Latest news with #classicTV
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
WEST-Western Entertainment Series Television To Launch This Fall
WEST-Western Entertainment Series Television is the 10th over-the-air national broadcast television ... More network from Weigel Broadcasting Co. Saddle up for the 10th over-the-air national broadcast television network from Weigel Broadcasting Co. The home of MeTV (and, MeTV Toons, Start TV, Heroes & Icons, Catchy Comedy, MeTV+, Story Television, Dabl and MOVIES!) has announced a fall 2025 launch for WEST-Western Entertainment Series Television, which will showcase a library of over 30 classic western-themed television series. The array of scripted programming slated for West-Western Entertainment Series Television includes Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Maverick, Rawhide, The Virginian, Wanted: Dead or Alive and Wagon Train. 'WEST will be dedicated 24/7 to showcasing the most beloved and iconic classic TV western series, with a massive library of titles that will make this the premier western network on television,' said Neal Sabin, Vice Chairman Weigel Broadcasting Co. in a statement. 'Featuring compelling story lines and narratives with universal adult appeal, the programs on WEST promise to transport viewers on an entertainment journey filled with excitement and adventure.' "We're thrilled to announce the launch of the WEST network, a move that has been driven by years of client feedback and growing demand,' sadded Jeff Nash, SVP Network Sales for Weigel. 'This expansion represents another major milestone for us, and we're proud to deliver exactly what our partners have been asking for." To whet your appetite for WEST, here are some fun factoids about their upcoming roster of western dramas. 1) Originally airing on CBS for 20 seasons, from 1955 to 1975, Gunsmoke produced a massive 635 episodes. A typical scripted series on a streaming service normally produces just 6 to 10 episodes per season. If it was 10, it would take that show 63 to 64 seasons to reach the Gunsmoke episode tally! If it was just 6…fuggedaboutit! The cast of the television show Gunsmoke are, clockwise from top left, James Arness as Marshal Matt ... More Dillion, Ken Curtis as Deputy Festus Haggen, Amanda Blake as Kitty Russell, and Milburn Stone as Doc Adams. 2) Lorne Greene as patriarch Ben Cartwright on Bonanza is considered by many to be the ultimate TV father. But Greene was only 13 years older than his on-screen sons, Pernell Roberts (Adam) and Dan Blocker ("Hoss"). (Original Caption) USA: Publicity photo from the TV series Bonanza, left to right are: Pernell ... More Roberts as Adam Cartwright; Dan Blocker as Hoss Cartwright; Mike Landon as Little Joe Cartwright; and Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright. 3) When James Garner as Bret Maverick temporarily left Maverick after the third season following a legal dispute, Roger Moore pre-James Bond was added to the cast as cousin Beau Maverick. Once Garner returned, the two actors would often alternate as series leads, with an occasional episode featuring the two together. From the television show Maverick which aired from 1957-1962. MAVERICK - "Kiz" - Airdate: December 4, 1960. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General ... More Entertainment Content via Getty Images) ROGER MOORE 4) The Virginian, the first 90-minute western drama, was renamed The Men from Shiloh in the final season in 1970 to 1971. It ran for nine seasons. THE VIRGINIAN — Pictured: (l-r) James Drury as The Virginian, Doug McClure as Trampas, Gary Clarke ... More as Steve Hill (Photo by NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) 5) Wanted: Dead or Alive, starring Steve McQueen, was originally introduced in a March 1958 episode of Trackdown, a 1957 to 1959 western drama featuring Robert Culp. It ran for three seasons (and 94 episodes). Portrait of American actor Steve McQueen (1930 - 1980) (as Josh Randall), perched atop a fence, in ... More the television series 'Wanted: Dead or Alive,' late 1950s or early 1960s. (Photo by Silver) LOS ANGELES - JULY 15: Portrait of Robert Culp. He portrays Hoby Gilman in the CBS television ... More western, Trackdown. Image dated July 15, 1957. Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images) 6) Airing for eight seasons (1957 to 1962 on NBC; 1962 to 1965 on ABC), Wagon Train was inspired by the films The Big Trail in 1930 and Wagon Master in 1950, which both featured Wagon Train star Ward Bond. In an unexpected connection to Star Trek, creator Gene Roddenberry described the original concept of the classic sci-fi entry as a 'Wagon Train to the Stars.' Gene L. Coon, a writer/producer on Star Trek who invented the Klingons and developed other elements of the Star Trek universe) wrote 23 episodes of Wagon Train. American actors Robert Horton (left) and Ward Bond (1903 - 1960) in a promotional portrait for the ... More television series 'Wagon Train', circa 1959. (Photo by Universal Pictures/)
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Actress from wholesome 70s series who shocked with Playboy shoot is seen on rare outing... who is she?
An actress who starred in a classic television series from the 70s was seen on a rare outing in Los Angeles. The star portrayed a beloved role in the award-winning CBS show which aired for nine seasons - and was followed by six TV movies. She began her career in the late 1960s, and also took on minor roles over the years in shows such as The Love Boat. The actress also stepped into the music industry and released her album titled Reflections a decade earlier in 2015. In the 80s, the star also posed nude in a spread for Playboy magazine. Can you guess who it is? It is Judy Norton, 67 - who is known for playing Mary Ellen Walton in the hit series The Waltons, which aired from 1972-1981. The actress stepped out in L.A. over the past weekend and showed off her summer style wearing a sleeveless, floral-patterned dress. Norton accessorized her outfit for the daytime excursion by adding a necklace with a large pendant on the front as well as a pair of black shades. The star was born in January 1958 in Santa Monica and kicked off her acting career by taking an uncredited role in the 1967 movie Hotel. A few years later, she played eldest daughter Mary Ellen Walton in the TV movie The Homecoming: A Christmas Story. Upon garnering positive ratings, the film spawned the now classic series The Waltons - which garnered a number of accolades including an Emmy award for Outstanding Drama Series in 1973. The show had also starred Richard Thomas, Ralph Waite, Michael Learned, Ellen Corby, Will Geer, Jon Walmsley, Mary Elizabeth McDonough, Eric Scott, David W. Harper and Kami Cotler. She additionally slipped into a pair of open-toed, wedge heels and carried a mini tan bag and cream-colored cardigan in her hand The premise of the show followed the Walton family during the Great Depression in the 1930s as well as World War II in the 1940s. The first season of the series took time to gather an audience, which Norton reflected on during a past interview with Fox News in 2018. 'It took the whole season to find our audience and get them onboard,' the actress said. 'People then loved it and stayed loyal for nine years. In today's world, a show might get maybe 3-6 episodes to test it.' Judy added, 'And it's even harder now because there's so much competition today. A show could be gone before you even knew it existed. 'So we were in a very fortunate time in television where we were given that opportunity to stick around long enough for an audience to find us.' In regards to playing Mary Ellen throughout the span of 211 episodes, Norton stated that she 'relates to aspects of my character.' However, she had felt that at times her life had been 'on display' while talking about growing on with the show. 'At times it was difficult as an actor because as I was going through those angst-ridden years, they were also being reflected in the story that was being told… 'So at times I felt, "Oh goodness, my life is on display and this is really making me feel self-conscious." All those things made it a wonderful show, but sometimes it was uncomfortable to go portray that.' When the series came to an end in 1981, three TV movies premiered throughout 1982 - such as A Wedding On Walton's Mountain and A Day For Thanks On Walton's Mountain. Three additional TV movies aired in the 90s, including A Walton Wedding and A Walton Easter. Norton took on other minor roles in shows such as The Love Boat and Stargate SG-1. In 1985, the actress posed nude for a spread in Playboy magazine to shed her good-girl image, which she later came to regret. 'I was getting a lot of advice from people who were representing me at the time,' Judy said. 'They felt it would be a good, positive career move. I wouldn't say that was the case and it's one of those things that if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have made the choice.' She continued to appear in both TV and movie projects over the years - with her last credit being a 2022 short film titled Space Limbo, per her IMDB page. Aside from appearing on the screen, Norton has also followed her passion for performing on the stage - which she began doing as a young child. The star has taken on roles in productions such as Hello Dolly, The Sound Of Music and Annie Get Your Gun. And in 2015, she dropped her album Reflections - which 'features a collection of standards and Broadway songs,' per her official website.
