A Clockwork Hammer
Encyclopedia
"A Clockwork Hammer" is the 23rd episode of the television series Sledge Hammer!
and the first episode of the series' second and final season. It originally aired on ABC
in the United States on September 17, 1987. While the episode is mostly a parody of the 1971 film A Clockwork Orange
, series creator Alan Spencer
cites the 1965 film The Ipcress File
as the episode's real inspiration.
The episode begins with the last scene of the season 1 ender "The Spa Who Loved Me
", where Hammer attempted to defuse a nuclear bomb, only to destroy the city in the process - resulting in a cliffhanger ending. However, following the scene, a disclaimer explains that this episode takes place five years before "that explosion".
), police officer Chris Raker (Dan Lauria
) takes to the stand to testify against the mobster when he suddenly twitches and loses all sense of control, hearing a ringing sound and seeing violent images in his mind. This incident results in the trial being put on hold.
At the precinct, Hammer dismisses Raker as a wimp. Trunk, however, is depressed, as he saw himself being a "second father" to Raker. Hammer suggests that Raker faked a psychotic break after being paid off by Haggis.
Meanwhile at Vile Video Concepts, Haggis' lawyer Marc Rinsler (Sal Viscuso
) meets up with Landon Smartikoff (Nicholas Guest
), the company's head of production. It is revealed that Smartikoff has developed a means of reprogramming people's minds through television. Rinsler pays Smartikoff as a reward for reprogramming Raker.
Later that night, Hammer is at his apartment when Raker comes in. Raker explains to Hammer that he did not take any bribes and does not remember anything other than the ringing sound in his ears and nightmares of a white room. As Hammer urges Raker to try to remember what he saw, Raker suddenly snaps and goes berserk before Hammer knocks him out.
After Raker is taken away to a hospital, Hammer and Doreau discuss the incident, with Doreau trying to figure out what Hammer said to make Raker snap. She recalls a news article on mind control techniques related to the KGB's white room process. Hammer suspects that Raker was brainwashed to break down whenever the subject of Haggis is brought upon. Hoping the mastermind will come to him, he then tells Trunk that he will testify against Haggis on grounds of new evidence.
The next night, Hammer is sedated and abducted out of his apartment by VVC employees. He wakes up inside a white room in the network building, strapped to a chair and exposed to television images. The brainwashing process, however, proves to be a failure, as Hammer dozes off. Smartikoff tries using violent images, but they only excite Hammer. The programmer runs out of ideas to brainwash Hammer, who points out that the only person capable of reaching into his mind is himself. Smartikoff then develops a virtual
recreation of Hammer as a means of going through his subconscious. Using the virtual program, Smartikoff orders Hammer to shoot District Attorney Theiss if he continues to press further against Haggis.
Hammer wakes up the next morning, not remembering the events from the night before. At the courthouse, Theiss (Ken Letner) calls in Hammer to testify. But when Hammer sees Haggis' red shoes, he starts to snap and pulls his gun. However, he points his gun at Rinsler, who tells him he's supposed to kill Theiss; thus confessing to the brainwashing incidents. Rinsler then pulls out a gun, but Hammer shoots it out of his hand. The bullet ricochets and hits Haggis in the foot. As Haggis is taken away, Hammer explains that he is immune to subconscious brainwashing because he does not have one.
Back at the precinct, Hammer explains to Trunk that during his brainwashing ordeal, he thought of one thing: the person closest to him that he's never expressed his true feelings. Doreau thinks he is talking about her, but he pulls his gun, revealing it to be what he is talking about.
in the season 2 DVD boxed set, the film format of the series was downgraded from 35mm to 16mm in order to cut costs.
The character Landon Smartikoff is a parody of NBC
executive Brandon Tartikoff
. In one scene, Smartikoff envisions a fourth television network in the country, which is a jab on the then-fledgling FOX Network
.
Hammer's virtual recreation is a parody of Max Headroom
. The episode itself was originally titled "Max Sledgeroom", but was met by objections from ABC executives. Incidentally, David Rasche
was one of the early actors considered to play Max Headroom before Matt Frewer
landed the role.
Sledge Hammer!
Sledge Hammer! is an American satirical police sitcom produced by New World Television that ran for two seasons on ABC from 1986 to 1988. The series was created by Alan Spencer and stars David Rasche as Inspector Sledge Hammer, a preposterous caricature of the standard "cop on the edge" character,...
and the first episode of the series' second and final season. It originally aired on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
in the United States on September 17, 1987. While the episode is mostly a parody of the 1971 film A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange (film)
A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 film adaptation of Anthony Burgess's 1962 novel of the same name. It was written, directed and produced by Stanley Kubrick...
, series creator Alan Spencer
Alan Spencer
Alan Spencer is an American television writer and producer, known for creating the 1980s satirical police series Sledge Hammer!. He was one of the youngest people ever to join the Writers Guild of America, writing for television at the age of fifteen...
cites the 1965 film The Ipcress File
The Ipcress File (film)
The Ipcress File is a 1965 British espionage film directed by Sidney J. Furie and starring Michael Caine, Guy Doleman, and Nigel Green. The screenplay by Bill Canaway and James Doran was based on Len Deighton's 1962 novel, The IPCRESS File. It has won critical acclaim and a BAFTA award for best...
as the episode's real inspiration.
The episode begins with the last scene of the season 1 ender "The Spa Who Loved Me
The Spa Who Loved Me
"The Spa Who Loved Me" is the 22nd episode of the television series Sledge Hammer! and the final episode of the show's first season. It originally aired on ABC in the United States on April 28, 1987...
", where Hammer attempted to defuse a nuclear bomb, only to destroy the city in the process - resulting in a cliffhanger ending. However, following the scene, a disclaimer explains that this episode takes place five years before "that explosion".
Plot summary
During an important trial involving mob boss Johnny "Red Shoes" Haggis (Eugene Robert GlazerEugene Robert Glazer
Eugene Robert Glazer is an American actor best known for his portrayal of "Operations" on the TV show La Femme Nikita. Glazer was raised in Brooklyn, New York, and worked at a variety of jobs before moving to Los Angeles in the 1970s to pursue his acting career...
), police officer Chris Raker (Dan Lauria
Dan Lauria
Daniel Joseph "Dan" Lauria is an American television and film actor.-Early life:Lauria, an Italian-American, was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Carmela and Joseph J. Lauria. He also lived in Lindenhurst, New York...
) takes to the stand to testify against the mobster when he suddenly twitches and loses all sense of control, hearing a ringing sound and seeing violent images in his mind. This incident results in the trial being put on hold.
At the precinct, Hammer dismisses Raker as a wimp. Trunk, however, is depressed, as he saw himself being a "second father" to Raker. Hammer suggests that Raker faked a psychotic break after being paid off by Haggis.
Meanwhile at Vile Video Concepts, Haggis' lawyer Marc Rinsler (Sal Viscuso
Sal Viscuso
Sal Viscuso is an American actor.His most notable role was as the uncredited, unseen P.A. system announcer in the long-running TV series M*A*S*H. He also made several one-shot appearances as other characters throughout the series, usually as a patient at the 4077th...
) meets up with Landon Smartikoff (Nicholas Guest
Nicholas Guest
Nicholas Haden-Guest is an American actor. He primarily works as a voice actor, but is best known for a TV role, as the principal in the NBC teen sitcom, USA High.-Personal life:...
), the company's head of production. It is revealed that Smartikoff has developed a means of reprogramming people's minds through television. Rinsler pays Smartikoff as a reward for reprogramming Raker.
Later that night, Hammer is at his apartment when Raker comes in. Raker explains to Hammer that he did not take any bribes and does not remember anything other than the ringing sound in his ears and nightmares of a white room. As Hammer urges Raker to try to remember what he saw, Raker suddenly snaps and goes berserk before Hammer knocks him out.
After Raker is taken away to a hospital, Hammer and Doreau discuss the incident, with Doreau trying to figure out what Hammer said to make Raker snap. She recalls a news article on mind control techniques related to the KGB's white room process. Hammer suspects that Raker was brainwashed to break down whenever the subject of Haggis is brought upon. Hoping the mastermind will come to him, he then tells Trunk that he will testify against Haggis on grounds of new evidence.
The next night, Hammer is sedated and abducted out of his apartment by VVC employees. He wakes up inside a white room in the network building, strapped to a chair and exposed to television images. The brainwashing process, however, proves to be a failure, as Hammer dozes off. Smartikoff tries using violent images, but they only excite Hammer. The programmer runs out of ideas to brainwash Hammer, who points out that the only person capable of reaching into his mind is himself. Smartikoff then develops a virtual
Virtual reality
Virtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...
recreation of Hammer as a means of going through his subconscious. Using the virtual program, Smartikoff orders Hammer to shoot District Attorney Theiss if he continues to press further against Haggis.
Hammer wakes up the next morning, not remembering the events from the night before. At the courthouse, Theiss (Ken Letner) calls in Hammer to testify. But when Hammer sees Haggis' red shoes, he starts to snap and pulls his gun. However, he points his gun at Rinsler, who tells him he's supposed to kill Theiss; thus confessing to the brainwashing incidents. Rinsler then pulls out a gun, but Hammer shoots it out of his hand. The bullet ricochets and hits Haggis in the foot. As Haggis is taken away, Hammer explains that he is immune to subconscious brainwashing because he does not have one.
Back at the precinct, Hammer explains to Trunk that during his brainwashing ordeal, he thought of one thing: the person closest to him that he's never expressed his true feelings. Doreau thinks he is talking about her, but he pulls his gun, revealing it to be what he is talking about.
Production notes
According to series creator Alan SpencerAlan Spencer
Alan Spencer is an American television writer and producer, known for creating the 1980s satirical police series Sledge Hammer!. He was one of the youngest people ever to join the Writers Guild of America, writing for television at the age of fifteen...
in the season 2 DVD boxed set, the film format of the series was downgraded from 35mm to 16mm in order to cut costs.
The character Landon Smartikoff is a parody of NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
executive Brandon Tartikoff
Brandon Tartikoff
Brandon Tartikoff was a television executive who was credited with turning around NBC's low prime time reputation with such hit series as Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, ALF, Family Ties, The Cosby Show, Cheers, Seinfeld, Miami Vice, The Golden Girls, Knight Rider, The A-Team, St...
. In one scene, Smartikoff envisions a fourth television network in the country, which is a jab on the then-fledgling FOX Network
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
.
Hammer's virtual recreation is a parody of Max Headroom
Max Headroom (character)
Max Headroom is a fictional British artificial intelligence, known for his wit and stuttering, distorted, electronically sampled voice. The character was created by George Stone, Annabel Jankel, and Rocky Morton in the mid nineteen eighties, and portrayed by Matt Frewer as "The World's first...
. The episode itself was originally titled "Max Sledgeroom", but was met by objections from ABC executives. Incidentally, David Rasche
David Rasche
-Early life and career:Rasche was born in St. Louis, Missouri. His father was a minister and farmer. Rasche started in theatre, but also has appeared on numerous movies and television series. He became a member of the Chicago Second City, after John Belushi moved on to Saturday Night Live...
was one of the early actors considered to play Max Headroom before Matt Frewer
Matt Frewer
Matthew "Matt" Frewer is a Canadian American stage, TV and film actor. Acting since 1983, he is known for portraying the 1980s icon Max Headroom and the retired villain Moloch in the film adaptation of Watchmen.-Life and career:...
landed the role.