Kolchak: The Night Stalker on DVD

After witnessing the updated version on ABC this fall, the news that the original Kolchak: The Night Stalker has finally made it to DVD comes as even happier news than expected.

The progenitor of such TV shows as X-Files and Medium, Kolchak: The Night Stalker starred the incomparable Darren McGavin as an intrepid reporter on a third-rate news wire service who invariably stumbled-often literally-upon stories involving supernatural beings that ranged from vampires to possessed 13th century suits of armor.

One episode even included an updating of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, turning the headless horseman into a headless motorcycle gang member!

The quality of the show could not sustain the levels at which it began as a TV Movie of the Week, but still this show ranks as among the most beloved cult TV shows of all time. McGavin's performance as Kolchak certifies as sheer genius; McGavin totally inhabits this character from his wardrobe to his mannerisms to speech.

In fact, not only does Kolchak wear a rumpled suit, he is a rumpled suit. Nobody else could possibly play this character nearly as well and if proof of that were needed, a cursory view of ABC's modern updating is all that's required. This is not meant as a knock against the new show, which certainly isn't worse and is actually quite superior to many other shows on television right now; it's meant as a compliment to one of the greatest shows in TV history to never get a chance for a second season.

I've managed to catch marathons of Kolchak: The Night Stalker on the Sci-Fi channel recently and even though they've had the hell cut out of them, they are still watchable, though I can't wait to see the DVD versions and find out what terrific non-plot related stuff was cut deleted.

Do they suffer in comparison to the big budgets that sci-fi shows are awarded nowadays? I suppose so, though frankly the old cheesy Doctor Who shows are actually more entertaining than what I've seen of the new episodes, despite the new ones looking like something out of a Star Wars movie as far as special effects.

Besides, special effects aren't what make horror shows. Any viewing of a Val Lewton movie compared to a Wes Craven movie shows you that it's the talent at work that makes something great, not the budget. Sorry, Wes. The original Kolchak: The Night Stalker is still watchable after all these years precisely because it's about the character doing the hunting and not the monster of the week. If you haven't seen this classic chestnut, now's your chance. If you've only seen it in its butchered version on TV then now's the chance to see what we've been missing out on.

These are kind of shows that you wait till after 10:00 to watch and then you turn out all the lights and pop up some popcorn and get under the blankets and snuggle. Little kids may be scared now and then, but most of them are too media-sophisticated to get too terribly upset. There aren't any language problems to worry about and no nudity so why not gather up the whole family and watch together. If things get too intense, the young ones can sneak under the covers for a minute.

The wait was way too long, but definitely worth it, for this lamented series to get the DVD treatment.