This is an episode list for the original 1974-1975 television series Kolchak: The Night Stalker, produced by Universal Television for the ABC Television Network.
Through 1972 & 73, ABC had produced and aired two made-for-TV movies, which became the de facto pilots for the subsequent series. The original movie, based on an unpublished novel, entitled simply The Night Stalker would spawn a direct sequel in the form of an episode of the series: The Vampire. The second movie, The Night Strangler, however, was an entirely original story. The first episode of the series, The Ripper, is sometimes mistaken as the pilot of the series and shares a number of plot similarities with the 2nd movie.
The series was originally given a full season order, but was cancelled after only 20 episodes were produced. Three additional scripts were written and in various stages of development at the time of cancellation and are included below as unproduced episodes.
The series resulted out of a rejected third movie script entitled The Night Killers the plot of which involved aliens replacing government officials with androids. Though never produced, the series would address all three aspects of its plot individually in separate episodes.
Contents |
| # | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | "The Ripper" | September 13, 1974 |
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Kolchak uncovers the identity of a serial killer to be Jack The Ripper. Included with The Vampire in The Night Stalker: TwoTales of Terror" video compilation. |
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| 02 | "The Zombie" | September 20, 1974 |
| A grandmother seeks revenge for her grandson's death by turning him into a zombie to do her bidding. Originally listed in TV Guide for the first episode debut. | ||
| 03 | "They Have Been, They Are, They Will Be..." | September 27, 1974 |
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Also known as U.F.O.[1] An invisible alien sucks down the bone marrow of its victims while it makes repairs and looks for directions home. This is the only story where Kolchak fails to stop the "monster". Legendary sports broadcaster Dick Enberg can be heard on Kolchak's car radio calling game 1 of a fictional World Series between the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox. |
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| 04 | "The Vampire" | October 4, 1974 |
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A sequel to the first movie The Night Stalker. An overlooked victim of the Las Vegas vampire makes her way to Los Angeles and begins killing anew. Typically shown as the first episode of the 16 originally available for syndication and included with The Ripper in The Night Stalker: TwoTales of Terror" video compilation. |
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| 05 | "The Werewolf" | November 1, 1974 |
| On a singles cruise, a werewolf goes on a killing spree. | ||
| 06 | "Firefall" | November 8, 1974 |
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The ghost of an arsonist tries to take over a renowned conductor's body as his doppelganger. This episode was combined with The Energy Eater and new narration by Darren McGavin to compose the telemovie Crackle of Death effectively removing it from original syndication. |
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| 07 | "The Devil's Platform" | November 15, 1974 |
| A politician on a meteoric rise murders his opposition through a pact with satan which gives him the ability to turn into an invulnerable dog. | ||
| 08 | "Bad Medicine" | November 29, 1974 |
| The first based on a Native American legend, a Diablero shaman spirit murders for jewels to pay back his debt and be released from his Earthly bonds. | ||
| 09 | "The Spanish Moss Murders" | December 6, 1974 |
| A dreaming host conjures up the Creole legend of Père Malfait moss-monster willing to kill anyone who threatens its survival. | ||
| 10 | "The Energy Eater" | December 13, 1974 |
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A hospital is built on reclaimed land inhabited by the Native American bear-spirit legend Matchemonedo which threatens to destroy anyone who inhabits it. This episode was combined with Firefall and new narration by Darren McGavin to compose the telemovie Crackle of Death effectively removing it from original syndication. |
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| 11 | "Horror In The Heights" | December 20, 1974 |
| A Hindu Rakshasa terrorizes a Jewish neighborhood. | ||
| 12 | "Mr. R.I.N.G." | January 10, 1975 |
| An android's quest for survival murders anyone in its way. | ||
| 13 | "Primal Scream" | January 17, 1975 |
| Defrosted ancient cell samples discovered in the arctic grow into savage prehistoric primates and go on a rampage. | ||
| 14 | "The Trevi Collection" | January 24, 1975 |
| A witch desires to control the world of high fashion. | ||
| 15 | "Chopper" | January 31, 1975 |
| Bent on revenge, a headless motorcycle rider murders those who wronged him. | ||
| 16 | "Demon In Lace" | February 7, 1975 |
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An evil succubus from ancient Mesopotamia murders young men to maintain her immortality. This episode was combined with Legacy of Terror and new narration by Darren McGavin to compose the telemovie The Demon and The Mummy effectively removing it from original syndication. |
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| 17 | "Legacy of Terror" | February 14, 1975 |
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An Aztec cult seeks to resurrect the mummy of their god by murdering perfect people. This episode was combined with Demon In Lace and new narration by Darren McGavin to compose the telemovie The Demon and The Mummy effectively removing it from original syndication. |
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| 18 | "The Knightly Murders" | March 7, 1975 |
| To prevent the destruction of its home, the spirit of a Knight reanimates a suit of armor to kill those responsible. | ||
| 19 | "The Youth Killer" | March 14, 1975 |
| Helen of Troy returns to drain the youth out of unsuspecting perfect victims, sacrifices for the goddess Hecate, in her quest for immortality. | ||
| 20 | "The Sentry" | March 28, 1975 |
| A lizardman creature kills subterranean workers who have stolen its eggs. | ||
| 21 | "Eve of Terror" | N/A |
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A Doctor Jekyll/Mr. Hyde story involving a scientist who kills anyone in her project's way. One of two scripts which had been through the second-draft stage of pre-production and assigned a production number, but not produced prior to the series cancellation short of its original order.[2][3] Both of which were later produced as graphic comics by Moonstone Books. |
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| 22 | "The Get of Belial" | N/A |
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A faith healer suffers the murders by her monstrous son thanks to Belial's curse, in order to continue the work of God. One of two scripts which had been through the second-draft stage of pre-production and assigned a production number, but not produced prior to the series cancellation short of its original order.[2][3] Both of which were later produced as graphic comics by Moonstone Books. |
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| N/A | "The Executioners" | N/A |
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The spirits of three executioners come to life and murder people, wherever their portrait painted with their cremated ashes is displayed. A third script draft also not produced prior to the series cancellation short of its original order.[2] Though in an early draft form at the time of cancellation and never assigned a production number, it is included here for completeness.[3] This and the third unproduced telemovie have never been produced in any form (though the movie script is published by Gauntlet Press).[4] |
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