Barry Corbin, the iconic Texan character actor who first ambled onto the big screen as Uncle Bob in Urban Cowboy (1980), has since played more than 300 roles—ranging from Maurice Minnifield, the philosophical ex-astronaut of Northern Exposure (earning two Emmy nominations), to crusty ranch hand Ross welcoming Jimmy to the 6666 on Yellowstone. In this illuminating visit with Rob and RJ Word—recorded inside Corbin’s Fort Worth “man-cave,” beneath trophy longhorns and movie memorabilia—the actor recalls swapping guitar licks with John Travolta on the Urban Cowboy set, jousting verbally with Clint Eastwood in Honky Tonk Man (1982), and watching director Taylor Sheridan mine real ranch life for on-screen grit. Corbin’s authenticity runs deep: before Hollywood called, he rodeoed, penned one-acts, and helped campaign for his father, Kilmer B. Corbin, the youngest state senator in Texas history. Listen in and discover why every modern Western still reaches for Barry Corbin’s brand of authenticity.
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29:17
Gregory Harrison
Gregory Harrison—TV favorite remembered for Dr. “Gonzo” Gates on Trapper John, M.D. and pioneer Levi Zendt in the epic miniseries Centennial—saddles up with Rob and RJ Word to talk Westerns, remakes, and riding alongside legends. In 1988, he acquired the rights to Red River, produced a television remake, and cast James Arness—fresh out of retirement—as Thomas Dunson, with Bruce Boxleitner by his side. Harrison packed the film with cameo salutes to classic TV cowboys, from Guy Madison and Ty Hardin to John Lupton, creating what felt like a living Western hall of fame. Born in Avalon on California’s Catalina Island, Harrison shares a heartfelt story of outfitting John Wayne and his Hollywood pals in yachting gear during summer stopovers—a teenage encounter that ignited his lifelong love of the Duke. Listen in, and if you enjoy the conversation, follow and share A Word on Westerns with fellow lovers of Western entertainment!
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27:59
Karen Sharpe
Golden Globe–winning actress Karen Sharpe—famed for The High and the Mighty and TV’s Johnny Ringo—joins Rob and RJ Word on A Word on Westerns for a heartfelt trip down memory lane. She explains how John Wayne took her under his wing after The High and the Mighty and—at her urging—released her from his film contract so she could saddle up for the booming world of television. That leap landed her on dusty sets from Gunsmoke to Rawhide, The Range Rider, Trackdown, and The Wild Wild West, where she sparred with James Arness, Clint Eastwood, Eric Fleming, and a young Burt Reynolds. She laughs about Eastwood teasing her during a Rawhide scene and reveals how starring in Aaron Spelling’s first Western series, Johnny Ringo, shaped her career. The conversation also touches on her Golden Globe win, her early jungle-girl days, and her love story with director Stanley Kramer. Tune in, and if you enjoy the conversation, follow and share A Word on Westerns with fellow lovers of cinema history.
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30:48
Ed Asner
Edward Asner: Emmy-winning star of Lou Grant and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, appears on this episode of A Word on Westerns. Hosts Rob and RJ Word dig into Asner’s rich career—from his iconic role as Lou Grant in TV journalism to his adventures in the American West. Asner shares warm recollections of playing sly rancher Bart Jason opposite John Wayne in Howard Hawks’s classic El Dorado (1966) and tales from the set with Robert Mitchum and actress Jacqueline Scott. He even recounts two different turns on Gunsmoke (as Sgt. Wilks in 1964’s “Hung High” and drifter Redmond in 1966’s “The Whispering Tree”), highlighting his dramatic range. The conversation also touches on Asner’s many TV appearances—Route 66, The Virginian , and even a turn on The Fugitive —and his diverse film roles, from Westerns like The Skin Game (1971) to Pixar animation (Up, as Carl Fredricksen) . Along the way, Rob and RJ reflect on how Norman Lear and company created Lou Grant and the character’s legacy as a gruff-but-goldenhearted boss, a role that earned Asner a record-breaking seven Emmys.
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45:03
Will Hutchins
Will Hutchins (1930–2025)—the lanky Angeleno who ambled onto ABC screens as gentle‑souled law‑student‑turned‑drifter Tom “Sugarfoot” Brewster—joins host Rob Word and producer/co‑host RJ Word in a 2021 Zoom sit‑down that now feels like a fond farewell. Hutchins recalls how Warner Bros. spun Sugarfoot out of Clint Walker’s smash hit Cheyenne, easing Walker’s load of thirty‑nine hour‑long episodes a year with a rotating‑slot companion series. He delights in writer‑director Montgomery Pittman’s wild “Canary Kid” trilogy, where he played both straight‑arrow Brewster and his mustachioed outlaw twin. Towering memories follow: sparring with James Arness in Gunsmoke’s 1963 gem “Blind Man’s Bluff,” where Ted Post carved tension to the bone; leaping from TV backlots to William Wellman’s World War I adventure Lafayette Escadrille (1958); slogging through jungle mud and live ammo for Sam Fuller’s rugged war epic Merrill’s Marauders (1962); and embracing desert existentialism in Monte Hellman’s cult classic The Shooting (1966) opposite a young Jack Nicholson. Hutchins even appears—cheekily bullet‑proof—in Clint Eastwood’s Magnum Force (1973). The conversation crescendos at his 2002 Golden Boot Award, where fellow Warner cowboy Clint Walker calmed his stage jitters poolside. Recorded before his passing, this episode now stands as a warm campfire send‑off to television’s gentlest cowboy—proof that a dash of sarsaparilla humor and an Arctic‑blonde mop can still make the frontier feel friendly.
With a special emphasis on the Western genre, A WORD ON WESTERNS is a podcast devoted to preserving and documenting the rich history of film, television, and related media. Hosted by television veteran Rob Word—joined by his son, producer and entertainer RJ Word—this award-winning interview series brings you in-depth conversations with the filmmakers, performers, and creative minds who shaped some of our most cherished screen classics. Many of these engaging discussions originate from the legendary Autry Museum in Los Angeles, California, offering authentic insights and firsthand stories that continue to keep the spirit of the West alive.
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