fire up the instant replay machine ... for kolchak: the night stalker

once upon a time, i wrote a column called "instant replay" . and when i say a column, i mean A COLUMN.

like, one.

it was supposed to be a series, but just when i'd started it, i got busy with other things (namely, work) and didn't get to continue it. the idea was to find, watch and review some of the older, more obscure gems on netflix at the time. it was an idea i appropriated from deadspin and adapted to my own weird watching habits.

after feeding the algorithm a couple of walter matthau movies and some old x-files eps, it spit out kolchak: the night stalker as a recommendation. the premise was interesting enough: intrepid reporter investigates paranormal activity in the city of chicago. what actually got me to watch was that the main character, carl kolchak, was played by darren mcgavin nine years before we knew him as ralphie's dad from a christmas story (and 10 years before richard ramirez etched his name into grisly california crime lore).

it was never a binge watch. i'd throw on an episode or two after work but eventually i fell off from watching and never finished the series. sadly, it's no longer on netlix. but it is on amazon. so for poops and chuckles, i dropped $20 to get the first and only season with the intent of doing written reviews. because why not? 

a few facts about the show...

• the show aired 20 episodes on abc from 1974 to 1975
• premiered september 1974 -- on friday the 13th
• product of a pair of tv movies (the night stalker -- 1972; the night strangler -- 1973)
• frequently credited as being an inspiration for the x-files
• resurrected for a second series on abc 2005 but was canceled after six episodes

beginning next week, i'll post a new review every friday, in honor of the show's original air day. i really have no idea what this project will end up being. i suspect, it'll be part art project and part sociology experiment. mostly it'll be a way to stave off my own personal boredom. but i encourage you to come along for the ride.

until then ... happy stalking.

on the premiere of kolchak: the night stalker: carl may be up against the original jack the ripper -- a black-caped, bullet-resistant, super-human killer of women.