State of Sledge

Episode aired Jan 10, 1987

8.0/10

S1.E14

After Sledge arrests the leader of a Satanic cult, the undermanned precinct soon finds itself under siege by a mob of the cult leader's bloodthirsty followers.After Sledge arrests the leader of a Satanic cult, the undermanned precinct soon finds itself under siege by a mob of the cult leader's bloodthirsty followers.After Sledge arrests the leader of a Satanic cult, the undermanned precinct soon finds itself under siege by a mob of the cult leader's bloodthirsty followers.

8.0/10

109

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Mark Blankfield and Debra De Liso in Sledge Hammer! (1986)

Anne-Marie Martin and David Rasche in Sledge Hammer! (1986)

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Sledge leaves work early under orders from Captain Trunk, but cannot resist becoming involved in a police standoff with a deranged Satanic cult leader named Slag. When he takes Slag to the station for booking, persnickety Inspector Perkins from Internal Affairs is appalled by Sledge's history of violent behavior and his rough treatment of Slag. The inevitable dispute between the two becomes secondary when several hundred of Slag's bloodthirsty followers stage a violent attack on the police station to demand his release. The station is critically short of personnel as a result of a State visit, so only Sledge, Dori, Perkins, Captain Trunk, and a very few officers are available to defend the facility. Eventually the defenders find themselves in a desperate situation with no electricity, no phones, and no ammunition. When Dori's attempt to confront the mob on the roof of the building is unsuccessful, Sledge straps a case of dynamite sticks to himself for a high-stakes standoff with Slag and his mob to see who will be the first to crack under the strain. —Sam Spear

Genres
- Action
- Comedy
Parents guide
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Trivia
This was the first episode of the series to air without a laugh track. ABC originally insisted that the series air with a laugh track but series creator Alan Spencer protested strongly against it.

Quotes
[an inspector from Internal Affairs reviews Hammer's file]
Inspector Perkins: We're going to talk to that suspect you've just arrested! I want to see if he wants to file a formal complaint against you.
[Down in the jail:]
Inspector Perkins: Mr. Slag, I want to know if Inspector Hammer has mistreated you in any way.
[Slag holds up his hands, which are shackled]
Inspector Perkins: What are these? Are these shackles really necessary?
Sledge Hammer: I'm just trying to make his stay in Hotel Hammer a little more uncomfortable.
Inspector Perkins: Remove these shackles.
Sledge Hammer: You don't want me to remove them.
Inspector Perkins: Inspector Hammer!
[Slag smirks and holds up his hands. Hammer sighs and unlocks the shackles]
Inspector Perkins: There. Does that feel better, Slag?
[Slag immediately starts throttling Perkins. As he chokes and gasps, Hammer stands by calmly]
Sledge Hammer: Just, uh, tell me if you want me to help you. You know, just say, "help me, Hammer" and I'll...
[He leans forward, as though trying to hear]
Inspector Perkins: [manages to croak] Help.
[Hammer nods and draws his gun]
Sledge Hammer: All right, heel, ratboy.
[Slag drops Perkins, and shrugs innocently]