The Slap Maxwell Story (1987)
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.
The Slap Maxwell Story: Season 1 - 22 Episode s
1x1 - Episode 1
September 23, 1987
Lawsuits force Nelson to fire Slap from sports.
1x2 - Episode 2
September 30, 1987
A nun, Judy's beau, a dog and his ex-wife plague Slap.
1x3 - Episode 3
October 7, 1987
Nelson hires Slap's old nemesis as sportswriter.
1x4 - Episode 4
October 14, 1987
Slap thinks he has died during a day with son Eliot.
1x5 - Episode 5
October 28, 1987
Slap saves a newspaper carrier who was an Olympian.
1x6 - Episode 6
November 4, 1987
Slap mistakenly thinks he can reconcile with Annie.
1x7 - Episode 7
November 18, 1987
Judy hunts for an apartment; Slap misses a big story.
1x8 - Episode 8
November 25, 1987
Slap recognizes The Ledger's prospective buyer as a con artist.
1x9 - Episode 9
December 2, 1987
Judy fills in as advice columnist; Charlie's dog dies.
1x10 - Episode 10
December 9, 1987
Judy asks Slap to her high-school reunion.
1x11 - Episode 11
January 6, 1988
Slap has difficulty criticizing Eliot's writing.
1x12 - Episode 12
January 13, 1988
Slap wins "Sportswriter of the Year" but loses Judy.
1x13 - Episode 13
January 20, 1988
Auto trouble keeps Slap from his wedding with Annie.
1x14 - Episode 14
January 27, 1988
Slap gives a Marine a ride and winds up back home in Texas.
1x15 - Episode 15
February 3, 1988
Slap rekindles an old flame; Judy and Charlie have regrets.
1x16 - Episode 16
February 10, 1988
Slap visits his ailing father; Nelson replaces Slap with a woman.
1x17 - Episode 17
March 2, 1988
Slap abandons Kitty and Texas to get his job back.
1x18 - Episode 18
March 9, 1988
Slap faces indignities upon returning to The Ledger.
1x19 - Episode 19
March 16, 1988
Slap fights for his job and reconciles with Judy.
1x20 - Episode 20
May 6, 1988
Slap is determined to uncover the truth behind the defection of a "Commie mutant" tennis pro.
1x21 - Episode 21
May 13, 1988
Judy wants commitment; Eliot defends his father.
1x22 - Episode 22
May 20, 1988
Disasters strike Slap and he thinks he is dead.