In the 1970s and early 1980s, superhero TV shows were incredibly popular. The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman were two of the biggest TV shows on television, and various comic book heroes were adapted into their own TV shows, including Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman and the Bill Bixby-Lou Ferrigno adaptation of The Incredible Hulk. By the early 1980s, as most of these shows left the air or were about to be canceled, a new superhero TV series premiered: The Greatest American Hero.
This series was a satire of the superhero genre, and it centered around Ralph Hinkley, portrayed by William Katt, a school teacher who gets a super-suit from aliens and struggles to figure out how to use it, since he lost the instruction book. Helping him is FBI agent Bill Maxwell, played by Robert Culp, and his attorney girlfriend Pam Davidson, portrayed by Connie Sellecca. With the help of the famous theme song, "Believe It Or Not," this series became a cult hit and a favorite among sci-fi and superhero fans growing up in the 1980s. Here are 10 of the very best episodes according to their IMDb score.
Who's Woo In America (Season 2, Episode 21) - 7.6
Ralph's mother arrives and announces her engagement. Her husband-to-be is much younger, around the same age as Ralph. Ralph soon discovers this man has a shady past, and he must come to the rescue to make sure his mother is safe.
This episode allows the audience to learn more about Ralph's personal life and his relationship with other family members. His mother is actually portrayed by William Katt's real mother, Barbara Hale, best known for her long-running role of Della Street in the original Perry Mason TV series.
The Beast In The Black (Season 2, Episode 6) - 7.6
Ralph arrives at a creepy old house where a wall crosses him over to another dimension. In this dimension, however, his special suit does not work. After Bill is possessed by the spirit of a woman haunting the house, Ralph must figure out what to do, knowing he cannot solely rely on the suit to get the job done.
This is a unique episode, and it definitely stands out in the series. It is one of the most fondly remembered episodes, and the atmosphere of the house truly makes it a scary favorite.
Divorce, Venusian Style (Season 3, Episode 1) - 7.7
In this final season premiere, Bill and Ralph have a major fight, and Ralph quits the superhero business. When Ralph is shot by a gang of neo-Nazis, the aliens who gave him the special suit bring Ralph and Bill on their spaceship in order to heal Ralph and talk about how important Ralph and Bill's work is to the planet.
It is great to see the spaceship again after so long, and this episode a nice callback to the pilot movie that started it all.
There's Just No Accounting... (Season 2, Episode 18) - 7.8
During one of Ralph's heroic acts, a satchel of ransom money to help save a kidnapped girl ends up in his very own living room just as he receives a visit from the IRS.
The comedic episode is all about the lies and deception between Ralph, Bill, and Pam as the IRS harasses Ralph about the money. It is a simple idea, but the performances and jokes make this episode's comedy work and become a favorite in the series.
Captain Bellybuster And The Speed Factory (Season 2, Episode 20) - 7.8
Captain Bellybuster is the icon for a hamburger chain, and the man who portrays him discovers its stores are used for drug dealers. Ralph is called in to help with the case, creating the scenario of a real-life superhero teaming up with the fictional one.
The chemistry between William Katt and the guest star portraying Captain Bellybuster is special, and their dynamic duo quality in this episode makes this episode stand out in the series.
Live At Eleven (Season 3, Episode 7) - 7.8
Ralph and Bill must discover who is behind the attempt to rob Plutonium. While foiling the robbery, Ralph discovers a new ability: he can put thoughts in people's brains and influence their actions.
It is always fun to watch an episode where Ralph discovers a new ability of his. This episode is entertaining from beginning to end and full of comedic gold.
Heaven Is In Your Genes (Season 3, Episode 6) - 7.8
Everyone believes Bill Maxwell is dead. However, when Ralph sees visions of Bill very much alive, Ralph and Pam search for the truth.
This episode is very exciting, with fun action sequences and some of the coolest villains to ever appear on the show. This episode is a highlight purely because of Andre the Giant's performance as the episode's baddie.
The Newlywed Game (Season 3, Episode 5) - 7.8
The U.S. government seems to have found out about Ralph's suit, making Ralph and Pam's wedding day all the more complicated. This is a major highlight of the series.
It is fun to see villains try to use Ralph's suit to their advantage, but the real charm of this episode is finally seeing Ralph and Pam tie the knot after several seasons of lead-up. William Katt and Connie Sellecca have great chemistry together, and their chemistry shines in this episode especially.
Lilacs, Mr. Maxwell (Season 2, Episode 22) - 7.9
Bill convinces Ralph to break into the FBI archives so they can solve some cold cases together. After Bill is labeled a hero, he falls for a KBG assassin tasked to stop him.
This episode is an emotional roller coaster for Bill's character, and it is nice to see an episode with Bill as the star. Fans learn more about him and how love affects him, making this episode a great way to end the season.
My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (Season 1, Episode 6) - 8.0
After a major accident almost occurs while Ralph uses his suit, Ralph decides to stop using it, worrying it would only cause more harm than good. Bill is against this since he desperately needs him to crack a major case.
Ralph meets his childhood hero, the Lone Ranger, and he learns more about what it takes to be a hero. It is a special episode, and it is great seeing Ralph come to terms with his responsibility as a heroic figure. It definitely one of the greatest episodes of the series.