HaveGunWillTravel

The 1950s were, quite simply, the Golden Age of Television. Everything from the biggest rock stars in the world to the top acting and writing talent in Hollywood were represented on the tube, alongside Shakespearean dramas, Broadway shows and operas.

TV schedules in the '50s were also packed with family comedies ('Leave It to Beaver' and 'The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet'), Westerns ('Gunsmoke' and 'The Lone Ranger'), some of the all-time greatest comedians (Groucho on 'You Bet Your Life,' Gleason on 'The Jackie Gleason Show') and, despite the more traditional times, some of the most independent ladies in TV land ('Our Miss Brooks' and, of course, 'I Love Lucy'). In short, though TV was still in its early days in the 1950s, there was plenty to watch, and love, in prime time. -- By Kimberly Potts

Movies are great, and Encore Western has feasted on showing lots of theatrical features and shorts. However, the premium channel has wisely veered from its bread and butter, by mixing in TV shows. The channel will soon be adding to the TV fare when Gunsmoke, Rawhide, and Have Gun Will Travel join Encore Westerns.

These are three classic TV westerns that had significant long runs and big name stars. They'll be a nice addition to shows like Cheyenne and Maverick currently on the net, as well as the Roy Rogers and Gene Autry programmers that run through the day.

If, in the future, we ever do a 'The Five' post on television shows that should have never been made into theatrical films, I have a feeling that the one I am about to mention will be at the top of that list. Ready? Rapper Eminem has signed on to return to the big screen in a modernized version of the 1960's western Have Gun, Will Travel. See what I mean?

Paramount Pictures has agreed to extend the option on this property 18 more months so the Detroit rapper can develop it as a vehicle. Eminem, also known to his mom as Marshall Mathers III, says that he's excited about this opportunity and will most likely be involved with the movie's soundtrack.

Have Gun, Will Travel premiered on CBS in 1957 and ran until 1963. It starred Richard Boone as Paladin, a West Point graduate who became a hired gun in the Wild West. The movie will be updated to contemporary times and star Eminem as a bounty hunter. Boone, who died in 1981, was reportedly rolling in his grave and attempting to haunt Eminem to stop production.

 

Every Tuesday morning here on TV Squad , we will highlight the week's TV-on-DVD releases. Some noteworthy releases today, January 3, 2006:

• 1st & Ten - Season 1; Season 2
• Alien Nation - The Complete Series
• All in the Family - The Complete 5th Season
• Gunsmoke - 50th Anniversary Edition - Volume 1; 50th Anniversary Edition - Volume 2; 50th Anniversary Edition Giftset
• Have Gun Will Travel - Season 3
• Hunter - Season 3
• Silk Stalkings - Season 4