The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.

Did You Know?

• The series was one of the last television shows filmed on the Warner Bros. Western backlot.
• Randy Edelman's theme music was reused by NBC during its coverage of the 1997 World Series and the Olympic Games.
• Warner Home Video released a DVD set of all 27 episodes in 2006.

Plot

The series is set in a fictional American Old West of 1893, where robber barons control financial and industrial interests from San Francisco's Westerfield Club. After the murder of famed U.S. Marshal Brisco County, Sr. by outlaw John Bly and his gang, the Westerfield Club hires his son, Brisco County, Jr., to recapture them. Meanwhile, Chinese workers unearth a golden globe called the Orb, which grants superhuman strength. Brisco is assisted by the club's lawyer Socrates Poole and competes with bounty hunter Lord Bowler, who initially views him as a rival. Over time, Brisco and Bowler become partners and friends.

Cast

Bruce Campbell portrays Brisco County, Jr., a Harvard-educated lawyer turned bounty hunter hired to capture John Bly, who killed his father. Campbell auditioned five times, impressing the casting director with a standing flip during his first audition. He assured network executives he would work hard to make the show a success, later calling the role a dream come true. Carlton Cuse stated that Campbell's casting was a perfect collision between actor and script. Christian Clemenson plays Socrates Poole, a lawyer supervising Brisco for the robber barons. Clemenson, who attended Harvard with Cuse, auditioned through normal channels and was drawn to the show's resemblance to The Wild Wild West. He used his Ivy League experiences to portray the uptight Poole. Cuse praised Clemenson's ability to add intelligence and caution to the cast.

Production

After the success of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Fox executive Bob Greenblatt asked Jeffrey Boam and Carlton Cuse to develop a television series with a similar style. Cuse studied old serials and noticed many were Westerns or science fiction, leading to the genre blend. The creators did not aim for historical accuracy, instead crafting an action-adventure with a modern feel and 1990s sensibilities. Anachronisms and pop culture references were intentionally included. Violence was minimized to keep the show family friendly, with Brisco often thinking his way out of danger. Bruce Campbell was heavily promoted, with Fox Entertainment chief Sandy Grushow predicting he would become a major television star.

Reception

The two-hour pilot screened for critics in July 1993 received positive initial reactions, with praise for its humor and science fiction elements. USA Today's Matt Roush enjoyed the campy humor and cast, while Jennifer Stevenson of the St. Petersburg Times called it one of the best shows of the fall season. The Los Angeles Times described it as gratifying nonsense. Some critics, such as Walter Goodman of The New York Times and David Hiltbrand of People, found supporting characters weakly cast. The pilot's production values and comic-book visual style were praised by Todd Everett of Variety. The Orb subplot drew mixed responses: Rod Dreher of the Washington Times liked it, but Tom Shales of The Washington Post called it hokey supernatural bunk. TV Guide's Jeff Jarvis praised the pilot but criticized it as padded with outlaws and orbs.