Ever see the TV show "The Incredible Hulk" with Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno? If you have you know this already, but here's the plot: A guy turns into a big green monster when he's mad... This only happens once or twice an episode, and when it does, it's very special, and it's what you, as the viewer, are waiting for... And it happens when he's pushed too far. The same thing applies to Sheriff Pussar's big stick. He takes it out at least twice an episode, and like Hulk, it comes out after the lead character "can't take it anymore", and he "goes to town" with hit, destroying everything in his wake (like Hulk). This series "Walking Tall" isn't bad. In my opinion, Svenson is the best Pussar, the real Pussar. Joe Don Baker, in the original, played the Sheriff, but Svenson simply "is" him, it seems. Harold Sylvester is decent. The kids are okay (all right). The grandfather is annoying, but oh well. This show didn't last but seven episodes. Pussar's big stick should have been green, perhaps. Either way, it's a fun watch on a boring afternoon.
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cheap_goat30 August 2006
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lotsafun5 October 2006Watching WALKING TALL on TV was a blast back in the early 80's. It was unfortunate that they put it up against THE LOVE BOAT which at the time was a major hit. Saturday night TV belonged to ABC which had THE LOVE BOAT at 9 pm and FANTASY ISLAND at 10pm. NBC went up against those two juggernauts with WALKING TALL at 9pm and HILL STREET BLUES at 10pm. Both NBC shows took a beating. Then WALKING TALL was canceled. HILL STREET was moved to another night and became a hit. I missed WALKING TALL for years. TV just wasn't the same without the great Bo Svenson hitting punks upside their heads with a big stick. But my prayers have been answered! WALKING TALL has been released on DVD and I couldn't be happier! Give this one a look folks! Pick this series up, pop some corn, pop the DVD in your player, grab a cool beverage, and settle back and enjoy Bufford whoopin' the crap out of the bad guys! I especially enjoy the spectacle of Bufford Pusser hittin' white supremacists with a big stick! GREAT STUFF! WALKING TALL is classic 80's TV and a helluva lot of fun on DVD!
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crjohn6819 March 2006I have studied the real life of Buford Pusser. Shy of making it yet to McNairy County, I have all the books on him that I know of, and that provide true facts. I also own the movies and recently bought the TV series on DVD.
The movies were entertaining however, according to the biographies, some of the facts were switched around and parts were added to the movies. The disclosure at the end allows Bing Crosby Production to do this. Comparing the movies to the TV series, I have to agree with Paul-308. Though it was the actor, Mr. Svenson, and the name was them same the feeling watching the series was not the same. The series is entertaining but it just didn't seem like "Walking Tall." They changed the county name to McNeal instead of McNairy. (That in itself I don't understand.) Then the modern cars? I noticed that they changed the type of rotary lights on the cruisers in the series from what sheriff Pusser and Movies actually had. (trivial I know.) Sheriff Pusser made his mark in history as a law enforcement official. He later lost his life (in my opinion because of it.) I think it would be more meaningful to people if he were honored for this by staying with the facts.
I apologize if I have offended anyone with what I have said. -
Hicksploitation22 October 2022It is very unfortunate this show only ended up with seven episodes as I could watch several large seasons of this action packed goodness. The show is that good ole fashion late 70's early 80's action and a bit of drama. Bo really played his role well with his intensity and drive, he made you really believe he was a headstrong Sheriff. The show had great plots within its episodes and in its short run it still included some great guest/costars that fit there parts very nicely. I find myself coming back to my DVD set and watching these 7 episodes rather often and I am always left wanting more. Its sad to me this show never got more than what it did as I feel it should have been ran for at least a few decent seasons.
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LukeCoolHand20 February 2022I only caught one or two of these episodes and the only thing I really remember is they weren't very good. A couple or reviewers commented they thought Bo Svenson was a much better Buford Pusser than Joe Don Baker who played in the original movie. Well I don't agree with that at all. Joe Don Baker WAS Buford Pusser and if they had gotten him to play him in this show it might have lasted more than SEVEN episodes. It flopped just like those next two movies did because they had Svenson.
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lightninboy22 May 2005I enjoyed Walking Tall on Saturday nights on NBC. It had a straightforward theme song. It had a Sheriff who would defeat evil any way he could, usually with a club. It was fun to tear down old buildings while pretending you were Buford Pusser. The Sheriff had children but no wife. It was a good show in its own right, and probably should have done as well without the Pusser names. In one show, the Sheriff cracked down on angel dust/PCP makers. That show would have fit right in with the meth problem of today. One show featured a Catholic priest who wouldn't tell what he had heard about a crime in a confession because he had taken a vow not to.
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TV series based loosely upon the movie star lawman Buford Pusser.Bo Swenson reprises his role that he played in the Walking Tall movie.This series is set in modern day times (modern cars....modern times,not 60s/70s).And there is the flaw,as Sheriff Pusser died in 1974 (and he wasn't Sheriff then either).A folksy-aimed series that unfortunately used the wrong man as the basis for the show.If they had given Bo an anonymous generic lawman name,it might have flown for a while.But the Walking Tall franchise had gasped its last.I watched the show when it first aired,and it seemed it tried too hard to get its points across.Very much a right or wrong "I told you so" lesson to be learned.I am sure that the real story of Buford was much harsher than that,but such is the way with Hollywood....they always change things to their liking,even if it isn't true.Mr Swenson did a nice job as Mr Pusser though,I liked him much more than Joe Don Baker's portrayal. The Rock is reprising the tired old tale of Walking Tall once again.Carrying the stick is action star Dwayne Johnson (The Rock).Cant they let it rest? Now there's talk of another WT movie. Pusser has been gone for 32 years now.Thats a long time.Why does Hollywood continue to beat this horse? UPDATE********************************************************** I remember when first watching this series back in 1981,that I was very confused regarding the situations that they set Buford in.He served as Sheriff until 1970,and Pauline was killed in 1967,and in one episode (the first one)it was mentioned she died 2 years earlier...meaning the series was set in 1969,one year before his term ended with no chance at re-election.In another episode it was mentioned that if rumors spread about some female that Buford was involved with back in his school days,he wouldn't get re-elected......however at that point it was impossible,as 3 terms was all he could serve legally.All the TV patrol cars were 1977-1979 Dodge Monaco Police Pursuits,and the occasional mid 70s Country Squire wagon,1979 Ford pickup,and 1979 LTD appeared on screen....these were current day used cars,and not true examples of the real Pusser days.Movie 1 used 1972 Dodge Polaras (Buford's wife was killed in a 1966/1967 Polara),movie 2 used 1974 Chevy Impalas,and movie 3 used 1976 Impalas,none of these truly represented the 1960s as they should have been.This all confused me....as did the PCP use in episode 1,the environmental destruction in "deadly impact",and the total change of appearance of John Witter from his dark hair/fat man persona of the movies.Talk about confused!! I betcha thats why this series didn't fly.....Buford Pusser living and in office in the 1980s? That was just too far fetched for most people.
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Wizard-86 March 2012I never imagined that this short-lived and little-seen television series would be resurrected, but thanks to the remake of the "Walking Tall" movie, this series has been released on DVD. There's not much here to make this series stand out from other police shows from the '70s or '80s - the plots are pretty predictable and familiar. The main character's way of enforcing the law does sometimes become a little uncomfortable as he does stuff like using his club to smash things (or people) and other personal techniques to enforce HIS law. On the other hand, the series does showcase a surprising amount of talent for guest stars, from familiar faces (like Chuck Connors and L.Q. Jones) to people who later became famous (like Eric Stoltz and Robert Englund). And I can't say that any of the episodes that I watched were BORING. Predictable, yes, but executed in a brisk manner that keeps your interest up. In fact, there's something comforting about a series like this where the bad guys are really bad and always get punished in the end by the hero. Worth a look during a slow weekend.
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Nick Zbu19 April 2006The good thing about this show is that while it takes the name of a semi-popular movie series and makes good use of Bo Svenson as a modern-day Superman who, in the guise of a lawman, deals out social justice in many forms. Bo Svenson does as best a job he can with the threadbare situation this show places him in.
The bad part is pretty much the approach of the series. By limiting themselves to a real-life person, the show takes the unusual step of making the fictional Pusser so heavily romanticized that it's hard to believe at some points. The show begins with a bloated explanation every week about how this fictional representation of a real human being is somehow the world's greatest hero that somehow is sorely needed to take care of the world's social problems. The reality is, however, is that you get a very uneven character who at one moment is behaving bravely but the next obviously using imitation and vigilante tactics to enforce his will. While I'm sure this show was aimed at disillusioned older people who wanted an action show that could be relevant to vent their own opinions through a 'true American hero,' that very relevance probably doomed the show to its fate. While it's fun to watch some 'real-life' example of the law take on vital issues of the day, eventually the believability wears out completely.
The problem with the series is that it tries to be too homespun for its own good. The first movie succeeded because it had a persistent lead character who sacrificed everything to prove a point and clear up corruption. The later movies, however, deviate from the main story of Pusser and take it into another direction that showcases the myth of Pusser which does not stand up. In this, it becomes simplistic: the only thing you need to do to solve an issue is swing a heavy stick at it or be a jingoistic American. The further the filmmakers get away from the real Pusser, the more insane and unbelievable it becomes. Suddenly Pusser can do no wrong (despite the initial movie in which his actions put his family into danger and kill his wife) and is doing unlawful things just to get his way. And this is a 'Real American Hero?' More like 'convenient person to enforce values the audience might have that conflict with the world at that point in time.' Still, the show does try its best and attempts to make the show different. Within its seven episodes are plenty of interesting plot development that one would not expect which leads to some pretty interesting viewing. The family aspect, however, is tiresome and needed only to counteract Pusser's constant comeuppance of criminals and social problems. As stated before, Svenson does a good job but there's nothing really here. The show, if picked up, would have eventually been Pusser walking into situations, swinging stick, and calling it a day. The franchise was dead before the show was going to air, and this is its death throes.
Bottom line? It's worth a watch for some attempts at decent and unique story lines, but the idea was fundamentally flawed. They would have been better if they just chose another name and divorced themselves from the Pusser idea completely and came up with another hard nosed sheriff. As it stands, the show isn't walking tall as limping along, burdened by the curse of using a real life for heavily romanticized fiction.