AllMovie

The droll Stephen J. Cannell-produced superhero parody Greatest American Hero began its two-year network run with this two-hour pilot film on March 18, 1981. William Katt stars as Ralph Hinkley, a mild-mannered schoolteacher who happens to be in the proximity of an alien spaceship landing. Also witnessing the event is G-man Bill Maxwell, played by Robert Culp. The aliens entrust Hinkley with a magic flying suit, instructing him to use this wonderful garment as a means of fighting evil. Alas, Hinkley loses the user's manual for the suit almost immediately, which puts a crimp in Maxwell's plans to thwart an assassination. Connie Sellecca co-stars as Ralph's lady friend Pamela Davidson. Katt, Culp and Selleca were all retained for the Greatest American Hero series proper, though Katt's character name was changed to "Hanley" after John Hinckley's assassination attempt on President Reagan.