Battle of the 80's Crimefighters: The Last Hurrah

It's all come down to three shows, two of which square off now to face MacGyver.

Hardcastle and McCormick vs. Crime Story

In retrospect, I should have waited a year to do this tournament as it will be a productive year for DVD viewings of several of the crimefighter series that I haven't seen much or anything from since they aired originally. Two such series are Hardcastle and McCormick and Crime Story, both of which I loved as a child of the 80's and have every expectation of loving again watching as an adult. But which will I like better? Tough call, as the atmosphere and grit of Crime Story will almost certainly rein me in as they did back in the day, while the buddy chemistry of Hardcastle and McCormick will almost certainly do the same. While Crime Story was probably a larger innovator within the medium, H & M was more fun. And that's ultimately what made 80's crimefighter shows so enjoyable. The ones done well were almost always fun. For that reason, Hardcastle and McCormick makes it through another round.

Now, for the grand finale.....

MacGyver vs. Hardcastle and McCormick

It all boils down to two action series that premiered Sunday nights on ABC. Hardcastle and McCormick premiered in September 1983, and MacGyver premiered September 1985. And interestingly enough, H & M ended its run in July 1986 on Wednesday nights at 9/8 central following.....MacGyver at 8/7 central. Neither show was ever a major hit for the network, and both found their momentum sucked away when broadcast in the Monday death slot either before or after Monday Night Football, but both kept the network afloat during a period of serious audience erosion for ABC that began in 1984 and didn't really stabilize until 1989.

Contentwise, both series were fun and imaginative, rising to the occasion with a suitable blend of action, drama, and comedy. Hardcastle could have easily ran another season or two without losing its edge, but found itself having lost a good quarter of its audience from its first season at the end of its three-season run, and ABC decided it was time to pull the plug. MacGyver, on the other hand, had a stable but middling audience that stuck with the show for seven seasons....probably one season too many in retrospect. Much as I enjoy both programs, it's no contest for me to crown MacGyver the king of the 80's crimefighters. The inventive secret agent always wowed us with his off-the-cuff creations that saved the day, and the writers masterfully walked the tightrope of doing a series that appealed to all age groups. I knew 7-year-old boys, 85-year-old grannies, and every age group in between who loved the series, featuring a positive role model for young people and intelligent enough stories to capture the interest of adults. The maturation process of MacGyver should be held up as a model for every other crimefighter series seeking a long run, as the series consistently diversified its story portfolio to keep from becoming stale, keeping viewers tuned in week after week for seven years, longer than most of the 80's crimefighter series that were big hits but did not diversify and mature when the times called for it.

By every measurable criteria, MacGyver wins this tournament....and I shall reward the series by watching it in its entirety this summer on DVD.