Gunsmoke

From Muppet Wiki

Gunsmoke was a CBS Western drama which originated on radio, running from 1952 until 1960, becoming one of the last network radio dramas. It was adapted to television in 1955, running concurrently with the radio version for several years, and with the earliest episodes adapted from old radio scripts. The television version ran for twenty years, ending in 1975. Principal characters included Marshal Matt Dillon (who served as narrator on radio and the early TV shows), Miss Kitty Russell, Deputy Chester, and Doc Adams.

References

• Sam and Friends spoofed the series in a sketch titled "Powder-Burn," (also known as Punsmoke) featuring Chicken Liver as Marshal Dilly, Kermit as Chester, and Harry the Hipster as "Doggy."

• In the "Cowboy Time" sketch in episode 101 of The Muppet Show, Rowlf narrates in Matt Dillon fashion, and greets a menacing purple monster as "Miss Kitty."

• In The Muppets Look at TV, a 1983 appointment calendar, Gunsmoke was parodied as Dumbsmoke for the month of March, with Kermit in the role of the marshal, Miss Piggy as Miss Kitty, Gonzo as the villain, and Pops as Sam the bartender.

Connections

• Dan Blocker played a lieutenant in "Alarm at Pleasant Valley" and Keller in "Thoroughbreds"
• David Canary played George McClarey in "Nitro"
• Dyan Cannon played Ivy Norton in "Aunt Thede"
• Barbara Eden played Judy Pierce in "Romeo"
• Harold Gould played Hadley Boake in "Doctor's Wife" (1965) and Lucius Shindrow in "The Guns of Cibola Blanca" (1973)
• Margaret Hamilton played Edsel Pry in "A Quiet Day in Dodge"
• Pat Hingle played Dr. John Chapman (1971)
• Cloris Leachman played Flory Tibbs in "Legal Revenge" (1956) and Boni Van Demen in "The Love of Money" (1961)
• Leslie Nielsen played Jess Trevor in "Time of the Jackals"
• Leonard Nimoy appeared in four episodes from 1961-1966, as Elias Grice in "Man a Day," Arnie in "The Search," Holt in "I Call Him Wonder," and John Walking Fox in "Treasure of John Walking Fox"
• William Schallert played various roles in seven episodes (1957-1973)
• Harry Dean Stanton played various roles in eight episodes (1958-1968)
• Loretta Swit played Belle Clark in "The Pack Rat" and Donna in "Snow Train" (both 1970)
• John Vernon played Oliver Harker in "The Fires of Ignorance"
• Scott Walker played Mattis in "Milligan" and Stokes in "Schoolmarm"