In the world of 1962 television, Westerns were a staple for prime time viewing and the networks were over-loaded with them. In this Hollywood insider spoof of the genre, Larry Blyden plays Rance McGrew, the star of a western series who can do no wrong and wins every gun battle...on the screen. Off camera, he's a pampered untalented egomaniac who can't pull his gun out of his own holster without the aid of a nearby stuntman. McGrew is also a royal pain in the neck to everyone he works with and worse than a nightmare for any director and his crew. His demands are endless and he spends most of his time arguing with his agent, his director, his co-stars etc. If anyone needs a quick trip to the Twilight Zone it's Rance McGrew. AND THEN...in the blink of an eye, Rance is transported back to the REAL Old West where he encounters the REAL Jesse James (Arch Johnson). To put it mildly, Jesse is plenty mad that Rance is beating him to the draw in every episode and making him look like a pansy. In fact, Jesse has some ideas of his own that he wants inserted into Rance's scripts. His intentions are for the show to be closer to the truth and become far more realistic. Naturally, poor cowardly Rance is shaking too severely in his boots to dissuade his show's new "technical adviser."
"Showdown with Rance McGrew" is played for laughs and there are quite a few in this episode. When Rance meets the real Jesse James for the first time, all he can do is shrink away and yell "CUT!!" Rance soon finds out that "CUT!" doesn't cut it in 1880. There's no ironic or surprise ending in this one, but the performances make up for it. Larry Blyden does his usual fine work as the totally plastic and over-indulged Rance McGrew. Obviously, writer/creator Rod Serling knew quite a few "McGrews" around the Hollywood scene although there are no specific references to anyone in particular. Arch Johnson exudes just the right ominous tone as the indignant Jesse and he's the perfect foil for his Hollywood counterpart. The episode is handled by prolific TV western director Christian Nyby. He's also noted for directing the original "The Thing From Outer Space" back in 1951 with his mentor Howard Hawks. As the curtain closes on this episode, viewers may sense that Hollywood is now ready for the arrival of the "Revisionist" western.
"Showdown with Rance McGrew" is played for laughs and there are quite a few in this episode. When Rance meets the real Jesse James for the first time, all he can do is shrink away and yell "CUT!!" Rance soon finds out that "CUT!" doesn't cut it in 1880. There's no ironic or surprise ending in this one, but the performances make up for it. Larry Blyden does his usual fine work as the totally plastic and over-indulged Rance McGrew. Obviously, writer/creator Rod Serling knew quite a few "McGrews" around the Hollywood scene although there are no specific references to anyone in particular. Arch Johnson exudes just the right ominous tone as the indignant Jesse and he's the perfect foil for his Hollywood counterpart. The episode is handled by prolific TV western director Christian Nyby. He's also noted for directing the original "The Thing From Outer Space" back in 1951 with his mentor Howard Hawks. As the curtain closes on this episode, viewers may sense that Hollywood is now ready for the arrival of the "Revisionist" western.