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"The Greatest American Hero"
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"The Greatest American Hero" (1981) More at IMDbPro »TV series 1981-1983

Photos (see all 4 | slideshow) Videos (see all 4)
"The Greatest American Hero" (1981): :  -- Clip: Striking out a major leaguer
"The Greatest American Hero" (1981): :  -- Clip: Opening sequence
"The Greatest American Hero" (1981): :  -- A teacher is asked to be a superhero using a special alien suit with powers he can barely understand or control.
"The Greatest American Hero" (1981): :  -- A teacher is asked to be a superhero using a special alien suit with powers he can barely understand or control.

Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   586 votes
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Greatest American Hero on IMDbPro.
Seasons:
1 | 2 | 3 | unknown full episode list
Release Date:
18 March 1981 (USA) more
Plot:
A teacher is asked to be a superhero using a special alien suit with powers he can barely understand or control. full summary
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 4 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(12 articles)
What is Clay Liford’s Earthling?
 (From SciFiCool.com. 5 March 2009, 8:10 PM, PST)

Blood On The Highway producer's Earthling
 (From Fangoria. 4 March 2009, 7:03 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Warmth and 80's magic... more

Cast

 (Series Cast Summary - 5 of 71)
William Katt ... Ralph Hinkley / ... (44 episodes, 1981-1986)
Robert Culp ... Bill Maxwell (44 episodes, 1981-1986)
Connie Sellecca ... Pam Davidson / ... (40 episodes, 1981-1986)
Don Cervantes ... Paco Rodriguez (23 episodes, 1981-1983)
Faye Grant ... Rhonda Blake (22 episodes, 1981-1982)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
60 min | USA:30 min (43 episodes)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Iceland:L | Australia:PG

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Ralph's surname was changed near the end of the first season from Hinkley to Hanley because of the name's negative connection with 'John Hinckley' (the man who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981). Ralph's last name was changed back to Hinkley in the first episode of Season 2 ('The Two Hundred Mile an Hour Fastball'), after the furor over his name subsided. Interestingly enough, the unaired 1986 "Greatest American Heroine" pilot includes a scene in which Ralph Hinkley meets the President of the United States (who was still Ronald Reagan in real-life 1986). more
Quotes:
Bill Maxwell: OK, let's not panic.
Pam Davidson: I feel like panicking. I can panic if I want to panic.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "The Tick: Arthur, Interrupted (#1.3)" (2002) more
Soundtrack:
Believe It or Not more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
9 out of 10 people found the following comment useful:-
Warmth and 80's magic..., 25 May 2004
Author: deaconjguy from Oklahoma

The Greatest American Hero was one of the best concepts for a TV show that I have ever seen, and certainly the most unique take on the superhero genre. The show had charm, lighthearted fun, and was full of 80's magic. I can still remember watching this show back in the early 80's and when Ralph first tried to fly that red suit. He couldn't get it, and some little kid that saw him struggling gave him some advice. Now see, that's the kind of magic that TV shows in the 80's had. TV wasn't afraid of putting out a hero that got advice on how to fly from a goofy little kid. Ralph Hinkley (played by William Katt) was just a regular guy, a young high school teacher that wanted to make a difference. Then one night he is approached by aliens out in the desert, teamed up with a gung-ho FBI agent, and given a spectacular red suit styled in the classic superhero design of cape and longjohns.

Unfortunately poor Ralph promptly loses the instruction book to the suit, and must learn the suit powers through trial and error. Connie Sellecca played Hinkley's girlfriend Pam, I seem to recall later in the show they were married. I also remember that Ralph got another instruction book, only to lose it again. And if I remember correctly, this show was only on for a brief 2 years and had 3 seasons. I don't know why the network prematurely cancelled this series, the show sadly never got to live up to it's full potential. I think it only clocked in around 44 or 45 episodes because the network pulled the plug on it so soon. The low episode number is probably why we don't get the luxury of seeing TGAH on Sci-Fi channel, WGN, TBS, or TV Land. Even with only 2 years of episodes, this series is still fondly remembered by many as a part of 80's magic.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for "The Greatest American Hero" (1981)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The only episode I remember njny99
I want to see reactions to this smegbug2
Hows this for a cast? shalmo
JON HEDER should play Ralph Hinkley popsicle820
Is this true? d_henderson1810
Special Ed? BBaller151
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