This is the first 90-minute western (including commercials) to air on U.S. television. Due to increased commercials, episodes now run about two hours.
In the book, the ranch, called "Sunk Creek", is 270 miles from Medicine Bow. When the Virginian is promoted to foreman, he moves out of the bunkhouse to his own home on the ranch. The Virginian and Trampas are not friends. Near the end of the book, the Virginian kills Trampas.
In the final season, the show was renamed "The Men from Shiloh" and given an Italian western-style credits sequence, complete with a theme by Ennio Morricone. It was the only theme song Morricone wrote for American television.
As in the book and the movie, The Virginian's name is never revealed. He is referred to as the foreman, the ramrod, or The Virginian.
The show has the most 90-minute episodes of any American television series.