Michael Michaud – Through the Shattered Lens

Welcome to Late Night Retro Television Reviews, a feature where we review some of our favorite and least favorite shows of the past! On Fridays, I will be reviewing SLEDGE HAMMER!, a cop comedy which ran on ABC from 1986 to 1988. The entire series can be found on Prime!

This week, Sledge goes on television.

Episode 1.11 “To Live and Die on TV”

(Dir by Daniel Attias, originally aired on December 13th, 1986)

The Million Dollar Question is the most popular game show on television. Hosted and produced by Bob Kenny (Peter Marshall), the show is famous for the fact that no one has ever won the million dollars. That’s a good thing because Bob doesn’t actually have a million dollars to give anyone. When one contestant gets too close to winning the top prize, Bob has him murdered.

Sledge Hammer and Doreau does some research and discover that Bob has a history of declaring bankruptcy. Doreau also figures out that only stupid-looking people are cast on The Million Dollar Question in order to ensure that they won’t win. Naturally, this leads to Sledge Hammer going undercover as a contestant. With Doreau secretly supplying him with the answers, Sledge gets closer and closer to the million. Bob comes up with a plan to kill Sledge on live television….

This episode was fairly amusing satire of game shows. The Million Dollar Question successfully predicted Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Of course, nowadays, it’s a lot easier to be a millionaire than it was back in 1986 or even 2000. One million dollars in 1986 is the equivalent of three million dollars today. It seems a bit odd that Bob Kenny couldn’t afford to pay that but, then again, the whole point of the episode was that game show hosts are not to be trusted.

I enjoyed Doreau giving Hammer the answers to some of the easiest questions ever asked. Peter Marshall seemed to be having as the sleazy Bob and, as always, David Rasche was amusingly clueless. When he’s told that Trivial Pursuit is a game the requires brains, Hammer replies that the only thing he pursues is justice and all that requires is bullets.

This was a good episode that reminded me that being a millionaire used to mean something.

This week, Captain Trunk’s life is in Sledge Hammer’s hands!

Episode 1.8 “Over My Dead Bodyguard”

(Dir by Charles S. Dubin, originally aired on November 14th, 1986)

Captain Trunk is scheduled to testify against a racketeer, and as a result the mob is determined to stop him. The police commissioner orders Sledge Hammer to serve as Trunk’s bodyguard. Trunk isn’t happy to hear that. He’s trying to get back together with his ex-wife (Tracy Reed). The last thing he needs or wants is Hammer around.

Hammer, however, takes his job seriously. When Trunk and his ex have dinner, Sledge is there to keep an eye on him and beat up an assassin. When it becomes obvious that Trunk is not safe at his own home, Hammer takes him to his apartment. When an assassin still manages to shoot Trunk, Hammer tells the world that Trunk is dead.

Doreau is shocked to see that Hammer doesn’t seem that upset over Trunk’s death. She asks him if he has any emotions. Hammer replies that he has a full range of emotions: “Anger, rage, hate. Hate.”

Hammer also explains that Trunk isn’t really dead. He’s at the hospital, preparing for surgery. Hammer takes Doreau to the hospital to see their captain. Outside the hospital room, the guard looks at Hammer and asks, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” “To avoid the death penalty,” Hammer says. He looks over at Doreau. “Guess who came up with that password?”

An assassin (Robert O’Reilly) has disguised himself as an anesthesiologist. The assassin even manages to drug Hammer. Fortunately, a half-drugged and stumbling Hammer still knows how to throw a punch. He knocks out the assassin and then announces that, because the hospital has been compromised, he’s going to have to remove the bullet himself. “Don’t worry. I’ve practiced on myself.”

Trunk somehow survives being protected by Hammer and gives his testimony. The commissioner congratulates Trunk and then assigns Hammer to continue guarding him for at least a month.

This episode felt a bit off. There were a few funny lines and some good physical humor (especially when Doreau was helping the drugged Hammer to his feet), but otherwise it lacked the fast-paced, anything-for-a-joke feel of some of the previous episodes. In fact, it felt almost like a regular cop show. The only surprising thing is that it’s an assassin who shoots Trunk and not Sledge Hammer himself.

As I said, this episode did make me laugh. David Rasche, Anne-Marie Martin, and Harrison Page are quite a comedic team. It just didn’t leave as lasting an impression as some of the other episodes I’ve watched.