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| Connie Sellecca, as Pam Davidson; William Katt as Ralph Hinkley, the Greatest American Hero; and Robert Culp as FBI Agent Bill Maxwell in "The Greatest American Hero". Source: https://tvline.com/2017/09/08/the-greatest-american-hero-reboot-abc-female-pilot/ (May be subject to copyright) |
Imagine you’re alone in the desert and your car stops working. Helpless, suddenly it sounds like your radio starts talking to you. Then, you see this blinding light that compels you to leave your car only to disover a space ship hovering over head.
Obviously aliens are making contact with you. However, these ones present you with a gift – a suit that gives you special powers.
What do you do? Try it on? Sure. Look for an instruction book to tell you what the suit does? Definitely.
How about losing the instruction book? Not a good idea.
That is exactly what high school teacher Ralph Hinkley did in the pilot of “The Greatest American Hero”.
It would go on to be my favourite show – when I could find it on the peasant vision dial.
Love at first sight
I saw the pilot of “The Greatest American Hero” on Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial, and it caught my attention immediately. It was the perfect combination of comic book super hero story with a touch of espionage. It was funny too. William Katt, who was relatively unknown at the time, played Ralph Hinkley who was summoned by aliens and given that suit. However, he was not alone. At the same time Ralph was in the desert, FBI agent Bill Maxwell, played by Robert Culp, had also been summoned, so he was there too when Ralph got the suit. They were compelled to work together, which often meant Ralph would help Bill with one of his cases. Some times something in Ralph’s life would command attention. Helping them along the way was Pam Davidson, a lawyer and Ralph’s eventual girlfriend then wife, who was played by Connie Sellecca. While they solved crimes, Ralph learned about his powers through trial and error. One he never mastered was flying. He was always out of control and the only way he landed was by crashing into something. It was always funny and it never got old.
I saw the pilot of “The Greatest American Hero” on Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial, and it caught my attention immediately. It was the perfect combination of comic book super hero story with a touch of espionage. It was funny too. William Katt, who was relatively unknown at the time, played Ralph Hinkley who was summoned by aliens and given that suit. However, he was not alone. At the same time Ralph was in the desert, FBI agent Bill Maxwell, played by Robert Culp, had also been summoned, so he was there too when Ralph got the suit. They were compelled to work together, which often meant Ralph would help Bill with one of his cases. Some times something in Ralph’s life would command attention. Helping them along the way was Pam Davidson, a lawyer and Ralph’s eventual girlfriend then wife, who was played by Connie Sellecca. While they solved crimes, Ralph learned about his powers through trial and error. One he never mastered was flying. He was always out of control and the only way he landed was by crashing into something. It was always funny and it never got old.
“The Greatest American Hero” was a mid-season replacement in 1981, so the first season was only a handful of episodes – nine in total, but I loved it immediately.
Student body
Another part of the show that provided a lot of drama was Ralph’s students. There were two in particular who drew Ralph’s attention, Tony Villicana, who was kind of a hood, and Rhonda, who was kind of his girlfriend and the smartest student in class.
Another part of the show that provided a lot of drama was Ralph’s students. There were two in particular who drew Ralph’s attention, Tony Villicana, who was kind of a hood, and Rhonda, who was kind of his girlfriend and the smartest student in class.
Tony was played by Michael Paré, who used “The Greatest American Hero” as a spring board for a number of roles. He would go on to feature in three theatrical movies – ; “Eddie and the Cruisers” in 1983; and “The Philadelphia Experiment” and “Streets of Fire” in 1984. He was back in 1986 in the police drama “Houston Knights”, playing a Chicago cop who has to re-locate to Houston.
Rhonda was played by Faye Grant who also used “The Greatest American Hero” as a springboard. In her case, she had one of the main roles on the chilling science fiction mini-series “V” where she played a scientist suspicious the visiting aliens are not as innocent as they appear. She reprised that role in the successful sequel “V: The Final Battle”, and the subsequent show “V: The Series”.
What’s in a name?
It was one of the strangest things. I was visiting my sister in Lethbridge when an episode of “The Greatest American Hero” was on. From the word go, something was off. One of the students referred to Ralph as “Mr. Hanley”. That was not right, I said, it was Hinkley. My sister was not sure, because she was not into the show as much as I was. Then, as if to accentuate the point, Ralph gets a new office and they show his name, “Ralph Hanley”, stencilled on the door.
It was one of the strangest things. I was visiting my sister in Lethbridge when an episode of “The Greatest American Hero” was on. From the word go, something was off. One of the students referred to Ralph as “Mr. Hanley”. That was not right, I said, it was Hinkley. My sister was not sure, because she was not into the show as much as I was. Then, as if to accentuate the point, Ralph gets a new office and they show his name, “Ralph Hanley”, stencilled on the door.
Ralph’s name did return to Hinkley for the season two premiere, about Ralph playing professional baseball, which I also watched at my sister’s. Yet the whole thing always puzzled me until just a few years ago.
I learned that, while the show was in production, John Hinkley Junior tried to assassinate U.S. President Ronald Reagan. The producers thought it best to not draw attention to the would-be assassin, so they changed their main character’s name from Hinkley to Hanley.
I wasn’t seeing things or mis-remembering after all.
Memorable moments
There were several episodes that really stuck out for me. The most memorable centred on J.J. Beck, a wealthy man who is dying. He has Ralph and Bill kidnapped to help him recover his will. Beck plans to leave everything to charity. The will was stolen so it could be destroyed and his estate taken. Beck seems to know a fair bit about the suit too. Along with him, Ralph and Bill meet Marshall Dunn, another man who knows way too much about the suit. It turns out, the aliens had been to Earth before and gave a suit to Beck, while Dunn became his partner. Essentially, they were the original Ralph and Bill. However, instead of using the suit for good, Beck used it to become rich and famous. The aliens eventually came back and took the suit away. In the end of this episode, the aliens return and take the two old men away with them.
There were several episodes that really stuck out for me. The most memorable centred on J.J. Beck, a wealthy man who is dying. He has Ralph and Bill kidnapped to help him recover his will. Beck plans to leave everything to charity. The will was stolen so it could be destroyed and his estate taken. Beck seems to know a fair bit about the suit too. Along with him, Ralph and Bill meet Marshall Dunn, another man who knows way too much about the suit. It turns out, the aliens had been to Earth before and gave a suit to Beck, while Dunn became his partner. Essentially, they were the original Ralph and Bill. However, instead of using the suit for good, Beck used it to become rich and famous. The aliens eventually came back and took the suit away. In the end of this episode, the aliens return and take the two old men away with them.
There was also an episode where Ralph goes undercover as a pitcher for the fictitious California Stars baseball team, to do battle with the equally fictitious Oakland Mets. There's another episode where Ralph goes undercover to play pro quarterback. He is there to help his boyhood friend Price Cobb (who Ralph called “Pridey”). Cobb was played by Stephen Shortridge, who was best known at that time for his role as Beau in "Welcome Back Kotter". Cobb is being pressured to shave points and throw an important game, but Ralph intervenes.
There was another one that I started to watch, but we had a power outage and I never did see it. In this episode, the aliens returned to give Ralph and Bill another instruction book. I was curious to see what happened, namely if he would lose the instructions again. The next morning on the school bus, one of my buddies tried to explain what happened in the rest of the episode, but it sounded too weird, I didn't believe him. I have the entire season available on-demand, so maybe I will eventually get to see it.
In production
Another aspect of “The Greatest American Hero” was the end credits. It was a “Stephen J. Cannell Production”. It was the first show that used that credit.
Another aspect of “The Greatest American Hero” was the end credits. It was a “Stephen J. Cannell Production”. It was the first show that used that credit.
Cannell was one of my heroes, a television writer I tried and aspired to be like, and it all started with “The Greatest American Hero”. I just liked the way he wrote, and I connected with the premises for his TV shows. Some of his more popular shows were “The A-Team”; “Hardcastle and McCormack”; “Riptide”; and “Hunter”. I dreamed of having a company like his that put out the shows I wanted to write.
Where is it?
Peasant vision could be so frustrating. Shows would not air when they said they were in “TV Guide”, or would be moved around. They also changed channels. “The Greatest American Hero” was on Channel 7 in its first year, but moved to Channel 13 in its second year and beyond. Then it was gone.
Peasant vision could be so frustrating. Shows would not air when they said they were in “TV Guide”, or would be moved around. They also changed channels. “The Greatest American Hero” was on Channel 7 in its first year, but moved to Channel 13 in its second year and beyond. Then it was gone.
Fate of the show
I was not sure if it had been cancelled, or Channel 13 just stopped airing it.
I was not sure if it had been cancelled, or Channel 13 just stopped airing it.
One afternoon, when I was home from school, William Katt appeared on daytime TV, “The Alan Hamel Show” I think. They mentioned that his show was on hold. It had not been cancelled, but it hadn’t been renewed either. Back then, there weren’t as many entertainment shows and magazines talking about cancellations and renewals either.
I finally found out the fate of "The Greatest American Hero" in an odd way. I was reading the fall preview issue of “TV Guide”. There I saw Connie Sellecca co-starring in a new show called “Hotel”. Well, obviously she wasn’t going to be on two shows.
That meant disaster had struck.
“The Greatest American Hero” had been cancelled.
The years after
Mother and son
William Katt will be best known as Ralph Hinkley, but he had a special role after "The Greatest American Hero". He was the son of Barbara Hale, an actor who would actually play Ralph's mom in "The Greatest American Hero". However, she was best known for her role as Della Street, Perry Mason's secretary in the television legal drama of the same name. In 1985, NBC began airing Perry Mason television movies. The other regular on the original show was a private investigator Perry used named Paul Drake. The actor had died before the remakes, so William Katt played Paul Drake Junior in nine TV movies. Son was reunited with mother.
Not a suit but a shirt
The first time I saw it, I wasn't sure I believed what I was seeing. It was an episode of "The Big Bang Theory" and uber-science fiction nerd Sheldon Cooper regularly wore t-shirts with comic graphics on them. On this day, it was the symbol from Ralph's suit on "The Greatest American Hero". Wikipedia confirmed for me that in fact was the case. It was a nice touch.
Parting thoughts
I was surprised to learn that only 43 episodes of “The Greatest American Hero” were made over three seasons, from 1981 to 1983. That makes sense with the first season being a mid-season replacement and the last season put on hold after nine episodes.
I was surprised to learn that only 43 episodes of “The Greatest American Hero” were made over three seasons, from 1981 to 1983. That makes sense with the first season being a mid-season replacement and the last season put on hold after nine episodes.
In that short a time, it had quite an effect on me. It just had something that connected with me. Maybe it was Ralph’s idealism and the desire to use the suit for good, or Bill’s cynicism but still doing the right thing.
I do believe it was the combination of super hero story, espionage, and comedy. The show didn’t take itself too seriously at times, but at other times it really did. People were killed and in danger. The stakes were high, and Ralph and Bill did have to save the world.
My only wish is that it could have been given more time to explore more stories. But maybe that would have just made it run out of steam.
We’ll never know.
What I do know was that for a 12-year-old kid in 1982 it was must-see viewing – when I could find it.
I do believe it was the combination of super hero story, espionage, and comedy. The show didn’t take itself too seriously at times, but at other times it really did. People were killed and in danger. The stakes were high, and Ralph and Bill did have to save the world.
My only wish is that it could have been given more time to explore more stories. But maybe that would have just made it run out of steam.
We’ll never know.
What I do know was that for a 12-year-old kid in 1982 it was must-see viewing – when I could find it.
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