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.

I agree with the previous comment. Plus, believe it or not, some of the jokes were rather subtle. For example, it was shown at a time in which "Real men don't eat quiche" was a cultural saying. In the show, the muscular good-guy hero and Princess Ariel were sitting on a blanket preparing to eat a picnic lunch that Ariel had prepared. She pulled out many items and offered each one to the hunk. When she off-handedly offered him quiche, he merely replied in a normal tone of voice, "No thanks." And that was it. No laugh tracks. You had to actually watch the show to understand and appreciate the comedy (I tend to do additional activities during TV shows).

Julie Duffy was outstanding as the spoiled, self-centered princess. This role was reprised during "Newhart" in which she played a spoiled housekeeper in Bob Newhart's series at an inn in the Pacific Northwest.

Anyway, good show. It is still missed.

I remember seeing this one episode where arch-enemies Jeff Conaway and Duncan Regehr had to rely on each other to get out of a cursed cave. Regehr tried to kill Conaway at every turn but Conaway kept reminding him he needed his help to escape alive. This came out when Dungeons & Dragons was peaking in popularity and Dragonslayer had just hit theaters. This was a predecessor to Hercules and Xena.

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. :-)

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.