- THE MISFORTUNE TELLER
Original Airdate: March 6, 1960
Synopsis. In Medicine Bow, Wyoming, Bret finds himself framed for the murder of the town’s mayor.
According to this episode, Bret’s birthday is May 11, while Melanie Blake’s birthday is January 8. According to “The Day They Hanged Bret Maverick,” however, Bret’s birthday is April 7—the same date on which James Garner was born in 1928.

LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West, featuring more than 100 pages of new information about the show that made James Garner a star. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of the third edition will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. The revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West is available both in softcover and, very soon, as an eBook through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.