Though Hunter was an optimistic person and a collegial colleague on the set, "Temple Houston" proved illusory for his long-term career prospects. Hunter thought that the series had found its voice beginning with the 12th episode, "Enough Rope", by having adopted the light-hearted approach of ABC's former "Maverick" western series. As Hunter explained the change in format, the series was "conceived in humor and delivered in dead seriousness. Then, about halfway through the season, NBC decided to return to the tongue-in-cheek approach. By that time it was too late. The big joke around town was that the series was about a synagogue in Texas."