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| Image Alt: | Gunsmoke (title screen) |
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| Num Episodes: | 38 |
| Network: | CBS |
| Episode List: | List of Gunsmoke (TV series) episodes |
Gunsmoke is an American Western television series developed by Charles Marquis Warren and based on the radio program of the same name. The series ran for 20 seasons, making it the longest-running Western in television history.
The first episode of season 8 aired in the United States on September 15, 1962, and the final episode aired on June 1, 1963. All episodes were broadcast in the U.S. by CBS.
Season 8 of Gunsmoke was the second season of one hour episodes filmed in black-and-white. Seasons 1-6 were half-hour episodes, and color episodes were not filmed until season 12.
Gunsmoke is set in and around Dodge City, Kansas, in the post-Civil War era and centers on United States Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) as he enforces law and order in the city. In its original format, the series also focuses on Dillon's friendship with three other citizens of Dodge City: Doctor Galen "Doc" Adams (Milburn Stone), the town's physician; Kitty Russell (Amanda Blake), saloon girl and later owner of the Long Branch Saloon; and Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver), Dillon's assistant. In season eight, a fifth regular character was added to the cast: blacksmith Quint Asper (Burt Reynolds), who remained until the end of season 10.
See main article: List of Gunsmoke cast members.
Season 8 consisted of 38 one-hour black-and-white episodes produced by Norman Macdonnell and Frank Paris as associate producer.
Season 8 included the first of two episodes directed by William Conrad, who played the role of Matt Dillon on the radio version of Gunsmoke from 1952–1961. In this season, he directed episode 31, "Panacea Sykes".
Episode 13, "Us Haggens", is the first episode to feature Ken Curtis as Festus, who would become a regular character in later seasons.
See also: List of Gunsmoke (TV series) episodes.
Season eight aired Saturdays at 10:00-11:00 pm (EST) on CBS.
The eighth season was released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment in a two volumes set on May 7, 2013.
Gunsmoke season 8 dropped to number 10 in the Nielsen ratings