The Bard

Description: Season 4, Episode 18

Air Date: May 23, 1963

Plot Summary: A fledgling writer uses a magic spell to summon Shakespeare to assist him in writing a TV pilot.

Review: And now we come to the last episode of season 4 as well as the end to the hour long running time. I'm not going to lie, season 4 was undeniably the weakest season overall, but I don't hold that against TZ. The writers had to scramble to come up with these stories, adjust their style and format, and deal with the idiocy that was/is CBS. As for this particular episode, serving as a season finale, it could have been much better. This is yet another comedic episode, but it's certainly a hit or miss in regards to that comedy.

The main character, the ridiculously named Julius Moomer, tries and fails to pitch various ideas to his agent. Feeling pity for Julius, the agent allows him a chance to write a script for an upcoming TV pilot. Since the producers want a story about "black magic" Julius heads to a bookstore where he meets a nutcase and a spell book literally jumps out at him. Improvising the spell ingredients, Julius somehow conjures up William Shakespeare in the flesh. I guess Shakespeare has been keeping up on modern times, somehow, and agrees to write up the pilot for Julius. I didn't find any of this funny.

Later on, the humor does pick up once we see TZ take shots at the way advertisers meddle in the production, how ideas are altered for superficial and stupid reasons, and how the industry is, and always will be, full of yes-men. The best part, however, is when Shakespeare crashes the rehearsal for the pilot. You've got Burt Reynolds doing his best impersonation of Brando, and it's hilariously accurate! This scene alone almost made the episode great! After Shakespeare voices his disapproval of the pilot, he essentially quits on Julius. Consulting, what looks to be, his twelve year old girlfriend, Julius decides to conjure up more people to help him write. The episode ends with Julius showing the agent his new friends: a slew of historical figures ranging from Washington to Lincoln. Ehh, I guess that's as good of an ending as any. Admittedly, there were funny moments, but, for the most part, this episode comes off more stupid than anything. I'm considering this for the worst episode list, but that Brando impersonation is priceless--maybe I'll have to reconsider.