In 1994, television gave us a criminally short-lived gem: The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.. Created by Carlton Cuse and Jeffrey Boam, the series ran for just one spectacular season—27 episodes of sci-fi‑tinged Western adventure that blended pulp thrills with tongue‑in‑cheek humor.

The cast was stacked:

• Bruce Campbell as Brisco County Jr.

• Julius Carry as Lord Bowler

• Christian Clemenson as Socrates Poole

• Featuring Billy Drago as the sinister John Bly

• Kelly Rutherford as Dixie Cousins

• John Astin as Professor Wickwire

• And John Pyper-Ferguson (a dual Whit Bissell Award winner) as the unforgettable Pete Hutter

The story follows Brisco, driven to hunt down the gang who murdered his father (played by R. Lee Ermey), but it’s far more than a revenge tale. With its mix of Western grit, sci-fi weirdness, and comedic charm, the show delivered equal parts fun, strangeness, and thrills. Billy Drago’s chilling turn as Bly remains a highlight—an absolutely sinister performance that elevated the series.

Gone too soon, Brisco County Jr. remains one of the most fun, inventive shows of its era. If you missed it the first time around, it’s well worth rediscovering—you won’t be disappointed.

----------Matt has over 100+ lists for movie suggestions on ⁠Letterboxd⁠You can reach out on Bluesky: @MovieMattSirois

Terrible movies often find him, even under the alias arcus at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Movie Asylum of the Weird, Bad and Wonderful⁠.

Follow who we follow:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Once Upon a Geek⁠⁠⁠⁠ and  ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Fade Out Podcast⁠⁠