I really miss this show. I’ve always like the reluctant hero mythos, as long as it doesn’t cross the line into the Woody Allen sort of shyt. I’ve also thought for a long time that “The Greatest American Hero” would make an excellent premise for a series of novels. The basic premise is that an alien species of powerful beings have given a superhero suit of powers, the instruction manual for which he promptly loses.

The show was created by Stephen J. Cannell, and starred William Katt, Robert Culp, Connie Sellecca, Michael Paré, and Faye Grant.

The Greatest American Hero Pilot 1981
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEiuIyUv7sQ

The show attempted a spin off called “The Greatest American Heroine,” which did not come off, but which did become one of the most amusing episodes of the series.

The Greatest American Heroine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv-xWPANTUM