The Young Riders

Infobox Television
show_name = The Young Riders


caption = DVD cover of the first Season 1 box set
show_name_2 =
genre = Drama, Western
creator = Ed Spielman
writer =
director =
creative_director =
developer =
starring = Stephen Baldwin
Josh Brolin
Brett Cullen
Travis Fine
Don Franklin
Melissa Leo
Ty Miller
Christopher Pettiet
Gregg Rainwater
Yvonne Suhor
Clare Wren
Anthony Zerbe
theme_music_composer =
opentheme =
endtheme =
composer = John Debney
country = USA
language = English
num_seasons = 3
num_episodes = 68
list_episodes =
executive_producer = Jonas McCord
co_exec = Josh Kane Michael Ogiens
producer =
supervising_producer =
asst_producer =
co-producer =
editor =
story_editor =
cinematography =
camera =
runtime = 45 minutes
network = ABC
picture_format = Film
audio_format =
first_aired = September 20, 1989
last_aired = July 23, 1992
website =
production_website =
imdb_id = 0096732
tv_com_id = 1428

"The Young Riders" is a dramatic western that aired 1989-1992 and featured a fictionalized account of a group of young Pony Express riders based at the Sweetwater Station in the Nebraska Territory. The series premiered on ABC on September 20, 1989 and ran for three seasons until the final episode aired on July 23, 1992.

Production

The original pilot for the series was filmed in California. After it was picked up, the series was moved to Tuscon, Arizona to be filmed in "Mescal," a western-themed movie town operated by Old Tucson Studios.cite web |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE4D61038F934A2575AC0A96F948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print |title= Television; For the Western Serial, Time to Saddle Up Again |first=Norman |last=Zollinger |date=1989-09-17 |work=New York Times |accessdate=2008-04-11 ]

Cast and characters

*Aloysius "Teaspoon" Hunter is a former Texas Ranger and one of the only survivors of the Battle of the Alamo. A colorful character, Teaspoon can be a tough task master but he cares about all of his riders. Played by Anthony Zerbe.
*The Kid is a soft-spoken southerner. He loves his horse, Katie, who he purchased by winning the money to buy her in a boxing match. He is the first of the riders to learn that Lou is a girl, and he falls in love with her. Played by Ty Miller
*William F. Cody is arrogant and brash, but also devoted to his friends. He is an excellent shot with long arms such as rifles. Played by Stephen Baldwin.
*James Butler Hickok is hot-tempered and quick to go for his gun. He is is a fast draw and gains a reputation as a gunslinger that he doesn't particularly want as it causes people to come challenge him. His temper frequently gets him in trouble, though Teaspoon and Sam try to help him learn to control it. Played by Josh Brolin.
*Buck Cross (Running Buck), is a half Kiowa who is close friends with Ike. Buck helps break down stereotypes that the townsfolk have of Indians in the area. Played by Gregg Rainwater.
*Louise "Lou" McCloud presents herself as a man so that she can join the riders. Lou is found out by The Kid in the first episode, and by the other riders when they help her rescue her brother and sister from their abusive outlaw father. She eventually falls in love with and marries The Kid. Played by Yvonne Suhor.
*Sam Cain is the current marshal of Sweetwater, and a former gunslinger. He is in love with Emma and she finally marries him at the end of Season 1. Because of his own past, Sam tries to help Hickcock deal with his growing gunslinger reputation. Played by Brett Cullen.
*Ike McSwain is mute and bald, but that doesn't keep him from being an excellent rider. He is particularly close to Buck, who taught him sign language. Ike can be very passionate about protecting people. Played by Travis Fine.
*Noah Dixon is a free-born black man who joins the Riders in the second season. Played by Don Franklin.
*Emma Shannon is the caretaker of the station and the riders. Though she can be just as tough as Teaspoon when the riders do wrong, she tries to be a mother to them all. She is in love with Marshal Cain, but because of her past, she hesitated to marry him until the end of the first season. Played by Melissa Leo.
*Jesse James, is a young boy who joins the riders in the third season. Played by Christopher Pettiet.
*Rachel Dunne takes on the role of station caretaker after Emma leaves. Played by Clare Wren.

Guest stars

Many prominent actors guest-starred on the show, including James Gammon, Kelli Williams, Fisher Stevens, Della Reese, Melissa Michaelsen, David Carradine, Stacy Keach, Sr., Pernell Roberts, David Soul, Cynthia Nixon, Richard Roundtree, Buck Taylor, Nick Ramus, Frances Fisher, and Bart the Bear.

Reception

In its first year on the air, "The Young Riders" was plagued by low ratings. In November 1989, it ranked 60th out of 84 programs for its time slot in the Nielsen Ratings.cite news |first=Diane |last=Holloway |title='Young Riders' puts new face on Western: Show ranks tops in quality, No. 60 in Nielsens |work=Austin-American Statesman |location=Austin, Texas |id=ISSN| 1553-8451 |page=B6 |date=1989-11-16 ]

Despite the low ratings, it was noted for offering a new take on the standard Western, and praised for its "beautiful" cinematography.

Media

MGM released the first season of "The Young Riders" as a single Region 1 DVD box set on March 21, 2006. No other season sets have been released thus far.cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Young-Riders/4864 |title=The Young Riders - Yee-Haw! Baldwin and Brolin saddle up on DVD this March...thanks in part to YOU! |first=Gord |last=Lacey |publisher=TVShowsOnDVD.com |date=2006-01-06 |accessdate=2008-03-18 ]

The season one set was released to Region 2 (Europe) DVD on January 15, 2007.Fact|date=March 2008

References

External links

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