Hunter was a police drama television series starring Fred Dryer which ran on NBC from 1984 to 1991. The titular character, Rick Hunter, was a wily, physically imposing and oftentimes rule-breaking homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. Created by Frank Lupo , the show in its early episodes played as television's answer to Dirty Harry.

Initially placed in a Friday-night slot against the then-popular Dallas, the show struggled to find an audience and drew criticism for its often graphic depiction of violence. In the first season, the producers sought to create a hook by giving the main character a catchphrase, "Works for me", which was sometimes used several times an episode and was even tacked on to the end of Mike Post and Pete Carpenter 's opening theme music. Several early episodes featured narrative montages set to popular songs from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Executive producer Stephen J. Cannell persuaded network chief Brandon Tartikoff to persevere with the show despite the first season's joint 79th place finish in the Nielsen Ratings. For its second season, Hunter was given a Saturday night slot. Cannell brought in his mentor, Roy Huggins , best known for his work on Maverick and The Rockford Files, to overhaul the show. As the new executive producer, Huggins toned down the violence, softened the main character's fractious relationship with his superiors, dropped a backstory concerning Hunter's family ties to the mob, and played up the chemistry between Rick Hunter and his female partner, Dee Dee McCall, portrayed by Stepfanie Kramer . Huggins also moved the show's setting out of the back streets and into the more desirable areas of Los Angeles.

Viewers responded to the changes, and the show went on to become a mainstay of NBC's Saturday night schedule.

External links

• The Wonderful World of Hunter