In 1986, Alan Spencer was contacted by HBO to make a series about a cop who was supposed to be a parody of Dirty Harry & other ultraviolent law enforcement folk. HBO passed, but ABC agreed to one season of Sledge Hammer! It was picked up for a second season, but only after the finale for season one was shot (it was supposed to be the series finale). It occupied the same infamous timeslot as Miami Vice & Dallas for a bit, getting utterly trounced most of the time. The show ended after two seasons. Period. It may live on in syndication somewhere, but it's probably only available on DVD.
There's three recurring characters in the show. Inspector Sledge Hammer (David Rasche), his partner Dori Doreau (Anne-Marie Martin), & Captain Trunk (Harrison Page). Sledge spends most of his times pissing of the rest of the force, particularly trunk. He is Dirty Harry taken to the nth degree. Dori plays the straight partner role & trunk usually just serves as comic relief or a plot instigator.
This show simply kicks ass. I was absolutely laughing my ass off most of the episodes. The writers didn't take shit too seriously & David Rasche is fucking awesome. As a bonus, Bill Bixby directed about half the season two episodes.
I hadn't seen this show in at least fifteen years. As such, I never appreciated the quality it actually had. The series finale is probably also the best I've seen anywhere.
I won't say much more. There's only two fucking seasons. Go rent them.
Sledge Hammer!
I watched it last year. Damn good stuff. David Rasche is fucking awesome. The last half of the second season felt a little hollow in comparrison to the rest of the series, but they did end it strong, that's for sure.
One of the best things to come out of the 80s.
One of the best things to come out of the 80s.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"