List of Kolchak: The Night Stalker episodes
This is an episode list for the original 1974-1975 television series Kolchak: The Night Stalker, produced by Universal Television for the ABC Television Network.
In 1972 and 1973, ABC had produced and aired two made-for-TV movies, which became the de facto pilots for the subsequent series. The original movie, based on an unpublished novel titled simply The Night Stalker, would spawn a direct sequel in the form of an episode of the series titled The Vampire. The second movie, The Night Strangler, however, was an entirely original story. The first episode of the series, The Ripper, is sometimes mistaken for the pilot of the series, and does share a number of plot similarities with the 2nd movie.
The series was originally given a full season order, but was cancelled after only 20 episodes were produced. Three additional scripts were written and in various stages of development at the time of cancellation and are included below as unproduced episodes.
The series resulted out of a rejected third movie script titled The Night Killers, whose plot involved aliens replacing government officials with androids. Though never produced, the series would address all three aspects of its plot individually in separate episodes.
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Ripper" | Allen Baron | Rudolph Borchert | September 13, 1974 |
|
Kolchak argues that a serial killer is actually Jack the Ripper. Included with "The Vampire" in The Night Stalker: Two Tales of Terror video compilation. | ||||
| 2 | "The Zombie" | Alex Grasshoff | Teleplay by: Zekial Marko and David Chase Story by: Zekial Marko | September 20, 1974 |
| A grandmother seeks revenge for her grandson's death by turning him into a zombie to do her bidding. Originally listed in TV Guide as the show's debut episode. | ||||
| 3 | "They Have Been, They Are, They Will Be..." | Allen Baron | Teleplay by: Rudolph Borchert Story by: Dennis Clark | September 27, 1974 |
|
Also known as "U.F.O."[1] An invisible alien sucks down the bone marrow of its victims while it makes repairs and looks for directions home. This is the only story where Kolchak fails to stop the "monster." Sportscaster Dick Enberg can be heard on Kolchak's car radio calling game 1 of a fictional World Series between the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox. | ||||
| 4 | "The Vampire" | Don Weis | Teleplay by: David Chase Story by: Bill Stratton | October 4, 1974 |
|
A sequel to the first movie The Night Stalker. An overlooked victim of the Las Vegas vampire makes her way to Los Angeles and begins killing anew. Typically shown as the first episode of the 16 originally available for syndication and included with "The Ripper" in The Night Stalker: Two Tales of Terror video compilation. | ||||
| 5 | "The Werewolf" | Allen Baron | David Chase and Paul Playdon | November 1, 1974 |
| In snowy Chicago the INS Christmas party is to send off Tony Vincenzo, but he gets audited instead, and it is Carl who gets to go on the singles cruise, where a werewolf goes on a killing spree. | ||||
| 6 | "Firefall" | Don Weis | Bill S. Ballinger | November 8, 1974 |
|
The ghost of an arsonist tries to take over a renowned conductor's body as his doppelganger. This episode was combined with "The Energy Eater" and new narration by Darren McGavin to compose the telemovie Crackle of Death, effectively removing it from original syndication. One of the locations used, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Los Angeles, burned down in 1983. | ||||
| 7 | "The Devil's Platform" | Allen Baron | Teleplay by: Donn Mullally Story by: Tim Maschler | November 15, 1974 |
| A politician on a meteoric rise murders his opposition through a pact with Satan which gives him the ability to turn into an invulnerable dog. | ||||
| 8 | "Bad Medicine" | Alex Grasshoff | L. Ford Neale & John Huff | November 29, 1974 |
| The first based on a Native American legend, a Diablero shaman spirit murders for jewels to pay back his debt and be released from his Earthly bonds. | ||||
| 9 | "The Spanish Moss Murders" | Gordon Hessler | Teleplay by: Al Friedman and David Chase Story by: Al Friedman | December 6, 1974 |
| A dreaming host conjures up the Creole legend of Père Malfait (French: "father [of] evil-doing," originally an old French term for the Devil), a moss-monster (Richard Kiel) willing to kill anyone who threatens its survival. | ||||
| 10 | "The Energy Eater" | Alex Grasshoff | Teleplay by: Arthur Rowe and Rudolph Bochert Story by: Arthur Rowe | December 13, 1974 |
|
A hospital is built on reclaimed land inhabited by the Native American bear-spirit legend Matchemonedo which threatens to destroy anyone who inhabits it. This episode was combined with "Firefall" and new narration by Darren McGavin to compose the telemovie Crackle of Death, effectively removing it from original syndication. | ||||
| 11 | "Horror In The Heights" | Michael T. Caffey | Jimmy Sangster | December 20, 1974 |
| A Hindu Rakshasa terrorizes a Jewish neighborhood. | ||||
| 12 | "Mr. R.I.N.G." | Gene Levitt | L. Ford Neale & John Huff | January 10, 1975 |
| An android murders anyone that threatens its survival. | ||||
| 13 | "Primal Scream" | Robert Scheerer | Bill S. Ballinger and David Chase | January 17, 1975 |
| Defrosted ancient cell samples discovered in the Arctic grow into savage prehistoric primates and go on a rampage. | ||||
| 14 | "The Trevi Collection" | Don Weis | Rudolph Borchert | January 24, 1975 |
| A witch (played by Dark Shadows' "Angélique," Lara Parker) desires to control the world of high fashion. | ||||
| 15 | "Chopper" | Bruce Kessler | Teleplay by: Steve Fisher and David Chase Story by: Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale | January 31, 1975 |
| Bent on revenge, a headless motorcycle rider murders those who wronged him. | ||||
| 16 | "Demon In Lace" | Don Weis | Teleplay by: Stephen Lord & Michael Kozoll and David Chase Story by: Stephen Lord | February 7, 1975 |
|
A succubus from ancient Mesopotamia murders young men to maintain her immortality. This episode was combined with "Legacy of Terror" and new narration by Darren McGavin to compose the telemovie The Demon and The Mummy, effectively removing it from original syndication. | ||||
| 17 | "Legacy of Terror" | Don McDougall | Arthur Rowe | February 14, 1975 |
|
An Aztec cult seeks to resurrect the mummy of their god by murdering perfect people. Erik Estrada plays a chosen victim. This episode was combined with "Demon In Lace" and new narration by Darren McGavin to compose the telemovie The Demon and The Mummy, effectively removing it from original syndication. | ||||
| 18 | "The Knightly Murders" | Vincent McEveety | Teleplay by: Michael Kozoll and David Chase Story by: Paul Magistretti | March 7, 1975 |
| To prevent the destruction of its home, the spirit of a Knight reanimates a suit of armor to kill those responsible. | ||||
| 19 | "The Youth Killer" | Don McDougall | Rudolph Borchert | March 14, 1975 |
| Helen of Troy returns to drain the youth out of unsuspecting perfect victims, sacrifices for the goddess Hecate, in her quest for immortality. Cathy Lee Crosby guests as Helen of Troy. | ||||
| 20 | "The Sentry" | Seymour Robbie | L. Ford Neale & John Huff | March 28, 1975 |
|
A lizard-man creature kills subterranean workers who have stolen its eggs. This episode is noted for being very similar to the Star Trek episode "Devil in the Dark." | ||||
Unproduced Episodes
| 21 | "Eve of Terror" | N/A |
|---|---|---|
|
A Doctor Jekyll/Mr. Hyde story involving a scientist who kills anyone in her project's way. The first of two scripts which had been through the second-draft stage of pre-production and assigned a production number, but not produced prior to the series cancellation short of its original order.[2][3] Both of these were later produced as graphic comics by Moonstone Books. | ||
| 22 | "The Get of Belial" | N/A |
|
A faith healer suffers the murders by her monstrous son thanks to Belial's curse, in order to continue the work of God. The second of two scripts which had been through the second-draft stage of pre-production and assigned a production number, but not produced prior to the series cancellation short of its original order.[2][3] Both of these were later produced as graphic comics by Moonstone Books. | ||
| N/A | "The Executioners" | N/A |
|
The spirits of three executioners come to life and murder people, wherever their portrait painted with their cremated ashes is displayed. A third script draft also not produced prior to the series cancellation short of its original order.[2] Though in an early draft form at the time of cancellation and never assigned a production number, it is included here for completeness.[3] This and the third unproduced telemovie have never been produced in any form, though the movie script is published by Gauntlet Press.[4] | ||
See also
- The Night Stalker (1st movie) The original vampire story.
- The Night Strangler (2nd movie) A mad scientist achieves immortality through murderous means.
- The Night Killers (3rd unproduced movie) Aliens replace prominent citizens with androids in Hawaii.
- Crackle of Death (3rd produced movie) Series episodes Firefall and The Energy Eater combined with new narration.
- The Demon and the Mummy (4th movie) Series episodes Demon In Lace and Legacy of Terror combined with new narration.
- List of Night Stalker episodes (2005 Series)
- List of The X-Files episodes
- List of vampire television series
References
External links
- Kolchak: The Night Stalker at the Internet Movie Database
- X-Files vs. The Night Stalker - A Comparison Article