Wizards and Warriors

I remember watching this show as an 11 year-old and LOVED IT. I'd look forward to it each week and would not miss it for the world. It seemed like it was preempted ALL THE TIME by something in the news, just like the other reviewer said. Of course, I'd tune in the next week and get to watch it. No problem. But this kept happening. A week on the air, a week off the air. Finally, it was "preempted" by another show. It took several weeks before I realized it was never coming back. At least I still had "Tales of the Gold Monkey". The best way to describe this show would be as follows: Wizards & Warriors was to the Dungeons and Dragons genre as "Sledge Hammer" was to cop shows. A true classic that needs to be released on DVD.

Though it was a short run (only 8 episodes) in 1983, this TV show made a lasting impression on me. Why? I can sum it up in two words - Dirk Blackpool. However, the cast, the characters, the crew and the special effects combined to make it a fun, fantasy series with current day ('83) humor. Thankfully, folks on-line still remember it and talk about it.

I watched this series faithfully back when I was in college. I remember seeing the first episode and being quite puzzled. In those days, mixing comedy and drama was not very common, so I was not sure how to react. But the show interested me enough to watch the second episode, and that was when I got the joke -- a hero who wasn't always heroic, a princess who could be annoying, and a villain who could be quite sympathetic in a twisted sort of way. From that point on, I was hooked. I was so unhappy when it was canceled, but not too surprised. I think it was a little too different for most people. But I still think of it now and then and am hoping that some day it will be released on DVD (or whatever the next technology will be).

Oh, how I miss "Wizards and Warriors." Why didn't this show last more than one season? Perhaps the audience for it wasn't "there" yet. I was. This show made me a huge Julia Duffy fan. And I'd always loved Clive Revill. Anyway, about the show... The basic premise of the show - Prince Dirk Blackpool wants to rule the kingdom (of course) and holds the evil wizard "Vector" to his bidding by stealing the wizard's power-crystal with the help of the witch Bethel. Meanwhile Princess Ariel loves the hero, Prince Greystone, but is too self involved to get him. She's pretty much what made the show so great and memorable and certainly I remember it at all. I actually remember some of the episodes pretty well, as I had taped them to watch later, and saved them for a long time (they are, alas, long gone now. But as the previous reviewer stated, if anyone has them...). I remember the "over the top" heroism of Jeff Conaway's character. I remember mostly Ms. Duffy's Princess Ariel. The great lines she had. When the evil Blackpool went to kiss her hand and he scolded "don't get it wet." And her physical comedy (she's a master and underrated "pratfaller.") - especially with that conical hat she had to wear. I guess the only real criticism I might have for the show was that it was perhaps a little uneven (hard for me to explain, but even if you loved the show you might know what I mean). But if you're reading this, you probably don't care about whatever "uneven" may mean - you remember, and wish, as I do, for the "fun" of it again. Why isn't this on video/DVD? Would it work today, when it didn't find it's audience back when it first aired? I'd love to know - wouldn't you?

I really enjoyed this show and I wish I remembered more about it, but the 17 intervening years, its short run, and the fact that I was just a youngun when it was on conspire so that I remember very few details.

I do remember how well written and acted the deliciously evil Dirk Blackpool was. I don't remember if this was a catch-phrase or if he only said it once, but one of his threats that stayed with me was "[Stop that] or I'll chain you to the floor and walk all over you in my spiked boots." Another tidbit is that baseball player Pete Rose always reminded me of Blackpool, appearance-wise.

I believe the line above was said to Blackpool's comedically bumbling assistant Marko. I've seen actor Walter Olkewicz in a few things and this is the role I remember him for.

I imagine this show must be a bit of a holy grail for tape-traders. If anyone has it, let me know. :-)