Walker, Texas Ranger is an
American television police drama/
Action, created by Lesie Grief and
Paul Haggis. It aired on
CBS with three pilot episodes followed by eight full seasons, from April 21,
1993 to May 19,
2001, was broadcast in over 100 countries, and has since spawned at least one made-for-television movie. It was originally conceived on August 6, 1987. DVD sets of the first,
[The first-season DVD set consists of the episodes from the pilot season plus the episodes of the first regular season, which has also been referred to as Season 2] second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and final seasons have been released. At various times since 1997, reruns of the show have aired, in
syndication, on the
USA Network and
Action in Canada.
The show was known for its moral values. For example, the characters refrained from the use of drugs, and they participated in community service.
Martial arts were shown prominently as the primary tool of law enforcement and occasionally as a tool for Walker and company to reach out to the community.
The show has gained a following for its
camp appeal, due to its improbable combination of
martial arts and modern
Western genres, and to the resurgent popularity of its star,
Chuck Norris.
Structure
Background
The show was initially developed by executive producer Allison Moore and supervising producer
J. Michael Straczynski when the series was still being produced by Cannon Television. While Straczynski had to depart to get his new series
Babylon 5 on the air, executive producer David Moessinger remained to finish developing the series. The show is centered on
Cordell Walker (played by
Chuck Norris), a
Dallas Fort Worth-based member of the
Texas Rangers, a
state-level bureau of investigation. Walker was raised by his paternal uncle, a Native American named Ray Firewalker (
Floyd Red Crow Westerman), who served in the
Marines' elite
Recon unit during the
Vietnam War. Both Cordell and Uncle Ray share the values characteristic of
Wild West sheriffs.
His partner and best friend is James "Jimmy" Trivette (
Clarence Gilyard), a former
Dallas Cowboys player who takes a more modern approach. Walker's young partner grew up in Baltimore and used football as his ticket to college education which led to his career, until one day when he tore his shoulder. Trivette also works inside the office using computers and cellular phones to collate information of the people who've been taken into custody. After Walker's original partner died unexpectedly, and all thanks to C.D.'s pleasure in finding a replacement partner for Walker, he didn't believe in Trivette, but was later taken in, as the two grew to bond with each other.
Walker also works closely (and shares a mutual attraction) with Alexandra "Alex" Cahill (
Sheree J. Wilson), a
Tarrant County Assistant District Attorney, who on occasion puts up a frown if Walker doesn't obtain results in time. He also gets advice on cases from C.D. Parker (
Noble Willingham), a veteran Ranger (later inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame) who worked with Walker until retiring to operate a small restaurant and bar called "CD's Bar and Grill", a restaurant widely known for its chili in the series.
Recurring elements
Several elements and scenarios appeared frequently on the series:
- Walker performs his roundhouse kick to the villain's face as a last move that usually defeats the victim immediately when the victim falls from a window, off the roof, and others. The shot of Walker kicking his adversary is then rapidly repeated, twice, and in slow motion, from different angles.
- The kidnapping of assistant district attorney Alex Cahill/Cahill-Walker.
- Walker taking part in undercover operations, with the aim of getting evidence to convict the antagonists' leader.
- The antagonists' leader attempting to leave town or temporarily close down their illegal operations to avoid being arrested by Walker or his associates.
- Walker is often shown teasing Trivette as they drive from place to place.
- Trivette often complains about always having to fight with the largest opponents in a particular battle. Walker teases him by emphasizing how much it looked like it did or is going to hurt.
- Walker talking to or interacting with animals—staring them down to prevent them from attacking, directing them to do complex tasks, or using their knowledge for his benefit.
- A vacationing Walker (or an associate) inadvertently stumbling upon an illicit enterprise that requires Walker's intervention and the ultimate destruction of said enterprise; the climax often comes just before Walker returns to his post in Dallas.
- Paranormal or mystical phenomena, including but not limited to: ghosts of Native Americans directing Walker towards clues; the ghost of Hayes Cooper, legendary Texas Ranger, leading Walker to buried treasure; the ghost of an old Native American shaman striking Walker with a lightning bolt and transporting him hundreds of years into the past; a reborn Buddhist monk being hunted down by a jealous monk, also reborn.
- Troubled children or teens overcoming the odds with Walker's assistance. In various episodes, this has included: Juan, a boxing prodigy whose father beats him and his mother (and later kills himself and the mother when driving drunk) ("Golden Boy", season 8); Chad Morgan, a young telekinetic who is institutionalized so that his abilities can be measured and tested ("Brainchild", season 5); a boot camp for delinquent 18- to 21-year-olds that Walker and Trivette run ("Mr. Justice, season 5); a child (guest star Haley Joel Osment) whose drug-addicted mother led to his being infected with HIV ("Lucas 1 and 2" Season 5);and the Kick Drugs Out of America program, an after school martial-arts class run by Walker to encourage kids to stay out of trouble.
- Dual plot lines involving a legendary Texas Ranger of the Old West, Hayes Cooper (also played by Norris). Other Walker regulars have performed dual roles in these episodes, although some appeared in them only once.
- The majority of the antagonists fight against Walker and his friends or regular police officers when they are declared to be under arrest, and the majority of criminals and law enforcement personnel are also accomplished kick boxers/martial artists.
- Walker is often shown jumping out of a helicopter, or another moving vehicle, into the vehicle of a fleeing criminal, or occasionally into a criminals hideout.
- Walker arriving just in time to save someone, or to arrest criminals.
- C.D. being injured by the antagonist and being hospitalized.
- When suspect people or criminals are confronted by Walker with interrogating questions, they usually respond by pretending to turn away, only to then draw back and attempt to throw a hay maker punch. This punch is always blocked by Walker, and after its failure, he proceeds to beat them until they are rendered to the ground.
- The episode often ends with a lighthearted moment in which the main characters exchange jokes and have a good laugh at C.D.'s bar. This is commonly concluded with a camera still on Walker and/or another character laughing which subsequently fades to black before the credits roll.
- Often real clips from other televised programs are used as the backdrop for episodes that show sporting events, weather and action sequences.
- Walker, often alone, will be deployed into an extraordinarily dangerous situation (such as a hostage crisis with heavily armed suspects) in lieu of a police SWAT team or similar group.
Changes over the years
Over the years the show ran, many changes were made:
- For the pilot & first seasons, Walker drove a GMC Sierra. Trivette drove a red Pontiac Firebird, while Alex drove a Pontiac Sunbird Convertible.
- For season two, all the GM vehicles were replaced by the closest equivalent Chrysler counterparts. Walker drove a Dodge Ram, which was outfitted with "Hide-A-Way" strobe lights in its headlights and tail lights. Trivette drove a silver Dodge Stealth, while Alex drove a Chrysler LeBaron convertible and then a Chrysler Sebring. In later episodes, Trivette drove a black Ford Mustang GT convertible.
- In early episodes, Walker's weapon was a .357 Colt Python. In later episodes, it was a .45 ACP Colt M1911 or a Beretta 92 FS Inox. He switched to a Taurus PT92 for the show's final seasons.
- While the pilot season did not have an opening theme, the first season had an instrumental opening theme which was changed for season two. Partway through the second season (with the episode "The Big Bingo Bamboozle"), it was replaced with the song "Eyes of a Ranger," performed by Chuck Norris, which would remain in the opening credits for the remainder of the series.
- The early episodes featured some Cherokee mysticism. But since Norris, according to his own account
[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?pageId=45413], "recommitted [1] life as a Christian in the mid-'90s", the later episodes starting with season 4 featured an increased use of Christian symbolism and family issues, e.g. close friendships with Christian ministers. The episodes sometimes focused on children with Walker assisting them through a crisis. This also included Alex opening up the H.O.P.E (Help Our People Excel) Center during the sixth season, which lasted for the remainder of the show.
- For the last two seasons, two young "rookie" Rangers were added to the cast: Sydney Cooke (played by Nia Peeples, and likely named after the actor who portrayed "Gomez" in the episode "Storm Warning"); and Francis Gage (played by Judson Mills).
- Mid-seventh season, Noble Willingham left the show to pursue a career in the United States Congress, making his final appearance in the episode "A Matter of Faith". As a result, episodes after his removal from the opening credits included only references to his character C.D., who would never appear again, even when the character died as a way of writing him off.
- In the season seven finale ("Wedding Bells"), Cordell Walker weds Alex Cahill (who became Alex Cahill-Walker from that point on).
- In the last episode of the series ("The Final Show/Down"), Cordell Walker and Alex Cahill-Walker have a daughter named Angela. (This is also the name of the baby girl born to Chuck Norris's character in the movie Hero and the Terror).
- In the pilot season and first few episodes of Season 1, Trivette wore glasses. Later, he stopped wearing them.
- In the first few seasons, Trivette's computer was a laptop; after that, he had a desktop.
- After the introduction of the show's first African American character (portrayed by Clarence Gilyard), the NAACP and other various racial watchdogs, cited a racial undertone to the fact that Trivette was only a deputy and not a full-status Ranger like Norris' character. Also cited was the overusage of the phrase "yes-sir" when addressing his Caucasian counterparts. CBS denied all allegation of both overt and covert racism on and off the set. When interviewed, Gilyard stated "Hey, the show is set in Texas. What more can I say. There are some narrow minded folks down there that keep our ratings high. At least I don't have to tap dance".
Rerun broadcasts
As of January 2009 two U.S. cable networks—
USA Network and
Sleuth—broadcast episodes of the show multiple times a day. The
Hallmark Channel ceased airing reruns at the end of March 2009, though during its run, the Hallmark Channel was the only channel known to re-edit or remove episodes to remove inappropriate content. The Hallmark Channel now shows the show on a regular basis again.
In
Australia, the series is currently being shown on the cable channel 111 Hits, Saturdays at 10:20 p.m.
In the
United Kingdom, it is currently airing on
Bravo, weekdays at 12:00 and 6:00 p.m.
From 2005 until mid-2006, it aired on
Showcase Action in
Canada at 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. In 2008 Showcase Action restarted broadcasting at 11:00 a.m. and at 3:00 p.m. on weekdays.
It is currently being broadcast in France (in a dubbed version) on Sunday afternoons on the
TF1 channel and in Italy (in late afternoons) on RETE 4 channel.
In
Estonia, the show was broadcast every night on
Kanal 2 at various air times, one or two episodes per night. The last episode, "The Final Show/Down", aired on March 5, 2008.
In
Slovenia, the show is frequently broadcasted on
Kanal A (as of November 2009).
DVD releases
All DVDs are released by
CBS Home Entertainment (distributed by
Paramount). In a very unusual move, the last season was released first, whereas virtually all other shows release their season sets starting with the first season.
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