A teacher is asked to be a superhero using a special alien suit with powers he can barely understand or control.A teacher is asked to be a superhero using a special alien suit with powers he can barely understand or control.A teacher is asked to be a superhero using a special alien suit with powers he can barely understand or control.
- Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys
- 1 win & 8 nominations total
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Storyline
Ralph Hinkley was minding his own business, a teacher on a field trip with his high school students, when the bus he's driving mysteriously drives itself out into the desert. A startled Ralph is soon visited by aliens, who had decided to endow him with superhuman powers to fight the battle against injustice and crime. To this end, they gave him a special suit and an instruction manual. Unfortunately, Ralph managed to lose the instruction manual, and the aliens have a nasty habit of never being around when you need them. —Murray Chapman <muzzle@cs.uq.oz.au>
- Taglines
- What America needs is a super hero. What America got was Ralph Hinkley!
- Genres
- Certificate
- TV-14
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaRalph'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 Jr. (the man who shot President Ronald Reagan in an assassination attempt on 3/30/1981). Ralph's last name was changed back to Hinkley in the first episode of Season 2 (The Two-Hundred-Mile-an-Hour Fast Ball (1981)) 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 in 1986).
- Crazy creditsThroughout the show's production, save for the original pilot, the copyright disclaimer toward the end of each episode's credits had an error, spelling the name of the United States as "THE UNTED STATES"
- Alternate versionsIn 1986, three years after the series ended, a pilot film entitled "The Greatest American Heroine" was produced which reunited the original series cast. The pilot was not broadcast, so the film was reedited as an episode of "Greatest American Hero" (complete with original opening credits) for syndication. It was also included on the 2005 DVD release.
- ConnectionsFeatured in I Love the '80s: 1981 (2002)
Top review
Great show. Every episode was a winner. Culp & Katt perfect pair.
This was one of my favorites. It had everything, drama, comedy, adventure and suspense.
A space ship landed on earth and left a suit with special "super powers" for William Katt. Robert Culp, the "know it all secret agent", is sent by the government to control this great new weapon. With secrecy of the utmost importance, Culp couldn't even brag to his fellow agents about his fabulous assignment. Part of his job was to keep the suit out of the hands of foreign powers. Because of his "superior" training, he felt he should be allowed to use the suit himself. He constantly projected "senerios" on how it should work and how William Katt should use it. This was high-lighted, in one episode, with Culp trying to use the suit when Katt couldn't. He then learned that the suit was a one man suit.
Katt was secretly proud of the job he did but his lack of confidence and fear of heights and flying caused problems. Though he was super, when wearing the suit, he couldn't keep from ducking bullets. If he lost his confidence while flying, he'd fall from the sky and crash into buildings.
Connie Sellecca acted as referee when the two went at each others throats during disagreements.
It's a great treat in my book. These are great actors with a great story line. Don't miss it.
A space ship landed on earth and left a suit with special "super powers" for William Katt. Robert Culp, the "know it all secret agent", is sent by the government to control this great new weapon. With secrecy of the utmost importance, Culp couldn't even brag to his fellow agents about his fabulous assignment. Part of his job was to keep the suit out of the hands of foreign powers. Because of his "superior" training, he felt he should be allowed to use the suit himself. He constantly projected "senerios" on how it should work and how William Katt should use it. This was high-lighted, in one episode, with Culp trying to use the suit when Katt couldn't. He then learned that the suit was a one man suit.
Katt was secretly proud of the job he did but his lack of confidence and fear of heights and flying caused problems. Though he was super, when wearing the suit, he couldn't keep from ducking bullets. If he lost his confidence while flying, he'd fall from the sky and crash into buildings.
Connie Sellecca acted as referee when the two went at each others throats during disagreements.
It's a great treat in my book. These are great actors with a great story line. Don't miss it.
helpful•80
- trouble13
- Jan 16, 2005
Details
- Runtime1 hour
- Sound mix
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By what name was The Greatest American Hero (1981) officially released in India in English?
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