Yellowstone

Holy grief.

Dark clouds hang over Television Land; or as Lawrence Welk called it, “lant.”

The angst storm is caused by the pending end of the popular cowboy drama, “Yellowstone.”

The faithful, who stomach streams of profanity, cannot grip that the serial can close.

It ain’t the first. Seas of tears flowed when another horse drama ended without leading lady Miss Kitty, owner of the Long Branch Saloon, getting so much as a goodbye kiss from Marshall Matt Dillon.

After 635 episodes, the television show “Gunsmoke” faded to dark.

“Gunsmoke” was an oddity in that the TV version started running while the radio performance was still airing. The shows overlapped for fourteen years, but the original Long Branch in Dodge City only operated from 1874-1875.”

Radio’s Marshall Dillon was William Conrad, who later starred in “Jake and the Fat Man” and “Cannon.” Conrad had no prayer of being cast in the TV role because there was likely not a horse who could carry him.

Howard McNear played “Doc Adams” on radio and “Floyd” the barber on “The Andy Griffith Show.”

“Chester” on radio was voiced by Parley Beyer, who became the mayor of “Mayberry” on TV.

M*A*S*H* was spun from the film of that name and ran from 1972 until 1983. It was easily the most popular scripted show on television. The final episode holds the record for the most watched farewell of any television series.

A two season spin-off of “AfterMASH” brought back a few of the characters working in a hospital in 1985. “Trapper John, M.D.” starred Pernell Roberts, Adam Cartwright in the western “Bonanza.”

“Radar” O’Rielly had a short career as a police officer in” W.A.L.T.E.R,” a pilot that didn’t fly.

The longest running radio show is still on the air. “The Grand Ole Opry” started in 1925.

“General Hospital” began on ABC in 1963 and is still running.

“The Simpsons” has run for thirty-six seasons and “Law and Order:SVU” has been on duty for 26 seasons.

“Yellowstone” fans hope the ranch stays in the family, and writer/producer Taylor Sheraton honors the faithful by finding a path to continue some part of the popular series.

Aspiring town cowboys can dress the part motivated by “Yellowstone” actors and sprinkled ads for cowboy attire and ubiquitous boots.

Separation anxiety tears are already flowing as cast members die off.

As we used to say, “It’s just television.”

joenphillips@yahoo.com