The American Sportsman originated from a 1964 segment on ABC’s Wide World of Sports, featuring Curt Gowdy and Joe Brooks fly fishing in the Andes Mountains of Argentina. The immersive filming style—a combination of handheld cameras and newly invented wireless microphones—brought viewers into the action, setting the stage for a standalone series. Its debut episode aired on January 31, 1965, occupying Sunday afternoon slots typically after live sporting broadcasts.
The Early Reality TV Outdoors
This pioneering series blended elements of travel, adventure, celebrity, and the great outdoors long before “reality TV” became a known genre. It showcased fishing, hunting, hang gliding, whitewater kayaking, and free climbing in scenic locations across the U.S., Canada, and globally—making it one of TV’s earliest outdoor-recreation reality shows.
Hosts & Stars: From Heroes to Outdoors Icons
Hosts Over the Years
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Joe Foss (1965–1967): World War II hero, former South Dakota governor, and AFL commissioner.
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Grits Gresham (1966–1979): Expert outdoorsman from Louisiana, environmental advocate, wildlife management graduate—often viewed as de facto co-host.
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Curt Gowdy (late 1960s–1986): Beloved veteran sportscaster whose warm, accessible style earned him the nickname “The American Sportsman” himself.
Celebrity Guests
The show featured a dazzling roster of stars: Bing Crosby, Andy Griffith, Burt Reynolds, Larry Hagman, William Shatner, Redd Foxx, General Jimmy Doolittle, Phil Harris, Shelley Hack, and more. Gowdy reflected on them as “wonderful sportsmen” who saw the series as a refreshing departure from their usual realms of entertainment, politics, or athletics.
Innovation in Storytelling & Filming
As Curt Gowdy later recounted, the production team pioneered immersive filming techniques—using lightweight film cameras, wireless mics, and multiple angles in remote world locations like Patagonia, Cabo San Lucas, and Kenya. They captured acts like hunting a rhino or wrestling with record-breaking fish with raw intensity, literally bringing the hunt into living rooms across America. Get answers to your questions by checking out Patagonia travel road trip.
Theme Music: A Sonic Evolution
The show’s musical theme evolved across the decades:
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Up to 1973: A lyrical theme by Harry Bluestone, beginning “Follow me, and find contentment.”
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Mid-1970s: A march-style composition by Curtis Biever and Lou Stein.
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From 1979: A refreshed “Signature” theme by Edd Kalehoff.
Run, Legacy & Cancellation
Spanning 22 seasons from 1965 to 1986, The American Sportsman became Sunday-afternoon prime television but was ultimately cancelled due to declining ratings. Periodic reruns appeared on ESPN Classic, helping keep its legacy alive.
The Revival: A New Era on ESPN2
Between 2002 and 2006, the show was reborn as The New American Sportsman on ESPN2, with original executive producer Bud Morgan and head writer Pat Smith involved in bringing it back. Hosts included:
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Rick Schroder (Season 1)
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Deion Sanders (Season 2)—who described fishing as “peace, joy, calmness… relaxing, soothing.”
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Tom Ackerman (Seasons 3 & 4)
Guest stars ranged from Morgan Freeman, Robert Duvall, Ethan Hawke, Bo Jackson, Jack Nicklaus, Kevin Costner to William Shatner—linking the revival to its iconic past.