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Score: 9.5 Superb 30 votes

The Greatest American Hero (1)

Episode Number: 1    Season Num: 1    First Aired: Wednesday March 18, 1981    Prod Code: 6788
Odd couple Ralph Hinkley (a liberal school teacher) and Bill Maxwell (a conservative FBI agent) are approached by aliens who give them a suit that grants superpowers to the wearer, with the caveat that it must be used for the common good.

Cast and Crew

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Writer: Stephen J. Cannell
Director: Rod Holcomb
Star: Robert Culp (Bill Maxwell),  William Katt (Ralph Hinkley (Hanley)),  Jesse D. Goins (Cyler Johnson),  Don Cervantes (Poco Rodriguez),  Connie Sellecca (Pamela Davidson),  Michael Paré (Tony Villicana),  Faye Grant (Rhonda Blake)
Guest Star: Branden Williams (Kevin Hinkley),  Jason Corbet (),  Robert Jean Williams (),  Jody Lee O'Hara (),  Robbie Kiger (),  Ed Deemer (),  James King (),  Corkey Ford (),  John Caliri (),  Lydia Fernandez (),  Cheryl Francis (),  Carol Jones (Susan the Babysitter),  Jeff MacKay (Officer Cowan),  Robert Dunlap (Officer),  June Lockhart (Mrs. Davidson),  Richard Herd (Adam Taft),  G.D. Spradlin (Nelson Cory),  Ned Wilson (Col. Shackelford),  Bob Minor (John Backe),  Edward Bell (David Knight),  Hank Salas (Brother Michael)

Notes

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The chair that the students toss into the hallway comes to a stop sideways in front of Ralph and the other teacher. In the next shot when the other teacher goes to pick it up, it has changed position so the seat is facing the two teachers. (edit)
Footage again from flying down the alley in the pilot is used again, right before Ralph crashes into the bush. The crash into the bush looks like it might be an alternate take not used in the pilot, in the scene where Ralph runs too fast and cannot stop himself before he flips headfirst in what looks like the same bush. (edit)
When Ralph speed-runs to catch the thugs who shot Bill, the flying sound FX are heard. (edit)
Joey Scarbury performs a cover version of "Rocket Man" and "Space Oddity". (edit)
The belt on the suit looks shiny, as opposed to the duller felt like appearance of the belt in the rest of the series. Also notice this suit's belt is the only one with a flap hanging on the outside. (edit)

Quotes

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Pam: You could at least sit on the cape. (edit)
Ralph (to cop who shut the car door): Hey, uh......My cape, it's stuck. (edit)
Cop (to Ralph): Now this can go down easy, or it can go down hard Mr. Hinkley. Either way, it's your choice. (edit)
Police Officer(while looking at Ralph in the suit): It looks like we've got another trend setter here. Where do we get these guys? (edit)
Boy: You're not doing it right! You have to take 3 steps and leap with your hands out in front of you. Like off a diving board. You're not very good at this.
Ralph : Tell me about it kid. (edit)

Trivia

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When Ralph is wheeled into the mental hospital wearing his supersuit, a passerby says, "That's a bad outfit, Jim!", a paraphrase of the line said to Chrisopher Reeve by a pimp in the first Superman movie. (edit)
The bad guy that's standing closest to the wall when Ralph crashes through it gets hit by one of the concrete blocks and doesn't get hurt. (edit)

Allusions

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Community Reviews (1)

 
8.5
Great
The Greatest American Hero (1)
"Pilot episode"
Suprisingly good.
Continue » Posted Jul 21, 2006 9:28 am PST
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Episode Vital Stats

 
Episode: The Greatest American Hero (1)
Season Number: 1
Episode Reviews: 1
Episode
Score:
9.5 Superb 30 votes
Rating Statistics:
superb: 15 (50%)
perfect: 12 (40%)
great: 2 (6.7%)
fair: 1 (3.3%)
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