Hunter

Hunter is an American police drama television series created by Frank Lupo, and starring Fred Dryer as Sgt. Rick Hunter and Stepfanie Kramer as Sgt. Dee Dee McCall, which ran on NBC from 1984 to 1991. However, Kramer left after the sixth season to pursue other acting and musical opportunities. In the seventh season, Hunter partnered with two different women officers. The titular character, Sgt. Rick Hunter, was a wily, physically imposing, and often rule-breaking homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. The show's main characters, Hunter and McCall, resolve many of their cases by shooting dead the perpetrators. The show's executive producer during the first season was Stephen J. Cannell, whose company produced the series.

Hunter (1984-1991) is an American network police drama series created by Frank Lupo for NBC, produced by Stephen J. Cannell Productions. Fred Dryer plays Sgt. Rick Hunter, a physically imposing, rule-breaking homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department, who bends procedure to get results. Stepfanie Kramer co-stars as his partner Sgt. Dee Dee McCall, and Charles Hallahan appears as Charlie Devane in the recurring supporting cast. Each episode is built around a homicide case that Hunter and his partner must crack, with the pair frequently resolving investigations through direct, forceful confrontation with the perpetrators. Across seven seasons and 152 episodes the show follows a case-of-the-week format, with the central partnership reshaped when Kramer departed after the sixth season and Hunter teamed with two different women officers. Its tone is brisk and action-forward, with a gritty, pulpy energy typical of 1980s television. Set in 1980s Los Angeles, it sits in the tradition of American network cop shows, and fans of Miami Vice, Starsky & Hutch and Magnum, P.I. will find resonance in its blend of street-level crime, buddy dynamics and action set pieces.

Audience reception is mixed, with strong praise for the gritty action-driven police work and the lead pairing of Hunter and McCall, tempered by uneven season quality.

• Miami Viceshared police procedural format, lapd homicide setting, action-driven case of the week
• Starsky & Hutchshared maverick cop protagonist and buddy partnership in 1980s police drama
• Magnum, P.I.shared 1980s network cop show with action set pieces and rule-breaking detective

Created by

Frank Lupo

Release Date

1984-09-18

Episode runtime

60 min

Rating

6.9 / 10 (105)

What is Hunter about?

A wily, rule-breaking LAPD homicide detective and his partner chase killers through Los Angeles in this 1980s network police drama.

What is Hunter like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Hunter as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.

Is Hunter violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Hunter as moderate.

What did critics think of Hunter?

Audience reception is mixed, with strong praise for the gritty action-driven police work and the lead pairing of Hunter and McCall, tempered by uneven season quality.

Which shows are like Hunter?

Shows with a similar feel include Miami Vice, Starsky & Hutch, and Magnum, P.I..

How long is Hunter?

Hunter: 7 seasons, 152 episodes.

Is Hunter still running?

No, Hunter has ended.

Where can I watch Hunter?

In United States, Hunter streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Peacock Premium, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel.