Many older people will say that they don't make television the way they used to. If you love the combination of action, adventure and history, this is true in a way. These days you can choose from legal dramas, cop shows, comedies and many other genres but there aren't that many shows that use the old Wild West as setting anymore. If you need a change, it might be time to try watching classic TV Westerns online.
The heyday of the television Western was the Fifties. This was the era of 'Gunsmoke', one of the greatest series in the genre's history. This decade also gave the world popular heroes such as Roy Rogers and two of the most famous masked crusaders, the Lone Ranger and Zorro.
Some shows starred some big names in Hollywood, such as James Garner in 'Maverick'. Many news stars were born too. Two great action heroes of the Seventies made their name in Fifties television Westerns. One was Clint Eastwood, who was in the cast of 'Rawhide'. The other was 007 himself, Roger Moore, who was had a lead role in the short-lived 'The Alaskans'.
The trend for great Western television series continued in the Sixties. The longest-running series in the genre was 'Bonanza', which started in the late Fifties, ran throughout the Sixties and into the early Seventies. 'The High Chaparral' was another hit and 'The Big Valley' boasted a cast that included Barbara Stanwyck, Linda Evans and Lee Majors of 'The Six Million Dollar Man' fame.
The genre went into a decline during the next two decades. The long-running shows from the Sixties came to an end and with a few exceptions, such as 'How the West Was Won', the traditional gun-slinging Westerns weren't very popular anymore. There were shows that offered a new take on the traditional genre, though, for instance by using modern settings or making their heroes more gentle, such as Grizzly Adams.
The Western genre tends to be very male-oriented and women normally have small, supporting roles. There were two notable exceptions, though. In the Seventies, 'Little House on the Prairie', with 'Bonanza' star Michael Landon, made a household name of the young Melissa Gilbert, who played the main character. Former Bond girl Jane Seymour played a strong female role model in 'Dr Quinn: Medicine Woman' in the Nineties.
While the Western has become more popular again in recent decades, the one that became an instant cult classic had a serious twist. 'Firefly' combined two popular genres to become a 'space Western'. It features outlaws, horses and the taming of wild territories but those new lands are on different planets. 'Firefly' generated a very loyal fan base known as Browncoats and is a favorite of Sheldon Cooper of hugely popular sitcom 'The Big Bang Theory'.
You'll be able to stream many of the most popular Westerns online. Some sites will charge a small membership fee while others are free of charge. All you need to do is find a show you'd like to see, cook up some cowboy beans and enjoy a great night in.
The heyday of the television Western was the Fifties. This was the era of 'Gunsmoke', one of the greatest series in the genre's history. This decade also gave the world popular heroes such as Roy Rogers and two of the most famous masked crusaders, the Lone Ranger and Zorro.
Some shows starred some big names in Hollywood, such as James Garner in 'Maverick'. Many news stars were born too. Two great action heroes of the Seventies made their name in Fifties television Westerns. One was Clint Eastwood, who was in the cast of 'Rawhide'. The other was 007 himself, Roger Moore, who was had a lead role in the short-lived 'The Alaskans'.
The trend for great Western television series continued in the Sixties. The longest-running series in the genre was 'Bonanza', which started in the late Fifties, ran throughout the Sixties and into the early Seventies. 'The High Chaparral' was another hit and 'The Big Valley' boasted a cast that included Barbara Stanwyck, Linda Evans and Lee Majors of 'The Six Million Dollar Man' fame.
The genre went into a decline during the next two decades. The long-running shows from the Sixties came to an end and with a few exceptions, such as 'How the West Was Won', the traditional gun-slinging Westerns weren't very popular anymore. There were shows that offered a new take on the traditional genre, though, for instance by using modern settings or making their heroes more gentle, such as Grizzly Adams.
The Western genre tends to be very male-oriented and women normally have small, supporting roles. There were two notable exceptions, though. In the Seventies, 'Little House on the Prairie', with 'Bonanza' star Michael Landon, made a household name of the young Melissa Gilbert, who played the main character. Former Bond girl Jane Seymour played a strong female role model in 'Dr Quinn: Medicine Woman' in the Nineties.
While the Western has become more popular again in recent decades, the one that became an instant cult classic had a serious twist. 'Firefly' combined two popular genres to become a 'space Western'. It features outlaws, horses and the taming of wild territories but those new lands are on different planets. 'Firefly' generated a very loyal fan base known as Browncoats and is a favorite of Sheldon Cooper of hugely popular sitcom 'The Big Bang Theory'.
You'll be able to stream many of the most popular Westerns online. Some sites will charge a small membership fee while others are free of charge. All you need to do is find a show you'd like to see, cook up some cowboy beans and enjoy a great night in.
About the Author:
When you are looking for information about classic TV westerns online, you can go to our web pages here today. Details are available at http://www.fvtvn.com now.
No comments:
Post a Comment