Mr. Merlin

I think they ripped off the idea from The George Burns Oh God film with John Denver. It's extremely light fair for the easily amused.

This short-lived series was the ultimate for me as a teenager. I thought Clark Brandon was great and he was my heartthrob. It was a fun programme and disappointingly lasted just one series and never been repeated! All you 'Mr. Merlin' fans write to the network and demand re-runs!

I really enjoyed this series growing up. it's charming story plots are wonderful and the majority of the cast are VERY lovable (unlike what's out today). Like everyone else, I really HATED that it lasted only one season!! what's up with that?! it had Clark Brandon (the only guy I've seen to have buck teeth, button nose, and BIG blue-eyes, and still looked damn awesome). it had the momentum to run at least for another few seasons. I had seen Clark Brandon in various TV roles (Jo's BF from Facts of Life, for one), but really liked that this show revolved around him. I've seen his later performances (ex: Fast food--though i really didn't care for it--Zack's personality really fit Clark for me... but then again, so did Eddie's). I hated that he faded into obscurity. he was just as talented as others in that time period, and it's a shame that studios didn't make more use of him. as a kid, i wanted to be like him.. except my eyes are hazel.

Max Merlin (Barnard Hughes) is the actual Merlin. He's over 1600 years old and running a small garage gas station in San Francisco. His constant companion is 1100 years old popping spirit Alex (Elaine Joyce). He's ordered to get an apprentice. He selects high school student Zachary Rogers (Clark Brandon) who pulled the crowbar. Leo Samuels (Jonathan Prince) is Zach's best friend.

This was 8pm on CBS leading in the last season of WKRP. It is a family friendly sitcom. It reminds me a little of Sabrina the Teenage Witch. This is less teenie but maybe it should be more. It needs to spend more time at the high school. There's no logic in Merlin being a car mechanic and it separates him from the school. He should be the school janitor or librarian. Either one would allow him to have a secret magic room. At the very least, there should be more main characters at the school other than Zach and Leo. In one episode, Janine Turner plays an evil cheerleader. She could have been a recurring character. Zach should be chasing the impossible hot girl while a sweet girl is his Girl Friday. Instead, the school is only story material for individual episodes. This is a fine family friendly network sitcom, but it has more potential than that.

A delightful series about Merlin the magician (Bernard Hughes) teaches Zac Rogers (Clark Brandon) how to be a good magician. Sounds a little like Harry Potter. But Zac gets into a lot of mayhem with the magic spells. This was a good series, it's a shame it only lasted one season. If it was bad, then Sabrina the Teenage Witch was no better, but i'm surprised that show lasted longer. Clark Brandon was a handsome and charming actor with some talent. But he just could not find a hit in movies and T.V.