We can all name at least one television programme that got cancelled by the network before it had a chance to fulfill its potential. Four in my case - 'Dark Skies', 'A Man Called Sloane', 'Amos Burke Secret Agent' ( 'Police Squad' does not count because it became a movie franchise ), and 'The Wizard'. The latter was created by Paul Radin, Michael Berk and Douglas Schwartz as a starring vehicle for the late and vertically challenged David Rappaport, who came to the attention of the American public via Terry Gilliam's 'Time Bandits'. It cast him as 'Simon McKay', a brilliant, eccentric maker of hi-tech gadgets for the U.S. government. Concerned that 'foreign powers' might want to put his skills to use for themselves, it assigned an agent - 'Alex Jagger' ( Douglas Barr ) - to be his minder. So off they went round the world, trying to elude their pursuers whilst having incredible adventures. In 'Reunion', a Lex Luthor-type villain tries to obtain buried gold by starting an earthquake. 'Haunting Memories' revolved around a haunted toyshop. In 'Trouble In The Stars', a boy believes he is getting messages from outer space, while in 'The Tribe', Simon comes to the aid of an Indian tribe terrorized by bikers. With its special effects, chase sequences and action, it was a hybrid of 'MacGyver' and 'The Fugitive'.
The show gave Rappaport a chance to display his comedic talents without having to continually make fun of his height. His character did not believe in violence, preferring to use his brains to come out on top.
Following the pilot, cast changes were made. Roy Dotrice came aboard to play regular villain 'Troyan' and Fran Ryan became Simon's cook and housekeeper 'Tillie Russell', while Cheryl McFadden ( who played Barr's partner 'Darcy Stafford' ) and Billy Jacoby were dropped. Reaction to the show in the States was shaky at first, but eventually a full season of 19 episodes was completed. It was never shown in Britain. The B.B.C. denounced it as 'tasteless'! This was around the time they were making 'Allo, Allo', a sitcom which made fun of the French Resistance in World War 2, and 'A Small Problem', a would-be spoof on apartheid in which short people got denigrated instead of blacks. 'The Wizard' was far better than some of the imported rubbish to be found on British screens at that time, such as 'Dallas', 'Dynasty' and 'The Dukes Of Hazzard'. The B.B.C. mistook it for another 'Terror Of Tiny Town' ( an infamous B-movie Western starring a cast of restricted growth ) whereas it was a fun, family show starring a talented British actor.
We can only guess at how 'The Wizard' would have fared on British screens, but it was not given a chance. The show's abrupt cancellation was reportedly the start of Rappaport's long descent into depression. In 1990, at the age of 37, he took his own life.
The show gave Rappaport a chance to display his comedic talents without having to continually make fun of his height. His character did not believe in violence, preferring to use his brains to come out on top.
Following the pilot, cast changes were made. Roy Dotrice came aboard to play regular villain 'Troyan' and Fran Ryan became Simon's cook and housekeeper 'Tillie Russell', while Cheryl McFadden ( who played Barr's partner 'Darcy Stafford' ) and Billy Jacoby were dropped. Reaction to the show in the States was shaky at first, but eventually a full season of 19 episodes was completed. It was never shown in Britain. The B.B.C. denounced it as 'tasteless'! This was around the time they were making 'Allo, Allo', a sitcom which made fun of the French Resistance in World War 2, and 'A Small Problem', a would-be spoof on apartheid in which short people got denigrated instead of blacks. 'The Wizard' was far better than some of the imported rubbish to be found on British screens at that time, such as 'Dallas', 'Dynasty' and 'The Dukes Of Hazzard'. The B.B.C. mistook it for another 'Terror Of Tiny Town' ( an infamous B-movie Western starring a cast of restricted growth ) whereas it was a fun, family show starring a talented British actor.
We can only guess at how 'The Wizard' would have fared on British screens, but it was not given a chance. The show's abrupt cancellation was reportedly the start of Rappaport's long descent into depression. In 1990, at the age of 37, he took his own life.