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About This Quiz
In the age of social media and self-driving cars, the TV Western may seem like a relic from the past, but don't be fooled, there are still some really cool programs about the American frontier gracing our TV screens in every format. And even if they're not the typical shoot-em-up Cowboy Westerns you think of when you think of an Old Western, they're still some of the most popular shows of our time ("Breaking Bad," anyone?).
If you look at any list of the longest-running TV shows in American history, you're bound to find a slew of Westerns on there. That's not because people used to like Westerns and now they don't. It's because the TV Western has all the makings of great TV: sex, drugs, drama, violence, action, adventure and more. They're like soap operas with superheroes with cowboys and Indians mixed in. Some of them have even gone a step further and added supernatural or sci-fi elements (Have you seen "Westworld" yet?).
If you consider yourself a Hollywood buff, you can't ignore the TV Western. They're some of the most famous shows worldwide, giving popularity to some of the most iconic stars in Hollywood, and birthing some of the most classic cinematic techniques in cinema history. Put your skills to the test and and let's see how much you actually know about TV.
In which show did Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts play members of the same family?
Lonesome Dove
Bonanza
Bonanza is the second-longest-running Western in American TV history, consisting of 431 episodes over 14 seasons. The show centered around the Cartwright family and their 1,000-square mile Ponderosa Ranch. It is regarded as one of the greatest U.S. TV shows of all time.
Justified
Action in the Afternoon
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What show featured appearances by Priscilla Presley for five seasons and made viewers wait an entire summer to find out whether Larry Hagman's character was dead or alive?
Wanted Dead or Alive
Trackdown
Laramie
Dallas
No matter how old you are, you've probably heard the phrase, "Who shot J.R.?" It stemmed from one of the most iconic episodes in television history about the feuding Ewing family and their oil company, Ewing Oil. It's one of the top five longest-running TV shows in American history.
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What show featured Jack Kelly, James Garner and Roger Moore as family members?
The Cisco Kid
Maverick
The laid-back gambler Bret Maverick (Garner) would rather use his smooth talk and charm to get out of sticky situations than have to partake in a gunfight. The show ran for five years and was known for spoofing other top Westerns of the time.
The Virginian
Zorro
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Can you name the show that centered around Johnny Crawford learning valuable lessons from Chuck Connors?
The Rifleman
The protagonist of this show, "The Rifleman" (Connors), was a single dad who used his customized Winchester rifle to dole out justice while he patrolled his ranch. He was able to teach his son (Crawford) some valuable life lessons along the way.
The Cherokee Kid
The Cisco Kid
The Jack Bull
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Which of these shows featured Clint Eastwood playing assistant to Eric Fleming?
Here Come the Brides
Brave Eagle
Rawhide
Many viewers consider this show one of the most cinematic Westerns on television. This long cattle drive is full of strong subject matter, and although the cast was full of stars, it's most remembered for Clint Eastwood's role as right hand man to the boss.
Laredo
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What show featured David Carradine as a Shaolin monk?
The High Chaparral
Kung Fu
Fresh off the martial arts craze, East meets West in this mash-up of two genres as a Shaolin monk Caine (Carradine) roams the American frontier in search of his brother. Caine helps the oppressed and resolves issues peacefully until he has to show off his martial arts skills.
The Wild Wild West
Dusty's Trail
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Which of these shows stars a young Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall as retired Texas Rangers?
The Fugitive
Lonesome Dove
This four-episode mini-series ran in 1989 and was based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Larry McMurtry. It went on to win seven Emmys and was considered by many to be the role of a lifetime for Robert Duvall, who later went on to solidify his fame alongside Al Pacino in "The Godfather."
Deadwood
The Cisco Kid
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Can you name the show that centered around Richard Boone as a professional gunfighter?
Have Gun, Will Travel
The name for the show, "Have Gun, Will Travel" was based on the inscription carved into Boone's character's (Paladin) business card that read in full: “Have Gun, Will Travel. Wire Paladin, San Francisco.” His going rate was $1,000.
The Last Outlaw
Coyote Waits
Deadwood
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What show featured Terry Wilson as Assistant Wagonmaster and Frank McGrath as a grizzled, old cook?
The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams
The Warrior
Nichols
Wagon Train
This classic Western ran for eight seasons on two different networks and was inspired by a 1950 John Ford movie called "Wagon Master." Part of its popularity was due to its stellar cast and big-name guest appearances from stars like John Wayne and Bette Davis.
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In which show did Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels star as one of TV's most iconic duos?
Queen of Swords
Pony Express
The Lone Ranger
"The Lone Ranger" was the highest rated TV program for ABC in the 1950s, and its characters are still popular today. In 2013, Disney revived the iconic duo of the Lone Ranger and Tonto for a big screen movie featuring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer.
The Rebel
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In which role did Jayne Seymour play a physician who moved from Boston to Colorado?
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Jayne Seymour played the title character for this show that ran for six seasons in more than 100 countries and spawned two television movies. She considered it one of her proudest projects, but she actually signed on to the role with just one night's notice because her business manager lost all her money and accrued $9 million in debt. She told her agent she would do anything that was offered.
The Lone Ranger
Wynonna Earp
Maverick
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In which show did Pete Duel and Ben Murphy star as the title characters?
Alias Smith and Jones
Fresh off the success of the movie, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," producers thought it'd be wise to create a similar story for TV audiences. They came up with this show starring two outlaws who made a shady deal with the governor and had to stay alive long enough to see it through.
The Young Riders
Little House on the Prarie
Kung Fu
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In what show did Robert Conrad and Ross Martin play secret agents fighting crime?
The Wild Wild West
This science fiction Western ran for four seasons in the late 1960s and spawned two TV movies a decade later. The show's creator likened it to James Bond on horseback, and in 1999, Will Smith starred in a big screen remake of a similar name.
Whiplash
The Young Pioneers
Mackenzie's Raiders
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Can you name the show where Hugh O'Brian plays the lead character based on a real-life marshal?
The Chisholms
The Yellow Rose
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
This black and white show aired for six seasons totaling 229 episodes and was loosely based on the life of real-life marshal, Wyatt Earp. Although the events were only loosely based on Earp's real life, the timeline of those events followed his life almost exactly.
Harts of the West
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In which of these shows did Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Rachel Lindsay Greenbush, Sidney Greenbush and Melissa Sue Anderson star as family members?
Man Without a Gun
Little House on the Prairie
Based on the children's books of the same name, ratings for this show plummeted so low in its second season it almost got canceled. It was moved from Wednesday to Monday nights instead and ended up airing for nine seasons.
Mackenzie's Raiders
Northwest Passage
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In which show did Guy Williams star as one of the most iconic swordsmen in TV history?
The Gray Ghost
Outlaws
Davy Crockett
Zorro
The masked man - Don Diego by day, Zorro by night - owned the Thursday night time slot from 1957 - 1961 but was eventually canceled over legal disputes. The legend of Zorro has lived on, however, mostly because of a couple remakes featuring Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta Jones.
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Before 'Chuck Norris Facts' became an international meme, he was famous for what show?
The Jack Bull
The Last Outlaw
Walker, Texas Ranger
Star of this show, Chuck Norris, served in the United States Air Force and holds black belts in Brazilian jiu jitsu and Judo. The show aired in the 1990s, but the popularity of Norris was resurrected in the mid-2000s when "Chuck Norris Facts" took over the Internet.
The Cherokee Kid
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Which show starred Anson Mount and Colm Meaney as they dealt with the construction of the first transcontinental railroad?
The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams
McCloud
Hell on Wheels
This show ran for five seasons and the story picked up immediately after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. It showed the life of workers, mercenaries, prostitutes and others during construction of the Union Pacific Railroad.
Death Valley Days
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Which one of these shows featured Barbara Stanwyck as the head of a family that included Lee Majors, Richard Long, Peter Breck and Linda Evans?
Custer
The Big Valley
This show ran for four seasons and centered around the widow (Stanwyck) of a wealthy rancher, his illegitimate son (Majors) and her family as they fought off bank robbers, horse thieves, revolutionaries and land grabbers. The show was loosely based on a real, 30,000-acre ranch called The Hill Ranch.
Pistols 'n' Petticoats
The Rounders
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Do you know what show stars James Arness and Bruce Boxleitner as family members trekking their way to Oregon?
Death Valley Days
How the West Was Won
This mini-series that ran from 1976 - 1979 recycled some themes and content from the classic Western, "Gunsmoke," which was a radio and eventually TV series. This series starred James Arness, who starred in "Gunsmoke," and the first shot of the title sequence was also used in a "Gunsmoke" episode.
Gun Shy
Barbary Coast
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In which of these shows does James Drury play the title character?
Quick Draw
The Pinkertons
Harts of the West
The Virginian
This classic Western ran for nine seasons totaling 249 episodes on NBC, making it the third-longest-running Western in TV history. It was also the first 90-minute Western series to air on television.
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Which of these shows featured Steve McQueen and his sawed-off rifle?
Wanted: Dead or Alive
For three seasons Steve McQueen starred as a bounty hunter who doled out justice with a sawed-off rifle as he roamed the Wild West. The actual gun he used was a 1892 Winchester rifle even though the series was set in the 1870s.
The Dakotas
Wide Country
Rango
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Can you name the show that starred Duncan Renaldo and his sidekick, Leo Carrillo?
The Cisco Kid
A la The Lone Ranger, The Cisco Kid and his sidekick, Pancho, roamed the old west righting wrongs and fighting injustice wherever they could find it. The show aired for six seasons starting in 1950 and it was the first TV series to be shot in color even though broadcasts were still in black and white. Most didn't see it in color until 1960.
The Quest
The Young Pioneers
Best of the West
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In which show does Melanie Scrofano play the fictional offspring of a real-life marshal?
Wynonna Earp
This supernatural Western is based on the comic book series of the same name. Its first season aired in 2016 and its fourth season is due to air sometime in 2019. Wynonna is the great great-granddaughter of Wyatt Earp and she battles unworldly creatures as she seeks justice.
Barbary Coast
Broken Arrow
The Californians
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Can you name the show that featured Ty Miller, Josh Brolin and Stephen Baldwin pre Civil War?
Jefferson Drum
Lawman
The Young Riders
You may not be able to recognize a young Stephen Baldwin and Josh Brolin starring in this show about a group of young Pony Express riders. Recruitment ads for the Express read: "Wanted: Young, skinny, wiry fellows not over 18. Must be expert riders, willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred"
Empire
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Which show centered around a family played by Leif Erickson, Cameron Mitchell, Linda Cristal and Mark Slade?
Temple Houston
The Rounders
The High Chaparral
For four seasons, viewers watched the Cannon family operate the High Chaparral Ranch in the Arizona Territory during the 1870s. The show centered around rancher Big John (Erickson), who aimed to establish his cattle empire amid Indian hostility.
Hondo
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What show featured Philip Carey as captain of a gang of Texas Rangers that included Neville Brand, Peter Brown and William Smith?
Buffalo Bill, Jr.
Cimarron City
Laredo
For two seasons this show followed rustlers and bank robbers as they got in and out of trouble. One of the show's stars, Peter Brown, actually used his real horse, named Amigo, for the show.
Action in the Afternoon
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What show featured Timothy Olyphant and Ian McShane as gunslingers who blurred the lines between good and bad?
Deadwood
Many people consider "Deadwood" to be the antithesis of the old western genre. It featured vulgar language, vicious brutality, and blurred the lines between the good and bad guys. It went on to win eight Emmys in its two-year reign.
Bronco
Rawhide
F Troop
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Can you name the neo-western that made Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul household names?
Coyote Waits
A Thief of Time
Breaking Bad
Television audiences showed a revived love for Westerns when this neo-western about a high school teacher turned meth dealer took the country by storm. "Breaking Bad" ran for five seasons and picked up 16 Emmy wins and 58 nominations.
Crossfire Trail
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What show featured Will Hutchins as a law-school graduate venturing out west to claim his fortune?
Sugarfoot
This series ran for four seasons on ABC, and although the studio had also created the movie, "Sugarfoot," the series had nothing to do with it. This show was actually based on a 1954 Western titled, "The Boy From Oklahoma."
Black Saddle
Four Feather Falls
Klondike
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In which of these shows do Robert Taylor and Cassidy Freeman play father and daughter, with appearances from Lou Diamond Phillips?
Centennial
Longmire
This show that aired for six seasons from 2012 - 2017 centers around Walt Longmire, a sheriff investigating major crimes in the fictional Absaroka County, Wyoming. The series is based on the mystery novels written by Craig Johnson. Walt Longmire appears in 20 of the books.
The Cowboys
Dirty Sally
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Do you know what show featured Bruce Campbell and Julius Carry as bounty hunters looking to avenge the death of a father?
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
Bruce Campbell played a Harvard Law graduate who decided to venture out and track down members of a notorious gang responsible for killing his father. Julius Carry played his one-time rival, Lord Bowler.
Four Feather Falls
Cheyenne
Broken Arrow
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Which of these shows features Evan Rachel Wood, Anthony Hopkins, Thandie Newton, Ed Harris and Jeffrey Wright?
The Loner
Westworld
In 2016, HBO decided to remake the 1973 movie "Westworld" into a TV show. The story follows a technologically advanced, Western-themed amusement park run by robots that malfunction and begin killing human visitors.
The Monroes
Northwest Passage
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For which of these shows did Jeff Daniels win an Emmy?
Godless
Netflix got into the Western genre with this seven-episode limited series that earned a couple Emmys for stellar performances and outstanding music. It was also named one of the 10 best shows of 2017 by multiple publications.
Ponderosa
Overland Trail
The Magnificent Seven
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Which of these shows featured James Arness, Milburn Stone and Amanda Blake in one of the longest-running shows in history?
Gunsmoke
"Gunsmoke" was the longest-running Western in TV history and until 2018, when surpassed by the "Simpsons," it was the longest-running scripted show in TV history. It ran for 635 episodes and raked in countless awards.
Walker, Texas Ranger
The Lone Ranger
The Wild Wild West
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You Got:
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