Sometimes you can see a surprise coming along the horizon of life, and other times it shocks the pants out of you. Of course, the shocking sort of surprise is a real treat, if that surprise was say, a gift or a party. Unfortunately, not all surprises are good ones, and the ones that you don’t see coming are sometimes the ones that hurt the most.
In an interview with the Associated Press, James Arness opened up a bit when he revealed what the cancellation of Gunsmoke was like from the cast’s perspective.
Gunsmoke was one of the more coveted shows on the CBS network, and one of the most popular, even in its later seasons. Moreover, the series had also survived rounds of axing from the network, including one narrow escape where the show was nearly canceled for good before Gilligan’s Island got the boot instead.
However, nothing good lasts forever, and in 1975, the show was canceled for good, though it was with very little fanfare. This is especially strange for a show that stayed on the air for over fifteen years. In the interview, Arness, himself the star of the show, seemed hurt by the network’s sudden decision, to say the least.
“We didn’t do a final, wrap-up show,” said Arness. “We finished the twentieth year, we all expected to go on for another season, or two, or three. The [network] never told anybody they were thinking of canceling.
Arness then revealed the ultimate slap in the face; the network didn’t even extend the cast and crew the kindness of informing them that Gunsmoke’s time was up. The cast was forced to read of their own demise in the trades.