Still, this caused quite a dilemma for the people running "Gunsmoke." Reynolds' character, Quint Asper, was an immediate fan favorite. So, they had to do something. A lot of other shows would later run into this same problem, and many more will again in the future. When the audience decides they want more of the background character, sometimes it's a good idea to listen to them. "Gunsmoke" couldn't immediately write Reynolds out of there to get ahead of the near-certain move to bigger and better soundstages, but they also couldn't pin too much of the story on Quint because there's no telling how long he would be around. So yeah, they had a big problem that had to be handled delicately.
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CBS Television Studios
Burt Reynolds was on "Gunsmoke" for about three seasons. The show ran for a staggering 20 seasons. Wild numbers like that are almost impossible to fathom given today's TV climate of smaller writers' rooms and season episode orders. But back in the late '50s, a show could roll on for 20 years before being unceremoniously discarded by the network at the end. (It's worth noting that Soap Operas achieve this milestone often, and there's not nearly the amount of attention paid to them.)
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During seasons 8, 9, and 10, Reynolds played Quint Asper. The mixed-race, half-white and half-Comanche, blacksmith who served as Deputy Marshal to James Arness' U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon. Despite fans' love for the character, the movie industry would come calling. Doc Adams actor Milburn Stone told Reynolds that he should start thinking about the bigger picture soon.
This "Gunsmoke" situation is one we still see on popular shows today. In fact, some fan bases have become even more vocal about how these career-level-ups affect their favorite programs. Burt Reynolds managed to move into bigger projects at a time when these shows and movies weren't reported on as heavily. With the Internet, viewers have those kinds of updates blasted right into their pockets every day. It changes how people watch their favorite shows.
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A person settling in for the last episodes of "Gunsmoke" season 10 likely had no idea that it would be the last appearance of Quint Asper in the show. In the current era of TV, everyone and their mother is aware that shows like "The Bear," "Stranger Things," or "Euphoria" have a ticking clock on them the second they get to season 2. Our current stars like Ayo Edebiri, Joseph Quinn, and Zendaya have all had a massive jump in profile over the life of those shows, meaning productions now need to accommodate their in-demand schedules.
Producers are probably happy for their actors when these massive opportunities make themselves available, but it does present a unique challenge in bringing the viewers something that balances those busy schedules and the story they had intended to tell. Some of these shows have done a better job of balancing those obligations ("The Bear") and others ... not so much (I'm looking at you, "Euphoria").
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For "Gunsmoke", the producers found another fan-favorite character to slot in next to James Arness, and the show kept rolling for years and years. Ken Curtis's Festus Haggen is a character that still gets referenced in pop culture today. His performance added some levity and heart that audiences really appreciated. That softened the blow of losing Reynolds to the silver screen. (Well, that and the fact you could go buy a ticket and see him in so many projects in the coming years!) It's all about figuring out how to solve a problem before it overwhelms the show.
