Cable, Broadcast Nets Salute Burt Reynolds

TV networks will honor Burt Reynolds with special programming marathons featuring the legendary actor, who passed away on Thursday (Sept. 6.)

Burt Reynolds (left) and stuntman Hal Needham from documentary series 'The Bandit'

Burt Reynolds (left) and stuntman Hal Needham from documentary series 'The Bandit'

CMT on Friday (Sept. 7) will air The Bandit, a 2016 documentary about Reynolds’ popular movie franchise Smokey & The Bandit. The network will also air the 2004 Reynolds film, Without A Paddle, immediately after the documentary, according to network officials.

Digital multicast TV network getTV will air episodes from Reynolds’ classic TV series Dan August and Hawk. Four episodes of the 1971 police drama Dan August, in which Reynolds starred as a suave police detective -- as well as four episodes of the 1960’s cop series Hawk starring Reynolds as a Native American police detective in New York City -- will air on Sept. 15 and Sept. 22, said network officials.

MeTV will showcase Reynolds’ appearances in the classic Western series Gunsmoke beginning Sept. 10. The digital multicast network will air six episodes featuring Reynolds’ character Quint Asper in the long-running 1960’s series. Overall, Reynolds appeared in 50 Gunsmoke episodes, according to the network.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.