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The Greatest American Hero is a sci-fi comedy that ran for only two and a half seasons from 1981 to 1983, but it has left an indelible mark on pop culture. The show stars William Katt as an unassuming teacher who receives a super-powered suit from aliens but promptly loses the instructions. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard recently discussed their love for the show’s returning heroes in the current series.
So why has The Greatest American Hero remained such an enduring favorite? The recently released book, The Greatest American Hero Companion by Patrick Jankiewicz, digs into this topic with great enthusiasm. The book profiles the entire creative team involved in the show, explores individual episodes as well as the show’s broader impact, and surfacing random trivia, which may surprise even longstanding fans of the show. Even series star Katt wrote the foreword.
According to Jankiewicz, the show’s creator, Stephen J. Cannell, was known for huge hits like The Rockford Files, The A-Team, and 21 Jump Street, but The Greatest American Hero is the most popular of all his shows. The author added that even Cannell couldn’t figure it out, as it’s the best-selling show on DVD and Blu-ray.
The show is all about personal responsibility, which, according to Jankiewicz, is very funny. The unique genre show is different from anything Cannell did before, but he approached it as he did his other shows. It’s a show about the fanfare for the common man, which is a key theme in superhero movies and shows these days.
Jankiewicz mentions that the show is very personality-driven, so you spend thirty minutes getting to know the character, Ralph, before the aliens and everything else happens, making it feel very well-written. The main character, Ralph, is different from other superheroes of the time, in that he is relentlessly dumped on, and even with the suit on, people don’t appreciate him. He has no extraordinary powers, which makes it all the more interesting.
One of Jankiewicz’s favorite episodes is the pilot, and he thinks it’s really sharp. The show is very cynical, and Ralph is the only idealist on it, surrounded by pessimists, Bill, and Pam, who are trying to save the world.
Jankiewicz has published companion books on The Incredible Hulk and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, but he found his next subject, which is clearly in his wheelhouse, by accident when he was home during Covid. He came across an old episode and realized how charming and funny the show was.
As mentioned earlier, fans will recall a recent reboot of the show, which would have replaced the Ralph character with a hard-drinking Indian American woman named Meera. However, ABC did not pick up the show, and Jankiewicz could not get a script for it either. But, he has not given up hope that The Greatest American Hero will fly, as he believes the show will make a perfect movie.
The Greatest American Hero theme song is probably one of its greatest and most relentless superpowers. According to Jankiewicz, the theme song has kept the show alive as it will never go away. The theme song has been used as a cultural touchstone by other genre shows, not just Seinfeld. It was in the top 10 longer than the Friends theme.
FAQ:
What is The Greatest American Hero?
The Greatest American Hero is a sci-fi comedy that ran for only two and a half seasons from 1981 to 1983.
Who is the show’s creator?
Stephen J. Cannell created The Greatest American Hero.
Who starred in the series?
William Katt starred in The Greatest American Hero as the unassuming teacher who receives a super-powered suit from aliens.
What is The Greatest American Hero Companion?
The Greatest American Hero Companion is a book by Patrick Jankiewicz, exploring the ABC sci-fi comedy with great enthusiasm.
Has a reboot of the series failed to go on air?
Yes, ABC did not pick up the reboot, which would have replaced the Ralph character with a hard-drinking Indian American woman named Meera.
Why is The Greatest American Hero theme song popular?
The theme song has kept the show alive as it will never go away. The theme song has been used as a cultural touchstone by other genre shows, not just Seinfeld. It was in the top 10 longer than the Friends theme.
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