Legend (1995). A Legend plays Legend in a not so Legendary Show.

#VaultOfAlmost #retrotv
Stam Fine Reviews looks at Legend, a short-lived Western /sci-fi adventure series from 1995 starring Richard Dean Anderson as Ernest Pratt, a novelist constantly mistaken for the character he created, Nicodemus Legend. Also stars John de Lancie, Mark Adair-Rios, and Jarrad Paul. Legend is a hero using futuristic gadgets, while Ernest Pratt is lazy and surly. Unfortunately for him, the public can't tell the difference. Pratt discovers brilliant scientist Bartok has been creating devices inspired by those in the Legend books and righting wrongs in Legend's name.
Shopping Links to buy Legend on DVD (note: these are usually the same release, a North American NTSC Region 1 release that will require a DVD player than can play Region 1 DVDs)
US amzn.to/3DIaDji

[@ronstewtsaw]

I saw several of these in first run. Then it was gone for a few weeks. Then, IIRC, there was a 2-hour pilot that had a substantially different premise. I figured that they had shot two pilots, and had aired the first one after the season had been cancelled. I liked it at the time. I remember being disappointed but unsurprised when it disappeared. But, as Stan predicted, I have no memory of any of the episodes.

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

I can't believe you are covering this show. I can't believe anyone but me remembers this show! I loved this show, mostly because of the chemistry between the cast was, as you pointed out, right there with (the other great show) Brisco County Jr. The Tesla rip off was super fun and that they put DeLancy in actual Tesla poses from famous photographs was a nice easter egg for us science lovers. I was mighty upset when I got my DVDs of the show and the quality was near that of 240 setting on KZbin. I spent real money for actual DVD's just to see it in high quality and I got the same quality that was on youtube uploads and Vimeo. That sucked. You are right that the shows are forgettable in their plots, but the joy of watching them in their roles is the opposite. You just have such a good time watching them have a lot of fun. Brisco plots are far deeper and far more memorable, but the joy of the casts is the same in both.

[@personanongratis]

I've got to see this one, the charisma of Richard Dean Anderson and John DeLancie should be enough to carry this short-lived show!

[@christopheralthouse6378]

I was just thinking the same thing! 😅 I mean, IT LITERALLY STARS Q! How could it NOT be fun? 😅😂🤣😁 At least NOW I know what Q gets up to when he's not screwing with Picard! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@personanongratis]

@@christopheralthouse6378 Q and MacGyver! What's better than that?

[@veronicasaalfrank4494]

I thought RDA met his most favorite character in Nicodemus Legend, and as he stated in one fan convention he loved to play that role. I found that mix Western+Steampunk+SciFi most delightful and sad that it had to end so soon😥 John de Lancie/Tesla almost stole Richard the show. That character is plainly brilliant, a few one-liners from him made me laugh out loud. A shame that "Skeeter" wasn't on more often. Just bought the DVD hoping the quality is A BIT better than the KZbin version!

[@IngieKerr]

Wild Wild Trek Gate. I was expecting more about Tim Curry's performance as the unicorn rancher.

[@vwlssnvwls3262]

Having been a huge RDA fan, from never missing an episode of MacGyver, I was so excited for this one. I was so sad to see it fail. :(

[@Interislander957]

I remember this. I loved it

[@mcgilj1]

Didn't know this was on DVD.. Found it for 8 bucks on Amazon.. Sold.. always wanted to see this one. Can't wait to see it... Brisco a County Jr. a true underrated classic

[@DavidTSmith-jn5bs]

I bought Legend in the $10 Discount Bin at Best Buy. I also bought Brisco County Jr. for $99.99 in the Complete TV Series DVDs section. That pretty much says it all in my opinion...

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

I am glad Fox kept X-Files, but dropping Brisco for whatever it was that replaced it was a terrible idea. Season one was so good and I was looking forward to season 2. The only thing is, in the last episode of Season 1 they were telling you S2 would be very different, and that difference might have been a raw deal, where as it stands S1 shines so bright, you might just think it was the orb!

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

@@DavidTSmith-jn5bs Ouch! I got Legend for 9 bucks and Brisco on pre-order for 45, you got ripped for price, but not for content.

[@CESmith]

Yes, please review Brisco County Jr. Though, I'm particularly not wanting to rewatch it as I'm afraid it won't hold up to my memories. So, I want you to do it for me 😂.

[@lisvender]

Maybe Jack of All Trades while he's at it?

[@StamFine]

whynotboth.gif

[@mcgilj1]

I personally think Brisco holds up and has aged wonderfully.. the misses were big ones.. But it took some big swings and when those hit it was fantastic.

[@DucNguyen-bd5ir]

I loved Brisco County Jr. I enjoyed Legend when it first broadcast.

[@JeremyDuncan]

Mate, your humor is so subtle and yet the perfect level of cheeky.

[@l.a.gothro3999]

My late mum (1926-2016) watched this, she was a big RDA fan. But it didn't hold her interest as "MacGyver" and "Stargate: SG1" did (and she was dedicated to those shows).

[@hgwells1899]

Never heard of this one - looks lightweight amusing tho, thanks for the heads up:)

[@Vesperitis]

As a massive The Martian fan, I might be the only person watching this who truly appreciates that Steven Seagal joke.

[@cologne2792]

Your writing is one of the few things that actually makes me laugh out loud - thank you.

[@Trilaan]

For a long time, like Tales of the Gold Monkey, I wasn't sure if this series existed or if I'd dreamed it up. The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr, however, is a series that I have seen many times.

[@ivane5110]

Yeah, few remember this one and few say any praises of it. But, I do both. Even own the series on DVD. Not an incredible gem, no. But I looked forward to it every week (or however often it came out; that network was squirrelly). It gave me a chance to see another side of Richard Dean Anderson and see more of John Dilance. But most important it was a nice little stop over that made this Western and 19th century Sci Fi fan smile. Reminded of some of the grade B black and white Westerns thats always had a sidekick and even some "futuristic" (think painted hangers, tinfoil and wood) inventions, and for me and my rose colored nastolgia goggles (see, it all came back full circle), that's a winner. But, your cheeky take on it sure is fun too.

[@BrianRPaterson]

Don't forget "Nichols" - an early 70s show where James Garner plays a sherrif who rides an early motorbike while everyone else is on horseback. Another one season wonder I think. But it was still the first show I ever saw on a colour TV.

[@davidnewland2461]

One of the best shows in the eighties and no nineties was the adventures of brisco county Jr.

[@MrSDR23]

OMFG I KNEW IT WASN'T A FEVER DREAM I KNEW IT

[@bringbackmy90s]

I watch this show every winter here in Germany since I purchased the DVD from North America in 2019 :D Sad you didn't enjoy the show, but still a good review!

[@haxresearch701]

the crossover i never knew i needed

[@tomsenior7405]

Er... Not Tim Curry then? No Mia Sara? Never mind, at least I have learned something new. Another TV Show I had never heard of. Cheers Stam. Nice one.

[@gwenivercall]

First I've heard of this! I remember watching reruns of Wild Wild West, as well as How the West Was Won and The Quest - the latter was another example of me waiting for more episodes to be broadcast, blaming the flaky RAI schedules, not realising that the series had been cancelled and the last 4 episodes hadn't even been broadcast. I had the biggest crush on Kurt Russell and Tim Matheson, lol. But in the 90s, the only Western I watched on tv was Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman (don't judge me!). There was a real dearth of tv westerns by then.

[@chriscubbernuss3288]

How could this have failed?!?! It looks like so much fun!! A tv series with Q from TNG, MacGyver, and Freddy Kreuger!!

[@DavidTSmith-jn5bs]

Great actors, lousy scripts..?

[@slkshewolf]

Personally I LOVED it! I was so excited when it was finally released on dvd

[@Immylda]

Something about Dean Anderson's moustache is freaking me out. Uncanny moustache Valley?

[@UKAbandonedMineExplores]

Enjoyed tgar thanks, a series I've never heard of.

[@Erok9]

Wow, never knew this one existed.

[@botz77]

I actually don't remember this, which is strange because I remember some pretty obscure television shows. I must have been watching Brisco County Jr. reruns instead.

[@Robovski]

Looking forward to your video on Brisco Country Jr. I don't remember watching or even being aware of Legend at the time but I was a big fan of Brisco and would love to see if you think it still holds up.

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

Legend was on for three months, so if you blinked you missed it.

[@inkermoy]

I do recall watching Legend when it debuted and like you, don't recall anything from it. And wait, you haven't done Brisco County Jr. yet??

[@StamFine]

some day

[@kevin_1230]

I liked this one.

[@SurvivalTipsClips]

IMDb shows this with a score of 7.7 and Brisco County with an 8.3. Seems like imdb scores are consistently better than any other scoring system I can find. As long as one is a fan of the particular genre then usually anything over a 7 is really good and 8 is excellent.

[@AaronJohnson-mo8rf]

this show came after Macgyver (85 version) and before Stargate sg1 and its numberous spinoffs

[@lancep2002]

While you’re looking at random shows from upn try deadly games. I remember it airing about the same time as Legend and I think I remember Christopher Lloyd as the bad guy

[@sentotalkacili7407]

Ernest Pratt plays a role that seems to have to be constantly convinced, full of compulsion, accident, like full of rejection, and coincidence. Even though he himself created a brave literary hero, Nicodemus Legend. He is like a literary writer with amnesia.

[@ThePerradox]

A horse is a horse, of course of course. Unless it's a rebel without a horse...

[@KatrinaLeFaye]

Great Cast though.

[@brotherkellymatthewbarnes8882]

Exidor was in this, and Q? How come this never reached my radar!?!

[@DavidThomas-fb8bq]

I don't remember this one. I thought it was QED.

[@celticarchie]

Look like freakin' awesome sauce to me! ;P

[@phreadimus4now136]

I've never been invested in westerns until Deadwood. Now that I've given some westerns a chance, I find that none are as good as Deadwood.

[@Azzeyman25]

only two years away from Stargate Sg-1, thank god

[@daveroche6522]

Wild west science fiction you say? Easy: Brisco County Jr. [shoutout to Billy Drago - Mr. Movie-Evil-Face and by all accounts one of the nicest people on the planet]. 'Nuff said.

[@PattyBuhai]

Legend good tv

[@dustygrant3043]

😲 i was probably one of the few people WHO watched this show every episode and i hope it would've gotten a second season!!!!!!! But alas IT didn't!! That WAS a crying shame!!!!!! I really enjoyed it!!!!!! I even referred to it in another MESSAGE somewhen IN the past!!!!!!!! I thought John DeLancie played Nickoli Tesla in the show so that's how i refered him as in that MESSAGE!!!!!!!! 👌 i remembered the show but not its title!!!!!!! RDA did a great job playing a character PLAYING another character and the gadgets were really something Tesla might have invented so that's why i remembered him as being a character PLAYED by DeLancie!!!!!!!!!! It went to back of my memory until now and thinks for bringing it back to me!!!!!!!!

[@kali3665]

This should have been the 90s version of Wild Wild West or even Brisco County Jr., but the character of Legend/Pratt was absolutely unlikeable -- which was a bit of a shock for Richard Dean Anderson's first series after MacGyver. John DeLancie was fantastic, as always, but the chemistry between Pratt and Bartok simply wasn't there, which is unfortunate. Brisco County tried to do exactly the same trick with the futuristic gadgets and goofy story arc, but Bruce Campbell looked like he was having so much fun, and he invited us along. Legend was about how the character absolutely HATED being there, so why should we care? It should have been about the gradual evolution of this man from sot to hero, but they didn't really have time to set that up and let it roll, and they fell back on western clichés that just happened to have some fancy gadgets to save the day. With a little more effort, and maybe another season, this show could have come together. Stick with Brisco County Jr., which is something I never thought I'd say about a Bruce Campbell series, but it IS his finest tv show.

[@inkermoy]

The chemistry between the cast and crew in Brisco was terrific.

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

Your review is 180 of mine in all your points. That's so funny. To each their own.

[@Interislander957]

Can you do Due South please?

[@carlh-thehermitwithwi-fi679]

i don't even remember this!

[@TimelordUK]

Can you do Legend 1985

[@tubewatcher77]

Q visited the wild west before he came on the Enterprise D.

[@l.a.gothro3999]

Now review "Misfits of Science" pleeeeeeeease!

[@bluebird3281]

Why is "The Phoenix" tv show not in this play list. I think it is worthy of inclusion.

[@kintetsubuffalo]

How were you able to find this, with so few episodes? It would not have been syndicated.

[@IngieKerr]

It's on Amazon Prime [us] at present. And available on DVD for about USD 5

[@kali3665]

It is available on DVD in the U.S. I got my copy on Amazon.

[@andreg.401]

Where can we buy this in decent quality (in or sent to Australia)?

[@StamFine]

We have added links in the video description. There is only one release of Legend on DVD, the North American version which needs a Region Free DVD player to view (australian machines are usually Region 4, though some cheap players are region free, or can easily be made region free through a code in the handset). DVD quality is a bit ordinary rather than great since the whole series is stuffed onto 2 discs.

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

The DVD quality is equal to 240 viewing on KZbin, it's that bad. Very disappointing.

[@shinobi-no-bueno]

I legitimately thought this was a new western starring Henry Cavill

[@rosskwolfe]

Speaking of short-lived UPN series... Have you ever watched Nowhere Man?

[@StamFine]

the name is familiar but that's about it

[@rosskwolfe]

@@StamFine If you ever get the chance to watch it, I highly recommend it. It's a great conspiracy thriller. Was one of UPN's most watched and critically praised shows. Then they decided to cancel it and replaced it with "Moesha" and "Homeboys in Outer Space". To say I was furious when that happened would be an understatement.

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

What about Pig Stye? Was Herman's Head UPN or Fox?

[@seanodeli7031]

There was a show called Lazarus Man w Robert Ulrich wasn’t a sci fi show but was interesting show guy got killed came back from dead or something around the time Lincoln got assassinated Not sure it’s even available anywhere and most of the time I feel like I’m the only who ever watched it Edited to add it’s called Lazarus man it’s on KZbin

[@mikavirtanen7029]

While Legend is not by far the worst thing that has happened in the "Weird West" genre, it doesn't stand a chance against the heavy hitters like Wild Wild West (the series, not the Will Smith abomination) and The Adventures of Brisco County Jr...John de Lancie definitely delivered, but as a whole this series just didn't cut it. BTW...do Jack of All Trades...Bruce Campbell's all but forgotten action comedy/steampunk series.

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

I watched Jack of All Trades when Hulu was free and new, and though I enjoyed the girl who was in so many of Brisco's shows being his equal in it, over all the show just was not that great, especially compared to Brisco.

[@Bad_Moon_Rising]

Stephanie beacham :))))

[@zeroman614]

Nothing like RDA doing a poor James Garner impression.

[@divergentthinkingproductions]

If you're doing UPS stuff, I double dog dare you to review HOMEBOYS FROM OUTER SPACE.

[@yw1971]

3:43 - Today he would be called Tesla, as he should

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

The show all but yelled that he was Tesla, and even posed the character in several shots in famous Tesla pictures, and that Tesla coil, c'mon man. LOL!

[@DerHoschi]

Never reached german television.

[@brotherkellymatthewbarnes8882]

The Guyver? Who in this was in the Guyver??? Maybe you meant Zeram?

[@hatingontruth9118]

Western Scifi action show with a promising future cancelled after one season.. are we talking about Firefly again?

[@Knightfall182]

Q going senile.

[@mikehunt4986]

Never even heard of this shit! The 90s are so full of forgettable shows!