With the Paramount Network’s hit neo-Western dramaYellowstoneending after five seasons, folks might be looking for a longer binge to get their horse opera fix going forward. If that’s you, then you’re in serious luck. This December, the long-running Western television giantGunsmokeis coming to Peacock, set to be nestled right besideTaylor Sheridan’sYellowstone. Admittedly, these two shows couldn’t be more different. WhereYellowstoneonly ran a few seasons,Gunsmokeproduced over 600 episodesin its decades on the air, and that’s not to mention all the thematic distinctions between them as well. Nevertheless,Yellowstonefans could learn a thing or two from this classic, which remains one of the most important Western programs of our day.
‘Yellowstone,’ and All Other TV Westerns, Owe ‘Gunsmoke’ a Serious Debt
Taylor Sheridan’sYellowstoneUniverse owes a debt toGunsmoke. Although these shows are both unique and feature very different leading men (more on that in a moment),Gunsmokewas the first Western television series to offer a more realistic portrayal of the Old West. Because of that, this premiere drama lasted literal decades, only ending in the early 1970sas a result of the infamous rural purge. The series proved that horse operas could indeed work in a television format, and that they could be taken seriously as stories with something to say about the modern world around us. In many respects, the Paramount series attempts those same ideas.WhileGunsmokeis set in the pastandYellowstonein the present, the former helped establish the traditional TV Western archetypes and outlines that would come to inform the latter.
No doubt,Kevin Costner’s violent rancher John Dutton is a very far cry fromJames Anress' iconic Dodge City Marshall Matt Dillon (not to be confused with the actorMatt Dillon), in terms of morality and sheer character, even if Dillon was a quicker draw early on. But both characters share a similar presence that helped push each respective series on for years. Unlike many of his contemporaries,Marshall Dillion was a complicated and flawed hero. Yes, he maintained a moral compass, but there was an introspective quality to him that stood out at a time when so many other cowboy heroes wore their morals strictly on their sleeve. In fact,Gunsmokewas evenendorsed byJohn Waynehimself in the very first episode. “It’s honest, it’s adult, it’s realistic,” the Duke exclaimed, believing thatGunsmokewas the best thing of its kind (and that James Arness was a star in the making). No doubt, Wayne’s endorsement, not unlike Costner’s own part onYellowstone, helped draw audiences in during those initial seasons. It’s no wonderGilligan’s Islandwas canceled inGunsmoke’s place.
There’s a Reason Burt Reynolds’ ‘Gunsmoke’ Role Is So Small
You can’t keep Reynolds contained!
‘Gunsmoke’ Was the Longest-Running Western Ever on Television and Beyond
But the secret toGunsmoke’s lasting impact comes from its interesting past in radio. You see, before Matt Dillon made his way to television,Gunsmokewasfirst a radio programthat aired for over 400 episodes between 1952 and 1961. So, by the time thatGunsmoke,the series, made its way to CBS in 1955 (only a few years after the radio show began), there was already a following. Not that the show probably needed a pre-existing fanbase going in. After all,Gunsmokeran from ‘55 until 1975, with 20 seasons and a total of 635 episodes under its gunbelt. And that’s not includingthe post-series TV movies. It’s one of the few shows during its time that existed long before and well after the addition of color. Set in a post-Civil War Dodge City, Kansas, the show followed Marshall Dillon and his deputies – Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver), Quint Asper (Burt Reynolds), Newly O’Brien (Buck Taylor), and Festus Hagen (Ken Curtis) – over the years. Other regulars for the majority of the series included Galen “Doc” Adams (Milburn Stone), Kitty Russell (Amanda Blake), and Sam Noonan (Glenn Strange).
Gunsmokeoccasionally aired under different names throughout its run. The first six seasons (which featured only half-hour episodes) were sometimes syndicated under the titleMarshal Dillon, while the remaining 14 seasons (with hour-long episodes,first made popular byCheyenne) were always calledGunsmoke. For some reason, the show’s change in format, going from half-hour to hour-long installments, has led to issues when finding the complete series on streaming. While home video releases, such as the complete series boxset, may contain every episode, wheneverthe classic TV Westernfinds a new streaming home, it’s often missing the first six seasons. According toAmazon’s customer service, this is due “to licensing deals and agreements with the parent company that owns the rights to the series.” Because of this,the only way to streamGunsmokein its entirety is on PlutoTV,though most of the series (including the color seasons) can be found on Paramount+ and (soon) Peacock.
Watch Seasons 7-20 ofGunsmokeonParamount+and soon onPeacocktoo, beginning June 25, 2025. For the complete series, including the half-hourMarshall Dillonsegments, head over to PlutoTV.
Watch on PlutoTV
