Carl Kolchak was one of the definitive characters of 1970s television, at least from what my dad has told me. My dad grew up watching "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" (1974-75) as a teenager when it first aired in the mid-1970s. I don't know exactly why, but that was one of the shows he introduced me to when I was a little girl in the late '90s and early 2000s. I've loved it ever since.
It was kind of a predecessor to the hit 1990s science fiction show "The X-Files," except Kolchak has to take on and defeat monsters, demons, etc. on his own free time. While Mulder and Scully of "The X-Files" are FBI agents (and mega babes), Kolchak is a newspaper reporter for the INS (Independent News Service) in 1970s Chicago with a knack for getting into trouble with his editor. Besides his stint as Carl Kolchak, Darren McGavin was known best for his comedic portrayal of Ralphie's Old Man in "A Christmas Story" (1983).
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1. The Opening Theme of the Show Rivals The X-Files Theme
Okay, I'm not trying to pit the two shows against each other, but it's worth noting that both of the shows have killer intros (no pun intended). Any fan of "The X-Files" will stop in his/her tracks to hum and whistle the theme if it's being played in the vicinity. While Kolchak is way less-known today, any fan of the show will tell you that it's awesome. By the end of the opening credits, it gets really creepy, too — bonus points for that.
2. Carl Kolchak's Sass and Wisecracks
Seriously, the man deserves a million accolades. Darren McGavin gave a hilarious and multifaceted performance, making what could have been an ordinary sci-fi show into something spectacular. McGavin gave the character of Kolchak a deep-seated passion to weed out supernatural killers for the sake of humanity, even when nobody else believed him. Laugh at him all you want — the man got stuff done.
3. The Supporting Cast
Along with McGavin, there were several other characters who were regulars on the show. Simon Oakley gives a funny performance as the perpetually pissed off/stressed out newspaper editor, Tony Vincenzo. Ruth McDevitt portrays the elderly Emily Cowles (affectionately called "Miss Emily") who pens advice columns and puzzles for INS. She's always a sweetheart and she's so cute. Jack Grinnage is also funny as Ron Updyke, a smug guy who also reports for INS. Kolchak and Updyke always butt heads and their spats always end with Kolchak calling him "Uptight". Along with the regular performers, there were many great guest appearances.
4. The Impact That It Made In a One Season Run
The tragic part about "Kolchak: The Night Stalker"is that it only lasted one season. Later on, television shows like "My So-Called Life" and "Freaks and Geeks" were — in my and many others' opinion — axed way before their time, just as "Kolchak" was. However, it was Darren McGavin who wanted to be released from his contract because he became dissatisfied by the scripts and because his producing efforts on the show went uncredited.
There are still a lot of fans of the show out there, putting "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" into the category of cult classic. It is believed that The X-Files was highly influenced by this show. Look no further than one episode that aired during "The X-Files"revival season earlier this year: They brought on a character that highly resembled the beloved television icon of the 1970s:
5. The "Monster of the Week" Formatting Never Goes Out of Style
"Kolchak: The Night Stalker" episodes all followed the "Monster of the Week" format, meaning that there were no ongoing story arcs; each episode revolved around different supernatural threats. One week, Kolchak found himself fighting a werewolf while the next he fought a revenge-seeking headless motorcycle rider. You never know what he's going to get himself into next and that's half of the fun.
It's also worth mentioning that Kolchak: The Night Stalker is available to stream on Netflix. If you haven't watched it, you totally should!
