60 minSeason 1 • Episode 24
LatestWhen Nichols is killed, his identical brother comes to town to avenge his murder.
Nichols is an American Western television series starring James Garner broadcast in the United States on NBC during the 1971-72 season. Set the fictional town of Nichols, Arizona, in 1914, Nichols differed from traditional Western series of the era. The main character, a sheriff, rode on a motorcycle and in an automobile rather than on the traditional horse. The hero did not carry a firearm and was generally opposed to the use of violence to solve problems, preferring other means. Margot Kidder portrayed Ruth, the love interest/barmaid of Nichols.
Acting
Garner's reluctant charm carries every scene
Writing
Frank Pierson's subversive take on Western tropes
Costume
1914 fashion meets cowboy aesthetic, surprisingly cohesive
Creator
Frank Pierson
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The motorcycle was a 1914 Indian, not exactly period-accurate but chosen for visual impact. Garner did most of his own riding.
Nichols arrived during the 'revisionist Western' boom but NBC never knew how to market a hero who wouldn't shoot. Its cancellation helped push Garner back to film, where he'd win an Oscar nomination for The Rockford Files pilot.
US
