The Slap Maxwell Story(1987)
Comedy
First Air Date: 1987-09-23
Average Runtime: 30m
Rating: 4.0
Votes: 6
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 22
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.
Seasons & Episodes
Season 1
Episodes: 22E01
Episode 1
Air Date: 1987-09-23
Lawsuits force Nelson to fire Slap from sports.
E02
Episode 2
Air Date: 1987-09-30
A nun, Judy's beau, a dog and his ex-wife plague Slap.
E03
Episode 3
Air Date: 1987-10-07
Nelson hires Slap's old nemesis as sportswriter.
E04
Episode 4
Air Date: 1987-10-14
Slap thinks he has died during a day with son Eliot.
E05
Episode 5
Air Date: 1987-10-28
Slap saves a newspaper carrier who was an Olympian.
E06
Episode 6
Air Date: 1987-11-04
Slap mistakenly thinks he can reconcile with Annie.
E07
Episode 7
Air Date: 1987-11-18
Judy hunts for an apartment; Slap misses a big story.
E08
Episode 8
Air Date: 1987-11-25
Slap recognizes The Ledger's prospective buyer as a con artist.
E09
Episode 9
Air Date: 1987-12-02
Judy fills in as advice columnist; Charlie's dog dies.
E10
Episode 10
Air Date: 1987-12-09
Judy asks Slap to her high-school reunion.
E11
Episode 11
Air Date: 1988-01-06
Slap has difficulty criticizing Eliot's writing.
E12
Episode 12
Air Date: 1988-01-13
Slap wins "Sportswriter of the Year" but loses Judy.
E13
Episode 13
Air Date: 1988-01-20
Auto trouble keeps Slap from his wedding with Annie.
E14
Episode 14
Air Date: 1988-01-27
Slap gives a Marine a ride and winds up back home in Texas.
E15
Episode 15
Air Date: 1988-02-03
Slap rekindles an old flame; Judy and Charlie have regrets.
E16
Episode 16
Air Date: 1988-02-10
Slap visits his ailing father; Nelson replaces Slap with a woman.
E17
Episode 17
Air Date: 1988-03-02
Slap abandons Kitty and Texas to get his job back.
E18
Episode 18
Air Date: 1988-03-09
Slap faces indignities upon returning to The Ledger.
E19
Episode 19
Air Date: 1988-03-16
Slap fights for his job and reconciles with Judy.
E20
Episode 20
Air Date: 1988-05-06
Slap is determined to uncover the truth behind the defection of a "Commie mutant" tennis pro.
E21
Episode 21
Air Date: 1988-05-13
Judy wants commitment; Eliot defends his father.
E22
Episode 22
Air Date: 1988-05-20
Disasters strike Slap and he thinks he is dead.
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