Walker, Texas Ranger | |
---|---|
Genre |
Action Police procedural |
Created by |
Albert S. Ruddy Leslie Greif Paul Haggis Christopher Canaan |
Starring |
Chuck Norris Clarence Gilyard Sheree J. Wilson Noble Willingham Nia Peeples Judson Mills Floyd Westerman Jimmy Wlcek Marco Sanchez |
Theme music composer | Tirk Wilder (Seasons 1, 2–8) Jerrold Immel (Season 2, last used on "Tiger's Eye") |
Opening theme | "Eyes of the Ranger" Performed by Chuck Norris (Mid-Seasons 2–8) on DVD (Mid-Seasons 3 (Ep. 12)–8) |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of seasons | 8 |
No. of episodes | 203 (including TV movie).(list of episodes) |
Production | |
Camera setup |
Single-camera Super 16mm |
Running time | 42‒46 minutes |
Production company(s) |
Cannon Television (1993) (season 1) Top Kick Productions (1993–1998) (seasons 1-5) Norris Brothers Entertainment (1998–2001) (seasons 6-8) The Ruddy Greif Company (1993–2001) CBS Productions (1993–2001) Columbia Pictures Television (1993–2001) (seasons 1-8) Columbia TriStar Television (2001) (season 8) |
Distributor |
Columbia TriStar Television Distribution (1997–2002) Sony Pictures Television Distribution (2002–present) CBS Broadcasting International (1993–2008) CBS Television Distribution (DVD's and non-us, 2008–present) |
Release | |
Original network | CBS |
Audio format | Dolby Surround 2.0 |
Original release | September 25, 1993 – May 19, 2001 |
Walker, Texas Ranger is an American action television series created by Leslie Greif and Paul Haggis. It was inspired by the film Lone Wolf McQuade, with both this series and that film starring Chuck Norris as a member of the Texas Ranger Division. The show aired on CBS in the spring of 1993, with the first season consisting of three pilot episodes. Eight full seasons followed with new episodes airing from September 25, 1993, to May 19, 2001, and reruns continuing on CBS until July 28, 2001. It has been broadcast in over 100 countries and has since spawned a 2005 made-for-television movie entitled Trial By Fire. The movie ended on a cliffhanger, which was never resolved. DVD sets of all seasons have been released (with the three pilots packaged with the first regular season). At various times since 1997, reruns of the show have aired, in syndication, on the USA Network and Action in Canada. Reruns can currently be seen on CBS Action, WGN America, INSP and Grit.
The series was noted for its moralistic style. The characters refrained from the use of drugs, and they participated in community service. Martial arts were displayed 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 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 Sergeant Cordell Walker (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, pilot episode, Season 1; Apesanahkwat, Season 2). The surname being, possibly, a nod to the 1986 Norris film, Firewalker. Cordell, prior to joining the Rangers, served in the Marines' elite recon unit during the Vietnam War. Both Cordell and Uncle Ray share the values characteristic of Wild West sheriffs.