Overview
Roy Huggins produced the American Western television series Maverick, which has humorous overtones. The show starred James Garner as Bret Maverick, a deftly eloquent cardsharp, and ran on ABC from September22, 1957 through July8, 1962. He was joined by Jack Kelly as his brother Bart eight episodes into the first season, and from then on, Garner and Kelly traded leading roles week to week, occasionally teaming up for two-brother episodes. The Mavericks were a group of Texas poker players that traveled around the American Old West and on Mississippi riverboats, always getting themselves into and out of dangerous situations involving money, ladies, or both. Typically, they'd have to choose between a money windfall and a moral quandary. Because both Mavericks were absolutely ethical, their consciences often took precedence over their finances. Roger Moore was cast as their cousin Beau Maverick when Garner quit the series after the third season due to a legal disagreement. Brent Maverick, the third Maverick brother, was played by Robert Colbert later in the fourth season. Only two of the series' main characters, and frequently only one, featured in the same episode.