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Nichols
On NBC — From Warner Bros. Television · Cherokee Productions
Nichols, who's almost a coward, never wanted to be a sheriff, but Jim Garner can't fight destiny.
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Where to watch
Not available to stream in US
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Nichols is an American Western television series starring James Garner broadcast in the United States on NBC during the 1971-72 season. Set the fictional town of Nichols, Arizona, in 1914, Nichols differed from traditional Western series of the era. The main character, a sheriff, rode on a motorcycle and in an automobile rather than on the traditional horse. The hero did not carry a firearm and was generally opposed to the use of violence to solve problems, preferring other means. Margot Kidder portrayed Ruth, the love interest/barmaid of Nichols.
Themes
Episodes
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- E1 NicholsNext upSep 16, 1971 · 60 min
Synopsis
A retired soldier tired of guns returns to his family homestead in Arizona only to be forced to assume the position of local sheriff.
Guest stars: John Quade (Scully One), Wayne Heffley (Team Leader), Harry Hickox (Commanding Officer), Owen Bush (Conductor), Paul Hampton (Johnson), John Harding (Salter)
- E2 The SiegeSep 23, 1971 · 60 min
Synopsis
A bandit gang rides in from Mexico in search of a dentist for its leader.
Guest stars: Ricardo Montalban (Colonel Diego Alcazar), Armand Alzamora (Raoul), Wayne Heffley (Cavalry Major), Ana Maria Majalaca (Maria), Vernon Weddle (Reporter), Chuy Franco (Alfredo), Toby Anderson (Adjutant), Stefan Gierasch (Doc Bernstein)
- E3 The Indian GiverSep 30, 1971 · 60 min
Synopsis
An Indian claims the Ketchams' land.
Guest stars: Michael Tolan (Flying Fox), James Greene (Lou Feeny), Judson Pratt (Trencher), Britt Leach (Clerk), William Paterson (Banker Perkins), Eddie Quillan (Agent), Richard Bull (Thatcher), John Harding (Salter)
- E4 Paper BadgeOct 7, 1971 · 60 min
Synopsis
Nichols welcomes a would-be actress to town, while Ketcham is infuriated by a booksmart lawman.
Guest stars: Joyce Van Patten (Arletta McGreevy), John Rubinstein (Fred Buckerman), Ray Reinhardt (Duffield), Tracy Bogart (Susan), James Beach (Bob Sanders), James Lee Reeves (Fearless)
- E5 Gulley vs HansenOct 14, 1971 · 60 min
Synopsis
Two aging gunfighters are pressured into a final showdown.
Guest stars: Charles McGraw (Hansen), Robert Gist (Gulley), Jack Garner (Van Vechten), M. Emmet Walsh (Gabe McCutcheon)
- E6 Deer CrossingOct 21, 1971 · 60 min
Synopsis
Ketcham angers the Apaches when he tries to force a brave to end his hunt for a prize buck.
Guest stars: Ray Danton (Juan), Gene Evans (Durand), William Bramley (Hemmings), Ted Gehring (Henry), James Lee Reeves (Fearless)
- E7 The SpecialistsOct 28, 1971 · 60 min
Synopsis
Nichols and Ketcham hire second-rate mercenaries for an attack on an outlaw stronghold.
Guest stars: Ralph Waite (Sam Burton), Don Keefer (Burt Lincoln), Michael Baseleon (Willy Brownfur), Henry Beckman (Murphy), Robert F. Simon (Slade), Charles Dierkop (Nose), Poupée Bocar (Carmen), John Crawford (Marshall)
- E8 Peanuts and CrackerjacksNov 4, 1971 · 60 min
Synopsis
A baseball game between a visiting Army team and the town's team becomes a betting event.
Guest stars: Med Flory (Cyrus), Wayne Heffley (Major), E.J. André (Hargut), Florence Lake (Mrs. Prine), Don Newcombe (George Henry), Paul Hampton (Johnson), Richard Bull (Thatcher), M. Emmet Walsh (Gabe McCutcheon)
- E9 Ketcham PowerNov 11, 1971 · 60 min
Synopsis
Ketcham is made a deputy and promptly abuses his authority.
Guest stars: Alan Oppenheimer (Averrel), Clifford David (Billings), Don Pedro Colley (Joe Cramm), Hoke Howell (Ernie), E.J. André (Ed Hargut), James Beach (Bob Sanders), Stefan Gierasch (Doc Bernstein), M. Emmet Walsh (Gabe McCutcheon)
- E10 BerthaNov 18, 1971 · 60 min
Synopsis
After twenty years in a school back east Bertha's daughter is coming to town. Bertha plans to close down and become "respectable" during her daughter's visit, but instead Nichols convinces her to let him run her place while she's "gone".
Guest stars: Alice Ghostley (Bertha), Gale Dixon (Lucinda), Karl Lukas (Harry Carmichael), Eve Bruce (Hazel), Marie Gahva (Maria), Sandy Brown Wyeth (Alice), Barbara Collentine (Charlotte), James Lee Reeves (Fearless)
- E11 The One Eyed Mule's Time Has ComeNov 23, 1971 · 60 min
Synopsis
An earthquake traps Nichols in a cellar with an Army vet and his mule while looters rampage around them.
Guest stars: Kristoffer Tabori (Frankie), Roy Jenson (Bull), Walter Burke (Hartford), Rayford Barnes (Axel), Jerry Summers (Fred), Lillian Bronson (Old Lady), Edith Leslie (Bartender)
- E12 Away the Rolling RiverNov 30, 1971 · 60 min
Synopsis
An old bandit has his eye on one last prize: a money train.
Guest stars: Steve Forrest (Sam Yeager), Stefan Gierasch (Doc Bernstein), John Daheim (Railroad Detective), Richard Yniguez (Casado), William Paterson (Perkins)
- E13 Where Did Everybody Go?Dec 7, 1971 · 60 min
Synopsis
A jealous boyfriend and his hulking brothers are after Nichols when he flirts with a temptress.
Guest stars: Catlin Adams (Mabel Zimmerman), Jesse Vint (Charlie Springer), Bill Vint (Springer Brother), Alan Vint (Springer Brother), Paul Hampton (Johnson), Robert Gist (Gulley), Robert Gibbons (Dentist), Dana Derfus (Blacksmith)
- E14 The Marrying FoolDec 28, 1971 · 60 min
Synopsis
A man comes to town looking to kill Ruth's fiance, who hasn't told her everything about his past.
Guest stars: Tom Skerritt (Charley Doyle), Gerald S. O'Loughlin (Roarke), Susan Tyrrell (Caralee), John Harding (Salter), Barbara Collentine (Charlotte)
- E15 Eddie JoeJan 4, 1972 · 60 min
Synopsis
A black fugitive hits town with a vengeful former cellmate close behind.
Guest stars: Paul Winfield (Eddie Joe), Warren Vanders (Pel De Carlo), Eric Laneuville (Stove Boy), James Daris (Curtiss), Lou Frizzell (Warden), Scatman Crothers (Jack), Jester Hairston (Melville), Napoleon Whiting (Preacher)
- E16 ZachariahJan 11, 1972 · 60 min
Synopsis
Nichols races a con artist uncle to find a hidden stash of money.
Guest stars: Strother Martin (Zachariah), Barry Cahill (Logan), Marc Lawrence (Prouty), Edward Faulkner (Randall), Barbara Collentine (Charlotte)
- E17 The Unholy AllianceJan 18, 1972 · 60 min
Synopsis
Thieves mistake Nichols for a top safecracker and force him into their latest crime.
Guest stars: Noam Pitlik (Jack Stone), Jennifer Gan (Gloria), Liam Dunn (Fingers), Orwin C. Harvey (Ray), Chuck Hicks (Steve), Ted Gehring (Railroad Executive), Regis Cordic (Tyler), William Christopher (Niles)
- E18 Slight of HandFeb 1, 1972 · 60 min
Synopsis
A con artist talks the townspeople into investing in a gold mine.
Guest stars: Bo Hopkins (Kansas), Dabbs Greer (Harrigan), Jonathan Goldsmith (Ralph), Frederic Downs (Sam), Luis Delgado (Luis), Barbara Collentine (Charlotte), William Christopher (Niles)
- E19 Wings of an AngelFeb 8, 1972 · 60 min
Synopsis
Nichols and a daredevil pilot search for killers.
Guest stars: John Crawford (Sgt. Kessler), Jack Garner (Van Vechten), Chuck Hicks (The Dutchman), Richard Stahl (Doc), Richard Bull (Thatcher), M. Emmet Walsh (Gabe McCutcheon), Val Avery (Jasper), John Harding (Salter)
- E20 About Jessie JamesFeb 15, 1972 · 60 min
Synopsis
Nichols sets out to catch Jesse James and collect the reward.
Guest stars: Jack Elam (Marcus A.F. Baxter), Charles McGraw (Luke), Fran Ryan (Minnie Dowd), Vincent Van Patten (Grover), Dort Clark (Sheriff), Rance Howard (Deputy), Dennis Robertson (Kenneth), Paul Brinegar (Gaffer)
- E21 Fight of the CenturyFeb 22, 1972 · 60 min
Synopsis
Nichols is forced into the ring with a professional boxer.
Guest stars: H.B. Haggerty (Gentleman George), Ed Flanders (Harlan B. Flanders), Harvey Parry (Referee), Richard Stahl (Doc Bernstein), Florence Lake (Old Lady), Luis Delgado (Luis), Harry Harvey (Irate Citizen)
- E22 Man's Best EnemyFeb 29, 1972 · 60 min
Synopsis
An accused killer escapes when Nichols is distracted by a barking dog.
Guest stars: Lou Wagner (McKeever), Kelly Thordsen (Jacob Klaus), Richard Bull (Thatcher), M. Emmet Walsh (Gabe McCutcheon), Nora Marlowe (Mrs. Goudge), Olan Soule (Mr. Goudge), James Beach (Sanders), Kay E. Kuter (Jensen)
- E23 Wonder Fizz Flies AgainMar 7, 1972 · 60 min
Synopsis
Nichols and his pilot friend team up once more, this time to rescue a kidnapped girl.
Guest stars: Allyn Ann McLerie (Maggie), Val Avery (Jasper), Ramon Bieri (Cutler), Jay Varela (Sin Lingua), Priscilla Garcia (Juanita), Rayford Barnes (Ellsberg)
- E24 All in the FamilyMar 14, 1972 · 60 min
Synopsis
When Nichols is killed, his identical brother comes to town to avenge his murder.
Guest stars: Anthony Zerbe (Quinn), Marge Redmond (Juanita), John Quade (Zeb), John Harding (Salter), Russ McCubbin (Donnie), Luis Delgado (Luis)
Cast & crew
Created by Frank Pierson
Margot Kidder
James Garner
John Beck
Stuart Margolin
Neva Patterson
