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Bruce Campbell as Brisco County, Jr |
Copper as Comet
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Julius Carry as Lord Bowler
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John Astin as Professor Wickwire |
as Whip Morgan |
Christian Clemenson as Socrates Poole |
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R. Lee Ermy as Brisco County, Sr. |
Kelly Rutherford as Dixie Cousins
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Billy Drago as John Bly |
Brisco County Jr
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. was the brainchild of executive producers Jeffery Boam and Carlton Cuse. When, in 1992, the then-fledgling FOX network was looking for series ideas to flesh out their newly-expanded programming lineup, Boam and Cuse pitched their idea for a funny, adventurous, sci-fi-tinged western series following the dangerous exploits of Brisco County, Jr., a Harvard Law grad of the class of 1892 and the son of sharp-shooting Nevada marshal Brisco County, Sr. When a gang of vicious outlaws, led by the evil John Bly, breaks free from a prison railroad transport car, they simultaneously kill Marshall County and raise the hackles of some San Francisco businessmen, who fear that Bly and his fellow escapees are out to launch a loot-gathering assault on their banks and freight trains.
In search of a hero to vanquish the thugs and return their investments to sure safety, the businessmen hire the late marshal's son, Brisco County, Jr., to hunt the criminals down and return them to the rockyards. But, along the way, Brisco, ever fascinated by technology and "the future," discovers the existence of a mysterious metallic orb that gives everyone who holds it superhuman strength — and Bly's gang are the captors of this force. Thus, Brisco's desire to avenge his father's death also becomes a mission to recapture the orb and return it to more responsible hands. Tantalized by the show's concept, FOX immediately bought The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. and put Boam/Cuse Productions on the job. Their first duty was to cast the lead. Their choice: Bruce Campbell, the traditionally-handsome yet rubber-faced actor who'd made a name for himself in cult circles by playing the spirit-beleaguered Ashe in director Sam Raimi's three Evil Dead movies (Campbell won the role of Brisco because of his fantastic comic timing, his square-jawed looks, and his experience in doing his own stunts for Raimi's movies).
As for the colorful supporting players, they include Christian Clemenson as Brisco's sheepish lawyer and sidekick Socrates Poole; B-movie heavy Billy Drago as the slimy John Bly; John Pyper-Ferguson as Bly's fellow outlaw, Pete Hutter; Julius Carry as Lord Bowler, a grizzled rival bounty hunter also searching for Bly's gang; John Astin as eccentric inventor Professor Wickwire; Kelly Rutherford as Brisco's on-again/off-again girlfriend Dixie Cousins and, of course, Copper as Brisco's very savvy horse, Comet. The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. only lasted two seasons on FOX, despite its high critical acclaim and very family-friendly storylines, but over the course of one two-hour pilot and 26 one-hour episodes, the series and its makers still provide viewers with a refreshing melange of comedy, cowboys, and sci-fi that can't help but charm even the most jaded TV watchers.
From the TNT
Brisco Co. Junior site
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