Watch The Greatest American Hero Online

The Greatest American Hero

Where to Watch The Greatest American Hero

13
Vanity Says the Preacher
1983-02-04
Bill is given a Man of the Year Award by a small South American country only to return there to re-live his past and future.

Watch The Greatest American Hero Season 3 Episode 13 Now

12
Desperado
1983-01-23
Ralph, Pam and Bill try to save a beautiful stallion from an obsessed rancher.

Watch The Greatest American Hero Season 3 Episode 12 Now

11
It's Only Rock 'N Roll
1983-01-21
Ralph and Bill find themselves protecting a rock star after an attempt has been made on his life.

Watch The Greatest American Hero Season 3 Episode 11 Now

10
Wizards and Warlocks
1983-01-14
Ralph and Bill play a real life game of dungeons and dragons to save the life of a Middle Eastern shiek.

Watch The Greatest American Hero Season 3 Episode 10 Now

9
Space Ranger
1983-01-07
Ralph's unusual new student creates international chaos when his class project of building a radio telescope for tracking orbiting satellites brings the CIA and KGB down on the school.

Watch The Greatest American Hero Season 3 Episode 9 Now

8
Resurrection of Carlini
1982-12-17
Hinkley find himself involved in a bizarre and nightmarish escapade when he investigates murder attempts on three well known magicianswho are planning on performing three of the late great Carlini's tricks at the magic Castle on Halloween.

Watch The Greatest American Hero Season 3 Episode 8 Now

7
Heaven is in Your Genes
1982-12-10
The fake death but real kidnapping of Maxwell leads Ralph on a wild chase to a tropical island, where a demented scientist plans to use Maxwell in his genetic engineering experiments -the last of which created a hideous monster.

Watch The Greatest American Hero Season 3 Episode 7 Now

6
Thirty Seconds Over Little Tokyo
1982-12-03
Ralph and Maxwell battle sinister forces that have taken a young scientist's uncle as hostage in exchange for an advanced weapon that could dramatically shift the world's balance of power.

Watch The Greatest American Hero Season 3 Episode 6 Now

5
Live at Eleven
1982-11-26
Ralph and Maxwell become embroiled in a bizarre scheme when a disgruntled news anchorman plots the terrorist takeover of a nuclear power plant to launch his political career. William Windom guest stars.

Watch The Greatest American Hero Season 3 Episode 5 Now

4
Newlywed Game
1982-11-19
The biggest day in the lives of Ralph and Pam - their wedding day is made even more complicated when the President sends Ralph on a secret mission to the North Pole.

Watch The Greatest American Hero Season 3 Episode 4 Now

3
This is the One the Suit Was Meant For
1982-11-12
Ralph and Pam - who decide to become engaged - discover that Maxwell's gift of a tropical island vacation is a trick to use Ralph and his super suit in recovering a stolen super-secret military aircraft .

Watch The Greatest American Hero Season 3 Episode 3 Now

2
The Price is Right
1982-11-05
At a high school reunion, Ralph is reunited with an old friend who is now a famous quarterback. Ralph is shocked to learn that the quarterback is taking money to throw a game, until he discovers that his friend is acting under duress -- his wife is being held hostage by an unscrupulous gambler.

Watch The Greatest American Hero Season 3 Episode 2 Now

1
Divorce Venusian Style
1982-10-29
Ralph is critically wounded when he rescues agent Maxwell from a band of neo-Nazis, which leads to an eerie high speed chase into the desert where his alien protectors save his life and reveal the secret of operating his super-powered suit - in a dramatic face-to-face confrontation.

Watch The Greatest American Hero Season 3 Episode 1 Now

The Greatest American Hero is an American science fiction television series that aired on ABC between 1981 and 1983. The show combines elements of comedy, drama, fantasy and even touches of superhero mythology, making it a unique entry into the canon of 1980s television programming. It was created by prolific American television writer, Stephen J. Cannell. The lead role in the series is played by William Katt, well known for his turn in the 1976 film adaptation of Carrie. Katt stars as Ralph Hinkley, a high school teacher in Los Angeles faced with handling the responsibilities of normal life, whilst simultaneously grappling with a mysterious suit that grants him superhuman abilities. The suit is given to him by aliens, making him an unsuspecting champion of justice, protecting society from various threats. The show is imbued with a sense of humor and lightheartedness while tackling outlandish adventures. What makes The Greatest American Hero even more engaging is the fact that Ralph is a rather ordinary man, with no inherent bravado or machismo usually associated with the typical heroes of the era. Paired with his initial lack of control over his newfound super abilities, the suit itself doesn't come with an instruction manual, adding a layer of comedy to his heroic attempts. The ensemble cast of The Greatest American Hero enhances the drama and humor of this unconventional superhero story. Robert Culp, an iconic television actor, portrays Bill Maxwell, a gruff and somewhat cynical FBI agent who becomes Ralph's reluctant partner. Maxwell is the series' moral compass, mediating between Ralph’s naive approach to crime-fighting and the cold, harsh realities of law enforcement. Connie Sellecca also joins the cast as Pam Davidson, Ralph’s girlfriend, who is also his attorney, offering more ground to the series, making the show as much a romantic dramedy as an action-packed superhero romp. Additionally, the show’s memorable theme song, "Believe It Or Not," impelled its distinctive status in the 1980s television landscape. The catchy tune, written by Mike Post and Stephen Geyer, was a literal radio hit, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The Greatest American Hero also possesses a meta-narrative appeal, as it appears to satirize the superhero genre before it reached the crescendo of popularity it enjoys today. The show pokes fun at various conventions of superhero tales, including the idea of a chosen one, overnight transformations, and fantastically obscure villains. Overarching themes of power, responsibility, and personal growth get juxtapositioned with the hilariously pathetic attempts of Ralph figuring out his suit’s capabilities. Entwining various genres, The Greatest American Hero offered a fresh twist to standard hero narratives, with humor and heart in equal measure. Its comic portrayal of an accidental superhero maneuvering through the banalities of everyday life while defending society served as a precursor to several modern-day superhero comedies. Although the show only lasted three seasons and 45 episodes, its innovative blending of genres and tropes, coupled with a memorable lead performance by William Katt, makes The Greatest American Hero a worthy addition to the history of American television. Despite not being a widely known household name compared to television's more enduring franchises such as Star Trek or M*A*S*H, it still has a significant cult following. Furthermore, its theme song remains emblematic of 1980s pop culture. Overall, The Greatest American Hero stands as an iconic, light-hearted testament to the era's television, charming viewers with distinctive storytelling, warm character dynamics, and a leading hero whose appeal lay not in his flawless superhero antics but his relatable imperfections. It’s a show where the superhero learning curve becomes a comedic playground, making it an indelible part of television’s rich tapestry of unlikely heroes.

The Greatest American Hero is a series categorized as a canceled. Spanning 3 seasons with a total of 42 episodes, the show debuted on 1981. The series has earned a moderate reviews from both critics and viewers. The IMDb score stands at 7.3.

How to Watch The Greatest American Hero

How can I watch The Greatest American Hero online? The Greatest American Hero is available on ABC with seasons and full episodes. You can also watch The Greatest American Hero on demand at Amazon Prime, Peacock, Crackle, Plex, Pluto TV, Tubi TV, Amazon, Vudu online.

Channel
ABC
Rating
7.3/10
Cast
William Katt, Faye Grant, Robert Culp, Connie Sellecca, Jesse D. Goins, Don Cervantes, Branden Williams, June Lockhart, William Bogert
Stream shows like The Greatest American Hero
The Greatest American Hero is available on .