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

Creator:

Stephen J. Cannell
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

18 March 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi

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 / ... (41 episodes, 1981-1986)
Don Cervantes	...	Paco Rodriguez (23 episodes, 1981-1983)
Faye Grant	...	Rhonda Blake (22 episodes, 1981-1982)
Michael Paré	...	Tony Villicana (21 episodes, 1981-1983)
Jesse D. Goins	...	Cyler Johnson / ... (19 episodes, 1981-1983)

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		(36 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 (44 episodes, 1981-1986)
Christopher Nelson	....	associate producer / producer / ... (33 episodes, 1981-1986)
Juanita Bartlett	....	co-executive producer (30 episodes, 1980-1983)
Frank Lupo	....	producer / supervising producer (25 episodes, 1981-1986)
Jo Swerling Jr.	....	supervising producer / co-executive producer (19 episodes, 1981-1986)
Gary Winter	....	associate producer (11 episodes, 1982-1983)
Alex Beaton	....	producer (8 episodes, 1980-1981)
Babs Greyhosky	....	producer (7 episodes, 1982-1986)

Series Original Music by
Pete Carpenter		(44 episodes, 1981-1986)
Mike Post		(44 episodes, 1981-1986)
Garry Schyman		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Jacques R. Marquette		(20 episodes, 1981-1983)
Héctor R. Figueroa		(7 episodes, 1981)

Series Film Editing by
Michael T. Elias		(7 episodes, 1982-1983)
John Elias		(6 episodes, 1981-1983)
Rod Stephens		(6 episodes, 1981-1982)
Gloryette Clark		(4 episodes, 1981-1982)
Edilberto Cruz		(2 episodes, 1981)
Patrick M. Ryan		(2 episodes, 1981)
John Carrol		(unknown episodes)
Mario Di Mambro		(unknown episodes)
Dave Goldson		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Reuben Cannon		(26 episodes, 1981-1983)

Series Art Direction by
John D. Jefferies Sr.		(26 episodes, 1981-1983)

Series Set Decoration by
Lowell Chambers		(14 episodes, 1981-1982)
Sam Gross		(7 episodes, 1981)
Robert L. Zilliox		(3 episodes, 1983)
Richard J. DeCinces		(2 episodes, 1982)

Series Costume Design by
Jean-Pierre Dorléac		(26 episodes, 1981-1983)
Kent Warner		(19 episodes, 1981-1983)

Series Makeup Department
John Inzerella	....	makeup artist (27 episodes, 1981-1986)
Suzan Bagdadi	....	hair stylist (26 episodes, 1981-1983)

Series Production Management
Ronald R. Grow	....	unit production manager / production manager (20 episodes, 1981-1982)
Michael J. Maschio	....	executive production manager / production manager / ... (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Larry Powell	....	unit production manager (5 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stephen Sassen	....	second assistant director / first assistant director (23 episodes, 1981-1983)
Beau Marks	....	first assistant director (9 episodes, 1981-1982)
Bob Bender	....	first assistant director (5 episodes, 1981-1982)
Chip Chalmers	....	second assistant director (5 episodes, 1982-1983)
Lindsley Parsons III	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1981)
Richard W. Abramitis	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1982)
Christopher Hibler	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1982)

Series Art Department
George Tuers	....	property master (20 episodes, 1981-1982)
Pat Moudakis	....	property master (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Kenneth Milfred	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
'Fast' Eddie Mahler	....	sound mixer (18 episodes, 1981-1983)
Jack C. May	....	director of post production sound / director of sound post-production / ... (18 episodes, 1981-1982)
Louis C. Williman	....	sound mixer (7 episodes, 1981)

Series Special Effects by
John Coles	....	special effects (19 episodes, 1981-1982)
Al Di Sarro	....	special effects (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Frank Ceglia	....	special effects technician (unknown episodes)
Ken Speed	....	special effects assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Alex Funke	....	visual effects director of photography (8 episodes, 1981)

Series Stunts
Dennis Madalone	....	stunt coordinator (26 episodes, 1981-1983)
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
Robert Blair	....	key grip (19 episodes, 1981-1983)
Michael Schuyler	....	gaffer (19 episodes, 1981-1983)
Steve Stafford	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 1982-1983)
John Kiser	....	camera operator (12 episodes, 1981-1982)
Jack N. Green	....	camera operator (7 episodes, 1981)
Sal Orefice	....	gaffer (7 episodes, 1981)
Bob Rust	....	key grip (7 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
David Rawley	....	costume supervisor / wardrobe: men (21 episodes, 1981-1982)
Gregory B. Peña	....	daily set costumer (8 episodes, 1981)
Marie Brown	....	wardrobe: women (6 episodes, 1981)
Lorry Richter	....	costume supervisor (4 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Editorial Department
Jimmy Giritlian	....	assistant editor (1 episode, 1981)
Dave Goldson	....	assistant editor (1 episode, 1981)
Rod Stephens	....	additional editor (1 episode, 1981)
Gary Winter	....	post production supervisor (1 episode, 1982)

Series Music Department
Stephen Geyer	....	lyricist: theme music / composer: theme music / ... (43 episodes, 1981-1983)
Mike Post	....	composer: theme music (43 episodes, 1981-1983)
Joey Scarbury	....	singer: theme music / singer: main title theme (43 episodes, 1981-1983)
John Caper Jr.	....	music editor / music coordinator / ... (28 episodes, 1981-1986)
Andy D'Addario	....	music scoring mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Ronald Stinton	....	transportation coordinator (22 episodes, 1981-1982)
Marlo Hellerstein	....	transportation coordinator (5 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Other crew
Rosemarie Abelson	....	production coordinator / staff coordinator (27 episodes, 1981-1983)
Joan Etchells	....	production accountant (27 episodes, 1981-1983)
Patrick Hasburgh	....	staff consultant / creative consultant / ... (23 episodes, 1981-1983)
Grace Curcio	....	assistant to producers / assistant to producer / ... (21 episodes, 1981-1986)
Suzi Alter	....	script supervisor (14 episodes, 1981-1982)
Ralph Alderman	....	location manager (12 episodes, 1981-1986)
Jimmy Giritlian	....	coordinator of composite flying (11 episodes, 1981-1982)
Rosemarie Clemente-Johnstone	....	script supervisor (7 episodes, 1981)
W. Paul Henley	....	location manager (4 episodes, 1981-1982)
Joanna Guzzetta	....	location manager (4 episodes, 1981)
Stephen Dorsch	....	script supervisor (3 episodes, 1983)
Jane Wilson	....	production coordinator (3 episodes, 1983)
Pamela Alch	....	script supervisor (2 episodes, 1982)
Daniel Cameron	....	security officer (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Stephen J. Cannell Productions

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1981-1983) (USA) (TV)
• Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV) (1982) (Japan) (TV)
• Lorimar Television (1984) (USA) (TV) (syndication rights)
• AXN (????) (Japan) (TV)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Cuatro (2005) (Spain) (TV)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (complete series)
• Taki Corporation (2004) (Japan) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Magicam

Other Companies

• BT Industrial Supply  expendables
• Glen Glenn Sound Company  sound re-recording
• Howard Anderson Company, The  titles and opticals (as Howard A. Anderson Co.)
• Inter Video  24 frame video services
• Procter & Gamble  sponsoring (Era Plus laundry detergent)
• Reuben Cannon & Associates  casting

Also Known As:

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:

In the pilot when Ralph is taken to a mental hospital wearing his super outfit, a man tells him, "That's a bad suit, Jim!" A similar line ("Say Jim, that's a bad out-FIT!") was said to Christopher Reeve in Superman (1978) movie.

Quotes:

Pam Davidson:I am disgusted with the both of you.
Ralph Hinkley:Why?
Bill Maxwell:About what?
Pam Davidson:I don't know yet.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Cinema Snob: Silent Night, Deadly Night III: You Better Watch Out (#4.34)" (2012)

Soundtrack:

Believe It or Not

Title Explains It All

This was a beautifully done show that actually was well liked and had a really good writing script. Its almost a wonder how this hasn't made it into syndication, but shows such as 'Married With Children' and others like it have. This actually gives someone the impression of what it must feel like to suddenly end up a super hero and have no clue as to how to completely control the use of super powers. On top of that, it had an inventive way of explaining why the hero had to wear the funny and odd looking suit everywhere. The writers even included embarrassment when the hero was in the suit in public. This shows more towards reality than anything.

The story opens where an alien ship comes in contact with a man from earth. The man receives a suit that gives him super powers which he has no idea how to use or control completely. He then goes around fighting crime as a superhero. It sounds so simple and almost dumb to those who have never seen or heard of it before. Yet, add a good cast and script writers, anything can become a hit.

Hopefully, this ends up on DVD for future people to enjoy. Will be great to add to any collection.