“Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire”
Thursdays at 10 p.m.
Comedy Central

1.5 out of 5 stars

In 2007, “Epic Movie” topped the box office charts. A year later, “Meet the Spartans” achieved the same feat. Both movies were shoddily cooked up by throwing scenes from recent popular films of the epic fantasy genre into a pot, mixing in some slapstick, a scoop of potty humor and a few tablespoons of pop culture references. And despite being ripped apart by critics, they enjoyed undeniable commercial success.

Seeking to capitalize on the ratings that an epic-fantasy parody TV show could bring, Comedy Central unveiled its newest addition, “Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire."

Like its predecessors, “Krod” doesn’t seem too worried about its critical success. In fact, it’s like “Epic Movie” and “Meet the Spartans” in every way (except there aren’t any scenes pulled directly out of “Lord of the Rings” or “Harry Potter” — or any other references to pop culture, for that matter). Otherwise it’s the same go-for-every-gag-possible routine, with the same sometimes-it’s-funny-but-usually-it’s-not result.

In “Krod,” a team of fighters is assembled to bring down an evil empire against impossible odds. Unfortunately, the actors playing the rebellious gang are lackluster at best. Krod (Sean Maguire, “Meet the Spartans”), plagued by a lack of self-confidence, is expected to lead the battle against evil. But when Maguire’s unconvincing forehead-wrinkling look of concern never changes, it’s apparent that he will bring little comedic value to the show.

The legion of actors Maguire commands is equally lifeless. India de Beaufort (“Run, Fatboy, Run”) plays Aneka, Krod’s on-and-off girlfriend and a skilled Pagan warrior who gets Krod and his pals out of several hairy situations. But her contributions to the "humor" are nothing special, and it seems that she may have been brought on purely as eye-candy.

One of the show's few comedic bright spots is the evil-but-incompetent Chancellor Dongalor (Matt Lucas, “Little Britain USA”), leader of the Meconian Empire. Whether he’s sentencing those who doubt totalitarianism to torture or plotting to destroy a village with a weapon of mass destruction (known as the Eye of Gulga Grymna), his conviction that he’s the best villain ever upstages even the most conceited evil rulers. There’s something brilliant yet simultaneously disturbing about a man with this strength and will power prancing around like a schoolgirl and asking his assistant for fashion advice, occasionally showing off his blindingly pale thighs in his favorite feathery undergarment.

Bringing another much-needed dose of humor to "Krod" are the British accents employed by Dongalor and his minions. British accents are classically humorous, as seen with comedian Russell Brand and in other epic fantasy comedies like “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” But the accents are pretty much the only genuinely funny element of the show apart from the villainous Dongalor. Everything else, like Krod walking into a support beam, feels forced and has been done before.

“Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire” is plagued by a limp cast and an overuse of old and tired gags. When it's all said and done, the show's name may just be the funniest thing about it.