When Universal decided to create a string of made-for-television movies based on everyone’s favorite mythical muscleman, Hercules, in 1994, they proved so successful that a weekly series became a no-brainer. They enlisted the talents of filmmaker Sam Raimi (Evil Dead) and presented Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. With a mixture of adventure and humor, it quickly rose to become one of the most popular syndicated shows of the decade.

Half-man/half-god, Hercules was the secret illegitimate child of a mortal woman named Alcemne and the Greek god, Zeus (whose wife, Hera, was none too pleased.) As a result, Zeus took a hands-off approach concerning Hercules upbringing, leaving that task to his mortal mom and only stepping in when the other gods tried to make his life difficult. Bestowed with superhuman strength, Hercules grew to become a warrior in his own right, accompanied by childhood pal and sidekick, lolaus.

Tired of never-ending battles, Hercules had chosen a simpler life, with a wife and children of his own. Then the jealous and vengeful Hera murdered his family, causing him to seek revenge and destroy her seven temples in retaliation. Soon, however, his rage gave way to compassion as he encountered those along his journey in need of assistance. With his faithful sidekick at his side, he chose instead to battle the forces of nature and act as protector to those who couldn’t fend for themselves. Together, they traveled around the world, helping the mortals battle monsters, evil kings, and various gods. A couple of recurring characters included Autolycus, the King of Theives, and a warrior princess named Xena (who would later prove to have some syndicated star potential of her own.)

Although all of this took place in an ancient setting, many of the stories had an underlying modern humor and dialog which helped bridge the gap between mythology and the modern world. Even such futuristic science fiction theories such as time-travel would occasionally find their way into the storyline. A few humorous episodes were also created, comprised of past clips re-edited to follow a comical plot, such as “Yes, Virginia, There is a Hercules” which features some of the cast members dressed as modern day employees.

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys originally ran from 1995 – 1999 for a total of 111 episodes. Thanks to its universal appeal (and a little merchandising, for good measure) it remains one of the highest rated syndicated series of all time. All six seasons are available on DVD.