Sledge Hammer! (1986)
The cult ABC satirical sitcom that turned the trigger-happy TV cop into pure comedy gold — two seasons of anarchic, irreverent brilliance.
Sledge Hammer! - Series Information
- Original Title: Sledge Hammer!
- First Air Year: 1986
- Last Air Year: 1988
- Created by: Alan Spencer
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Comedy, Crime, Action, Adventure
- Content Rating (US): TV-PG
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 28 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Number of Episodes: 41
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: September 23, 1986 (United States - TV-PG), September 23, 1986 (Germany - 12), September 23, 1986 (India - U), September 23, 1986 (Brazil - L)
- Networks: ABC
- Alternative Titles: Martillo Hammer (AR), Der Hammer (DE)
- Production Companies: Spencer Productions, D'Angelo Productions, New World Television
- Production Countries: United States of America
Sledge Hammer! - Plot
Sledge Hammer! is an American satirical police sitcom produced by New World Television that ran for two seasons on ABC from 1986 to 1988. The series was created by Alan Spencer and stars David Rasche as Inspector Sledge Hammer, a preposterous caricature of the standard "cop on the edge" character. Al Jean and Mike Reiss, best known for their work on The Simpsons, wrote for the show and worked as story editors.
Sledge Hammer! - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see Inspector Hammer in action:
Trust me, I know what I'm doing.
Where to Watch Sledge Hammer!
Looking for where to watch Sledge Hammer!?
Compare all viewing options available in your region on JustWatch ↗
Sledge Hammer! - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Alan Spencer
Main Cast
- David Rasche
- Anne-Marie Martin
- Harrison Page
- Leslie Morris
- Kurt Paul
- Brion James
- Mark Blankfield
- Larry Wilmore
- Dennis Fimple
- Don Stark
Writers
- Alan Spencer
- Mike Reiss
- Rod Ash
- Al Jean
- David Ketchum
Sledge Hammer! - FAQs
What is Sledge Hammer! about?
Sledge Hammer! is a satirical police sitcom that skewers the macho cop genre with gleeful abandon. David Rasche plays Inspector Sledge Hammer, a gun-obsessed, rule-breaking detective who talks to his pistol and shoots first without ever asking questions. It ran on ABC from 1986 to 1988.
Where can you stream Sledge Hammer! online?
Sledge Hammer! is available to stream for free with ads on Shout! Factory TV, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, and Plex. It can also be purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. Shout! Factory Amazon Channel offers it as a flatrate subscription add-on.
What is the famous catchphrase from Sledge Hammer!?
"Trust me, I know what I'm doing" is Inspector Hammer's iconic sign-off, delivered with complete sincerity right before something inevitably goes catastrophically wrong. The line became one of the most quoted TV catchphrases of the late 1980s and perfectly encapsulates the show's satirical spirit.
Did Sledge Hammer! end on a cliffhanger?
Season 1 ended with Hammer accidentally detonating a nuclear bomb, destroying all of San Francisco — a bold cliffhanger played entirely for laughs. When the show was unexpectedly renewed, creator Alan Spencer solved the problem by setting Season 2 five years earlier, making it a prequel to the explosion.
Who created Sledge Hammer! and who wrote for it?
Alan Spencer created the series. The writing staff included future Simpsons legends Al Jean and Mike Reiss, who served as story editors. Other writers included Rod Ash, David Ketchum, Chris Ruppenthal, Gerald Gardner, Ron Friedman, and Robert Wuhl, giving the show a remarkably sharp comedic pedigree.
How many seasons and episodes does Sledge Hammer! have?
Sledge Hammer! ran for two seasons on ABC, comprising 41 episodes in total. Season 1 delivered 22 episodes and Season 2 followed with 19. There are also 6 special episodes collected under Season 0, bringing the full episode count to 41 across the show's 1986–1988 run.
Is Sledge Hammer! similar to Police Squad! or Get Smart?
Very much so. Sledge Hammer! sits comfortably alongside Police Squad! and Get Smart as a cornerstone of the absurdist cop-comedy tradition. Fans of those shows will find the same rapid-fire gags and genre parody here. Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Reno 911! are more modern alternatives worth exploring.
What content rating does Sledge Hammer! carry?
Sledge Hammer! carries a TV-PG rating in the United States, reflecting its comedic tone and satirical approach to violence rather than genuine intensity. The show first aired on ABC on September 23, 1986, and its humor is broadly accessible, though the parody of cop-show excess is best appreciated by older viewers.
More About Sledge Hammer!
Explore further details about Sledge Hammer! on these authoritative resources: