the program was adapted for television in 1957 with john payne as the star. an article in a trade publication reported that 39 "half-hour tv films" would be produced "for a series titled 'the six shooter.'" burt was the consultant for all episodes of the adaptation. the pilot episode, titled "the restless gun", aired on 29 march 1957 as an episode of the anthology series "schlitz playhouse of stars". john payne, who would go on to star in the series, played the lead character, britt ponsett. but by the time the series, also called "the restless gun", debuted the following fall, the main character's name had been changed to vint bonner, "a slightly altered rendition of britt ponset."