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The original 'Maverick' was James Garner
Nov 03, 2008 (Newsday - McClatchy-Tribune News Service via COMTEX) --
With the presidential campaign (presumably) ending Tuesday, there's one word that we've heard over and over these past months. And depending on who wins, we may or may not be hearing much more of that word after Election Day. That word is "Maverick." But when we hear that word, we don't necessarily think of the GOP candidates. Rather, our thoughts turn to one of TV's classic Westerns. Here are five things to know about the series, which ran from 1957 to 1962.
-Bret Maverick (James Garner) was an unconventional Western hero. His prowess was at the card table, not wielding a six-shooter.
-To make sure the series didn't stray too much into unconventional territory, the producers introduced the character of Bret's strait-laced brother, Bart (Jack Kelly).
-Nevertheless, "Maverick" had a sly sense of humor. Several of its plots parodied other contemporary Westerns, including "Bonanza" and "Gunsmoke."
-In 1960, Garner walked off the show after suing Warner Bros. for breach of contract. Bret was replaced by his cousin, Beau, played by a young British actor not that well-known to U.S. audiences ... Roger Moore.
-Garner never returned to the show. In December 1960, a court ruled that he could not be held to his contract and he left Warner Bros.
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(c) 2008, Newsday.
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