This sitcom ran from October 1981 until August 1982 on CBS.
What better cover for an ageless sorcerer then running a garage in a run down section of San Francisco? Who would believe that crusty old Max Merlin ( Bernard Hughes), in his greasy overalls was the same Merlin renowned in the days of King Arthur's Court? Fifteen year old Zack Rogers ( Clark Brandon), certainly didn't take Max seriously when the old man offered him the opportunity to become an apprentice sorcerer. But when he found out that this was no joke, Zack figured that learning magic could solve all his problems -with girls, with money, with his grades at school, and with just about anything else. Max believed that Zack could become a responsible sorcerer, and spent an entire tv season trying to train him, despite the troubles that Zack got into-casting the wrong spells, partially casting spells that got out of control, misusing potions, alienating Max's superiors, almost revealing his new found magical powers to normal people, etc. Leo (Jonathan Prince), was Zack's best friend, who often got caught up in the disasters caused by his buddy's imperfect magic, and Alexandra ( Elaine Joyce), was the beautiful liason between Max ( and Zack) and the all-powerful sorcerers to whom he was responsible.
A Review From The New York Times
TV: 'MR. MERLIN' AND KENNY ROGERS
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By JOHN J. O'CONNOR
Published: October 7, 1981
TV'S ''Mr. Merlin,'' a weekly series beginning tonight at 8 o'clock, takes the gifted actor Barnard Hughes and dumps him into a prime-time situation comedy that could just as easily have been scheduled as part of the network's Saturday-morning cartoon lineup. Mr. Hughes plays Max Merlin, who is not only the owner of a dilapidated San Francisco garage but also the very same Merlin who served as sorcerer for the court of King Arthur. Students of the form might refer to ''Mork & Mindy,'' ''The Greatest American Hero'' and other current dabblings in the supernatural.
Max is a crusty geezer who is not especially fond of young people. But when Alexandra (Elaine Joyce), his magical messenger, insists that he has to find an apprentice in 24 hours, Max is forced to recruit and train 15-year-old Zach (Clark Brandon), an incredibly clumsy boy with, as the song says, Bette Davis eyes. Zach travels by skateboard, which sets up the inevitable sequence of his zooming up and down the hills of San Francisco.
Zach is initially skeptical about Max's claims that he can see the future and make things happen. But after getting a glimpse of the special Crystal Door in Max's home, Zach is ready to begin his lessons. He and best friend Leo (Jonathan Prince) immediately set about devising love potions so that on future dates they will never again hear the words ''strike out.'' The plot strains for a certain simplicity.
Max's tricks can be grandly pointless. In the mood for some sushi, he transports himself instantaneously to a restaurant in Japan, oblivious of the fact that Japanese restaurants are now the fad in these United States. But Mr. Hughes manages to retain his dignity, even while supposedly taking a wild turn on a skateboard - a double was obviously used for the occasion.
Mr. Brandon rises to a level of appropriate goofiness, reminiscent of early Henry Aldrich. And Mr. Prince serves nicely as third banana. A press release notes that Mr. Prince is a Harvard graduate and was on his way to law school when offered this part in ''Mr. Merlin.'' If he hurries, maybe they'll reopen the registration books.
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