User Reviews

Two actors bring this show alive with great performance that keeps the viewer interesting the entire hour. Kevin Coughlin that plays the shy young Randy Gogan and L.Q. Jones that plays the newspaper writer, Sumner Pendleton, determined to write a story even if the truth is overlooked. These two actor shine making this a nice watch for any western viewer.

Randy actually backs in to killing a known gunslinger and wanted man named Vance Jessop. Jessop was actually trying to kill Randy because he reconsigned him but missed and Randy was able to get a lucky shot off killing Jassop. Now he is the talk of the town.

In comes newspaper writer Pendleton that starts putting hero status inside Randy's head. He demands that Randy get Jassop's gun and show it off since it has killed over fifteen men. Pendleton also makes Randy practice shooting so that he can become a marksman at the Dodge Turkey Shoot.

Everything is going well until Randy meets another gunslinger named Wade Pasco. Pasco wants to face the newest gunman, Randy, in a duel gunfight. With the help of Pendleton a time and place is set for the shy Randy and the gunslinger Pasco to meet in a showdown.. Pendleton is playing both sides of the fence and walk with the last gunfighter standing.

This could have been a disappointing episode if not for the fine acting of Coughlin and Jones. Coughlin was perfect as the nervous shy kid that keeps being feed hero status. Jones is perfect as the writer that keeps feeding both sides of people's inner feelings. Sometime a good cast makes a good show.

A young man named Randall "Randy" Gogan works for Nathan Burke at the Freight Office in Dodge City. Randy is obsessed with gunfighters. He enjoys reading dramatic tales of gunfighters and outlaws. He has wanted posters and pictures tacked to the walls of the small room he occupies next to the Freight Office.

One night as Randy is heading to his room after reading about outlaws in the Long Branch Saloon, he encounters a man he recognizes. He searches through a magazine in his room to find the man is named Vance Jessop, a notorious murderer. Since Jessop is a wanted man, he is paranoid and immediately becomes suspicious following his brief encounter with Randy. Jessop follows Randy into his room where he can see evidence of the kid's interest in outlaws and gunfighters and realizes Randy knows his identity. Jessop decides he can take no chances of having his location revealed and attempts to shoot Randy. Randy manages to scramble to safety. Out of desperation, he finds a gun in a desk drawer. When Jessop starts to take another shot at Randy, the young man shoots and kills Jessop.

Randy is treated as a hero for his actions, but the young man is initially uncomfortable with the attention. Word of Jessop's manner of death quickly spreads. A reporter from St. Louis named Sumner Pendleton travels to Dodge. Pendleton is interested in writing about the incident of Jessop's death, but he is not satisfied with the mundane details. He wants to embellish the story to make it more interesting and dramatic and use it to exploit Randy. Pendleton also encourages Randy to acquire a gun and hone his shooting skills. He convinces Randy of the possibility of Randy joining a traveling "Wild West" show.

The news also brings the gunfighter Wade Pasco to Dodge. Pendleton devises a plan to stage a gunfight between Pasco and Gogan. The writer approaches Pasco with some of the same ideas about using his gun and reputation for entertainment purposes, with promises of the lucrative rewards to be gained.

Talented actor Kevin Coughlin portrays Randy Gogan in this story. Coughlin appeared in several films and television shows during his short career. He played parts in five different Gunsmoke episodes. His final role was in Season 20's "Hard Labor." Sadly, Coughlin was hit by a speeding car and killed just a few months after that appearance.

Like Coughlin, Patricia Morrow also started as a child actor. She had played recurring roles on the early television series I Led 3 Lives and, later, Peyton Place. She fills the role of Stella Felton, Randy's girlfriend, in this story. Her acting career faded as she became an adult. She eventually left acting and became an attorney.

The part of Sumner Pendleton is played by legendary character actor L. Q. Jones. Jones was no stranger to Gunsmoke, as he appeared in seven different installments, always as a villain. Famed writer/director Sam Peckinpah considered Jones one of his favorite actors and cast Jones in five of his films. Jones was close friends with another Gunsmoke alum, Strother Martin. Jones could play ominous, nasty characters, but he was more adept at playing sly, scheming characters, such as Sumner Pendleton in this story.

The part of Wade Pasco is played by Sam Melville. Melville is a recognizable face, as he appeared in many television dramas in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. He portrayed the character Mike Danko in the series The Rookies. This is one of eight different Gunsmoke episodes in which he appeared, but one of those was the three-part "Gold Train: the Bullet" from Season 17.

Watch for Jon Jason Mantley and Marie Mantley in two small roles as the characters Tom and Anne. They were the children of long-time Gunsmoke Executive Producer John Mantley.

The acting in this episode lives up to the Gunsmoke reputation for fine performances. The biggest flaw with the story is the lack of originality. Stories of an unassuming character managing to kill a notorious gunfighter and subsequently becoming caught up in the aftermath are all too common in the Westerns genre. Adding an ambitious reporter looking to benefit by embellishing the story is also a story element frequently used.

This marks the second episode in a row that is primarily set in Dodge City where the involvement of most of the regular Gunsmoke cast is minimal. Matt Dillon plays a key role in the proceedings, but the others are not essential. Although there are scenes in the Long Branch Saloon, the Kitty Russell character is never even seen.

This is one episode that relates all too well to how some reporters are in reporting news stories even today. The saying, Bad News Sells is correct. Today they can edit, delete to sell a story. With self media today is has become worse.

How often do you hear of good news stories and many of those are tied in to some type of a bad situation.