So what is Rawhide? Well, I could be mean and point you to a bunch of other pages, which, probably would be able to give you a better description, but if you're lazy (like me), you can just listen here.

Rawhide is a hour long show that aired in 1959, in age where Westerns were as common as sitcoms and soap operas are today. It is one of the more unique shows that dealt with a cattle drive, as opposed to the normal lawman or gunslinger type show. In addition to a superb cast of regulars, it also had many notable guest stars which included Leonard Nimoy, Lon Chaney Jr., Frankie Avalon, Barbara Eden, and many others.

Over the eight years Rawhide aired, it hosted a variety of regular cast members.
 

	Gil Favor (Eric Fleming)	Played by Eric Fleming, Gil Favor is the tough trail boss. He is strong willed, very stubborn, but despite the tough front he puts on, every now and then he'll slip, and we see the softer side of Gil. He has a soft spot for children, and although he rags on Rowdy mercilessly, it's obvious that he's fond of his ramrod... despite all the trouble he brings to the drive. When Fleming left the show in the last season, we were never told what happened to Gil, he just sort of... disappeared.
	Rowdy Yates (Clint Eastwood)	The role that gave Clint Eastwood his break into Hollywood, Rowdy is the ramrod, or second-in-command, of the drive. He's as stubborn as Favor, if not more so, extremely strong willed and hot tempered. It is not uncommon to see Rowdy at odds with Favor, and the two have come to blows more than once. He is, however, extremely loyal to Favor, and the men of the drive. During the last season, Rowdy became trail boss. I keep my comments to myself.
	Pete Nolan (Sheb Wooley)	Pete Nolan is the scout for the drive in the first three and half seasons of the show. Pete is a likable character: he's always loyal to Favor, protective of Rowdy, and loves to taunt Wishbone. Pete is also the indian expert on the drive, and will offer his opinion on a situation. From what I could tell, he is third-in-command, taking over the drive whenever Rowdy and Favor are away. He left in season four to become a scout for the army (though he magically appeared at the end of season seven without any explanation at all.)
	Wishbone (Paul Brinegar)	Throughout the series, Wishbone is the cook of the drive. He's probably suppose to be the comic relief, with his witty comments, but he's also a caring man, that constantly nurses the wounds of the men on the drive, and plays referee whenever Rowdy and Favor get into one of their spats. Like Favor, he gives his own assistant, Mushy, a hard time, but whenever Mushy gets hurt, Wishbone immediately goes into "mother" mode.
	Mushy (James Murdock)
	Jim Quince (Steve Raines)
	Joe Scarlet (Rocky Shahan)
	Hey Soos Patines (Robert Cabal)
	Clay Forrester (Charles Gray)
	Toothless (William Thompkins)
	Simon Blake (Raymond St. Jacques)
	Ian Cabot (David Watson)
	Jed Colby (John Ireland)	In addition to being Jed Colby in the final season, Ireland also appeared in three earlier episodes. "Spanish Camp, The" (episode # 7.28) 5/7/1965 -  "Incident of the Portrait" (episode # 5.2) 10/5/1962 -  "Incident in the Garden of Eden" (episode # 2.31) 6/17/1960 -

While it was once said that some of the episodes focused more on the guest stars, there was quite a number that focused on the main characters themselves. Over the years Rowdy Yates (Clint Eastwood's character) grew from a young hothead into a capable trail boss (however I will refrain from any thoughts on the final season). Gil Favor, while mostly stable, had a period of general irratableness, most likely due to the stress of owning the herd he was driving. I could go on forever, but I'll try to refrain from doing so.

In addition to the well written episodes and memorable cast of characters, the show's theme song became popular on its own. Sung by Frankie Laine originally, there have been numerous editions by various artists.

Okay, my little two cents... but hey! You asked for it.