Kolchak the Night Stalker Legacy (1972 to 2005) (with Summer Brooks & Ethan Weeks)

[00:00:00] This podcast is a production of Unfiltered Studios. If you would like to know more about joining Unfiltered Studios, please visit our website at unfpod.com for more information. As Kolchak the Night Stalker.

[00:00:18] We missed. We loaded. We edited.

[00:00:50] Sometimes we get so deep into conversation that we have separate segments worthy of their own place in the sun. Reshuffled mini-episode.

[00:01:19] Alright, so here's a side section helping of another very influential one season run show that is Kolchak the Night Stalker preceded by two TV movies to test the waters and two compilation movies and an infamous reboot show. So, you know, it's still is very highly influential from anime and comic book writers to other serialized sci-fi horror mystery shows.

[00:01:47] If you want a badass, call him Kolchak. The Night Stalker.

[00:02:23] Um, yeah, let's see. The first movie, Night Stalker was 1972. I was five years old. I remember, and I think it aired late. Um, so my mom was always trying to put me to bed about eight o'clock at night at that time. And, and I, I know, I remember asking my mom, but let me stay up to watch this. Please mother. Really? Wow. Oh.

[00:02:48] Was it freaky back in the day for you? Cause like, even though it's not graphic, even by 70s standards, like that music, it does feel like something for like a hammer horror show. Well, the one thing the movies had advantage of to the TV show was, I mean, yeah, it was still TV. So it was watered down a bit, but you knew he would survive, but he does. He did every once in a while, like impel someone or shoot someone. Yeah.

[00:03:14] But, uh, yeah. And how old were, I mean, I was five years old in 72. Mike, how old were you? 12. Do you, did you remember ever watching any of that? No, I, my memory of is the TV series. We used to have a, um, uh, motor home and we had a TV set in the back. This is before you had a motor mouth. Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. But I remember driving up on Friday nights on the weekend, we'd watch $6 million man.

[00:03:43] Oh, totally different buildup. No, no. I vivid. Cause after that, that's a fun show compared to this is fun, but gritty. Yeah. It preceded the night stalker at that time for that year. And, uh, I have vivid memories of my mother from the front seat going, don't watch the night stalker.

[00:04:08] Cause I was, uh, 14 and I was the oldest, you know, so eight year old brother. And, you know, I could see that a thousand. No, he would have been a six back then. Okay. Yeah. I thought Darren McGavin was perfect for that part. Yeah. Oh, and that's why they brought him onto X files. Cause they're like, we owe our existence to that show. So let's just have the night stalker himself beyond there. And of course, what was he playing?

[00:04:34] He's being a guy who has experience with all the different demons and paranormal stuff, giving them advice. It was like, see, but yeah, I, growing up, I had seen him in a few different movies. Like I definitely saw him a few times on like the Mike hammer show. I saw him on, uh, the Arnold movie, raw deal. He's like the main FBI guy. Love raw deal. There was a Madison. Yep. The man with the golden arm. Yeah.

[00:05:01] There's a movie he was in that was done by both riff tracks and early KTMA MST three K. And that was hanger 18. Oh, I actually had fun with that, but yeah. And I am disappointed that nobody has actually brought up a Chris. Christmas story yet. And a lot of TV movies. And what about a Christmas story? Christmas, the sequel that just came out.

[00:05:26] That is, that is an abomination against God nature and not any non, non religious entities that you, that you, that you would admire. I was afraid that once I brought up Christmas stories, someone else would mention the war crime sequel. Well, who doesn't want that lamb? Yeah. Well, it is for Gilly. He's Italian. I watched the, um, I watched the, um,

[00:05:55] getting shattered off, off camera in that movie. It's that's perfect way to do it. You know, it really is the mom didn't accept responsibility. You know? Yeah. He's accomplished. This is one of his best known roles. You know, he's been in everything. I watched the second TV movie last night. And I, I really liked that a lot. Night Strangler. Yeah. Very interesting. Cause like, while they're taking their time, they're suspenseful. And I like how they just start off. Just from day one.

[00:06:24] They're like, yeah, it, the police chiefs are very unhelpful for him. He's going to have to do whatever he can, you know, on his own, you know? So that's what makes for a reporter. He's not very good at collecting evidence, but you know, he's basically a private sleuth, even though he's a reporter, but yeah, he knows how to kill people. And every episode he goes after the, whatever is going on. And by the end of the book, yeah. Like he has nothing to prove. No, one's going to believe this. So I can't write the story.

[00:06:53] You know, it was kind of the formula, you know? Yeah. The, the end of the, the second TV movie where he's like a fat, uh, facts gentlemen. Yeah. Yeah. There's some great moments. So I think that was definitely a tribute to dragnet. Just the facts, ma'am, you know? So yeah, yeah, yeah. But I mean, and Derek McGavin survived very well. He survived airport 77. I think he can survive all these monsters.

[00:07:20] But you know, and they, when they tried to remake night stalker, 2000, whatever, I think the mistake they're making is night stalker itself. Colchak, the night stalker is very much set in the seventies. So I think if they ever do or a redo of it, of any kind, like a movie or anything, it should take place in the seventies. I believe. Well, fortunately, I think everyone learned how bad the emo ridden.

[00:07:46] 2000 show was like, I saw ads for that when it was rerunning on sci-fi. I'm like, I don't know what the hell that is, but I'm staring clear. Like that just looks like a very bad, like smashing pumpkins music video with crappy metal music. I'm like, no, thank you. I almost think that you could do a modern version of it. It would just be, you'd have to change, tweak some of the things like he'd still be a reporter.

[00:08:12] Maybe he'd do like a, he'd do a podcaster or a blogger or something like that. Maybe it could be. But his cell phones would always get broken. Maybe it could be meta where he's like, I've watched this on TV growing up. Now I've learned how to actually do all these different. Or, but yeah, you just riff off of the entire paranormal podcast kind of, kind of element. And yeah, go ahead.

[00:08:42] Was he still a reporter in that remake, if I remember? What's that? Was he still a reporter? I don't know. In that remake that they did. I don't know. Yeah, I didn't see. Nobody knows. They make it with the X-Files though. That's exactly. That's a good influence. Exactly. Oh, and Chris Carter acknowledged it. Like, so he didn't just do that. Like people acknowledged and he's like, how'd you know? You know, that's how I pitched it.

[00:09:06] And if I remember correctly, didn't the show have like more had one bent and then eventually it turned more into the supernatural type of investigation? Pretty much. Cause like those first few episodes, they're like, it's a weird lethal weapon meets the hidden type show. And then after a while, I was like, okay, now we got to make sure like just the monsters stand out and there's some serialized stuff around them. It's not just the one government cover up.

[00:09:32] And, and that kind of harkens back to another show from around that same timeframe that went and when a similar transformation, that was dark shadows. Yes. Um, actually Dan Curtis had something to do with the TV movies. Hmm. So there is crossover. Um, the only problem was like Dan Curtis. I can't remember. There was another guy that was involved with the TV movies, but they weren't involved in the TV show. Uh, let's see. That's a time. Yeah. Um, yeah.

[00:10:02] Yeah. He might've been the guy. I think, I think I read something about somebody being a writer on that, who was a creator on the Sopranos. Oh, David Chase. Yes, that's right. Yeah. Mike, your boy, Mike, David Chase. So this is before Rockford files. And he, yeah, he wrote a few episodes and, uh, producer. Mr. Si Shurmak was the main producer guy. And that's why McGavin, he was kind of like Carol O'Connor on in the heat of the night.

[00:10:30] He was clashing, but instead of just rewriting it, just McGavin was like, you know, this is just too much work. So, you know, once he was getting, it was getting watered down. Well, and I think it does pretty good despite, yes, there are times where you can tell that the mystery is stronger this episode versus the characters are standing out more versus the actual plot. So you do have a bit of that, like all the other shows have done.

[00:10:55] It was a big deal because like, I know there was that movie, the vampire that CBS aired and yeah, cold sack appeared one last time there. I didn't see that. Yeah. I mean, it had a good run. I think, I mean, it says a lot for it's kind of was the firefly of its day and age. It's like just 20 episodes and people put it on. I had fun going for these the other day because it's like, yeah, it's just kind of funky one minute and then it's suspenseful the next. And then very intense, almost always.

[00:11:23] I took some notes, but I was just like, man, it's like there. It's like it's it seems like there's a complexity to the weight like Darren McGavin being cast in that role. He has that voice. Yeah. Even though as the audience, we do see like the things happening in the streets and, you know, so we know that he's not crazy. Right. Yeah.

[00:11:44] But but it's like because of how it's performed, how it's acted from him, it's like he would be a guy that it wouldn't be difficult to believe. And I think that says a lot about his casting it and that that's what I was thinking of. I was just like, Dan, that is really good poker face. Yeah. And he also knows when to stop shouting off is like if I. Yeah, I could waste time. I could waste my breath or I could just take out the trash my own self. You know, I don't have a fear.

[00:12:14] I don't have. You know, I just know. I just got what, you know, most people have, which is just a cross and some fire, you know, that's right. I was I was go ahead, Mike. I was a trick. He never gets fired or thrown in jail. All this stuff. He, you know, his stories must be very convincing enough, I guess. Yeah, but they're not. But he never publishes them by the end either. So, yeah, he must have just come up with something on the spot is like.

[00:12:45] He keeps losing his. Go ahead, Tom. Somebody somebody has to keep covering the dog and cat shows. Keeps losing his evidence so he doesn't have a basis for his story. Right. But what Tom is saying is he's writing all the other stuff they would rather he write about just to make ends meet, even though. So, yeah, I mean, he could have made a side living as a comic book artist. So that would have been a perfect season two kind of thing. Well, another 20 episodes.

[00:13:16] No, the villains disappeared in nothing by the end, too. So there's nothing. Yeah, there's no. That's what I'm saying. He would just since no one would believe him anyway. He could just write comic books based off his encounters. I watched the first episode before the show started and it had a candy from Wonder Woman in it. She dies. I can't remember what kind of character if it was a vampire, what would he was a kid was a vampire. I think. Yeah. No, I'm sorry. Oh, was Jack the Ripper.

[00:13:44] For those who want to watch it now, you can get the DVDs. It's on other sites, but Universal does honor it. So they have remastered it on their Peacock streaming service. But he kills the character by electrocuting him in water. Yeah. And then the body just disappears and nothing left but clothing. Right. And then the house that the dead body was in, the Etta Candy Woman burns up. Right. Yes. So it's basically a fire at the end.

[00:14:14] Yeah. It's interesting because there was this. It was Jack the Ripper reincarnated. Yes. Oh, my God. Star Trek had an episode with this. They did the same thing. Yeah. What episode? I can't remember the name of it. Is that Red Jack? The guy who says the voice of the series. Well, within the fold. Wolf in the fold. Yeah. Yeah. The guy who does the voice of Piglet. Really? Yeah. Well, he became he became defried pig. Yeah.

[00:14:44] So we're just saying of all the supernatural shows that have dealt with a Jack the Ripper type Star Trek did as well as all we're saying. But I can name off some of the crazy guest stars on here. Scatman Crothers. William Daniels. Claude Aikens. Yeah. Or as I call Andy Richter. And not Andy Richter. Andy Griffith light. And Tom Skerritt. Richard kill twice. Jaws from. He's one.

[00:15:14] I will not have you be smirched the guy who starred in the first half of master ninja. True. I'll applaud Aikens. Yes. The guy from. I love him. What about moving on? Moving on. Yeah. He's good. I like him. Antonio Fargas. Antonio Fargas. As Huggy Bear. Huggy Bear.

[00:15:41] What's the name of the guy from Giant Spider Invasion? He was in it. Are you talking about Alan Hill Jr. from Gilgans or something? No. I'm talking about. The guy who looked like Freddie Fender. That guy. You can look up his name. Alan Hill Jr. He's a deep cut. It is a deep cut. I don't know his name. Well, you remembered it because he was an actor. He was like a voice dialect coach or something. You've talked about him before.

[00:16:09] I'm sure I have, but I'll let you look him up. I don't. I'm listing off the names here. Sometimes I go to the Wikipedia and for this show, it does say like the six main guest stars on every episode. I was guffawing at what's his name himself? You know, Father Dowling, you know, Tom Bosley, you know, from Happy Days is like, I think. Yes. This is a little after. So I was just like, man, he got the special guest star build. He's actually helping out the hero the whole time.

[00:16:37] And he is just giving a lot of comedic levity to the episode. I'm like, that's awesome. So I'm glad. Oh, Robert Easton. Robert Easton. Yes. That guy from the voice actor. Yeah. Dan Curtis directed the TV movies, right? Yep. Yep. He did that supposedly a movie I heard is very scary, honestly, called. Was it burnt offerings? I heard it's very good. Yes, it's pretty freaky. Yeah. Yeah, I heard it is. And you got what are Richard Matheson?

[00:17:06] What's he was he the writer? Yeah. How is he involved? No. Matt. Uh, you wrote the original pilot movies or the first guy. Okay. Yeah. He did dual, right? He wrote dual. I think so. Well, and it was based off a book by I think the guy's name was Jeff Rice. Okay, I saw that name. That's right. Yes. Yep. Yeah. So you got some, you got some credibility there already with what I was like, damn.

[00:17:34] It's pretty hard to screw that up if you got Matheson out here. I am legend guy. Yeah. There's something like the highest rated TV movie basically for a while. Like it was. Yeah, it was. At the time it got a lot of attention, more attention than any movement for it, I think. It was up there. Yeah. And we got, you know, the chips connection. No, no. You guessed it. Eric Estrada guest stars in one. Yes. Yes.

[00:18:04] Uh, but yeah, Tom Skerritt. So I consider this, uh, this is, uh, him being mentored on alien, assuming he doesn't die. I can't remember, but. Yeah. I was watching it too. Uh, Kolshak is kind of Columbo like too. Yes. He kind of comes in and annoys everybody, but he is. He's almost like one more question. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Oh man.

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[00:19:57] Hi, I'm James Gavsey and on the Who Would Win Show, me and my co-host Ray ignore anything important happening in the outside world and debate fictional battles between characters from comics, movies, and video games. We got a new show every week and almost always am I the winner. Yeah, not true Ray. In the past, we've discussed such matches as Captain America vs. Darth Vader, Solid Snake vs. The Iron Giant, classic matchups like Robocop vs. Terminator, and even the Muppets vs. Sesame Street. That one was crazy.

[00:20:26] So if you're a fan of geek culture and love a spirited debate, check out the Who Would Win Show wherever you get your podcasts, or check us out at whowouldwinshow.com. I never know where he's going to go with the character because sometimes he's the loudest voice in the room. Sometimes he's more easy going. It really depends. Yeah.

[00:20:47] And yeah, the TV directors were pretty solid for it because they knew how to combine tautness while still being limited by their, you know, format. You know, it's like we got to wrap this up, but they always make every last chapter count is like, okay, if any. So I feel like that is it's probably yes, it's influenced all the other anthology shows or definitely there's some bit of supernatural in it.

[00:21:14] But like, I think it's definitely inspired procedurals even more just because it's like we're always going to throw and just uncanny bad guy every episode who you're you're going to remember their comeuppance and the final line of dialogue just as much as their killing spree and how they, you know, taunt Kolchak.

[00:21:35] You know, is that kind of rhythm and kudos to him because like, and yes, it is outdated, but that only adds more charm to it, especially some of the bellowing music. Well, that's one of the reasons why I think it should like be a story that takes place in the seventies myself, but I hear you. I mean, did any of you guys see the headless motorcycle this episode? Yeah, that was so wild how they, you know, who wrote it?

[00:22:05] David Chase and Gail. Oh, okay. Yeah, I was surprised to see that. I did read that it was like their first first sold. They worked a lot for a lot of universal TV productions and that that was one of the ones that got them their WGA card. I think I said it's their first. Yeah, but that motorcyclist was so ridiculous looking though. It's like, okay, it's obviously some guy inside there and he concedes to the show. You don't know. I'm just kidding. Let's just do it again.

[00:22:32] Yeah, when Richard Anderson gets killed in the Night Strangler, when he has that like, when he's about to die and it's just a mask and the face and everything, it's like, man. Yeah. But they did have some questionable melting effects, but that again only adds more charm. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's very well done. You know, I'll admit I might've been scared watching this growing up just because again, that music is just very. Yeah. I can, I can remember watching it.

[00:23:01] I can't remember if it was either the movies or the TV show, but I can remember seeing a scene where some guy goes leaping out of a, out of a window.

[00:23:34] I'll introduce myself. They don't want any help from amateur bloodhounds like you. I've been a reporter for 22 years. I've been a police officer for 30. Well, then why don't you retire? Each man in the field is basically one of these and one of these. Are you suggesting that we pound one of these into scores in his chest? No, not into his heart. Darren McGavin. The Night Stalker.

[00:24:08] And lands on the ground. But when he hits the ground, you can see the pillowy thing jump up into the screen that he lands in. Yes. There's a lot of body count that show, too, throughout. Surprisingly, that's just it. They didn't say we had to limit it to one death. We can have a bit of death. And since they're monsters, they're okay with showing that on TV. You know.

[00:24:37] It's amazing how many times he gets caught by the villain and never gets killed, too. Well, and so there's where the Columbo phase comes into play. He knows how to talk him down. Yeah. Be a good hostage negotiator. Like his hat. Hell of a hat. I want to mention something about his hat. Anybody ever see The Ghost of Mr. Chicken? Yeah. It's almost the same hat that Don Nuts wears. And he's a reporter. Oh. You don't want to be a reporter.

[00:25:06] I almost wonder if that's an homage, you know. Was it the same prop? Oh, him and Don Nuts didn't work together. It looked like it, yeah. An homage. Let's see. An homage. It's a universal picture, so. Yeah. Not out of the light of possibility. Yeah. And those two movies together. Oh, Dan Nuts and. Yeah. Darren McGavin. Yeah. Okay. Huh. I always mispronounced it as Derek. It wasn't raw to you. It wasn't raw to you.

[00:25:36] Damn it. But see, there's the passing of the torch. Arnold, are you ready? So there you go. Reboot it. Arnold kills monsters. Every episode. Yeah. Yeah. He's the guy in the. He's the, he's the guy in the straw. Yes. I'm a. I'm a monster hunter. You idiot. And the seersucker suit. Yep. Except for him. He's wearing the seersucker suit. And it barely fits him. Oh, wow.

[00:26:06] If you want, we could even have it be. He's just the hunter. And Kolkak is just a reporter covering it. And he's. That's how I would change it up. And differentiate it. Because I don't want to do just a copy and paste. With a cool actor. Yeah. So X-Files. Obviously. Millennium. Inspired. That's right. Yeah. You said. Yeah. But like. When he guessed. When Derek McCavin guest starred though. Who did he play? Because. He just played a guy. I saw that.

[00:26:35] It was great. Because basically. He's just like. This guy with experiences. With all these other. Just paranormal encounters. And he's collecting them. And he's like. That's great. It was like that. That's literally the passing of the torch. Is like. You guys are the next Kolkak. I'm like. That's cool. It's both a good role. His narration really works too. I like the narration. It is. I don't know how to describe it. It's kind of just. It's not for real lives. Obviously. It's also not. Obviously. Nothing can.

[00:27:05] This is before Don LaFontaine. And so. It's like. It's kind of a more. Very studious. And. I don't know how to describe it. Does anyone else have a. I'd say. He's kind of like. Talking matter-of-factly. It is matter-of-factly. I'm just trying to think. What other. Actor. I'd compare it to. Because he is. He's both kind of low-key. And sometimes. It's blunt. Depending on the episode. So it's just. I would. I'd say. Go out on a limb. And say.

[00:27:34] He's not an actor. Necessarily. But. Rob Sterling. Okay. Yeah. Because it is that same. You know. You have. Instead of. You have entered the realm. Of you know. Infinite. Possibility is more. That's a hell of a day. You know. It's a hell of a day. I'm going to smoke a cigarette. And then die of cancer later. Next up. Next up. What causes cancer though? Boo.

[00:28:04] What causes cancer? The toilet. Cigarettes? That's not. Twilight Zone causes cancer. I knew it. That's. It'd be funny if they did what they did with other horror movies. If you watch the Twilight Zone. If you watch Kolchak. You will die. Well you know. Night Gallery was on around the same time as Kolchak. I think. Wasn't it? Yeah. Yeah. I believe so. Maybe a year earlier. And. Check. And he did. It was 74. Right? And. The TV show. The TV movie was 72.

[00:28:35] The first one. And Darren McGavin does appear in one of Spielberg's first TV movies. Who was just fresh off directing Night Gallery as something evil. So. Yeah. Yeah. I've heard of that. It's basically. Once you watch that movie. It's kind of dull for that first part. And then the last part is very interesting. You're like. Spielberg literally remade this as Poltergeist. This whole movie. He just took out the dull stuff involving the real estate developing and refurbishing. Who really directed Poltergeist then?

[00:29:04] You might as well tell me. Oh it's totally Toby Hooper. He just had instructions for Spielberg. That's what a producer does. He tells you how to get your shit together. I don't know why everyone had to have that dispute. You're just like. Yes. It's intense with some people though. I'll tell you that. Some of the stuff I've seen online. I'm like Christ. Calm down. Are you saying. It's been that David Chase. The teleplay. At least one of the teleplays on I-Starker involved mobsters. Jesus.

[00:29:34] Same thing on the Rockford Files. He had mobs. Really? In fact. In fact. I think one was called Tony with his buddy Sil. I was just about to say. Yeah. He does have a Tony in there. But it would have been so funny. Had he actually had. A gangster. Who thinks he's top of the world. And who then becomes like a gargoyle or something. That would have been perfect. Through that. What did Chase do in the 80s? Do you know off the top of your head? Played who? What did Chase. Like what did he write in the 80s? Because I know his 70s stuff. But you wonder. It's like.

[00:30:05] I think he did some other pilots. And then. Yeah. He. His last big gig. Other than some of the Rockford Files TV movies. Was he did that legal drama. I'll fly away. Set in the South. That's right. I know. Yeah. One of the first shows to have the N word on network TV. Um. And then. Yeah. Then he got the Sopranos gig. But yeah. It's just so funny. For such a cynic who hated network TV. He did some good. Television. Network TV stuff. So you're like. You know. He hates television. And that's. And I think that's why he goes. That's why he's so good. He wants.

[00:30:34] It's kind of like. The Sopranos ending. I think it ended. Because it was just so anti. Like a lot. Everything. Yeah. I'm going to say Mike. You wanted HBO to not even run the credits. I remember that. Yeah. No credits. Yeah. You're just like. That was it. I was going to say Mike. I think Mary Jo Peel needs to do it on her movie. Joe Knight. Knight Stalker. She should. Oh yeah. That'd be great. How do I know that name? Uh.

[00:31:03] Pearl Forrester from Mystery Science Theater. She has her own riffing. Yeah. Yeah. I agree. But yeah. If you remaster Coltac. Please don't roast it. It doesn't deserve any kind of riff tracks. Mr. Science. Riffing. No. I wouldn't think so. No. You know what I love is his camera. It looks like one of those cheap. Little pocket and somatic cameras. That I had as a kid. What camera was it? It was a big one that you could get. It was. It was like a rectangular shaped one.

[00:31:33] With a flash by one top. It was. It was a small camera though. Wasn't it? If I remember right. Kind of. Might have been a little more professional than pocket and somatics. That's what's so cool too. I think that's why it's inspiring. It is almost kind of a pre. The. It's going to sound heavy handed. I mean. Think of the 18. They have nothing but their van. And guns that don't actually kill anybody. You know. And MacGyver just has gadgets. That just somehow always work. Even with a gunpoint out. It's like. This dude has.

[00:32:03] Pretty much the kitchen sink. And every other handheld thing. Like. He'll get trapped by a monster. And all he needs is just to. Light a fire with his cigarette or something. You know. And he gets out of there. You know. Like in the. The Night Stranglers. The second TV movie. Right? Yes. Yeah. When Richard Anderson. When he first shows up. And it's like. There's skeletons at a dinner table. Yes. That was the real last supper. Richard Anderson is talking to one of them.

[00:32:33] And it's actually kind of. That's kind of creepy. The way that that. The way it's acted. Like. It's just like. I'm like. I know network television can't go too far. To be too intense. Or you know. But I was like. That's kind of. You want some dinner? Maybe Port Nicholson did it in the Batman movie. Talk to the corpse. Yeah. It's like. He's talking to. Oh. Cut to a corpse. Oh. And it's a waste of. There's good rice there. Potato. And steak. And peas. You know. It's a waste.

[00:33:03] Damn good food. I gotta. I gotta see the second movie. I haven't seen that one. So. It's good. Yeah. Where's Tom? Is he still there? I'm still here. I'm just waiting for an opportunity to jump in. You laugh at my joke. Yeah. What a little time, Ethan. Damn. Well. To be fair. You didn't laugh at any of mine. Because mine weren't funny. So there you go. No. It takes a lot. Like. I can think stuff's funny. And I don't even. I just look serious.

[00:33:32] Even if I think it's funny. I don't know. I'm sorry. That's okay. What's funny, man? What's funny? No. But yeah. Go ahead. Of one thing that. That. One thing I. Just popped into my mind too. Is. Kolchak also reminds me a lot of Columbo. Yep. Yeah. I was saying that earlier. Yeah. I apologize. Well, Mike, you were wrong. And Tom is right. Just one more thing.

[00:34:02] One more thing. Nick's was joking out there. He makes some nooses of himself like Columbo. Yeah. We were saying that. Nick's was joking. Now. Sometimes they're mistaken for. Kojak. Because the similar spelling. I'm like. See. I think. It's like just the name. I think. Kojak would actually be a good boss for him. He'd be like. Let the guy do what he's supposed to do. And let me get a war. The rest. And the one thing that Kojak has. Who loves you, monster? That lollipop. That would be so funny. It's like. Kojak comes up to him. It's like.

[00:34:32] I need your lollipop. This thing. He loves you, baby. Sugar and something. And yeah. And it'd be so funny. He's. The cops actually do show up on time. And they see. He's like. Sweet Mary of Jesus. What have we here? You know. It is. The. Are you thinking the. Telly Savalas Kojak. Or the Ving Rhames Kojak. I'm thinking. Well. We would use Ving Rhames in a modern day. But yeah. Kojak. Back then. Savalas would have been perfect. He would have had. He would have brought more comedy. But it'd be so funny. Just one more.

[00:35:02] Just one more game. We were. And. We're. And just. I think it'd be funny if. Kojak comes in. He's like. I'm here to arrest. And. And Kojak's like. What arrest? The monster's dead. Here's the thing. Here's the thing that. That connects. Cold. And Kojak. And Kojak. Kojak. They both have suckers. Oh. They both start with K. Right. But. There you go. They go into an actual candy store. And they're like.

[00:35:32] Yeah. Fancy seeing you here. Do I know you? Did you write that piece about the department? I'm like. No. Silly. There was also a short-lived series around that time on ABC called Kodiak. Oh. For God's sake. Are you serious? Yeah. There was. Not to be. Kodiak. I remember the promo for it. I remember the name. What was it about? It was. Yeah. It actually does sound familiar. It was sent to Alaska. Well. Clint Walker played him. Kodiak. That's right. And it was a very. It was a short series.

[00:36:01] You barely noticed it. Oh. Was it shorter than Tom Cruise? Oh. Oh. Shorter than. That was short. But I'll tell you what. Shorter than. Vern Troyer. On his back. On his back. It would be really short. Oh, man. So. I would have totally cast him as a monster bag of days. So. Here's one for you. Here's one for you.

[00:36:30] So. I'm jumping on Mike's bandwagon. They go to Alaska. And. You can make it anything. It could be a mummy. A vampire. I don't care. And then they find out. It's the Zodiac killer. And they find out. But he's like an alien monster. And they kill him. And that's why no one hears from the Zodiac killer ever again. Zodiac. Cold shack. So. It's a bit of a historical fiction there. When I did. When I went to go see David Fincher's Zodiac in theaters. It seemed like people were disappointed that. He doesn't get caught in the end.

[00:37:00] I'll tell you. Well. I was just like. Why state the obvious? Because anyone who read it. Knows there is no ending. Oh. I know. But what's wrong with him? Yeah. Nobody gets caught. Fair enough. Fair enough. Fair enough. Yeah. Oh God. I found something interesting too. Around. Watching the ABC at the time. There was.

[00:37:31] The first episode of Kojak. Or. Polshack I mean. You're doing it again. You knew it. And the first episode of Happy Days. And also the early $6 million man. They were very sexed up for the time. There's a topless woman in. Early in. The first. Well. Implied. But it's more burlesque show. You hear from the back. And then I remember. The first Happy Days. They were popping a bra in the men's room. And stuff like that. But it's. You're right. I know. And the $6 million man was a playboy type in that.

[00:38:01] Originally too. So it's. Surprisingly. Let's get the ratings by sexing it up. That's what it felt like the producers were doing. Well. Like with. With the two movies. For Kolchack. The Night Stalker. Or just. Night Stalker. Night Strangler. And the $6 million man. The second one. It really is sexed up. And the $6 million man. They had TV movies too. They were a little looser. I think. Than they were when they started the TV shows. But you're right. Like that. It was more. It was more of a playboy type. And then he. It was just. It was settled down. Yeah. But no one complains for some. Whatever reason.

[00:38:29] I guess it was just brief enough. They understood it's dancers in a club. It's okay. Yeah. With Network. I think I heard their thing is like. Try to hint. At is. You know. As much. But don't actually show it. I mean. It's just. Yeah. It's coming up. In the early 70s. And then. I mean. By the early 80s. You had. Episodes of everything. Magnum P.I. Or. Hill Street Blues. Implying that the. Dead person is in fact. A porn star. Or a pimp. And you're like.

[00:38:59] They didn't say it. But they pretty much implied it. And you're like. Wow. Okay. Well I mean. In the first Night Stalker. He actually was dating a stripper. Yeah. He doesn't refer. He's like. Fancy seeing you here. You know. The second movie. You're dealing with. You know. Women are being strangled. In the streets. And. Um. I'm glad. The last one. It's like. Kolchak is actually. You know. Walking a little bit behind her. Because he thinks that's going to be the trap.

[00:39:29] Because like. You know. After seeing so many women. Walk the streets by themselves. You're like. It's like. It's such an easy thing. It's like. Here we go. The killer's going to come out. The streets are empty. It's like. I think that's why we like him. He literally is. Streets. Yeah. No. It worked with that. But I just. Yeah. Yeah. You could bring a knife or a gun to a gunfight. He brings a match. He brings a cross. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I enjoyed it. It's pretty much it. He's an underdog. You know. Yeah. Yeah. He is. Yeah.

[00:39:58] But he doesn't need boxing gloves. He'll find some other way to. And like you say. It's a half win. A half lose. He'll destroy the monster. But he doesn't get to report the story. Yeah. Yeah. He. His job is to pretty much not be locked up. Locked up in a nut house at the end of the episode. It's like. Okay. Let me hide. You know. You were actually published. I mean. It's probably. Yeah. What's the story out? And. So this goes back to the Hitchcock. Saying.

[00:40:28] You know. Movie. Movie and TV are life without the boring parts. So it's like. It's kind of like the police work on a cop show. You never see it. Because that's boring. You never see the legal filings. Because that's boring. You know. So Ethan. You've told me before that. Well. You didn't watch anything before like the 80s. I thought. Or something like that. Or 1970. I love the 70s. So you weren't put off by the datedness of the movie? No. Because I.

[00:40:56] My favorite decade is the 70s. Like. I think that's when stuff was really. The French connection is one of my favorites. And. You know. Like. Yeah. No problems with. I loved. The look of it. And the. Datedness. Yeah. And with the 60s. I actually love. I love James Bond too. So. But yeah. Yeah. Before 1970. I'm not exact. I don't know as much about film. Oh. TV. Yeah. He might actually get along with Shaft. Or. Popeye Doyle. I think. Well.

[00:41:26] If you want to see. Like. You mentioned James Bond. You should see Armand Flint. And. Yeah. James Coburn. James Coburn. Yeah. And then there was even. Dean Martin's films. His Matt Helm films. You should check those out. Oh. The Matt Helm films. Man. Those are sexed up. Talk about sexed up. You think you see more. Well. It was Dorothy Stratton's last film. Oh man. Dorothy Stratton's last film was a Matt Helm film. Was it really? Yes. Wow. Star. Miss Star 80.

[00:41:56] Her last movie. Wow. Or not Dorothy Stratton. I'm sorry. Not Dorothy Stratton. What am I saying? She died in there. What am I thinking? That's years later. No. I don't know. Sharon Tate. Oh. Oh. Sharon Tate was in the. Now that. Yes. You are correct. Yes. The fact checker is going off of me. Yes. I'm about to say. I'm just like. I don't recall Dorothy Stratton. And she didn't die in there. In fact. She even actually goes. In the movie. The Hollywood. The Quentin Tarantino movie.

[00:42:26] On the front time in Hollywood. Yeah. Oh yeah. She goes to see the movie. She goes to see the movie she's in. The movie is so overrated. Everybody else live right here? Yeah. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Yeah. I like it. Okay. But. Who knows. The Stuntman movie spinoff might be better. I hope it is. I hope. My expectations are high. Just because of Fincher. I haven't heard about this. What? Brad Pitt. The Adventures of Cliff Booth in November.

[00:42:56] Okay. For Netflix. Yep. Tarantino's writing it. But he's not directing it. It's Fincher directing it. That's what's so stupid. You know. It's like. He keeps going. I will only make 10 movies. It's like. Guess what buddy? If you wrote him. Brad Pitt then? Yes. No one else is playing him. But it's just like. Guess what? If you write it. That counts. And they're doing this strange thing. Where it's going to be in theaters. And IMAX. For two weeks in November. And then it's going to go right to Netflix. They have it all.

[00:43:25] It's all planned out. It's weird. Netflix seems to make an exception for him. Because everyone else. They don't. Yeah. They like them. They spend only peanuts. Yeah. I could see it being a decent Netflix review show. Like you guys say. But like. I don't know. Just Coltack. I just don't see any. Like. I would rather they do a show inspired by it again. Instead of just flat out remake it. Yeah. I got another question for you about. Okay. Like. Obviously. Yeah. The inspiration for the X-Files.

[00:43:55] Was there any other shows. Or movies that do kind of nods to this? I'm trying to think. Just. Because there's plenty of other. I mean. Maybe parts of Grimm. Definitely. Even though it's Grimm's fairy tale monster. Okay. I could see that. Yeah. In fact. There's parts of it. That definitely. Maybe. Early. Early. Like. First two seasons of Highlander. They kind of had that same kind of gloom and doom kind of look. Okay. Well. What about that TV. Or that movie in the 80s. Which I'm not drawing. I'm having trouble drawing on the name.

[00:44:25] Launcher Squad? He. No. He. He enlists the aid of a TV horror host. And it's. Fright Night. Yeah. Fright Night. That's it. Fright Night. Probably. Probably. I mean. I'm looking it up now. Actually. You know. Any. One else inspired by Kulchak. And I'd also go. So far. Say there are also some elements. Of the Kulchak. Kulchak thing. In the comic book series Fables. Whoa.

[00:44:56] Man. Don't know it. I'm actually not familiar with that. Who is the writer of that? I can't remember off the top of my head. But it was basically around. Fairy tale characters. In the real world. And the big bad wolf was actually. A detective. Okay. Shit. I have seen this. I've never read it. Bill Willingham. Of Elemental's fame. Yep. Okay. So that was around 02. I definitely saw that poster art. I definitely. Didn't ABC do something similar to that though? It was. Like.

[00:45:26] Like once upon a time. Or something like that. Yeah. Yeah. Same kind of deal. Although with just fairy tales. But. That. Buffy. Definitely. To some degree. But. Yeah. I mean. Oh yeah. Yeah. I would say. I mean. I'm sure Dana Gould. Since he did stand against evil. And. I'm sure Sam Raimi has to be a fan with. The craziness he has in evil dead saga. I mean. Oh.

[00:45:54] Dana Gould raves about the original pilot movie. In. On his podcast. I mean. Just watch. He actually sat with David Chase. And said he liked watching the series. And Dave Chase goes. Does that hold up? That's funny. Isn't that great? Jesus. Remember. David Chase is the same guy who. When he hired all these other great directors. Who've done other stuff like Suits. And West Wing. And. SVU. He's like. I don't see how you can make anything as good as Sopranos. I'm like. They're a good filmmaker.

[00:46:24] They're not limited by anything. The deep cut. I love to throw out though. Whenever David Chase is mentioned. Almost grown. 1988. Almost grown? Oh. I think I've ever heard of it. One season. It was ABC. It lasted about eight episodes. But was critically praised. Kim Daly. Kim Daly starred in it. And then he was in two episodes of The Sopranos. Well. That's just Superman. I know. That looks like.

[00:46:53] Almost grown. I was almost grown when it came out. Oh. Oh. Yeah. No. I kid. Not even close. But. Yeah. No. This was a fun revisit. I'm glad. We could. Yeah. I enjoyed that. Come on this. And I love how Tom is like. Oh. You are getting me the fuck on this episode. I'm like. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Let's do it. I was just thinking too. The Sherlock episode. The Hounds of the Baskervilles. Is kind of. Night Stalker inspired. Oh. Kind of. That same kind of. You know.

[00:47:23] It's based on the original story. But you know what I mean. Off screen violence. Yeah. There's a murder in the park. Everyone agrees. It was anything but man that caused it. And then. There's not any prose kind of writing. But it does have that same kind of. It's like. Yeah. Slow unfolding. It's slow burn. It's horror. Scary. It's gothic. And there is a freaky scene. Versus. It's gory. Nowadays. You know. I think that's just it. It's just. It's classy.

[00:47:54] But it's stylish. I remember the video cover. Was one of those. Covers. Like I didn't rent it as a kid. But it. It often got my attention. We're playing the video store. It was just Darren McGavin. On the cover. I can only imagine that. The MCA Universal logo. Comes up. Coming soon. Yeah. I know. I know they've had a comic out for him. Within the last 20 years. But I never got a chance. To check it out. Let me see. Yeah. I knew they were continuing. In some capacity. Yeah. And that was. By.

[00:48:24] Yeah. There's Coltack. Tells of the Night. Stop. Night Stalker. The Rise and Fall of Carl. And then. Another one off. Issue. And those were by Moonstone Books. Moonstone. Okay. Back in. Oh, free. So. Man. So. A little over 20 years. The Rise and Fall. That was. A seven issue. And that was back in 2010. So. Awesome. I love the sneakers too. That was just a nice effect there. Yeah.

[00:48:54] Oh, yeah. Yeah. He's dressed up. He's dressed to the nines. Good fashion. What. Like. What. Is the show really as watered down? As he was basically complaining about? Like. Did you think. Like. I know you said. About the characters. But like. It's limited. Do you agree? I wouldn't say so. I think Chase is too close to it. Which. Giving. Yeah. Yeah. Cynical. That makes sense. It's. There are some episodes that are slower.

[00:49:24] And that you'll inevitably. May or may not care for. But it's not. So infamous. Where you're like. Oh. They jumped the shark. You know. Like. Well. Like a lot of TV shows in the 70s. It had to follow a formula. Right. So. You know. There was predictability involved with that. It's definitely the damned if you do. Damed if you don't type. Where it's like. Okay. Now we're going outside the scope. And then people will complain. Hey. It wasn't like the premise. The last three weeks. I. Chapper is close to jumping the shark.

[00:49:54] That motorcyclist one. That was a little. Yeah. Okay. Fair enough. That was. That was somebody. But it was fun. Going. What if we had Ichabod crane. But he's on a motorcycle. Yeah. And it's a gang. And given how it's Bob Zemeckis. It would have definitely been a better. Tells from the Crypt episode. Yeah. Or better yet. Maybe it would have been a better. Ghost Rider movie. Hey. Yeah. I did. I read the premise of each. Of each of the episodes. Just kind of see what the hell. And yeah. I remember seeing that one. Yeah. Like you say.

[00:50:24] Is like. I can't fault the effects. I never like to fault effects. Of an earlier movie. Oh. Let alone. Yeah. And let's say it was a good movie. But now it's been remastered in HD. And you can see the puppet wires. I'm like. You know. I couldn't do it better. And when you remaster it. You're going to see something you didn't see before. It's just. It can't be helped. You're seeing everything. You know what you say. Like there's like. One of my favorite network dramas. Is saying elsewhere. And like. When you watch that now. It's like. The mics.

[00:50:54] Yeah. And they're like. Boom mics. Like what the fuck. But. Whatever. You know. I think. Yeah. Yeah. They put stuff in there. But you can see somebody. They did it on purpose. Sometimes. Yeah. Just for a joke with. Inside joke with the crew or something. That's a good example of people having a lot of fun. But not too much fun to where we're left out. But. You know. If they wanted to have. All kinds of crazy. Just. Visions. I could see. Tom Fontana.

[00:51:24] Hiring a bunch of people. Doing something like that. But yeah. I read there. Like an extra set. And you could see the extra in the shot. They did it on purpose. Just to mess with the show. But. I couldn't. It seems like I read that somewhere years ago. I mean. For God's sakes. They had an episode where someone dreams. He's on a music video. Of their life. You know. By another popular band. So I mean. They did all that. Well then the way it ended too. That was pretty way out. No globe. Yeah. Yeah. Damn snow globe. But yeah. No. I. I'm glad we.

[00:51:53] Just could revisit this. Because like. Yeah. I visited it in general. Like this gave me a reason. I'm glad. I was looking forward to it. So. You know. They have the shows on. I don't know if they have them free streaming anywhere. But I picked up. The Night Stalker on. You know. Well. You know. Me. Most of the time. I don't have a problem. Finding stuff. Scram Peacock. Peacock. Yeah. Yeah. I. I. That's where I saw it. And. It was a great remaster.

[00:52:22] I didn't see any issue with the full screen. The final bits. There's a defense. For the 2005. Cool check. There is. You needed it. There is. Here. Master geekster. Summer Brooks is back. The reboot. Of Night Stalker. Was something we needed. It was. I can't. It's fine. I love all kinds of stuff. So. I. The. The. Carl. Colcheck. The original.

[00:52:52] Colcheck. Was. A skeptic. And a believer. At the same time. A believer. Yeah. And. He was. We. We needed. We needed somebody. Who. Would. Follow. In the same. Investigative. Footsteps. As Mulder. But approach. What he was encountering. From a different angle.

[00:53:20] And that was why I. Titled. My essay about this. We don't need another Mulder. We don't need another hero. Okay. Sorry. Wrong movie. You and the music. I'm the worst. There's a lot of big people. I'm. I'm. I'm. I'm right there with you. But yeah. The. Adam Sussman from 12 Monkeys. Worked on this. Uh. Nora K. Foster. Who's worked on the following. And the Birds of Prey show. And.

[00:53:50] Well. And Heroes. Frank Spotnitz. Frank. Well. And. And he. He and Vince Gilligan. So those are the big X-Files crossovers. I've only seen. Ads for it when it was on Syfy. And it looked like a. Smashing Pumpkins music video. Side. Well that's just it. Nobody knew about Vince Gilligan's. Contribution. Because it never aired. Did you know that? I didn't know that. So. Originally. You didn't have a chance. A. A. A. A. A. But he should have. He should have. But.

[00:54:20] But Thomas Schnotts. Who did work on Lone Gunman. Reaper. Breaking Bad. And X-Files Saga. He was also. And. And. The. The. This essay. And the Harsh Realm essay. Are in two books. From ATV Publishing. About. Romo time. The X-Files. Universe. Please buy a book. They literally. They collected 153 writers. For each volume.

[00:54:48] To cover all of the episodes of X-Files. All of the episodes of Millennium. All of the episodes of Lone Gunman. All of the episodes of Harsh Realm. All of the episodes of the original Kolchak. All of the episodes of the new Kolchak. All right. So. There's a lot. There's a lot of people talking about. Every little aspect. Of. The. The greater X-Files universe.

[00:55:17] Even stuff that I didn't know. Was part of that universe. I mean. I understand. Um. So. The. The new Kolchak series. Was started by Frank Spottnitz. Was. Supposed to be. Carl Kolchak. Investigating these. Unexplainable phenomenon. Writing about them for his new newspaper. But he was also investigating.

[00:55:46] His wife's murder. Yeah. Where. The new Kolchak fell short. And. I think if I remember correctly. ABC only aired. Six or seven episodes. Before canceling it. Mm-hmm. So. It started out. And it continued. For this. I'll get to that in a second. Each.

[00:56:14] Mystery he was uncovering. Had a link. Back. To his wife's murder. Murder. Which made no sense. Yes. Everything he investigates. Cannot be connected. To his wife's murder. Unless somebody's playing with him. And as much as a Gabriel Union fan. As I am. She really didn't get many. Yeah. She was. She was completely wasted. And I. I kind of sad about that. But. Like I said.

[00:56:44] ABC only aired. Those first six or seven episodes. However. They had filmed. The entire first season. Thirteen episodes. All right. Those. Last. Six or seven episodes. Never aired. Yeah. On any conventional TV. I think it was sci-fi. They aired. No. No. They didn't even air it there. Nope. Not until maybe about. Six years later. But. Two.

[00:57:14] If they did. If they aired all thirteen. But to my knowledge. All thirteen episodes. Were only available. On ABC's websites. Two. Website. Two years after the fact. Ridiculous. So two years. After the show was cancelled. You could finally watch. All thirteen episodes. On abc.go.com. Remember that? Yes. I still have the ABC app. But I don't use it much. Does anybody? But. So I watched.

[00:57:43] They sometimes have some popular stuff on there. But I know what you mean. Really? Yes. But I watched those last five or six episodes. On ABC's website. To like. What did I miss? What. What did all of us miss? That we might have had fun with. And that thirteenth episode. Yeah. The remaining stuff aired on sci-fi. It did. Oh. So it did eventually show up on sci-fi. Because I saw the ads in a six. And I was like. What the fuck is this? Yeah. Okay. So it eventually aired on sci-fi channel. Which is interesting. It's just what they usually do. And rerun stuff.

[00:58:13] They need to fill time. But sci-fi channel. And NBC Universal. I mean. Sci-fi channel. And ABC. Disney. We're not. Anywhere. They're not related. But okay. I mean. I can't see. I can't see NBC Universal. Paying Disney to air. Colchak. Just you know. Just that. In my head. That doesn't work back then. But what do I know? It's money right? Sci-fi just wanted time filler stuff. They. At this point.

[00:58:43] Just a little backstory. Like they would often re-air. A lot of original TV movies. And shows that were on either Fox or UPN. Because they're just like. It's just. It has exactly what we're looking for. So in between reruns of Seven Days. Or. The Sentinel. Let's get you. Just some other. Just infamous TV movie. Sentinel. There's. There's a deep dive into. We love it. That's why we're. That's why we're doing these. X-Files Octobers. Because at the end. Almost everything feels like a Star Trek.

[00:59:13] Or X-Files. Or Twilight Zone episode. Because it's all. Even Doctor Who. If you want to go that far. It's like. Camp or Sirius. It doesn't matter. They're. They're pretty much speaking the same language. Hiring similar actors. And crew. Who can pull that off. And it. Everything's a copy of a copy. Even on a good day. So it's just like. So. Well. So. So that final episode. Of Night Stalker. That you saw. Was. Was the season finale. And. A guy. Who was a former.

[00:59:44] Patient. At the asylum. Where Carl spent time. After his wife's murder. Finds Carl. And kidnaps him. And takes him to an abandoned house. To talk to him. So. This guy. Is having a conversation. With Carl. Saying. Are you sure you remember. What happened to us. In that institute. The way it really happened. So. He's trying to get Carl. To remember. Something. That happened. While he was institutionalized.

[01:00:13] And he's. Talking about what he remembered. Talking about what he remembered. Carl told him about his wife's murder. And he's dropping. All these breadcrumbs. And. They're. They're literally like. Volkswagen sized breadcrumbs. Okay. Why do you think they waited till the last. And then. I. I forget how he worded it. But. What happened. In that last bit. Of the episode. Like. Like. The final act of the episode.

[01:00:43] We figure out. Or. It's. It's more than assumed. It's implied. It's. It's literally going. You know. Hey. We're holding a mirror up. So you can see all this too. The. Everything. That Carl. Thought. About what happened. Wasn't. Quite. Accurate. Everything. We have. Experienced. Everything. We have. Experienced. With Carl. Everything.

[01:01:13] Every. Investigation. Every. Every clue. He's been fed. Can be. Interpreted. In a different way. Yes. And so. It literally. Turns. Turns. The episode. Turns. The entire. Series. On its ear. And ABC. Was a pretty bad network. At that point. Because they wanted. Just sitcoms. And legal stuff. And sexy doctor shows. So if it wasn't Grey's Anatomy. You were going to. Just not last long.

[01:01:43] And we were. And. And we would have gotten. A completely different. Uh. Investigative. Tag. Tag. In season two. If there had been. A season two. And. That episode. Was written. By Vince Gilligan. And the name of the episode. Is what's the frequency. Colchack. Oh wow. Yeah. Yeah. Because. Sputnik. Sputnik.

[01:02:13] Has done so many. Comedy and mystery shows. And it's pretty well respected. And yet. A lot of. X-Files fans. Love to just be sour. In those later years. And on his initial stuff. He does. And. It's weird. Because anyone else. They often say. Oh you're gasping at straws. Oh you're a sellout. Or you're not as good. And he has somehow. Avoided that. He's. Brilliant enough. To kind of just leave him alone. Kind of like Ronald D. Moores. Or. David E. Kelly's of the world. Is like. You tried. It's like. So it's so weird. It's like. Kind of like how.

[01:02:42] Larry Day was a great writer. But. He wrote the finale of Seinfeld. Which is often. You know. Critically detested. And so. It's that weird thing. Where everyone forgets. You know. He wrote that. And it's like. Oh well. I didn't know that. I just didn't like it. So. He's in that kind of realm. Of is like. When. He wrote the. Poorly received second. X-Files movie. And. No one blames him. They just blame the creator. Who also directed it. So. It's. It's interesting. Interesting. Uh. So. Would you say.

[01:03:12] Just the network. Just programmed it poorly. Because yeah. I just would see. Parts of clips of that. And. Promos. And I'm like. This just looks like a bad. Wannabe. Just. Everyone was doing. Slow motion. And heavy metal. Type stuff. And I just. I just was out of it. At that point. I'm like. Not everything has to look. And sound. Like Final Destination. Or Matrix. Or. You know. It doesn't. It doesn't have to be. I don't know. I think. I think they were. I think.

[01:03:41] I think a lot of the studios. Were. Were caught up in the. What kind of creatures were on it? In order. In order to get. The. Audience. We have to copy. What the audience likes. And even if it. Even if it doesn't fit. Just get as many. Curious eyes as you can. I. I get that. But like. So like. What kind of creatures were on this iteration? Creatures? Yeah. There was. Surely there was a vampire.

[01:04:11] Creatures? Phenomenon. Monsters. Anything. Monsters? It's called check. They were not as obvious. As. Your classic monsters. All right. I. So. It didn't have any of that. Okay. Interesting. Much of that. Anyway. So. How would you describe it? So it's. A procedural. But it's not really a cop show. Kind of like. Colchak was. Originally.

[01:04:41] And at the same time. It's. Got dark mysteries. So. It's. It's. It's. It's more. More. Like I said. That's why I said. I titled it. We don't need another molder. Because it fell into. That. Investigate. Something. That. Doesn't quite. Fit. And. And. And. You know. Well. It's like. In. This. This. Incident. Happened. People are describing. This incident.

[01:05:11] We need to figure out. How to. Report it. It. It's kind of like the. The debunking. Wow. Hey. I. I'm glad you just took some thought of that. Because it's like. You've stopped just now me. That's great. All right. But. It is. It's like.

[01:05:40] Our problems are in front of us. And even then. We don't really want to deal with them. Yeah. But no. I think. I think. All. 13 episodes. Are still available. Somewhere. To be watched. Online. Yeah. There's a DVD release. It's out there. There's a. Oh. That's right. It did eventually come out on DVD. And I'd always see it. And because of the middling reviews. I did not give it the time of day. I. All I knew is that. Oh.

[01:06:10] It stars that one guy. Who gets fired from every movie. For his bad behavior. Oh. Oh. For those of you in the audience. Who are curious about who he's talking about. We are talking about. Stuart Townsend. The original Aragorn. The queen of the damn guy. The guy who. Slept with Charlize Theron. And. Was on that 13 TV show. Which. Eh. That was okay. I guess. I. It. I didn't know for. Ages. That he was the original Aragorn. He literally came to set.

[01:06:41] Gave Peter Jackson lip. And then he's like. You know. I should have seen the writing on the wall. That this was a mistake. You're fucking fired. You know. It's just. Who can we cast last minute. And. When you look at all the original Lord of the Rings cast. What does this have to do with Lord of the Rings guys. This just has to do with Stuart Townsend was in. The original movie. It's like. Yeah. They wanted Russell Crowe as Aragorn. That would have changed it up. Do you remember. I don't know if you remember. Reading. Reading the articles.

[01:07:11] But. Mira Sorvino. Yeah. Was originally supposed to be Aowyn. And Weinstein wanted to kill. Weinstein. Any actresses. His career. Because they wouldn't sleep with him. And it's like. Yeah. Guess what buddy. That's not how this world works. You're a shithead. And I'm sitting there going. Wait a minute. Mira Sorvino's career was tanked. Because she said no to Harvey Weinstein. And Jackson. And Paul Sorvino didn't take that man's balls off. And make him swallow him. Yeah. It's like. Come on Polly.

[01:07:41] You gotta know someone on Wall Street. With ties. Right. Right. Yeah. Hmm. With all the gangsters you play. Yeah. Um. But yeah. There should have been more legal concerns. She. All those actors should have done defamation of character. But they were. That just shows you how afraid. But shame on all these other people who heard stories. But didn't do anything. So it's like. Brad Pitt heard something. Didn't do anything. He just said don't fuck with my. You know. There was. Spouse Gwyneth. And yeah. There was. There was one. I think there was one article. Where. You know.

[01:08:11] And Jackson issued an apology. He's like. He did. He did. He did. Had I known he was full of shit. I would have cast you anyway. You know. Mm hmm. But yeah. There's the one. There's like the one quote. That people were. Were floating about. That. Ben Affleck heard something. Like he was like talking to somebody at a party. And he yelled. He's like. I can't believe Harvey's still doing that bullshit. I told him to knock it off. Something like that. But shame on him then. If he knew about it. Then he should have. Reported it. But.

[01:08:40] Unfortunately. There's a lot of tools. I mean. Tarantino moved away. But let's be honest. He never spoke out. So. Yeah. I think he's complicit. So. He did. He did not help. Help. He did not help at all. He. He. And he dated Mira. So. He watched. He watched. Yeah. He's. He's a shithead. Anyway. So. Yeah. I mean. All these different commitments. All these different things that could have been. And. I believe in second chances or everything.

[01:09:10] But yeah. Stuart. It just seems like. Yeah. He just was very. High on the horse and ego. And. He just kind of just kept getting questionable TV stuff since then. I. How did he do on this show? His interpretation of Kolchak actually was pretty good. But. There. There. There. There was. There was a.

[01:09:34] A good interplay between him and Gabrielle and the guy who played the photographer. There. There was a. Cohesion there. That did work. In my book. Hmm. And so I guess ABC just wanted. A shitty. Cop show. Go. And they're like now we're. We're doing that. But not really. It's almost like. It's almost like. Oh Frank's botanist.

[01:10:04] He came from X files. He's going to give us an X files of our own. Really. It's not how that works. So you can find it all on YouTube. I should have seen it all before I started this. But. You know. Happens. I just wasn't sold on it. But. Summer sold us on this. So. To each. Make up their own. You know. And you. You. Surprised me. With the whole. Detective Munch. Is part of the. The X files universe.

[01:10:34] Because. They were fans of homicide. And they didn't expect. He appeared as himself. In the lone gunman. I never watched the lone gunman. So I missed that one. Wait. When did. What? Hold on a minute. What? Yeah. He appeared as himself. In the lone gunman. Well no. He. He was in the lone gunman episode. Of X files. He wasn't on gunman. I thought that was a lone gunman episode. No.

[01:11:03] It was on the main X files show. And they. It made sense. Because their conspiracy theory. Is much like he is in real life. And. But either way. Yeah. It was just kind of one of those. Where. They just decided. Let's. But. They didn't expect him to say yes. But they were able to get. Permission to use that character. In universe. Which makes sense. Because it's set in Baltimore. Which is where homicide. And the wire is set. So. Um.

[01:11:32] And this is before. The character gets moved over. To SVU. Which. Did have some X files writers. On occasion. Contribute stuff. And. But yeah. I mean. I. I really miss the time. Of. Crossovers. Like. They would do stuff here and there. I mean. For God's sakes. There's a Murphy Brown episode. Of Seinfeld. And those were different networks. So it's like. It can be done. It can be done. They. They still do. Crossovers. They just keep them in universe. Like. There's law and order crossovers. With other law and orders. There.

[01:12:02] I believe. There was like. The Chicago. Well. They did it with that behind Chicago. But it was one of those. Where they. They had a. Gal from Chicago PD. She's playing the same person. But they didn't name her in the episode. Even though it was so clear. Yeah. It's the same person. Well. No. I thought. I thought there was an episode. Where. Mariska. Like. Chicago. Well. Yes. There's that. But like. That they went even deeper. Like.

[01:12:31] FBI is a CBS show by Dick Wolf. And. They had Tracy Spiridacos. Play her Chicago PD character. And they already set it up. On the PD. They're like. I'm leaving for an FBI stint. And. Of course. In subsequent seasons. That didn't work out. I wonder why. But. Yeah. It's like. They had her in an episode. Don't name her. Because it's kind of a conflict of interest. Because even though Dick Wolf. Owns all these shows. You know. That one's on NBC. And the other's CBS. So. Conflict of interest. I guess. But. David E. Kelly did it back on. The practice.

[01:13:01] By having those guys appear on Alec McPhillie. All the time. Because they're all owned by Fox. So. And. It was the only time. He won an Emmy. The same year. For like. Best comedy. And best drama. I'm like. Jesus. So. The. The creative wheels. Can spin. They can totally do stuff like that. Here and there. And. Probably the most recent one. They did was. The Always Sunny Gang. Appeared on. Avid Elementary. And when I told people that. They're like. You're pulling my leg. I'm like. No. Oh. You're both owned by FX Fox. That. That did not happen.

[01:13:31] It did. Oh. That's crazy. And then. They followed it up. And since now. We're on Always Sunny. All those beloved characters from Avid. Are all going to. Use choice words. That. You couldn't say on network TV. And. People were laughing at it so hard. I'm like. Guys. Listen to it. There. There's something beneath it. But you're getting so distracted. By that beloved character. Using the C word. It was great. Wow. Wow. And a lot of people were like. How's that going to work? I'm like. It totally works. But both of them have dysfunctional people.

[01:13:58] This is no different than if Luke Grant were to appear on All in the Family. Or. I don't know. Nick Van Dyke were to appear on. And like I said. I don't watch sitcoms anymore. So I had no idea. There's a lot of bad ones. Abbott Elementary. I did not realize took place in Philadelphia. It's really a delight. Because it's a lot of the same office people. So it uses that mockumentary style. And. To make it its own bread and butter. They just do everything from. Are we going to get anything done. At this. You know.

[01:14:28] Elementary school. Or is it. You know. It's still going strong. Because like. Everybody's predicting what each character is going to go and do. Because they're always doing outrageous stuff. And it just shows you. It's like. It doesn't have to be naughty. In fact. You can watch it with kids. That's the other thing. But there's something for the adults sprinkled in there. Is that show. Animal Control. Still running. Yes. Oh my god. I love that show. And. They. They. They. They. Kiboshed my idea. Oh. Why?

[01:14:58] I. I. Had. An idea. A moment. Of. Of. Insanity. And I imagined. A comedy series. On the web. Like a. A live action web series. Comedy. And since I don't do comedy. You know. We were going to go. Technological. Just have comedy to explain it. But not a straight up comedy. Exactly. It was going to be a comedic take.

[01:15:28] On. An animal control facility. But. It was a. Robot dog rescue. Oh do it. It did it with K9000. That was a fun. On soul TV pilot. Yep. By the writer of diehard. I had. I. I had. Uh. Was it. Yeah. Robot. Pet control. Robot animal control.

[01:15:58] Robot chicken control. There you go. Yeah. Yeah. But no. It was. It was all going to be about. You know. You know. How people. Will abandon their. Their pets. These are people who got. Tired of the robot dogs. And just like. Left them on the. Side of the street. Or wherever. So you have. A team of people. Collecting. Abandoned. Or abused. Robot pets. You know. And. And yes. It did. Also include. Abandoned.

[01:16:27] Tamagotchis. So yeah. I had this whole. Whole idea. And then. You know. Hale pops up. With this animal control series. I'm like. Well. F. You should. Just write into him on Twitter. And say. I have an idea. And let them see it. And sell the idea. They. They can't. They can't do it. They cannot. They cannot take. They cannot field ideas. From the. From the unwashed. Populous. They really can't. I was. But I. I'm like.

[01:16:57] Dude. Now people are going to think. I stole your idea. When you. Swiped mine. I just hadn't put it out. In the universe yet. Hey. There's still time. Give it. A minute. Yeah. There's. There's time. And who knows. Maybe. Maybe. The next generation. Of. Of. Boston Dynamics. Dogs. Boston Dynamics. Coming to NBC. It will inspire. Will inspire. A. You know. A flood of. Robot pets.

[01:17:26] You never know. Because. Let me tell you. No. Seriously. If Robot Dynamics. I mean. Robot. If Boston Dynamics. Ever came out with. Robot. Dogs. That were. Like. Teacup size. That you carry. In your purse. Like. What's her name. L. From. Legally Blonde. Dude. Can you imagine that? I want to see that now. Do you know how much money. I would pay to see. Reese Witherspoon. Holding a gun. No. Tough. Being.

[01:17:55] Sweet and sassy. In addition to kicking ass. That would. That would be amazing. I mean. Yeah. She's killing it on the morning show. But come on man. Well. Summer. Please. Keep promoting your ideas. Keep writing. You could. If you have a. I will be there day one. If you have a fiction show. Come out. Or. Or a. Working on it. Working on it. Don't. Don't sell it to anybody. Really. In all honesty. Just. Yeah. Just. But. You're. You're a breath of fresh air. You're always. Uh. Just.

[01:18:26] Positive. Positive. Constructive. You blow everyone's mind. You'll have some other hard-hitting trivia. And be like. Wait. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. And it's like. It takes us on a fun tour. You're. You're a gifted. Natural storyteller. I can only imagine what it was like. Giving an. A kick-ass research paper. Back in college for you. Um. I hope you were honored. I hope you. People actually. Got their head out of their ass. And listened to you. So. Um. Where can we find you on the interwebs. Uh. Out of all these different discussions. But. I'm always linking your different.

[01:18:56] Uh. A slice of sci-fi blogs. And everything. But. Um. If there's anything else you want to promote. Or have me link. I'm. Uh. Best. Best place is. Slice of sci-fi dot com. You can search for. Slice of sci-fi on YouTube. I am starting to put more of these interviews. Up. At. You know. The video versions of them. Because there are a lot. Uh. The. The Marvel Age of Comics. Series. From Bloomsbury Academic. Is my new favorite. Oh my god. I needed this in my life.

[01:19:25] And nobody ever told me about it. Just these deep. Deep dives. Into various storylines. And various characters. Um. From. Marvel. Uh. The. That's great. The deep dive. Into Miles Morales. Was something I did not expect. Uh. The deep dive. Into. Uh. The origin. Of Wolverine. Weapon X. Was. Uh. A lot of fun. Who was your favorite superhero growing up?

[01:19:55] I actually never asked you that. My favorite superhero. I'm not. I was a Punisher guy. I'm not. Sure. I. Look. If you're talking from the comics. Yes. Uh. It would have been. I see you as a spawn person for some reason. You seem to have that kind of just. Rebellious hat. Spawn came out. Uh. I think after I was done. But I think it would be. Storm. Electra. I could see you as a Storm. Bear devil. And. Rogue.

[01:20:27] Okay. Yeah. I could see you as a rogue. People touch you. They burn up. I. I truly. Truly. Enjoyed the original Electra run. Uh. The. The. If. If you want a deep. A deeper dive. Into writing comics. And stories. Frank Miller just came out. With a. Uh. A memoir. Wow. Called. Push the wall. Um.

[01:20:57] I might give it a peek. He's. He's something else recently. He. He. He truly is. He truly is something else. But. Yeah. The. The. The. The Marvel. Age of comics. I'm not trying to get political. I just. Yeah. The Marvel. The Marvel Age of Comics series is. Is. Brilliant. And. I think. How popular. These stories have been. Took Bloomsbury by surprise. Because they. Put out a lot more. They put out. Three. Last year. It's a Kindle edition now. Yeah. Yeah.

[01:21:27] They're on Kindle now. Um. The. The Doctor. Because Doctor Strange was my other guy. My other. I can only imagine what that's like. Doctor. Doctor Strange. And the X-Men were. And Daredevil were. My people. In the 80s. Um. The. The Doctor Strange book. Mm-hmm. Uh. About. You know. Basically Doctor Strange in New York in the 70s. Was really good. There's a.

[01:21:56] And there's an Avengers book. There's one on the Avengers in the 70s. There's one. The one. I think it's. I think it was Stuart Moore. Focused on. Just Daredevil born again. And that was. That was a deep dive. That I absolutely loved. Um. They're coming. The. I'm. I'm annoyed. Because the Misty Night book. Was supposed to come out in October. It's been pushed to next April. Mm-hmm. So I'm.

[01:22:26] I'm just like. I have to wait. How long? She's the NYPD gal with the bionic arm. Mm-hmm. We only see a segment of that in the Luke Cage show. But hey. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. She's. She's. She's in the Luke Cage show. But you can see. But the Misty Night has an entire. An entire storyline. But. I have video. Versions of these. The episodes. That I did with the. The Marvel. Age of comics. And I have to. Upload those eventually. Uh.

[01:22:55] You can also find me over at Babylon Podcasts. Tim and I are still talking about Babylon 5 folks. So I have two. Podcasts. That are 20 years old. Yeah. Yeah. Hey. I'm just glad that. You. You were there when. The towers fell on the internet. And you were able to just find all these great. Collaborations and partnerships and friends. I just. I just kept. Genres. You know. Paying attention to what was coming out. And making a note of what I liked. Uh.

[01:23:25] I just rediscovered all of these old interviews. That Matt Stover did. Because he wrote the novelization for Revenge of the Sith. And there. There were people. Analyzing that book. And back in the day. I was like. He sent me a signed copy of the book. Because. You know. We were. We were buddies back then. Christian Francis has been doing. Adaptations of famous fantasy and horror movies. And you're like. Where was this novelization. Back when the film came out. You know. It's just. Right. I mean. There are.

[01:23:53] There are two scenes. In. In Matt's book. That would have made the movie. So much better. I bet. And. I was just like. Why. Wasn't that in the movie. I heard folks. Lookers have to cut stuff out. Um. It's like. Why was that on in the movie. But. Yeah. But. Yeah. Hey. Uh. If you're ever at a con. I will be there. Okay. I will keep that. If you're ever. If you're ever at the. Con Carolinas. Let me know. Sure. Send a list of stuff. That's upcoming. I'll make it happen.

[01:24:23] And. Um. Also. Just. Uh. If you're going to do. Comedy tracks for any of those. Movies or shows. I'm totally down. Yeah. I got the stamina. I. I. I have a list of. Indie filmmakers. I need to reach back out to. And. I would love to get that project going. And. I would actually probably have to make a separate. Patreon for it. But I would. I would. I would do that in a second. Podcast feeds. And that's a. That's a big time suck. But it can be done. Yep.

[01:24:54] The thing I loved about it was. He's just so off the wall. As an investigative reporter. You know. He's. He's this guy. Walks. You know. Mostly reporters. Were like. You know. Guys that smoke. And you know. You know. I'll find out. He's this guy. He's got like a. You know. A boater hat. You know. A cheap linen suit on. You know. And he's. You know. He's. He crawls around the corners. You know. Stuff like that. And that's what I loved about it. And I mean. You know. You can almost look at it. As like.

[01:25:23] Eerie Indiana being like. An offshoot of that. And also the X-Files. Being an offshoot of that. In fact. The X-Files had Darren McGavin on. And that's what we loved about it. You know. Now. You know. But. But. Here's the thing. To connect it to Eerie Indiana. So. Eerie Indiana. The creators later. Worked on that private eye show. Which is also a bit. Like called Jack Strange Luck. With D. W. Sweeney. Yeah. All kinds of crazy stuff. That didn't last very long either. Oh. It was a full season. But it was pretty good. And then. When season two.

[01:25:53] Was supposed to have a crossover. Where he would. Get a little known FBI agent. Called Mulder. To help him out. He even names him. Yeah. And despite being. Pretty high profile. For a new world entertainment production. Roger Corbin's company. That's been since sold. It just. Didn't last. Pamela Gidley. Moves on to The Pretender. Cynthia Martellas. Works on some other stuff. Francis Fisher was a big part of it. But yeah. Yeah. The news. The fictional newspaper in it.

[01:26:22] Is the same newspaper as Eerie Indiana. Really? Yes. Okay. So. It was kind of like. In universe. Right. So it was like. If I want to. I could say. Like through this. Crossover that. Was mentioned. But never followed up on. And then. Through this other part. That came before that. I remember they had like a lot of shows. That were like trying to compete with like. Well. First off. I gotta say this. That. That shit. Version of the X-Files.

[01:26:52] In the early 2000s. I hated it. You know. It was just. You know. And the thing I said. I remember seeing with my ex-wife. And like. Just turning it off. After the episode going. It's not Darren McGavin. You know. Even though by that time. I think McGavin was. Like sicker. You know. Yeah. I had Summer come in. And defend it. But I. Even after looking at this. From different sides. I just felt like. It just was an average. Cop show. That. Like the previews were unappealing.

[01:27:21] Even though that wasn't. Final product. It looked like a bad. Smashing Pumpkins type music video. I'm like. No thank you. Too emo for me. But then I watched the whole thing. It's inoffensive. But it's also just doesn't stand out. I'm like. Oh no. Someone's died. Yeah. I'm like. And I. The beginning to me was just like. You know. It was like. You know. It's Stuart Townsend. I think who's doing the lead in that. Yeah. He's not a good actor. He's inoffensive here. But he has zero charisma. He's plastic. He couldn't carry.

[01:27:51] And I think the one thing I liked. The only thing I liked was like. They had him by the water coolant. There's like. Darren McGavin. CGI'd in. In the one scene. And I'm like. Oh hey. You know. A little tribute to. The cult. You know. Carl Kolchak. And I'm like. But then like. My friend Mike and I. We were watching. We would watch the night. The Night Stalker. When it was being run on Fox. Right. We run. And when. When it was being. Yeah. On the original run on Fox. And the thing I loved about it was. That beginning where he would like. Walk in. He'd be whistling. You'd hear that like. Very happy thing.

[01:28:20] And then all of a sudden. Everything was. Everything would just start going. And it was like. It's a very hip theme. Especially. The. Other sound effects. Well. You know. His whistling was kind of surreal. The way that. Yeah. Very uneasy. When someone was. You're here to kill me. Did you guys ever see the movies. The Night Stalker. And the Night Strangler. Yes. I have both. We had fun going into that. Because it really does kind of set the tone for it. And. You know. I. I mean.

[01:28:50] The thing. My. I remember the one. My mother goes. What's his girlfriend? Oh. She's a hooker Jay. You know. I'm like. Whoa. What? You know. The one. I thought she was just a stripper. But. My mom. My mom told me she was a hooker. And I was like. No. I'll find out later. She's a stripper. But. The thing I liked about that was. Different kind of sex worker. Yeah. But the thing I love about it. Is like. His. His relationship with his boss. Vincenzo. Yes. Which I loved. Call Jack. You know. And how he would get involved.

[01:29:20] Who was your favorite. Guest star. Because there's a bunch. I was really liking Tom Bosley. In the final episode. How about. How about you? Like. My favorite was. I'm sure. I'm trying to remember. The one with. Kathy Lee Crosby. Oh. Where she plays. Where she plays the one that sucks the youth out of guys. A succubus. Yeah. She's a succubus. And she drains the youth out of guys. And then there was another one. I remember. It was. She was incredible. Oh.

[01:29:50] It was. It was one. There was a. Like an invisible monster. Or something like that. I'm trying to remember. I haven't seen. We did joke about that. How it's like. It. Did actually make it more creepier. We thought. At first. It's going to make it more cheaper. But it's like. No. It kind of is more unsettling. When you make it be invisible. You know. When you make something. You know. Like. When it started to be like. You know. A robot. Or a werewolf. You know. Or you know. They had Richard Keel in one.

[01:30:18] I remember Richard Keel played a monster in one of them. And I'm sitting there. And I'm like. I'm like. Oh. And two of them. Well yeah. Two of them. You know. Richard Keel's playing the monster. You're just like. Okay. You know. I can. You know. It's like. Towards the. You know. It's like. You know. Get McGavin's going like. Yeah. This isn't going to work for me anymore. You know. He just. You know. And that's the thing I loved about him. Like. If you watch any show that he did. He was always. He was just like. He was just in there. He was like. All right. I know the script. Let's go shoot it.

[01:30:48] You know. Yeah. I mean. He came from my camera school. So. I mean. But. He. He had a show. Where he played a report. Like a reporter before that. He was a photographer. I think in it. It wasn't Riverboat. No. Not Riverboat. I'm trying to think. Something else. But I have. I have. He's in one of my favorite movies. When I was a kid. Called Zero to Sixty. You guys. It's. It's a rare movie. He. He actually wrote it. An adventure comedy. Okay. Yeah. It was.

[01:31:18] It's him. The Hudson brothers. Denise Nickerson from. Wow. Willy Wonka. What's her face. From. What's. What's. Sylvia. Jesus. She always played like a real loud mouth. In every movie she was in. That's Sylvia Sidney. Sylvia. The. Jesus. She was in Midnight Cowboy. Anyway. There you go. Yeah. Lorraine. Lorraine Day is in it.

[01:31:48] She plays the waitress. The reason. And she has a cameo. She has a cameo in it. Because Sid Sheinberg. Was her husband. I think Darren McGavin. And Sid Sheinberg. Were good friends. So she kind of came in as a cameo. As the waitress in the movie. But it's a thing where he plays a repo. He plays a repo man. He's down on his luck. He's lost everything to his wife. He becomes a repo man. Holy moly. She's been in a lot of Dr. Kildare movies. Yeah. And the thing is. Is that. The movie later. Three years later. Was called.

[01:32:17] They actually did a movie called repo man. With Emilio Estevez. But. But. You know. He has. He meets Denise Dickerson. Who's like basically like a 16 or 17 year old teenager. Living on her own. And he's like a father figure to her. And you know. She's like. She's um. He's trying to get this car that Joan Collins has. Which is a silver. Everyone wants what Joan Collins has. Yeah. Everyone. Yeah. But. Yeah. So he. Actually had some creative say in this. And this was.

[01:32:47] Years before. It's like three years before. It looks like. So. Yeah. So I mean. The great thing about that. That show was that. You know. It was just. It was something different. I mean. You know. We'd had the Outer Limits. We'd had Night Gallery. We'd had the Twilight Zone. But now we had every week. This reporter telling us the strange and unusual shit. That happens where he is. You know. You can make it be a procedural. But it doesn't have to be about who did it. Or. No. Who killed someone. Now it's just. The character is. Saying amusing stuff.

[01:33:17] Some. Some of the time it's just about him. And what he believes. And focuses on his narration more. So. And the thing I love about that. Is it's almost like. He's almost like the precursor to Fletch. Think about it. Like. Yeah. He goes under phony names. I have no idea what I'm in for next. You know. That's what I love about that show. He was just. I think he's one of the. I think he was one of the coolest actors. You know. I saw on TV when I was a kid. No matter what he did. You know. I loved it.

[01:33:47] You know. I love that show. And it's. I gotta get the box set. If there's a DVD set. I'm gonna get it when I have the chance. Sure. I think. I think it has both the movie. And all the episodes. It's very well remastered on Peacocks. So. Who wants instant access. I. They. They really didn't fudge it. They seem to have realized. It's the hard way. It is one of their popular universal titles. So. Yeah. That's what. That's what I love about the Night Stalker. You know. It's just a really good. Good show. And. You know.

[01:34:16] It laid the basics for the X-Files. And. That's the great thing. And they acknowledged it. And so that's. Yeah. That was like the icing on the cake. Have Darren come in. He has experience hunting monsters. It's like. Okay. Cool. So as far as I'm care. As I am concerned. It's kind of the same guy. Under a different A-list. And I think they're going to have him repeat the role. But he'd gotten sick at that point. Yeah. They wanted more from him. Because he was just so. It was a bit. He was on two highly rated episodes. So. Yeah. We. We kind of have you back. But.

[01:34:46] It was like literally his last role. From like. 99. So. But. Yeah. I mean. I don't know why. Whenever they pitch a supernatural thing. It has to always be compared to like. Maybe a select certain kinds of shows. But then. And. I'm joking with people who. Didn't get into any of these shows. They're still used to other stuff. Like Supernatural. Grim. Or. Even the 2000s Dead Zone. Which is a lot of fun. And. It's like. Guys. Those are kind of.

[01:35:15] Those are the other side of the coin. Those are way more comedic. But fun. The problem is that. Nowadays. There's so much content out there. That people are following the more recent stuff. Yeah. And Phantasm. My joke. Was kind of the precursor. To all these other shows. And doing it. Yeah. Well. Here's a funny thing I found out. Is that the guy who directed Phantasm. Did a kid movie. Called. Yeah. Kenny and Company. That. And Beastmaster. And. Yeah. And. I have to say.

[01:35:45] I watched Kenny and Company. It is. It is a great kids movie to watch. Surprisingly effective. Yeah. It's like. So. That's why. Coscarelli is honestly more talented. Than you would expect. Yeah. And like. I'm sitting there. And I'm like. Wait. Wait. Hold on. This is the guy who did Phantasm. He does this cute little kids movie. You know. Another one called. Jim's the world's greatest. I'm like. Yes. Where can I find that? I remember. That's the one with Mark. Mark Singer. Where he plays the. Older brother.

[01:36:15] I think in that. Gregory Harrison. No. Gregory Harrison. Yeah. But there was one where. I think it's Mark. I think. Agnes Scrim is in it. He plays the dad. Who's like drunk. Oh. It was like. I was like. What the fuck? Reggie Bannister's in both of them. Rest in peace. And A. Michael Baldwin's. Yeah. So. Yeah. But see. He's interesting. Because he's kind of. Much like Sam Raimi. He's like the blue collar guy. Who infiltrated Hollywood briefly. And then.

[01:36:46] Did all kinds of other nutty. But creative movies. So it was like. He always had some kind of fan base. Even though. It took him like. Six years in between each movie. Kind of. So. I mean. I applaud anyone who can. Make any kind of living. And have. Any kind of impact. I mean. I'm sure. The filmmakers. Who made Colchak. For instance. They just wanted to make a good show. They didn't know it would live on. As kind of a. Underrated. Kind of sleeper show. It's a cult show. Yeah.

[01:37:14] I've seen people dress up. As Colchak. At like. Fan fests and stuff. Oh. That's awesome. And I've been like. I go up to him. I'm like. Colchak. If you think I'm going to publish that. You've got another thing coming. You know. And they would start laughing. Like hysterically. Because like. Nobody. I'm like. I'm like one of the few people. That knows. Like. Why are they dressed like that? Oh. My wife. My wife. Who's he dressed like? Oh. That's Carl Colchak. The Night Stalker. She's like. Ooh. I'm like. I'm like. It's a show. Darren McGavin did. A long time ago. Imagine Supernatural. But with a reporter. She's like. Oh.

[01:37:44] Oh. Okay. And she's. Then she watched it later. When it was on MeTV. She's like. Oh. Okay. All right. I get where. You know. I get where they're coming from on this. I think they did a little thing on that. On Supernatural. They were called. They went like. Carl Colchak. And. And Vincenzo. Like. They did. Like. You know. They have the phony names. Yeah. Yeah. Those two. It was like. Phony names one time. Oh. They had to have been. Yeah. But. Like you say. It is so funny. How. Just.

[01:38:13] All these. If there's anything TV people love. It's other TV people. So like. Yeah. As big a tribute as they can. Tom and I always joke about how Dan Harmon is. Like. He lives in Bree's film. So like. He has pretty much. Almost. Every sitcom. He does. Has like a. Tribute to. Bad TV show. Reunions. To. My Dinner with Andre. To just some other. Just kind of iconic. Oh God. And.

[01:38:44] Yeah. I. I still think the one thing that gets me the most is like. You know. When they. When I. When I saw that remake of. You know. The. The Night Stalker. I was like. This is not going to be out too long. This is going to be five and out. And that's it. Yeah. I only saw the second run syndication of Syfy. And I was like. No thanks. Yeah. Like. Even if I don't know if it was canceled or not. Like just. You got to really have a gimmick. If it's just style. Sometimes it works. But most of the time.

[01:39:14] It just leaves one saying. Where's the substance. Where's the. There's nothing likable about that character. In that. In that remake of it. There's nothing. It's just his girlfriend. Or dies. And then he's like. He's got to get the. The monsters. And I'm like. Yeah. But. It's Darren McGavin. Fortunately. Frank Spotnitz has survived it. He did a good job on the first season. A man in the high castle. Was involved with lone gunmen. And then. He does all kinds of utter unusual comedy. Adventure stuff.

[01:39:43] He did Meta Psy. That historical drama. With Nicholas Meyer. And. That. You might have seen the CBS show. Ransom. Yes. Hunted for CBS. And the Indian detective. So yeah. He's. He survived it. But. He is kind of a Ronald D. Moore. Where every once in a while. He does a passion project. And you're like. I don't get it. But. Yeah. I respect you trying. It's okay to have a dint in the road once in a while. I think the one thing that lost me the most. Was. The lone. I liked the lone gunman. Totally.

[01:40:13] I loved that show. I was pissed. What they did. So. So I have. I have a theory for you. So. In the final episode of season nine. That's not. That's not their spirits. That's just a hologram. Talking to Mulder. That's the only way for me to write it out. Because I've got to skip all the other episodes. Including the one where they die. Yeah. I. I always think. I always think. They were. They. They didn't die. I think they were. They didn't. That gas. They kind of bring them back in the comics. So. If anyone wants any more from them. Definitely read those. Because. Yeah. I've heard there's.

[01:40:43] I've heard there's like. The comic book where it's like. Wait. Wait. I thought you guys were dead. No. We're not dead. It's a shame. Because the episode was so funny and watchable. Up until that last minute. And then you're just like. Okay. I get that it's meta. And they're doing the jump the shark moment. But. You. I'm sorry. They. They should have faked their deaths or something. Don't. Just say. Hey. This happens to have a virus. And there's no cure for it. And they're dead. I would love to have had like. Like somebody do. Somebody do something on a TV show. Where.

[01:41:13] A van pulls up. Window rolls down. And the three of them are in the van. And he looks at the van. He's like. He just looks at the. He looks at the. Look forward. He's like. He's like. Yeah. We're alive. And they take off. There you go. It's like. Someone else comes up to him on a motorcycle. And they're like. Who is this guy? Does he think he's freaking Agent Smith from the Matrix? Who is this guy? Fire. Pro Hickey. And Langley. That's all I remember. And I remember like. Like. It was like. The three of them were like. You know. Just like.

[01:41:43] The one of them was dressed like in a suit all the time. The other one was like a techno geek. And the other one was like this really short dude. They should have pulled a. Detective Munch. And just started invading every other TV show. Oh God. I would have pissed my pants if they had done that. They would have been perfect on the office or. Oh God. Them showing up as the repairman. You know. Yeah. Pretty lady. One of them. The short guy always does that. Pretty lady. Well I can see now. They're.

[01:42:13] They're in the office. And there's. There's what you would call it. The guy. Michael Scott. No. No. The guy who was like. Like really out there. The one guy. He was in. The grassroots. Oh. The. The older geezer guy. Yeah. He's like. He's like. I want you to just show my friends. Wait. Wait. Aren't they. I. No. No. No. Just. It wasn't Troy. It was the older guy. Ah. What's his name. Older guitarist guy.

[01:42:43] That's not Vern. You know who it is. Creed. Creed. Creed. Yeah. Creed. Yeah. He'd be perfect. He'd be like. What are you old hippies up to? I know. I am one. Yeah. If they had California. Played by Dave Spader on. He would have been like. I don't know what you guys are doing here. But I like you. Yeah. Oh. We are responsible for one too many crossovers. Because there's not enough apparently.

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