Jay Tarses
Director
The Slap Maxwell Story (1987)
Season 1
The Slap Maxwell Story is a situation comedy broadcast in the United States by ABC as part of its 1987-88 lineup. It stars Dabney Coleman as "Slap" Maxwell, an egocentric sportswriter for a newspaper called The Ledger, somewhere in the American Southwest. The Ledger was a very old-fashioned newspaper -- Slap still composed his column, "Slap Shots," on a typewriter -- and Slap was a very old-fashioned guy. Despite the newly litigious environment of journalism, Slap insisted on filling his column with rumor and innuendo, drawing lawsuits and Slap's frequent termination, to be followed by a groveling apology and his rehiring. He had an on-again, off-again relationship with girlfriend Judy, one of the paper's secretaries, due primarily to his off-putting personality. Annie was Slap's ex-wife, who nonetheless retained a soft spot for him. A recurring event throughout the series' run is that at some point in each episode, someone would hit Slap, with a nun even doing the honors in one episode. The show was created by Jay Tarses, who in 1983 was co-creator of Buffalo Bill, an NBC sitcom in which Coleman starred as a similarly off-putting character, the host of a TV talk show.
Released Sept. 24, 1987
Episode 30 min
None+
Keywords: imdb.metaphor, imdb.editor, imdb.sportswriter, imdb.newsroom, imdb.father-son-relationship, imdb.cheating-husband, imdb.extramarital-affair + 10 more, imdb.disappointed-father, imdb.husband-wife-relationship, imdb.old-fashioned, imdb.old-school, imdb.sports-journalist, imdb.hard-worker, imdb.nickname, awards.emmy-award-nominated, awards.golden-globe-winner, awards.golden-globe-nominated
Network: ABC
Country: United States
Languages:
English
S1E1 - Episode 1
Lawsuits force Nelson to fire Slap from sports.
Sept. 23, 1987, midnight
S1E2 - Episode 2
A nun, Judy's beau, a dog and his ex-wife plague Slap.
Sept. 30, 1987, midnight
S1E3 - Episode 3
Nelson hires Slap's old nemesis as sportswriter.
Oct. 7, 1987, midnight
S1E4 - Episode 4
Slap thinks he has died during a day with son Eliot.
Oct. 14, 1987, midnight
S1E5 - Episode 5
Slap saves a newspaper carrier who was an Olympian.
Oct. 28, 1987, midnight
S1E6 - Episode 6
Slap mistakenly thinks he can reconcile with Annie.
Nov. 4, 1987, midnight
S1E7 - Episode 7
Judy hunts for an apartment; Slap misses a big story.
Nov. 18, 1987, midnight
S1E8 - Episode 8
Slap recognizes The Ledger's prospective buyer as a con artist.
Nov. 25, 1987, midnight
S1E9 - Episode 9
Judy fills in as advice columnist; Charlie's dog dies.
Dec. 2, 1987, midnight
S1E10 - Episode 10
Judy asks Slap to her high-school reunion.
Dec. 9, 1987, midnight
S1E11 - Episode 11
Slap has difficulty criticizing Eliot's writing.
Jan. 6, 1988, midnight
S1E12 - Episode 12
Slap wins "Sportswriter of the Year" but loses Judy.
Jan. 13, 1988, midnight
S1E13 - Episode 13
Auto trouble keeps Slap from his wedding with Annie.
Jan. 20, 1988, midnight
S1E14 - Episode 14
Slap gives a Marine a ride and winds up back home in Texas.
Jan. 27, 1988, midnight
S1E15 - Episode 15
Slap rekindles an old flame; Judy and Charlie have regrets.
Feb. 3, 1988, midnight
S1E16 - Episode 16
Slap visits his ailing father; Nelson replaces Slap with a woman.
Feb. 10, 1988, midnight
S1E17 - Episode 17
Slap abandons Kitty and Texas to get his job back.
March 2, 1988, midnight
S1E18 - Episode 18
Slap faces indignities upon returning to The Ledger.
March 9, 1988, midnight
S1E19 - Episode 19
Slap fights for his job and reconciles with Judy.
March 16, 1988, midnight
S1E20 - Episode 20
Slap is determined to uncover the truth behind the defection of a "Commie mutant" tennis pro.
May 6, 1988, midnight
S1E21 - Episode 21
Judy wants commitment; Eliot defends his father.
May 13, 1988, midnight
S1E22 - Episode 22
Disasters strike Slap and he thinks he is dead.
May 20, 1988, midnight
Network: ABC
Episode Runtime: 30 min.
Season Runtime: 30 min.
Released: Sept. 24, 1987
Last Air Date: May 20, 1988, midnight
Status: Ended
Certification: NR
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