CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - US
Adventure series
<Previous
"The
Greatest American Hero"
Next>
Starring
William Katt, Robert Culp, Connie Sellecca
Season 1 (ABC) (Spring 1981)
Episode Guide
compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
references:
TV Guide / Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive / Writers Guild of America (wga)
########## The Greatest American Hero ########
############# season Spring 1981 #############
##############################################
ABC Wednesdays
1.1 [--] The Greatest American Hero
(2hr pilot film)
18-Mar-81 ABC Wed
w. Stephen J. Cannell d. Rod Holcomb
Song: Rocket Man (not credited)
Cast:
William Katt .......... Ralph Hanley/Hinkley
Robert Culp ........... Bill Maxwell
Connie Sellecca ....... Pamela Davidson ( Hinkley)
*
June Lockhart ......... Mrs. Alice Davidson
William Bogert ........ Agent Norman Carlisle
Faye Grant ............ Rhonda Harris (student)
Michael Pare .......... Tony Villacana (student)
Don Cervantes ......... Paco Rodriguez (student)
Deborah Mays .......... Tammy (student)
Jesse D. Goins ........ Cyler Johnson (student)
Brandon Williams ...... Kevin Hanley/Hinkley
Robby Weaver .......... Ray Buck (coach)
Edward Bell ........... Principal, David Knight
*
Special Guests in pilot:
Richard Herd .......... Adam Taft
G.D. Spradlin ......... Nelson Corey
Ned Wilson ............ Col. Shackleford
Bob Minor ............. John Mackie
Co-stars:
Hank Salas ............ Brother Michael
Robert Dunlap ......... The Accountant
Jeff Mackay ........... Police Officer, Cowan
*
Featured:
Jason Corbet Cheryl Francis Ed Deemer
Jody Lee Olhava Robbie Kiger Carol Jones (as Debbie the babysitter)
James King Corky Ford John Caliri
Lydia Fernandez Roberta Jean Williams
Synopsis:
Ralph (Hanley/Hinkley) is on a field trip with his students when the bus fails.
He meets Bill Maxwell and
they drive into the desert where the aliens give Ralph the suit and expect Bill
to be his assistant.
Unfortunately, the manual falls from the package and he has no idea how to use
the suit. He does find out
a few things by trial and error -- enough to defeat a plot against the
President.
1.2 [--] The Greatest American Hero: THE HIT CAR
25-Mar-81 ABC Wed
w. Stephen J. Cannell d. Rod Holcomb
Song: Hang On Sister by Stephen Geyer
Guest Cast:
Gwen Humble ............. Starlet Wild
Gianni Russo ............ Johnny Damanti
Kene Holliday ........... Arnold Turner
Arnold Charnota ......... Mike
W.T. Zacha .............. Larry Miller
Arnold Turner ........... Agent Billings
Ernie Orsatti ........... Bob Aaron
Melvin F. Allen ......... Man
Quin Hessler ............ Hatcheck girl
Bob Goldstein ........... Maitre d'
Virginia Palmer ......... Woman
James Atone ............. Waiter
To avoid mobsters intent on eliminating a key witness, Bill drafts Ralph to
accompany him as he escorts her from
San Francisco to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Pam is forced to direct the kids in an
updated version of a Shakespearean play.
In a subplot, Johnny calls GAH 'Super Guy', a title repeated in later episodes.
1.3 [--] The Greatest American Hero: HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU, KID
1-Apr-81 ABC Wed
w. Juanita Bartlett d. Robert C. Thompson
Song: Nothin' Gonna Bring Me Down by Stephen Geyer
Guest Cast:
June Lockhart .......... Alice Davidson
James Whitmore, Jr. .... Gordon McCready
Bob Hastings ........... Harry Davidson
Denise Halma ........... Carrie
Red West ............... Cliff
Laurence Haddon ........ General Morehead
Benny Medina ........... Chaffey.
Zitto Kazann ........... Consul general
F.J. O'Neil ............ Van Kamp
Roger Etienne .......... Captain
Thomas W. Babson ....... Colvin
Daniel Chodos .......... Aide
Bert Hinchman .......... Bus driver
Al Dunlap .............. Mechanic
Nick Cinardo ........... Consul person
Will Gill, Jr. ......... African representative
Eric Forst ............. European representative
Gerald Jann ............ Asian representative
Blake Clark ............ Policeman
Ralph learns a new trick, invisibility, which he uses to thwart the mercenaries
planning to
auction off a stolen super weapon.
1.4 [--] The Greatest American Hero: SATURDAY NIGHT ON SUNSET BOULEVARD
8 Apr 81 ABC Wed
w. Stephen J. Cannell d. Rod Holcomb
Song: Once Upon A Time by Stephen Geyer
Guest Cast:
Kai Wulff .............. Serge Valenkov
Alexa Hamilton ......... Theresa Chimerosa
Mel Stewart ............ Sherman
David Tress ............ Mikhail
Joseph Warren .......... Dept. Bureau Chief Harlan Kane
Ian Teodorescu ......... Russian official
Lev Mailer ............. Frederic
Will MacMillan ......... Kerner
Christopher Thomas ..... Craig
Lawrence Benedict ...... Hollinger
Richard R. Holley ...... Helicopter Pilot
Glenn Wilder ........... Kavolstock/stunt
A Russian ballet star wants to defect, but is afraid of the repercussions. Ralph
and Bill smooth the way.
Bill has to outwit a lie detector to keep his job (because of Ralph).
1.5 [--] The Greatest American Hero: RESEDA ROSE
15-Apr-81 ABC Wed
w. Juanita Bartlett d. Gabrielle Beaumont
Song: Any Time You Want Me by Stephen Geyer
Guest Cast:
Nicholas Worth ........ Lenny
E.J. Peaker ........... Rose Harris
Simone Griffeth ....... Alicia Hinkley
Peter White ........... Yuri Semenenko/ Eric Simpson
Al White .............. Gas Station attendant
Kurt Grayson .......... Vladimir Zorin
Dave Shelley .......... Manny
Stephen Kahan ......... Merv
Jens Nowak ............ Submarine seaman
Don Dolan ............. Technitron guard
George Ganchev ........ Submarine captain
An hysterical Rhonda calls Mr. Hanley to get him to help find her mother, a
cocktail waitress nights, who failed to
show up for work. Rhonda knows she left on time. Rose's daytime job as a
clerical worker in a secret weapons plant
has led to trouble and the police are reluctant to investigate so soon. Ralph
Hanley's son and ex-wife are in this episode.
[Note: Hinkley was the name of the would-be presidential assassin, so the name
was changed for a few episodes.]
1.6 [--] The Greatest American Hero: MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COWBOYS
29-Apr-81 ABC Wed
w. Stephen J. Cannell d. Arnold Laven
Song: Heroes Are Human by Stephen Geyer
Guest Cast:
John Hart ............. Lone Ranger (reprising his tv role)
Jack Ging ............. Captain "Cap" Tracy Winslow
Ferdy Mayne ........... Abe Figueroa
Frank McCarthy ........ Edward Castelli
Brandon Williams ...... Kevin Hinkley
Joseph Chapman ........ Tim Carson
Robert Gooden ......... Norm Woods
Bruce Tuthill ......... Sam Watson
Glenn Wilder .......... Pete King
William Woodson ....... Announcer
Charles Walker ........ Man
David Clover .......... Policeman
Hero worship is the theme of this episode. Ralph suffers from nostalgia about
the Lone Ranger, who is appearing
in the local mall, and takes Pam and his son to meet him. Later, he takes his
students in hopes of inspiring them.
He takes time out to catch some cops who have turned bad and plan to steal some
diamonds, then vanish. The leader
is Bill's hero. Ralph Hanley is still having trouble flying and breaks some
antennas.
1.7 [--] The Greatest American Hero: FIRE MAN
6-May-81 ABC Wed
w. Lee Sheldon d. Gabrielle Beaumont
Song: Your Friend by Stephen Geyer
Guest Cast:
Woody Eney ............ Robert Moody
Sandy Ward ............ Lt. Rafferty
Robby Weaver .......... Ray Buck
Mark Withers .......... Shaffer
Raymond Singer ........ Kaufman
Steven Hirsch ......... Lane
Timothy Carey ......... Cameron
Paul Cavonis .......... Thompson
Danny Glover .......... Joyner
Henry G. Sanders ...... Policeman
Duane Tucker .......... Fireman
Benny Medina .......... Chaffee
Scott Thomson ......... Young boy
Gayle Vance ........... Bag lady
Mercedes McCloskey .... Woman
Tony, while trying to succeed in a job, is accused of torching a Federal records
building.
1.8 [--] The Greatest American Hero: THE BEST DESK SCENARIO
13-May-81 ABC Wed
Guest Cast:
w. Juanita Bartlett & Stephen J. Cannell d. Robert C. Thompson
Song: Sum of My Old Friends by Stephen Geyer
Guest Cast:
Eugene Peterson ........ Clarence Carter I1
Rod Colbin ............. Theodore Sevenson
Michael Ensign ......... Principal David Kane
William Frankfather .... Cher Kanaby
Tom Pletts ............. Agent Genesta
Duncan Regehr .......... Palmer Bradshaw
Eric Server ............ Kyle Morgan
There is good news and bad news. The good news: Ralph has a new talent--making
heat. The bad news: his first attempt
backfires and burns Bill's car, which he dreads explaining to his superiors.
Bill decides to quit the FBI after one
last scenario which involves rescuing Pam. Subplot: Ralph Hanley is made
temporary VP.
########## The Greatest American Hero ########
############### end of season 1 ##############
##############################################
Have you any comments, corrections, episode
titles, air dates, production numbers, directors, writers, story/synopsis, guest
stars, cast lists, etc?
Have you any old videos, or tv guides? Dust them off and let us know if you have
any information on this series or any other tv series from the
Golden Age of TV, which is missing from any episode guides on the web. Perhaps a
certain episode of a particular series coincided with a key
moment in your life, or in world events - and or has left a vivid memory of when
it was shown. Let us know. Would you like to see any other
tv series guides on this site? If so please e-mail The Classic TV Archive - see
Feedback below.
This guide may be distributed and copied freely, in its entirety, for personal
use. All original author and copyright information must
remain intact. Any sales or other uses of this document are expressly forbidden,
without the specific consent of the author(s).
Copyright © The Classic TV Archive. All rights reserved.
Return
to The Classic TV Archive Home Page
Feedback
-