Despite his youth, Spencer had already written for Rodney Dangerfield and such television as "The Facts of Life" and "One Day at a Time". He sold his script upon the release of the fourth Dirty Harry movie "Sudden Impact" and the popularity of NBC's "Dirty Harry"-inspired action series "Hunter"; the latter property created demand for a satirical police television show. When HBO approached Leonard B. Stern, former producer of "Get Smart", about developing such a show, Stern recommended Spencer's "Sledge Hammer!" idea.