Kolchak: The Night Stalker

[Crimson]

I'm surprised there isn't a discussion on this one. I've never seen it, but I've long been intrigued by it. With October around the corner, I'm considering lining this up for my pre-Halloween binge.

For anyone who has seen it, how does it hold up? I find most TV dramas of the vintage to be a real slog. Is there any atmosphere in this show, or is it just going to be QUINCY with vampires?

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

It's a bit of a slog, yes. Darren McGavin wanted to turn the two TV movies into a series, and once he got it, he wanted out (the usual political problems behind the scenes, etc). Some episodes are better than others, naturally, but uninspired repetitiveness takes it down fast.

 

[Crimson]

Some episodes are better than others, naturally, but uninspired repetitiveness takes it down fast.

So, like most grind-it-out TV of the era. to that idea.

Maybe I'll just watch the TV-movies.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Maybe I'll just watch the TV-movies.

The original NIGHT STALKER (aired January 1972) was pretty good, the highest-rated TV movie up until that time, surpassing even BRIAN'S SONG (starring two Sun in Aries/Scorpio Risings, like BABY JANE) a few months before. I'm old enough to remember both pictures (but not BABY JANE, by the way). THE NIGHT STALKER telefilm has the right urgent mood, creepy Bob Colbert score, and vivid Las Vegas camerawork (if the print is decent) all brought to us by Dan "DARK SHADOWS" Curtis.

Then there was THE NIGHT STRANGLER (1973) which is okay; it drags a little. Richard Anderson (the obligatory Scorpio Rising villain) lives under San Francisco, presumably hits the Castro Street bars in the daytime; I can't remember why he has this lifestyle but I'm guessing he's evil. (I have the DVD, so I ought to know)..

The 1974/75 KOLCHAK series was produced by somebody else (Cy Chermak) and McGavin was displeased with the direction of the show. And one can see why. I got so exasperated with it as a kid, I soon switched over and watched POLICE WOMAN instead (good in its first season, less so later on) on Friday nights; KOLCHAK was replaced by ABC in its timeslot with BARETTA (who killed people for real).

I've seen all the KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER episodes in reruns, too. And my opinion remained unchanged. There are some entries that are acceptable, but I don't remember too many of 'em... The show has decent, ominous theme music by Gil Mellé (the opening titles perhaps the best part of the project).

I'd hate for you to miss the entire program due to my anti-recommendation, but I can't even recall which installments might've been worth a peek.

**It also got very confusing because, in 1974, you had multiple shows with startlingly similar names: KOJAK with Telly Savalas, KOLCHAK with Darren McGavin, KODIAK with Clint Walker, and, I think, KODAK about a police photographer...

 

[Seaviewer]

My father used to like it, but I never saw much in it. He called it The Night Streaker.

 

[Crimson]

I'd hate for you to miss the entire program due to my anti-recommendation, but I can't even recall which installments might've been worth a peek.

Obviously just watching the show and deciding for myself if I like it is an option ... except, KOLCHAK falls into the same bucket as THE YELLOW ROSE. I've never seen either but I've long been intrigued. I have wonderful ideas of what I think those shows are, but I strongly suspect I'll be disappointed even if the shows turn out to be enjoyable. My fantasies of the shows are likely to be more enjoyable than reality. Better tantalizing possibilities than confirmed disappointment.

But I'll likely watch at least one of the TV-movies in October and see how it goes.