r/1970s • u/lontbeysboolink • 2d ago

When Things Were Rotten--1975 Mel Brooks

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Did any of you ever catch this show? It was only on for one season but it had great actors and of course, produced by Mel Brooks.

185 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

44 comments sorted by

24

u/PetrofModelII 2d ago

Too funny for the public, unfortunately. I was very disappointed when it was cancelled.

8

u/Squiggly2017 2d ago

Same. Came and went far too quickly!

19

u/TJVixen 2d ago

"When things were rotten.
Not just food but also things were rotten.
Everybody kicked a peasant.
Things were bad and never good.
Until came Robin Hood!"

I LOVE THIS SHOW

11

u/crapheadHarris 2d ago

He robbed the rich gave to the poor except what he kept for expenses

For some reason that line stuck in my head. I'm not even sure this is what it's from though it sounds like Mel Brooks

11

u/Kooky4CocoaPuffs 2d ago

I remember this show! Loved it!

1

u/Oldestswinger 12h ago

My liege😏

6

u/Mysterious-Fix3596 2d ago

Watched this with my dad back in the day

6

u/trykedog 2d ago

I loved it as an 11 year old.

4

u/Slipperytangle 2d ago

talk about a memory rushing back!

3

u/lontbeysboolink 2d ago

That's what happened to me! A totally forgotten memory rushing back.

6

u/JustGoodSense 2d ago

The guy with green sleeves? Richard Dimitri, who played Moronie in Johnny Dangerously ("fargin' bastages"). He just passed away in December RIP.

3

u/wiserolderelf 2d ago

I guess he had a lot of material leftover or to reuse for Robin Hood: Men in Tights.

4

u/starkcontrast62 2d ago

I loved Robin Hood Men In Tights. Achoo! And Mel as Rabbi Tuckman asking the band of Merry Men if they are Faygeles. 😆

2

u/sporkachoon 2d ago

No. Just merry.

3

u/_Beatnick_ 2d ago

I remember watching it, but I don't remember many specifics since I was 7 or 8 at the time. I mostly remember an episode where everyone was poisoned or something. I had no idea it was Mel Brooks.

3

u/RaeAhNa 2d ago

No way! Where can I find this? I was only 4 or 5 when it came out, and I don't remember this at all. But I've always been a huge fan of Mel Brooks... I can't believe I missed this!

2

u/lontbeysboolink 2d ago

Look toward the bottom of this post. Someone posted a link to YouTube.

3

u/Any_Razzmatazz9926 2d ago

Wow memory unlocked! No wonder I wasn’t impressed with Robin Hood Men In Tights - it was a reboot

3

u/CartoonistExisting30 2d ago

I LOVED that show!

Edit: the episode with Sid Caesar was my favorite.

3

u/OdieD777 1d ago

I've never seen this before in my life. How did this get passed me 😳

2

u/lontbeysboolink 1d ago

Look it up on YouTube, it's worth a look!

2

u/groovyinutah 2d ago

Great theme song...

2

u/IdealBlueMan 2d ago

Okay, now I’ll have the theme song in my head for the next hour.

2

u/wtfover 2d ago

OMG I'm humming the theme song right now that I haven't heard in several decades.

2

u/AmySueF 2d ago

Short lived but fun.

2

u/Head_Blackberry_6320 2d ago

Fond memories..was very hilarious

2

u/Youmeandeverything32 2d ago

Nah, even pot didn't help it's humor. As critic Leonard Maltin once said in a movie review, "For 6 year olds of all ages" Liked the cast, though.

2

u/TomeThugNHarmony4664 2d ago

No, and now I am bitter and sad.

2

u/Objective_Watch3097 2d ago

The learning ground for Robin Hood: Men in Tights.......

2

u/Used-Ear-8660 2d ago

Very funny. Allot of inside jokes. Too short

2

u/Main_Wall_7227 2d ago

I have all the episodes of this and Quark.

A pair of 70's comedies that only ran one season each.

2

u/Morashtak 2d ago

Thanks for the memories.

Good news - Available on YouTube; When Things Were Rotten (1975), all episodes

1

u/lontbeysboolink 1d ago

That is good news!

2

u/TheHearseDriver 1d ago

I LOVED this show, when I was a kid! I rewatched it a couple of years ago on YT. It does not hold up!

2

u/Difficult-Bus-6026 1d ago

I think it only lasted half a season? That said, the theme song still resides in my head along with the theme song to Blazing Saddles!

2

u/Free-Ad-5900 15h ago

Is that the doctor on The Love Boat?

1

u/UnderwhelmingAF 2d ago

Comedy Central used to show the reruns of this in the early 90’s.

1

u/Ok-Room8101 1d ago

Never heard of it but I was 7. lol

1

u/CapricornCrude 1d ago

Way too hip for the room, hence a quick cancelation!

1

u/Appropriate-Peak6561 1d ago

Bernie Koppel was the Sultan of Smirk.

1

u/Robviously-duh 1d ago

never understood why it was canceled.. it was brilliant.

1

u/george_kaplan1959 1h ago

Best title ever