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The Greatest American Hero

Season 1

9 listed hours · 1981–1983 · ABC

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From the desk

How this season is filed

Filed by Tessa Quinn · Spoiler-Free (Mostly)

Ralph Hinkley's alien suit arrives without the instruction booklet, so Cannell's superhero is a klutz who keeps crashing into trees. William Katt, Robert Culp's barking FBI handler, and that Joey Scarbury theme — Believe It or Not — do more cultural work than the plots. Superhero TV learning to smirk, years before the cape genre owned prime time.

TV Flash files Season 1 of The Greatest American Hero (1981–1983) on ABC as the first listed season of 3 — 9 listed hours, 1981-03-18–1981-05-06 from “The Greatest American Hero (1)” (S01E01) to “The Best Desk Scenario” (S01E09). Titles, dates, and synopses on file — no invented recaps.

Desk essentials in this season

  1. S01E01 The Greatest American Hero (1)

    The Greatest American Hero (1) is alien suit, no booklet: Katt crashes into trees, Culp barks, Scarbury's theme already doing the cultural work.

  2. S01E09 The Best Desk Scenario

    The Best Desk Scenario is Cannell superhero TV learning to smirk, years before the cape genre owned prime time.

  1. S01E01

    The Greatest American Hero (1)

    The Greatest American Hero (1) — Season 1, Episode 1 of The Greatest American Hero. Aired 1981-03-18. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  2. S01E02

    The Greatest American Hero (2)

    The Greatest American Hero (2) — Season 1, Episode 2 of The Greatest American Hero. Aired 1981-03-18. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  3. S01E03

    The Hit Car

    The Hit Car — Season 1, Episode 3 of The Greatest American Hero. Aired 1981-03-25. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  4. S01E04

    Here's Looking at You Kid

    Here's Looking at You Kid — Season 1, Episode 4 of The Greatest American Hero. Aired 1981-04-01. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  5. S01E05

    Saturday on Sunset Boulevard

    Maxwell and Hinkley discover that they are in the midst of international affairs that could gravely affect the world.

  6. S01E06

    Reseda Rose

    Reseda Rose — Season 1, Episode 6 of The Greatest American Hero. Aired 1981-04-15. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  7. S01E07

    My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys

    My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys — Season 1, Episode 7 of The Greatest American Hero. Aired 1981-04-29. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  8. S01E08

    Fire Man

    Fire Man — Season 1, Episode 8 of The Greatest American Hero. Aired 1981-05-06. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  9. S01E09

    The Best Desk Scenario

    Ralph revs up his unpredictable super powers, racing to Pam's rescue when her promotion to junior law partner becomes a death sentence.

More from the 1980s.