Have Gun, Will Travel, I’d have to say. Richard Boone was consistently good in his role as Paladin. The scripts were at times astonishingly sophisticated for anything in the genre, and the show was just so cool.
Honorable mention to any of the Hoss-centered episodes of Bonanza. Dan Blocker was a national treasure.
Honorable mention also to Alias Smith and Jones and Bearcats for daring to be a little different.
I vote for Gunsmoke - (Marshall Matt Dillon) James Arness and Rawhide - (Rowdy Yates) a very young Clint Eastwood.
By the way, each would make a good Feature Length Movie on the Big Screen - Rawhide in my opinion helmed by Clint Eastwood. Not sure who should be in charge of Gunsmoke.
We just lost a good friend who grew up with Festus as a kid. Had some hilarious stories about their hellraising as youths in SE Colorado. I’m sure he would have agreed with the Gunsmoke sentiment.
I’ll second the Rawhide chorus. Campy but entertaining nevertheless.