I’ve been on a SJC kick lately and I’m interested in hearing if I’m alone in my appreciation for this guy’s TV output.
THE ROCKFORD FILES gets the most acclaim from his work, but for my money, nothing beats HARDCASTLE AND MCCORMICK. It featured two leads that seemed like they had genuine chemistry and were actually funny to watch interact. And although they downplayed the car chases as the series progressed (lack of money, I think), the show definitely had some of the greatest stuntwork I’ve ever seen on television.
What do you guys think? What are some of your favorites from Cannell?
Ever read his books? They’re definitely airport reads but some of the Shane Scully books have been pretty good, better than some of the crap James Patterson has been pushing out. Although one involved the LAPD and Sheriff’s dept SWAT teams getting into firefights with each other and another involved a white gangsta woman. Crazy shit indeed.
Originally Posted by EdHockenView Post Ever read his books? They’re definitely airport reads but some of the Shane Scully books have been pretty good, better than some of the crap James Patterson has been pushing out. Although one involved the LAPD and Sheriff’s dept SWAT teams getting into firefights with each other and another involved a white gangsta woman. Crazy shit indeed.
I’ve just stuck to his TV output lately. I just watched the pilot for STINGRAY with Nick Mancuso that was half decent.
A Cannell show I’ve been meaning to check out is PROFIT.
“Rockford” was a little before my time. My pop loves it and I probably should give it a shot. I honestly don’t recall much about “Hardcastle” other than the terrific theme.
In no order my top 5 would be “21 Jump Street,” “A-Team,” “Stingray,” “Renegade,” and “Hunter.”
I need to check out “Profit” one of these days. Only heard good stuff about that one.
ED209, “I love it when a plan comes together” Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith
These are my favorite series of Stephen J Cannel…
The A-Team- Aside from Star Trek…My 2nd favorite series all time. I don’t know where you start! From the score composed by Mike Post and Pete Carpenter, to George Peppard starring as Colonel John Hannibal Smith, Dirk Benedict as Face, pretty tom boy Melinda Culea as Amy Amanda Allan the reporter that covers the A-Team, The rival Colonel Decker Lance LeGault always outsmarted by CJHS, the terrific action sequences where no one was even harmed or the humor. To me…the best Hannibal escape is the opening ep of season 4 where Hannibal lead Col. Decker and his men up a building while he used a window washers rig and then parachuted off the same rig as Decker replied…I don’t believe this.
Hunter-2nd best cop series after T.J. Hooker. I liked the interplay between Hunter and McCall, another excellent score from Mike Post and Pete Carpenter, the action, car chases, shoot outs and plenty of trouble with their Captain.
Hardcastle and McCormick- Good interplay between the leads, great music and car chases.
Wiseguy- Ken Wahl made an interesting criminal and it was one of Kevin Spacey’s best early roles.
Greatest American Hero- A fun series with Connie Sellica as the girlfriend to the titular hero and great wisecracks by Bill Culp.
Hopefully John Singleton will not mess up…The A-Team film.
Wiseguy. Loved the half-season plot arcs, and the casting was spectacular - Vincent Terranova had a better Rogue’s Gallery than Spider-Man. Spacey’s first substantial role, Tim Curry, Jerry Lewis, Ray Sharkey, David Straithairn and Stanley Tucci all did great work here.
Shame on Jonathan Banks Is My Hero not naming Wiseguy before Fleed did.
Biggest Cannell disappoitment: “Booker.” I was so stoked when I heard Grieco was getting a spinoff. I didn’t hate the show, but it never matched the awesome vibe he brought to that one season of “Jump Street.”
That’s my favorite of all the different versions of that production company logo. The collar up, showing off his guns, getting ready to finish cranking out a “Commish.”
I’m sure I’ll love WISEGUY being a huge CRIME STORY fan, but I’ve never gotten the chance to see it. Unfortunely, the DVDs are too expensive now because they’ve gone out-of-print.
Originally Posted by PhilView PostWiseguy. Loved the half-season plot arcs, and the casting was spectacular - Vincent Terranova had a better Rogue’s Gallery than Spider-Man. Spacey’s first substantial role, Tim Curry, Jerry Lewis, Ray Sharkey, David Straithairn and Stanley Tucci all did great work here.
You left out the mighty William Russ as Roger LoCocco. Shame on you.
Man, I haven’t thought about that show in a long time. It’s funny, I would not, under duress, characterize Ken Wahl as a great actor, but he had an empathetic quality that couldn’t be duplicated when he had to be replaced (even by such an eminence as Steven “Manolo” Bauer).
I loved revisiting these on DVD. They didn’t have the home video rights to “Nights in White Satin” for the Steelgrave arc, though, so it’s diminished a little.
(And I left out Anthony John Denison and Debbie Harry and a bunch of other interesting characters. Netflix this show!)
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Silk Stalkings. That was one of my favorite series from Cannell. It had the ever hot Mitzi Kapture and a steamy intro. I remember the show changed cast after a few years and I became less and less intersted but I was surprised to find out on IMDB that it lasted until 1999, wierd!
Most everyone aleady covered these but, my favorites are: A-Team, 21 Jump Street, Silk Stalkings, Renegade and The Commish.
I’ve never seen a single episode of Profit but I heard good things about it, also wasn’t a big fan of Hunter or most of the other shows he made (notable exception, Rockford Files but I saw that in reruns so I’m not counting it).