By Line

Over the course of Gunsmoke's 20 season, the writers would occasionally delve into lighthearted comedy-drama. This is one of those episodes. It is also a continuation of the "Season of Festus" episodes. Although Ken Curtis's Festus Haggen character was frequently featured as the central character of the story, it seems in Season 11, the writers featured Festus even more than usual.

A chance encounter brings Festus together with a newspaper entrepreneur and his young nephew who were forced to flee Hays City after some people there became enraged at things published in the paper. The pair are on their way to Dodge City to establish a newspaper there. Since Festus claims to know everyone and everything that happens within miles of Dodge City, Festus is hired to help generate news stories and sell advertisements for the newspaper.

The absurdity of Festus, who can neither read nor write, becoming a newspaper reporter and salesman is the foundation of the episode. Although Matt Dillon can see from the beginning this venture is not likely to go well (the Marshal even comments to Doc Adams in an early scene that he can see this leading to trouble), Festus insists on continuing his involvement in this crazy venture.

As the story progresses, the citizens of Dodge become increasingly upset at information published in the newspaper, while a price war develops between Dabbs Greer's Mr. Jonas, who operates a General Store, and Denver Pyle's Clab Chummer, who is his competitor. (There were a few different General Store operators over the years in Dodge City. For example, the original Doc Adams on radio and Floyd Lawson in The Andy Griffith Show, Howard McNear appeared in a few episodes as a General Store operator named Howard. Orville Sherman also played store owner Wib Smith in several episodes.)

The scene near the end with Matt quizzing Festus about the events will leave you smiling. Watching Festus squirm and try to talk his way out of the situation is the highlight of the episode.

As usual, there are some great performances from some of the all-time great television character actors in this episode. Denver Pyle, Dabbs Greer, Maudie Prickett, Ted de Corsia, Dorothy Neumann, and Gertrude Flynn -- all recognizable TV faces of that time period -- are present here.

The newspaper publisher Angus McTabbott is played by Chips Rafferty. Rafferty did not do a lot of television work during his career, but he was a well-known actor in his native Australia. This is Rafferty's only Gunsmoke appearance.

It's true there isn't a lot of substance here, but it is nevertheless a fun episode.

Dumb episode. Too much of Festus and Denver Pyle acting like idiots wears thin after a while. Why would Festus go into business writing a paper anyway when he cannot read or write. Not believable. When I hear that "boing boing" spring sound effect I know what's coming is not going to be good. Well anyway, maybe the next one will be better. Hope so.

At the beginning of this episode Festus is riding along a path toward Dodge when he is nearly hit by a wagon that is escaping gunfire. On down the road the wagon has lost a wheel and Festus meets Angus McTabbot who happens to be a newspaper man that has just left Hays City at a fast rate. He is now determined to open a newspaper in Dodge City with the tag line, 'the Voice of Truth'.

We all know that there is something strange about this paper when they hire Festus, a person that can not read nor write, as a reporter for the Dodge City Clarion. Festus reveals that he has writing problems but Mr McTabbott says that he needs a man that knows Dodge people and tells Festus to give the report to his ten year old nephew and he will put the words into type.

Well things go sour when Festus reveals a story about a local's younger days which the person did not want brought up. Also Festus starts a near war between Jonas General Store and Clab Clummer's General Store when they start trying to outdo each other for business. Festus will soon find out why McTabbot's wagon was being fired upon while leaving Hay City.

Not really that much to this episode. It is more of a show for a sitcom than a western. Had it not been for the fine acting by the cast this show could have sank into near boredom. But the way it turned out was you just kept watching to see how this situation was going to end. Not one of the better shows but that you will remember long after viewing.