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After “Sledge Hammer!” ended its run on ABC, the series went into syndication… a rarity for a show that ran only two seasons.

The reason: Critical acclaim, a devoted following… and the fact that the production company needed cash.

For the first time, international audiences were exposed to “Sledge Hammer!”

The response was enthusiastic since visual humor, as well as gunshots, requires no translation.

“Sledge” proved popular in the United Kingdom, Australia, Sweden, New Zealand and in France, where the series was known as “Mr. Gun.”

In Japan, “Sledge Hammer!” was regarded as the first accurate depiction of American law enforcement.

Nevertheless, the region that responded best to “Sledge” was Germany… a country with an historic fondness for blonde, blue-eyed fascists.

Back in the U.S., New World Video released four episodes of “Sledge Hammer!” on VHS.

Each was available individually as well as on a single compilation called “Hammered: The Best of Sledge.” The anthology was also distributed on a format that would prove the precursor to DVD: Laser disc.

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