TVSquad

Raven was a show that ran on CBS for one season in 1992-93. It concerned Jonathon Raven (that's not a typo - it's "on" not "an"), an ex-spy and martial arts expert looking for the teen son that vanished after his wife died. With the help of his ex-Special Forces buddy Herman "Ski" Jablonski, he tracks the son to Hawaii. While looking for him, he helps people who are in trouble, often using martial arts.

OK, I know that description might sound a little lame, but let me describe things a little bit more.

The show starred Jeffrey Meek, who until then was known for his role as another ex-spy on The Exile, one of the "Crimetime After Primetime" shows that used to run on CBS late at night in the 80s. (He was later  a semi-regular on Charmed and was actually one of the uncredited writers of the Kevin Spacey movie Beyond The Sea). Co-hort Ski was played by the Six Million Dollar Man himself, Lee Majors, in a really great performance (overweight, boozy, gravelly voiced weapons expert). This show was a kick (no pun intended). Sure, it had the same structure as a lot of hero with a past helps strangers shows (Stingray, Highlander, ), but it was laced with humor, stylish fight scenes, and the beautiful scenery of Oahu. And some cool plots and guest starts (one of my favorites: Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman as a lethal assassin!). Good escapism.

I think one of the reasons I was so into the show is that I had been to Hawaii a few years before the show debuted, and had been a Magnum fan for years. So I love Hawaii, and when any show is set there, it instantly gets my interest (yes, I even sat through that Hawaii show with Bo Derek and Matt Horsley).

What happened to Raven? Well, the show was actually in the Top 10 the week it debuted, then the ratings started to slip for whatever reason. But it still lasted a season somehow. You know what finally knocked it off the air? Freakin' Chuck Norris and his Walker, Texas Ranger! That's right, another martial arts show. I guess fans wanted to see ass-kicking action, but only if the hero wore a cowboy hat and boots.