Hard Knocks (1987 TV series)

Hard Knocks is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on the Showtime Network. It featured Bill Maher and Tommy Hinkley as ideologically opposed private detectives looking to make money by solving the problems of their wealthy clients.

Hard Knocks
Hard Knocks opening title card
Created byChris Thompson
StarringBill Maher
Tommy Hinkley
ComposersDan Foliart
Howard Pearl
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producersGary Nardino
Chris Thompson
Running timeapprox. 30 min.
Production companiesGary Nardino-Chris Thompson Productions
Paramount Television
Original release
NetworkShowtime
ReleaseApril 20 (1987-04-20) –
August 6, 1987 (1987-08-06)

Synopsis

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Gower Rhodes and Nick Bronco open a private detective agency in the back of a restaurant to make money by solving cases. However, nothing seems to go their way.

Cast

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Main characters

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Recurring and Guest Roles

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Episodes

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Title Directed by: Written by: Air date
1"Pilot"Jules LichtmanChris ThompsonJuly 23, 1987 (1987-07-23)
2"Play Mr. Tambourine Man for Me"Don BarnhartRob Dames,
Bob Fraser
April 20, 1987 (1987-04-20)
Gower and Nick go on a double date
3"What Becomes a Legend Least"Shelley JensenMarjorie GrossMay 8, 1987 (1987-05-08)
4"The End of the World"Rob DamesDon ReoMay 15, 1987 (1987-05-15)
Gower and Nick release a deadly chemical
5"Bronco's Rib"Shelley JensenRon ZimmermanMay 29, 1987 (1987-05-29)
6"Fallen Idol"Jules LichtmanDon ReoJune 5, 1987 (1987-06-05)
7"Luck be a Dead Gangster Tonight"Chris ThompsonMarjorie GrossJune 12, 1987 (1987-06-12)
8"If You Knew Nancy"Shelley JensenRon ZimmermanJune 19, 1987 (1987-06-19)
9"Highway to Hard Knocks"Shelley JensenUnknownJune 26, 1987 (1987-06-26)
10"The Hits"Shelley JensenDon ReoJuly 9, 1987 (1987-07-09)
11"Captain Justice"Shelley JensenMarjorie Gross,
Don Reo,
Chris Thompson,
Ron Zimmerman
July 16, 1987 (1987-07-16)
12"Sap Cops"Shelley JensenGeorge BeckermanJuly 30, 1987 (1987-07-30)
13"Hammerhead Is Out"Shelley JensenUnknownAugust 6, 1987 (1987-08-06)

Reception

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Critical reception

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John J. O'Connor of the New York Times called the show "something truly different."[1] The show has also been reviewed in the Spartanburg Herald-Journal as "hard to watch,"[2] and in the Chicago Tribune as having woeful writing, unappealing characters, an infantile premise, and as "making programmers at the three networks look like charter members of Mensa."[3]

Awards and nominations

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Hard Knocks was nominated for a CableACE Award in 1988[4]

Sources

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References

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  1. ^ O'Connor, John (April 20, 1987). "TV Review; 'Hard Knocks,' Sitcom". NYT. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  2. ^ Edelstein, Andrew (April 26, 1987). "'Hard Knocks' is hard to watch". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  3. ^ Terry, Clifford (April 20, 1987). "'Hard Knocks' Doesn't Earn Its Keep For Creative Laughs". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  4. ^ "Hard Knocks (1987– ) Awards". IMDb. Retrieved January 14, 2015.