New 'Stalker' hunts for that '70s sizzle (Kolchak Returns)

NY Daily News ^ | 9/29/05 | staff

[pissant]

NIGHT STALKER. Tonight at 9, ABC. In two immensely popular telemovies and one season of a less popular spinoff series in the 1970s, Darren McGavin played Carl Kolchak, a persistent middle-aged reporter whose nose for news kept sniffing out evidence of the paranormal.

"Kolchak: The Night Stalker" was the spiritual father of "The X-Files," so it's only fitting that one of the writer-producers of "The X-Files" has been handed the task of updating Kolchak for a new generation.

Viewers coming to the premiere of ABC's "Night Stalker" tonight at 9 would be wise to picture themselves as armchair Kolchaks: Each week, they're bound to run into something creepy, but how spooky and powerful it is will largely be the luck of the draw. Think of it as an anthology show that will take a while to find its level.

Based on tonight's pilot and another episode provided for preview, this new Kolchak, played by Stuart Townsend, differs significantly from the original. He's younger and more handsome, more Clark Kent than Willy Loman. And he quickly gets a partner and co-star: Gabrielle Union as Perri Reed, who serves as Carl's friendly newsroom adversary - his Lois Lane, or even his Scully.

This 21st-century Kolchak, like the vintage version, is still a reporter and still obsessed with the paranormal. He also keeps a straw hat on the rack in his laughably gorgeous residence. But where McGavin's Kolchak wore it like a badge of honor, it's hard to imagine this Carl ever taking his skimmer off the rack.

Watch closely, though, in an early newsroom scene, and you can see footage of McGavin as the character in the '70s, digitally inserted as a loving homage. Writer-producer Frank Spotnitz unquestionably knew the original series, even though he'd decided to remake it in someone else's image.

Kolchak, circa 2005, is a brooding man with a tortured past. He's a widower whose wife died under very mysterious circumstances. Plots are dark and there are some satisfyingly surprising twists.

What the show lacks most is the humor that lightened the original. Also, Townsend doesn't shine as a dynamic actor or character. Union, as the feisty female reporter, is much stronger, and even much funnier.

Had Spotnitz really reimagined the central character, and cast Union as Carla Kolchak, "Night Stalker" might have been better from the start. But for now it's a show worth watching, to see how, and if, it develops.

[RightWhale]

The title shot was a wall and then a shadow moving up on it. Low budget, but fascinating to this kid.

[keithtoo]

Fright Night was kind of a teenish vampire flick that came out in about 1982-3. I liked it (I was about 22 at the time). It was genuinely scary.

I really don't care much for the older vamp flicks. The acting and the effects are a bit to clunky for me. I don't care much for any horror films made in the last 20 years though, so I guess my era is 1970-85.

[pissant]

Simon Oakland was very convincing playing a guy getting utter heartburn from Kolchak's antics!

[pissant]

Some of the early TV shows are head and antlers above the crap of today!

[pissant]

I loved all the old Universal flicks. Frankenstein, the Mummy (still seems creepy), Wolfman, etc...

[185JHP]

Remember the lovely Carol Lynley?

[RightWhale]

Many were classical. And classics. It comes with the territory--new medium.

[pissant]

YUP!

[pissant]

I agree!

[apackof2]

I loved Darren McGavin as Kolchak

New series has some big shoes to fill

[Starter]

I was a huge fan of the original, so I've been awaiting this one anxiously. So tonight, I finished watching Survivor and switched over to ABC... and saw "Alias" on there. So I thought, "Well, I must have gotten the time wrong" and switched over to watch Trump. After the dork got fired (I swear. Have some of these people not seen the show before? Trump was sending signals not to do something that were only a tad less obvious than sending a singing telegram... and the idiot did it anyway. Sigh.) I started surfing channels and discovered that yes, in fact, Night Stalker was on. Stupid ABC, starting their shows a minute after the other networks. Grrr.....


Oh, BTW. The original series will be released on DVD next Tuesday. Woot.

[skr]

Exactly!

[TheBigB]

As a HUGE Kolchak fan, I am disturbed that I was not pinged. :)P

Well, anyway. I watched last night (after the season premiere of SMALLVILLE). I wasn't expecting much, to be honest, but it was slightly better than I had hoped. The review is correct in that Stuart Townsend--although he isn't bad-- doesn't seem to really have the screen "presence" or biting wit that fans would expect for such a role. The interplay between him and Gabrielle Union was pretty good. Didn't see enough of the guy playing Tony Vincenzo to form an opinion. On opposite CSI, I'm sure it'll struggle to find an audience. But I'll keep watching.

And as someone else said...coming Tuesday...

[brwnsuga]

I remember watching repeats of the series when I was little and it was really scary. Darren McGavin made the show with his ironic/ comedic take. Stuart Townsend is cute, but he is no Darren McGavin.

[Tribune7]

Fright Night is a great movie. Check it out.

And the Night Stalker is one of the best TV movies ever.

[hlmencken3]

I liked the show, but it ran just one season (20 episodes). Hollywood's really dredging to come up with this fresh idea.

[TheBigB]

Fun facts: Two of the principal characters in "Fright Night", Stephen Geoffreys (Ed) and Amanda Bearse, were also both in a summer movie in 1985 titled "Fraternity Vacation" (along with a young Tim Robbins). SG and AB played a couple in that film, which is pretty funny considering that Bearse eventually came out as a lesbian, and Geoffreys went into gay porn.

[EveningStar]

I watched it. I too didn't expect much and got slightly more than I expected. The only actor who impressed me was the guy who played the kid photographer. Gabrielle Union is pretty, though. For me, the show has no soul. I'll keep watching, though.

For those of you who were fans of the old show, but haven't seen this one yet: this is a completely different show.

I did order the DVD set of the old series. I hope it's as good as I remember it. I already have the DVD of The Night Stalker / The Night Strangler TV movies. Those movies hold up just fine for me. :)

[EveningStar]

ping

[Simmy2.5]

I saw parts of the series opener. I thought it was pretty good. Had that film noir feel to it. Too bad it is up against one of my favorite shows though, CSI.