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Richard Dean Anderson is tv royalty, starting together with his first high-profile gig on “Common Hospital” in 1976. He performed Dr. Jeff Webber on that collection, showing in a whopping 611 episodes over 5 years. He additionally had main roles on the short-lived exhibits “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and “Emerald Level N.A.S.” earlier than touchdown the lead on the hit spy collection “MacGyver” in 1985. That present lasted for seven seasons and 139 episodes, cementing Anderson as considered one of TV’s most dependable main males. Different viewers seemingly know Anderson as Jack O’Neil, the navy tough-guy from the long-running collection “Stargate SG-1.” He performed the position for 173 episodes of the baseline present and would sometimes flip up on its spin-offs. Total, the “Stargate” franchise has taken up a few years of his profession.
Sandwiched within the center there, although, is an obscure 1995 Western journey collection that Anderson additionally performed the title character in. Few keep in mind the present “Legend,” co-created by “Star Trek” luminary Michael Piller, because it wasn’t terribly profitable. It additionally got here out shortly after the very related (and equally unsuccessful) Bruce Campbell-starring “The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.” and shortly earlier than the very related (and barely extra profitable) “Jack of All Trades.” “Legend” fell right into a crack in TV historical past, so it is actually solely remembered now by Nineteen Nineties TV obsessives keen on sci-fi Westerns.
It is a pity, although, as “Legend” is a candy and thrilling collection. It additionally sports activities a novel premise. Anderson stars as Ernest Pratt, a college-educated author publishing novels within the late 1860s. His hottest e-book collection facilities on Nicodemus Legend, a dashing, noble adventurer/superhero who makes use of extraordinary devices to unravel crimes and assist individuals in want. Pratt, nevertheless, writes his novels within the first-person, main readers to imagine they’re autobiographical.
Naturally, Pratt, a wimpy novelist, finally ends up discovering himself in situations the place he needed to really commit acts of technological derring-do, all whereas claiming to be Nicodemus Legend. His tech is supplied by Janos Bartok (John de Lancie), an ousted Hungarian scientist.
Legend is a really enjoyable, largely forgotten collection
Sure, you learn that proper: MacGyver himself, Richard Dean Anderson, and John de Lancie, aka Q from the “Star Trek” franchise, teamed up within the Previous West to invent steampunk weapons and automobiles to combat crime. The Bartok character, whereas Hungarian, was clearly modeled after Nikola Tesla, and he usually complained about how (Thomas) Edison stole his concepts. Do you remorse lacking “Legend” now? The collection additionally featured small roles for Mark Adair-Rios and Bob Balaban, whereas additionally boasting one-episode visitor spots from a who’s-who of working Nineteen Nineties actors, together with Fionnula Flanagan, Alex Hyde-White, James Hong, Robert Englund, Ashley Laurence, and G.W. Bailey (as Ulysses Grant).
The collection begins when Pratt learns that an irascible felony has been committing acts of vigilante justice beneath the title of Nicodemus Legend. Pratt, desirous to clear his title and preserve his literary creation pure, goes to Sheridan, Colorado to fulfill the impersonator, solely to search out it is Bartok and his assistant, Huitzilopochtli Ramos (Adair-Ross). Bartok, now assembly the “actual” Nicodemus Legend, proposes they unite as a crime-fighting power. Bartok can invent the electromagnets and hang-gliders, whereas Pratt serves because the hero. Naturally, Pratt is reluctant, however agrees. He has not too long ago suffered from author’s block and figures these adventures will give him new concepts.
One of many extra amusing conceits of “Legend” is that Nicodemus is depicted as a lusty, womanizing, hard-drinking character that individuals discover sexually irresistible. Pratt, nevertheless, is a straight-edge, seemingly asexual character who abhors violence in actual life. Thus, a number of “Legend” is dedicated to Pratt and the others discovering methods to commit vigilante justice with out the help of weapons or violence (which makes them very admirable).
Legend solely lasted 12 episodes
“Legend” premiered on the UPN, itself short-lived, on April 18, 1995, earlier than going off the air after its first season got here to an in depth a couple of months afterward August 22. Like nearly all the exhibits that aired throughout UPN’s first 12 months, although, it obtained axed when there was a change of administration on the firm. Piller’s different collection, “Star Trek: Voyager,” managed to stay round, however “Legend” was shoved right into a grave alongside exhibits like “Platypus Man,” “Lethal Video games,” “Marker,” and “Pig Sty.” It stays one thing of an obscurity right now.
As talked about, Anderson would transfer past the failure of “Legend,” whereas de Lancie had future “Star Trek” appearances in entrance of him. Even Piller would survive, happening to develop the TV adaptation of Stephen King’s novel “The Lifeless Zone.” Nevertheless it was a pity “Legend” needed to fail. The collection acquired largely constructive evaluations, though many critics readily in contrast it to “The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.,” which additionally contained sci-fi components. (In that case, there have been time vacationers and a mysterious high-tech orb.) And, to be honest, the 2 exhibits had been minimize from the identical fabric. Certainly, they’d equally whimsical tones and targeted on comically irascible but in the end courageous heroes who flip to adventuring after being educated within the massive metropolis. Whether or not one prefers Richard Dean Anderson or Bruce Campbell as their main man is a matter of desire. (However the right reply is Campbell.)
One should buy “Legend” on Amazon, and there are DVDs floating round on the second-hand market. It isn’t so obscure as to be misplaced, however it’s largely recognized by solely individuals of a really sure age. For those who’ve watched “The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.,” and want a special taste with some extra journey and wit, go for “Legend.”
