33 Years Ago Today, Chuck Norris' TV Debut Faced Near Failure Before Airing
Walker, Texas Ranger was a massive hit in the early 1990s, but before its debut, the Chuck Norris-led TV show nearly never made it to the screen.
Thirty-three years ago today, CBS launched an action crime drama starring the late icon as Sgt. Cordell Walker, the martial arts expert and veteran Texas Ranger.
Officially aired on April 21, 1993, the TV series follows the story of the lead protagonist, who is not only a law enforcer but also someone who has strong moral values.
He helped maintain peace and order in the Dallas–Fort Worth area with his tech-savvy partner, Sgt. James "Jimmy" Trivette, played by Clarence Gilyard Jr.
The duo's mission was to take down criminals involved in organized crime and drug trafficking.
Adding charm and depth to the series, Norris and Gilyard Jr. were joined by Sheree J. Wilson and Noble Willingham as part of the main cast.
Amid the stellar lineup of cast, did you know that Walker, Texas Ranger was almost "dead on arrival" before it made its on-air debut?
As noted by Variety, the action drama encountered a major setback that forced the production to shut down temporarily.
At that time, Cannon TV, the original production company financing the series, ran out of budget midway through the filming of Season 1.
Fortunately, the show's pilot episode, a two-hour premiere, became a huge hit among viewers.
With its weekend time slot, the CBS series received a decent rating of 16.5, which represented the percentage of all TV households in the U.S. that were watching the premiere.
Moreover, the demographics also showed that 30 percent of the viewers were adults over 50, while 25 percent were aged 18 to 49 and only 21 percent were aged 2 to 11.
Due to the show's initial success, Columbia Pictures Television took notice of its strong performance and teamed up with CBS to take over production, including covering the series' deficit financing.
Who would have thought that a series that almost never aired would be nominated for an award at the 46th Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Editing for a Series?
With this, Walker, Texas Ranger ran for eight more seasons after wrapping up the series on May 19, 2001, giving viewers a two-hour finale.
Before Norris' death in March 19, 2026, the iconic actor was named Honorary Texan by the Texas Senate in 2017, for his long-term residency in the state and most especially his notable portrayal of Cordell Walker.
Related: 45 Years Ago Today, Beloved '70s Icon Won His First Best Actor Award at the Oscars
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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 8:00 AM.