‘When Things Were Rotten’ TV title, 1975

When Things Were Rotten, created and written by Mel Brooks, John Boni and Norman Stiles, originally ran Wednesdays at 8 PM on ABC from September to December, 1975. 13 half-hour episodes of this sitcom about Robin Hood and his Merry Men were produced.

Dick Gautier as Robin Hood. (‘When Things Were Rotten,’ 1975)

In When Things Were Rotten Hood and his gang were portrayed as nitwits and even Maid Marian was something of a numbskull. Although the short-lived series was well-reviewed and featured sight-gags galore and Mel Brooks’ trademark wacky humor it failed to find enough of an audience.

Dick Van Patten as Friar Tuck. (‘When Things Were Rotten,’ 1975)

The cast featured Dick Gautier as Robin Hood, Dick Van Patten as Friar Tuck, Bernie Kopell as Alan-a-Dale and Misty Rowe as Maid Marian. Brook’s pal, comedian Marty Feldman directed an episode or two. Not long after cancellation, greater TV success awaited Van Patten on Eight Is Enough and Kopell on The Love Boat.

When Things Were Rotten Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Show Toppers: ‘The Jimmy Stewart Show’ (1971)