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.
Seasons & Episode
Lawsuits force Nelson to fire Slap from sports.
A nun, Judy's beau, a dog and his ex-wife plague Slap.
Nelson hires Slap's old nemesis as sportswriter.
Slap thinks he has died during a day with son Eliot.
Slap saves a newspaper carrier who was an Olympian.
Slap mistakenly thinks he can reconcile with Annie.
Judy hunts for an apartment; Slap misses a big story.
Slap recognizes The Ledger's prospective buyer as a con artist.
Judy fills in as advice columnist; Charlie's dog dies.
Judy asks Slap to her high-school reunion.
Slap has difficulty criticizing Eliot's writing.
Slap wins "Sportswriter of the Year" but loses Judy.
Auto trouble keeps Slap from his wedding with Annie.
Slap gives a Marine a ride and winds up back home in Texas.
Slap rekindles an old flame; Judy and Charlie have regrets.
Slap visits his ailing father; Nelson replaces Slap with a woman.
Slap abandons Kitty and Texas to get his job back.
Slap faces indignities upon returning to The Ledger.
Slap fights for his job and reconciles with Judy.
Slap is determined to uncover the truth behind the defection of a "Commie mutant" tennis pro.
Judy wants commitment; Eliot defends his father.
Disasters strike Slap and he thinks he is dead.