Sledge Hammer! Season One

Reviewed by:
Paul Ulane

Detective Sledge Hammer (David Rasche) was terrorizing criminals for ratings long before it occurred to the mentally deranged cops on Reno 911! or the mentally deranged executives at Fox. The late-'80s Dirty Harry spoof follows a law enforcement official who delivers pep talks to his trusty .44 Magnum and despises nonviolent conflict resolution. Amazingly, the show's brutal assault of nonstop gags still holds up on its first-ever DVD release. And while the extras may not be completely up to date, there are still plenty for diehards. Mile-a-minute commentary on four episodes with show creator Alan Spencer provides credits-to-credits information. More from Spencer includes a two-minute tongue-in-cheek audio track for critics that was sent before the show first aired, complete with mock pleas to watch his show despite it being up against heavyweights Miami Vice and Dallas. A 16-page booklet is stuffed full of Sledge facts and history, and the "Go Ahead, Make Me Laugh" featurette is one final lighthearted stroll down memory lane with the cast and the creator…until you realize that none of these people have gotten work since.