| The Wizard | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action/Adventure |
| Created by | Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz, Paul B. Radin |
| Written by | Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz |
| Starring | David Rappaport, Douglas Barr, Fran Ryan |
| Voices of | Frank Welker, Roddy McDowall |
| Composer(s) | Arthur B. Rubinstein |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Afrikkans |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 19 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz |
| Running time | 1 hour |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | CBS |
| Picture format | NTSC |
| Audio format | Stereophonic |
| Original run | September 9, 1986 – March 12, 1987 |
| External links | |
| [The Wizard Official Fansite & Definitive Cyberhome Website] | |
The Wizard (originally on CBS Television 1986-1987) is a live-action, family friendly, action/adventure series created by Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz, and Paul B. Radin. The Wizard includes lessons in diversity, friendship, imagination, respect, and never giving up.[1]
Contents |
Simon McKay is a genius inventor who chooses to spend his life as a philanthropist and innovative toymaker dedicated to preserving and protecting innocence. CIC agent Alex Jagger is assigned to protect Simon from the evil forces who wish to use Simon’s genius for their own nefarious purposes. They are soon joined by Simon’s long time friend, Tillie Russell. Simon, Alex, and Tillie become a family unit working together through adventure and adversity, especially when it comes to defeating Simon’s self-proclaimed arch-enemy, Troyan, who would rather seek revenge upon the world for his suffering from the radiation poisoning he brought upon himself than take responsibility for his own actions.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| David Rappaport | Simon McKay |
| Douglas Barr | Alex Jagger |
| Fran Ryan | Tillie Russell |
| Actor | Role | Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| Macon McCalman | Linden | "El Dorado", "The Other Side" |
| Roy Dotrice | Troyan | "Reunion", "Twist of Fate", "Trouble in the Stars" |
| Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa | Mr. Cheng | "Reunion", "Trouble in the Stars" |
| Peter Kent | Poole | "Reunion", "Trouble in the Stars" |
Midway through the first season Michael Berk and Douglas Schwartz received word from 20th Century Fox Television that The Wizard was being abruptly canceled. Rather than simply accept this, Michael Berk and Douglas Schwartz worked to obtain a guarantee of the series' filming continuance through the end of the season. Publicly, this three week period is known as "the hiatus".
Immediately following this incident, Michael Berk and Douglas Schwartz created the Save The Wizard Campaign. This campaign included making personal phone calls and sending out letters and special flyers[4] asking The Wizard's fans to write in to the CBS Television executive office to say what The Wizard meant to them. Fans were also asked to send in letter copies to The Wizard's administrative office. Letters and petitions poured in from all over the United States and Canada . School children and families sent in letters collectively . Many fans spent hours writing individual letters . Adults scoured their towns and cities collecting signatures .
The studio executives did not change their minds regarding the cancellation.