The Greatest American Hero might come back -- with the hero being an Indian woman

[Dan Druff]

Remember The Greatest American Hero?



It only ran for 3 seasons from 1981 to 1983, but was very memorable to people around during that time period, especially kids/teenagers.

The show was somewhat cheesy (even by 1981 standards), but had some clever/fun elements to it. However, it never was a ratings hit, and was put down after 3 seasons (two of them partial). Only 40 episodes aired. Four were left unaired.

The new version of the show will feature a 30-year-old Indian woman named Meera, with essentially the same story as the Ralph character in the original.



The revival was already picked up once by Fox in 2014, but ultimately never went anywhere. Now ABC made a "pilot commitment", but that simply means they're ordering a pilot episode. It still may never air.

About 9 years ago, there was also talk of a Greatest American Hero movie, but it went nowhere.

Fans of "The Rockford Files" might be interested to learn that the original Greatest American Hero was created by Stephen J. Cannell, who also was co-creator of "Rockford" and several other series. Frequent Rockford writer Juanita Bartlett was also brought on to write for Greatest American Hero. Neither will be involved with the new series, as neither are alive.

In 1981, they quickly changed Ralph's last name from Hinkley to Hanley, after John Hinckley shot President Reagan that year. There were a few episodes where Ralph was named "Hinkley" at the beginning, and then he was briefly referred to "Mr. H" before they made the transition to Hanley.

The original show declined in quality after the first season, due to a change in management at ABC. Cannell envisioned the series as one which focused more upon the characters in everyday situations, much like he had done on "Rockford". He was very opposed to using the Ralph character to perform major acts of heroism or save the world. However, executives at ABC demanded that the show change to exactly that, and Cannell was forced to comply. Later episodes included laughable plots such as Ralph preventing a nuclear war and having to deal with evil ghosts.

It was also the first show to feature the famous "ripped sheet off a typewriter turning into a C logo" associated with Cannell:




The idea to have a female Greatest American Hero seems like yet another lame gender equality idea of 2017, but in reality it's nothing new. In 1986, they attempted to revive the show with a female lead, and called it "The Greatest American Heroine". A pilot was ordered and produced, but it never aired.

[SrslySirius]

So that's what Costanza's answering machine is based on.

[thesparten]

I'll be watching it like the new star trek..

NOT!!

[The_Lurker]

I do love me some misogynist Druff

[Dan Druff]

I do love me some misogynist Druff

I made no comment either way regarding my feelings about this remake.

Save the trolling for some other time.

[The_Lurker]

I do love me some misogynist Druff

I made no comment either way regarding my feelings about this remake.

Save the trolling for some other time.

The idea to have a female Greatest American Hero seems like yet another lame gender equality idea of 2017

I honestly love the fact that you don't see yourself as a misogynist.

[Sanlmar]

Saw an interview with the guy who wrote "The Wire". He is doing a series having to do with the start of the porn industry in 70's NY.

I remember 80's sitcoms. It's amazing we aren't brain dead as a result.

I cannot fathom people wasting one second when so much great stuff is available - contrary to Sonatine's reviews.

Lol. Music writer couldn't make it so he wrote sitcom opening songs and when that didn't last he went into country music. Seems about right.

[thesparten]

Saw an interview with the guy who wrote "The Wire". He is doing a series having to do with the start of the porn industry in 70's NY.

I remember 80's sitcoms. It's amazing we aren't brain dead as a result.

I cannot fathom people wasting one second when so much great stuff is available - contrary to Sonatine's reviews.

Lol. Music writer couldn't make it so he wrote sitcom opening songs and when that didn't last he went into country music. Seems about right.

Cmon sanlamar..

Old 80.s t.v. is good t.v.

Magnum p.i.
Dallas
Cannon.
Simon and Simon.
Rockford files..

And Soo many more..

Never mind battle star Galactica and buck Rogers and "V"..

Shogun and roots was good except the good guys lost in the end, and all that 80,s stuff

[Sanlmar]

Saw an interview with the guy who wrote "The Wire". He is doing a series having to do with the start of the porn industry in 70's NY.

I remember 80's sitcoms. It's amazing we aren't brain dead as a result.

I cannot fathom people wasting one second when so much great stuff is available - contrary to Sonatine's reviews.

Lol. Music writer couldn't make it so he wrote sitcom opening songs and when that didn't last he went into country music. Seems about right.

Cmon sanlamar..

Old 80.s t.v. is good t.v.

Magnum p.i.
Dallas
Cannon.
Simon and Simon.
Rockford files..

And Soo many more..

Never mind battle star Galactica and buck Rogers and "V"..

Shogun and roots was good except the good guys lost in the end, and all that 80,s stuff

I remember Fatso Cannon had a 2 door Lincoln that was about 20 feet long. Prolly had 180hp.

I have a fond recollection for Rockford Files. I think it was mostly because he had a Firebird. Lol, shitbox 80's cars. That too prolly had 165hp. I have recently tried to watch an episode or two. It can't be done.

Shogun a good memory but I don't want to test it by watching it now.

These were unsophisticated times by today's standards. The moral police were fully staffed in the 80's and controversial topics were avoided at all costs

[Sanlmar]

I am almost ashamed to admit this - but I love it. It is a regular take of mine.

The Dick Cavett Show is being rerun. 70's - early 80's. It's a talk show with celebrity guests and newsmakers of that era.

I am fascinated by just how simple and unsophisticated people were during that era. Almost innocent. I sit stunned by the sensibilities of that era.

Time capsule type shit. So pure

I recently saw Orson Welles (Citizen Kane, War of the Worlds). Guy was fascinating. He was an entertaining raconteur.

Sorry to interrupt your show, Druff. Back to your original programming.

[LarryLaffer]

I've never seen it...but I know the song

[Sloppy Joe]

I made no comment either way regarding my feelings about this remake.

Save the trolling for some other time.

The idea to have a female Greatest American Hero seems like yet another lame gender equality idea of 2017

I honestly love the fact that you don't see yourself as a misogynist.

It's even more absurd than when Pooh claims he isn't racist.

Typically misogynists mellow out when a woman gives them a child but I guess Druff was horribly spurned at some point in life.

[Dan Druff]

The idea to have a female Greatest American Hero seems like yet another lame gender equality idea of 2017

I honestly love the fact that you don't see yourself as a misogynist.

It's even more absurd than when Pooh claims he isn't racist.

Typically misogynists mellow out when a woman gives them a child but I guess Druff was horribly spurned at some point in life.

We've been over this before.

I don't mind when they try to change the gender (or any other detail) in a remake of a show because they think it will be an interesting change. I may not agree with it or find the new version to be stupid, but it doesn't bother me.

For example, I mentioned that they tried "The Greatest American Heroine" in 1986. As it didn't actually air, I didn't know about it until over 20 years later. However, it didn't bother me because, given the 1986 creation date, it seemed likely they were simply trying a new idea, and not trying to make some lame social or political statement with it.

Regarding this new version of Greatest American Hero, from what I'm reading, the gender change doesn't seem to be coming from an SJW left standpoint, so it doesn't bother me. If this actually airs, I will watch it and give it a chance.

I am assuming this because they are reproducing the "boring everyman" element of original. The scant description of the main character in the new version states that her "talents include tequila drinking, karaoke and not much else." This is not too different than the Ralph character, who was a struggling teacher, frustrated with his career after he was assigned to teach the remedial class. In both cases, you're seeing an incredibly ordinary person thrust into the "hero" role -- and presumably both struggling to do it correctly.

So this really looks less about "girl power" SJW nonsense and more like they're just adjusting the character's gender to make it something new -- much like they did in 1986.

Unfortunately there are trolls and SJWs here who jump on me anytime I criticize a female or something having to do with females. Reminds me of my Melissa Mayer thread, where people accused me of misogyny for making negative comments about her hiring, despite the fact that I had recently made a thread mocking the previous male Yahoo CEO.

[Dan Druff]

Cmon sanlamar..

Old 80.s t.v. is good t.v.

Magnum p.i.
Dallas
Cannon.
Simon and Simon.
Rockford files..

And Soo many more..

Never mind battle star Galactica and buck Rogers and "V"..

Shogun and roots was good except the good guys lost in the end, and all that 80,s stuff

I remember Fatso Cannon had a 2 door Lincoln that was about 20 feet long. Prolly had 180hp.

I have a fond recollection for Rockford Files. I think it was mostly because he had a Firebird. Lol, shitbox 80's cars. That too prolly had 165hp. I have recently tried to watch an episode or two. It can't be done.

Shogun a good memory but I don't want to test it by watching it now.

These were unsophisticated times by today's standards. The moral police were fully staffed in the 80's and controversial topics were avoided at all costs

You are being much too hard on '70s and '80s TV.

"The Rockford Files" is actually a show which holds up well today, if you ignore the dated styles and cars.

Some of the sitcoms of the era, such as "All in the Family" and "WKRP in Cincinnati" were very funny (and often edgy), and again hold up very well 40 years later.

Like many things in life, lessons were learned over time, and crafts were refined. Sure, some of today's shows seem to be more sophisticated from a production (and sometimes writing) standpoint, but that doesn't take away from the charm of the classics. Watching TV from the '70s is a lot different than, say, the 1950s, when television was brand new, and everything really was done from a point of incredible simplicity.

TV classics have a certain charm to them, especially when they serve as a time capsule to the look and feel of the era. When I watch "The Rockford Files", I feel I'm seeing the world again as I did as a kid in 1970s Los Angeles (it helps that the show did a lot of on-location shooting). And the 1980s "Miami Vice" series still remains so compelling because it contains the colorful, fun, hedonistic feel of mid-1980s south Florida, mixed with the influence of the MTV Generation. The 2006 movie was terrible because they removed all of those elements, and attempted to reframe it as a modern, by-the-numbers cop drama.

[The_Lurker]

So, you are saying you are not a misogynist?

[Dan Druff]

So, you are saying you are not a misogynist?

Yes, that's what I am saying.

I'm just a realist about things. For example, while I think that guy fired from Google was stupid to risk his job by putting out that memo, I felt the points he raised were fair.

If a company is hiring inferior candidates simply to fulfill a gender quota, that's a bad thing. It doesn't make you a misogynist to be okay with a disproportionate number of male hires if the males really were disproportionately better candidates for the job.

My posts here criticize far more males in popular culture than females. It's just when I criticize females -- or when I express disdain for political-statement-based all-female remakes of moves or TV -- the trolls and SJWs pop out and accuse me of misogyny.

[Sloppy Joe]

So, you are saying you are not a misogynist?

Yes, that's what I am saying.

I'm just a realist about things. For example, while I think that guy fired from Google was stupid to risk his job by putting out that memo, I felt the points he raised were fair.

If a company is hiring inferior candidates simply to fulfill a gender quota, that's a bad thing. It doesn't make you a misogynist to be okay with a disproportionate number of male hires if the males really were disproportionately better candidates for the job.

My posts here criticize far more males in popular culture than females. It's just when I criticize females -- or when I express disdain for political-statement-based all-female remakes of moves or TV -- the trolls and SJWs pop out and accuse me of misogyny.

Roger Ailes couldn't have sexually harassed Gretchen Carlson because she was too old and unattractive.

[SetofKs]

So, you are saying you are not a misogynist?

Yes, that's what I am saying.

I'm just a realist about things. For example, while I think that guy fired from Google was stupid to risk his job by putting out that memo, I felt the points he raised were fair.

If a company is hiring inferior candidates simply to fulfill a gender quota, that's a bad thing. It doesn't make you a misogynist to be okay with a disproportionate number of male hires if the males really were disproportionately better candidates for the job.

My posts here criticize far more males in popular culture than females. It's just when I criticize females -- or when I express disdain for political-statement-based all-female remakes of moves or TV -- the trolls and SJWs pop out and accuse me of misogyny.

The guy from google was a sperg. What he said might've been true, but what he said went completely against social norms. If you want to fit in with society and be a chad, you have to respect social norms. For example, if you don't have a facebook account, yer a sperg. Its a social norm to have a facebook account. If you don't drink alcohol, yer a sperg. Its a social norm to drink alcohol.

[SetofKs]

also if you dont' have an IPhone yer definitely a sperg. Just LOL @ subhumans who think having an android is cool cause they aren't conforming to society

[thesparten]

I remember Fatso Cannon had a 2 door Lincoln that was about 20 feet long. Prolly had 180hp.

I have a fond recollection for Rockford Files. I think it was mostly because he had a Firebird. Lol, shitbox 80's cars. That too prolly had 165hp. I have recently tried to watch an episode or two. It can't be done.

Shogun a good memory but I don't want to test it by watching it now.

These were unsophisticated times by today's standards. The moral police were fully staffed in the 80's and controversial topics were avoided at all costs

You are being much too hard on '70s and '80s TV.

"The Rockford Files" is actually a show which holds up well today, if you ignore the dated styles and cars.

Some of the sitcoms of the era, such as "All in the Family" and "WKRP in Cincinnati" were very funny (and often edgy), and again hold up very well 40 years later.

Like many things in life, lessons were learned over time, and crafts were refined. Sure, some of today's shows seem to be more sophisticated from a production (and sometimes writing) standpoint, but that doesn't take away from the charm of the classics. Watching TV from the '70s is a lot different than, say, the 1950s, when television was brand new, and everything really was done from a point of incredible simplicity.

TV classics have a certain charm to them, especially when they serve as a time capsule to the look and feel of the era. When I watch "The Rockford Files", I feel I'm seeing the world again as I did as a kid in 1970s Los Angeles (it helps that the show did a lot of on-location shooting). And the 1980s "Miami Vice" series still remains so compelling because it contains the colorful, fun, hedonistic feel of mid-1980s south Florida, mixed with the influence of the MTV Generation. The 2006 movie was terrible because they removed all of those elements, and attempted to reframe it as a modern, by-the-numbers cop drama.

Absolutely agree about the Miami vice series as well as that horrible movie..

When sanlamar talks about unsophisticated culture, I'm not so sure I agree...

Simple yes but why does that progressive elitesm always get in the way of his great posting..

I can make a very good argument that little house on the prairie was simple yet sophisticated..

The morality play of the show prob offends most progressive,s but it was simple but brilliant on many points..

And simple or moral does not equate to un sophisticated..

I'm actually risking my head by pushing back on sanlamar,s post..