Hardcastle and McCormick
Encyclopedia
Hardcastle and McCormick is a 1980s action
/drama television series from Stephen J. Cannell Productions, shown on ABC
from 1983–1986, starring Brian Keith
as Judge Milton C. Hardcastle and Daniel Hugh Kelly
as ex-con and race car driver Mark "Skid" McCormick.
The show's premise involves the retirement of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Milton C. "Hardcase" Hardcastle. With file drawers filled with 200 criminals who got off on technicalities, he takes a page from his
childhood hero, the Lone Ranger, and makes plans to go after these
criminals. Mark McCormick is a smart-mouthed, streetwise car thief who is looking at hard time for his latest theft, a prototype sports car, called the Coyote X, designed by his murdered best friend. Together they strike a deal: Hardcastle helps Mark catch the murderer; Mark agrees to be released as the Judge's right hand man. In addition, Mark is allowed to keep the Coyote, which proves to be an excellent pursuit vehicle for their needs.
Hardcastle's character was given great credibility in an episode where it was reported on a newscast that he was on the "short list" of judges up for a United States Supreme Court opening/nomination.
, itself a replica based on the McLaren M6GT. The original was molded, modified and assembled by Mike Fennel. The nose, windshield doors and lower body are faithful representations of the McLaren; the cut down rear deck, however, was a custom component, that became a feature on many Montages with damaged or removed rear windows. The most noticeable differences between the Coyotes and Mantas, are the wheel wells, roll pan height and shape and the fact that the Coyote has a one piece front clip that terminates about an inch before and surrounding the windshield. Most of the cars for the show were molded and assembled by either Mike Fennel or Unique Movie Cars. Like many kit cars of the time, the car uses a chassis from a Volkswagen Beetle
and its engine from a Porsche 914
. For the second and third seasons, producers used a different Coyote, which was based on a De Lorean DMC-12
, as Brian Keith had difficulty getting in and out of the original Coyote.
One significant difference in the Season 2 and Season 3 DeLoreans, compared to the Season 1 car, is that the car's appearance does not resemble the Manta, as the front is larger than the original, making the car resemble a front-engined car. A season one car that was used in the production of Hardcastle and McCormick is currently owned by a private owner in southern New Jersey
. The stunt car was reconfigured for the Knight Rider 2000
television pilot, then consequently turned into Jay Ohrberg's show car "Taz-Mobile". In April 2011, the car was sold and shipped to Texas where it will be re-bodied back to its "Coyote" configuration, retaining as many of the original Coyote pieces as possible. A season two car appeared briefly on the sixth episode of season five of Married... with Children
.
and Stephen Geyer
and sung by David Morgan. For the first part of season two, the theme song was "Back to Back", also composed by Post and Geyer but sung by Joey Scarbury
(who also sang Post's theme for The Greatest American Hero
). Public demand, however, resulted in the "Drive" theme being reinstated and kept through season three. Post and Pete Carpenter
scored the music for the series.
Ratings courtesy of TVTango.com's ratings archive
has released all 3 seasons of Hardcastle and McCormick on DVD in Region 1 (Canada only). VEI also released Hardcastle & McCormick: The Complete Series on DVD on September 3, 2008.
It is unknown if Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
will release any seasons of Hardcastle and McCormick in the U.S.
Hardcastle and McCormick Virtual 4th Season
Action genre
The word action has more than one meaning in fiction. Action is one of the fiction-writing modes authors use to present fiction. The term is also used to describe an exiting event or circumstance.-Action as a fiction-writing mode:...
/drama television series from Stephen J. Cannell Productions, shown on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
from 1983–1986, starring Brian Keith
Brian Keith
Brian Keith was an American film, television, and stage actor who in his four decade-long career gained recognition for his work in movies such as the 1961 Disney family film The Parent Trap, the 1966 comedy The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, and the 1975 adventure saga The Wind and...
as Judge Milton C. Hardcastle and Daniel Hugh Kelly
Daniel Hugh Kelly
Daniel Hugh Kelly is an American stage, film and television actor. He may be best known for his role on the 1980s ABC TV series Hardcastle and McCormick from 1983-1986 for which he also wrote and directed...
as ex-con and race car driver Mark "Skid" McCormick.
The show's premise involves the retirement of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Milton C. "Hardcase" Hardcastle. With file drawers filled with 200 criminals who got off on technicalities, he takes a page from his
childhood hero, the Lone Ranger, and makes plans to go after these
criminals. Mark McCormick is a smart-mouthed, streetwise car thief who is looking at hard time for his latest theft, a prototype sports car, called the Coyote X, designed by his murdered best friend. Together they strike a deal: Hardcastle helps Mark catch the murderer; Mark agrees to be released as the Judge's right hand man. In addition, Mark is allowed to keep the Coyote, which proves to be an excellent pursuit vehicle for their needs.
Hardcastle's character was given great credibility in an episode where it was reported on a newscast that he was on the "short list" of judges up for a United States Supreme Court opening/nomination.
Cast
- Brian KeithBrian KeithBrian Keith was an American film, television, and stage actor who in his four decade-long career gained recognition for his work in movies such as the 1961 Disney family film The Parent Trap, the 1966 comedy The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, and the 1975 adventure saga The Wind and...
.... Judge Milton C. "Hardcase" Hardcastle - Daniel Hugh KellyDaniel Hugh KellyDaniel Hugh Kelly is an American stage, film and television actor. He may be best known for his role on the 1980s ABC TV series Hardcastle and McCormick from 1983-1986 for which he also wrote and directed...
.... Mark "Skid" McCormick - Mary JacksonMary JacksonMary Jackson was an American actress. She is best known for the role of the lovelorn "Miss Emily Baldwin" in The Waltons and was the original choice to play "Alice Horton" in Days of our Lives...
.... Sarah Wicks (1983) - John HancockJohn Hancock (actor)John Hancock was an American film and television actor.Born in Hazen, Arkansas, Hancock is possibly best remembered for his role as "Scotty" in the ABC miniseries Roots: The Next Generations...
.... Lt. Michael Delaney (1984–1985) - Joe SantosJoe SantosJoe Santos is an American film and television actor.-Biography:Santos was born Joseph Minieri in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Rose and Joseph Minieri. He began his film acting career in the mid-1960s, appearing in films directed by his cousin, Joseph W...
.... Lt. Frank Harper (1985–1986) - Nate MillerNate MillerNate Miller born August 3, 1963 in Philadelphia, PA, was a professional boxer in the Cruiserweight division.Miller, known as "Mister" Nate Miller, turned pro in 1986 and in 1994 landed a shot at IBF Cruiserweight Title holder Alfred Cole, but lost a decision...
..... Stunt double for Daniel Hugh Kelly, and waiter #1 in episode 12
Coyote X
The car that McCormick drove, the Coyote X, was not built from a Manta Montage kit carKit car
A kit car, also known as a "component car", is an automobile that is available as a set of parts that a manufacturer sells and the buyer then either assembles into a car themselves, or retains a third party to do part or all of the work on their behalf...
, itself a replica based on the McLaren M6GT. The original was molded, modified and assembled by Mike Fennel. The nose, windshield doors and lower body are faithful representations of the McLaren; the cut down rear deck, however, was a custom component, that became a feature on many Montages with damaged or removed rear windows. The most noticeable differences between the Coyotes and Mantas, are the wheel wells, roll pan height and shape and the fact that the Coyote has a one piece front clip that terminates about an inch before and surrounding the windshield. Most of the cars for the show were molded and assembled by either Mike Fennel or Unique Movie Cars. Like many kit cars of the time, the car uses a chassis from a Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
and its engine from a Porsche 914
Porsche 914
The Porsche 914 or VW-Porsche 914 is a mid-engined, targa-topped two-seat roadster designed, manufactured and marketed collaboratively by Volkswagen and Porsche from 1969 to 1976.- Development :...
. For the second and third seasons, producers used a different Coyote, which was based on a De Lorean DMC-12
De Lorean DMC-12
The DeLorean DMC-12 is a sports car originally manufactured in Dunmurry, a suburb west of Belfast, Northern Ireland by John DeLorean's DeLorean Motor Company for the American market in 1981-82. Most commonly known as the DeLorean, it was the only model produced by the company which would go into...
, as Brian Keith had difficulty getting in and out of the original Coyote.
One significant difference in the Season 2 and Season 3 DeLoreans, compared to the Season 1 car, is that the car's appearance does not resemble the Manta, as the front is larger than the original, making the car resemble a front-engined car. A season one car that was used in the production of Hardcastle and McCormick is currently owned by a private owner in southern New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. The stunt car was reconfigured for the Knight Rider 2000
Knight Rider 2000
Knight Rider 2000 is a 1991 sequel movie to the television series Knight Rider. It is included in the Region 1, Region 2 and Region 4 versions of the Knight Rider Season One box set/...
television pilot, then consequently turned into Jay Ohrberg's show car "Taz-Mobile". In April 2011, the car was sold and shipped to Texas where it will be re-bodied back to its "Coyote" configuration, retaining as many of the original Coyote pieces as possible. A season two car appeared briefly on the sixth episode of season five of Married... with Children
Married... with Children
Married... with Children is an American surrealistic sitcom that aired for 11 seasons that featured a dysfunctional family living in Chicago, Illinois. The show, notable for being the first prime time television series to air on Fox, ran from April 5, 1987, to June 9, 1997. The series was created...
.
Theme songs
The opening theme song during season one of this series was entitled "Drive". It was composed by Mike PostMike Post
Mike Post is an American multi-Grammy and Emmy Award winning composer best known for scoring some of the most popular TV theme songs in the United States, for primetime series such as Law & Order, NYPD Blue, The Rockford Files, LA Law, Quantum Leap, Magnum, P.I., Hill Street Blues, among numerous...
and Stephen Geyer
Stephen Geyer
Stephen Geyer , a songwriter, moved to Los Angeles in 1972 after attending Towson State College , in Maryland, as an art major. Since coming to L.A., Stephen has made a name for himself as the writer of hit songs, popular TV themes, TV and film scripts, a non-fiction author, and studio and...
and sung by David Morgan. For the first part of season two, the theme song was "Back to Back", also composed by Post and Geyer but sung by Joey Scarbury
Joey Scarbury
Joey Scarbury is an adult contemporary singer best known for his hit song, "Theme from The Greatest American Hero ", in 1981.-Childhood and early music career:...
(who also sang Post's theme for The Greatest American Hero
The Greatest American Hero
The Greatest American Hero is an American comedy-drama television series that aired for three seasons from 1981 to 1983 on ABC. Created by producer Stephen J. Cannell, it premiered as a two-hour movie pilot on March 18, 1981...
). Public demand, however, resulted in the "Drive" theme being reinstated and kept through season three. Post and Pete Carpenter
Pete Carpenter
Peter Clarence "Pete" Carpenter , was an American jazz trombonist, musical arranger, and a veteran of television theme song scoring....
scored the music for the series.
Nielsen Ratings
- 1983-84: #15 (18.71 rating)
- 1984-85: #39 (15.82 rating)
- 1985-86: #52 (13.90 rating)
Ratings courtesy of TVTango.com's ratings archive
DVD releases
Visual EntertainmentVisual Entertainment
Visual Entertainment Inc. is a home video/television distribution company that is based in Toronto, Ontario Canada. It is an independent label but has managed to release quite a few well-known TV series on DVD.-Children:* The Big Adventure Series...
has released all 3 seasons of Hardcastle and McCormick on DVD in Region 1 (Canada only). VEI also released Hardcastle & McCormick: The Complete Series on DVD on September 3, 2008.
| DVD Name | Ep # | Release Date | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Complete First Season | 23 | February 14, 2006 |
|
| The Complete Second Season | 22 | August 15, 2006 |
|
| The Complete Third Season | 22 | October 30, 2007 |
|
| The Complete Series | 67 | September 3, 2008 |
It is unknown if Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the home video distribution arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation. It was established in November 1979 as Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment, releasing 20 titles: The Anderson Tapes, Bell, Book and Candle, Born Free, Breakout,...
will release any seasons of Hardcastle and McCormick in the U.S.
External links
- Hardcastle and McCormick transcripts at TVTDB.com
- Coyote – The Challenge – The Car Star about the legendary car of the series, the "Coyote".
Hardcastle and McCormick Virtual 4th Season