When Gunsmoke ended in March 1975 after 20 seasons, it had been a groundbreaking Western series, but its cancellation came as a surprise to most of the cast and crew. Despite once being the number one show on TV, Gunsmoke had been struggling in the ratings for years, and CBS decided to pull the plug with little warning. The final episode, “The Sharecroppers,” aired as the series finale but was hardly a fitting send-off for Marshal Matt Dillon or the iconic Western. The episode, centered on Festus, was lighthearted and comedic, leaving many fans disappointed.

CBS hadn’t informed the cast and crew about the cancellation, and many were shocked to learn of the show’s end through the press. The show’s 20th season had been produced without knowing it would be the last, leading to an anticlimactic finale.

However, Marshal Matt Dillon did return in 1987 with Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge, a made-for-TV movie, followed by three more features. These provided a more satisfying conclusion to both the character and the series. Though many original cast members didn’t return, including Milburn Stone, who passed away in 1980, Gunsmoke had a better farewell through these later films than its final television episode. Despite the unceremonious end, Gunsmoke remains a significant part of TV history.