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Walker, Texas Ranger
The Walker, Texas Ranger title card (from 2000) features star Chuck Norris.
Format	Police Procedural
Created by	Christopher Canaan Leslie Greif Paul Haggis
Starring	Chuck Norris Clarence Gilyard Sheree J. Wilson Noble Willingham (1993-2000) Nia Peeples (2000-2001) Judson Mills (2000-2001)
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	203 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time	60 minutes (approx. 42 min)
Broadcast
Original channel	CBS
Original run	April 21, 1993 – May 19, 2001

Walker, Texas Ranger was an American television western/police dramatic series, created by Lesie Grief and Paul Haggis. It aired on CBS with three pilot episodes followed by eight full seasons, from April 21, 1993 to May 19, 2001, was broadcast in over 100 countries, and has since spawned at least one made-for-television movie. It was originally conceived on August 6, 1987. DVD sets of the first,^[1] second, third, and final seasons have been released. At various times since 1997, reruns of the show have aired, in syndication, on the USA Network, Showcase Action, and Hallmark Channel.

The show was known for its moral values. For example, the characters refrained from the use of drugs, and they participated in community service. Martial arts were shown prominently as the primary tool of law enforcement and occasionally as a tool for Walker and company to reach out to the community.

In recent years, the show has gained a following for its camp appeal, thanks largely to its improbable combination of martial arts and modern Western genres, and to the resurgent popularity of its star, Chuck Norris.

The show was initially developed by executive producer Derek Broostad and supervising producer J. Michael Straczynski when the series was still being produced by Cannon Television. While Straczynski had to depart to get his new series Babylon 5 on the air, Moessinger^[vague] remained to finish developing the series.

The show centered on Cordell (Fire)Walker (played by 1980s action hero Chuck Norris), a Dallas-based member of the Texas Rangers, a state-level bureau of investigation. Walker was raised by his paternal uncle, a Native American named Ray Firewalker (played by Floyd Red Crow Westerman from 1993-94), served in the Marines in Special Forces^[vague] in the Vietnam War, and shares the values of sheriffs in the Wild West. One episode reveals that Walker was once engaged to a woman who was killed by the suspect of an investigation.

His partner and best friend is James "Jimmy" Trivette (played by Matlock alumnus Clarence Gilyard), a former Dallas Cowboys player who takes a more modern approach. Walker also works closely (and shares a mutual attraction) with Alexandra "Alex" Cahill (played by Dallas alumna Sheree J. Wilson), a Tarrant County Assistant District Attorney. He also gets advice on cases from C.D. Parker (played by Noble Willingham), a veteran Ranger (later inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame) who worked with Walker until retiring to operate a small restaurant and bar called "CD's Bar and Grill."

• 1995-1996 #18 11.8 million households
• 1996-1997 #23 10.7 million households
• 1997-1998 #29 9.1 million households

Several elements and scenarios appeared frequently on the series:

• Walker performs his legendary Roundhouse Kick to the villain's face as a last move that usually defeats the victim immediately. The shot of Walker kicking his adversary is then rapidly repeated, twice, from different angles.

• The kidnapping of assistant district attorney Alex Cahill.
• Walker taking part in undercover operations, with the aim of getting evidence to convict the antagonists' leader.
• The antagonists' leader attempting to leave town or temporarily close down their illegal operations to avoid being arrested by Walker or his associates
• Walker is often shown teasing Trivette as they drive from place to place.
• Walker talking to or interacting with animals—staring them down to prevent them from attacking, directing them to do complex tasks, or using their knowledge for his benefit.
• A vacationing Walker (or an associate) inadvertently stumbling upon an illicit enterprise that requires Walker's intervention and the ultimate destruction of said enterprise; the climax often comes just before Walker returns to his post in Dallas.
• Paranormal or mystical phenomena, including but not limited to: ghosts of Native Americans directing Walker towards clues; the ghost of Hayes Cooper, legendary Texas Ranger, leading Walker to buried treasure; the ghost of an old Native American shaman striking Walker with a lightning bolt and transporting him hundreds of years into the past.
• Troubled children or teens overcoming the odds with Walker's assistance. In various episodes, this has included: Juan, a boxing prodigy whose father beats him and his mother (and later kills himself and the mother when driving drunk) ("Golden Boy", season 9); Chad Morgan, a young telekinetic who is institutionalized so that his abilities can be measured and tested ("Brainchild", season 6); a boot camp for delinquent 18- to 21-year-olds that Walker and Trivette run ("Mr. Justice, season 6); a child (guest star Haley Joel Osment) whose drug-addicted mother led to his being infected with a deadly strain of AIDS ("Lucas 1 and 2");and the Kick Drugs Out of America program, an after school martial-arts class run by Walker to encourage kids to stay out of trouble.
• Dual plot lines involving a legendary Texas Ranger of the Old West, Hayes Cooper (also played by Norris). Other Walker regulars have performed dual roles in these episodes, although some appeared in them only once.
• The majority of the antagonists fight against Walker and his friends or regular police officers when they are declared to be under arrest, and the majority of criminals and law enforcement personnel are also accomplished kick boxers/martial artists.
• Walker arriving just in time to save someone, or to arrest criminals.
• C.D. being injured by the antagonist and being hospitalized.
• The episode often ends with a lighthearted moment in which the main characters exchange jokes and have a good laugh at C.D.'s bar. This is commonly concluded with a camera still of Walker and/or another character laughing which subsequently fades to black before the credits roll.

The cast for the first six regular seasons of Walker, Texas Ranger (from left to right): Clarence Gilyard (Trivette), Chuck Norris (Walker), Sheree J. Wilson (Alex) and Noble Willingham (1931-2004, C.D.)

Over the years the show ran, many changes were made:

• In the pilot episode from the first season, entitled "One Riot, One Ranger", which was two hours (later condensed into two parts) the role of C.D. Parker was played by Gailard Sartain. Noble Willingham joined the cast early in Season 1. His first appearance was in the episode "Bounty."
• For the first season, the protagonists drove General Motors vehicles. Ranger Walker drove a GMC K1500 Sierra, Ranger Trivette drove a Pontiac Firebird, and Alex drove a Pontiac Sunbird convertible.
• For season two, all the GM vehicles were replaced by the closest equivalent Chrysler counterparts. Walker drove a Dodge Ram, which was outfitted with "Hide-A-Way" strobe lights in its headlights and tail lights. Trivette drove a silver Dodge Stealth, while Alex drove a Chrysler Sebring convertible. In later episodes, Trivette drove a black Ford Mustang GT.
• In early episodes, Walker's weapon was a .357 revolver. In later episodes, his weapons were a .40 S&W automatic, a Colt 1911 style .45 ACP, and a Beretta 92.
• The instrumental opening theme was changed during season two. Partway through the second season (with the episode "The Big Bingo Bamboozle"), it was replaced with the song "Eyes of a Ranger," performed by Chuck Norris, which would remain in the opening credits for the remainder of the series.
• After much criticism for the amount of violence in the show over the years, the number of violent acts in each episode was reduced.
• An increased use of Christian symbolism and family issues, sometimes focusing on children with Walker assisting them through a crisis. This also included Alex opening up the H.O.P.E (Help Our People Excel) Center during the sixth season, which lasted for the remainder of the show.
• For the last two seasons, two young characters, Rangers Sydney Cook (played by Nia Peeples) and Francis Gage (played by Judson Mills), were added to the cast.
• Mid-seventh season, Noble Willingham left the show to pursue a career in the United States Congress, making his final appearance in the episode "A Matter of Faith". As a result, episodes after his removal from the opening credits included only references to his character C.D., who would never appear again, even when the character died.
• In the season seven finale ("Wedding Bells"), Cordell Walker weds Alex Cahill (who became Alex Cahill-Walker from that point on).
• In the last episode of the series ("The Final Show/Down"), Cordell Walker and Alex Cahill-Walker have a daughter named Angela. (This is also the name of the baby girl born to Chuck Norris's character in the movie Hero and the Terror'.')
• In the pilot season and first few episodes of Season 1, Trivette wore glasses. Later, he stopped wearing them.
• In the first few seasons, Trivette's computer was a laptop; after that, he had a desktop.

From March 2006 on, two U.S. cable channels—USA Network and the Hallmark Channel—broadcast episodes of the show multiple times a day. Since the Hallmark Channel is a "family-friendly" channel, offensive content was edited, and episodes that directly referred to sex, drugs, and Satanism were removed.

In Australia, the series is currently^{[when? — see talk page]} being shown on the cable channel Fox 8.

In the United Kingdom, it is currently^{[when? — see talk page]} airing on Bravo, weekdays at 7:00 p.m.

From 2005 until mid-2006, it aired on Showcase Action in Canada at 4:00 p.m. on weekdays.

All DVDs are released by Paramount Home Entertainment, through CBS DVD. In a very unusual move, the last season was released first, whereas virtually all other shows release their season sets starting with the first season.

CBS broadcast the television movie Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire, produced by Paramount Network Television (now CBS Paramount Network Television), on October 16, 2005. Chuck Norris, Sheree J. Wilson and Judson Mills reprised their roles, and Clarence Gilyard shot a cameo for the movie but was not featured due to the filming's conflict with a long-planned family vacation. To fill the void, Judson Mills, who was not in the original script, returned to reprise character of Francis Gage. Nia Peeples, who played the role of Sydney Cook for Seasons 8 and 9, was also not featured in Walker's return to prime-time television. The explanation given was that producers decided not to follow much of the original Walker Texas Ranger series, as to give the movie a fresh look. Even the opening credits with the theme "Eyes of a Ranger" performed by Chuck Norris, was absent.

Although the return of Walker Texas Ranger did not garner the ratings CBS would have hoped for (due in part to a late running football game pushing back the start time an hour), indications were that CBS was green-lighting future Walker Texas Ranger "movie of the week" projects. But as of spring 2006, both CBS and the Norris camp have been silent as to the future of the franchise, leaving many to wonder if it will return. Trial by Fire ended with Wilson's character ending up as the victim of a courthouse shooting, leaving many to believe that there would be a follow-up movie.

In announcing their fall 2006 prime-time schedule, CBS said that they would no longer be producing "Sunday night Movie of the week" projects, which severely impaired any hopes of Walker's return to television in the foreseeable future, although there is hope for a direct-to-DVD movie.

On May 15, 2007, CBS announced their fall line-up, but didn't include the return of the "Sunday night Movie of the week."

Main article: Sons of Thunder

A short-lived series, Sons of Thunder, featured recurring character Carlos Sandoval, who resigns from his post with the Dallas police and teams up with childhood friend Trent Malloy (a protégé of Walker's) to start a private investigation firm.

Three Walker, Texas Ranger books, written by James Reasoner, were published by Berkley Publishing Group in 1999. The books are now out of print.

1. Walker, Texas Ranger (1998, ISBN 0-425-16815-8)
2. Hell's Half Acre (1999, ISBN 0-425-16972-3)
3. Siege on the Belle (1999, ISBN 0-425-17112-4)

• In a two-episode crossover arc split between fellow CBS series Martial Law and Walker, Walker helps Sammo Law (played by Sammo Hung) take down a hate crimes leader who murdered another Texas Ranger; Law then comes to Texas to help recapture the leader after his escape.
  • This subsequently established that Walker and the CBS show Early Edition are set in the same fictional universe, which also had a crossover featuring the character Sammo Law.^[2]
• Every major character (including Walker himself) has been hospitalized.
• Only two antagonists, Victor La Rue and Caleb Hooks, return to get revenge on Walker in later episodes.
• Executive Producer and creator, Derek Broostad, named the character Walker in homage to his high school sweetheart, Tasha Walker.
• After Walker got a Dodge truck, the "bad" characters began using General Motors models of cars, while the "good" characters used Chryslers, Dodges, or sometimes, Fords.
• KC HiLiTES can be seen on Walker's pickup truck.
• Actors Richard Norton, Leon Rippy and Marshall R. Teague appeared in several episodes as different antagonists; notably, Teague is in both the original pilot episode and the series finales.
• Songwriter Tirk Wilder penned the theme song "Eyes of a Ranger," performed by Norris. Guest star Lila McCann sings the song in the episode of the same name.
• The series was filmed on location in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Local residents were frequently used as extras, and some even had speaking roles. Some interior shots were filmed in Los Angeles.
• Chuck Norris reportedly tried to convince CBS to keep the show running after his decision to quit so he could return to making movies, retitling the show simply Texas Rangers and focusing on the remaining characters, but the network was only interested in keeping the show if he stayed, which led to his decision to end Walker after 202 episodes from one pilot season and eight full seasons.
• After departing from Matlock, Clarence Gilyard joined the cast of the show, just in time.
• Chuck Norris, Clarence Gilyard, and Sheree J. Wilson are the only actors to appear in every episode of the show.
• In one of the episodes, they state that there are 100 Texas Rangers and only 100, when in reality, the real Texas Rangers are capped at 118 as of September 1, 2000.^[3]
• In the film Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Will Ferrell's character Ricky Bobby has named his children Walker and Texas Ranger.
• Walker was mentioned on the King of the Hill episode High Anxiety (Part 2). When the Texas Ranger was called in by Peggy Hill, she shouts "I love your show, I love that Walker".
• Early in the second season, Walker purchased the fictional Seaking FY rifle which was actually an M1 Garand rifle replica loaned from a Dallas firearms collector.

1993-Luis Guzmán {Gomez- Storm Warning (1993)}
1993-Judith Hoag {Lainie Flanders- Family Matters (1993)}
1993-Brian Thompson {Leo Cale- Family Matters (1993)}
1993, 2000-M.C. Gainey {Tingley- She'll Do to Ride the River With (1993), Craig- The Bachelor Party (2000)}
1994-Giovanni Ribisi {Tony Kingston- Something in the Shadows: Part 1 (1994), Something in the Shadows: Part 2 (1994)}
1994-Tom Virtue {Peter Needham- Something in the Shadows: Part 1 (1994), Something in the Shadows: Part 2 (1994)}
1994-Tobey Maguire { (Duane Parsons- The Prodigal Son (1994)}
1994-Bryan Cranston {Hank- Deadly Vision (1994)}
1994-James Morrison {Ned Travis- Mustangs (1994)}
1994-Danica McKellar {Laurie Maston- Stolen Lullaby (1994)}
1994-Ray Wise {Garrett Carlson- Stolen Lullaby (1994)}
1995-Doris Roberts {Elaine Portugal- The Big Bingo Bamboozle (1995)}
1995-Dirk Benedict {Blair - Case Closed (1995)}
1996, 1997, 1999-Carlos Machado {Himself- Rodeo (1996), Officer #1- Sons of Thunder (1997), Orderly- Forgotten People (1997), Rodgers- Fight or Die (1999)}
1996-Clifton Collins Jr. {Fito- El Coyote: Part 1 (1996), El Coyote: Part 2 (1996)}
1996-Robert Englund {Lyle Eckert- Deadline (1996)}
1996, 1997-Burt Young {Jack Belmont- Lucky (1996), Small Blessings (1997)}
1996-1997, 2000 -Rod Taylor {Gordon Cahill - Redemption (1996), Texas vs. Cahill (1997), Wedding Bells Parts 1 and 2 (2000)}
1997-1999 Marco Sanchez {Detective Carlos Sandoval}
1997-1999 James Wlcek {Trent Malloy}
1997-Mila Kunis {Pepper- Last Hope (1997)}
1997-John Amos {Pastor Roscoe Jones- Sons of Thunder (1997)}
1997-Haley Joel Osment {Lucas Simms- Lucas: Part 1, Lucas: Part 2(1997)}
1997-Mackenzie Phillips {Ellen Simms- Lucas: Part 1, Lucas: Part 2(1997)}
1997, 1999-Gwen Verdon {Maisie Whitman - Forgotten People (1997), Mind Games (1999)}
1997-David Gallagher {Chad Morgan- Brainchild (1997)}
1997-Paul Gleason {Dr. Harold Payton- Brainchild (1997)}
1997-Randolph Mantooth {James Lee Crown- Rainbow's End (1997)}
1997-Kyla Pratt {Kyla Jarvis- The Neighborhood (1997)}
1998-"Rowdy" Roddy Piper {The Crusader(1998)}
1998-Paul Winfield {Pastor Roscoe Jones- The Soul of Winter (1998)}
1998-Collin Raye {Himself- The Soul of Winter (1998)}
1998, 1999-Danny Trejo {Joe Lopez- Circle of Life (1998), Jose Rodriguez- Rise to the Occasion (1999)}
1998-Tobin Bell {Karl Storm- The Wedding: Part 1 (1998)}
1998-RuPaul {Bob- Royal Heist (1998)}
1998-Camilla Belle {Cindy Morgan- Code of the West (1998)}
1998-Michael Peterson {Himself- Eyes of a Ranger (1998)}
1998-Lee Majors {Sheriff Bell- On the Border (1998)}
1999-Deion Sanders {Himself- Rise to the Occasion (1999), Special Witness (1999)
1999-Gary Busey {Donovan Riggs- Special Witness (1999)}
1999-James Remar {Keith Bolt- The Principal (1999)}
1999-John Schneider {Jacob Crossland- Jacob's Ladder (1999)}
1999-Rex Linn {Leland Stahl/Lester Stahl- Way of the Warrior (1999)}
1999-Randy Savage {Whitelaw Lundren- Fight or Die (1999)}
1999-Frank Shamrock {Rodgers- Fight or Die (1999)}
1999-Lane Smith {Reverend Thornton Powers - Power Angels (1999)}
1999-Scott Weinger {Bradley Roberts- Full Recovery (1999)}
1999, 2001-Frank Stallone {B.J. Ronson, Frank Bishop - Tall Cotton (1999), Saturday Night (2001)}
2000-David Keith {Cliff Eagleton- The Day of Cleansing: Part 2 (2000)}
2000-Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa {Master Ko- Black Dragons (2000)}
2000-Mako {Edward Song- Black Dragons (2000)}
2000-Tzi Ma {General Nimh- The General's Return (2000)}
2000-Christopher B. Duncan {Defense Attorney Lime- The Bachelor Party (2000)}
2000-Tom Bosley {Minister- Wedding Bells: Part 1 (2000), Wedding Bells: Part 2 (2000)}
2000-Ernest Borgnine {Eddie Ryan- The Avenging Angel (2000)}
2000-Michael Ironside {The Chairman- Winds of Change (2000), Lazarus (2000), Turning Point (2000), Retribution (2000)}
2000-T.J. Thyne {Wallace 'The Wizard' Slausen- Retribution (2000), Turning Point (2000), Lazarus (2000), Winds of Change (2000)}
2000-Dionne Warwick {Dionne Berry- Faith (2000)}
2000-Barbara Mandrell {Nicole Foley- Showdown at Casa Diablo, Pt. 1 (2000)}
2001-Hulk Hogan {Boomer Knight- Division Street (2001)}
2001-Robert Fuller {Ranger Wade Harper - Matter of Principle (2000), Final Showdown (2001)}
2001-Francis Capra {Ace - Division Street (2001)}
2001-Mercedes McNab {Heather Preston - 6 Hours (2001)}
2001-Sting {Grangus- Unsafe Speed (2001)}
2001-Carlos Bernard {Raoul 'Skull' Hidalgo- Without a Sound(2001)}

• Click to hear Theme Song link broken

"Eyes of a Ranger" was written by Tirk Wilder, and performed by Chuck Norris. In one episode, it was performed by country music singer Lila McCann.

The lyrics are

In the eyes of a Ranger,

The unsuspectin' stranger

Had better know the truth of wrong from right,

'Cause the eyes of a Ranger are upon you,

Any wrong you do he's gonna see,

When you're in Texas look behind you,

'Cause that's where the Ranger's gonna be

• List of Walker, Texas Ranger episodes
• The Lone Ranger

• In Australia, the show was broadcast on Channel Nine and currently airing on Fox8.
• In the Czech Republic, the show is still shown on TV Nova.
• In the Dominican Republic, the show is still shown on Telecentro 13 at workday evenings (22:30).
• In Estonia, the show is still shown on Kanal 2 at workday afternoons.
• In France, the show is still shown on TF1 every Sunday afternoon.
• In Germany, the show is still shown on RTL II at night.
• In Hungary, the show is still shown on TV2.
• In Italy, the show is still shown on Rete4.
• In Japan, the show is still shown on FOX Japan.
• In Latvia, the show is still shown on LNT.
• In Lithuania, the show is still shown on LTV.
• In Montenegro, the show is still shown on RTCG.
• In the Republic of Macedonia, the show was shown on A1.
• In Panama, the show is still shown on RPC 4.
• In Poland, the show is still shown on Polsat.
• In Portugal, the show was broadcast on SIC.
• In Slovakia, the show is still shown on TV Markíza.
• In Slovenia, the show is still shown on POP TV.
• In South Africa, the show is still shown on E.tv.
• In Spain, the show is still shown on Aragón Televisión, Canal Sur, Telemadrid and Televisión de Galicia.
• In the United Kingdom, the show is still shown on Bravo (TV).
• In the United States, the show is still shown everyday; three times on USA Network and twice on Hallmark Channel.
• In Zimbabwe, the show was shown on ZBC TV.

1. ^ ^{a b} The first-season DVD set consists of the episodes from the pilot season plus the episodes of the first regular season, which has also been referred to as Season 2
2. ^ http://www.tv.com/early-edition/play-it-again-sammo/episode/36639/summary.html
3. ^ http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/director_staff/texas_rangers/#Personnel: Texas Ranger info

• Walker, Texas Ranger at the Internet Movie Database
• Claymation Walker Texas Ranger at youtube.com
• Walker, Texas Ranger at TV.com
• Sony Pictures Television website