Believe it or not, you’re going to see “The Greatest American Hero” in more ways than one with a weekend marathon that begins this Saturday on Decades TV.
Created by Stephen J. Cannell, the comedy-drama starred William Katt as Ralph Hinkley, a high school teacher who’s been given the great responsibility to save the world when aliens gives him a super-suit that has special abilities such as flight, invisibility, and invulnerability. Only one problem, though: Ralph lost the instruction manual, so Superman he is not. Aided by hard-nosed FBI agent Bill Maxwell (Robert Culp) and his attorney girlfriend turned wife Pam Davidson (Connie Sellecca), Ralph Hinkley becomes a reluctant superhero in the fight against crime, corruption, politics and injustice.
Why? Believe it or not, Ralph Hinkley is the Greatest American Hero … whether he likes it or not.
Airing on ABC from 1981 to 1983, “The Greatest American Hero” is well-known due its the theme song. Sung by Joey Scarbury, “Believe it or Not” reached number two on the charts back in the summer of 1981. Like Ralph’s flying and learning how the suit works without the book, the series endured many ups and downs throughout its three seasons. Nevertheless, it remains a cult favorite among fans thanks to episodes such as the pilot, “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys” (with guest star John Hart, who succeeded Clayton Moore for one season as ABC’s “The Lone Ranger”), “The Good Samaritan”, “Lilacs, Mr. Maxwell” and “Vanity, Says The Preacher” (both were written and directed by Culp himself).
“The Greatest American Hero” is also part of Heroes & Icons’ “Comic Book Heroes” block with back-to-back episodes every Saturday morning, and back-to-back episodes every Sunday afternoon.