Rating: 
Summary: Awesome over-the-top comedy
Review:
Unfortunately, TV comedies like "Sledgehammer" are few and far between. It was never afraid to go over the top in order to give its audience a good laugh, much like the earlier, also criminally low-rated "Police Squad". David Rasche played the lead role perfectly, right down to the last sneer, insult, and bemused expression. The show wouldn't have worked nearly as well, however, without Harrison Page as the boiling commander or Anne-Marie Martin as the sensible partner.
The DVD set is outstanding as well, with the moronic laugh tracks removed (like it as for the MASH dvd sets) and terrific commentary by Alan Spencer and interviews with the cast.
Thank goodness for this set, I'd rather watch these shows a hundred times in a row rather than sit through the umpteenth bland cookie-cutter family sitcom, the norm for TV for far too long.
Rating:
Summary: Can you believe its been 18 years?
Review: God, it is hard to believe that there are 18 yr. old kids fighting in Iraq right now who weren't even BORN when Sledge Hammer! debuted in Sept. 1986.
I remember watching the promos for this show as a 12 yr. old kid and being excited that another violent "action" show was on the way, to compliment the "A-Team," etc. I didn't realize as a kid that Sledge was a satire, I just loved the shooting and comic violence of the charachter.
Watching the show as an adult almost 20 yrs later, one cannot help but admire how ahead of its time "Sledge Hammer!" was. The opening credits have a fantastic, brassy "James Bond/ Dragnet" crime-fighter ring to them, and it's mega-cool when Sledge twirls the .44 and fires at the TV Screen. The show made fun of not just the sitcom format, but TV culture as a whole.
In the "cliffhanger" episode, Trunk and Sledge raid a TV studio where a terrosist is broadcasting a televised ransom demand. Trunk bursts on to the set w/ Sledge at his side and says: "Your show's just been cancelled, and Sledge turns to Trunk and asks "You talkin' to me?" This scene sums up the wonderful irreverance of Sledge Hammer! Anyone under 20 today grew up w/ fairly "risque" 1990s shows like NYPD Blue, Seinfeld, Freinds, Sex and the City, Sopranos, and other programs that use foul language, causal sexual references, and graphic, extreme violence. The 80s were very buttoned down, and most "family hour" shows were pathetic sitcoms stocked with souless TV familys who moralized about the dangers of cigarettes, drunk driving, suicide, and most of all, drug use. In "Silver Spoons" for example, a circa 1986 episode in that Norman Lear dreck-fest has little Ricky Shroder go deer hunting with his grandpa, and "chicken out" and cry when the time comes to pull the trigger. This typical 1980s liberal crap, where male characters are emasculated wimps like the dad in Family Ties, Silver Spoons, Differnt' Strokes, etc, made Slege a welcome relief. Sledge pulls the trigger ALL the time, and revels in needless violence. He grabs suspects by the collar and shakes them, makes arsonists walk across hot coals, and gets a suicidal man on a ledge back in the window by shooting at him with a .44 Magnum!
Like a gust of fresh air, Sledge annihilated the competition with his violence, mayhem, and nihilsm. The pilot episode "Unde the Gun" hols up very well in America 2004. The target range in his apartment, the "I Love Violence" bumper sticker, shooting the soda machine, etc. - this was like NOTHING ever seen on network TV in the 80s.
Rating:
Summary: Alan Spencer Comes Through For His Fans!
Review: "Sledge Hammer!" was a unique half hour comedy that was the brainchild of eighties' wunderkind Alan Spencer. Stylistically modeled after the Mel Brooks and Buck Henry classic spoof series "Get Smart!", "Sledge Hammer!" proved to be a much more twisted, dark sendup of violent police melodramas. It featured actual mysteries with real jeopardy, as well as an interesting relationship between the two leads, very well played by David Rasche and Anne-Marie Martin.The series drew great acclaim from critics and stayed on the air for two seasons before going into syndication where it amassed the wide international following that "Sledge Hammer!" enjoys to this day. The show vanished for awhile and video pirates took advantage of the fans desperate to revisit Sledge, Dori and Trunk. Thankfully, Alan Spencer never abandoned the fan base and got involved. He started an official website for the series and successfully pulled off the DVD release that we all are anxiously awaiting. I look forward to Spencer's commentary that all reports say is "unedited." The show was filled with surprises, as well as its famous off the wall cliffhanger, so I'm sure Spencer's commentary might be a little unconventional as well. After all, he did dedicate this release to his gone but not forgotten mentors: Marty Feldman and Andy Kaufman. "Sledge Hammer!" has a cult of "Hammerheads," as they are called, around the world. There's now talk of a feature film version of the show. I hope it happens only if Spencer and Rasche reteam. I trust them, they know what they're doing.
Rating:
Summary: SLEDGE HAMMER! Season 1 - Gunning Soon on DVD!
Review: "The following program is not an accurate depiction of law enforcement..we also assure our viewers that you are in no actual danger". Forewarned but undeterred, we witness Dirty Harry morph at the head with Larry, Moe and Curly Joe and reincorporate into - SLEDGE HAMMER! TV's most entertaining fare of the 80's was (unfortunately) one of that decades best kept secrets as well, but with this release of SLEDGE HAMMER! - SEASON ONE on dvd, veteran Sledgie's will cheer and nascent Hammerheads will no doubt be spawned. A legion of loyal fans who never tired of our hero (as he made the streets safer - for some - in a post-Reagan yogurt-sucking, mutant commie wasteland) are reunited with the man and his 'Gun'. Our magnum farce lineup includes David Rasche (Inspector Sledge Hammer!) who is quick with a quip and his deadly 44...Anne-Marie Martin (Detective Dori Doreau) who absolutely sizzles as the leggy foil in heels ...and Harrison Page (Captain Trunk) who has a sensibility that is equal parts white-collar soul and Sgt. Carter panache. Interviews with these cast members augment this 22 episode collection, which comes with complete and unedited episodes - not the typical hacked syndicated re-runs. Yes, in these troubled times, it's good to know that SLEDGE HAMMER! will be back on the job, at least for a season.
Rating:
Summary: Commentary Will Become Urban Legend!
Review: A friend of mine got a review copy of "Sledge Hammer: Season One" and let me take a look yesterday since I'm a long time "Hammerhead." Brother, let me tell you -- this baby's packed to the nines with special features. I thought I knew the show well but even I was surprised. First off, the shows NEVER looked this good. Every episode looks brand new and has stereo audio (2.0 as opposed to 5.1.). What's really great is that Anchor Bay went to the time and trouble to remove the network imposed laugh track that marred the first thirteen episodes of the show. (Based on the way he talks about it on the DVD, my guess is creator Alan Spencer insisted on that one.) Time has treated the show well as it was WAY ahead of its time. While there are the occasional outdated 80's references, there are plenty of topical wisecracks that prove strangely prophetic. At one point, Sledge Hammer rails about liberals mucking up his crime fighting system and literally daydreams about invading Iraq! Time has also treated the cast well. They're all featured on an all new documentary called "Go Ahead, Make Me Laugh" that was informative as well as touching. It's clear that David Rasche, Anne-Marie Martin, Harrison Page and Alan Spencer all love each other. Spencer does audio commentary on four episodes, supposedly completely unedited, and I think one of them will be the topic of much discussion. Here's my appraisal of the commentaries: "Under The Gun" (The Pilot Episode): Spencer talks a mile a minute at a Robin Williams pace on this. He doesn't let up because he seems to want to cram in as much as possible for the fans who have waited so long for this release. Trust him, he knows what he's doing. You'll definitely get your money's worth. "Witless": This famous episode spoofed the Harrison Ford thriller "Witness" and Spencer recounts his struggles with the network censors (who were sensitive to offending the Amish) as well as star Rasche's kindness to a bit player. Spencer stream of consciousness comments about James Bond made me laugh out loud. "All Shook Up": Another well known episode is about Hammer's attempt to thwart a serial killer knocking off Elvis impersonators around town. Spencer talks at length about his late friend Andy Kaufman and gives him full credit for getting him into the King of Rock & Roll. "The Spa Who Loved Me": Here's the season finale with that insanely impossible cliffhanger. This is the commentary people will be talking about as something unexpected happens midway through and I can't tell whether it's a joke or not. The fact that Spencer was a good friend of Andy Kaufman makes me suspicious, although I've listen to it three times and it sounds totally convincing. The message blogs will have a field day with this and I'm eager to see how Spencer will respond in interviews when they ask him what the heck was going on. (I'd like to know the EXACT date he recorded audio in LA.) "Sledge Hammer: Season One" was worth the wait. Alan Spencer dedicates the set to his three favorite "teachers" Oliver Hailey, Marty Feldman and Andy Kaufman. I think they'd be very proud of their prize student.
Rating:
Summary: The Return of Sledge
Review: After millions of entreaties, thousands of heartfelt pleas, and a few death threats, Sledge is finally coming out on DVD. The funniest cop on TV returns to rock our world, almost twenty years later. This will be a collection like none other, with new commentary by the major stars and by Alan Spencer himself. Spencer's superb wit and Rasche's spot-on characterization combined to make "Sledge Hammer" the funniest thing about the 80's (and if you remember the hair, that's saying quite a bit!) I can't wait for July- I have pre-ordered copies for ALL of my friends. So add your order to my two and make sure to get yours!
Rating:
Summary: I Can Hardly Wait to Get Hammered Again
Review: Alan Spencer has never abandoned his loyal fans of Sledge Hammer! Had it not been for his passion and drive to revive it on DVD for a new generation of fans, this addictive little sitcom may have been lost in the mists of time. There is no doubt in my mind that Sledge Hammer! will eventually hold a place of honor as one of television's best comedy series. Thank you Alan!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best comedy shows ever!
Review: For two fabulous TV seasons in the bleak mid-eighties, I never missed an episode of Sledge Hammer! Now, my husband and I are in the process of savoring the season one DVD (viewing two to three episodes per Sunday afternoon so that the experience doesn't end too soon), and each ridiculous episode still delivers the same gut laughs!
I can't say much more than the other reviewers are saying. The show is simply hands-down hilarious. And, how gorgeous is David Rasche? Even when he's acting stupid?? (Same goes for Anne-Marie Martin.) Anchor Bay did a fantastic job with this release. The look, the sound, the packaging are all top-notch. The commentaries by Alan Spencer are funny and informative--I hope he does more for season two. What a fantastic DVD release!! I highly recommend it to Hammer Heads, as well as those who have never seen the series.
Rating: 
Summary: Not quite as good as I remember, but still fun.
Review: I hadn't even thought about this show in years. I was a little kid when it was on and I only remember three things:
1) It was funny.
2) Salt getting thrown in someone's face.
3) The "defining scene" of the series, where the copy uses a rocket launcer to take out a sniper by blowing up the whole building. "I think I got him."
When I saw it I had to grab it. The first episode is pure gold, then things get a little weaker. It had some character development and didn't go "completely" as a spoof, which is probably why it lasted while others (though funny) failed. I'm only through the first DVD, but for what I paid for it I got a really good deal, 22 episodes with laugh track removed is pretty good. Now if only I can find Greates American Hero...
Rating:
Summary: sledge reunion at last
Review: I just bought this dvd, and it's just to good. I saw this program on tv many years ago, in Iceland, and everybody in school just loved it, at least everybody who was okay.
I have to say I'm amased how well it has aged. The humor is just so funny. I can't wait until they give out season 2 on dvd to. This is just a must own for fans of good tv series.
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