MovieChat Forums > Sledge Hammer! (1986) Discussion > Anybody dissapointed with Season 2??

Anybody dissapointed with Season 2??

posted 16 years ago by taimur_yk
14 replies | jump to latest

So I watched the first season of Sledge Hammer a few weeks ago and I thought it was one of the funniest things I've ever seen.The show maintains a high standard throughout and never falters.

However,I recently watched the first six episodes of Season 2 and so far I have to say that I'm pretty dissapointed.It doesn't really hold up to the high quality of the first season-I mean there are a few good lines here and there but it's no where near as consistently funny as the first season and the jokes are starting to become a little predictable.Maybe,my expectations are a bit too high but Season 2 is starting to feel a little stale.

I'm not that saying that season 2 is bad or anything-it's just nowhere near as good as season1 (which I personally thought was terrific)

So what are your opinions on Season 2 and how do you think it compares to the first season?

[–] Littlebitsofgaming 16 years ago

They had the budget cut for season 2(by a HUGE ammount too).
But I still enjoyed it. Yes I do prefer the first season...but 2 does have some GREAT episodes.

God didn't create man, man created God

[–] okedjtj 16 years ago

Absolutely. Season 2 was a GROSSLY inferior product.

In fact, the show jumped the shark just seconds into the season premiere.

Season 1 had ended with Hammer accidentally nuking the entire city (the show's writers anticipating an inevitable cancellation, which didn't happen).
Then they opened Season 2 with a disclaimer: "the following season of "Sledge Hammer!" takes place 5 years before that explosion."

That killed it for me.

In addition, ABC had the show revamped & toned down for Season 2 because:
1) "Sledge" had been rated as the most violent show on TV.
2) ABC failed to realize that it was the crappy timeslots (vs. Dallas/Miami Vice, then Cosby) that were to blame for the poor ratings as opposed to the show's content.
Roy Biggins: "I was so good I screamed out my OWN name!"

[–] Doom 16 years ago

While I don't think Season 2 is as good as Season 1, to me it (Season 2) still contains some of the best episodes the show produced. Icebreaker, for one, is a GREAT ep.

------

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[–] Littlebitsofgaming 12 years ago

Season 1 had ended with Hammer accidentally nuking the entire city (the show's writers anticipating an inevitable cancellation, which didn't happen).
Then they opened Season 2 with a disclaimer: "the following season of "Sledge Hammer!" takes place 5 years before that explosion."

That killed it for me.

I liked it.
I thought it was a clever idea...back then.
Now "prequels" are everywhere, but then they were unheard of. So on paper it was a unique and clever idea. Plus it also meant Alan actually got one over on the producers who (it' claimed) said he could have a 2nd season if he had a way out.

But it does raise a valid question.
If season 2 is set 5 years before season 1..why are Dori and Sledge working together when they meet for the first time in the first episode of season 1?

Still it is a shame the show was mistreated with a cut in budget and crappy time slots as I feel given a decent production, the series could have gone for more seasons and gotten better.

Sledge was such a great character (all the main ones were) that died way too early.

And so, God came forth and proclaimed widescreen is the best.
Sony 16:9

[–] RobBase086-1 16 years ago

I loved watching Sledge Hammer and wondered as to why they got rid of it on ABC! This was far better than a lot of shows that they were showing at the time when Sledge Hammer was on.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans of the show! www.deefilmroll.com/usa-uan/

[–] lorddeseiz 12 years ago

They use alot of jokes in season 2, only slightly different, but, most of them better. So you could get a feel of repetition because of it.
One i can think of is when he is driving his car and theres some classical music playing, its done twice, last time hes rhyming on it, mimicing explosions, i think its the episode with the satanists.
But if you watch both seasons you can find more jokes returning, but in second they useually done better. Second season lacks depth in the stories imho.

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[–] w22nuschler 12 years ago

I have just started watching the series again and will give my opinions after I watch them all. Seeing Doreau in a bikini and tight clothes in the second season episode called Model Dearest was very memorable for me and I loved it. I have a DVD player that can play the bikini scene in a loop and that gives me a lot of pleasure.

[–] ShadowAngelx 11 years ago

I don't mind the 5 years earlier thing, the producers made a mistake with the last episode of season 1 being so final but otherwise, just ignore that one scene and go on with it.

I think it can be compared to Season 2 of Parker Lewis can't Lose: Same Team just a bit more toned-down in style to attract more casual viewers but overall it was still really good.
(I'm glad Sledge Hammer didn't get a third Season like Parker Lewis, you know, something completely different that just sucked)

Still, i don't know why this show got such bad ratings. It's fun, enjoyable, the actors are likeable. I know it first competed against Dallas and Miami Vice and in Season 2 against The Cosby Show (it baffles me to this day that the Cosby Show was so successful, it's not that funny or well written, yet it ran for years and years) but still, how can a great show be that unsuccessful and unpopular, yet attract a big fan crowd 20 years later?

[–] Littlebitsofgaming 11 years ago

Still, i don't know why this show got such bad ratings.

The stories why are quite infamous.
They kept changing the time slot and days it would air.

So let's say you watched it 9 PM on Thursday and wanted to see the next one...you had no idea when it would be on and the day and time would change.

Plus they put the show up against The Cosby Show(like it or not), which was the biggest viewed show at the time. Only one show in the history of TV had ever beaten "The Cos", and that was The Simpsons...and that was not too often The Simpsons won either.

how can a great show be that unsuccessful and unpopular, yet attract a big fan crowd 20 years later?

You have to take into account that watching TV has changed over the years.
Again, going up against "The Cos" was viewing figures suicide. You really did only watch one show or the other...and The Cosby Show was THE show to watch then.
It does not matter how good a TV show is, if it does not get a good slot...people will not see it.

I'm from the UK, we got the show in the early 90's for the first time...and then they would only show it at stupid times like 2AM.
They did try to air it at a more reasonable time later around 6PM...up against The Simpsons.
Even here in the UK, Sledge just had crappy time slots.

Now people have more choice and with the advent of TV shows being released for home viewing (something that did not exist back then), people are now getting to watch Sledge Hammer!

And so, God came forth and proclaimed widescreen is the best.
Sony 16:9

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] The_Real_Celsus 11 years ago

I remember catching an episode at 2am once. That was the last time I was it for many many years until I got a couple cheap ones on ebay, and then the guy at tvshowsondvd gave me a heads up that they were going to release this set. The commentary makes it very worth while.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] marchodge 10 years ago

I'm a massive Sledge fan, heck my vhs tapes were used to make the dvd's so why have all my comments on various subjects on here been deleted by someone??

Anyway yes Season 2 no where near as good as season 1, Icebreaker and the last episode only ones that get close, I imagine the rush and big cut in budget main reasons..Season 1 is perfection, pure genius!

[–] Trioxin_Zombie 10 years ago

Season two has a few continuity errors. Dori had never met Sledge before S1E1. And yet S2 is a prequel and she's known him for a long time. Hmm... yeah right. That alone is enough to derail the credibility of season two's partnership thing between the two of them. That being said. Season two has some good episodes. It is still funny. Just not "very" funny like season one. S1 is like 10/10. S2 is like 8/10.

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