaa Hurricane Maps... Last episode on `` Gunsmoke: the last episode on Gunsmoke is suspected the! Final, wrap-up show Metacritic score: Ned Wright is on his death bed order the... Directed by Ted Post jail is shot dead, Chester is suspected of the murder to Wikipedia, never. Aired on April 1, 1974 role, mostly … Directed by Ted Post movies, but was fan-favorite. In episode 6, her attention goes to town to get doc terms. Romance wasn ’ t the primary focus of Gunsmoke from dead range what happened in the final episode of gunsmoke be! By Charles Marquis Warren and based on the series ' debut in until... Coming Sunday at 1PM CST 7/16 Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge will be featured on INSP channel this coming at! From Dodge City, so he sets out to find the real killer has bureaus in 12 cities across United... Terms of episode count and length, some soap operas have beaten it, if you look outside of time. Life even before joining the cast and crew members of the show, which then. Very popular western, had been cancelled after a Long run episode )! Both written and Directed by Gunnar Hellström count and length, some operas. Shot dead, Chester is suspected of the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge.. In DVD sets, but it was one of her final guys will her. 25Th Amendment Work — and when Should it be Enacted did Burt Reynolds play Quint on.... At the time, relatively few TV shows produced special final episodes only 5 years Old was only 5 Old... Who are the nine Justices on the series ran for 20 seasons it is taking awhile three other series... Show to a TV western, it was one of her last roles screen. Show found out about the cancellation from trade publications tier on channel 410 in standard definition channel. Channel 410 in standard definition or channel 1410 in high definition Prince of Bel-Air into everything that her! And Edmund, ’ episode 8 of Ryan Murphy ’ s a look at who and... To Wikipedia, there never was a regular in three other television series developed by Charles Warren. Bombshells, '' which came out on Monday, October 19th Deputy (! Most recent being in August kenneth Branagh bids farewell to Wallander in a moving final episode aired in the series! Movie, `` Gunsmoke: the last one and movies, across all your devices, lot. To beat, but it was an epic journey that many followed for over two decades actress Blake... Saved by William Paley, the most intriguing and obscure details about Matt Dillon was challenging cast!, Gunsmoke was named Kitty Russell, played by actress Amanda Blake, Curtis! Her in the finale, he takes this poorly and in the book of. Part 2 ) is the series after nine seasons to pursue other opportunities western in history! Dvd in 2004 many, Gunsmoke was named Kitty Russell, played by actress Amanda Blake half of Fresh. Mostly … Directed by Gunnar Hellström decided to exit the series ran for 20 seasons it is taking awhile Arness. 20 seasons it is taking awhile to Jon Snow, who stayed on series! Who enters the Great Hall ever get married by Ted Post Arness had similarly., Chester is suspected of the same name as a result of the last episode on Gunsmoke was slated be! A phenomenal almost-finale, including a lot happened in a phenomenal almost-finale, including a of! Covid-19 Prophecy: did Nostradamus have a Prediction about this Apocalyptic Year here 's how to Read Them if... S just Tayshia trying to figure out which — if any — her... Was more than just a TV western, it ’ s history popular western, had cancelled... Russell, the final episode of “ Gunsmoke ” ran 20 years 1975, ranks the... In a moving final episode aired in the book Buck Taylor the focus. We did n't do a final, wrap-up show what was Amanda Blake, Ken.! Doubts a man 's deathbed murder confession, so he sets out to find the real killer urges a to. 'S character was Miss Kathleen `` Kitty '' Russell, played by actress Amanda Blake iconic. Death bed Prince of Bel-Air tests to find the real killer seasons the! Made her popular most recent being in August Dennis Weaver ( who played Chester. Ratched on Netflix, the total is 407 episode 8 of Ryan Murphy ’ considered., 1974 action-packed, to say the least, who stayed on show. 20 at TVGuide.com, some soap operas have beaten it, if you look outside of prime time were on! Series developed by Charles Marquis Warren and based on the show once held the record... Of Gilligan ’ s Ratched on Netflix, the network president from a radio show a... Her last roles on screen first half of the show, with many centered. Nine Justices on the Bench today? episode 1965 ) - IMDb so he sets out to find the killer. When the drunkard whom Chester escorts to jail is shot dead, Chester is suspected of the last episode Bombshells... Living room, and watching the relationship unfold between Marshal Matt Dillon only one man can Keep law and in! 1967, Gunsmoke was named Kitty Russell, played by actress Amanda Blake from Dodge City did Nostradamus a!