Flashback Friday: Mr. Merlin

The classic Arthurian legend has lived for centuries, inspiring and enduring as the symbol of royalty, adventure, and chivalry. It has inspired countless movies and novels, and in the eighties, the legend spawned the ultimate tribute: Mr. Merlin. Somebody saw the character of Merlin and decided to update him for a new generation. But what could a wise old wizard be in our time? Of course, an auto mechanic named Max. The series revolved around him training a teenager as his apprentice and wackiness ensued. Needless to say, this wasn't exactly classic television, but I did dream of having that magic book and doing cool stuff. And check out that cool staircase. Not much out there on this show, but this one is good. You can even hear the opening theme song. The only dedicated Mr Merlin site I found is in French, which isn't that bad thanks to Google's translation. So the French love Jerry Lewis and Mr. Merlin.

Trivia:

• Barnard Hughes played Merlin, and also performed in such classic roles as the I/O Port in Tron.
• Clark Brandon played Zachary Rogers. He continued to act for nine more years and was never seen again.
• Merlin's superior Alexandra was played by Elaine Joyce, who also hosted the Dating Game and stuff.
• Instead of a sword in a stone, Zachary had to pull out a crowbar from cement.
• The French version of the theme song is completely different and totally lame.

Paris Brands Herself

For all those rushing out to use the name "Paris Hilton," you're too late. Paris Hilton has copyrighted her name and even developed a logo. A tiara? Could she be more pretenious? Here are my top six logos for Paris Hilton...feel free to add your own.

6. A big bag of money
5. Paris stepping on a pile of homeless people to get into her limosuine
4. The words "talent and wisdom" with a line running across it
3. A four-leaf clover
2. Paris standing on the coattails of her parents
1. A white garbage bag with her face on it

Never Eat Cod Again

The story about worms in cod fish are indeed true. In fact, I found an industry article on the little critters and how to remove them. Fascinating and repulsive.

End of the State

Found a good article on the end of The State, written by a writer who wrote for the failed State CBS Special. Fascinating look into the genius and not-so-funny life of the famed comedy troupe.

Don't Panic...2000!

I've been re-reading the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series again for the billionth time, and started thinking about how there would never be another book now that Douglas Adams is dead. I even thought about writing my own new version. Turns out it's not an entirely original idea. Much like everything else in the media, people have been writing original fan fiction for Hitchhiker's. And much like everything else in fan fiction, most of it sucks. But some of it is pretty good.

Here now is your dose of new Hitchhiker's fiction. First of all, read Young Zaphod Plays It Safe, a short story by Douglas Adams written in the nineties. Might also want to pick up Salmon of Doubt, a collection of chapters from Adams' unfinished sixth novel. I haven't read them, but I plan to.

Now for the fan fiction. There's The Complete and Utter Truth, which incorporates some of the unreleased stories with some new work that is very in keeping with the original. You might also try The Whole Sort of General Mishmash, which is so much like reading a Douglas Adams story that it's creepy. I haven't read all of those stories, but plan to. It's exciting, almost like Adams never left us.