I liked Hunter as a kid, but seeing it again the other day, I noticed that it wasn't really that great. It's ok, but not anything spectacula- kinda like TJ Hooker, ChiPs, or many other cop shows.
What gets me is that this lasted 2 years after Miami Vice which a groundbreaking blockbuster of a cop show. What gives?
I pretty much agree with your sentiments on the show. I find it to be watchable, but it's kind of a last resort sort of thing. You pretty much know what you're going to get; there's nothing extremely cutting edge or moving about it. I do think it improved during season two; peaked with the third season; and then slowly began going downhill from four on; still having some good moments, here and there.
As to why it lasted longer than Miami Vice; it probably had something to do with the type of audience and the slot it was given. I know it was on Saturdays, and I'm not sure how much competition it really had for several years. I also think it tended to drawn an older crowd; who turned out to be somewhat loyal viewers(this is just speculation, though).
First off I'd like to state that Hunter and Miami Vice along with some other good oldie TV shows like Airwolf, Simon and Simon and Knight Rider are my favs.
In answer to the question of why Miami Vice lasted 5 seasons and Hunter 7. Composer Jan Hammer, who won awards for his musical scores in the show left after the 4th season and actor Don Johnson wanted to do something else. That and in retrospect Miami Vice has been more associated with being part of pop culture in the 80's, then in Hunter's case. In Saying that, would Miami Vice have still done well in 1990 and beyond? Or looked dated if it continued to run? Hunter really didn't, in my opinion define or make as big of a pop culture impact then vice did in the 80's. So it was able to run longer without seeming dated as being remincent of it's former decade. The reason for Hunter's cancelation after season 7 I believe was mainly due to lead actress Stephanie Kramer leaving after season 6. If she was still present the show may have lasted another year or perhaps couple of years.
Another factor in Miami Vice's early end was Dick Wolf replacing Michael Mann as executive producer, when the latter left to work on Crime Story. Wolf simply did not understand how Miami Vice worked, and ended up introducing various darker and edgier plots, like Crockett's amnesia arc, which ultimately ended up turning viewers off.
shareIt also had some bizarre episodes like UFO abductions and stealing cattle sperm that would be out of place in any generic cop show, let alone one of the most acclaimed one like Miami Vice. Dick Wolf is better doing shows like Law & Order and Chicago than something so stylish and movie-like like Miami Vice.
share" stealing cattle sperm" one of my fave episodes, but I agree with you.
shareVery paint by numbers cop show.
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