Wizards and Warriors

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.

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 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).

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 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!