''Hooperman'' is an American

comedy-drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...

television series that aired on

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting * Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...

from September 23, 1987, to July 19, 1989. The show centered on the professional and personal life of

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

police Inspector Harry Hooperman, played by

John Ritter Johnathan Southworth Ritter (September 17, 1948 – September 11, 2003) was an American comedian and actor. He was a son of the singing cowboy star Tex Ritter and the father of actors Jason Ritter, Jason and Tyler Ritter. He is best known for ...

. The series was created by

Steven Bochco Steven Ronald Bochco (December 16, 1943 – April 1, 2018) was an American television writer and producer. He developed a number of television series, mostly crime dramas, including '' Hill Street Blues''; ''L.A. Law''; '' Doogie Howser, M.D.''; ...

and

Terry Louise Fisher Terry Louise Fisher (February 21, 1946 – June 10, 2025) was an American television screenwriter and producer. During her career, she won three Primetime Emmy Awards from seven nominations. Early career Fisher was born in Chicago, Illinois and ...

, who were the team responsible for creating ''

L.A. Law ''L.A. Law'' is an American legal drama television series created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher for NBC. It ran for eight seasons and List of L.A. Law episodes, 172 episodes from September 15, 1986, to May 19, 1994. The series cente ...

''. Though not the first comedy drama, ''Hooperman'' was considered the vanguard of a new television genre when it premiered, and critics coined the term "

dramedy Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...

" to describe it.

Synopsis

Ritter plays San Francisco police Inspector Harry Hooperman. In the first episode, Hooperman inherits the rundown apartment building he lives in when his elderly landlady is killed in a robbery. He also inherits her temperamental pet Jack Russell terrier named Bijoux. Due to the demands of his job as a police officer, he hires Susan Smith (played by

Debrah Farentino Debrah Farentino (born Deborah Mullowney) is an American actress, producer, and journalist. She began her career starring in the CBS daytime soap opera '' Capitol'' from 1982 to 1987, before moving to prime time with a female leading role in the ...

) to be the building manager, and the pair become romantically involved throughout the first season. Also starring on the show was Alix Elias as the cheerful and bubbly police dispatcher, Betty Bushkin;

Barbara Bosson Barbara Bosson (November 1, 1939 – February 18, 2023) was an American actress and writer. She is best known for her roles in the television series ''Hill Street Blues'' (1981–1986) and '' Murder One'' (1995–1997), for both of which she rece ...

was Hooperman's divorced superior, Capt. Celeste "C.Z." Stern; Felton Perry as Harry's partner, Inspector Clarence McNeil; Clarence Felder as redneck inspector Boris "Bobo" Pritzger; Joseph Gian as Rick Silardi, a gay cop, and

Sydney Walsh Sydney Walsh (born in June 6, 1961) is an American actress. She starred in the television series '' Hooperman''. Early life and education Sydney Walsh was born in New York City in 1961. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and theat ...

as officer Maureen "Mo" DeMott, his patrol partner who was intent on "saving" him from being gay by making unwanted passes.

Dan Lauria Daniel Joseph Lauria (born April 12, 1947) is an American actor, who played the role of Jack Arnold in ''The Wonder Years'' (1988–1993), Jack Sullivan on '' Sullivan and Son'' (2012–2014), and Al Luongo on '' Pitch'' (2016–2017). Early l ...

played Celeste's former husband, Lou Stern. The theme music was composed by

Mike Post Mike Post (born Leland Michael Postil; September 29, 1944) is an American composer, best known for his television theme music for various shows, including '' The White Shadow''; ''Law & Order''; '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit''; ''The A-Tea ...

. Guest stars in the series' 42-episode run included:

Don Cheadle Donald Frank Cheadle Jr. (, ; born November 29, 1964) is an American actor. Known for his roles in film and television, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Don Cheadle, multiple accolades including two Golden Globe Award ...

Kim Delaney Kim Delaney (born November 29, 1961) is an American actress known for her starring role as Detective Diane Russell on the ABC drama television series ''NYPD Blue'', for which she won an Emmy Award. Early in her career, she played the role of ...

Dennis Dugan Dennis Barton Dugan (; born September 5, 1946) is an American film director, actor, and comedian. He is known for directing the films ''Problem Child (film), Problem Child'', ''Brain Donors'', ''Beverly Hills Ninja'' and ''National Security (20 ...

Norman Fell Norman Fell (born Norman Noah Feld; March 24, 1924 – December 14, 1998) was an American actor of film and television, most famous for his role as landlord Mr. Roper on the sitcom '' Three's Company'' and its spin-off, '' The Ropers'', and his ...

(who worked with Ritter on '' The Stone Killer'' and ''

Three's Company ''Three's Company'' is an American television sitcom that aired for eight seasons on ABC from March 15, 1977, to September 18, 1984. Developed by Don Nicholl, Michael Ross and Bernie West, it is based on the British sitcom '' Man About the ...

''),

Miguel Ferrer Miguel José Ferrer (February 7, 1955 – January 19, 2017) was an American actor. His breakthrough role was as Bob Morton in the 1987 film ''RoboCop''. Other film roles include Harbinger in '' Hot Shots! Part Deux'' (1993), Quigley in '' Blank ...

Jack Gilford Jack Gilford (born Jacob Aaron Gellman; July 25, 1908 – June 4, 1990) was an American Broadway, film, and television actor. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for '' Save the Tiger'' (1973). Early life and ...

Mark Hamill Mark Richard Hamill (; born September 25, 1951) is an American actor. He is best known for starring as Luke Skywalker in the ''Star Wars'' franchise, and the Joker (character), Joker in various animated DC Comics projects, starting with ''Batm ...

Joanna Kerns Joanna Kerns is an American actress and director best known for her role as Maggie Seaver on the ABC sitcom ''Growing Pains'' from 1985 to 1992. Early life Kerns was born Joanna Crussie DeVarona in San Francisco, California. Her older sister ...

(who did a guest spot on ''Three's Company''),

Richard Kind Richard Bruce Kind (born November 22, 1956) is an American actor and comedian. His television roles include '' Carol & Company'' (1990–1991), Dr. Mark Devanow in '' Mad About You'' (1992–1999, 2019), Paul Lassiter in '' Spin City'' (1996–20 ...

Jane Leeves Jane Elizabeth Leeves (born 18 April 1961) is an English actress, best known for her role as Daphne Moon on the NBC sitcom '' Frasier'' (1993–2004), for which she was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comed ...

Lorna Luft Lorna Luft (born November 21, 1952) is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of Judy Garland and Sidney Luft, the sister of Joey Luft and the half-sister of Liza Minnelli. Early life Luft was born on November 21, 1952, at Saint Jo ...

David Paymer David Emmanuel Paymer (born August 30, 1954) is an American actor and television director. He has been in films such as '' Mr. Saturday Night'', '' Quiz Show'', '' Searching for Bobby Fischer'', ''City Slickers'', '' Crazy People'', '' State an ...

Barbara Rush Barbara Rush (January 4, 1927 – March 31, 2024) was an American actress of stage, screen, and television. In 1954, she won the Golden Globe Award for most promising female newcomer for her role in the 1953 American science-fiction film ''It ...

, and

Shannon Tweed Shannon Lee Tweed Simmons (born March 10, 1957) is a Canadian model and actress. One of the most successful actresses of mainstream erotica, she is identified with the genre of the erotic thriller cinema. Tweed has appeared in more than 60 film ...

. Except for a brief syndicated run on the

FX Network FX (originally/formerly Fox Extended) is an American pay television channel owned by FX Networks, a division of the Disney Entertainment business segment of the Walt Disney Company. Based at the Fox Studios lot in Century City, Los Angeles, F ...

in the mid 1990s, and the pilot rebroadcast on

TV Land TV Land is an American pay television channel owned by Paramount Global through its networks division's MTV Entertainment Group. It was originally launched as Nick at Nite’s TV Land as a spinoff of Nick at Nite programing block consisting e ...

in 2003 following Ritter's death, the series has not been repeated.

Episodes

Series overview

Season 1 (1987–88)

Season 2 (1988–89)

Home media

On January 24, 2017, Olive Films released both seasons on DVD in Region 1.

Awards and nominations

The pilot episode won the 1988 Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series.

References

External links

* {{Steven Bochco 1987 American television series debuts 1989 American television series endings 1980s American comedy-drama television series 1980s American crime drama television series 1980s American LGBTQ-related comedy television series 1980s American LGBTQ-related drama television series American Broadcasting Company comedy-dramas 1980s American police comedy television series American English-language television shows Television series by 20th Century Fox Television Television shows set in San Francisco Television series created by Steven Bochco