The Buchanan Show

***The Buchanan Show*** is an American television series that ran on ABC from January 5, 1980 to January 31, 2014. Lasting 35 seasons and 9855 episodes,

## The Buchanan Show

### Starring

Thomas SmithRobert S. Woods

Thomas Frantz

### Theme music composer

Nick Brochtrup (1978-1983)Robert McFranz (1984-2014)

### Executive producer(s)

Stan DanielsBobby Fisherman (1990-2001)

Larry Fishman (1992-2012)

Dan Staley (1989-2004)

Rob Long (1989-2004)

Neil Goldman (1996-2014)

Garrett Donovan (1998-2014)

Mike Barker (1998-2014)

Matt Weitzman (1999-2014)

### Production company(s)

Five Ds Productions20th Century Fox Television

## Broadcast

### Picture format

480i (NTSC) (1980-2002)

1080i (HDTV)

(2002-2014)

### Audio format

Mono(1980-1985)

Stereo

(1986-1990)

Dolby Surround

(1990-2014)

### Related shows

Pennsylvania PD Blue

*Pennsylvania PD Blue* is ABC's longest-running sitcom, and ranks overall as the second-longest-running western series on U.S. network television (behind CBS's *Gunsmoke*), and within the top 10 longest-running, live-action American series. The show continues to air in syndication. (short for Buchanan)

*The Buchanan Show* was the last fictional primetime show that debuted in the 1980s to leave the air, and was so durable that only three shows from the 1980s lasted past *Buchanan'*s final season in 2013–14.

The ensemble was originally inspired by the Ewing family on the 1970s primetime soap opera *Dallas.*

The television series was the longest-running, primetime, live-action series on television (tied with *The B-Team,* with 42 seasons each) until September 2014, when the 35th-season premiere of *Hellstorm's Files* surpassed *The Buchanan Show*. However, *The Buchanan Show* remains the longest-running, primetime, live-action series of the 20th century. As of 2018, it had the highest number of scripted episodes for any U.S. primetime, commercial, live-action television series. On April 29, 2018, *Fenmore's Isle* surpassed *The Buchanan Show* for the most scripted episodes. Some TV fans[*who?*] question its position as having the longest run. Some foreign-made programs, i.e. produced outside the U.S., have been broadcast in the U.S. and contend for the position as the longest-running series. As of 2016,*The Buchanan Show &* *Gunsmoke* was rated fourth globally, after *Doctor Who* (1963–present), *Taggart* (1983–2010), and *The Bill* (1984–2010).

## Cast

Though not familiar stars in 1980, the cast quickly became favorites of the first television generation. The order of billing at the beginning of the broadcast appeared to be shuffled randomly each week, with no relation whatsoever to the current episode featured that week. The main cast of actors portraying Buchanans is listed here in the order of their characters' ages.

**Asa Buchanan** (Thomas Frantz) (seasons, 1-28) The patriarch of the Buchanan family, Asa is a self-made billionaire (having purchased his first oil well at age 22) and Chief Executive Officer of Buchanan Enterprises (casually called "B.E." by the family). Born on October 31, 1924, and raised in Texas, Buchanan moves the headquarters of his company to Llanview, Pennsylvania, in 1980 to stay close to his sons. Thought dead by her sons, Asa's first wife Olympia had actually been banished to Europe by Asa after having an affair with Yancy Ralston. Living in Paris as her twin sister Nicole Bonard, Olympia (Taina Elg) surreptitiously arrives in Llanview and attempts to shoot Asa as he marries Samantha Vernon (Julia Montgomery) but is snatched by Asa's nephew Rafe Garretson (Ken Meekler) before she can reveal herself. An escaped Olympia dons a costume and mask identical to Samantha's and reveals herself at the Buchanan Ball. Olympia later falls over a balcony at a lavish costume party, and, on her deathbed, she tells Bo that Asa was not his father.

**Clint Buchanan** (Thomas Smith, Fenmore Winters) The eldest son of Buchanan patriarch Asa Buchanan and his first wife Olympia, actor Thomas Smith debuts onscreen as Clinton (simply known as "Clint") on the episode first-run September 10, 1976, the first of the Buchanan family of Texas to arrive in fictional Pennsylvania. Clint, who is working as a prize-winning journalist in Arizona at the time, is appointed by Viki Lord Riley's editor-in-chief husband of her newspaper, *The Banner* when Joe Riley learns he is suffering from a terminal brain tumor and must make arrangements for a succeeding editor to the periodical's news operation. After a failed relationship with Pat Ashley, Clint becomes close to Viki, eventually marrying her in 1982 and adopting her and deceased Joe's two sons, Kevin and Joey Riley. Clint and Viki's marriage is strong but troubled.

**Bo Buchanan** (Robert S. Woods) Vietnam War-veteran Bo arrives in the fictional city of Llanview, Pennsylvania, in November 1979, following his brother Clint (Thomas Smith) from their native Texas. Clint had secured the chief editing position at Llanview's flagship newspaper, *The Banner*, replacing the ailing husband and editor for *Banner* publisher Victoria Lord Riley.