When Things Were Rotten

7.2

1975•30m

When Things Were Rotten is an American situation comedy television series created in 1975 by Mel Brooks and aired for half a season by ABC. A parody of the Robin Hood legend, the series starred Richard Gautier as Robin Hood. Also in the regular cast were Dick Van Patten as Friar Tuck, Bernie Kopell as Alan-a-Dale, Henry Polic II as the Sheriff of Nottingham, Ron Rifkin as Prince John, Misty Rowe as Maid Marian, and David Sabin as Little John. Richard Dimitri played a dual role as identical twin brothers; Renaldo was one of the Merry Men, while Bertram was the Sheriff's right-hand man.

Production

Trailers & Videos

Classic TV Theme: When Things Were Rotten (Mel Brooks)

Seasons

13 Episodes • Premiered 1975

1. The Capture of Robin Hood

As rumblings grow among the peasantry when tax collections increase, the royal collector is waylaid and robbed by Robin Hood and his band of men. News of the incident reaches the Sheriff of Nottingham and Prince John.

2. The French Dis-connection

The French Ambassador visits England to forge an alliance that will make Prince John so powerful that King Richard will never be able to reclaim his throne. Robin and his men infiltrate the palace to prevent this.

3. The House Band

The Sheriff recruits a band of evil lookalikes to impersonate Robin Hood and his band in order to discredit them with the peasants while the real Robin and his men are on vacation.

4. Those Wedding Bell Blues

Sheik Achmed comes from Arabia to sign an olive oil treaty with Prince John, but demands the hand of Maid Marian in marriage as part of the deal.

5. A Ransom for Richard

The peasants' faith in Robin Hood is shaken after he is chosen to guard King Richard's ransom from Prince John and the Sheriff and the treasure comes up missing.

6. The Ultimate Weapon

Robin and his men must stop mad German inventor Dr. Otto Bahn from building the ultimate weapon for Prince John and the Sheriff that would destroy Sherwood Forest.

7. Ding Dong, the Bell Is Dead

Robin and crew have to stop the Sheriff and Prince John from selling to an Ethiopian prince the beloved bell they have stolen from Nottingham Abbey.

8. There Goes the Neighborhood

The Four Guys from Gloucester, master woodsmen, have been hired by the Sheriff to chop down Sherwood Forest, so it can be replaced by a new housing development, Sherwood Meadows. Robin and his men must convince the Guys to abort mission.

9. Quarantine

The plague has come to Nottingham and both Robin's and the Sheriff's men are stuck in quarantine in the throne room until the disease runs its course. What will kill them first—the plague or each other?

10. Birthday Blues

It's a happy birthday for both Renaldo and Bertram, in Sherwood Forest and Nottingham Castle. When Renaldo goes to visit Bertram, he's captured and sentenced to death. Will Bertram forget old scores and save his brother's life?

11. The Spy (Part 1)

King Richard must return home to England soon or lose the throne to Prince John. Meanwhile, Robin's men suspect there is a double agent in their ranks. But which side is he really working for?

12. The Spy (Part 2)

The Merry Men put on trial the one they think is the traitor in their ranks. Meanwhile, Robin has to stop the Sheriff from killing King Richard when he returns to England as the law requires or lose his throne.

13. This Lance for Hire

The Sheriff hires the famous mercenary, the Black Knight, to challenge Robin to a fight to the death. Robin accepts, despite being crippled by a recent wound. But the Sheriff has his own plans for the fight, no matter who wins.