# When Things Were Rotten

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American sitcom (1975)

When Things Were Rotten Robin Hood and his Merry Men Genre Parody Sitcom Adventure Created by Mel Brooks Norman Stiles John Boni Starring Dick Gautier Dick Van Patten Bernie Kopell Richard Dimitri Henry Polic II Misty Rowe David Sabin Ron Rifkin Composer Artie Butler Country of origin United States Original language English No. of seasons 1 No. of episodes 13 Production Producers Mel Brooks Stanley Jacob Norman Steinberg Running time 30 minutes Production companies Crossbow Productions Paramount Television Original release Network ABC Release September 10 (1975-09-10) – December 3, 1975 (1975-12-03)

***When Things Were Rotten*** is an American [sitcom](/source/Sitcom) television series created in 1975 by [Mel Brooks](/source/Mel_Brooks) and set in 1197 as a [parody](/source/Parody) of the [Robin Hood](/source/Robin_Hood) legend.[1] It aired for half a season on the [ABC](/source/American_Broadcasting_Company) network.[2] The series starred [Dick Gautier](/source/Dick_Gautier) as the handsome and heroic Robin Hood.

The series received mostly critical acclaim,[3] though [John Leonard](/source/John_Leonard_(critic)) wrote that watching it was "like being locked inside a package of [bubblegum](/source/Bubble_gum) where the only card is [Alvin Dark](/source/Alvin_Dark)."[4] It failed to find an audience and was cancelled after 13 episodes. *[The Bionic Woman](/source/The_Bionic_Woman)* was its [midseason replacement](/source/Midseason_replacement), and became a great success.[5] Eighteen years later, Brooks produced another Robin Hood parody, the feature film *[Robin Hood: Men in Tights](/source/Robin_Hood%3A_Men_in_Tights)*.

The complete series was released on [DVD](/source/DVD) in 2013 as a manufactured-on-demand item exclusively available on [Amazon.com](/source/Amazon.com)'s CreateSpace.[6]

## Cast

- [Dick Gautier](/source/Dick_Gautier) as [Robin Hood](/source/Robin_Hood)

- [Dick Van Patten](/source/Dick_Van_Patten) as [Friar Tuck](/source/Friar_Tuck)

- [Bernie Kopell](/source/Bernie_Kopell) as [Alan-a-Dale](/source/Alan-a-Dale)

- [Richard Dimitri](/source/Richard_Dimitri) as Bertram and Renaldo

- [Henry Polic II](/source/Henry_Polic_II) as Hubert, the [Sheriff of Nottingham](/source/Sheriff_of_Nottingham)

- [Misty Rowe](/source/Misty_Rowe) as [Maid Marian](/source/Maid_Marian)

- [David Sabin](/source/David_Sabin) as [Little John](/source/Little_John)

- [Ron Rifkin](/source/Ron_Rifkin) as [Prince John](/source/John%2C_King_of_England)

## Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Original release date 1 "The Capture of Robin Hood" Jerry Paris Mel Brooks, John Boni & Norman Stiles September 10, 1975 (1975-09-10) 2 "The French Dis-connection" Coby Ruskin S : Gene Wood and Jay Burton T : Bo Kaprall and Pat Profit September 17, 1975 (1975-09-17) 3 "The House Band" Joshua Shelley Barry E. Blitzer & Jack Kaplan September 24, 1975 (1975-09-24) 4 "Those Wedding Bell Blues" Marty Feldman Jim Mulligan October 1, 1975 (1975-10-01) 5 "A Ransom for Richard" Peter H. Hunt William Raynor & Myles Wilder October 8, 1975 (1975-10-08) 6 "The Ultimate Weapon" Peter Bonerz Steve Zacharias October 15, 1975 (1975-10-15) 7 "Ding Dong, the Bell is Dead" Bruce Bilson Les Roberts October 22, 1975 (1975-10-22) 8 "There Goes the Neighborhood" Cory Ruskin Tony Geiss and Thomas Meehan October 29, 1975 (1975-10-29) 9 "Quarantine" Norman Abbott John Reiger & Garry Markowitz November 12, 1975 (1975-11-12) 10 "Birthday Blues" Peter H. Hunt Harry Lee Scott and Robert Sand November 19, 1975 (1975-11-19) 11 "The Spy: Parts 1 and 2" Peter H. Hunt Lawrence H. Siegel November 26, 1975 (1975-11-26) 12 13 "This Lance for Hire" Joshua Shelley Jack Amob & Bruce Selitz December 3, 1975 (1975-12-03)

## See also

- [List of films and television series featuring Robin Hood](/source/List_of_films_and_television_series_featuring_Robin_Hood)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** John Clute and John Grant (1997). [The Encyclopedia of Fantasy](/source/The_Encyclopedia_of_Fantasy) (1997). Orbit. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-85723-368-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-85723-368-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** DeCaro, Frank (July 19, 2013). ["*Borscht Belt Sherwood Forest*"](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/arts/television/borscht-belt-sherwood-forest.amp.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. [The New York Times Company](/source/The_New_York_Times_Company). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [1645522](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1645522). Retrieved February 19, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** See, for example, "Review," by Cleveland Amory, "When Things Were Rotten," *TV Guide*, December 13, 1975, p. 18

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Leonard, John (October 26, 1975). ["The Worst Television Season Ever, Ever, Ever"](https://www.nytimes.com/1975/10/26/archives/tv-view-the-worst-television-season-ever-ever-ever-tv-view-the.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. [The New York Times Company](/source/The_New_York_Times_Company). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [1645522](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1645522). Retrieved September 30, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["The Bionic Woman (1976): Season 1"](http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/45030/bionic-woman-season-one-the/). *[DVD Talk](/source/DVD_Talk)*. [Internet Brands](/source/Internet_Brands). Retrieved September 3, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["DVD release info"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150105145051/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/shows/Things-Rotten/4635). *[TVShowsOnDVD.com](/source/TVShowsOnDVD.com)*. [CBS Interactive](/source/Paramount_Streaming). Archived from [the original](http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/shows/Things-Rotten/4635) on January 5, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2013.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [When Things Were Rotten](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:When_Things_Were_Rotten).

- [*When Things Were Rotten*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072585/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

v t e Mel Brooks Awards and nominations On screen and stage Films directed The Producers (1967) The Twelve Chairs (1970) Blazing Saddles (1974) Young Frankenstein (1974) Silent Movie (1976) High Anxiety (1977) History of the World, Part I (1981) Spaceballs (1987) Life Stinks (1991) Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993) Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995) Films written The Producers (2005) Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (2022) Spaceballs: The New One (2027) Films produced only To Be or Not to Be (1983) The Fly (1986; uncredited) TV series created Get Smart (1965–1970) When Things Were Rotten (1975) The Nutt House (1989) Spaceballs: The Animated Series (2008–2009) History of the World, Part II (2023) Musicals written Shinbone Alley (1957) All-American (1962) The Producers (2001) Young Frankenstein (2007) Comedy sketches The 2000 Year Old Man Other List of Brooksfilms productions "To Be or Not to Be (The Hitler Rap)" (1983) Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! (2026)

v t e Robin Hood Characters and settings Characters Main Robin Hood Maid Marian The Jolly Pinder of Wakefield Sheriff of Nottingham Guy of Gisbourne Prince John Bishop of Hereford Richard at the Lee King Richard Merry Men Little John Much the Miller's Son Will Scarlet Arthur a Bland David of Doncaster Will Stutely Friar Tuck Alan-a-Dale Gilbert Whitehand Settings Sherwood Forest Major Oak Nottingham Loxley St Mary's Abbey, York Barnsdale Wentbridge Media Screen Film Robin Hood (1912) Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood (1922) The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) The Bandit of Sherwood Forest (1946) The Prince of Thieves (1948) Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950) Tales of Robin Hood (1951) The Story of Robin Hood (1952) The Men of Sherwood Forest (1954) Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960) The Triumph of Robin Hood (1962) A Challenge for Robin Hood (1967) Long Live Robin Hood (1971) Wolfshead: The Legend of Robin Hood (1973) The Arrows of Robin Hood (1975) Robin and Marian (1976) Aaj Ka Robin Hood (1988) O Mistério de Robin Hood (1990) Robin Hood (1991) Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) Princess of Thieves (2001) Robin Hood (2010) Robin Hood (2018) The Death of Robin Hood (2026) TV Robin Hood (1953) The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955) The Legend of Robin Hood (1968) The Legend of Robin Hood (1975) Robin of Sherwood (1984) The New Adventures of Robin Hood (1997) Robin Hood (2006, episodes, characters) Robyn Hood (2023) Robin Hood (2025) Animated Robin Hood Makes Good (1939) Rabbit Hood (1949) Robin Hood Daffy (1958) Robin Hoodwinked (1958) Rocket Robin Hood (1966) Robin Hood (1973) Robin Hood (1990) Young Robin Hood (1991) Tom and Jerry: Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse (2012) Sherwood (2019) Parody About Seven Brothers (1968) When Things Were Rotten (1975) The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood (1984) Maid Marian and Her Merry Men (1989) Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993) Alternate settings Mexicali Rose (1939 film) Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964 film) Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985 Tamil film) Nyayam Meere Cheppali (1985 Telugu film) Robin of Locksley (1996 film) Catch Me Now (2008 Chinese TV series) Alyas Robin Hood (2016 Philippines TV series) Popular culture Statue of Robin Hood Robin Hood (DC Comics character) Robin Hood (Disney character) Child ballads 8: Erlinton 102: Willie and Earl Richard's Daughter 103: Rose the Red and White Lily 115: Robyn and Gandeleyn 117: A Gest of Robyn Hode 118: Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne 119: Robin Hood and the Monk 120: Robin Hood's Death 121: Robin Hood and the Potter 123: Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar 124: The Jolly Pinder of Wakefield 126: Robin Hood and the Tanner 127: Robin Hood and the Tinker 128: Robin Hood Newly Revived 129: Robin Hood and the Prince of Aragon 130: Robin Hood and the Scotchman 131: Robin Hood and the Ranger 132: The Bold Pedlar and Robin Hood 136: Robin Hood's Delight 138: Robin Hood and Allan-a-Dale 139: Robin Hood's Progress to Nottingham 140: Robin Hood Rescuing Three Squires 141: Robin Hood Rescuing Will Stutly 142: Little John a Begging 143: Robin Hood and the Bishop 144: Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford 145: Robin Hood and Queen Katherine 146: Robin Hood's Chase 147: Robin Hood's Golden Prize 148: The Noble Fisherman 151: The King's Disguise, and Friendship with Robin Hood 152: Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow 153: Robin Hood and the Valiant Knight 154: A True Tale of Robin Hood Stage / theatre The Downfall and The Death of Robert Earl of Huntington (1598 and 1601 plays) The Merrie Men of Sherwood Forest (1871 operetta) Robin Hood (1890 De Koven opera) The Foresters (1892 play) Robin Hood (1934 Tippett opera) Twang!! (1965 musical parody) Robin Hood (1998 ballet) Robin des Bois (2013 musical) Video games Robin of Sherwood: The Touchstones of Rhiannon (1985) Robin of the Wood (1985) Super Robin Hood (1986) The Adventures of Robin Hood (1991) Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood (1991) Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood (2002) Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown (2003) Robin Hood's Quest (2007) Volume (2015) Hood: Outlaws & Legends (2021) Literature A Gest of Robyn Hode (probably 15th century) Ivanhoe (1819) Maid Marian (1822) The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (1883) Bows against the Barons (1934) The Once and Future King (1958) The Outlaws of Sherwood (1988) Through a Dark Mist (1991) Lady of the Forest (1992) In the Shadow of Midnight (1994) The Last Arrow (1997) Lady of Sherwood (1999) King Raven Trilogy (2006) Music Legend (1984 soundtrack) "Robin (The Hooded Man)" "Love" (song) "Not in Nottingham" (song) "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" (song) The Tale of Gamelyn Robin Hood (2010 soundtrack) Robin Hood (2018 soundtrack) Alan Dale Outlaw (2009) Holy Warrior (2010) King's Man (2011) The Outlaw Chronicles (2012–2016) Related Miss Robin Hood Son of the Guardsman The Son of Robin Hood The Bandit of Sherwood Forest Robin Hood's Larder Robin Hood Morality Test "Robot of Sherwood" "Robin Good and His Not-So-Merry Men" Once Upon a Time The Tales of Robin Hood (former Nottingham attraction) Once Upon a Studio Category

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [When Things Were Rotten](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_Things_Were_Rotten) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_Things_Were_Rotten?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.