‘Greatest western series of all time’ that won 15 Emmys streaming now

Western fans can stream a fan-favourite period drama on Paramount Plus – after it scooped an incredible 15 Emmy Awards. Adapted from an American radio programme that ran from 1952 until 1961, the show became the longest-running scripted primetime TV series in the US, before it was eventually beaten out by The Simpsons.

That show is Gunsmoke – branded the “stuff of legend” and the “US version of The Iliad and The Odyssey” by LA Times columnist Cecil Smith. First adapted for TV in 1955, Gunsmoke ran for an incredible 20 seasons until 1975, with a total of 635 episodes. After that, it birthed five TV movies.

The show follows US Marshal Matt Dillon, who is tasked with keeping peace in the Wild West town of Dodge City, Kansas during the 1870s. The radio series was “routinely placed among the best shows of any kind and any time” by author John Dunning.

Reviews from fans echo the sentiment. One reviewer penned: “Absolutely love this show, it’s my favourite! Gunsmoke is funny, not to mention the acting and dialogue are amazing.”

Someone else agreed: “The best of the best. I grew up watching it and I still watch it almost every day. Doc and Festus picking on each other was great TV. If only the people that make movies and TV shows today knew how to make shows like Gunsmoke I think we all would be better off.”

A third viewer commented: “This is one of the all time great western series, perhaps the best of all time. It is timeless. Time marches on, but I must admit I like the black and white best. Perhaps that is because Dennis Weaver playing Chester was so hilarious. I don’t know, but this series should be on everyone’s must have DVD, or streaming.”

Another penned: “Gunsmoke is the greatest western show ever on the air, All the characters are wonderful actors.”