TV Networks Remember Burt Reynolds With Programming Tributes
Updated Sept. 11, 2018, 10:37am ET
Late, great actor Burt Reynolds, who passed away Thursday at age 82, was not only a movie star who memorably graced the big screen in hits like Smokey and the Bandit, The Cannonball Run and Boogie Nights. He also had notable TV roots, and it was the small screen that first helped launch him to stardom.
So it’s fitting that a few TV networks have announced that they will be paying tribute to the entertainment icon over the next week and farther out with a number of programming specials and marathons.
From classic episodes of Gunsmoke and Dan August, to more current Discovery Channel programming, Reynolds’ appearances on TV have spanned decades. Here’s where to watch some of them in upcoming programming tributes.
Burt Reynolds TV Programming Tributes
Fast N’ Loud — Discovery Channel, Saturday, Sept. 8, 9am/8am c (pictured below). Discovery is re-airing the special two-part episode of its motor series that featured Burt Reynolds and a replica of the iconic Smokey and The Bandit ‘77 Trans Am. In the episode, Richard Rawlings and his Gas Monkey crew are hired to help build the legendary vehicle. Rawlings, who is a huge fan of the renowned actor, along with fellow builder Aaron Kaufman head to Jupiter, Fla., with the Bandit-style Trans Am in hopes of getting Reynolds to help Rawlings win a big bet against an old rival.
Gunsmoke — MeTV, Monday, Sept. 10-Saturday, Sept. 15, 1pm/12pm c each day. Nostalgic network MeTV looks back at Reynolds’ memorable role as Native American blacksmith Quint Asper (pictured top), whom he portrayed in 50 episodes of the classic Western series from 1962-65. The weeklong marathon will include six Quint Asper episodes, one per day, starting with the Season 8, Episode 3 Gunsmoke episode that introduces his character, “Quint Asper Comes Home,” and ending with Season 10’s second episode, “The Crooked Mile,” reportedly Reynolds’ favorite episode of the series.
getTV Burt Reynolds Tributes — Saturday, Sept. 15 & Saturday, Sept. 22, 12pm/11am c. getTV, another network for fans of classic TV, will remember Reynolds with episodes of his TV series Dan August and Hawk.
Just before Reynolds became a big-screen star in Deliverance, he headlined Dan August in 1971, playing the titular suave police detective. Episodes of Dan August will air on getTV Sept. 15 and Sept. 22 from noon-5pm ET.
Late-night both Saturdays, getTV will air back-to-back episodes of Hawk, the black-and-white 1960s cop noir series with Reynolds playing Native American New York City police detective John Hawk.
And you’ll either need to stay up late or set your DVR for another Reynolds bonus from getTV. Early morning Wednesday, Sept. 12/late-night Sept. 11, at 2am/1am c, the network will air an episode of The Sonny & Cher Show that featured Reynolds as a guest.
TCM Remembers Burt Reynolds — Wednesday, Dec. 26, beginning at 8/7c on Turner Classic Movies. A little farther out, on the day after Christmas, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will remember Reynolds with a night of some of his classic film features. It kicks off at 8pm ET with 1977’s iconic Smokey and the Bandit, then is followed by Deliverance (1972, 10pm); The Longest Yard (1974, 12am); Hooper (1978, 2:15am); and Smokey and the Bandit II (1980, 4:15am). (Okay, maybe that last one isn’t quite a classic, but still fun.)
