MovieChat Forums > Cheyenne (1955) Discussion > Does anyone know if The Virginian is rep...

Does anyone know if The Virginian is replacing....

posted 15 years ago by flint19492001
10 replies | jump to latest

Cheyenne on the Westerns Channel (I sure hope not, I believe both shows can be shown) but programming isn't in this fan (of both shows) hands.

THE VIRGINIAN TV SERIES TO AIR ON ENCORE WESTERNS CHANNEL

Received word today that Friday, January 1, 2010 Beginning at 12:00am E/P (midnight) 'The Virginian' TV Series will be featured in a 24 Hour Marathon .

Starting January 4, 2010 'The Virginian' will air Monday thru Friday. Starting Time to be Announced.

[–] DontBogartMe 15 years ago

The Virginian is in color, which is appealing to programmers.

[–] flint19492001 15 years ago

Yes. I've heard that in context with regular broadcasting. However does it make a whole lot of sense in terms of the already mixed bag of B&W and color programing already running on Encore Westerns? When I watched The Virginian I saw the show B&W (same with that space Western Star Trek). Watching any show in color (when I used to see it in B&W) would be a novelty, nothing more.

With Encores older skewing demographics who watched westerns in B&W and enjoy them in their original format it would make sense to keep Cheyenne and add The Virginian to the already formatted standards: Gene Autry and Maverick,

That is not to say I won't watch The Virginian. Nicely done western.... good cast, but....

[–] DontBogartMe 15 years ago

You underestimate the importance of color. It's more a necessity than a novelty. That's the main reason why the early black and white
Gunsmoke episodes featuring Dennis Weaver are rarely shown.

[–] flint19492001 15 years ago

I never downplay the importance of color (though I loathe colorization in programming). Color alone will not bring in a younger, hipper crowd with buying power. Airing The Virginian will bring in their fans, for which I am one. Airing Cheyenne brings in fans too. And there is a crossover in demographics. Both shows can co-exist on the same channel.

Question: When Encore went to NAPTE... do you know how long Encore contracted to run Maverick (or for that matter Cheyenne?)

[–] DontBogartMe 15 years ago

Bringing in Cheyenne fans and The Virginian fans aren't enough for ratings. You need to attract the casual viewer. Color does that. To many, b&w is a turnoff.

[–] g8856 15 years ago

Anybody,who doesn't want to watch great entertainment because it is in black and white ,I really do feel sorry for them.
What a limited life.
CHEYENNE is a great show,especially the first 3 seasons,where Clint Walker is at his best-along with the scripts.

[–] DontBogartMe 15 years ago

Many of those scripts were adapted from old Warners films including Treasure of the Sierra Madre. The production values were higher as well.

[–] ZevII 15 years ago

They're probably more likely to cut back on Maverick (now shown three times a day) than to axe Cheyenne. I hope not, because I love Maverick.

I'd prefer that they show all three series and keep adding more. The old TV westerns are a lot interesting to me than a lot of the movies Encore shows.

[–] wilmawilcat 15 years ago

So, is there any update on the scheduling? I just discovered this show, and now I'm wondering if I only have a month to watch it.

[–] ZevII 15 years ago

Cheyenne episodes are still on Encore's schedule through the end of January. The episode numbers in the 40s and 50s are the ones on the January sked.

http://www.starz.com/series/Cheyenne