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Retro TV Kolchak: The Night Stalker 

This video is part of an ongoing project to build a retrospective TV archive made for the LL community on my Retro TV channel at

http://www.liveleak.com/c/Retro_TV_

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Kolchak aired between 1974 and 1975. A one season wonder with 20 episodes and two pilot episodes which were basically made for TV movies, the first was "The Night Stalker"(1972) and the second was "The Night Strangler"(1973). A third movie was planned but the network decided to make it a series.

For the first four episodes the show was called "The Night Stalker", after that it was changed to "Kolchak: The Night Stalker". Even though the show had a short run it had a heavy influence on pop culture. For example, X-Files producer Chris Carter talks about how Kolchak heavily influenced his series. In fact as an homage to Kolchak Darren McGavin appeared several times as a retired FBI agent named Arthur Dales who was said to be the "father of the X-Files". If you liked the X-Files you'll probably like this show too.

The show was cool. McGavin, the star of the show, did a lot of rewriting on the scripts and he's very talented. It was basically the 10pm Friday night slot that killed the show, not a popular time slot. The show features a "who's who" of guest stars too. Too many to list here.
In an interesting twist the series takes place on an alternate Earth in a different universe.


Added: Aug-9-2012 Occurred On: Aug-9-2012
By: Rikki_Tikki_Tavi
In: Creative, Other Entertainment, Other
Tags: Retro TV, TV, retrospective, Kolchak, The Night Stalker, TV intro, opening, closing, theme,
Location: United States (load item map)
Marked as: approved
Views: 1810 | Comments: 7 | Votes: 5 | Favorites: 1 | Shared: 0 | Updates: 0 | Times used in channels: 3
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  • That was a good show.

    Posted Aug-9-2012 By 
    moefugger (2157.96)  

    (2)

  • Got the DVD boxset of this! Still a fantastic series almost 4 decades later.I first discovered Kolchak in the late 80's when the BBC used to broadcast it very late at night so it was perfect for after drinking/pub viewing.I know the special effects and costumes are a bit ropey compared what they're capable of nowadays,but the scripts are still absolutely sharp as the day they were written and the acting from Darren McGavin could never be critised.

    Posted Aug-9-2012 By 
    Zeb (652.60)  

    (2)

  • Great old movie and series.

    Thanks for the vid.

    "And if you find yourself walking down a dark alley in Vegas.............."

    Posted Aug-9-2012 By 
    Buzz1964 (1075.72)  

    (2)

  • ---christopher lee always got typecast as the villan--you ever notice?---

    Posted Aug-9-2012 By 
    ARNOLD-R-LANE (1093.78)  

    (2)

  • Comment of user 'BloodyPeasant' has been deleted by author!

  • That was a great series. Watched it every chance I got back then :@)

    Posted Aug-9-2012 By 
    Ruffus (4471.44)  

    (1)

  • Remember this well. Had a couple of really good episodes. The pilot (The Night Strangler) is on uTube.

    My dad used to play for Disney on Parade as well as Disney on Ice. They would come through and hire local musicians for the shows. Got to see a lot of those for free. It's all canned music now...

    Posted Aug-9-2012 By 
    tsarbomba1 (194.66)  

    (1)

  • Notice the David Chase Story Consultant credit...

    ...he later masterminded The Sopranos.

    Posted Sep-10-2012 By 
    Bashman (818.72)  

    (1)