"The Greatest American Hero" (1981) TV series 1981-1983

Creator:

Stephen J. Cannell
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | unknown

Release Date:

18 March 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Family | Sci-Fi | Comedy

Plot:

A teacher is asked to be a superhero using a special alien suit with powers he can barely understand or control.

Plot Keywords:

Suit | Teacher | Alien | Superhero | California

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

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)

Series Directed by
Arnold Laven		(7 episodes, 1981-1983)
Ivan Dixon		(6 episodes, 1981-1983)
Rod Holcomb		(6 episodes, 1981-1982)
Bruce Kessler		(5 episodes, 1981-1983)
Robert C. Thompson		(4 episodes, 1981-1982)
Lawrence Doheny		(2 episodes, 1981-1982)
Gabrielle Beaumont		(2 episodes, 1981)
Chuck Bowman		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Robert Culp		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Sidney Hayers		(2 episodes, 1982)
Christian I. Nyby II		(2 episodes, 1983)

Series Writing credits
Stephen J. Cannell		(28 episodes, 1981-1986)
Frank Lupo		(10 episodes, 1981-1983)
Patrick Hasburgh		(7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Juanita Bartlett		(5 episodes, 1981)
Babs Greyhosky		(5 episodes, 1982-1986)
Rudolph Borchert		(3 episodes, 1982-1983)
Danny Lee Cole		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Robert Culp		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
J. Duncan Ray		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Jeff Ray		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Stephen J. Cannell	....	executive producer (16 episodes, 1981-1986)
Christopher Nelson	....	associate producer / co-producer / ... (16 episodes, 1981-1986)
Juanita Bartlett	....	co-executive producer (14 episodes, 1980-1983)
Alex Beaton	....	producer (8 episodes, 1980-1981)
Frank Lupo	....	producer / supervising producer (8 episodes, 1981-1986)
Jo Swerling Jr.	....	supervising producer / co-executive producer (7 episodes, 1981-1986)
Gary Winter	....	associate producer (5 episodes, 1982-1983)
Babs Greyhosky	....	producer (2 episodes, 1982-1986)

Series Original Music by
Pete Carpenter		(6 episodes, 1981-1986)
Mike Post		(6 episodes, 1981-1986)
Garry Schyman		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Héctor R. Figueroa		(4 episodes, 1981)

Series Film Editing by
Rod Stephens		(6 episodes, 1981-1982)
Patrick M. Ryan		(2 episodes, 1981)
John Carrol		(unknown episodes)
Mario Di Mambro		(unknown episodes)
John Elias		(unknown episodes)
Dave Goldson		(unknown episodes)
Chris G. Willingham		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Reuben Cannon		(5 episodes, 1981)

Series Production Design by
John D. Jefferies Sr.		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
John D. Jefferies Sr.		(4 episodes, 1981)

Series Set Decoration by
Sam Gross		(4 episodes, 1981)

Series Costume Design by
Jean-Pierre Dorléac		(5 episodes, 1981)

Series Makeup Department
John Inzerella	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1981-1986)
Suzan Bagdadi	....	hair stylist (4 episodes, 1981)

Series Production Management
Ronald R. Grow	....	unit production manager / production manager (5 episodes, 1981)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve Stafford	....	second unit director (17 episodes, 1982-1983)
Stephen Sassen	....	second assistant director (5 episodes, 1981)
Beau Marks	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 1981)
Lindsley Parsons III	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1981)

Series Art Department
George Tuers	....	property master (5 episodes, 1981)
Kenneth Milfred	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Jack C. May	....	director of sound post-production / sound effects (5 episodes, 1981)
Louis C. Williman	....	sound mixer (4 episodes, 1981)

Series Special Effects by
John Coles	....	special effects (4 episodes, 1981)
Frank Ceglia	....	special effects technician (unknown episodes)
Ken Speed	....	special effects assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Dennis Madalone	....	stunt coordinator (5 episodes, 1981)
Kenny Bates	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Tony Brubaker	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Gene LeBell	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Tony Snegoff	....	stunt rigger (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Jack N. Green	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 1981)
Sal Orefice	....	gaffer (4 episodes, 1981)
Bob Rust	....	key grip (4 episodes, 1981)
John Burnett	....	second assistant camera: second unit (unknown episodes)
Jim Marquette	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Michael R. Marquette	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Stan McClain	....	assistant camera: aerial unit (unknown episodes)
David Morton	....	electrician (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Victoria Tarazi	....	casting assistant (15 episodes, 1981)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gregory B. Peña	....	daily set costumer (8 episodes, 1981)
Marie Brown	....	wardrobe: women (4 episodes, 1981)
David Rawley	....	wardrobe: men (4 episodes, 1981)

Series Editorial Department
Jimmy Giritlian	....	assistant editor (1 episode, 1981)
Dave Goldson	....	assistant editor (1 episode, 1981)
Rod Stephens	....	additional editor (1 episode, 1981)

Series Music Department
John Caper Jr.	....	music editor / music supervisor (6 episodes, 1981-1986)
Joey Scarbury	....	singer: main title theme (5 episodes, 1981)
Stephen Geyer	....	composer: theme music / music coordinator (4 episodes, 1981)
Mike Post	....	composer: theme music (4 episodes, 1981)
Andy D'Addario	....	music scoring mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Ronald Stinton	....	transportation coordinator (5 episodes, 1981)

Series Other crew
Patrick Hasburgh	....	staff consultant / creative consultant / ... (9 episodes, 1981-1983)
Rosemarie Abelson	....	production coordinator (5 episodes, 1981)
Joan Etchells	....	production accountant (5 episodes, 1981)
Rosemarie Clemente-Johnstone	....	script supervisor (4 episodes, 1981)
Joanna Guzzetta	....	location manager (2 episodes, 1981)
Daniel Cameron	....	security officer (unknown episodes)
Ira S. Rosenstein	....	location manager (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Stephen J. Cannell Productions

Distributors

• AXN (????) (Japan) (TV)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1981-1983) (USA) (TV)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Cuatro (2005) (Spain) (TV)
• Lorimar Television (1984) (USA) (TV) (syndication rights)
• Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV) (1982) (Japan) (TV)
• Taki Corporation (2004) (Japan) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Magicam

Other Companies

• Inter Video  24 frame video services

Runtime:

60 min | USA:30 min (43 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company:

Stephen J. Cannell Productions

Trivia:

Bill was kidnapped a total of eight times and was shot five times. Pam was kidnapped six times.

Quotes:

Bill Maxwell: If it's trouble you're looking for, you've just come across the West Coast distributor.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)

Soundtrack:

Believe It or Not

So much potential wasted…with one of the greatest American theme songs EVER…

`The Greatest American Hero' is a textbook case of a television show being a victim of `the powers that be.' I was in grade school during the time of its run, but I remember most of the behind the scenes drama. Though its initial debut was well received, it wasn't long before the show met an ill-fated course. First, it was an unfortunate victim of the 1981 Reagan assassination attempt, resulting in the horrific `Hinkley/Hanley' overdub. This event, followed by constant time changes, late season debuts, pre-empts, and the never-ending lawsuit with Warner Brothers and DC comics over its supposed `Superman-like' premise, kept it from reaching its full potential with viewers. Then, like those aliens in the desert, the show disappeared without a trace.

There are several theories as to why this show never reached its full potential. I personally think Warner Brothers and DC Comics made ABC executives nervous, hence the delays and time changes. While I can certainly understand their motives (the Superman movies were popular at the time) I considered each character to be a separate entity. I never thought William Katt was an exact clone of Christopher (or George, for that matter) Reeve's famous role. Superman (I thought) was a strong, supernatural hero from another planet who masqueraded as a human being. The Greatest American Hero was just an ordinary guy who stumbled upon good fortune and tried to utilize it in the best way he could to help mankind. It could have been anyone that night instead of Ralph Hinkley, for all we know (the lyrics of the theme song attempted to explain this). Katt simply provided a handsome, lovable example of the `imperfect hero.'

My mother and sister absolutely loved this show. I was the youngest, so I watched it mostly because they did! `The Greatest American Hero' did grow on me, though…so I, too, have fond memories. I was in love with the theme song, however, from the debut! Even if you didn't like the show, you have to admit that the theme song, `Believe It Or Not,' sung by Joey Scarbury, is one of the greatest of all time. The earlier comments were correct. `Believe It Or Not' is awesome.

Absolutely awesome!