Highest rated episode in Gunsmoke's twenty year run

GSFE

The original title of "Kitty's Love Affair" was "End of the Run."  The story depicted a gunfighter who fell in love with Kitty and hoped that, by buying a ranch and settling down, he could encourage her to marry him.  The original ending had the gunfighter (Richard Kiley) hanged.  Unfortunately, John Mantley, the producer, decided that, yet again, Matt would save the day.  Before Mr. Kiley was cast in the role of Will Stambridge, the writers (S.L. Kotar and J.E. Gessler) were told there could be no kissing scenes between the gunfighter and Miss Kitty because "Gunsmoke fans would never allow it."  After Richard accepted the role, the script was altered to allow Will to kiss Kitty four times!  This was the highest rated episode in the twenty year history of Gunsmoke.

score 10/10

GSFE 9 March 1999

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0054111/