I’m on an eighties kick right now, just one of those moods, and I’m trying to see which eighties shows still hold up versus being so hokey I can only be amused and laugh.

The Fall Guy starring Lee Majors is one such show that holds up. The premise was straight out of a potential film for Burt Reynolds or Clint Eastwood: a stunt man that freelances as a bounty hunter when Hollywood isn’t hiring. It gives you confidence in “Colt Seavers” when he jumps his car or survives a fall, he was trained to do it.

The 1981 pilot is as good as a plot for an eighties action movie and Lee Majors with his gritty look makes for a tame version of Eastwood. Fact is, the entire character of Colt is a combination of Reynolds and Eastwood. Possibly that is why the theme song refers to both of them.

I never understood why Lee Majors never made the transition to the big screen, always was relegated to the boob tube. I believe there was a strong bias against TV actors at that time and Lee had already been in a western and that show about bionic body parts.

You’ll notice I posted a shot of Markie Post in her bikini. Who knew she was so hot. This was before her recurring stint in Night Court. In Fall Guy she played the bail bondsman–not in the pilot though, she appeared in later episodes.

The highlight of the show in addition to the featured star was Heather Thomas. She was and is now a breath of fresh air–trying watching the bickering snots of The Kardashians and then watch Heather Thomas. What a difference!

Thomas is a tough stunt woman in training named Jody Banks, another sexy tomboy for guys like me who don’t like whiny women who always need help. This bikini shot above is her most famous and was a poster seen on almost any horny teenage boy’s wall.

Fall Guy is also known for its theme song which was sung by–guess who? Lee Majors. Chuck Norris must have been inspired because he later did the same thing for Walker, Texas Ranger. Apparently the song is a classic in Germany.

The theme song has all kinds of inside jokes as well as the show itself. On the pilot show, Lee’s former wife, Farrah Fawcett, guest stars at the end. Lee even makes quick references to himself as an actor which you may or may not catch if you’re not paying attention. Other guest appearances pop up and Clint and Burt hopefully had a good sense of humor when they were told that stunt men made them look good.

I think that is another reason why the show appeals to me. It’s about the ignored guy in the background who really does make action “heroes” look good.  And I’m sure the life of the stunt man can be similar to that of a freelance artist, it’s either feast or famine. They probably do have to take side work at times, whether that’s Las Vegas acts or bounty hunting, who knows? I’m sure it’s not as glamorous as we would think which is what the series tries to show-even though it is full of adventure.

You can catch The Fall Guy for free at Aol TV, just click on classic full episodes. A lot of free shows available there, who needs commercial TV–well, they do shove a commercial or two down your throat but it’s better than several of them back to back.

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