Stephen
J. Cannell has proven through his career that he has the
Drive to succeed as creator, writer, and executive producer
on the small screen and as an author of several books. Throughout
the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, he put some of the most popular
action/adventure and crime shows on television such as The
Rockford Files, 21 Jump Street, and Wiseguy.
In 1983, following the mega-success of The A-Team,
Cannell went Back to Back with his next series, Hardcastle
and McCormick. Now, fans of the show can celebrate its
25th anniversary with the release of the book called Hardcastle
and McCormick: A Complete Viewers' Guide to the Classic Eighties
Action Series, set to be released next month.
H&M followed both the adventures and the relationship
between crusty yet honorable ex-judge Milton C. "Hardcase"
Hardcastle (Brian Keith) and wisecracking ex-con, ex-racecar
driver Mark "Skid" McCormick (Daniel Hugh Kelly),
as they teamed up to go after 200 defendants that were released
on technicalities while Hardcastle was on the bench. Like
The Dukes of Hazzard, Knight Rider, and The A-Team,
Hardcastle and McCormick put the pedal to the metal in
creating some of the most incredible car chases/stunts on
television throughout its ABC run from 1983-86. Though fans
remember the Cody Coyote, they also remember the budding relationship
between the two male protagonists, as it developed into a
father-son relationship over the course of the series.
The book includes an exclusive look on how the series came
to life as well as an episode guide, pictures, interviews
with the cast and crew, life after Hardcastle and McCormick;
an unfilmed script from future CSI writer and executive
producer Carol Mendelsohn, who joined the writing staff in
the series' third and final season, and much more.
The light-hearted detective/action series continues to develop
an online following, as fans download clips of car chases
with the Coyote from the first season and post them on YouTube
(www.youtube.com).
It has even influenced the late-night CBS series Dark
Justice, which ran from 1991-94, and concerned Nick Marshall
(played by Ramy Zada and then Bruce Abbott), a judge by day
and vigilante by night who recruits a team of small-time criminals
to go after "the ones that got away".
You could say that the premise of the series pays tribute
to The Lone Ranger and Tonto; Batman and Robin; The Green
Hornet and Kato - a modern-day Western crimefighting duo patrolling
the streets to dispense justice. And this book pays tribute
to one of the most underrated and fan favorite shows of all
time. Hardcastle and McCormick: A Complete Viewers' Guide
to the Classic Eighties Action Series will be released
on Amazon March 15, but you can pre-order it directly through
publisher BearManor
Media or through the authors' own
site.
Also, if you want more Hardcastle and McCormick,
you can find seasons 1-3 also at Amazon - including a box
set of the entire series. So, you better Drive and push it
to the floor 'til the engine screams!
