New NIGHT STALKER series

[Remo D]

So... has ANYONE else checked this out? ANYONE?

Okay, if you're a fan of the original adventures of Carl Kolchak, and if that's the reason that brings you to the table, the new NIGHT STALKER series (Thursdays on ABC) is a complete and total blasphemy. Sure, there's a character NAMED "Carl Kolchak," and there's a character NAMED "Tony Vincenzo," and they work for a newspaper. In L.A. this time. But Stuart Townsend's youthful Kolchak comes PRE-EQUIPPED with a past involving "the unknown" (monsters killed his pregnant wife--you know, like the way the aliens abducted Mulder's sister), and he's got a partner (Gabrielle Union) that believes in logical solutions to every crime even when she gets attacked by "the unknown" herself (you know, just like Scully... oh, hell, you get the idea). The simple, wonderful formula of the 70s? Monster attacks, we find out what the monster is, we find out what will defeat the monster, and Kolchak is the only one willing to go out and DO something about it? Fuhgeddaboutit. This is gonna be one of those patchy, ambiguous, conspiracy-flavored things (you know, just like... HELL, I'VE GOT TO STOP DOING THIS!).

All right, but let's say that you're NOT a fan of the original. You've NEVER heard of Carl Kolchak before, and you could give less of a rip WHAT sort of tribute is paid by this new series. Let's say you're coming in cold, and you'd like to check out this new supernatural investigation series.

Well, you know what? You might as well go back and read my previous summary. You STILL won't get anything more than a marginally-competent X-FILES ripoff, which is all the producers wanted to make in the first place. They just secured the rights to the show that inspired their own inspiration, kept the title, kept two character names and the "newspaper" setting, and chucked everything else out.

So on its own, it's completely uninspired. And as a remake, it's a shameful disgrace. And as I've said elsewhere, my guess is that it won't last long enough to fill the tape I threw into the VCR just in case.

Hey--this is the guy who liked KINGDOM HOSPITAL talking--so you'd better listen, no?

[hodgy]

I'm a lover of the old school Darren McGavin Kolchak. The Night Stalker is something I would stay up late to watch when my dad would let me. Totally brings back my youth. Nowadays, I catch the reruns on SciFi and chuckle some. When I heard the radio ads for the new show, I thought I might give it a shot, but I had band practice instead last night. I'm not really sorry at all. I think I will avoid this show at all costs. No reason to soil the gems of my youth any further...

[hodgy]

On the other hand, if it was DEVIN Townsend as Carl...

[Latte Thunder]

I saw a little bit of the pilot and lost interest very quickly. I love the original and stop to watch them whenever Sci Fi Channel runs them, but I just couldn't get into the new one at all.

Actually, for genre television, my wife and I are addicted to the WB's Supernatural. The writing is awful, the characters are completely transparent and the horror is inspired by the latest wave of Hollywood horror, but there's something compelling in it that we can't stop watching.

[llapman]

I'm an old school, old fool like Hodgie, and I too loved the original when I was a kid. I did check it out last week, and it kept my interest. It can't compare to the original, as this one is too serious, and Townsend is no McGavin. But I thought it was better than average for TV, and the digital cameo of the original Kolchak was a nice touch. The one tonight looks like it could be ok as well. Up against CSI, I expect it to last as long as the original did.

Later

[Remo D]

Sheesh--the latest episode (the "you know what you have to do" one) wasn't bad on its own. In fact, it would have been perfectly fine if it had been an actual episode of THE X-FILES.

But they just HAD to go and name it after Kolchak... and not only that, they had to run an ad for the REAL Kolchak show in the middle just to show how much the new show fails to resemble it!

Damned by association...

[MetalGoddess]

I loved the old series too. Glad I read your opinion before I wasted time watching it.

The only network two shows I've watched the last two years are Lost and Medium. I'm pleased that they both won Emmys this year. It's rare that I like the same shows the critics do.

[BILE]

On the other hand, if it was DEVIN Townsend as Carl...

Fuck Yeah!!!!