"Sledge Hammer" began every episode with a stylized, surreal title sequence accompanied by Danny Elfman's theme. (Some people admit dancing to it when they watched the show as kids.)

The show's credits are described in "The Complete Directory To Prime Time Network TV Shows" as lovingly depicting Hammer's Magnum with beauty shots equal to a new car commercial: "Each episode opened with the camera caressing this gleaming weapon, while ominous music thundered in the background."

Absurdly resting on a satin pillow, the sequence would end with Hammer clutching the weapon, uttering his catch phrase ("Trust me, I know what I'm doing."), then firing a bullet directly at the TV screen - shattering it.

The network's broadcast standards department vetoed Hammer firing straightforwardly into the camera fearing it would frighten viewers, also leaving the network liable in case someone watching had a heart attack.

A compromise was reached: Hammer would fire a bullet slightly to the left of the screen, thus avoiding a direct hit with the center.

Nevertheless, somewhere in the Midwest a newspaper wrote about their local affiliate being startled on the night of the series' debut: "Who was the dummy at Channel 12 fooled by Sledge's opening gag? Sledge pulled his gun and shot into the camera. Glass shattered and the screen went blank for two seconds. A clever bit. However, someone at Channel 12 panicked and threw the station logo into the opening credits thinking something had gone wrong. Trust him, Sledge knows what he's doing."

The theme to "Sledge Hammer!" is available, along with other great music from classic shows, on Tee Vee Toon's "Television's Greatest Hits Volume 7: Cable Ready." A word of caution: If you decide to dance to it, always aim at your partner's feet.