Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. “Matt Dillon/James Arness is comfort food for viewers,” he explains. “And not just for the older demographic who grew up on it.

According to John Peel’s book, The Gunsmoke Years, the show encountered viewership issues ahead of the decision to cancel it. However, that’s why the decision was made to fire producer Norman ...

A close-up of John Wayne in his cowboy getup in the first episode of 'Gunsmoke' titled "Matt Gets It" Image via CBS If you're at all familiar with television Westerns, then you'd undoubtedly have ...

James Arness played Gunsmoke lead Matt Dillon for the entire 20 seasons that the show was on the air. The character was the U.S. Marshal of Dodge City, Kansas, who worked to keep the city safe from ...