Simon McKay is a genius and inventor with dwarfism who chooses to spend his life as a philanthropist and innovative toymaker dedicated to preserving and protecting innocence. CIC agent Alex Jagger is assigned to protect Simon from the evil forces who wish to use Simon's genius for their own nefarious purposes. They are soon joined by Simon's long time friend, Tillie Russell. Simon, Alex, and Tillie become a family unit working together through adventure and adversity, especially when it comes to defeating Simon's self-proclaimed arch-enemy, Troyan, who would rather seek revenge upon the world for his suffering from the radiation poisoning he brought upon himself than take responsibility for his own actions.
The wish of a Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation recipient to meet The Wizard sends Simon, Alex, and Darcy Stafford (Cheryl Gates McFadden) on an unexpected journey, racing against the clock to find the legendary treasure of El Dorado and the missing brother whose bone marrow could save a life.
A hidden message on a necklace brings Simon and Alex to Hong Kong to rescue Simon's friend Tillie Russell from his arch-enemy Troyan (Roy Dotrice), whom the trio must stop before he can carry out his latest destructive, deadly, get-rich-quick scheme.
3
"Haunting Memories"
Peter H. Hunt
Story by : Michael Berk & Douglas Schwartz & Kerry Lenhart & John J. Sakmar Teleplay by : Kerry Lenhart & John J. Sakmar
September 23, 1986 (1986-09-23)
4P03
Unexplainable events at a local toy store lead Simon and Alex to help the owner (Kristen Meadows). Alex realizes that the establishment was a gas station before being converted into a toy store, and that he and the owner bear a striking resemblance to a couple who was murdered at the gas station 30 years ago.
Simon's prototype robotic helper dog, Aegis, and his new owner (Nadine Van Der Veld) find themselves in need of rescue when mercenaries try to turn this new technology to serve their own nefarious purposes.
Story by : Mary Ann Kasica & Michael Scheff Teleplay by : Mary Ann Kasica & Michael Scheff & David R. Toddman
October 7, 1986 (1986-10-07)
4P06
Simon, Alex, and Tillie help a mysterious runaway (Andre Gower) straighten out his life and stop the terrorists bent on destroying an airliner with Simon's radio controlled plane, The Golden Fleece.
Simon and Tillie are reunited with an old friend (Leslie Jordan) whose long shot to win permanent custody of his recently orphaned niece and nephew is jeopardized by Alex's new love interest (Morgan Brittany).
Alex's surprise reunion with an old friend (Bart Braverman) leads to an unwanted reunion with an old adversary (Elizabeth Savage) and the unexpected field test of Simon's latest and most innovative invention. Being left a widower from a Russian wife, Simon's friend is claiming responsibility for his 6 year old daughter from that marriage and that she is an American by law, whereas the daughter is held at the Russian Consulate with threats that she will be spirited away to the USSR if Simon does not comply.
8
"Twist of Fate"
Peter H. Hunt
Michael Berk & Douglas Schwartz
October 28, 1986 (1986-10-28)
4P07
The early morning vision of a friend and mentor (Viveca Lindfors) in mortal danger sends Simon and Alex on a treacherous journey across the Himalayan mountains to cross paths once again with Troyan, and the possible fruition of Simon's other vision - his own fiery death.
Simon inadvertently discovers the cure for Inventor's Block when he must rescue his best inventing buddy (Avery Schreiber) from the clutches of a mobster (Al Ruscio) bent on using a garbage eradicating machine to destroy incriminating evidence.
10
"It Takes a Chimp"
E.W. Swackhamer
Story by : Michael Berk & Douglas Schwartz Teleplay by : Michael Berk & Douglas Schwartz & Jeff Kincaid & Brad Radnitz
November 15, 1986 (1986-11-15)
4P09
A mysterious coin, a new chimpanzee friend, and a run-in with a member of nobility (Sarah Douglas) who is anything but noble brings Tillie some unwanted and unexpected adventures, teaching her a valuable lesson about pre-judging others and herself.
11
"Endangered Species"
Peter H. Hunt
Michael Berk & Douglas Schwartz
December 16, 1986 (1986-12-16)
4P10
Simon, Alex, and Tillie see a zoologist who has captured a feral child raised by wolves in India (Priscilla Weems) and are disgusted with how the zoologist considers her to be like one of the animals he studies. Things take a turn for the worse when a ruthless businessman tries to kill the wild girl, but she escapes into the unfamiliar environment of an American city. Simon believes that the businessman used to be a mercenary who murdered a family who were friends of Simon's, and the wild girl may be connected to the massacre.
Story by : David Rappaport Teleplay by : Brad Radnitz & Rick Mittleman
December 30, 1986 (1986-12-30)
4P11
The circumstances of a friend's very mysterious, out-of-this-world death brings Simon in contact with a teenage scientist (Robbie Rist) so focused on finding alien communications he doesn't realize he has actually stumbled upon Troyan's latest destructive, deadly, get-rich-quick scheme.
13
"The Heart of a Dancer"
Peter H. Hunt
Teleplay by : Deborah Zoe Dawson & Victoria Johns and Michael Berk & Douglas Schwartz Story by : Brad Radnitz & Deborah Zoe Dawson & Victoria Johns and Michael Berk & Douglas Schwartz
January 6, 1987 (1987-01-06)
4P12
When a dancer (Marine Jahan) is permanently paralyzed by a stalker's (Chris MacDonald) bullet, Simon, Alex, and Tillie help her to recover, grieve, take control of her new life, and stop her would-be assassin before he can finish the job.
The Wizard's board game Never Give Up inspires a determined young boy's (Kenny Morrison) initiative to seek Simon's help in freeing his isolated tribal community from the clutches of a drug dealer (Jud Omen) and his gang.
15
"Daydream Believer"
Peter H. Hunt
Story by : Gabe Torres & John Whelpley Teleplay by : John Whelpley
January 27, 1987 (1987-01-27)
4P14
A boy (Trey Ames) with an overactive imagination seeks out The Wizard to help him stop a Soviet plot to destroy a missile being tested at a nearby military base. But who really is the one letting their imagination run away with them?
Story by : Jonathan Glassner Teleplay by : Jonathan Glassner & Michael Berk & Douglas Schwartz
February 3, 1987 (1987-02-03)
4P15
Tillie must face her fear of superstitions and call on her experience as a fortune teller to help Simon and Alex rescue and reunite a girl and her twin sister (Natalie Gregory in a dual role) who have never met, but communicate through visions.
17
"The Aztec Dagger"
Peter H. Hunt
Story by : Michael Cassutt Teleplay by : John Whelpley & Michael Cassutt
February 19, 1987 (1987-02-19)
4P16
When Simon's hero and inspiration (Stewart Granger) suddenly turns up — a shell of his former self — Simon and Tillie soon find themselves in the Lost Temple of the Sun one step ahead of a crooked art collector (Roy Brocksmith) to return a stolen dagger, lift a curse, and help a hero regain his self-esteem and self-worth.
18
"Papa Simon"
Michael Caffey
Story by : Arthur Bernard Lewis Teleplay by : Michael Berk & Douglas Schwartz & Jonathan Glassner & Arthur Bernard Lewis
March 5, 1987 (1987-03-05)
4P17
A baby left on the doorstep brings 'Uncle' Alex and 'Papa' Simon a series of new adventures, including saving the infant's teenage parents from the clutches of a ruthless businessman looking to sell the baby for profit, and helping the young family find their way back home.
Simon must race against the clock and risk his own life to save the life of the robot he created and discover who is trying to frame H.E.N.R.I. (voice of Roddy McDowall) for murder before they kill again.
Save The Wizard Campaign
Midway through the first season Michael Berk and Douglas Schwartz received word from 20th Century Fox Television that The Wizard was being abruptly canceled. Rather than simply accept this, Berk and Schwartz worked to obtain a guarantee of the series' filming continuance through the end of the season.[1][better source needed]
Immediately following this incident, Berk and Schwartz created the Save The Wizard Campaign. This campaign included making personal phone calls and sending out letters and special flyers[2][better source needed] asking fans of The Wizard to write in to the CBS Television executive office to tell what the show meant to them, as well as asking them to send letter copies to The Wizard's administrative office. Letters and petitions poured in from all over the United States and Canada.[citation needed] School children and families sent in letters collectively,[citation needed] while adults collected signatures.[citation needed]
Despite the ambitious campaign, the studio executives did not change their minds regarding the cancellation. The series has yet to be released on DVD despite some fan attempts.