longcleona

As one who always considered westerns to be a dime a dozen, I found "The Guns of Will Sonnett" to be enjoyable. Set in the 1870's, the premise has an ex-cavalry scout, Will Sonnett (Walter Brennan) roaming the Wild West, along with his grandson Jeff (Dack Rambo), searching for the boy's father, Jim Sonnett. Seems that while growing up, Will never had time for Jim, due to his army duties, moving from one fort to another, so at the age of 17, Jim bolts. In the years that followed, Jim gained the reputation of a notorious gunfighter, while keeping no contact with Will. Until the day a stagecoach arrives with Jim's infant son, Jeff, and a simple note: "Take the boy and raise him Not many of us gets a second chance." Will does just that, bringing up Jeff with the love he never showed Jim.

When Jeff reached adulthood, he wants to meet his father, since all he ever heard were stories and legends. Thus, Will and Jeff Sonnett begin their search for Jim. The pilot, like most of the episodes, involve Will and Jeff encountering folks who had run-ins with Jim Sonnett, usually bad ones. Since Jim is long gone, (They always seem to miss him by a few months, weeks, days, etc) the bitter guest stars try to take their frustrations out on a 73 year-old man and his grandson. They soon learn the only gun faster than Jim Sonnett is the man who taught him. "No brag, just fact", is Will's usual warning. Jeff is no slouch with a shooting iron either. By episode's end, it was all a misunderstanding about Jim, and the two searchers depart. Of course, if someone would've said something earlier, the conflict would've been avoided, but it's not much of a story then.

Without giving anything away, this series had a final episode that resolved the premise, and even opened the door to continue the show in a different setting, had ABC decided to renew it for a third season, which was still up in the air at that time.

I'm delighted that TGOWS was released on DVD, although the quality isn't perfect, as mentioned before. The only disappointment for me was that the special features didn't have an interview with the show's last surviving cast member. Jason Evers, who played Jim Sonnett, was still alive when TGOWS was converted to DVD, and I would've enjoyed hearing his insights on the show. It was, perhaps, his most famous role.

In spite of running only two seasons, I find "The Guns of Will Sonnett" to be my favorite western. Western fans who don't recall this obscure gem may find it worth their while to check it out.

I, for one, am tired of "AfterMASH" being the TV industry joke; the joke being that a spin off of a popular series can't survive without major cast members. AfterMASH was a fine series, with Potter, Klinger, and Mulcahy dealing with issues which occur when the bullets stop flying. (Potter fighting the VA to provide disability for a cancer patient who was stationed at A-bomb tests, is just one example.) Viewers finally met Mildred Potter, and were introduced to Bob Scannell, who served with Potter in WWI. Jay O. Sanders (now a semi-big name in movies) played Gene Peiffer, a likable surgical resident whom Potter took under his wing. Mike D'Angelo (John Chappell) was the bumbling administrator, with his aide, Alma Cox (Brendis Kemp), who always locked horns with Klinger. AfterMASH ended it's 1st season ranked #15 in the ratings.

So why did this series fail? Two reasons in my opinion, for what it's worth. First, some genius at CBS decided to move the sitcom from MASH's old time slot of Mondays at 9:00, to Tuesdays at 8:00, where it went up against NBC's "The A-Team". AfterMASH didn't stand a chance. Second, the character of Gene Peiffer was written out (with no explanation), to be replaced by Dr. Boyer (played by David Ackroyd). Boyer, who didn't even have a first name, was handicapped, having lost his leg in the Korean War, and lashed out at everyone who thought less of him because of it, at least in his mind. Most viewer, I believe, want characters they can identify with or understand, and a brawling, self-pitying loner with a chip on his shoulder doesn't cut it. In reality, such a person couldn't remain employed in any hospital.

AfterMASH will never be a lost classic; rather, it's a what-might-have-been, and television's loaded with them. Still, the show comes up in any TV Guide fall preview that includes a spin-off, with the usual line, "Does anybody remember AfterMASH?"

Finally, if there's any spin-off that merits being the industry joke, it's "The Sanford Arms", NBC's ill-fated attempt in 1977 to continue "Sanford and Son" without Fred and Lamont. It ran for 4 episodes. At least AfterMASH made it to 30 before being axed in December, 1984.

Eventually, AfterMASH will be released on DVD. After all, shows with fewer episodes are. Glad I won't be trampled in the stampede to buy it.