Sledge Hammer!

ABC (ended 1988)

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Show Summary

Premiered: Sep 23, 1986
Status: Ended

Sledge Hammer is the ultimate tough cop with a big gun, a parody of the type popularized by Clint Eastwood in the "Dirty Harry" films. Of course, though he claims "I know what I'm doing," his cases are usually solved by his female partner, Dori Doreau, if she can only keep him from being suspended for shooting a jaywalker or litterer with his giant pearl-handled .44 Magnum.moreless

8.2

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Episode Guide

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S 2 : Ep 19	Here's to You, Mrs. Hammer	Aired 2/12/88
S 2 : Ep 18	It Happened What Night?	Aired 2/5/88
S 2 : Ep 17	The Secret of My Excess	Aired 1/29/88
S 2 : Ep 16	Suppose They Gave a War & Sledge Came?	Aired 1/22/88
S 2 : Ep 15	Sledge, Rattle & Roll	Aired 1/15/88

Sledge Hammer! News

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305

Will you miss Arrested Development?

By Colin Mahan, Nov 11, 2005

Yesterday, Fox cut down its order for the Emmy-winning sitcom Arrested Development from 22 episodes to 13. It also yanked the show from the November sweep schedule. Arrested Development had just returned from a monthlong hiatus, with two back-to-back episodes… more

Cast & Crew

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David Rasche

Det. Insp. Sledge Hammer
Anne-Marie Martin

Officer Dori Doreau
Harrison Page

Captain Trunk

Fan Reviews (13)

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Get Smart of the 80's

8.0

"Great"

By Kteam82, Jul 20, 2011 Report Abuse

Great Show! Its the Get Smart of the 80's. A spoof on the Dirty Harry movies and I would say The series Hunter with Fred Dryer. I discoverd this show from buying the dvds hearing it was funny and of course it is! Great for good laugh after a long day

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Innovative yet misunderstood

6.4

"Fair"

By rudedude74, Feb 22, 2007 Report Abuse

I remember finishing an episode of Perfect Strangers one night and half paying attention to what was on. Suddenly I see this guy pull a bazooka out of his trunk and blow up a building then seeing that same guy get chewed out for blowing up a building. I was hooked by that point. The show is Sledge Hammer. Sledge Hammer is a cop that makes Rambo look like Peewee Herman. He's tough and doesn't take no guff. Unfortuneately for everyone around him Hammer feels that every problem can be solved with violence which causes him to be placed on suspension constantly. Hammer is teamed with Detective Dori Doreau (a woman!)who actually believes in analysis restraint and thinking first. Despite the fact that they are totally mismatched Hammer and Doreau actually get along and even become friends. Also in the cast is Captain Trunk Hammer and Doreau's long suffering boss who would love nothing more than to see Hammer gone permanently. I loved this show because there was nothing elose like it on at the time. Other police sitcoms featured offbeat characters but they always showed some restraint. Not Hammer. To Sledge Hammer restraint is what you do to a suspect by any means necessary. The first season was well written insanity which captivated me every week. Theb problem with new concept shows is that most people (including network executives) don't always understand them. Sledge Hammer faced cancellation. The last episode of the first season saw Hammer trying to disarm a nuclear warhead. The warhead blows and the audience is left wondering if Hammer got out alive. The show did get renewed but also tinkered with. When Sledge Hammer returned for a second season a voiceover explained that the warhead exploded and now we are watching "Sledge Hammer: The Early Years". The second season was a watered down version of guys versus girls. I didn't watch too many episodes that season. The last one I watched was when Hammer's ex-wife was getting remarried. One scene showed a depressed Hammer throwing his beloved gun and pondering his lonliness. That's not Hammer! Hammer would go out and shoot some one if he was depressed not sulk. I remembr thinking "there has got to be something else on". I wasn't alone. That was the last episode.moreless

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Sledge Hammer! was basically a parody of the Dirty Harry films about a nihilistic cop who is forced to partner with a woman.But it was also a brillant satire on violence in our culture.The series lasted 2 seasons and something of an overlooked gem.moreless

10

"Perfect"

By drwoowoocl, Sep 09, 2006 Report Abuse

Rarely has a network sit-com done really good satire the way Sledge Hammer! did it.I was suprised it lasted 2 years.The shows creator was so sure it would be cancelled that he did a cliffhanger like no other(how do you top nuclear holocaust?).But it was a brllliant treatise on violence and violent movies.It made you laugh,but it also made you think.David Rasche was perfect in the role.For a character that was very dark and cold,he made him likeable.I think the show was just hitting its stride when it wss cancelled.Its a shame,because its obvious the network didnt get it,which shows how much the network respect their viewers,the way they moved it around.I guess they couldnt figure out why build a show around a nihilistic person,but then again,most of those network probaly dont even know what "nihilistic" means!Or the fact that a sit-com would use a word like "nihilistic".And I love the series finale,where Sledge goes through a dramatic change.It deserved better,but its great to see it again on DVD.moreless

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Insanely funny. Who'll laugh your heart out.

10

"Perfect"

By sfviewer, Jul 31, 2006 Report Abuse

Sledge Hammer is so funny, there aren't much like it out there. It's like a spoof Dirty Harry, I can't get enough of it. When you're watching, you don't think much about the plot, since it's a spoof, you just wait for the funny stuff to come up and get a good laugh. But this show ain't all about cheesy jokes, there's are stories thrown in that gives each episode a somewhat linear direction. But Sledge's comic timing and eccentric mannerisms are enough to give you a smile before you anticipate the episodes eventual climax, which ends in a wacky finale.moreless

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What do you get when you cross total incompetence with a propensity toward violence? Now, give that man a badge...

10

"Perfect"

By Lokar, Jun 04, 2006 Report Abuse

This comedy series ran for just two seasons on ABC in the 1980s. It told the story of Sledge Hammer, a dedicated but unhinged police officer who never met a life-threatening incident he didn't like. Not for him the hours of doing paperwork behind a desk. No. He'd rather be out there, sorting through the mayhem that is life in the big city, and sometimes adding to it.

Accompanied by partner Dori Doreau and supervised by the beleagured Captain Trunk, Hammer solved cases almost in spite of himself, and left a trail of damage only slightly less severe than that by the people he went out to arrest. Hammer battled crime with his trusty pearl-handled revolver. An enemy of felons, not to mention peaceful people as well, the man was mad, bad, and dangerous to know.

The writing was always hysterical and the acting fitted to the manic characters. This show is a lost classic. Fortunately for the public, it's now out for home release. Just as funny as it was twenty years ago.moreless

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Replies

Creepy Doctor
Does anyone remember that creepy doctor guy...I think his name was Norman. Who played him? Was he in anything else beside Sledge H...

By LauraPowers, Nov 24, 2011

11/24/11

2
Reply
The revolver
I guess he would have to carry a standard-issue pistol in real life, but of course it's a show, so that doesn't apply. Still, it w...

By Lokar, Jun 19, 2006

11/24/11

6
Reply
Favorite epsiodes
It's been awhile since I've seen one....I'll have to get the DVD....anyhow the episode "Witless" would be my favorite. The Harriso...

By pounder19r, Jul 05, 2007

11/24/11

4
Reply
Will Psych make a refrence?
Psych is all ways making 80's references I wonder if they will reference this show.

By McTrooperNow, Mar 18, 2010

03/18/10

1
Reply
Vote for A Sledge Hammer! Tribute
Sign the Paley Center petition to pay tribute to Sledge Hammer!.http://www.PetitionOnline.com/sledgePC/petition.htmlThe Paley Cent...

By Inter_Team, Nov 18, 2008

11/18/08

1
Reply