I never once saw this show but had heard of it. Actually while young, I thought it had to do with the exploits of a Hooker in TJ(tijuana). Obviously that's not what it was about. But actually I'm just wondering, who came up with the name and why one that references the famous hookers of Mexico?
shareIt's an interesting choice for a name because I believe "hooker" is very much an alternative word for prostitute in America. I remember the word being used in the film D.A.R.Y.L. which was made in 1985. I wonder if this word was just as much part of every day language as it was when TJ Hooker started in 1982.
In my opinion, the word "Hooker" refers to the act of catching or hooking the bad guys. So it is a fitting name for a good cop.
TJ is JT backwards (James Tiberious Kirk).
And the TJ stands for "Thomas Jefferson"
shareOn SNL Shatner says it's Toby Jay
shareCreator and Producer Rick Husky:
"Nothing about [Hooker's] character was based upon an L.A. cop, though I am proud to have known many of them. I created the character when I wrote the pilot for the series, which I produced for 90 episodes. Hooker's last name was inspired by an American Civil War general, General Joe Hooker. Why? No reason, other than I liked the name. His full name: Thomas Jefferson Hooker."
Source: http://www.tj-hooker.com/faq.html#whatdoestjstandfor
If I'm not mistaken the the first use of the slang word "Hooker" historically occurred during the Civil War, referring to the prostitutes that occasionally followed General Hooker's troops as a source of potential "johns", or "customers". The "Hooker" name historically has significant "honorable" roots, but the widespread usage of the slang term has overshadowed the names true heritage. One of the wealthiest families in Australia for example is the Hooker Family, none of whom are employed in any immoral occupations as far as I know.
When the TV Show T.J. Hooker first aired, it had a major impact on my childhood. The kids I attended grade school with started referring to the T.V Show "T.J. Hooker" when teasing me about my last name which is in fact "Hooker". Life has been somewhat challenging growing up a last name of "Hooker", but with a cop named "T.J. Hooker" on television, finally it was cool to be a "Hooker".
Thank you Rick Husky.
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I just watched the TJ Hooker SNL skit on Hulu. Shatner does say Toby Jay but they changed several details for this sketch. They also kept calling him TJ instead of "Hooker" and they called Romano "Vinny". This probably had to do with copyright infringement etc.. TJ Hooker was an ABC show.
shareThe earliest known reference for the term "hooker" as referring to a prostitute dates to 1845.
shareA TJ hooker, that's funny! There was one name, Willow Bay, she used to do a NBA show, and as a tot I thought it was strange a parent would name their girl: will obey.
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