Bob Odenkirk has opened up about the frightening aftermath of his 2021 heart attack, revealing that the event completely wiped his memory for an entire week.

The actor earlier explained that he had this experience where he saw his life flash before his eyes, saying he felt a “lingering joy” when he regained consciousness.

However, the experience changed Bob Odenkirk’s perspective as he realized death is an inevitable clause of life.

Bob Odenkirk appeared on the “Inside of You” podcast with Michael Rosenbaum, where he shared details about the 2021 heart attack he suffered while on the set of “Better Call Saul.”

According to Fox News Digital, the 63-year-old actor said that the experience left him with no memory for almost a week, adding that it was his daughter who helped him get his cognitive abilities back.

Speaking about the issue to Rosenbaum, Odenkirk recalled how the experience was even more “dangerous” because he was far away from the set on adherence to COVID-19 protocols and “all the people who would hear someone screaming were across the floor of a giant studio.”

Things were seemingly compounded by the fact that everyone thought his castmates Rhea Seehorn and Patrick Fabian were laughing.

He recalled walking to an exercise bike and started feeling uneasy, telling Seahorn he wasn’t feeling good before everything “turned gray and worse things happened.”

Bob Odenkirk Recalls Being Unable To Remember Anything After Suffering A Heart Attack

Odenkirk was immediately taken to the hospital and underwent surgery the next day, with his family joining him all through. However, he explained that he had no memory of anything until a week after his daughter stepped in.

“My daughter made this dry-erase board that said what happened to me so that I would wake up and see this dry-erase board that: heart, you know, attack, and then to the hospital, and who’s visited me and who’s in town and what day it is because I never had a memory that whole week,” he shared.

Uncertain about what had happened and seemingly confused about his location, he noted he was always asking, “Where are we? Why are you guys at the hospital?”

The Actor Says There’s A Funny Clip Of Him Struggling To Remember Where He Was

The “Breaking Bad” actor said there’s a funny video of him and his wife Naomi took where his kids asked him after his surgery if he knew why he was there.

“And I’m like ‘Cause I heard you guys are here,’” he revealed. “It’s really funny. It’s really, it’s crazy what your brain does. ‘How did you get here?’ ‘I drove here.’”

“You know, like your brain makes up a story about what is going on that suits you,” Odenkirk added about his experience.

The Event Gave The Actor A Fresh Perspective On Life

The event seemingly left a life-changing impression on him as he got to see things from a new perspective.

He admitted that it made him get a new sense of appreciation for the “wonderful things” he has in his world and seemingly helped him with the whole awareness of limited time.”

Odenkirk said it became hard to counteract the feeling of “I’m going to live forever. What movies do I want to make in 30 years?”

“‘Hey man,’” he said he tells himself, “‘you are not making any movies in 30 years. You’re not making them in 10 years. You’re going to be cooked and done. And so, what do you want to do? And how much time do you have left? And how are you going to use it?’”

The “Normal” actor added that it’s hard to look into the mirror and ask himself, “‘I’m 63, you know, my dad lived to 56, you know, I mean, what are you doing with your time? How are you going to use it? How are you going to do the most with it?’”

Bob Odenkirk Felt A ‘Lingering Joy’ Afterwards

Recounting the experience and how Scary it was in a previous interview with Rachel Martin on her “Wild Card” podcast, Odenkirk explained that he didn’t get any out-of-the-world experience like seeing a white flash of light or his life flash before his eyes, or a slideshow of one’s regrets, adding that there was “very little trauma” for him.

However, what he did experience was some sort of “lingering joy” that slowly started slipping away days after he regained consciousness, but then he had to fight and make a mental note of it.

“I have to try to live this way,” he recalled of how he felt. “I have to try to be this – see the world this way. But it – this feeling of the world being pretty magical and beautiful and astounding, a marvel to look at.”

“And I remember thinking, this is the best, and this is how you should feel. This is what life is. This is life. It’s weird. It’s like being – it’s like having that revelation people talk about when they do various psychedelic drugs, but being – but not being on drugs,” he added.

Whew, roommates… sometimes life be life-ing behind the scenes, and what looks picture-perfect on the outside can be telling a whole different story. Kimora Lee Simmons and Tim Leissner have been tied together for years, but it looks like a quiet shift has been happening, leading to divorce documents!

RELATED: Plot Twist! Kimora Lee Simmons Reportedly Undergoes Name Change & Here’s Why

Kimora & Tim Call It Quits Amid Drama

According to E! Online, Kimora Lee Simmons and her husband Tim Leissner are officially heading for a legal split. Leissner reportedly signed paperwork to initiate their divorce just two days before beginning a two-year prison sentence back in February. He finally filed the documents on April 20, citing “irreconcilable differences” after 12 years of marriage, per PEOPLE. The former Goldman Sachs banker—who pleaded guilty in 2018 to stealing millions from the Malaysian government—married Kimora in March 2014.

Custody, Coins, And Silence

In the filing, Leissner is requesting joint custody of their 11-year-old son, Wolfe, along with spousal support from the Baby Phat founder. He also reportedly asked the court to terminate Kimora’s ability to receive alimony. His attorney confirmed he turned himself in to a federal correctional facility in Pennsylvania on February 6, and records show authorities have scheduled his release for September 2027. Meanwhile, Kimora has yet to publicly respond to the divorce filing, though she previously hinted at changes in her personal life during a December interview, noting that she’s gone through shifts in “jobs, careers… husbands, investments,” adding, “It’s life.”

TBD Split Date, Assets & Fees In Play

More details are continuing to surface, roommates. In his filing, Tim Leissner reportedly listed the couple’s date of separation as “TBD,” despite signing the documents on February 4—just before turning himself in. Beyond custody and support, he’s also asking Kimora Lee Simmons to cover his attorney fees and is making moves to hold on to certain assets, including anything acquired before their marriage, as well as gifts, inheritances, and personal items like jewelry.

The paperwork also indicates that additional assets and obligations remain unidentified. Meanwhile, Leissner—sentenced in May 2025 for his role in the 1MDB scandal—previously issued a public apology, expressing regret for his actions as he serves out his sentence, with a projected release date of September 29, 2027.

RELATED: Oop! Kimora Lee Simmons Snaps At Russell Simmons After He Slams Her Claim Of Having No Relationship With Her Kids’ Fathers

Last week, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit had cause to celebrate, being renewed for a landmark 28th season on NBC. It’s another vote of confidence in a series that has managed to surpass its own parent series, becoming a staple on the network still capable of drawing in fans to this day, despite a cast that has massively evolved since its inception in 1999. Now, though, it’s time for the members of the NYPD’s 16th precinct to get back in the ring — literally. Collider can exclusively share a new sneak peek at Season 27, Episode 18, “Gimmick,” which sends detectives Rollins (Kelli Giddish) and Griffin (Corey Cott) into the world of professional fighting.

In the footage, the two officers take in a violent match involving their target, an amateur fighter who goes by the name of “Razor.” At first, Griffin appears to be getting into it, but the sheer brutality and sickening thuds of every blow wipe the smile off his face. After Razor wins his fight, Rollins and Griffin head back to speak with him about a victim found dead in a hotel. When initially asked about Ian Larkin, he blows their questioning off by calling him a “crackhead who can’t be trusted,” though he quickly becomes defensive when the detectives reveal they know he threatened him, and then completely silent when told of Ian’s fate. He is not pleased when Griffin insinuates that the cuts on his hand came from a different kind of fight than what he does in the ring, though, and after some pushing over why he wanted Ian to keep quiet, he explodes. Rollins is able to get Razor in cuffs, and given his outburst, he hasn’t exactly made the best case for his innocence.

Whether Razor is their man or not, the fact that he had some secret he desperately wanted to keep under wraps means he’ll have an important role to play in the precinct’s latest case. The whole team will be involved throughout the operation to catch whoever is responsible and ultimately bring them to justice. Separate from Rollins and Griffin’s work, though, Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) will be trying to convince another victim to come forward for the sake of his friend. Coming off a brief hiatus last week, it’s certainly shaping up to be a packed return for the long-running spin-off.

The ‘Law & Order’ Franchise Has Experienced Highs and Lows of Late

SVU‘s renewal assures that the Law & Order brand will continue to be a part of NBC’s plans in the near future, with Ice-T, Peter Scanavino, Kevin Kane, and Aimé Donna Kelly all still starring with Hargitay, Cott, and Giddish. It’s now set to reach the 600-episode mark with Season 28, firmly within striking distance of Gunsmoke‘s long-held primetime drama record of 635. The news hasn’t been all positive for fans of the Dun Dun franchise, though. Alongside the news of SVU‘s continuation came word that Christopher Meloni‘s spin-off, Law & Order: Organized Crime, would be ending after five seasons. The mothership series also remains on the bubble after 25 seasons. Major changes could be coming to Dick Wolf‘s universe, but, at the very least, Benson’s team isn’t going anywhere.

Law & Order: SVU Season 27, Episode 18 premieres tomorrow, April 23, on NBC. Check out our exclusive sneak peek in the player above.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

September 20, 1999

Showrunner

Advertisement

Michael S. Chernuchin, David Graziano

Advertisement

• 
• 

  Ice-T

  Odafin ‘Fin’ Tutuola

  Advertisement
• 

  Dann Florek

  Donald Cragen

  Advertisement
• 

  Richard Belzer

  John Munch

Advertisement

Advertisement

This summer is lining up to be a huge year for movies, and while there are plenty of projects with big stars and directors behind them, perhaps no film has as much anticipation behind it as The Odyssey. The Odyssey, which will be released in theaters on July 17, is set to be an epic retelling of Homer’s classic tale, with all the support of a big blockbuster studio film behind it. Not only has Universal Pictures assembled one of the most impressive casts in Hollywood history to star in The Odyssey, but the film was written and directed by Christopher Nolan. Nolan is fresh off the most successful movie of his career with Oppenheimer, which grossed nearly $1 billion at the box office before collecting a mountain of hardware at the 2024 Academy Awards.

While Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey is set to wow audiences around the world this summer, it isn’t the only version of the story that’s getting the feature film treatment. News broke this afternoon that legendary film producer Jerry Bruckheimer is adapting Epic, the viral musical retelling of The Odyssey that’s exploded on social media recently. Bruckheimer’s Epic movie is going to be animated, and while no cast members or creatives have been announced, the film is reportedly going to be shopped around to studios as soon as next week. Wherever Epic lands, with its massive audience, it has all the potential to be a massive hit with Bruckheimer involved. Bruckheimer has been behind other successful epics like Top Gun: Maverick, F1, and Pirates of the Caribbean, and he’s widely considered one of the most famous movie producers of all time.

Who Stars in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’?

The primary lead in The Odyssey is Matt Damon, who has been tasked with playing the titular Odysseus. Damon previously starred in a supporting role for Nolan in Oppenheimer, but now he’s going to get his chance in the spotlight. Surrounding Damon in The Odyssey cast are a plethora of stars, including Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Zendaya as Athena, Charlize Theron as Calypso, Jon Bernthal as Menelaus, Benny Safdie as Agamemnon, Mia Goth as Melantho, and John Leguizamo as Eumaeus. Also cast in The Odyssey in undisclosed roles as Lupita Nyong’o, Logan Marshall-Green, Elliot Page, Ryan Hurst, James Remar, Samantha Morton, and Josh Stewart.

Stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of both Epic and The Odyssey.

Christina Snow is reportedly recovering after her alleged boyfriend, Shamar Elkins, shot her and their three children on Sunday in Shreveport, Louisiana. Snow’s cousin recently revealed she’s suffering from a lodged bullet in her face, memory loss and deep grief.

Snow is one of the two women Shamar Elkins shot who survived, while eight children died of gunshot wounds. What exactly happened is still under investigation, despite Elkins reportedly dying following a police pursuit. The mass shooting is reportedly the deadliest in the U.S. since January 2024.

RELATED: Police Reveal Details About Louisiana Man Who Shot Wife, His 7 Children, Another Woman & Child (UPDATE)

Shamar Elkins’ Alleged Girlfriend & Wife Had Kids The Same Age And Lived Close To Each Other 

According to the New York Post, Christina Snow and Shamar Elkins had three kids together: 11-year-old Sariahh Snow, 6-year-old Khedarrion Snow and 5-year-old Braylon Snow. NBC News reports that Elkins’ rampage started at Snow’s house, which is located on Harrison Street, in Shreveport, Louisiana. At around 6 a.m. Snow reportedly called 911 and said her boyfriend had shot her and taken their children out of the home, per Police Chief Wayne Smith’s statement on Monday.

Christina Snow’s home appears to be about two streets away from that of Shamar Elkins’ wife, Shaneiqua Pugh. He and Pugh were legally married at the time of the shootings. However, they were reportedly due in court on Monday, one day after the shooting, pending a separation Pugh allegedly requested.

It’s unclear whether the wife and alleged girlfriend were aware of one another. Several of their children overlap in ages. Pugh and Shamar shared four daughters, 7-year-old Layla Pugh, 6-year-old Kayla Pugh, 5-year-old Shayla Elkins and 3-year-old Jayla Elkins. Shamar fatally shot all four daughters, and his wife’s 10-year-old nephew, Mar’Kaydon Pugh, who had been staying at their marital home on West 79th Street. In total, 8 children died at that location, with police finding one body on the home’s roof.

Also, Shamar reportedly shot most of the kids in the head, including while several of them were asleep. Meanwhile, Shaneiqua Pugh suffered a gunshot wound to the face and remains hospitalized, per NBC. Additionally, a teenager whose relation is unclear survived. However, the teen suffered injuries after falling off the home’s roof during the shooting.

Christina Snow’s Cousin Talks About Her Condition And Shamar’s Relationship With His Kids

Jamarckus Snow spoke to NBC News on Tuesday, calling the Louisiana mass shooting “devastating.” The cousin revealed that, per Christina’s mother, Shamar Elkins shot Christina in the face and the bullet went through her nose. The bullet remains lodged in her face, per Jamarckus, who said doctors didn’t want to risk surgery.

While Christina can speak, she is allegedly experiencing memory issues and sometimes forgets that her three children recently died. He claimed that she woke up on Monday and said, “I got to get my kids ready for school,” seemingly forgetting what had happened. “One day, she’ll know and the next day, she’s thinking her kids is still there,” Jamarckus shared, per convos with Christina’s mom.

“All she worked for was her kids and all she talked about was her kids,” Jamarckus Snow said.

Snow’s cousin clarified to NBC News that he didn’t know much about her relationship with Elkins. However, he recalled that Shamar had previously attended family gatherings, though that hadn’t been the case in years. Still, the cousin claimed he’d see Shamar in the neighborhood from time to time.

“He would distance himself from people, like he wasn’t the person that would just come out and talk to you. He would sit to himself or he would go sit in the car,” Jamarckus shared with NBC. Also adding, “The times I did see him or I did go by her house or something, he had the kids…He spent time with them, he was there for them. I can’t say that he didn’t love his kids because he did. It was unexpected.” 

RELATED: Caught On Camera! FBI Drops Surveillance Photos In Offset Shooting As Investigation Continues (VIDEO)

Social media users aren’t holding back, and are goin’ IN on Sexyy Red‘s new braids.

RELATED: Thirst Trapped? Sexyy Red Drops Spicy Reaction To Pooh Shiesty’s Shirtless Photo

More On Sexyy Red’s New Braids

Earlier this week, Sexyy Red took to Instagram to share a clip with her more than 5.3 million followers. Furthermore, the clip showed the rapper at the tail-end of getting her hair braided. Nonetheless, she begged someone to “help” her, as her hairstylist noted how tender-headed she was.

“I ain’t never want to give somebody back their money so fast,” her stylist said. “….most tender headed [inaudible] ever!”

Then, on Tuesday, April 21, Sexyy Red took to her Instagram Story to show off her results.

Social Media Users Are Goin’ IN On Her New Braids

Social media users entered TSR’s comment section, goin’ IN on Sexyy Red’s new braids.

Before Social Media Users Started Goin’ IN On Sexyy Red’s New Braids, She Turned Heads With Jhené Aiko

Before social media users were goin’ IN on Sexyy Red’s new braids, they were focused on her unexpected link-up with Jhené Aiko at Coachella. As The Shade Room previously reported, earlier this month, the pair raised eyebrows when they hit the stage together, and had social media users in TSR’s comment section, with one writing, “On the clock vs off the clock.”

RELATED: Baddies Outside! Jhené Aiko & Sexyy Red Turn Heads With Unexpected Coachella Link-Up (VIDEO)

General Hospital early weekly spoilers for April 27th through May 1st expect Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) spiraling and Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst)
smelling a rat.

As we always do on early edition day. We start with what’s coming this week and then we jump into what is coming for next week.

General Hospital Wednesday, April 22nd: Josslyn Searches For Answers

With that in mind, on Wednesday, April 22nd, we’ve got Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) searching for answers and Lulu Spencer (Alexa Havins Bruening) admits that she is worried. So, it looks like these spoilers are part of the same conversation because the two of them are chatting at Bobbie’s Diner. And Lulu tells Josslyn that Britt Westbourne is nothing but trouble.

Now, we know Joss has a co-schemer relationship with Britt because together they’re trying to figure out who Jason Morgan‘s (Steve Burton) protecting when he said he shot Cullum (Michael Easton). And of course, Britt found out this shocking truth on Tuesday’s episode that it is Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr). And I have to wonder if Britt’s going to tell Joss the truth just to stop her from digging.

Jordan Ashford (Tanisha Harper) has a heart-to-heart with Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner). I’m trying to figure out the whole point of this car crash storyline. Jordan drove like a distracted teenager and Curtis enabled it. They almost killed somebody else, whoever was the other driver, by veering into their lane. And so, Jordan is responsible for what happened to her. And whoever else was on the road that night wasn’t their fault.

GH Spoilers: Lots of Drama for Portia

So, also on Wednesday at General Hospital, Jordan tells somebody that there is something they can do for her and it looks like she might be talking to Portia Robinson (Brook Kerr). Also at General Hospital, Isaiah Gannon (Sawandi Wilson) tells Portia he doesn’t know how long the peace will last. Curtis is slightly bothered about Isaiah sharing the whole pregnancy experience with Portia, but I mean that’s adulting when you choose to be in other relationships, right?

And in Dante Falconeri‘s (Dominic Zamprogna) police commissioner office over at the PCPD, we’ve got not Nathan telling his boss Dante that he has an update on Jordan’s crash. So, I wonder if they got some footage from some highway cameras or toll booth or something that showed that there were multiple other drivers on the road.

General Hospital Spoilers: Gio Surprises Emma

There is a surprise in store for Emma Scorpio-Drake (Brayden Bruner) and she is squealing about Gio Palmieri (Giovanni Mazza) holding out on her. So, this might be about his connection to Broadway star Michael James Scott because we’re going to find out Gio used to play in an orchestra pit on Broadway a while back.

Britt is afraid when somebody she cares about is in danger. That somebody is Rocco and the danger is from Cullum. So, in the chapel up at General Hospital, Britt is yelling at Rocco that if Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) finds out he shot him, they are both dead. So I’m guessing Britt’s going to tell Rocco that Jason wanted him protected and that’s what we’re going to do.

Don’t you dare tell anybody else what’s going on. At that point, I have to wonder if Rocco is going to tell Britt that Lulu and also Nathan both know because Britt may turn around and go confront her wicked brother Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) about what he’s playing at with Rocco, who is somebody that Britt adores.

GH Spoilers Thursday, April 23rd: May Sweeps Kicks Off

On Thursday, April 23rd, May sweeps kicks off, and Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) needs Alexis Davis‘ (Nancy Lee Grahn) opinion on something. Now, this could be Ric asking her about Ethan Lovett (Nathan Dean Parsons) because Ric is not loving the fact that Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) hired him, even though he said he’s doing it to keep an eye on him.

But it may also be Ric poking around and asking Alexis about Willow Corinthos‘ (Katelyn MacMullen) criminal case since Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) hired him. You know, maybe Ric wants some scoop about what exactly went down and if there’s, you know, something that could help him with this issue.

Elizabeth checks in with Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison). Nina already told Drew he can blink all he wants. Nobody’s going to help him. That’s wishful thinking on Nina’s part because Drew is back to blinking when Elizabeth visits and she takes notice and Liz asks if Drew is asking for help.

So, if she offers to get Willow for him, I think Drew may blink no. I expect Willow to be exposed during May sweeps, which of course starts this same day and it’s going to run four weeks. But I think her time is just about up with this con.

General Hospital Spoilers: Tracy & Ethan Reunite

Ethan reunites with Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot). I’m sure they’re going to talk about how much like Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary) that Ethan is and how losing Luke still weighs on both of them. Willow abuses her influence on Thursday. We’ll see if she’s using her political clout to target Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) because of Jacinda Bracken (Paige Herschell).

Or if she’s dealing with the whole Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) and Kai Taylor (Jens Austin Astrup) threat or it may be some kind of favor that Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) is demanding that Willow do. Emma and Gio are out and about exploring New York City. He’s got plans to take her to a Broadway show and show her his old stomping grounds.

Friday, April 24th on General Hospital: Valentin Delivers A Warning

Then on Friday, April 24th, Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart) delivers a warning. I’m curious if Britt tells Joss about Rocco and she circles back around and takes that info to Valentin and Carly Spencer (Laura Wright) as part of this larger plan to take down Cullum and mess with the WSB.

Emma and Gio go see Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway. They’ve got backstage access, it looks like. So, they’re going to get to hang out with guest star Michael James Scott because Gio knows the Broadway actor from when he played violin at musicals. So, Felicia also gets disturbing news on Friday, and I wonder if it’s about Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) at the clinic in France.

Britt is looking for reassurance, maybe from Cassius. And I think Britt’s going to be in a panic and wants to know exactly what Cassius is up to and if he’s really protecting Rocco or if he’s doing something and planning to leverage the kid to hurt her like Cullum threatened.

So, Cassius takes offense at something on Friday and I wonder if it is Britt asking if he’s planning to hurt Rocco. That might offend him because he’s genuinely attached to the kid, attached to his nephew James pretending to be his dad. And I’m guessing Britt assumes that Cassius isn’t really interested in Lulu and is running some kind of con for his bosses.

Week of April 27th-May 1st: First Full Week of GH May Sweeps

The week of April 27th through May 1st, we’re going to head into our first full week of May sweeps with big action happening. Jack Brennan‘s (Chris McKenna) being set up by Nina and Valentin. And very soon, Nina’s going to give Jack his first tidbit of misleading info provided by Valentin. Looks like Joss and Carly are part of it, too. Drew makes inroads with Elizabeth, but if she mentions Drew communicating to either Nina or Willow, they would probably try and cut that off.

Michael is committed to shutting down Willow and getting her out of the kids’ lives for good. And Carly continues fighting her feelings for Valentin while he’s annoyed that Carly’s still sleeping with Jack. And irritated Valentin may be petty and provoke Carly where Nina is concerned. Plus, Ethan is now working for Sonny. But has his own agenda. I actually don’t think Ethan means any harm to Sonny. I think he’s just trying to figure out maybe if Sidwell and Sonny are working together since he sold him the piers. He’s trying to get the lay of the land.

Willow is infuriated by Jacinda being around the kids. She wants rid of her, but Nina keeps pressing Willow to be careful and tries to remind her that she’s got too many balls in the air to be messing around with the ex-hooker. Alexis works overtime to keep Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn) out of trouble and away from the mob.

General Hospital Casting News

Also, we have some quick casting news. In May, we’re going to have Michael James Scott back to General Hospital again. This time, he is going to come to Port Charles. He’s going to be performing Friend Like Me from Aladdin at the Savoy. Also in May, Jonathan Bennett debuts as Joe Fitzpatrick. We’re still waiting on more info about his character.

And Finn Carr, the young actor who plays Rocco, has a family member coming to General Hospital. His brother Elliot Carr, just joined General Hospital. Looks like he might have a little extra role, maybe a recurring role. His first air date is June 1st and it looks like the brothers are not going to have scenes together.

By Jonathan Klotz
| Updated 9 seconds ago

Ask someone to name the most popular action shows of the 80s, and chances are you’ll hear Miami Vice, A-Team, Knight Rider, Magnum P.I., and maybe even The Fall Guy before they remember one of the most popular shows of the decade: Airwolf. Even if you’ve never seen a single episode of the helicopter action series, you know exactly what it’s all about.

Now, thanks to The Roku Channel, you can watch the entire series and realize both how dark and groundbreaking Season 1 was and how fast the entire production fell apart. 

Airwolf Is Pure 80s Awesomeness

Airwolf stars Jan-Michael Vincent as the equally amazingly named Stringfellow Hawke, a military test pilot. Through a series of double-crosses, Stringfellow finds himself in possession of the experimental stealth helicopter with every government and shadowy organization out for his head.

Season 1 features Hawke working for and against The Firm, an obviously evil organization that happens to be the lesser of many evils, in a series of missions that happen to reflect the real-world flashpoints of the Cold War. It’s dark, Hawke is forced to make decisions with no good answer, and the episodes’ focus on geopolitical drama gives it greater stakes than you’d expect from a show about a super helicopter. 

Season 1 was, in retrospect, the high point of Airwolf, with the following two seasons devolving into hokey action more in line with Knight Rider than a Tom Clancy novel. That and Ernest Borgnine, who played Hawke’s friend and backer, Dominic Santini, was written off the show in one of the most dramatic ways possible. They killed off his character to the point where there was no doubt he wasn’t coming back.

Worst of all, after season one, the amazing aerial dogfights were noticeably shorter and less cinematic. But in the show’s defense, when that theme song kicks in, and Hawke lands the fatal missile, it’s as awesome the 20th time as it is the first time. 

Airwolf Was An Overnight Hit And An Overnight Failure

As the series exploded in popularity, Jan-Michael Vincent, who was already a multiple-time Golden Globe winner, found himself, almost overnight, the highest-paid star on television. CBS knew that without him, there was no show.

Haunted by personal demons encouraged by the sudden windfall, Vincent’s alcoholism made him impossible to work with. In a rare move, the entire show was canceled and then sold off to the USA network for a complete, top-to-bottom retooling with an all-new cast. 

That’s why most Airwolf fans pretend the series ended when Jan-Michael Vincent left. USA didn’t even get the real helicopter in the sale, forcing the last round of episodes to rely on old footage, or, in some hilarious cases, the toy replica filling in. And yet, though the show fell apart behind the scenes, there’s no greater example of 80s action. 

Airwolf combined Cold War paranoia, hokey action, a bombastic synth score, and a charismatic leading man into the perfect 80s package that could never be replicated. Other shows tried, including Street Hawk (Airwolf with a motorcycle), but they all crashed and burned. Miami Vice and The A-Team were remade for the big screen, but no one has dared bring back Stringfellow Hawke and his experimental aircraft.

Airwolf is now streaming on The Roku Channel, but be sure to eject before Season 4.