"The Young Riders" (1989) TV series 1989-1992

Creator:

Ed Spielman
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

20 September 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Western

Plot:

The adventures of the riders of the Pony Express.

Plot Keywords:

Pony Express | Buffalo Bill Cody | Eccentric | Cook | Kansas

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Stephen Baldwin	...	William F. Cody (67 episodes, 1989-1992)
Josh Brolin	...	James Butler Hickok (67 episodes, 1989-1992)
Ty Miller	...	The Kid (67 episodes, 1989-1992)
Gregg Rainwater	...	Running Buck Cross (67 episodes, 1989-1992)
Yvonne Suhor	...	Louise McCloud (67 episodes, 1989-1992)
Anthony Zerbe	...	Teaspoon Hunter (67 episodes, 1989-1992)
Travis Fine	...	Ike McSwain (51 episodes, 1989-1991)
Don Franklin	...	Noah Dixon (43 episodes, 1990-1992)
Clare Wren	...	Rachel Dunne (43 episodes, 1990-1992)
Brett Cullen	...	Marshal Sam Cain (24 episodes, 1989-1990)
Melissa Leo	...	Emma Shannon (24 episodes, 1989-1990)
Don Collier	...	William Tompkins, Shop Keeper / ... (24 episodes, 1989-1992)
Christopher Pettiet	...	Jesse James (22 episodes, 1991-1992)

Series Directed by
Virgil W. Vogel		(18 episodes, 1989-1991)
James Keach		(9 episodes, 1990-1992)
Lee H. Katzin		(6 episodes, 1989-1992)
Joseph L. Scanlan		(6 episodes, 1990-1992)
George Mendeluk		(5 episodes, 1989-1990)
Michael Preece		(4 episodes, 1991-1992)
Aaron Lipstadt		(2 episodes, 1991-1992)
Guy Magar		(2 episodes, 1991-1992)

Series Writing credits
Steven Baum		(14 episodes, 1989-1992)
Raymond Hartung		(11 episodes, 1989-1992)
Ed Spielman		(10 episodes, 1989-1991)
Charles Grant Craig		(10 episodes, 1990-1992)
James L. Novack		(4 episodes, 1990-1992)
Christopher Thinnes		(4 episodes, 1990-1991)
Scott Shepherd		(4 episodes, 1992)
Deidre Le Blanc		(3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Tony Blake		(3 episodes, 1990)
Paul Jackson		(3 episodes, 1990)
Richard Clayman		(2 episodes, 1989-1990)
Janet Himelstein		(2 episodes, 1989-1990)
Jacqueline Zambrano		(2 episodes, 1989-1990)
Dennis Cooper		(2 episodes, 1989)
Delle Chatman		(2 episodes, 1990-1991)
William Hasley		(2 episodes, 1990)
Howard Spielman		(2 episodes, 1990)
Donald Marcus		(2 episodes, 1991)
Sam Cooper		(2 episodes, 1992)
Todd Robinson		(2 episodes, 1992)

Series Produced by
Tony Palermo	....	associate producer (67 episodes, 1989-1992)
Jonas McCord	....	executive producer (4 episodes, 1989-1991)
Steven Baum	....	producer / co-producer (4 episodes, 1991)
Raymond Hartung	....	producer / co-producer (4 episodes, 1991)
Larry Rapaport	....	coordinating producer (4 episodes, 1991)
Josh Kane	....	executive producer (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Michael Ogiens	....	executive producer (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Charles Grant Craig	....	co-producer (3 episodes, 1991)
James Keach	....	producer (3 episodes, 1991)

Series Original Music by
John Debney		(4 episodes, 1989-1991)

Series Cinematography by
Earl L. Clark		(3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Ross A. Maehl		(unknown episodes, 1990)
Bob Moore		(unknown episodes)
John Toll		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Mark Melnick		(2 episodes, 1990)
Ed Rothkowitz		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Mary Jo Slater		(67 episodes, 1989-1992)
Sharon Bialy		(22 episodes, 1989-1990)
Rick Millikan		(2 episodes, 1990)

Series Production Design by
Anthony Brockliss		(3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Michael Baugh		(unknown episodes)
Larry Warwick		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Mary Swanson		(3 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Makeup Department
Charles Blackman	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Kim Santantonio	....	hair stylist (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Gloria Blackman	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1990)
Michael Key	....	makeup supervisor (unknown episodes)
Alicia M. Tripi	....	key hair stylist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Andrew Gonzales	....	post-production executive (67 episodes, 1989-1992)
Bruce A. Pobjoy	....	post-production supervisor (4 episodes, 1989-1991)
Larry Rapaport	....	production manager (4 episodes, 1989-1991)
Christopher Seitz	....	executive in charge of production (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Mary Pat Avery	....	post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Laura Petticord	....	second second assistant director (43 episodes, 1990-1992)
Craig Beaudine	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Nancy Henkle Green	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1990)

Series Art Department
Larry D. Koszakovszky	....	prop assistant (24 episodes, 1989-1990)
Brian McGuinn	....	carpenter (24 episodes, 1989-1990)
Robert DePatis	....	construction coordinator (4 episodes, 1989-1991)
David DeCamp	....	property master (3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Barbara Anne Bock	....	storyboard artist (3 episodes, 1990)
Tommy Estridge	....	property master (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Susan Moore-Chong	....	sound mixer (61 episodes, 1989-1992)
Bob Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer (4 episodes, 1989-1991)
John J. Stephens	....	sound re-recording mixer / re-recording mixer (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Gary Wright	....	sound effects (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
B. Tennyson Sebastian II	....	sound re-recording mixer (3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Stan Gordon	....	sound mixer (2 episodes, 1990)
Marty Church	....	adr mixer (unknown episodes)
Paul J. Diller	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
John Hays	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Jim Hilton	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Sherry Klein	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Catt LeBaigue	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Mark L. Mangino	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Timothy Pearson	....	foley artist (unknown episodes)
Craig T. Rosevear	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Michael Stern	....	assistant sound engineer (unknown episodes)
Steven Ticknor	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Donald Zenz	....	utility sound (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Bruce Mattox	....	special effects (3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Clifton Dance	....	special effects assistant (unknown episodes)
Ken Speed	....	special effects coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Thomas Baker	....	motion control camera (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Richard Burch	....	stunts (9 episodes, 1990-1992)
Monty Stuart	....	stunt coordinator (4 episodes, 1989-1991)
Cinda-Lin James	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Ronald Jaynes	....	stunt performer (unknown episodes)
Monty L. Simons	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Roger Sassen	....	gaffer (43 episodes, 1990-1992)
Brian McGuinn	....	grip (21 episodes, 1990-1991)
Amy La Licata	....	assistant camera (12 episodes, 1989)
Paul Maibaum	....	camera operator (6 episodes, 1989)
Paul Threlkeld	....	key grip (4 episodes, 1989-1991)
Michael Frediani	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 1990)
Ross A. Maehl	....	chief lighting technician (2 episodes, 1990)
John T. Connor	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Randy Feemster	....	camera operator: "b" camera (unknown episodes)
Steve Mathis	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
Joseph D. Urbanczyk	....	director of photography: second unit (unknown episodes)
Tony Whitman	....	key grip (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Andrew Reid	....	casting assistant / extras casting assistant (9 episodes, 1990-1991)
Sharon Bialy	....	original casting (3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Richard Pagano	....	original casting (3 episodes, 1990-1991)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lisa Hyde	....	set costume / key set costumer (45 episodes, 1989-1991)
Patrick Cummings	....	costumer (4 episodes, 1989-1991)
Frances Harrison Hays	....	costume supervisor (4 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Editorial Department
John Potter	....	colorist (2 episodes, 1989-1992)
John Kawamoto	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 1990)

Series Music Department
John Debney	....	composer: theme music (67 episodes, 1989-1992)
Richard S. Kaufman	....	music supervisor (4 episodes, 1989-1991)
Thomas A. Carlson	....	music editor (2 episodes, 1989-1991)
Leslie Whitfield	....	music editor (2 episodes, 1990)
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrator (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Daniel Quick	....	transportation coordinator (1 episode, 1991)

Series Other crew
Deena Burkett	....	main title sequence designed and produced by / main title sequence designer (67 episodes, 1989-1992)
Bill Millar	....	main title sequence designed and produced by / main title sequence designer (67 episodes, 1989-1992)
Sonja Solomun	....	assistant production accountant (67 episodes, 1989-1992)
Jay Rabins	....	production coordinator (64 episodes, 1989-1992)
Erica Bennett	....	writers assistant (24 episodes, 1989-1990)
Suzie Sax-Horowitz	....	script supervisor (13 episodes, 1989-1992)
Andrew Reid	....	production assistant (12 episodes, 1991-1992)
Tracey Duke	....	script supervisor intern (9 episodes, 1989-1990)
Richard Lundin	....	wrangler (4 episodes, 1989-1991)
Bruce Margolis	....	location manager (4 episodes, 1989-1991)
Raymond Hartung	....	executive story editor (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Steven Baum	....	executive story editor (2 episodes, 1990)
Karen L. Carson	....	production coordinator (2 episodes, 1990)
Janel Diersing	....	script supervisor (2 episodes, 1990)
Ed Spielman	....	creative consultant (2 episodes, 1990)
Leah Kerr	....	assistant to producer (unknown episodes)
Quinn Kristian Koeniges	....	set production assistant (unknown episodes)
Terrance C. Leavey	....	re-enactor coordinator (unknown episodes)
Sonny Ritscher	....	assistant production accountant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• MGM Television
• Ogiens / Kane Company

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1989-1992) (USA) (TV)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Arizona, USA

Company:

MGM Television

Wonderful cast, unforgettable show

I cannot calculate how many hours I have spent watching this show. You only have to check out the fan sites on the internet to see its impact. This must be one of the best (and best-looking) casts ever assembled. Josh Brolin is intense, sexy and magical as 'James Butler Hickock'. Anthony Zerbe hits just the right note as the wise but eccentric 'Teaspoon'. Ty Miller as 'Kid' is sincere and appealing. Gregg Rainwater plays the sensitive 'Buck', a half-breed torn between two worlds but belonging to none. Travis Fine is remarkable as 'Ike', a bald mute. Could any other actor have pulled off such a role? Brett Cullen is the handsome and fair marshal 'Sam Cain', if only he had stayed beyond season 1! Yvonne Suhor gives and amazing and sympathetic portrayal of 'Louise McLoud', a scared but strong woman trying to make it in a man's world by disguising her femininity. Don Franklin plays the intelligent, funny, but frustrated 'Noah Dickson' - who is very far from the usual stereotypical portrayal of blacks in westerns. Chris Pettiet plays 'Jesse James' at 14, a boy anxious to grow up and be a man but badly needing guidance and a sense of family. The comic relief is provided by Stephen Baldwin who gets all the best lines as the obnoxious but endearing 'William F. Cody' (although you may more often than not be laughing at him, not with him). The first housekeeper was 'Emma Shannon' (Melissa Leo), a woman trying to make it in the west after being deserted by her husband. She becomes a mother figure for the riders, something that most of them were lacking. Later came Clare Wren who played the sexy 'Rachel Dunne' who was a lot tougher and wiser than she looked. Well I don't think I missed anyone out. The show also had fantastic guest stars, excellent shoot-outs, and showed the conflicts that were developing between the north and the south at that time. It also showed the true meaning of love and friendship. It was wonderfully shot and had just the right blend of drama, action, and humor. I guess if you've read this far you already know and love the show. Why not write your own comments here? Oh, and "Try a little Jimmyness".