Wizards & Warriors

Yes, that's Jeff Conaway. He's the hero of the show.

I just started rewatching an old 80s fantasy show called Wizards and Warriors. It came out in 1983. Only 8 episodes were made before it got cancelled. But wow - what a show! It's over-the-top cheesy, bad acting, terrible dialog, low-budget special effects ... and it's OH SO MUCH FUN TO WATCH!

I have an interesting history with this show, which is the whole point of this blog post. I wanted to put it out there for posterity. One day in the late 1990's, this show randomly came into my head. I couldn't remember the title, or who was in it. All i could remember were two little flashes from the show.

1. In one scene, in a stone room in a castle, there was someone telling a story about how he used to tie up his younger brother with a rope and dangle him upside down until he passed out.
2. Another scene, there was someone trapped in a room. The ceiling had spikes pointing down and it was slowing descending and he had to try and escape before he got skewered (kind of like that scene in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom).

That's it. That's all i had to go on. But after a whole lot of wracking my brain, and searching around on the (still very young) internet, i finally came across this webpage (which, amazingly, is still active 30 years later): http://www.wizardsandwarriors.org/show/articles/television.htm

here's a screenshot of how old-school early internet it is, in case the actual website ever goes away:

Back then, nothing was streaming, and the show wasn't available to watch or purchase anywhere, so i had no way to watch. However, on the website I found a forum post from a guy who said he had recorded the episodes onto VHS when it originally aired, and he would make a copy to anyone who sent him some VHS tapes. His price? two blank tapes - one for him to keep, one to record and send back. Figuring i had nothing to lose, i mailed him some a couple of blank VHS tapes and waited. A few weeks later, my tapes came back - with a copy of all 8 episodes of the show!! 

The quality was horrible, but i didn't care. i got to watch one of my childhood shows again!

Let's fast-forward several years. VHS has gone away, and my last VHS player is on the fritz. I'm trying to figure out how to preserve my copy of  the show, because i still can't buy it anywhere. But i manage to get my VHS output to go into the input of my home video camera, and i record a copy of the show onto some of those old home video tapes.

And there they sat for 10+ years in a box. One day, on a whim, i decided to check amazon, and guess what? There's FINALLY an actual dvd box set you can buy with the entire series (i.e. all 8 episodes). I snatched it up immediately. But i didn't actually watch the show. it just sat on my shelf for a few more years.

But about two months ago, i decided to start going through and watching all these old shows again (mostly early in the mornings while i'm working out). Yesterday, this one came up next on my list. I can't wait to finish it! And if you ever get the chance to watch, i'd highly recommend it.