5 more references to Pueblo in television and film, from 'Gunsmoke' to 'Venture Bros.'

Our first story highlighting references to Pueblo, Colorado, in popular media garnered quite a bit of interest and some Chieftain readers even chimed in with examples of their own.

With help from those readers and a bit of research, we have found five more instances of well-known television shows and movies making references to the Home of Heroes. Who knew Pueblo was so famous?

As with our previous story highlighting references, this list is not an exhaustive list.

'Gunsmoke' includes several references to writer's hometown

The long-running Western radio and television series "Gunsmoke," set in Dodge City, Kansas, mentions Pueblo multiple times.

One such instance is in the 1960 television episode "Colorado Sheriff." In the episode, Ben Witter, played by Robert Karnes, claims to be a Pueblo deputy sheriff hoping to arrest Rod Ellison, played by Wright King, for robbery.

Of course, "Colorado Sheriff" is just one example of Pueblo being referenced in "Gunsmoke." Writer John Meston, who created the series with Norman MacDonnell, grew up in Pueblo and frequently weaved references to his hometown into scripts.

Agent Brock Sampson becomes a Puebloan in 'The Venture Bros.'

"The Venture Bros." was an Adult Swim original series that ran from 2003 to 2018. The series' storylines often feature brothers Dean and Hank Venture, their father Rusty, and secret agent Brock Sampson.

In the 2008 episode "The Family that Slays Together, Stays Together," Sampson needs a new identity to protect himself and is given one by his supervisor, Hunter Gathers. Posing as an exotic dancer, Gathers meets Sampson at a gentlemen's club to assign him the new identity.

"Your name is Jesus Trouvez," Gathers tells Sampson. "You live in Pueblo, Colorado. You sell aluminum siding, and you love the History Channel."

'Signed, Sealed, Delivered' cast heads to Pueblo in search of lost child

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered" is a Hallmark Channel series that follows "the Postables" — a team of U.S. Postal Service employees that attempt to find recipients of dead letters.

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered" was created by "Touched by an Angel" producer Martha Williamson and takes place in Denver. The Postables stay a night in Pueblo in the TV movie "Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Road Less Traveled" in search of a young boy who they worry has been kidnapped.

While "Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Road Less Traveled" takes place in Colorado, it was filmed in Canada. Pueblo viewers may get a kick out of, or cringe at, references to "Pueblo North High School," "Mesa Pueblo Hotel," and "the U.S. 50."

Famous journalist learns about her Pueblo ties in "Finding Your Roots"

"Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr." has made fascinating discoveries about the lineages of several celebrities throughout its ten-season run.

The season five episode "Reporting on the Reporters" documents the genealogies of journalists Christiane Amanpour, Ann Curry and Lisa Ling. It is stated on the episode that Curry, best known as an anchor with NBC News and "Today," has ancestral ties to Pueblo.

Curry's father, Robert Curry, was born in Pueblo in 1929. He met Hiro Nagase — his future wife and Ann's mother — while conducting Japanese streetcars in 1948.

Jeff Bridges visits a Pueblo bowling alley in 'Crazy Heart'

"The Big Lebowski" isn't the only film to feature actor Jeff Bridges in a bowling alley — the 2009 film "Crazy Heart" opens with the actor arriving at an alley as fictional country singer "Bad Blake."

Viewers soon learn that the bowling alley is in Pueblo and Bad Blake is getting ready to perform a gig there. The scenery in Crazy Heart's opening looks somewhat like Pueblo, with Southwestern architecture and a view of the Rocky Mountains.

However, the bowling alley's architecture resembles neither Pinelle's Bowlero Lanes nor Big Daddy's Sunset Bowl. Inaccuracies aside, Crazy Heart did win two Oscars.

More Pueblo references: Pueblo references in TV and film, from the home of bottled farts to the grave of 'MacGruber'

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: What TV shows and movies mention Pueblo, Colorado? Here are 5 more