The only rotating component of the 1955 ABC anthology Warner Bros. Presents to be renewed for a second season,
Cheyenne returned to the air with a brand-new complement of episodes in the fall of 1956--and this time, each episode ran a full hour, instead of the awkward 45-minute length imposed during its first year on the air. However, ABC was still skittish about prime time westerns (despite the proven popularity of such series as
Gunsmoke and
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, so Season Two of
Cheyenne was seen on an alternate-week basis, sharing its Tuesday evening timeslot with
Conflict, a new anthology from the Warners studio. Of course, star
Clint Walker is back as laconic, laid-back adventurer Cheyenne Bodie, still drawing upon experience gleaned from his colorful past to tackle such jobs as trail boss, bodyguard, stage driver, Indian scout, cowpuncher and temporary lawman. Twenty new episodes were aired this season, beginning with "The Dark Rider" and ending with "{The Broken Pledge." Arguably the season's best offering is "Decision at Gunsight", guest-starring
John Carradine as a frontier extortionist and
Marie Windsor as his main cohort, with whom Cheyenne briefly falls in love. Other well-known actors appearing this season include
Dennis Hopper,
James Garner, Edd "Kookie" Byrnes, and
Richard Crenna. Although
Cheyenne didn't crack the "top 30" programs in the 1956-57 ratings, it was miles ahead of its companion series
Conflict. Not surprisingly, only
Cheyenne was chosen for renewal at option time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide