Westerns in the late 1950s were usually predictable. You had the white-hatted lawman, the mustache-twirling villain, and a clear moral lesson by the thirty-minute mark. Then came Josh Randall. He didn't wear a star, and he certainly wasn't looking for a thank you. He was a bounty hunter—a profession most people back then considered only slightly more respectable than horse thievery.
When you look back at Wanted Dead or Alive tv series episodes, you aren’t just watching a show; you’re watching the birth of the "King of Cool." Steve McQueen didn't just play Randall; he inhabited him with a twitchy, restless energy that changed television.
The Pilot That Started It All: "The Bounty Hunter"
Before it was its own show, Josh Randall actually debuted on another series called Trackdown in March 1958. This episode, titled "The Bounty Hunter," served as the "backdoor pilot." It’s fascinating because it sets the tone immediately. Randall teams up with Texas Ranger Hoby Gilman, played by Robert Culp, and the contrast is jarring. Gilman is the established law; Randall is the outsider with the sawed-off Winchester Model 1892.
That gun, famously nicknamed the "Mare's Leg," became a character in its own right. It was a cut-down rifle carried in a leg holster like a pistol. It made no sense logically—try firing a sawed-off rifle one-handed in real life—but it looked incredible on screen.
Season 1: Setting the Anti-Hero Standard
The series officially premiered on CBS on September 6, 1958, with "The Martin Poster." It’s a classic setup: Randall witnesses two brothers shoot a sheriff and tracks them down. But here’s the kicker—one of those brothers was played by a very young Michael Landon.
Honestly, the guest stars in these early episodes are a "who’s who" of future Hollywood legends. You’ve got:
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- Warren Oates popping up as various characters (like Billy Clegg).
- James Coburn showing up in several roles, most notably in the Season 3 opener "The Trial."
- Lee Van Cleef, the ultimate Western heavy, making appearances that solidified the show’s grit.
One of the best episodes from this first run is "Sheriff of Red Rock." It’s a quintessential McQueen moment. Randall gets bushwhacked by bounty hunters who are actually working with the local sheriff. It exposes the corruption of the West, showing that the guy with the badge isn't always the hero, and the guy hunting for money isn't always the villain.
Why 30 Minutes Was Both a Blessing and a Curse
Most Wanted Dead or Alive tv series episodes ran for exactly a half-hour. This meant the pacing was relentless. There was no time for "sappy" subplots or long-winded monologues. You were dropped into a scene, the tension ratcheted up, a shootout happened, and Randall rode off.
Some critics at the time felt the scripts were too thin because of the time limit. But looking back, that brevity is what makes it hold up so well today. It feels modern. It’s punchy. It doesn't waste your time.
The Jason Nichols Partnership: A Short-Lived Experiment
By Season 2, the producers started worrying that Josh Randall was a bit too "lonely." They wanted a sidekick. Enter Wright King as Jason Nichols, a former deputy who joins Randall for a string of episodes starting with "Jason" and "The Partners."
It didn't really work.
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McQueen was a "scene-stealer" by nature, and he didn't like sharing the spotlight. He wanted Randall to be a loner—a "real rank" guy with a mean streak. The chemistry with King was okay, but the fans wanted the solitary bounty hunter, not a duo. After 11 episodes, the partnership was quietly dissolved, and Randall went back to his one-man-army roots.
Weird and Wonderful Episodes You Probably Forgot
While the show was mostly about catching outlaws, it took some bizarre turns. People forget that Josh Randall was a "bounty hunter with a heart."
- "Eight Cent Reward": On Christmas Eve, a little boy hires Randall for eight cents to find... Santa Claus. It’s a bit sentimental for a show this gritty, but it showed a side of McQueen that audiences loved.
- "Baa-Baa": This is often cited as one of the weirdest. Randall is hired to find a stolen pet sheep. Yes, a sheep.
- "The Monster": Randall tries to debunk a "monster" that’s supposedly destroying mining camps. It’s almost like a proto-Scooby-Doo episode but with more gunfights.
The Impact of the "Adult Western"
Wanted Dead or Alive was part of a shift toward the "adult Western." It wasn't just for kids anymore. It dealt with moral ambiguity. In the episode "A Ransom for a Nun," Randall actually kills the wrong person. He has to live with that. He admits he made a mistake and seeks atonement.
This kind of complexity was rare. It’s why the show jumped to the #9 spot in the ratings during its second season. It was competing with heavy hitters like Perry Como, yet it held its own because it offered something darker and more realistic.
How to Watch and What to Look For
If you’re diving into these episodes for the first time, don't worry about watching them in perfect chronological order. Most are self-contained. However, if you want the "true" experience, look for the original black-and-white versions.
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In 1987, the series became the first vintage show to be completely colorized. While it’s interesting to see McQueen’s blue eyes in color, the stark shadows and gritty atmosphere of the original black-and-white cinematography better suit the show's "noir" Western vibe.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
- Check MeTV or INSP: These networks still run the series regularly. It’s the easiest way to catch the episodes without buying a box set.
- Look for the Guest Stars: Part of the fun is spotting actors before they were famous. Keep an eye out for Mary Tyler Moore, DeForest Kelley (Star Trek’s Bones), and even a young Richard Donner (who directed several episodes before doing Superman).
- Study the Draw: Watch McQueen's hand in the opening credits. He spent hours practicing his draw with that Mare's Leg. It’s a masterclass in physical acting.
The show eventually ended in 1961, not because it wasn't popular, but because a move to Wednesday nights killed its ratings against Ozzie and Harriet. Plus, McQueen was ready for the big screen. He had already filmed The Magnificent Seven, and the world of movies was calling.
But for 94 episodes, he was Josh Randall. He proved that you could be a "bad guy" doing a "good job," and that sometimes, justice is found in the barrel of a sawed-off Winchester. Basically, if you want to see where the modern anti-hero was born, this is where you start.
To get the most out of your viewing, start with the "Top 5" essentials: "The Martin Poster," "Sheriff of Red Rock," "The Fourth Headstone," "The Trial," and "The Bounty Hunter" (the Trackdown pilot). Watching these in sequence gives you the full arc of how McQueen transformed from a TV actor into a cultural icon.