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LEGEND INFO Anderson stars as Ernest Pratt, a gambling, womanizing, hard-drinking
writer who has created a dashing literary hero, Nicodemus Legend, the
main character in a wildly imaginative series of dime novels set in the
dangerous, untamed West. Pratt has created Legend in his own image, and
all the novels are written in the first person. Because of this, many
readers believe that Ernest Pratt is Nicodemus Legend. The irony is that
while Pratt himself is something of a lost soul, he has created in Nicodemus
Legend a romantic hero who embodies all the optimism and creative spirit
of America in the 1870s. Cast:
LEGEND CHARACTER
Ernest Pratt Ernest Pratt is born into a good, conservative Boston family in 1836 and attends Harvard College for a short time, where he falls under the spell of the Romantic poets and Gothic literature. Defying his banker father, Pratt decides to pursue the life of a writer and heads west to San Francisco where he becomes an apprentice reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. A chance meeting with Mark Twain changes Pratt's life, and inspires the young man to set to work on his first successful book, Solitary Knight of the High Plains, which introduces the dashing hero, Nicodemus Legend. Pratt's gimick of writing in the first person gives his readers the impression that Legend's exploits are real. In 1876, when our story opens, pratt is 40 years old.
Nicodemus Legend Nicodemus Legend is the fictional hero of fifteen popular novels by Ernest Pratt. Legend is a champion of the underdog, a crusader for justice and truth. His perfect manners, good looks and beautiful hand-beaded buckskin outfits make him a dashing and romantic figure. In reality, Legend is tough and quick-witted, with an impressive knowledge of science. He hates violence, preferring to use brains instead of a gun. Since Pratt's novels are written in the first person from Legend's point of view, many readers fail to realize that Legend is a fictitious character.
Janos Bartok Janos Bartok was born in Hungary in 1840. He speaks five languages and is a prodigy in mathematics and electrical engineering. Bartok is fascinated with all aspects of life, from the discovery of new scientific advancements to spiritualism and extra-sensory perception and, especially, with the idea that man will one day fly. After winning a scholarship to the University of Budapest, Bartok comes to New York to work at Western union, where he meets the young Thomas Edison. A bitter competition devolps between these two brilliant scientists. Eventually, Edison seeks to destroy Bartok's reputation by claiming that Bartok has stolen his ideas. Tiring of the scandal and the resulting media attention, Bartok leaves New York, and heads West where he begins experimenting with a "rain machine." His financial backing comes from a wealthy widow in Denver with scientific interests and, perhaps, other interests in Bartok. Jis only leisure time is spent with the humorous novels of Mark Twain and with a series of dime novels which chronicle the adventures of Nicodemus Legend.
Huitzilopochtli RamosHuitzilopochtli Ramos, a Mexican, is a descendent of Aztec kings, and has inherited the great Aztec genius for mathematics. His first name - Huitzilopochtli - means "Hummingbird of the South," and was the name of the chief tribal God in the Aztec religion. Ramos' brilliance was recognized early in his life, and he eventually went to work for a Harvard archeologist on a dig in Mexico. The archeologist was so impressed by Ramos' intellect that he helped the young man get a scholarship to Harvard. Ramos is fiercely devoted to Bartok, whom he met when they were both working for Western Union.
Harry ParverHarry Parver is the representative of Pratt's publisher. He's a Easterner who is fascinated by the West but guite out of place in it. Parver is a businessman surrounded by geniuses, dreamers and lunatics. It's his job to be concerned with deadlines, re-writes and promotional stunts to keep the Legend book at the topn of the best-seller lists.
It's 1876 and Ernest Pratt, a drunken dime-novel author with writer's block, finds himself thrust into the life of his fictional hero, Nicodemus Legend, when a warrant is issued for his arrest. Pratt is pulled into the plight of immigrant farmers battling a rich landowner. The eccentric Hungarian inventor, Bartok, pushes Pratt into making Legend a reality.
Cast
Writers: Michael Piller and Bill Dial
Ernest Pratt returns to Sheridan with serious resevations about impersonating his fictional creation. Reluctantly he takes up the role again to assist a bank robber who has been falsely accused of murder. In order to accomplish this Legend must rob a bank.
Cast:
Writers: Michael Piller and Bill Dial
Pratt is approached by a young southern lady, Abigail, who is convinced that her father intends to assassinate President Grant. He warns the President, who is on a tour of Texas. Pratt is persuaded to offer his services to protect Grant from a plot masterminded by the President's old friend.
Cast
Writer: Bob Wilcox
George Armstrong Custer comes to town. Mrs. Custer an old friend of Pratt's asks him to help Custer prove that the post traders, with the war departments approval, are selling off the fort food supplies and providing inferior weapons. The task is made more difficult when a mysterious man emerges from Pratt's past with a vendetta.
Cast
Writer: Bill Dial
Wild Bill Hickok asks Legend to team up with him to catch a gang of robbers. Though Pratt declines the honor, everyone believes they've joined forces, including Bill's old enemy, Jack McCall. Pratt and Bartok become caught up in Bill's circle of killing and must find a way to finally put an end to it.
Cast
Writer: Peter Allan Fields
Pratt and Bartok are trying to catch some cattle rustlers for a local rancher. Matters are complicated by an opportunistic Actress who tries to pass off her young son as "Nicodemus Legend, Jr." When one of the rustlers is captured, his brother kidnaps Legend's "son". Features the "Bartok Trojan Cow", the future of rustler survelliance.
Cast
Teleplay by Steve Stoller & Frederick Rappaport
A preacher comes to town and holds a tent meeting. Things quickly turn ugly when the evangelist speaks out against science in general and Janos Bartok in particular. Pratt knows that the bible-thumper is a swindler and he and Bartok have to figure out what the con is. When they do they must contend with the violent mob that the preacher incites.
Cast
Writer: John Considine
A paleontologist is murdered and leaves a vital clue with Professor Bartok; a dinosaur bone. Their initial investigation leads to the bone being stolen and Pratt being knocked unconscious. When he awakes the victim's beautiful sister has come to town and so has an old friend of Bartok's, another paleontologist. The dinosaur bone changes hands a few more times as they try to solve the mystery.
Cast
Writer: George Geiger
Pratt's overseas publisher, an overbearing german, comes to town. He wants Legend to guide him on a Buffalo hunt. Pratt and Bartok guide the German party onto Arapaho lands and must prevent the Indians from killing the germans and the germans from killing the bison. To this end they bring to life the Arapaho legend of Thunderhooves.
Cast
Writer: Tim Burns
Ernest Pratt is caught in the hayloft with a farmer's daughter. When the farmer is found murdered, Pratt is accused of the crime. He escapes from the town jail after being convicted by a kangaroo court and sets out to find the bald man who can clear him of the murder. He and Bartok pose as Gypsies and then as a priest and a doctor.
Cast
Teleplay: Ron Friedman
A young woman, Patence, comes to Legend for assistance in finding her family. She was separated from them as an infant and raised by Indians. Pratt and Bartok accompany her to San Francisco where she believes her family was going. Pratt takes them to his mother's house, where we learn his maternal parent is as eccentric as he has hinted. Pratt runs into some hostile intimidation tactics as he delves into the young lady's origins.
Cast
Writers: Marianne Clarkson and Carol Caldwell
Ernst Bartok creates a primitive moving picture machine. While they are trying to photograph a promotional movie for the Legend books they discover a skeleton. The dead man's hand has an Aztec ring on one finger. Feeling a kinship to the deceased, Ramos investigates the murder himself. Pratt and Bartok come to his assistance to prove that a local collector of artifacts murdered the man. Ramos goes undercover as a servant.
Cast
Writer: David Rich
BIOGRAPHYThe Biography from John de LancieJohn de Lancie was raised in Philadelphia. John managed to flunk out of fifth grade. However it was later discovered that he was dyslexic. At 14, John played the part of Henry V in a school play. He was pretty good and his father suggested that John shoul d become an actor. John attended Julliard on a four year scholarship and then joined the American Shakespeare Festival in Stratford. At the summer’s end Universal Studios offered John a contract. John acted for two years as a contract player doing 35 television shows, inclu ding: Black Beauty, Little Women, The Thornbirds and Captain and Kings. In 1980 John created the character, Eugene Bradford on "Day of Our Lives", a long running soap opera. (This was my first remembrance of John. I turned in each day hoping that John would be on. They made him do outrageous things. He was always good for a l augh.) John and his partner in comedy, Arlene Sorkin won two People’s Award for the team. John’s acceptance speech went like this. He thanked the props, cue cards and the lunch truck. John’s next role was as the omnipotent "Q" on Star Trek: The Next Generation! (I was thrilled to see John again on TV.) John also reprised his same role for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. John has appeared 9 times in 8 years. His chara cter has become so popular that there are toys, china plates and other collectible items made in his likeness. John as "Q" has won the vote for "Best Villain", "Best Recurring" and "Best Loved" character in Star Trek. John film roles include: "The Hand That Rock The Cradle", "The Fisher King", "Influence", "The Onion Field", "Taking Care of Business", "Arcade", "Deep Red", "Fearless" and "Multiplicity." John has performed at the Mark Taper Forum, The Seattle Repertory Company and the South Coast Repertory. John has also performed as a concert narrator. He performed with Kurt Masur and the New York Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Solonen and the LA Philharmonic a nd the U.S. Army Band. John also is a regular at the Aspen Music Festival, appearing in Fidelio, A Midsummers Night’s Dream and Les Bourgeois Geltilhomme. John is an associate director of the L.A. Theatre Works and producing arm of KCRW/National Public Radio. At which he direct ed plays as "Fallen Angel", "The Waldorf Conference", "Invasion From Mars", and "When Welles Collide." John has also acted as Cassius in the BBC production of Julius Caesar with Richard Dreyfuss and Stacey Keach. John also co-starred as Jason Bartok in the United Paramount Network series Legend with Richard Dean Anderson. John has also guest starred in Picket Fences, L.A. Law, Murder One, The Gayle O’Grady Project and the voice of Dr. Quest on the Johnny Quest animated series. In 1996 John’s appearance in Star Trek: Voyager opposite his very good friend, Kate Mulgrew garnished the biggest rating in the history of the series. John current project is Alien Voices. John along with Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame have created "Alien Voices." They show case their company as the classics of yesteryear meet the voices and sounds of the next millennium. They will be doing the Sci-fi classics such as The Time Machine by H.G. Wells and Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne and The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Alien Voices series tells timeless tales anew. Check out their newly constructed web site at Alien Voices. John de Lancie and yours truly created the site including a guest book and e-mail. (You couldn't have asked for a nicer man to work with, than John de Lancie!!!) Also check out Simon & Schuster's Alien Voice's website. There will be more to come so pick up a copy at your favorite book store. Mark Adair Rios - filmographySpeed 2: Cruise Control (1997) .... Engine Room Crew Member #1Courage Under Fire (1996) .... Bobcat 5 "Legend" (1995) TV Series .... Huitzilopochtli Ramos Sherlock Holmes Returns (1993) (TV) Triumph Over Disaster: The Hurricane Andrew Story (1993) (TV) .... Marco Llelli Jarrad Paul - filmographyLiar Liar (1997) .... Zit Boy"Legend" (1995) TV Series .... Skeeter "Home Fires" (1992) TV Series "Family for Joe, A" (1990) TV Series .... Chris Bankston (pilot only) Family for Joe, A (1990) (TV) .... Chris Home Fires (1987) (TV) .... Jesse Notable TV guest appearances "Seinfeld" (1990) playing "Darin" in episode: "Voice, The" 10/2/1997 "Men Behaving Badly" (1996) playing "Pipsqueak" in episode: "I am What I Am" 4/2/1997 "Home Improvement" (1991) playing "Jason" in episode: "Workin' Man Blues" (episode # 6.11) 12/10/1996 "Home Improvement" (1991) playing "Jason" in episode: "Burnin' Love" (episode # 6.4) 10/8/1996 "Home Improvement" (1991) playing "Jason" in episode: "Alarmed by Burglars" (episode # 5.25) 5/14/1996 "Home Improvement" (1991) playing "Jason" in episode: "Let Them Eat Cake" (episode # 5.6) 10/31/1995 "Weird Science" (1994) "Boy Meets World" (1993) "Step by Step" (1991) "Family Matters" (1989)
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