The following is an episode list for ABC's 1957 comedy-western television series, Maverick, created by Roy Huggins and starring James Garner, Jack Kelly, Roger Moore, and Robert Colbert as Bret, Bart, Beau, and Brent Maverick respectively. Unusually for an American television program, Maverick'smain cast varied episodically between Garner, Kelly, Moore or Colbert as the cast changed through the years. As such, the starring cast for each episode is listed below alongside other details. Most episodes feature only one of the lead characters named Maverick, and never more than two—and in two-Maverick episodes, one of the Mavericks is always Bart, who began in the eighth episode and stayed for the rest of the series' five seasons, ending in 1962.
is the sole star for the first seven episodes. With episode eight, he's joined by Jack Kelly as brother Bart Maverick. From that point on, the two alternate from week to week, sometimes teaming up for the occasional episode. Recurring characters include rival gamblers/operators Samantha Crawford, Dandy Jim Buckley, and Big Mike McComb. The entire first season was released by Warner Bros. on DVD in mid-2012.
Garner and Kelly continue as alternating leads, with the odd 'team-up' episode. Semi-regulars Samatha Crawford and Dandy Jim Buckley exit partway through the season; new semi-regulars include Cindy Lou Brown and Gentleman Jack Darby. Big Mike McComb also returns from the first season.
Season 3 (1959–1960)
Writer/creator Roy Huggins leaves the show. Garner and Kelly remain the leads. Of the recurring characters, only Gentleman Jack Darby returns for season 3, and only for one episode. Three new characters, obvious replacements for Dandy Jim Buckley and Samantha Crawford, are seen, but only for two episodes each: Edward Ashley's impeccably dressed and outwardly charming gambler Nobby Ned Wingate ; Kathleen Crowley's cheerful, scheming gold-digger Melanie Blake; and Mona Freeman's determined but slightly psychotic seeming operator Modesty Blaine.
stays on as Bart Maverick, who now alternates the lead with Roger Moore as cousin Beau Maverick. Kelly and Moore are also featured in three two-cousin episodes. With the exception of a single two-brother episode held over from the third season, Garner is no longer a part of the show. Before the end of the season, Moore also leaves. At the very end of the season, Moore is briefly replaced by Garner lookalike Robert Colbert as Bart's brother Brent Maverick, who dresses in Bret Maverick's most frequent costume. Peter Breck would make one appearance as Doc Holliday in this season, becoming a semi-regular in the series' final episodes. All previous semi-regulars are dropped for this season, including the new characters, just introduced in season 3. Modesty would eventually return for one episode in season 5 – but played by Kathleen Crowley, who had previously played Melanie Blake.
Season 5 (1961–1962)
becomes the sole star of new Maverick offerings. This season's episodes alternated with reruns of some of Garner's earlier shows, but during Kelly's new installments, neither Bret, Beau, nor Brent are ever mentioned; the series' new episodes had finally reverted to the original single-Maverick formula observed for the initial seven episodes, only with Kelly as Maverick instead of Garner. However, Garner's name once again appears in the weekly series opening credits before all the newly produced shows, albeit now with second billing under Kelly. The theme song for this season is intensified with a slightly brisker pace and sound effects such as the riverboat's ringing bell. Peter Breck returns as Doc Holliday, becoming a semi-regular in these final episodes. He appears in 4 of the 13 episodes produced for this season, including the series finale. Mike Road appears as "Pearly" Gates in two episodes, alongside Kathleen Crowley as Gates' companion Marla. Crowley also appears in the final episode as Modesty Blaine, a semi-regular role played earlier by Mona Freeman.
