The Young Riders

Production

The original pilot was filmed in California. After ABC picked up the series, production moved to Tucson, Arizona, with filming at "Mescal", a western-themed movie town operated by Old Tucson Studios. Before the series premiere, producers of the 1988 film Young Guns filed a lawsuit against ABC and the series producers, claiming the series title combined with its plot infringed on their trademark. In the second season, Don Franklin joined the cast to portray Noah Dixon, becoming the third African-American actor to hold a starring role in a television western.

Having never ridden a horse before, Franklin attended "Cowboy Camp" for 3–4 days to learn basic riding. He also discussed writing and directing an episode with producers, who were receptive and encouraged cast suggestions. When the cast disliked the "guest-villain-of-the-week" format, the series refocused on individual characters and their relationships. Franklin also encouraged including more black characters.

Characters

Aloysius "Teaspoon" Hunter (Anthony Zerbe) is a former Texas Ranger and one of the few survivors of the Battle of the Alamo, a wise but tough task master who cares for his riders. The Kid (Ty Miller), a soft-spoken Virginia orphan, is the first character introduced; he is quick-witted and loves his horse Katy, purchased with money won in a boxing match. William F. Cody (Stephen Baldwin), called Cody, is arrogant, brash, and goofy but devoted to friends, an excellent rifle shot who shares a sibling-like rivalry with Jimmy.

James Butler Hickok (Josh Brolin), called Jimmy, is hot-tempered and quick to draw, gaining an unwanted gunslinger reputation that draws challengers; Teaspoon and Sam try to help him control his temper. Buck Cross (Gregg Rainwater), son of a Kiowa mother and white father, left his tribe due to not fitting in and faces occasional discrimination, though his friends defend him; he is close with Ike. Louise "Lou" McCloud (Yvonne Suhor), the shortest rider but highly skilled, initially presents as a man to get the job; the other riders maintain her guise, and she eventually marries The Kid.

Sam Cain (Brett Cullen), the Sweetwater marshal and former gunslinger, loves Emma and marries her at the end of season 1; he helps Hickok with his reputation. Ike McSwain (Travis Fine) is mute and bald but an excellent rider, close to Buck who taught him sign language, and passionate about protecting people. Noah Dixon (Don Franklin) is a free-born black man joining in seasons 2–3. Emma Shannon (Melissa Leo) appears in season 1.

Reception

In its first year, The Young Riders suffered low ratings, ranking 60th out of 84 programs in its time slot in November 1989 Nielsen ratings. In its second season, a new timeslot led to a dramatic turnaround, winning its slot five of the first seven weeks and consistently outperforming China Beach and Twin Peaks, though still ranked 57th in Nielsen ratings; it built a small but loyal following among teens and young adults. Diane Holloway of the Austin American-Statesman praised the series for a new take on the standard Western and its beautiful cinematography.

Ken Tucker of The Philadelphia Inquirer heavily criticized the premiere, calling it one of the season's most pretentious bombs and feeling everything was overdone, including acting; he considered it a rip-off of Young Guns and The Long Riders, and thought period authenticity failed. Phil Kloer of The Atlanta Journal also called it a rip-off of Young Guns, finding the pilot not particularly good or bad and predicting quick failure, but praising cinematography as more like a film with beautiful soft light.

Ron Miller of TV Weekly praised the series at release and renewed praise in its second season, noting it was thumbing its nose at prognosticators who considered it unlikely to succeed.

Home media

MGM released the first season as a Region 1 DVD box set on March 21, 2006, and a Region 2 set on January 15, 2007. TGG Direct released season 3 on Region 1 DVD on January 29, 2013, and re-released season 1 the same day. Season 2 was released on October 22, 2013, but due to clearance issues, the episodes "Born to Hang," "Bad Company," "Blood Money," and "Littlest Cowboy" were excluded. Another Season 2 set released in 2014 also excluded those four episodes plus "Dead Ringer" and "The Play's the Thing."