Alias Smith & Jones: The Story of Two Pretty Good Bad Men

I read about this book elsewhere and decided to see if I could find it on Amazon. Happily, it was available and I ordered it. I'm enjoying it so much! If you a big fan of the show "Alias Smith & Jones" I believe you will enjoy this book. I haven't finished it yet, but what I've read so far includes a lot of behind-the-scenes info, not just summaries of the episodes.

“Alias Smith and Jones” was one of the great television series. Each episode was well-written and besides its talented young stars, each episode had a bevy of talented actors, many of whom won or were nominated for Oscars and Emmys over the years before and after the series run.ASAJ as we fans like to refer to the series also had more than its share of problems. Pete Duel's suicide made it harder to enjoy the series, but Roger Davis did a great job in the impossible role of replacing Duel. Many fans never accepted the change. Many cast and crew members did not want to continue the series. I suspect Ben Murphy was one of those.While many fans today remember Duel as the center of the program, it was Murphy who got much more fan mail.The show had other problems like the time slot. While ASAJ delivered better quality, Flip Wilson's show and “All in the Family” enjoyed great popularity. You almost had to around then to understand why. While the jokes on the competition were sad and celebrated some of the worst in America, Americans seemed to like watching this mirror of racism and sexism. The viewers were laughing at the bad vibes of the era, while ASAJ could have given them a more positive outlook.Maybe during those bad times, we just had to laugh at something. “Alias Smith and Jones” was different. It was about men who had made serious mistakes in their lives, but they were willing to change. The shows premise and this book's subtitle tells us that these were “pretty good bad men.” A character in the episode “Stagecoach Seven”,Charley Utley played by Keenan Wynn, says they are better men than they think they are. Let's look more closely. Heyes and Curry are good with children, “Posse that Wouldn't Quit;” are in their early thirties; have spent time in the wilderness; have disciples; use aphorisms as they do in “Everything Else You Can Steal,” are often in the company of thieves; and use humble modes of transportation. They worked as carpenters in “Exit From Wickenberg.” Do we know anyone else that fits that list? The comparisons are mine, not those of the book's authors.While a synopsis of each episode was not necessary, I did like the extra information the authors gave that followed each synopsis. We learn that Ben Murphy did not get along with guest star Lee Majors; Roger Davis was accident prone; Writer Roy Huggins favorite episodes were those he claimed were about nothing because these episodes let him develop character.Today I have the entire series on DVD. I enjoy watching those timeless episodes and I love the characters as much as I did when I first watched Pete Duel and Ben Murphy ride up that train and Duel read the line, “Stand and Deliver.” The show delivered for fifty episodes. I wish there could have more. And this book is a great reference for me and I am sure for other faithful fans.

"Alias Smith & Jones: The Story of Two Pretty Good Bad Men" is a superb history of the ABC-TV western that starred Pete Duel and Ben Murphy. This is not your ordinary, run-of-the-mill fan book with glossy, slick pages, huge pictures, and about as much text as you might find on a skeleton. Instead, the authors provided an extremely detailed look of the show with in-depth interviews of all the principal actors, producers, and editors. At 500 pages in length, this book is the best thing that you will ever see about this obscure television western that was created by "Battlestar Galactia" producer Glen A. Larson and produced by the legendary Roy Huggins whose credits as a tv producer included "Maverick," "The Fugitive," "Run for Your Life," "Toma," "Cheyenne," and "Baretta." Anybody who is interested in how television shows are produced should acquire a copy of this marvelously written, substantial history that includes trivia about the show and its stars. The ladies that wrote this book are experts on their subject matter and it shows in the time and attention to detail here with more than you could ever imagine about one of TV's last westerns. As an assistant professor of communication, I can tell you that I didn't expect a lot from this book until I bought it on the recommendation of one of the "Alias Smith & Jones" producers and I consider it the seminal text about the show. If you ever aspire to write a fan book about your favorite TV show, "Alias Smith & Jones: The Story of Two Pretty Good Bad Men" is an outstanding template. Moreover, if you are a fan of the "Alias Smith & Jones" prepared to have your knowledge of this series enhanced ten-thousand times over. I cannot say nearly enough good things about this wonderful book. Buy it!

If you remember this all-too-short-lived TV western from 1971-73 as fondly as I did, you'll enjoy this book. It's the perfect companion to the ALIAS SMITH & JONES DVD sets, which are available for a pretty low price. Sandra Sagala and JoAnne Bagwell write with obvious affection for the show and the people who made it as they summarize all the episodes, adding behind the scenes info and extensive material from interviews with cast and production staff.Fortunately, they were able to interview executive producer Roy Huggins before his death. Huggins is better known for his creation of two iconic series starring James Garner, MAVERICK and THE ROCKFORD FILES. Even though he didn't create AS&J (Glen Larson did), Huggins was largely responsible for guiding the show through its 3 short seasons and had a hand in developing and writing almost every story. Reading the book and watching the shows, it's easy to see how Huggins saw AS&J as a continuation of MAVERICK, with very much the same lighthearted style. Pete Duel, especially, managed to capture the easy-going charm Garner displayed as Bret Maverick (and could have had a long, successful TV career), and co-star Ben Murphy ably filled the role of the amiable gunslinger partner.The authors write about the tragic suicide death of Pete Duel mid-way through the series, and the thankless task actor Roger David had in taking over the role of Hannibal Heyes from the popular Duel.Reading the book added a great deal to my enjoyment when watching the shows again after almost 40 years.

１９７０年代に青春時代を過ごした男性の心を虜にした名作。一生のうちに本当の友達は一人いればいいとさえ思ったスミスとジョーンズの信頼関係。数々の西部劇の中での最高傑作だと思う。人間味あふれる言動、男くささと要所要所に気の利いたフレーズが登場して、「こんな風に人生を過ごせたらいいなあ」と思った。６０歳過ぎてこの作品を見る機会ができたことで、残りの人生の過ごし方が今まで以上に目標をもって生きられるようになった。新たにオンライン英会話に挑戦したり、昔からやりたかったケーナを演奏するようになったりと多忙な生活を送っている。すべて「西部二人組」のおかげだ。

If you wear glasses or have contacts you will need to make sure your prescription is up to date.Not sure if the font is 6 or 8, but it's nigh impossible to read comfortably.Disappointing to say the least, I have the full 50 episodes on DVD, and the theme tune as my mobile ringtone, so I have been, and remain, a true Smith & Jones fan at 56 years old.Kid's exchange with Joe Briggs (Lee Majors) was some of the best writing they came up with.' Mr Briggs people like you never learn do they, they never know when to stop' .......... My favourite scene from the entire series.So in all a book I did not hesitate to purchase as soon as I saw it, but be warned....the print is very fine and very small, should have got the Kindle version I guess.

An excellent publication for ASJ fans, although more detail on the making of the pilot would have been welcome.But my main gripe (as was mentioned in another review) is the tiny print, which really does strain the eyes!

What a brilliant read giving background to each of the episodes whilst also providing information on the stars and their lives before and after ASJ. Chapter 6 is one which is so sad but compelling to read and gives the reader more of an understanding of the passion Pete Duel had for so many things he felt were wrong in the world.If you are looking for an insight in the series and learning more about what made the actors 'tick', then this book is a must

Can't get enough AS&J. This is of course terrific, we all know them even if they are nearly forgotten. After this then via Amazon i bout the 2nd and 3rd series from some place in California and they work just fine on our DVD blu ray thing even though the pictures are not full screen (the edges left and right edges are have about 2 inches of black on a 46" screen). If you are a fan but it, otherwise the Harry Briscoe will be looking for you!