Series regulars or semi-regulars in 'Best Of The West' from 1970-1982:
- Carlene Watkins as Elvira Best (1981-1982)
- Joel Higgins as Marshal Sam Best (1981-1982)
- Leonard Frey as Parker Tillman (1981-1982)
- Meeno Peluce as Daniel Best (1981-1982)
- Tom Ewell as Doc Kullens (1981-1982)
- Tracey Walter as Frog Rothchild Jr. (1981-1982)
- Valri Bromfield as Laney Gibbs (1981-1982)
1970-1982 Episode Guide for 'Best Of The West':
(Episodes with dates prior to 1970 aired as reruns.)
Season 1, episode 1
W: Earl Pomerantz D: James Burrows
With Brad Sullivan (Lance), Christopher Lloyd (The Calico Kid), Macon McCalman (Mayor Fletcher), Pat Ast (Ruby).
Series premiere. Through a strange turn of events, a shopkeeper in a small western town becomes the marshal.
Season 1, episode 2
W: Michael Leeson, Earl Pomerantz D: Will Mackenzie
With Slim Pickens (Sheriff Latimer), Richard Moll (Prisoner), Pat Cranshaw (Bob).
Sam has to face an prisoner's outlaw brothers after the sheriff who was taking him in becomes sick on his way through town.
Season 1, episode 3
W: Earl Pomerantz D: Doug Rogers
With Ronald F. Hoiseck (Sven), Erik Holland (Olaf Gunderson), Betty White (Amanda Tremaine), Wil Albert (Reverend), Art LaFleur (Dooley Wainwright).
Doc's mail-order bride is a little more experienced than he expected. And it's at the wedding that she reveals the truth.
Season 1, episode 4
W: Mitch Markowitz D: James Burrows
With Burton Gilliam (Ringo), Christopher Lloyd (The Calico Kid), Macon McCalman (Mayor Fletcher).
The new cook at Square Deal Saloon is the Calico Kid. The retired gunfighter has sworn not to kill ever again, unless it's something he can eat.
Season 1, episode 5
W: Chip Keyes, Doug Keyes D: Ed Weinberger
With Bill Hart (Dirty Jack Peckinpaugh), Eve Brent (Lilly Devereaux), Andy Griffith (Lamont Devereaux).
Elvira's die-hard Confederate father stays at the Square Deal Saloon while he is in town, but still refuses to speak with his daughter because she married a Yankee.
Season 1, episode 6
W: Earl Pomerantz D: Jeff Chambers
With Frank Marth (Kincaid), Al Lewis (Judge).
Sam goes out on a limb to save Tillman from a lynch mob after he is accused of cattle rustling. However at the trial, Sam's mixed up testimony has Tillman back at the end of a rope.
Season 1, episode 7
W: Earl Pomerantz D: Jeff Chambers
With Frank Marth (Kincaid), Jonathan Banks (Hombre), Macon McCalman (Mayor Fletcher).
Sam infiltrates an outlaw band to try to prove Tillman is innocent of cattle rustling.
Season 1, episode 8
W: Mitch Markowitz D: Tom Trbovich
With Mark Withers (Nat Lindsay).
Sam loses his badge in a special election to Parker Tillman's squeaky clean hand-picked candidate.
Season 1, episode 9
W: Earl Pomerantz D: James Burrows
With Barbara Whinnery (Joleen Hickerson), David Knell (Jimmy-Jack), Bruce M. Fischer (Ike Hickerson).
Daniel is just as surprised as anyone when a few innocent kisses between him and a schoolmate lead to a shotgun wedding.
Season 1, episode 10
W: Sam Simon D: Stan Daniels
With Kevin Scannell (Tom Hudson), Fred Lerner (Blake Whitman).
Laney is smitten with a smoothie who bids high for her at a social. But he turns out to be a real low-down heel.
Season 1, episode 11
W: Sy Rosen D: Howard Storm
With John Randolph (Chairman), Pat Cranshaw (Bob), Angus Duncan (Mr. Willoughby), Macon McCalman (Mayor Fletcher), Matthew Faison (Inspector).
Sam and Tillman work very hard to try to convince the railroad to come to Copper Creek.
Season 1, episode 12
W: Michael Leeson D: James Burrows
With Pat Cranshaw (Bob), Macon McCalman (Mayor Fletcher), Susan Ruttan (Pregnant Woman).
Sam's image as a lawman quickly loses its edge after he manages to shoot himself in the leg, and the jail falling down around him doesn't help either.
Season 1, episode 13
W: Earl Pomerantz D: Howard Storm
With Frank Dent (Dunbar).
Sam doesn't pay any attention to the signs of discontent from Elvira until the day he comes home and finds her packed and prepared to leave.
Season 1, episode 14
W: Earl Pomerantz D: Michael Lessac
With Chuck Connors, Barbara Babcock, Macon McCalman (Mayor Fletcher).
Frog meets a woman who was recently jilted by her boyfriend. However neither of them is aware that he wants her back.
Season 1, episode 15
W: Earl Pomerantz D: Michael Lessac
With Barbara Bryne (Mrs. Hanratty), Christopher Lloyd (The Calico Kid).
The Calico Kid has reformed and decides he would like to be a U.S. Marshal. But the job requires a third-grade education which the Kid doesn't have.
Season 1, episode 16
W: Earl Pomerantz D: Howard Storm
With Robert Carnegie (Harvey), John Dennis Johnston (Curtis).
Tillman's greedy scheme to open a bank backfires when he is taken hostage by robbers -- and the citizens of Copper Creek have no intention of paying the ransom.
Season 1, episode 17
W: David Lloyd D: Howard Storm
Elvira and her stepson are exploring an abandoned outlaw cave, unaware that it is booby-trapped to collapse.
Season 1, episode 18
W: Earl Pomerantz D: Howard Storm
With James Calvert, Jack O'Halloran.
Daniel's refusal to fight a relentless bully ends up with Sam having to fight the bully's father in defense of the Best family's honor.
Season 1, episode 19
W: David Lloyd D: Howard Storm
With Dixie Carter (Mae Markham), Ted Gehring (Cattleman), Erwin Fuller (Cattleman).
Sam is handcuffed to his prisoner -- a flirtatious female outlaw -- for an overnight journey.
Season 1, episode 20
W: Earl Pomerantz D: Stan Daniels
With John Calvin.
A man Elvira was once engaged to comes to town, intent on not leaving without her.
Season 1, episode 21
W: Earl Pomerantz D: Stan Daniels
With Joe Regalbuto (Frances), Ian Wolfe (Reverend), Susan Ruttan.
A man Sam arrested has escaped and is probably on his way to get even with him. But the only new arrival in town is a woman.
Season 1, episode 22
W: David Lloyd D: Ed Weinberger
With Darrell Zwerling (Fredericks), Alan Autry.
Sam and Tillman try to foil a holdup by holding a funeral for Frog. Instead of Frog, the coffin contains the $20,000 the thieves are after. (Last show of the series.)