Michael Hurst Movies

Hercules and Iolaus do not appear in this episode (though actor Michael Hurst does show up -- in drag!), which amiably spoofs the 1959 Billy Wilder comedy Some Like It Hot. Falsely accused of murdering King Pholus, itinerant peddler Salmoneus (Robert Trebor) and "King of Thieves" Autolycus (Bruce Campbell) elude the authorities by donning women's clothing. In this guise, "Salmonella" and "Autolyca" join the Widow Twanky's all-girl dance troupe. Hoping to score points with "hootchi-coochie-jiggle-wiggle" dancer Cupcake (Lacey Kohl), Autolycus takes on a second false identity of wealthy Farciferous Van Baklava. Alas, Cupcake prefers eating to lovemaking -- but, oh well, nobody's perfect. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Kazankis (Barry Duffield), a Hercules imitator, dies while performing an act of heroism. Establishing a tradition that will be followed in the Modern Age by anti-TV and anti-movie zealots, pompous government prosecutor Spencius (John Sumner) puts Hercules on trial for Kazankis' murder. It is Spencius' argument that Hercules represents a poor role model for the populace and should be held responsible for his imitators' rash acts. But common sense prevails in the climactic scene that should elicit a chuckle from anyone who remembers the 1960 movie epic Spartacus. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second episode of a two-part story, the dying Xena (Lucy Lawless) asks Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) to return her body to her home village of Amphipolous. Sadly, Gabrielle grants this wish, and upon her arrival in the village, Xena's lifeless body is prepared for the traditional Amazon funeral. Before long, Gabrielle has been crowned Amazon Queen, and in this capacity, must stop a war. Meanwhile, self-styled "King of Thieves" Autolycus (Bruce Campbell) is possessed by the spirit of Xena, who wants to retrieve her body before it is burned on the funeral pyre. Threatening both Xena's "new life" and Gabrielle's present one is the bloodthirsty Amazon warrior Velasca (Melinda Clarke). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this follow-up to the second-season episode "King for a Day," series regular Michael Hurst again essays the dual role of the heroic Iolaus and his lookalike cousin, King Orestes. When he announces plans to establish a lasting peace by creating a league of nations, Orestes is murdered by the warmongering King Xenon (Roger Oakley). It falls to Iolaus to impersonate Orestes at the upcoming peace conference -- and along the way, he rekindles his romance with Orestes' consort, Queen Niobe (Lisa Ann Hadley). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Headstrong young dragon Braxus goes on a murderous rampage, intending to wipe out all friends and associates of Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and Iolaus (Michael Hurst). The woefully misguided Braxus has been sent on this violent path by the warlord Adamis (Rene Naufahu) and the beautiful but wicked Cynea (Catherine Bell). It is up to Hercules and Iolaus to stop Braxis -- and to help the beast separate the real good guys from the real bad guys. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of a three-part story, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) has given up his super-strength so he can marry Serena (Sam Jenkins), a demigod who has likewise relinquished her immortality. Meanwhile, war god Ares (Kevin Smith) and his nephew, Strife (Joel Tobeck), step up their efforts to destroy Hercules -- beginning with the murder of Serena. Accused of the crime, Hercules is targeted by a lynch mob. Will his loyal friends (including Xena the Warrior Princess Lucy Lawless) be able to rescue Hercules in time -- and will he ever regain his godlike strength? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the first episode of a three-part story, Prince Nestor (Steve Hall) schemes to kill Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) with an arrow dipped in the blood of the Golden Hind, a half-woman, half-deer who also goes by the name of the demigod Serena (Sam Jenkins). Nestor also intends to increase his power by appropriating the Hind's horns and hooves. War god Ares (Kevin Smith) conspires to aid Nestor in his sinister mission -- but unexpected circumstances alter the outcome. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Autolycus (Bruce Campbell) steals the Chronos gemstone from King Qualius (Ian Watkins), enabling him to control the time-space continuum. As a result, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) travels backward five years to witness the first meeting between his lost love, the demigod Serena (Kara Zediker), and war god Ares (Kevin Smith). In his efforts to save Serena from Ares' grasp, Hercules inexorably alters the shape of the future. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In a story set during the French revolution, crooked Count François Demarigny, who looks a lot like ancient peddler Salmoneus (as well he should, since he is played by Robert Trebor all the same), poses as a dashing bandit called the "Chartreuse Fox" in order to rob the rich and give to himself. The count's intended victim is Marie de Valle (Danielle Cormack), who turns out to be the real Chartreuse Fox. When Marie is captured and sentenced to the guillotine, the count's henchmen -- Robert (Kevin Sorbo) and Jean-Pierre (Michael Hurst), suddenly electing to pattern themselves after their archaic lookalikes Hercules and Iolaus -- vow to rescue the heroine and dedicate their lives to fighting for the rights of the downtrodden. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Season four of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys begins with an Olympian spin on a familiar fairy tale. Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and "King of Thieves" Autolycus (Bruce Campbell) climb up a familiar-looking beanstalk into the clouds, all for the objective of rescuing Leanna (Kerry Gallagher), caretaker of the three golden Harpie eggs. Leanna has been kidnapped by a surly giant named Typhoon (Glenn Shadix), but what follows isn't precisely according to the Storybooks -- especially when the eggs hatch yielding something slightly more terrifying than golden chickens. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Circumstantial evidence indicates that a man named Cassus (Lindsey Ginter) has slain an entire family, but Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) wants the due process of law to determine the man's guilt or innocence. While fleeing a lynch mob, Hercules and Cassus are trapped in a mineshaft, where Cassus is pinned under a boulder. It is up to Iolaus (Michael Hurst) to locate the one person who can determine if the dying Cassus is really a murderer -- and that person is the condemned man's own son. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and Iolaus (Michael Hurst) plunge into a parallel dimension reminiscent of a certain modern superhero's "bizarro" world. In this strange land, Hercules is a despotic ruler named "The Sovereign" (also played by Kevin Sorbo); the brave Iolaus is a weak-kneed court jester; warrior princess Xena (Lucy Lawless) is the Sovereign's cuddly consort; surly god of war Ares (Kevin Smith) is the charmng god of love; and hedonistic goddess of love Aphrodite (Alexandra Tydings) is the prudish Queen of the Gods. In their efforts to prevent the Sovereign from killing Zeus, the "real" Hercules and Iolaus must hark back to the earlier story arc involving the demigod Serena (aka "The Golden Hind"). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Upon seeing Hades' sister Celesta (Belinda Waymouth), the embodiment of death, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) sorrowfully realizes that his old friend Jaris (Colin Moy) is about to die. With one day of life left in him, Jaris, a self-appointed vigilante, intends to kill as many local criminals as time allows -- including the members of a tough street gang. The only way Hercules can stop this one-man murder wave is to make a startling confession predicated upon a tragic incident in his youth. Ian Bohen makes his first series appearance as the younger Hercules. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi