Wizards and Warriors

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?

Its a shame that this sitcom gem was lost to us due to constant preempting. I've never thought the rating system was all that fair. They should not include moments when prime time shows fall victim to breaking world newscasts, presidential addresses, special mini-series broadcasts, and holiday specials...its just not an accurate assessment of a show's viewer base. That said, maybe some reviewers are right that the audience wasn't 'there' yet, as the D&D gaming crowd was still mostly a little young to fall into the demographic they were shooting for...but I certainly loved it! And pay no heed to the comments of 'Oh Dear, Oh Dear'...that person obviously had no idea that the show wasn't there as a serious attempt to promote D&D to the masses...it was a COMEDY...a silly, camped-up comedy (like "Men In Tights' was to the Robin Hood franchise). And a good one at that! Julia Duffy was so memorable and funny as the spoiled, self-absorbed Princess Ariel that when she re prised that type of role as Stephanie on the 'Newhart', for the first season she was on that show I just saw her as The Princess...and that alone kept me watching 'Newhart'! I was never much a Jeff Conway fan, but the show gave me a better appreciation for him. And the villain stole the scene (or at least what part of it he could pry away from Duffy) every time he took the screen. I always thought his name was Derek Blackpool..to me that seems funnier somehow than Dirk (maybe because it rhymes with Eric?). Perhaps after a couple of decades of having seen it, its like Dark Shadows...you remember it as scarier (or in this case, funnier) than it actually was (and we'll sadly never know now how good it could have been), but I would love to go back and watch it again. I don't recall if it had a laugh track, but I don't think it would have needed one if it is indeed as funny as I recall. I was sad to see it go, and like another poster, didn't realize it was gone until it didn't come back. As a baby-boomer, I'd like to see more pop-culture related sitcoms like this revived rather than more waste-of-time reality shows.

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 was an avid D&D player at the time this show premiered. I really enjoyed the show, even though it was not a brilliant action or comedic masterpiece.

I believe that one of the things that killed this show was completely unrelated to its writers or actors. This show was constantly being pre-empted for something else. My overwhelming memory of this show is actually turning on the TV and seeing President Reagan.

The show was running during the same period that a) Korean Air Flight KAL-007 was shot down when it entered Soviet airspace, b) US Marine barracks in Beirut destroyed by suicide bomber, c) United States invades Grenada, d) U.S Embassy is bombed in Beirut.

I would love to see the few episodes they filmed come out on DVD. This show was a riot!

I loved this series, and I too was quite young when it was on. I remember it though as hilarious, satirizing a period I've always adored. I really think it was one of Julia Duffy's finest hours as well. The part of the bratty princess was so perfectly suited to her style, and was a real precursor for any work she did later on Newhart or Designing Women. Conway was also really good in this show, and I've always thought it was too bad he never got more work after Taxi and Grease. But without question, my favorite in the series was Dirk Blackpool, who we've almost never seen since. Whatta man! :)

If anyone knows where the tapes can be found, please email me!