That is the theme that defines Chuck Norris as “Walker, Texas Ranger” which premiered on CBS in the spring of 1993: becoming a Saturday night favorite among viewers over the next eight years and 200 episodes. Today, the series remains popular as a guilty pleasure thanks to reruns in syndication: keeping the legend that is Chuck Norris alive.
The influence/inspiration of”“Walker” came from the 1983 classic “Lone Wolf McQuade” with Norris as the titular J.J. McQuade, a rough and tumble Texas Ranger that met his match in Rawley Wilkes (David Carradine), an arms dealer who’s good with his hands and feet as McQuade is. Films such as “An Eye for an Eye” and “Lone Wolf McQuade” helped create Norris’ reputation as the Lone Ranger of martial arts, but “Walker” cemented that with Chuck as Cordell Walker, the renegade Texas lawman with the powerhouse roundhouse kick. Like Paladin of “Have Gun – Will Travel” and “The Cisco Kid,” “Walker, Texas Ranger” is both a fast gun and a gentleman knight in shining armor.
Living by the code of the West, Cordell Walker is a true-blue American hero: a patriot, the avenger, the crusader of justice for all in the never-ending war on crime, corruption, racism, prejudice, terrorism, greed, violence and drugs; helping people get a second chance at life, renewing their hope and faith in humanity. Working alongside Walker are his partner Trivette (Clarence Gilyard), Walker’s former partner C.D. Parker (Noble Willingham), Rangers Gage (Judson Mills) and Cooke (Nia Peeples), and assistant district attorney Alex Cahill (Sheree J. Wilson), whom Walker married later in the series.
“Walker, Texas Ranger” was a ratings hit through most of its eight-year run on CBS from 1993 to 2001, and it spawned the short-lived 1999 spin-off “Sons of Thunder.” The series also led to 2005’s made-for-TV film entitled “Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire”.
Reruns of “Walker, Texas Ranger” can be found on cable network INSP (Inspirational Network) … ’cause that’s where the Ranger’s gonna be with back-to-back episodes five nights a week (Mondays thru Fridays) and on Sunday nights.
I wish they make more i miss you guys.