"Trust me, I know what I'm doing!" Sledge Hammer

Back in 1986, ABC Television ran an innovative series parodying the ultra violent nihilistic cop dramas like Dirty Harry or Hill Street Blues. It was the misfortune of the series that it ran in the time slot opposite Dallas and Miami Vice so there was no way it had the proper chance to prove itself to a mass audience. Still, it made a big impression on certain viewers - OK, me ... and now, Anchor Bay has brought forth a wonderful package that includes all the first season episodes, the pilot, an un-aired version of the pilot, interviews with the producer and cast members, and many more special features.

The four disk set comes in a hard cover book-like folder, with pages for each disk. The packaging beats most boxed sets, as it takes up about the same as two normal DVDs, not four. There is also a sixteen-page blotter style booklet giving many details about the show, packaged inside a miniature file folder, complete with mock coffee stain...

In case you're unfamiliar with Sledge Hammer, it's a comedy and all the ultra violence, and there is plenty, is done tongue in cheek. With a lesser cast, it probably wouldn't come off as well, but with David Rasche playing it straight as the title character, be ready for some side-splitting laughs as he pulls his big 44 Magnum often to settle what to most of us would be everyday situations...

Either side of the political fence you sit on, you will get a kick out of the antics of the neanderthalean Sledge, his beautiful and much smarter partner Dori Doreau (Anne-Marie Martin), and his pepto-bismol addicted boss Captain Trunk (Harrison Page). If you are wondering how a show about a violent cop can be funny, think of how Hogan's Heroes sent up prison camp life in Nazi Germany and you may get an idea. Most of the episodes have a theme, ripping off various famous movies or television shows, like Witness = Witless, Magnum Force = Magnum Farce, etc. No sacred cow is left unkicked, and you will probably get a bang (sorry!) out of remembering the many references Sledge Hammer makes to 80s pop culture.

Series producer Alan Spencer credits Get Smart and Dirty Harry as seminal influences for Sledge Hammer. Spencer created the idea in his teens and sold the idea to HBO, who later backed out, while ABC picked up the series after viewing the HBO pilot. Spencer contributes four voice-over commentaries, a couple of short subjects, and the longer 32-minute documentary.

Series star David Rasche worked with Second City TV, where a lot of great comedians got their start, including John Belushi, John Candy, Rick Moranis, and Harold Ramis. SCTV also spawned the smash hit Saturday Night Live. Rasche has the steely eyed presence of Clint Eastwood, that is, when he's not wearing his shades. He also talks to his gun, who is his best friend. When he says his signature line, "Trust me, I know what I'm doing!" you just know something hilarious is about to happen.

There are 22 episodes included in the Season 1 package. Each episode runs 24 minutes, commercial free. The total running time is 534 minutes of fun. Did I mention the theme song? Probably the greatest one I've ever heard, written by Danny Elfman and reminiscent of Peter Gunn.

This is a tremendous package and I hope will introduce many more viewers to the antics of Sledge Hammer and friends, especially since it's so attractively priced. I bought my copy at Deep Discount DVD, where the $39.95 list price was marked down to $23.75 and shipping was free, as it always is.

Also see Sledge Hammer, Season 2

Thanks for reading!

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups