Hank - Der (un)heimliche Student

I just happened to be looking at some old favorites and stumbled on this one. I was a fan of Hank too. Friday nights at 8 PM...followed by Camp Runamuck (another fond memory) at 8:30 (or vice versa)...... Hank did an unusual thing on this show..while others were "dropping out" of college, he "dropped in". He couldn't afford tuition and this was his only option for an education he desperately wanted. The other comments were accurate about his disguises and staying one step ahead of everyone...

The final episode had him impersonating another student (false chin and all) who was supposed to be under quarantine. He is finally caught after all his close calls during the run of the show. But, in his disguise, he had taken a standard exam and had scored the highest score ever recorded. He is assured of a scholarship and all his hard work is rewarded. The show ends with his future at the college assured........

I have fond memories of "Hank" and remember watching it religiously on Friday nights. I was in the seventh grade when the show was on. I thought it was extremely clever, and it contributed to a fascination with college that I already had. (I ended up spending 13 years in college and graduate school--but I took all my classes legally!) As I remember, the college president's major crusade was trying to catch students who audited classes. A few years later, he would have been happy if the biggest problem on campus was unregistered students sitting in on classes. I also remember that the president's daughter was Hank's girlfriend and that she knew all about Hank's illegal activities. In retrospect, however, I have to wonder why Hank could not have gotten an athletic scholarship since he was such a fabulous athlete. I don't remember seeing the last episode that wrapped up the show. It is too bad the network did not renew it.

Wow. I was starting to think I was the only person who REMEMBERED "Hank", let alone really enjoyed it! Was almost to the point of declaring my memory of the program to be a figment of my imagination when I finally came across a couple websites that actually had some info and clips! More proof you can find ANYTHING on the web, I guess! It's just nice to see the pics and remember my youth.

"Hank" has provided me with years of fun as a "stump anyone" trivia question! Many people actually accuse me of "making it up" when I share the plot line with them! Now I'll be able to send them the link to the sites!

Doug

I remember watching the show as a young teen. Its vague, but I remember him in a medical school class episode. It seems there was also a professor that was supportive of his attending class, though I don't remember if he knew Hank was not enrolled.

Although I only saw a few episodes it had quite an impact on encouraging me toward college. As a teen without much in the way of funding, I tried Hanks method of attending college classes by audit,less the fake mustache. I attended at least 15 classes just to learn the material.(audit without paying used to be pretty easy in the 70s). Professors were always willing to read my papers and let me test. I later earned my BS and graduate degree, and work in emergency medical research and nanotechnology, in part thanks to Hanks example. Thanks Hank!

to all "Hank" fans, I seem to recall the theme song going something like this:

He's up with the sun, And he's got the college singing, As he goes off on another swinging day.

There're jobs to be done, Or errands to run, He's A - Number One - OK!

He'll drive, clean your clothes, Be a butler or a porter, If it means another quarter in the bank.

He'll get his degree, His Phi Beta key, And get 'em both for free, That's Hank.