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when things were rotten

“When Things Were Rotten” is a short‑lived 1975 American TV sitcom created by Mel Brooks that parodies the Robin Hood legend. It aired on ABC, was set in 1197, and focused on a goofy version of Robin Hood and his Merry Men.

What “When Things Were Rotten” is

  • It is a medieval spoof series where Robin Hood leads a band of misfits against corrupt nobles, played entirely for broad, gag‑heavy comedy.
  • The show ran only one season (13 episodes) but later gained a small cult following among Mel Brooks and classic‑TV fans.

Style, tone, and humor

  • The humor leans into rapid‑fire puns, anachronistic jokes, and slapstick, similar in spirit to other Mel Brooks projects like “Robin Hood: Men in Tights,” which re‑used the same legend for a 1993 film spoof.
  • Its opening theme even plays on the phrase “when things were rotten” to describe both the decayed state of the kingdom and the corruption of those in power.

Reception and legacy

  • Contemporary reviews were mixed; some viewers found the jokes too repetitive, while others saw it as one of the funnier Robin Hood spoofs on television.
  • Although it was cancelled quickly, it is often mentioned now in forum discussions and classic‑TV circles as an early, lesser‑known Mel Brooks experiment that paved the way for later Robin Hood parodies.

Quick SEO‑style notes

  • Focus keywords like “when things were rotten” , “latest news,” and “forum discussion” typically pull up:
    • Episode uploads and clips on video platforms.
* Retrospective reviews and fan discussions about the show’s quality and its place in Mel Brooks’ body of work.

Mini FAQ

  • Is there any “latest news” about it now?
    Mostly nostalgic write‑ups, fan posts, and occasional episode uploads; there is no widely reported reboot or continuation as of early 2026.
  • Why the title “When Things Were Rotten”?
    It plays on “the good old days” by joking that in Robin Hood’s time, everything—from politics to daily life—was “rotten,” which fits the show’s satirical, irreverent tone.

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