September 29, 2005

Kolchak…back from the dead?

Tonight, the "new" series Night Stalker premieres on ABC. The original series from the 70’s was one of my favorite shows growing up. Let’s hope this new version of Night Stalker lives up to the greatness of the original, starring Darren McGavin as Carl Kolchak and Simon Oakland as his boss Vincenzo.

If it turns out to be a disappointment, we can always just catch the original 20 episodes still airing on the SciFi Channel.

in the original series, there were 2 episodes that were of specific interest to Bigfooters. The first was titled "The Spanish Moss Murders". There are several victims that are killed in "accidents" where they are crushed and also are found to be covered with Spanish Moss. All of the victims are related to a central character, who in a dream state, has conjured up a Spanish Moss covered, Cajun bayou "boogie man" that crushes the life out of the victims. Kolchak ends up making his way through the sewers of Chicago to hunt down and kill the creature. The creature is played by Richard Kiel, who played a Bigfoot in a David L. Wolper produced National Geographic special. He also was the model for the Burbank Bigfoot created by John Chambers for a sideshow attraction in the 1970’s.

The second was titled "The Primal Scream" aka "The Humanoid". This one was about a pack of primate-like creatures on a rampage through the streets of Chicago. Of course, they are the result of a lab experiment gone awry. Kolchak tracks the creatures back to their lair beneath the old research lab.

Another episode with cryptozoological ties was "The Sentry". This was about a large bipedal lizard going on a killing spree at an underground facility. Workers at the facility had unearthed a nest of eggs and mama exacted vengeance trying to get them back. Once again, Kolchak saves the day by getting the eggs back before they hatch.