The Rounders
The Rounders

The Rounders (1966)

4.0 (2 votes)
1 Season
September 6, 1966
English
Western Comedy

Synopsis

The Rounders was a 17-episode western-style situation comedy about two cowboys on the fictitious J.L. Ranch in Texas. It starred Ron Hayes as Ben Jones and Patrick Wayne, a son of John Wayne, as Howdy Lewis. The M-G-M television series aired on ABC from September 6, 1966, to January 3, 1967. The program was loosely based on a 1965 film of the same name, The Rounders, starring Glenn Ford and Henry Fonda, set near Sedona, Arizona, rather than Texas. Chill Wills, a native Texan and formerly of CBS's Frontier Circus, appeared as the shady ranch owner, Jim Ed Love. Janis Hansen co-starred as Ben's girlfriend, Sally, and Bobbi Jordan played Howdy's girlfriend, Ada. Jason Wingreen appeared as Shorty Dawes, and Walker Edmiston as Regan. Character actors Strother Martin and J. Pat O'Malley appeared as "Cousin Fletch" and "Vince", respectively. James Brown, formerly the lieutenant on The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, played "Luke". Selected episodes with notable guest stars include: "A Horse on Jim Ed Love", series premiere with Harry Carey, Jr.; "It's a Noble Thing to Do", with John Smith, formerly Slim Sherman on NBC's Laramie; "Don't Buffalo Me", with Jay Silverheels, formerly Tonto of The Lone Ranger, as John Tallgrass; "The Moonshine Still Shines"; "It Takes Only One to Suffer"; "The Scavenger Hunt" with Zsa Zsa Gabor as Ilona Hobson; "Some Things Are Not for Sale"; "Four Alarm Wing Ding", with Dick Haynes as a sheriff; "Horse of a Different Cutter" with Andy Devine as Honest John Denton and Strother Martin as Cousin Fletch; "Polo, Anyone?", with Jay C. Flippen as Kenny Fahrbush; "Efficiency Is for Experts", and "What Elephants?", the series finale, in which Ben and Howdy try to hide an elephant in plain sight.

Network

ABC

Episodes

Pilot
E1

Pilot

Sep 6, 1966
30 min

No description available.

Frontier Frankenstein
E2

Frontier Frankenstein

Sep 13, 1966
30 min

Jim Ed plans to buy unpredictable Old Fooler and make a fortune selling the critter to a rodeo—but the horse has other ideas abut the transaction.

It's the Noble Thing to Do
E3

It's the Noble Thing to Do

Sep 20, 1966
30 min

Jim Ed is using a remote-control device as a training dogie in hopes of turning the ranch plugs into first class cutting horses—and ending Old Fooler's cow-horse career.

The Moonshine Still Shines
E4

The Moonshine Still Shines

Sep 27, 1966
30 min

Jim Ed hires Noble Vestry, the world's best cowboy, to show Ben and Howdy what cow-punching really means.

Don't Buffalo Me
E5

Don't Buffalo Me

Oct 4, 1966
30 min

Jim Ed begins his job as temporary sheriff by trying to smash a moonshiner's illegal still.

The Scavenger Hunt
E6

The Scavenger Hunt

Oct 11, 1966
30 min

Ben and Howdy stand to make a tidy sum if they can find—and corral—a buffalo for Jim Ed.

Some Things are Not for Sale
E7

Some Things are Not for Sale

Oct 18, 1966
30 min

Ben and Howdy are literally lassoed off the J. L. Ranch and into a job at near-by Velvet Haven, an exclusive health resort for women.

It Takes Only One to Suffer
E8

It Takes Only One to Suffer

Oct 25, 1966
30 min

Jim Ed wants to buy Howdy's remarkedly effective good luck piece— but some things just are not for sale.

Man of the Year
E9

Man of the Year

Nov 1, 1966
30 min

Disgusted with life on the ranch, Ben gives Old Fooler to Howdy and takes over the operation of a one-pump gas station.

Four-Alarm Wingding
E10

Four-Alarm Wingding

Nov 15, 1966
30 min

Jim Ed wants to be named Man of the Year in Texas, so the ornery tightwad makes a painful effort to change his image.

Four Alarm Wingding
E11

Four Alarm Wingding

Nov 15, 1966
30 min

Jim Ed has bought a trailer from Howdy, but the merchandise might not arrive in A-1 condition: Howdy and Ben are throwing a party for the whole darned community in the trailer.

You Hold Your Temper, I'll Hold My Tongue
E12

You Hold Your Temper, I'll Hold My Tongue

Nov 29, 1966
30 min

Jim Ed promises a handsome sum if Ben Howdy will haul his new boat to Lake Love. Leave it to the two cowpokes to foul up a simple job....

Horse of a Different Cutter
E13

Horse of a Different Cutter

Dec 6, 1966
30 min

A cutting-horse contest finds Howdy and Jim backing different entrants—and using all the sneaky tricks in the book to win their bets.

Polo, Anyone?
E14

Polo, Anyone?

Dec 13, 1966
30 min

No description available.

Low Moon at Hi Lo
E15

Low Moon at Hi Lo

Dec 20, 1966
30 min

No description available.

The Sweet Little Old Lady
E16

The Sweet Little Old Lady

Dec 27, 1966
30 min

No description available.

Efficiency is for the Experts
E17

Efficiency is for the Experts

Jan 3, 1967
30 min

No description available.

What Elephants?
E18

What Elephants?

Jan 3, 1967
30 min

No description available.

Cast

Details

Original Title

The Rounders

Status

Ended

Seasons

1

Episodes

18