It's hard to remember specific episodes, but it was a classic in the vein of Maverick, with the always reliable Garner in a Maverick-like roll, the underappreciated Stuart Margolin riding around the countryside on his motorcycle with his pit bull trailing, and a feisty Margot Kidder as the local hooker (no prim Miss Kitty here) (and, based on 'erotic' french postcards from early in the century and Belloq's photos of New Orleans prostitutes, much to petite for the meaty masculine tastes of the era) hiking up her skirts up to slosh through the mud to cross the street (very accurate but almost never portrayed). My strongest memory is of the last episode, where Garner's character is killed off at the start to be replaced by his steely eyed twin who metes out justice to the killers. I remember waiting and waiting for the viewers to be let in on what was really going on, that this was no brother but our old sheriff, who faked his death somehow and was coming back with a vengeance-no more Mr. Nice Guy. I don't think I've ever been more surprised by a television series.

--Aerohog

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James Garner starred in this series which may have become the best western of all time if had been produced ten years earlier. Off-beat and witty, the episodes featured the laid back charm of Jim Garner at his best.

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This was an original and interesting series. I thought it really stood out from the standard fare on television back then, and though my recollection is somewhat dimmed by the years, I think it would stand up quite well today. I would love to be able to see some of the episodes.

--burtonandspeke

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There was a line spoken in the very first Nichols show that had an impact on my life. I had left home for college the year before, a snot-nosed kid w/o a clue, and lived those many months on popcorn, PB&J sandwiches and the occassional TV dinner (Before Microwaves). The only decent meals I had were when I visited home. James Garner, as Nichols and while on the lam w/Margot Kidder eluding a posse, was amazed to hear her say she didn't know how to cook. Nichols says something like 'How can you say you're indepedent when you can't even feed yourself?' That line struck the *** in my self-image armor, so I learned to cook, and eventually very well.

Nichols had an episode toward the end of the series that featured a baseball game played by the townfolk. It was the most raucous, dirty-played game and a hilarious show. That one episode would make the series DVD worth the price.

In addition to Margot Kidder (the first role of hers that I noted), other characters as I recall were played by Stuart Margolin (Angel in The Rockford Files) and I believe John Beck, 3 or 4 years before he played Moonpie in the original Rollerball.

The show, ahead of its time, was given a Friday night time slot, where all shows either move or die.

--j8phil

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A wonderful western. But, not set in the old old west, but about the year 1914. One of the episodes I remember is where a 3rd rate theatre company comes to town, with its own 3rd rate Sarah Bernhardt. Very sadly, the series lasted only one season.

--chezarie

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