Customer Reviews

Hardcastle and McCormick

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I can't say enough good things about this book. If you are a fan of Hardcastle & McCormick, or even if you are just a fan of good television and good writing, you must buy this book. It is the COMPLETE guide to everything you've ever wanted to know about an amazing TV series. The book is thoroughly researched with great quotes from all involved, including Stephen Cannell and Daniel Hugh Kelly (who played McCormick). There are interesting trivia bits in the book that even I didn't know, and I have been a fan of the show since it first aired back in 1983. H&M fans have been waiting a long time for this show to be recognized as the gem it was, and now we finally have a fabulous book to celebrate its greatness. Buy it! You won't be disappointed. And if you aren't familiar with the show, buy the DVD's too!

The full title is Hardcastle & McCormick - A Complete Viewer's Guide to the Classic Eighties Action Series by Deb Ohlin, Cheri deFonteny, and Lynn Walker.

I've always been a huge fan of this series, a wonderful male bonding series that really worked. So many times actors are put together on a series and forced to act like buddies. It never really works unless there is some love or respect between the characters. You had that elusive chemistry between Brian Keith and Daniel Hugh Kelly as well as great love and respect. It showed on the air and the fans fell in love with them both, even those who weren't already fans of Brian's Family Affair days or Danny's stint as Frank Ryan on the soap Ryan's Hope.

This book, written by three real fans, is a great guide to the series and should be the standard to which all series' guidebooks should aspire to. They begin with a fantastic detailed view of each and every episode, with context and trivia as well as favorite quotes. These are not a simple synopsis. We're talking detailed and, sometimes funny, blow-by-blow descriptions.

This is followed by chapters on the men and women behind the scenes, the creators, writers, directors, and producers. Some of the best talents in Hollywood began with this series and with Stephen J. Cannell. Other chapters go into the various characters that visit this world, the running themes and Hardcastle's view of the world, the Coyote(s) and even more.

Truly, you should go to your nearest bookstore and demand they order this book. It can also be found at Amazon.com and from the publishing company itself (BeamManorMedia.com). Relieve the love, enjoy the trivia, and give homage to one of the best actors of his time, Brian Keith.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I was interviewed for this book as a long-time fan. While that might make me more enthusiastic, the truth is that I would love this book even without that.

Just got my copy today. So happy!! What a fantastic book. It's hard to believe that just over 3 years ago us fans were originally told that H&M would never be released on DVD. (We only ever got the first series/season shown here in the U.K way back in '83, then nothing!!) Now here we are, 3 years later and not only are all 3 seasons available to buy as official DVD sets but we also have this superb book.

So many wonderful facts and trivia on the show. The book must have been a real labour of love to work on. There is so much info within the book it'll keep me busy for weeks!! Will probably need to get a second copy as this one will probably get 'dog eared' real quick. Daniel Hugh Kelly has also contributed with his various stories. I'm off now for a read. Now you're cookin!! Congratulations to all concerned.

The other reviews of this book already mention how good, complete, and thorough this book is as a history of this great TV series - so I guess I'll say it again! This is a very good, complete, thorough, interesting, well-written book, and tells you absolutely everything you might want to know about one of the best (and under-rated, and under-appreciated) TV shows from the 1980s! This wasn't just a show about a fancy sports car - it was one of the best "buddy" shows ever made, by the always capable and clever guys behind "The Rockford Files" and other TV shows. But it had some of the great car chases in TV history too! And the three authors are "experts" in their field - they've been part of a Hardcastle & McCormick fan website for many years. And let me tell you, they know their stuff! This book is well worth the price for any Hardcastle & McCormick fan, and is highly recommended! Go out and buy the DVDs of this terrific show, and then get the book, Kemo Sabe! You won't be sorry!

In the last several years a few books have been released about some of my tv favorites. With most of those titles I have been very disappointed, in some cases the book was nothing but a rehash of 20 year old magazine articles and tv interviews, and in one case I highly doubt if the author even WATCHED the series he was writing about since the work was riddled with so much misinformation and errors. If I was a fan of a show in the 80's I collected EVERYTHING about the series. I don't need a rehash of old written material between a new cover. I'm happy to say the new book covering Hardcastle and McCormick is NOT like that! The authors have painstakenly covered ground over the entire show with an episode guide, cast and crew info and more. Thats not to mention a GREAT chapter on the Coyote for you car buffs. Its obvious the authors love the show, and that can be seen in the writing. So if you are a fan of Hardcastle and McCormick pick it up! If you know someone who is a fan, grab a copy for them as a present.

As the title implies, this is a complete viewer's guide to "Hardcastle and McCormick," the 1983-86 ABC action/adventure series starring Brian Keith as Judge Milton C. Hardcastle and Daniel Hugh-Kelly as ex-con and racecar driver Mark "Skid" McCormick. I just got my copy today, and I did some light browsing, and the quality of this book is outstanding. For a series that only lasted 3 seasons and 66-67 outings (depending upon whether you count "Rolling Thunder" [the pilot] as one or two outings), the people who wrote this book (Deb Ohlin, Cheri DeFonteny, and Lynn Walker) went all out. The book has a massive episode section, explaining each outing in very exhaustive detail, with quotes, cast notes, and screencaps to boot (warning: the episode listings may contain spoilers for those who have not seen the episodes). This is not the only outstanding thing, though. Here's what else this wonderful and very well-researched book has:

--An analysis on what kind of ratings "Hardcastle" got on ABC compared to what it ran against on NBC and CBS (then, there were only 3 major networks; no FOX, UPN, WB or CW).

--Sections on the Coyote and the stunts and action sequences

--A chapter concerning the theme song and title sequence

--Modus operandi, including the "Hardcastle worldview"

--A chapter on the cops and lieutenants, plus family and friends

--A few odds and ends that lay about, such as a few TV Guide ads, a publicity sheet from Paramount concerning the pilot, and more

--Info on where the series stars are now

--Episode titles in English, German, and French

--"Behind the scenes" details

and more.

All told, when you add it all up, you come out with a book that has no peer when it comes to television reference books and companions. If you are a "Hardcastle" fan, you owe it to yourself to purchase this outstanding volume, and the DVD releases as well (if you haven't gotten them).

Thanks, of course, to Deb Ohlin, Cheri DeFonteny, and Lynn Walker for writing this magnificent tome. One of these days, I hope that a "Riptide" book of just as unequalled quality will be written for the fans of that NBC series.

As an avid fan of the series since it first aired, I thought I knew everything there was to know about Hardcastle and McCormick. I was wrong!! This book is so chock jam full of wonderful tidbits and details that it something every fan of the show should have.

I love the fact that it was written by three fans of the show (for who better to know what the rest of us want?) but the writing is fully professional. The section on the episodes themselves give you more than an overview, it leaves you feeling as if you watched the episode, with screencaps, trivia and memorable quotes, along with information on the the actors who guested.

They don't leave it at that, however. There's plenty of background on how the show got started, chapters on the characters, behind the scenes info, action and stunt trivia, even a chapter on the Coyote itself! It's followed up with a "Where are they now?" section, plus tons of other little odds and ends.

All of this comes together to make one fantastic book, and it's well worth every penny! Every H&M fan should have one!

A must-have for any Hardcastle and McCormick fan! It's obvious that the authors have a deep love and respect for every aspect of this classic '80's action/drama. Well written and easy to use, this handbook is so much more than just a list of facts and a few behind the scenes pictures. This book contains everything you ever wanted to know about every little aspect of this television series. Don't just sit there--go buy your copy! Now yer cookin'!!!