Shark Bytes

I love this show, and it never jumped the shark. I say it went out on top or pretty close. I think it had a original plot line. Kinght Rider was different he helped people who could not get help from the law. And if it was not for Kitt, he would of never made it past the first couple of episodes. Regardless, if you look at all the shows in history they all have parts or characteristics from others. It was always them fighting against criminals, wheter they were let off on technicalities or friends who were in trouble.

this show never jumped... and to those who say the theme caused it to jump... the viewers did write in complaining about the theme, and cannall actually changed the theme back to "Drive" for the second half of season 2 and the entire run of seasno 3... i know i have all 3 seasons on DVD thanks to Canada's VEI

"Hardcastle?" I think his name shoulda been hardBOD... let's face it, Brian keith was one sexy devil with rippling muscles-- even at ths advanced age. As was often the case in Family Affair, on this show Brian's massive barrel chest and worked-out biceps were frequently in evidence-- whether in torn, denim muscle shirts or tight, muscle-hugging knit sport shirts... oh, and the tatoo on his left arm. WOW! That craggy voice, strong jawline , bulging muscles always made for hot viewing as far as I was concerned, Anyone interested in seeing MORE of Brian Keith, get your hands on WITH SIX YOU GET EGGROLL, a Doris Day romp from late '60s-- where you get to see Brian shirtless for several minutes. He trained his bod for many years with LA body legend, Vince Grionda-- and it sure shows. You can tell the way he holds himself, strokes his hand over his chest, etc, that we was proud (with good reason) of his body-of-work. WOOF, as they say. I understand that Brian is getting a star on the Hollywood walk of fame in summer '08. Long overdue!! Sad that this strong, powerful, handsome, sexy actor was forced to end his own life-- but his legacy lives on. Let's hear it for the hunk!

Was an OK formula show a.k.a.high concept program.It was improbable,fluffy with a shot of then rival and contemporary Knight Rider while still keeping the law-cop thing in place.Not superior but good escapism.

The show never really Jumped the Shark -- it was just that you couldn't find it. I remember reading the ratings for the pilot, which was in first place with a 43 percent share of the audience, then the second episode which pulled a 33 and the third one which pulled a 23! Talk about network executives getting the willies! Anyway, ABC moved the show to Monday nights in the sprint of 1985 and changed the theme song (listen to it; it's AWFUL). Brian Keith was really ticked off at the change, because it led into Monday Night Football on the East Coast, when viewers were getting their beers and snacks and not watching ABC, and airing AFTER MNF on the West Coast, at whatever time the game went off the air -- almost always in the middle of a half hour, so viewers who wanted to catch it either had to stay around after MNF (who did?) or abandon Kate and Allie or Newhart or the NBC movie in the middle of the show, which is even less plausible. The original theme returned (with some modifications) for the third season, but that was the one where it really took the MNF kick in the groin and never recovered, going off the air at the end of the season. The idea of vigilante justice may have put off some viewers and pushed the writers to do variations on the theme in a hurry (such as H and Mc going after vigilante judges who just killed the people who got off, or going after the murder of a prison lifer who had erased his computer records). Not a bad show, but definitely not a classic by Cannell standards.

The episode where anybody and everybody are after some leprachaun's gold which happens to be on Hardcastle's property, also was on a Christmas episode of Bonanza when it was a popular Sunday night show, back in the 60's

Jumped at the start of the second season when they caved to the letter writers upset about the 'demon that drives your dreams' line and wussed up the theme song.

ok show but too many car crashes. sj cannel trademark

The leprachaun episode where anybody and everybody are after some leprachaun's gold which happens to be on Hardcastle's property. Other than this episode the show was a blast.What made this show a hit was the bickering between Mcormick and Hardcastle.If ANY show was copied it was the Odd Couple

HARDCASTLE AND MCCORMICK was a brainless but enjoyable crime drama on ABC that benefited from the undeniable chemistry of the late Brian Keith and the always charming Daniel Hugh-Kelly. Decent writing and some fun stunts made this show a more than decent way to kill an hour. No, this one never jumped the shark.

Never jumped. In fact, to correct a few previous posts -- this show placed in the Nielsen Top Ten after being cancelled by ABC because of the expense of having a second unit just for the car chases. As to the "Knight Rider" rip-off theory, H&McC went in to production shortly after "Knight Rider" went on the air; there was no time for a concept to be copied. As to "The Fall Guy" -- wasn't that show about a bail bondsman, not a jurist? H&McC was produced by Stephen Cannell (who also did Rockford, A-Team, etc.) and he can hardly be accused of plagiary. This particular show Never Jumped and would have been on several more seasons without the car chases and crashes that so enthrall the juvenile.

This show was the best. Fast cars, catching crooks, and 2 great theme songs (Drive and Back To Back) They just don't make TV like that anymore. I so wanted to get the "COYOTE 1" personalized plate on my car when I turned 16, but it just wasn't going to work on a Ford Tempo.

I agree that the show could be considered a Knight Rider ripoff. I thought the show also stole a concept from the Fall Guy. Colt Seavers was a character who went after people who got out of court cases on technicalities, just like Hardcastle.

Never!! maybe I am just a lil too close to it lol. My father owned Bears racing enterprises in Beaumont Texas that specialized in import hot rods etc. they built eleven 200 plus horse air cooled vw motors for the coyote. The one that was for the really high speed tricks was a coyote with a modified suspension and a souped 350 small block with a gm transaxle in it for rear engine drive. I got to ride in the bad boy and i must say i fell in love with the car. they had around a dozen of the coyotes for different stuff. ones for jumps etc with the bare essentials the mod vws for regular driving and the hot 350 for burnouts racing the streets etc. I got some cool pics of the car

I used to love this show. When I go out to the bars now and pick up chicks, I tell them my name is Lance Hardcastle (I know his name wasn't Lance, but you have to admit that's a great name)and I'm an ex-model for the Burlington Coat Factory. It's a good ice breaker and with a name like that, you'll always get at least one glance at your crotch, especially if your wearing nuthuggers!!