The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. is a short-lived western television
series with science fiction elements set in the 1890s, starring
Bruce
Campbell as Brisco County, Jr. It could be considered a thematic
descendant of the 1960s show
The Wild Wild West, since it combined
elements of the science fiction and Western, and Steampunk genres. It was
one of the few western shows aired in the 1990s.
Brisco Clips
Plot
Brisco County, Jr. is hunting down the John Bly Gang, who murdered his
father. By the end of the series, only nine members of the 13-member gang
were seen to be captured by Brisco on screen. They were, in order:
* John Bly (Billy Drago),
* Big Smith (M.C. Gainey),
* Jack Randolph (William Russ),
* Brett Bones (Xander Berkeley),
* Blackbeard LaCutte (Andrew Divoff),
* Juno Dawkins (Don Michael Paul),
* Doc McCoy (Christopher Rich),
* Ned Zed (Casey Siemaszko, though Ned's episode was shown as a flashback
episode) and
* Pepe Bendix (Stewart Bick)
In episode 20: "Bye Bly," Brisco and Bowler mention several times that
they caught all of Bly's gang.
Style
The series featured a mix of tongue-in-cheek, self-referential humor (a
running joke throughout the series was that County could actually
understand the neighing of his beloved horse, Comet) and real drama,
usually centered around County's troubled relationship with his late
father and his growing fear that he will never be able to settle down.
Another main theme was that Brisco was always looking for "the coming
thing" which he found with great regularity. While many were technological
(motorcycles, blimps, tanks, and denim), many others were cultural. This
includes references to future musicals such as "Annie Get Your Gun" and
"Hello, Dolly!" as well as cultural events such as Elvis impersonators,
Dunkin Donuts, Led Zeppelin and sobriety tests.
The show also featured classic cliffhanger deathtraps halfway through each
episode. They ranged from the classic sawmill traps to being tied up and
thrown in quicksand.
Props
Two Mare's Leg pistol props from the show were later reused in the science
fiction television series Firefly as a rifle by the character Zoe
Washburne. The Mare's Leg was famous as the weapon of choice of
Wanted
Dead or Alive's Josh Randall.
Theme music
Though the show only lasted one season, the series' majestic theme song
composed by Randy Edelman found a new life as part of NBC's sports
productions, namely during NBC broadcasts of Major League Baseball and the
Olympic Games (played while announcing the upcoming events).
Characters
Brisco County, Jr.
Played by Bruce Campbell, Brisco County, Jr. is an ex-Harvard lawyer
turned bounty hunter now on a quest to bring to justice the infamous John
Bly Gang who murdered his father, Marshal Brisco County, Sr. (R. Lee Ermey).
Along the way, he gets into a series of seriocomic adventures involving
fantastic villains, beautiful women, and a mysterious brilliant golden
sphere known as "The Orb". The Orb's paradoxical nature and seemingly
supernatural power is the driving force behind the plots for about a third
of the series' episodes. Lord Bowler
Played by Julius Carry, Brisco's rival/partner, real name James
Lonefeather. In the beginning of the series, Lord Bowler was a rival
bounty hunter who competed with Brisco for monetary rewards. Towards the
end of the series Bowler became Brisco's partner and friend. Bowler was
frequently depicted wearing his bowler hat and carrying a sawed-off
shotgun in a sheath on his back.
Socrates Poole
Played by Christian Clemenson, Socrates Poole begins as a milquetoast
attorney for the Westfield Club, Brisco's employer. Poole and Brisco
become close friends by the series' end.
Dixie Cousins
Played by Kelly Rutherford, Dixie is a con-woman who is Brisco's true
love.
Pete Hutter
Played by John Pyper-Ferguson, Pete is a mean but hapless gunslinger who
"dies" in his first appearance - he was shot in a gunfight - but returns
several times throughout the series as a comic foil to Brisco. He has a
great affinity for his "piece" (his pistol), leading to the character's
catchphrase, "Nobody touches Pete's piece." In the final episode, he
declares that he is a "connoisseur of penal lodgings" in reference to
jailhouse architecture.
Professor Wickwire
Played by John Astin, Professor Wickwire was an eccentric inventor who
supplied Brisco with wacky gadgets that were precursors to modern
inventions, such as a land-based rocket on railroad tracks or an "Inner
Space Suit".
John Bly
Played by Billy Drago, Brisco's mysterious archnemesis. In the pilot,
Brisco County, Jr. is hired by "robber barons" to track down and arrest
all thirteen members of the John Bly gang after they kill Brisco County,
Sr. while escaping from a train.
Guest stars
The series featured several notable character actors in guest starring
roles, including: R. Lee Ermey as County's father; Denise Crosby as a
sheriff in an all woman town; Sheena Easton as a rival bounty hunter; Jane
Sibbett as a Norman Bates-like murderess; Terry Bradshaw as a rogue
colonel who gives orders to his men like a quarterback; Robert Picardo as
a corrupt small-town deputy; Timothy Leary as a self-referential spoof of
himself, and M.C. Gainey as Bly's right-hand man, who is seemingly killed
in the pilot episode only to return later in the series with superhuman
powers, courtesy of the Orb.
In the pilot, veteran western actors Robert Fuller and James Drury made an
appearance.
Episode list
Each episode ran for 1 hour (with commercials), except where noted.
Episode
Airdate
Summary
"Pilot"
Two hours
1. August 27, 1993
Marshal Brisco County is killed by John
Bly and his (12 strong) gang during their escape from the train
transporting them. Brisco County, Jr. is hired by "the robber barons"
to bring the escaped men to justice. Elsewhere, the Orb is unearthed
in a cave which gives the Chinese indentured servants digging it
incredible strength, allowing their escape.
"The Orb Scholar"
2. September 3, 1993
Brisco and Lord Bowler both track John Bly
to Poker Flats, where Brisco's childhood partner Deputy, Donovan, is
sheriff. While there, Brisco meets a man, Professor Coles, who seems
to have been studying the Orb for a long time and may know its
secrets.
"No Man's Land"
3. September 10, 1993
Brisco and Professor Wickwire end up in a
town inhabited by only women. Elsewhere, Lord Bowler has been hired by
Brisco's employers to track down and recover a "mobile battle wagon"
(tank) that they had made for the government but was stolen by The
Swill Brothers. They also end up in the women-only town.
"Brisco in Jalisco"
4. September 17, 1993
Brisco and Socrates Poole go to Jalisco,
Mexico to track down a shipment of stolen guns and wind up in the
middle of a revolution.
"Socrates' Sister"
5. September 24, 1993
Brisco captures a suspected member of John
Bly's gang, Jack Randolph. While in custody he claims to be a
different Jack Randolph and hires Iphigeneia Poole, Socrates'
sister, to defend him.
"Riverboat"
6. October 1, 1993
Brisco tracks Brett Bones, a member of
Bly's gang, to New Orleans. While there he attempts to win back the
money that Socrates lost to Bones gambling and get justice for another
murder Bones committed despite his friends in high places.
"Pirates!"
7. October 8, 1993
Blackbeard LaCutte, a member of Bly's gang
and a former pirate forced off of the sea, is wreaking havoc on a
small town. Brisco (and Bowler) track him down and attempt to steal
back the medicine he stole and capture him.
"Senior Spirit"
8. October 15, 1993
Jason Barkley, son of "robber baron"
Jebediah Barkley, is kidnapped by John Bly who demands an Orb rod that
belonged to Brisco, Sr. for his safe return.
"Brisco for the Defense"
9. October 22, 1993
Brisco defends a college friend, Dr.
Carter, who is being tried for murder.
"Showdown"
10. October 29, 1993
Brisco returns to his childhood home and
finds that lawless ranchers have taken over. When he begins to police
the town the ranchers hire Utah Johnny Montana to kill Brisco.
"Deep in the Heart of Dixie"
11. November 5, 1993
Dixie Cousins is involved in an early test
of audio recording and records a "sensitive" conversation with a
politician. Instead of placing herself in danger by testifying she
flees and it's up to Brisco to bring her back.
"Crystal Hawks"
12. November 12, 1993
Brisco is framed for a murder and suddenly
finds himself running from his fellow bounty hunters. Female bounty
hunter Crystal Hawks is hot on his trail as Brisco tries to clear his
name and find out what all of this has to do with the Orb.
"Steel Horses"
13. November 19, 1993
Juno Dawkins, a member of Bly's gang,
steals "the coming thing" in transportation, motorized steel horses to
aid them in a stagecoach robbery (for the Orb). Brisco and Bowler,
with help from Prof. Wickwire, must get back the "steel horses" and
stop the stagecoach robbery from taking place.
"Mail Order Brides"
14. December 10, 1993
Brisco and Bowler run into three women
from the East coast who are headed for a small western town as
"Mail-order brides". However, on their journey westward The Swill
Brothers attacked them and stole their dowries, without which no man
will take them. Brisco and Bowler volunteer to track down the Swills
and get the dowries back for the ladies.
"A.K.A. Kansas"
15. December 17, 1993
Doc McCoy, a member of Bly's Gang and
Dixie Cousins' ex-husband, attempts to steal a "super cannon" which
can precisely drop knockout gas from a distance so he can use it to
steal the Orb from the facility it is being stored at.
"Bounty Hunter's Convention"
16. January 7, 1994
A number of bounty hunters, including
Brisco and Bowler, are invited to a "convention" on a small island.
Upon arrival the bounty hunters all begin mysteriously dying one by
one and it's up to Brisco to figure out why and at whose hand.
"Fountain of Youth"
17. January 14, 1994
Brisco and Bowler are contacted by
Professor Coles who asks them to come find him. Instead of Coles they
find his daughter Lillian, who says she too was asked to come, but
can't find her father. Brisco, Bowler and Lillian attempt to track
down Professor Coles and find themselves tangled up with members of
Bly's Gang in a fight for the Orb.
"Hard Rock"
18. February 4, 1994
Brisco and Bowler ride into Hard Rock, the
town Bowler grew up in. While there they meet Sheriff Viva and try to
help him stop Roy Hondo, a member of Bly's gang who has been running a
"Protection racket". They also meet Whip Morgan who is attempts to
"call out" Hondo.
"Brooklyn Dodgers"
19. February 11, 1994
Brisco and Bowler run into two orphans who
are on their way to San Francisco to claim an inheritance before the
leader of their orphanage can claim it. At the same time members of
the New York Irish Mob begin hunting the children in hopes of claiming
the inheritance.
"Bye Bly"
20. February 18, 1994
Brisco and Bowler are tracking down the
last member of Bly's gang, Pepe Bendix, but lose him in an alley when
the US Government saves him under the condition that he will steal the
Orb for them. Later a naked time traveler named Karina appears in
Brisco's room while he's sleeping and informs him of the supernatural
nature of the Orb. She convinces Brisco to track it down and kill Bly
once and for all.
"Ned Zed"
21. March 11, 1994
A man reads his son a Brisco County, Jr.
dime novel which recaps his dealings with the notorious, mouthy, bank
robbing member of Bly's gang named Ned Zed with his "machinery gun"
and Frenchy Bearpaux who still holds a grudge over what Brisco County,
Sr. did to him.
"Stagecoach"
22. April 1, 1994
Brisco must escort a spy to the Mexican
border where a prisoner trade is to take place, who unbeknownst to him
is in danger from a high ranking government official who is attempting
to incite a war.
"Wild Card"
23. April 8, 1994
Dixie Cousins' sister Dolly is cheated out
of her casino in Reno. She enlists the help of Whip Morgan to win it
back, but he too is cheated. Meanwhile Brisco and Bowler have a money
truck they are escorting to Reno robbed. Brisco, Bowler, Whip, Dixie
and Dolly all join forces to get back Dolly's casino and drive out the
mob element that is sprouting up in Reno.
"And Baby Makes Three"
24. April 22, 1994
Pete Hutter has been contracted by the
"Black Lotus" clan to steal a baby. After doing so they back out of
their agreed upon payment and Hutter, in a panic, drops the baby off
with Dixie. It's up to Brisco, Bowler, Dixie and Whip to keep the baby
safe and return him to his rightful home.
"Bad Luck Betty"
25. April 29, 1994
Socrates is kidnapped from his birthday
celebration and Brisco, Bowler and Whip track his kidnappers to "Midnightville".
While looking for Socrates the guys find themselves in the midst of a
lot of creepy goings on.
"High Treason – part 1"
26. May 13, 1994
Brisco and Bowler are accused of "high
treason" and brought before a court-martial to determine their guilt.
"High Treason – part 2"
27. May 20, 1994
Brisco and Bowler escape their fate and go
on a quest to prove, once and for all, that they are innocent.
Scheduling
The series ran for 27 episodes from August 27, 1993 to
May 20, 1994 on the FOX television network on Fridays at 8 p.m., otherwise
known as the Friday night death slot, just before The X-Files which also
made its debut in 1993.
Syndication
The show was later broadcast in syndication airing on the U.S. cable
channel Turner Network Television (TNT) from January 1996 to January 2001,
but has only been rebroadcast sporadically since. The series was released
on DVD on July 18, 2006. On November 16, 2005, AOL and Warner Bros.
announced that the series would be included in their new In2TV online
television network, and available for viewing online.
DVD release
On March 27, 2006, Warner Bros. Home Video announced that an 8-disc DVD
set containing the
complete series of The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
and was released on July 18, 2006. The set includes commentary tracks
from Bruce Campbell and Carlton Cuse; an interactive menu of Brisco's
signature references narrated by Campbell; The History of Brisco County,
Jr. documentary; a feature called A Reading from the Book of Bruce; and
another gallery hosted by Campbell focusing on the gadgets from the show.
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