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Nichols Season 1 Episodes
Season 1 Episode Guide
24 Episodes 1971 - 1972
Episode 1
Nichols AKA Pilot
Thu, Sep 16, 1971 60 mins
The town's new sheriff: an 18-year Army veteran who left the service to get away from the guns. Nichols: James Garner. Ma: Neva Patterson. Ruth: Margot Kidder. Mitchell: Stuart Margolin. Ketcham: John Beck. Johnson: Paul Hampton. Scully One: John Quade. Scully Two: Jesse Wayne. Salter: John Harding. Mrs. Prine: Florence Lake.
Episode 2
The Siege
Thu, Sep 23, 1971 60 mins
A bandit gang rides in from Mexico to look for a dentist for its leader.
Episode 3
The Indian Giver
Thu, Sep 30, 1971 60 mins
Revenge spurs Nichols to back an Indian who's claiming the Ketcham spread. Flying Fox: Michael Tolan. Nichols: James Garner. Ma: Neva Patterson. Ketcham: John Beck. Mitchell: Stuart Margolin.
Episode 4
Paper Badge
Thu, Oct 7, 1971 60 mins
A showdown is brewing between Nichols' young, correspondence-trained deputy and the town's dumb but dangerous bully. Arletta McGreery: Joyce Van Patten. Fred Buckerman: John Rubinstein. Nichols: James Garner. Ketcham: John Beck.
Episode 5
Gulley vs Hansen
Thu, Oct 14, 1971 60 mins
Two aging gunfighters are pressured into a final showdown.
Episode 6
Deer Crossing
Thu, Oct 21, 1971 60 mins
Ketcham angers the Apaches when he tries to force a brave to end his hunt for a prize buck.
Episode 7
The Specialists
Thu, Oct 28, 1971 60 mins
Nichols and Ketcham hire second-rate mercenaries for an attack on an outlaw stronghold.
Episode 8
Peanuts And Crackerjacks
Thu, Nov 4, 1971 60 mins
Series regular Stuart Margolin (Mitch) gives a strong performance in a seriocomic tale about a heavily wagered baseball game. Cameos: ex-Dodger ace Don Newcombe and retired umpire Art Passarella. Cyrus: Med Flory. Bertha: Alice Ghostley. Nichols: James Garner. Johnson: Paul Hampton. Ruth: Margot Kidder. Ma: Neva Patterson.
Episode 9
Ketcham Power
Thu, Nov 11, 1971 60 mins
A comic lesson in abused authority that begins when Ma's loutish son is sworn in as a deputy. Averell: Alan Oppenheimer. Billings: Clifford David. Nichols: James Garner. Ketcham: John Beck.
Episode 10
The One Eyed Mule's Time Has Come
Tue, Nov 23, 1971 60 mins
Trapped in a cellar: Sheriff Nichols, and an Army vet and his mule---targets for three trigger-happy looters. Frankie: Kristoffer Tabori. Bull: Roy Jenson. Nichols: James Garner. Hartford: Walter Burke. Axel: Rayford Barnes. Fred: Jerry Summers.
Episode 11
Away the Rolling River
Tue, Nov 30, 1971 60 mins
Steve Forrest as an aging hell-raiser trying to enlist Nichols in a train robbery. Directed by actor Ivan Dixon. Nichols: James Garner. Ma: Neva Patterson.
Episode 12
Where Did Everybody Go?
Tue, Dec 7, 1971 60 mins
Nichols is about to get caught between a fun-loving spitfire and her brutish bodyguards. Mabel Zimmerman: Nira Barab. Charley: Jesse Vint. Johnson: Paul Hampton. Bob: Bill Vint. Fred: Alan Vint. Nichols: James Garner. Ben: Bennie Dobbins. Ketcham: John Beck.
Episode 13
The Marrying Fool
Tue, Dec 28, 1971 60 mins
Wedding bells are chiming for Ruth the barmaid. Problem: her groom's obscure past is about to see daylight. Charley Doyle: Tom Skerritt. Roarke: Gerald S. O'Loughlin. Caralee: Susan Tyrell. Nichols: James Garner. Ruth: Margot Kidder. Mitch: Stuart Margolin. Salter: John Harding.
Episode 14
Eddie Joe
Tue, Jan 4, 1972 60 mins
A seriocomic look at prejudice centers on the pursuit of a black fugitive by his unrelenting white enemy. Eddie Joe: Paul Winfield. Pel De Carlo: Warren Vanders. Danny: Eric Laneuville. Nichols: James Garner. Curtiss: James Daris. Warden: Lou Frizzell.
Episode 15
Zachariah
Tue, Jan 11, 1972 60 mins
Strother Martin as Nichols' con-man uncle, who matches wits with his nephew in a heated battle over a hidden $32,000. Prouty: Marc Lawrence. Logan: Barry Cahill. Nichols: James Garner. Randall: Edward Faulkner. Ruth: Margot Kidder. Mitch: Stuart Margolin.
Episode 16
The Unholy Alliance
Tue, Jan 18, 1972 60 mins
Nichols turns bank robber, trapped by thieves who think he's an ace safecracker. Jack Stone: Noam Pitlik. Gloria: Jennifer Gan. Nichols: James Garner. Ray: Orwin Harvey. Steve: Chuck Hicks. Fingers: Liam Dunn. Ruth: Margot Kidder.
Episode 17
Sleight Of Hand
Tue, Feb 1, 1972 60 mins
Fool's gold is the bugaboo in a tale about a mining swindle aimed at Nichols' townsfolk. Kansas: Bo Hopkins. Harrigan: Dabbs Greer. Ralph: Jonathan Lippe. Nichols: James Garner. Scrody: Duncan McLeod. Ketcham: John Beck. Mitch: Stuart Margolin.
Episode 18
Wings Of An Angel
Tue, Feb 8, 1972 60 mins
Aerobatics in a 1917 biplane, with John Beck departing from his role as Ketcham to play a daredevil pilot searching for killers. Jasper: Val Avery. Sergeant Kessler: John Crawford. Nichols: James Garner. Dutchman: Chuck Hicks. Gabe: M. Emmet Walsh. Mitch: Stuart Margolin. Ruth: Margot Kidder.
Episode 19
Man of the Cloth AKA About Jesse James
Tue, Feb 15, 1972 60 mins
Jack Elam as a con man joining Nichols in a scheme that could be worth a fortune in reward money. Luke: Charles McGraw. Grover: Vincent Van Patten. Nichols: James Garner. Minnie: Fran Ryan. Sheriff: Dort Clark. Deputy: Rance Howard.
Episode 20
Fight of the Century
Mon, Feb 22, 1971 60 mins
A rousing boxing match between a reluctant Nichols and a professional fighter (played by former wrestler H.B. Haggerty) caps the Fight of the Century. Nichols: James Garner. Ernest: Ray Young. Flanders: Ed Flanders.
Episode 21
Man's Best Enemy
Tue, Feb 29, 1972 60 mins
Nichols vs. an irksome bull terrier that's proving a dangerous distraction. McKeever: Lou Wagner. Jacob: Kelly Thordsen. Hector: Iler Rasmussen. Nichols: James Garner. Gabe: M. Emmet Walsh. Fearless: James Lee Reeves. Ma: Neva Paterson.
Episode 22
Wonder Fizz Flies Again
Tue, Mar 7, 1972 60 mins
Mexico holds unknown dangers for Nichols and a biplane pilot, flying to the rescue of a kidnapped girl. John Beck (Ketcham) plays the pilot. Cutler: Ramon Bieri. Juanita: Priscilla Garcia. Sin Lingua: Jay Varela. Nichols: James Garner. Maggie: Allyn Ann McLerie. Jasper: Val Avery. Ruth: Margot Kidder.
Episode 23
All In The Family
Tue, Mar 14, 1972 60 mins
A rarity in a TV series: the hero gets killed! Exit Nichols (James Garner), enter his suave lookalike twin (James Garner), out to avenge his brother's death. Quinn: Anthony Zerbe. Bertha: Marge Redmond. Zeb: John Quade. Porky: Ray Pourchot. Salter: John Harding. Donnie: Russ McCubbin.
Episode 24
Bertha
Tue, May 16, 1972 60 mins
Comic tale about Nichols' temporary stint as saloonkeeper. Bertha: Alice Ghostley. Harry Carmichael: Karl Lucas. Nichols: James Garner. Lucinda: Gale Dixon. Mitchell: Stuart Margolin. Ketcham: John Beck.