F Troop: The Beloved Western Comedy’s Hilarious History

The F Troop Television Show, a comedic Western airing on ABC from 1965 to 1967, remains a beloved classic. Set in Fort Courage, the show followed the misadventures of Captain Parmenter, Sergeant O’Rourke, Corporal Agarn, and the Hekawi tribe.

ABC’s fall 1966 schedule faced challenges, impacting shows like F Troop. The lineup included “Batman II,” “F Troop,” and others. “The Tammy Grimes Show” struggled, replaced by “The Dating Game,” boosting “Bewitched.”

Mid-season changes saw “Bewitched” move to 8:30 pm, followed by other shows. This improved “Bewitched’s” ratings but hurt “F Troop.” “Batman” also underperformed, leading ABC to consider changes.

Amidst this, ABC greenlit “The Flying Nun,” placing it in “F Troop’s” time slot, contributing to its cancellation.

While “F Troop” had respectable ratings (13.0-15.0 households), it lost “Batman” viewers weekly (3.0-4.0 households), influencing ABC’s decision.

Production costs also contributed. As a single-camera Western with elaborate sets and a large cast, “F Troop” was expensive. ABC likely wasn’t covering full costs due to the show’s performance. Financial strain and programming challenges sealed its fate. ABC also felt the show didn’t align with their strategy of targeting female viewers on Thursday nights.