Arthurian legend has inspired so many stories over the centuries that you’d be forgiven for not remembering every TV show about King Arthur, Merlin, or any of the Knights of the Round Table. You’d be especially forgiven for not remembering “Mr. Merlin,” a sitcom that ran on CBS for one season in the ’80s. Far from one of <a href="https://www.tvline.com/2076905/best-cbs-shows-ranked/” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>CBS’ best shows, the series reimagined the iconic, powerful wizard as a San Francisco mechanic.
Premiering on October 7, 1981, “Mr. Merlin” starred Tony-winning actor Barnard Hughes as the titular sorcerer. A 1,600-year-old immortal, Merlin has largely retired from assisting kings and warlords, and instead takes the guise of Max Merlin, fixing cars in the Bay Area. When teenager Zachary Rodgers (Clark Brandon) pulls a crowbar out of a block of concrete while working in Merlin’s garage, however, he becomes the wizard’s apprentice. (The crowbar is like Excalibur, you see.)
Over the course of the show’s lone 22-episode season, Zac must keep his and his master’s magical powers a secret, all while trying to master them, get through high school, and balance his part-time job. As you might expect, he isn’t always responsible with his newfound abilities, but everybody learns a lesson at the end. Elaine Joyce also starred as Alexandra, a sorceress who acted as the liaison between Merlin and his mystic bosses.
Mr. Merlin did not cast a spell over audiences
Although primarily meant for kids, Barnard Hughes thought that “Mr. Merlin” had broader appeal. “If you want to have a successful show on television, you have to appeal otherwise a wide audience,” Hughes said in a CBS promo for the show ahead of the premiere. “And I thought that this very neatly and very intelligently encompassed a wider audience.”
This wouldn’t be the series’ fate, however. When “Mr. Merlin” premiered, a New York Times review was not an outright pan, but it certainly wasn’t enthusiastic. Jonathan Prince, who played Zachary’s best friend Leo, was a Harvard grad who chose “Mr. Merlin” over going to law school. The Times snarkily suggested he made a mistake. (Prince did go on to be a fairly successful Hollywood screenwriter and producer, and he created the 2002 NBC drama “American Dreams.”)
The final episode of “Mr. Merlin” aired on March 22, 1982. Other attempts to bring the Matter of Britain to the small screen would continue, including the BBC series “Merlin” a quarter century later. A reimagining of Arthurian legend, the show follows young Merlin (Colin Morgan) as he comes of age, adjusts to life in Camelot, and befriends Prince Arthur (Bradley James). “Merlin” is one of the greatest fantasy TV shows ever made, but “Mr. Merlin” never had the same magic.
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