Friday Night Surprise 1989 Chuck Connors

Dick Clark interviews NBC sportscaster Bob Costas for a fictitious show. During the interview, Costas says he loved the sitcoms and western shows of the 1960's such as "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "Gunsmoke," and it is revealed that Costas' childhood hero is Chuck Connors. Costas is surprised by meeting Chuck Connors.

[@michaelashcraft8569]

I was born in 1951, grew up watching all the best TV Western serials, but, Chuck and Johnny were just pure MAGIC!!

[@randygreen8916]

I still watch "The Rifleman" on T.V. every chance that I get, love that show. Chuck Connors and Johnny Crawford make a great father and son team.

[@caelachyt]

They have pretty much all of them on youtube for free right now.

[@nancystrong7888]

i watch rifleman every night on utube or free tv like tubu or pluto

[@taggett666]

You will never have guys like Chuck again.....

[@richardherron7670]

A true Western icon and a very iconic human being thank you mr. Connors for entertaining the world you're never forgotten

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

He did gay porn.

[@bryanlund2730]

Chuck was a superb presence and thats real acting in itself. Jhonny Crawford was one of the best child actors of all time. The Rifleman was the perfect balance between father and son bonding. Violent yes but it was also wholesome.

[@anngelaspriggs73]

Chuck Connors is the GREATEST OF ALL TIMES !!!!!!!!!!!

[@PepperWilliams_songcovers]

The Rifleman was definitely my all time TV western hands down!!! Chuck Connors and Johnny Crawford's chemistry was perfect!! And boy, did CC know how to use that rifle. Side note: The theme song was one that I would sing to constantly. Composed by the prolific composer/arranger Herschel Burke Gilbert.

[@NewYorkCityBoxing]

What an honor to meet Lucas McCain!

[@69zenos1]

No...he met Chuck Connors, silly.

[@chuckfrost5624]

Chuck Connors was a very talented under rated actor. Like Steve McQueen, these two guys made it look so easy. Most of the critics never realised what great actors these guys were. Hollywood never backed a film career for Chuck Conners, what a waste. With the right people behind him Chuck could have been a major movie star.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

They both had sex with men.

[@Realbillball]

He had a genuine talent and played on a lot of strings. I love him for his no nonsense acting. He could play the nice guy pretty well, the tough guy, the funny guy and what have you - but he was also brilliant bad guy on the screen. Never forget his Tom Moore character in "Roots". He could scare the hell out of you. Never heard any bad things about him as a person, but I've heard numerous times what a nice, funny and pleasant man he was. Clips like this show a real gentleman.

[@jerryboucher5622]

Simply put Chuck Connors was the real deal.

[@HansDelbruck53]

"played on a lot of strings" What does that mean?

[@Realbillball]

@@HansDelbruck53 Use your imagination and take a wild guess.

[@robertmac7833]

When I was a TINY boy, the rifleman was my HERO! My mom and dad took me to somewhere where Chuck was appearing in person, and as a small boy I walked right up to him and stood an inch in front of his legs, and craned my neck up to see him. And I swear, to that little boy it was like looking up to a tall ponderosa pine tree!!! I was AWED!!

[@THOMAS81Z]

i have never heard a bad word about chuck conners & johnny crawford said he treated him like his real son , he took him camping & fishing with his own sons when they went ... a real class act

[@miltontookes607]

THOMAS81Z hi

[@jerryboucher5622]

@James Henderson Cite your evidence or shut up bozo.

[@garyhinchey595]

I still watch Chuck every day. A mans man

[@lalapa1223]

6’6” he was so tall and handsome loved the show

[@pearldiver1006]

Conners went to Viet Nam and made recordings for service families. He flew shotgun in spotter planes to get close to the real deal. For that he has my undying gratitude.

[@brianwalker8147]

Chuck Conners was so good ,I think they should have cast him in a big movie

[@markharrison2544]

He played the father in "Flipper".

[@drewstar412]

Oh totally agree! Why he never starred in many big movies, is beyond me. Talk about opportunity wasted...unless he chose not to star as the main character in big movies.

[@bailey9r]

He was terrific in "The Big Country" with a pretty difficult part and in great company like Greg Peck.

[@HansDelbruck53]

He was in Soylent Green.

[@biggalljzionkemp9719]

My wife and I watch The rifleman everyday . My dad watched it when I was young but i didn’t quite get it but now I see how great this show is/was!

[@RiflemanRay1]

This is really great footage....Chuck Connors was the perfect fit for The Rifleman....Thank you so much for putting this on You Tube....RiflemanRay

[@Delfi1900]

I can't wait to watch him on Saturdays,,, he's the greatest ever👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@douglasthompson9482]

Chuck Connors and John Wayne....the best of all time, they were real men!

[@jerryboucher5622]

How dare you ever imply that punk ass Wayne was REAL MEN.He was the ultimate coward fake and fraud .And those were his best qualities.

[@duaneleerussell157]

JERRY BOUCHER douchbag

[@jerryboucher5622]

You seem to Adore well known cowards like your boy MARIAN MORRISON..Birds of a feather flock together pipsqueak.

[@drewstar412]

Clint Eastwood & Steve McQueen can be added to that list as well....Eastwood, Connors, McQueen...and Richard Boone as well...Great TV Westerns...with great lessons. I believe all four I listed were all US Military Veterans.

[@Lance2773]

@@jerryboucher5622 I don't understand. What is your opinion based on?? Maybe we would agree with you if we knew what you know, or maybe there something wrong with you.

[@ACLTony]

You are so right! Many of the shows today feature men that are either goofballs or if they are "leading men" the usually have some serious issues or baggage. Chuck was an excellent role model for all boys, regardless of race or ethnicity, could look up to and emulate.

[@rossjackson7134]

Absolutely loved the show. My old man shot through when I was five. Chuck stepped into the breech, although he never knew it.

[@TimNelson]

Ross: fascinating. You make an interesting point. Lucas McCain was a father figure for so many people. Thanks for sharing.

[@wendyohman8340]

I loved that show,!!!

[@quadsman11]

🇺🇸 My ALL-TIME greatest childhood hero KEVIN "CHUCK" CONNORS ! "THE RIFLEMAN" ! Who I had the all-time greatest honor of chauffeuring in the late 1980's and very early 60's just prior to his passing ! A genuine gentleman's gentlemen ! One of my life's biggest honors ! 🇺🇸

[@mariec.9102]

Awesome 👍🏾🌹

[@thefragile7393]

Wow Bob was so young here.....geeez. And how awesome to meet Chuck Conners....all 6'5 of him.

[@mariec.9102]

🌹Even Chuck Connor's hair was amazing!😊 So much about him stood out above the crowd🌹

[@anthonylaconte716]

The greatest show on earth and ma and me still watch it wen it's on TV

[@1Sugarpudding]

This is a wonderful clip of two icons, Chuck Conner & Dick Clark. What an honor and blessing it was for another great man, Bob Costa. Thank you for sharing.

[@wingnutt4200]

1Sugarpudding fuck that liberal Bob Costas

[@douglasthompson9482]

I would have done anything to be there....WOW !!!! The Rifleman.

[@lindalyte354]

Wow!! What an amazing, Surprise!!!!!!

[@JordanBahrPian-UkePlayer]

It's amazing how young Bob sounds in this!

[@thebarewenchproject]

I really wish I could have met him.

[@GiovanniMariaTommaso]

Wonderful surprise who wouldn't love it? Great show the Rifleman, great man Chuck Connors, may you rest in peace until we meet. giovanni

[@brottarnacke]

"It's a perfect fit Chuck!" :-D X-D

[@lewisclark5694]

Chuck Connors! Awesome presence!

[@jonpendleton1007]

I used to watch Rifle Man and Branded with my Dad when I was a kid back in the 60’s. Chuck Conners and Johnny Crawford were true heroes to me, and still are. What a privilege it was to be a kid in the 60’s!

[@mikeyowen]

OMG I’D HAVE FAINTED

[@evdallas123]

A real Mccain hero

[@elvicare35]

Awesome!!!!!

[@simone4993]

Absolutely love the rifleman show Chuck Johnny Paul and the regular cast were brilliant. Still watching

[@aquascape8816]

Why wasn't entire clip included? It just cut out.

[@Vaderd2k926]

I FORGOT about branded! Another awesome Chuck Conners portrayal.

[@REVENGEANCE206]

The best ever!!

[@markharrison2544]

Chuck Connors sounded really ill here.

[@manluvsthe60s]

very very cool...loved the rifleman... Chuck Connors was very cool.. His later years he lived in Stallion Springs near tehachapi and Bakersfield CA

[@elvicare35]

Right on!!!!!

[@bailey9r]

Did you know Chuck was the first NBA player to break a glass backboard?

[@bak-mariterry5180]

TRUE. !

[@MacMc691]

Like others, thanks for posting this. Recently got into watching the Rifleman, great show. Costas, classy as always.

[@wolfsden3812]

That was awesome

[@Piggy-Oink-Oink]

The Rifleman was a TV character with a soul, ethics, morals and balls...they dont have any male Tv character liek that anymore.. :(

[@robertkess9907]

Gee that 14 seconds with Connors was truly riveting.

[@yeadontwearitout]

Is there anything else Chuck Connors starred in besides Rifleman that is highly recommended? I just finished binging the whole series and want to check out his other credited roles

[@HAM-sb2ns]

Branded

[@jaybennett236]

He was a really evil slave owning plantation owner in Roots!

[@franktheo2055]

All I can say is - How Very Cool Was That !!!!!

[@JamesBrown-fb6zt]

Surprised by " Lucasboy"

[@Michaelbos]

That’s great.

[@larryhawkins3294]

He played professional people very convincingly. Check out his stint as an attorney on Arrest and Trial with Ben Gazarra and Roger Perry.

[@paul1242]

That segment was too damn short!

[@anniemaull5605]

Loved the Rifleman.

[@johnschaefer2238]

Chuck Connersville was the precursor of Clint Eastwood. While Lee Van Cleef was brilliant as Angel Eyes in The Good The Bad And The Ugly I do think Chuck Conners could have pulled that role off as well!

[@mr.toobigformypants8145]

Everyday at 3:00 and 3:30 I watch the Rifleman, I know every episode by heart. Chuck and Johnny were perfect together and I say Johnny Crawford was the best child actor ever on TV. Don't forget Connors could play a sniveling coward with the best of them, just watch him in The Big Country.

[@bluetickfreddy101]

Watching “Rifleman” As this YT came across How appropriate Also present day media supposed “entertainment” Sucks!

[@evdallas123]

He could have been as big as eastwood he was that good

[@wingnutt4200]

ev dallas he was bigger than Eastwood he didn't need the movies

[@FreddieG501]

You are gravely mistaken. Johnny Crawford has NEVER accused Chuck of any pedophile type behavior. For God's sakes he gave the eulogy at Chuck's funeral. Do your research next time. Their relationship off camera was normal and loving.

[@snowcub7139]

Yeah, he never said Chuck molested him or anything like that.

[@fredgainesjr4644]

@@snowcub7139 - yes, my reply above was from an earlier thread. Someone posted incorrectly along those lines. Looks like the post I’m referring to was removed.

[@larrylollis5875]

R.I.P Chuck and Dick

[@hubertking3232]

I love the rifleman. Chuck. I'm buying Branded

[@feliciapetrovich1081]

I LIKE TO WATCH THE RIFLE MAN

[@pillznarRy]

that was IT?!?!??!?!?!?! i feel robbed!!!!! lol i wanna see the WHOLE THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Framblott]

To FreddieG501 Thank you for the politeness of your reply. I should have done more investigating before making a serious charge. I may be wrong.

[@dennydeckerful]

I heard that years ago, not sure if it's true.

[@wingnutt4200]

Very sweet and cool even though I never like Bob Costas gives me a little bit more respect for him

[@martincolvill5453]

I'M SO JEALOUS!

[@keithsullivan6560]

Chuck Connors was the Jack Bauer of the yesteryears! Man that nigga was piling up bodies like Lincoln logs in the Rifleman! lol Man I am working on watching every episode available! I miss those good ole shows before the decline of modern entertainment.

[@macsvens]

The first season of Branded was great. The second season he grew his hair longer and didn't seem as mean.

[@eyez718]

Love the rifleman

[@20alphabet]

Ironic that Costas' idol would be The Rifleman, what with all his anti-gun vitriol.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

He sounded ill.

[@deanfry1466]

Bob Costas is sorry SOB, love Chuck Connors, will not listen to anything Costas has to say.

[@ronniemoon57]

DUDE SHUT YOUR MOUTH!!!

[@sweetitis]

Done with you Costas or like Dundee would call you “ Crap For Brains”

[@purplefry1752]

It exhausts me to see people turn this into a political thing. All I saw was a man who turned back into a little boy because he met his hero. That's all this video was so stop trying to pervert it for your own biased opinion.

[@markharrison2544]

Did Connors already have lung cancer here?

[@nodicesocal]

Costas has good reason to be anti-gun, as I am, in today's society....that position is entirely consistent with holding up the Rifleman as a hero. The circumstances in the old west and now are completely different

[@Markbeb3]

Chuck connors also played for los angeles charger as quarterback.

[@sangamonjack]

I heard it was because the mere sight of his chiseled package turned gay men straight.

[@nancys8597]

Kson

[@rstlr73]

ahhh before woke took over . i miss the old hollywood.

[@Framblott]

Male homosexuals have a preference for prepubescent boys. For them that's the creme de la creme. Like a blonde, blue-eyed Miss America type for a normal heterosexual male. Check out the priests, and Michael Jackson's little boys, even Danny Kaye with the international children foundation. It's a scandal that Connors was allowed to keep that role. Someone should interview the grown boy today. What would he say now that he couldn't say then?

[@josephlfrazier9727]

He must have been hurting for money, when he did the 1987-1988 "Werewolf" TV series. He was better than that.

[@josephlfrazier9727]

@James Henderson He kept busy with a pay check, (www.imdb.com/name/nm0175200/?ref_=tt_cl_t1) but he had a lot of competition to par with. I think he was even competing with his 1892 Winchester rifle on the show. I always wanted one of those rifles. Visiting relatives with my parents out of state once long ago, we all went to an auction, as they were always looking for bargains, antique shops, etc., an item up for auction was a replica rifleman's loop lever BB gun. I begged my mother to buy it, but...nope. There's a guy that makes replicas of those rifles available, last I knew.

[@josephlfrazier9727]

I have since learned that Mike DiMuzio has passed on Dec. of 2015. Loop lever rifle demonstration. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6HTiZhrpp1res0