Best of the Small Screen, Limited Run Series No. 3


Over the next 23 weeks I'll be taking a look at some of my favorite TV series, broken down into three groups (Limited Run Series, Comedies, and Dramas). In my post on March 1 I laid out the ground rules for these categories and this exploration, the biggest of which is no series that are currently airing. To read the whole thing, check out the post "Best of the Small Screen" from March 1.

Today the countdown continues with an early 1990s dramedy.

The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (1993-1994)
Number of Seasons/Episodes: 1/27
Network: FOX
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Julius Carry, Christian Clemenson, and Kelly Rutherford
Creator: Jeffrey Boam and Carlton Cuse
Favorite Season/Episode: 1.04, "Brisco in Jalisco"
About: In the fall of 1993, on FOX a pair of shows debuted as part of the new Friday night. The first was a delightful dramedy set in the Old West starring Bruce Campbell. The second was a little sci-fi drama called "The X-Files." One went on to become a nearly decade-long running series while the other flamed out after just a season. I loved them both, but "The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr." was my favorite. Jeffrey Boam had written the screenplay for "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" and two of the "Lethal Weapon" films, while Carlton Cuse has remained a fixture in TV and would go on to serve as a writer/executive producer on "L.O.S.T." Campbell was great in the lead role as bounty hunter Brisco County, Jr. who was tasked with rounding up the members of a notorious gang that had killed his father, a famous marshall. He teamed with another bounty hunter, Lord Bowler (Carry) and his handler, Socrates Poole (Clemenson). The cast was great, and had great chemistry. I loved the blend of humor and drama. And it was a fun show to watch in re-runs on Saturday mornings. One of my favorite characters was a recurring character, Dixie Cousins (Rutherford), the girlfriend of a gang member who ends up falling for Brisco and becoming his on-and-off girlfriend. She only appears in seven episodes in the first season, but had the show continued their relationship would have been a big part of it. Dixie first appears in the pilot, but my favorite episode is the fourth of the series, her second appearance, when they re-unite in Mexico. The interplay between Rutherford and Campbell is great in all their scenes, and add to the fun of the series. I wish the show had gotten a second season, but I'm grateful for the 27 episodes that exist. This is a great gem from the early 1990s that I encourage you to seek out.

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