246 US Pop Culture 1974 Part 4

[@PapaNicksMusic]

I loved that Friday night lineup. Planet of the Apes on CBS, then Rockford Files on NBC, and finally Kolchak on ABC. I was glued to the set every week! And I had a few of those Planet of the Apes action figures, too! And I love that you have Head On in your cubbie-it’s probably my favorite BTO album. Excellent video, Steve!

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

I started high school in the fall of '74 so I started spending most of my Friday nights at football games. I definitely watched "Planet of The Apes" a few times and was usually home to catch most of "Kolcak," which is a series I loved. I don't think I caught "Rockford" until late in the first season, when my dad started watching it. Definitely some interesting stuff in that Friday night line-up! Good eye on catching "Head On." It was part of this week's "Heads or Tails (or "Tales")" theme. Have a great week, Nick, and thanks for sharing the memories and the feedback!

[@michaelthemovieattic]

Great stuff Steve. I don't remember watching too much of Planet Of The Apes but I think the original movie is coming to 4k and I'll definitely be picking it up. Of course I loved Land Of The Lost. I thought the sleestacks were really cool looking. Being very young at the time, I found them a little scary. I wouldn't mind checking out that Night stalker series. The Japanese series Ultraman always seem to do a good job coming up with a new monster every episode, although some were a little ridiculous. I wouldn't mind checking out Korg 70,000 B.C. as well. I had forgotten all about Valley Of The Dinosaurs till you mentioned it. Endless Summer was my first Beach Boys album. After hearing a couple songs, I was hooked for life and the rest is history as they say. Thanks as always for the memories and the Great stuff to check out.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

I think there are two movies I’ve seen so many times that I can recite them “by heart”; the 1931 “Dracula” with Bela Lugosi and the 1968 “Planet of The Apes.” I was nearly eight when my mom took us to see “Planet of The Apes” at the drive-in. I was skeptical because the TV spots showed the apes speaking English, which, even at that age, I thought was “unrealistic.” When the big “reveal” came at the end, I was completely satisfied that it made sense that the apes spoke English (though I never considered why Taylor wouldn’t have figured out where he was pretty quickly if the apes had been speaking English.) Anyway, for years after, I thought it was the coolest movie ever made. I was fourteen and probably “a little old” for “Land of The Lost” in 1974, but I watched it every week anyway and I, too, thought the Sleestak were very cool. I actually didn’t remember “Valley of The Dinosaurs” at all. I know I had been looking forward to “Korg,” which looked pretty cool. I haven’t seen it since “back in the day,” but my recollection is that it ended up being rather dull. “Endless Summer” was my first Beach Boys album too. I’m looking forward to your thoughts on next week’s “Endless Summer” episode! Thanks, as always, for the great feedback, Michael, and have a great week!

[@pauldaniels2019]

I had tickets for the CNSY/Beach Boys/and others (maybe Joe Walsh and Santana??) in '74. Unfortunately CSNY broke up before the tour made it to L A and then it was cancelled. Finally in 2000 I got to see CSNY in concert for my first and only time. I guess I wasn't watching much TV back then - at that time I never saw any of those shows you spotlighted; although years later I became a fan of Rockford Files. Thanks for another great episode.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Despite becoming known as "The Doom Tour," from what I've heard, it seems like CSNY played some great shows on that tour (and the Beach Boys too!) Great that you had a chance to see them in 2000! (Unfortunately, I waited and missed out once again.) I don't think you missed too much by not seeing those 1974 shows. For some reason, I don't think I caught "Rockford" until the second season. Thanks for sharing the memories, Paul! Always great to hear from you!

[@skee19]

Ah the memories Steve! I was 12 and loved those shows! I was big fan of Tony Orlando & Dawn! Sad those variety shows are a relic they could never fly today 😞. Angie was a babe back then ! I remember around that time she did a movie called “ Big Bad Mama” where she was naked in a lot of scenes.. When it came on cable a year or so later it was big deal for just turned teenage boys 😂! Great stuff as usual!

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

It's funny that I remember Angie Dickinson looking like "a mom" back in the day. The same with Shirley Jones on "The Partridge Family." For some reason, when I look at them now, they're these real young, attractive women. Wonder what happened? My perspective on “Tony Orlando and Dawn” has really changed from what I remember too. The series came back in late 1974 (which I’ll mention when we get to the fourth quarter.) I used to watch it all the time and I’d have sworn it must have run for four or five years. Turns out, it was only two. It looms large in my memory! Thanks, as always, for the great feedback, Mike!

[@tompepper4789]

Great video Steve. I remember many of these shows from way back when. And I like your collection of the Planet of the Apes memorabilia.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks, Tom! I was happy this episode gave me a chance to show some of my "Apes" stuff.

[@betamaxblocker]

I'd never heard of "The Texas Wheelers" before but it sounds like I'm not missing much. Jack Elam was a great character actor but he got sucked into appearing into many crappy productions. But he did get to play opposite Mike Love in "Scrooge's Rock & Roll Christmas" (and he survived!) I have the Wild Honey + 20/20 double album but I still need to get the Smiley Smile + Friends follow-up. There are two plaques at Paradise Cove- one is for "The Rockford Files" and one for the "Surfin' Safari" album photoshoot. That beach saw lots of talent! Great job as always, Steve!

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks for the feedback and info, Alex! I had no idea there was a "Rockford" plaque at Paradise Cove. I'm not sure I ever caught an episode of "The Texas Wheelers," but I think ABC thought it was going to be a giant hit by the way they were promoting it. (It was the same with "Sons & Daughters" on CBS. I suppose it just goes to show how hard it is to pick a hit.) I originally bought those Reprise double sets when I started buying Beach Boys back catalog in 1980. At the time, it was about the only way to find them. There were plentiful discounted "cut out" versions in the clearance bins at most record stores. I sold my copies after I got used copies of the original albums. (Who knew in the early 80s that they'd come in handy for a "KZbin channel" on something called "internet"?) Seems like those covers were very susceptible to wear too. I see them around, but they're usually in pretty rough shape. Thanks again for the feedback, Alex, and I'm looking forward to your thoughts on "Endless Summer" next week!

[@johnhammond1572]

Just a few of these shows mentioned made it on to our TV screens with "Planet of the apes" probably being the most successful. It's fascinating how you've still got all the memrobilia from this period and as always kept in such great condition. Nice little episode really enjoyable.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thank, John! Interesting to know that "Planet of The Apes" ran there and was successful! I'm definitely happy to have held on to as much pop culture stuff as I did. Of course, if you'd told me fifty years ago that it would all come in handy for a show I'd be doing on an internet platform called "KZbin"... Have a great week, John, and thanks again!

[@robertzastrow4648]

Remember some of the television shows you mentioned in this, Steve. Because my parents (especially my Dad) preferred CBS over both ABC and NBC, the CBS shows were the most familiar to me (although I was probably aware of shows on the other networks. Both my Dad and I enjoyed Manhunter, with Ken Howard. I was disappointed when Manhunter was cancelled. Howard himself later went on to much greater success when he starred as the main character in The White Shadow, which I think was also a CBS show. I enjoyed Rhoda, which I remember my Mom also enjoyed. Also liked the Planet Of The Apes television series, which both my parents were dismissive of. Remember my Mom thought it was silly, with my Dad probably thinking it was stupid, both thinking along the lines of "Whoever heard of talking Apes!" Wasn't aware of all the marketing merchandise tied in with the show. Several years ago, came across a DVD of the animated series, which I picked up (Didn't remember seeing the animated series on television). Enjoyed watching the animated episodes. Also have on DVD the animated series Valley Of The Dinosaurs (Which I do remember watching on Saturday mornings. Remember also Shazam ( which I liked) and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, which I didn't think was too funny (Actually was bored by it). Remember also a CBS detective show from around this time (Maybe it came on a year or two later) called Delveccio (With Judd Hirsch) as the title character. I enjoyed this show also, which didn't last too long. Remember watching and enjoying Good Times, thinking J.J was quite the character, with his "DYNOMITE!!!" saying.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Sounds like you definitely watched a lot of CBS in those days! (We did too, and, of course, in 1974, it was still the number one network by quite a distance over NBC and ABC.) I remember liking “The Manhunter” too. I liked “Rhoda,” in part, because “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” was such a part of Saturday night for me at the time. Having “Rhoda” on Monday felt like a little “extra blast” of the weekend at the beginning of the week. (That’s probably unique to me because I was in my first year of high school and not having a good time, so the weekends were the only time I really enjoyed in the fall of ’74. Anything that “felt like the weekend” was welcome!) I had really been looking forward to the “Planet of The Apes” TV series over the summer of ’74 but, when it started, I think I only watched it a couple of times. (I’ve seen it since then and have it on DVD.) Again, that’s probably related to me starting high school. In the fall of ’74, I started going to high school football games most Friday nights. Thanks for mentioning “Delvecchio”! I remember the title. I looked it up and see that it debuted in 1976. (I was afraid I’d missed it somehow in ’74!) I’ve got some additional stuff I want to present on Jimmy “JJ” Walker, but I’ve decided it should be saved for eventual “1975” episodes. Thanks for sharing the memories and for the great feedback and info, Robert!

[@robertzastrow4648]

@@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444 I also enjoyed all the "Bicentennial Minutes" which were aired. History has always been one of my favorite subjects. Think there was a slow media build up (Starting in 1974) to the big 1976 celebration of our Bicentennial. Don't think this came out until 1975 or 1976, but there was a Saturday morning cartoon show called the U.S. of Archie, which I enjoyed (Am a big Archie fan). This hasn't been released yet on DVD, although the other Archies animated series have been. Wondering what you're going to say about the Beach Boys Endless Summer album. Looking forward to that!

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

@@robertzastrow4648 I liked the "Bicentennial Minutes" too. As these episodes progress and we get closer to 1976, I think I'll need to spend some time on what a big deal the Bicentennial was. Especially for people who weren't there, it's hard to appreciate what a major event that was (and hard to remember for some of us who were there!) Funny that I just realized we'll soon be at 250 years since the founding of the country. I wonder if that'll get any coverage? (I don't suppose there's any snappy title for "250" like there is for a "bicentennial.") Thanks for mentioning "US of Archie." I don't remember it! I'll have to check it out and make sure I don't overlook it in a future episode. Thanks for the follow-up, Robert!

[@robertzastrow4648]

@@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444 One of the things I remember about the Bicentennial were all the ships (From other countries) which flooded Boston Harbor (To pay tribute to us/the U.S.) Think there were between 250 - 300 ships. Don't know if they did, but wonder if the Beach Boys did anything special to celebrate the Bicentennial. Would have been cool if they had met with a television network, and played a free July 4th concert either in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, etc. that the network could have broadcast. Each of the U.S. of Archie episodes dealt with the kids' ancestors (Who looked identical to the Archie gang) becoming involved in historical events. One episode revolved around Francis Scott Key writing the Star Spangled Banner. Another involved Teddy Roosevelt (When he worked on a ranch in North or South Dakota). Another involved the Wright Brothers. There's a website called Mod Cinema, that sells television movies or specials broadcast on television during the 1960s, 70s and 80s. They do have an NBC special which aired during the Bicentennial. Remember seeing a poster from that time, which showed how our Tricentennial (In 2076) would be celebrated. Showed at least one pretty woman (In a bikini space suit) drinking something out of a saucer glass. The scene sort of looked like it was from the Jetsons!

[@joelgoldenberg1100]

1. I was fortunate to, several years before she passed, see Valerie Harper on Broadway in The Tale of the Allergist's Wife with Broadway perennial Tony Roberts, who was also in Woody Allen's Annie Hall. 2. I didn't know Barry Livingstone of My Three Sons fame was in Sons and Daughters. I always liked how his My Three Sons character Ernie used to say "guy, dad!" which I gather was an abbreviation of "golly, dad!" Or maybe he said that so fast I was mishearing it. 3. It really seems that the Quinn Martin TV factory was a very busy one in the 1970s. 4. It is very evident you have an amazing collection of collectibles. 5. The lack of success quality-wise of The Planet of the Apes as a TV show reminds me of the attempt at a Logan's Run TV show. I loved the movie although it was a bit campy, and the fact that much of it took place in what seemed to be a giant shopping mall. Then I got a DVD of the TV show and I couldn't even get through the first episode. 6. That monster at 10:52 reminds me of the fembots on The Bionic Woman. 7. Speaking of TV factories, I gather nothing could compete with Hanna-Barbera, but some of the animated shows were almost unwatchable to me because of the quality of the animation, and the stories. And the same goes for some of the Filmation cartoons. 8. It kind of amused me that the title of the show at 15:00 was Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers. Was Sand that well known that his name merited being part of the title of the show? It's like calling a show Redd Foxx in Sanford and Son. 9. I remember being so disappointed that the Sonny and Cher Show, which I watched religiously, ended and that they got divorced that I purposely boycotted both solo shows, and I only watched the first episode of their reunion series just to see how they would deal with each other post-divorce. 10. Mike Love complained about Capitol marketing the Beach Boys as the #1 surf group even in the late 1960s (although I'd like to see evidence of that), but Warner-Reprise's two 2-LP reissues seemed to be doing almost the same thing with the depictions of bikini-clad ladies on the covers (although it's kind of merited for 20/20 as it has Do It Again). And then there's an old car on one of the gatefolds. Was that supposed to evoke Little Deuce Coupe? 11. Interesting how a 1974 Beach Boys single tying in with Endless Summer was mono on both sides, when IIRC, both were in stereo on the 2- LP set.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Great observations, all 'round (as usual), Joel! I remembered the "Sons & Daughters" series. CBS did a lot of promotion and, I got the feeling, expected it to be their "break out hit" of the season. What I didn't remember, and wasn't aware of until I researched this, was Barry Livingstone being part of the cast. (I knew "Ernie Douglas" from "My Three Sons." I don't know if I forgot he was part of it, or if he looked so different that I never realized it was the same guy.) I wonder if casting a well-known former child actor in the series was in any way influenced by ABC using Ron "Opie" Howard on "Happy Days." I thought the Paul Sand show title was odd too. I could be wrong, but, I believe, at some point before it was canceled in January, ’75, they retitled it simply “Paul Sand.” I wonder if the title was a compromise; somebody wanting to call it “Friends & Lovers” because nobody knew who Paul Sand was and somebody else wanting to call it “Paul Sand,” or if they thought it gave the series a “touch of class,” like you were about to watch a stage production. I, too, was sad to lose the “Sonny & Cher” show, which was one of my favorites. I watched both Sonny and Cher’s “solo” shows, neither of which was particularly appealing; apart from Cher’s premier with “special guest” Elton John, which I’ll want to talk about when we get to 1975. I tuned in for the reunion too, but, knowing they were divorced, the show could never have been the same and, as I remember it, it just felt awkward. I agree about the covers on those Warner/Reprise re-issues. They’re terribly generic and inappropriate for the material, with the “bikini girls and palm trees” on the outside and the “classic cars” on the inside. My guess would be that they thought the original covers on front and back would have either looked dated, or have been overlooked in the record bins, or both. Also, I suppose, there was some desire to make them look like a “series” too. Anyway, I definitely agree that they missed the mark. I wondered about the “Mono” notation on the single too. The sides of the “Endless Summer” album all indicate “Stereo,” though, I’ll admit, I haven’t relistened to it to see if that’s actually the case. On that one, I wonder if someone thought showing “Mono” was cool, with Reprise just having re-issued “Pet Sounds” with a notation on the back saying something like, “In Mono…The way Brian cut it!” Thanks again for the great feedback, Joel, and have a great week!

[@beanie226]

Well done as always , Steve . Looking back , I feel fortunate that I was busy enough to have completely missed most of the television offerings of 1974 . BTW , is the double secret cubby-hole theme “ head(s) “ , ?

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Yes...Whatever else you might have been up to, I'm sure it was time better spent than on watching TV in the fall of '74. Good eye on the theme! Technically (very technically) it's "Heads or Tails," but the only "Tails" album I had was Genesis' "Trick of the Tail," so I augmented it with "Tales from Topographic Oceans" and "Ten Summoner's Tales." (It was a stretch, I know!) Great to hear from you and have an excellent week, Beanie!

[@lamontsouth5301]

Steve.... Great Job!. You must have an incredible collection of memorabilia from each period.... amazing. I especially liked the "Lamont, Texas" sign from Texas Wheelers (could this be a silent shout out?......hmmmmm). I remember really liking Night Stalker. The pilot was a made for TV movie about an underground city in Seattle, of course with monsters and the like. Some of that was actually true. A few years later we went to Seattle and did a tour of the "underground city". A few streets are under the downtown sidewalks with old store fronts on the underground level. Still there today. As always...very interesting program. Looking forward to next week. Lamont

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

I thought you'd like that "Lamont Texas" sign! Glad to know you caught it! Thanks for reminding me about the Kolchak made-for-TV movie set in the Seattle underground. When I saw it, and for years afterward, I thought the "underground city" was fictional. In the 90s, I visited my brother-in-law in Seattle and took the tour. It was pretty amazing and, I realize now, parts of what was shown in the movie are actually part of that tour. Of course, the movie shows it to be much larger (and way spookier) than it actually is. Glad you enjoyed the episode and thanks, once again, for the great feedback, Lamont!

[@lamontsouth5301]

@@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444 Yea...I thought that sign was for me! Thanks! Back to The Night Stalker....the movie plot had a second level below the 1st lower level of the city. That's where the really creepy things were. When my wife and I did the underground Seattle tour(also in the 90's) I kept looking for some kind of a trap door leading to the lower, lower level of the city. I was disappointed. Thanks again...Lamont

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

@@lamontsouth5301 Wish I'd found that trap door myself! Thanks for the follow-up, Lamont!

[@bchnwgn]

Man, these are fun! I enjoyed the early "Planet of the Apes" movies, but had completely forgotten that it was made into a TV series. "The Night Stalker" - Yes! I'm very much looking forward to the "Endless Summer" episode, Steve. 😀

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

As you might have gathered from the episode, I really loved "The Night Stalker," apart from the fact that TV formats in those days meant that it quickly got too repetitive. The Kolchak character was great and I always enjoyed him, even when the episodes were getting predictable. (The second episode, "The Zombie" has a scene where Kolchak is in the back of an abandon hearse trying to "disable" a dormant zombie which, to me, is one of the best "tension building" scary scenes ever.) Great to hear from you, Chris, and I'm looking forward to your thoughts on "Endless Summer" next week!

[@bchnwgn]

@@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444 Steve - Yep, good stuff! Looking forward to next week!

[@BrianKruger]

Loved this!!!

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks, Brian! BTW, Elton John will figure pretty heavily in Parts 5-7. He had a big fourth quarter in '74!

[@BrianKruger]

@@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444 Cool! Who is this, "Elton John" you speak of? Was he a politician wrapped up in Watergate?

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

@@BrianKruger I guess you had to be there. (Thanks for the laugh, Brian!)

[@chrisrainbow2393]

Hi Steve , I am not sure whats happened but i wrote a comment earlier, but its not here now. Anyway, i explained that here in UK by 1974, cloour TV had now taken off and many shows that had been popular in 1960s that had been B/W were now returning, this time being filmed in lovely colour and the ones i watched were Steptoe and Son, Till Death Us Do Part and The likely Lads who were now mature men and the show was now Whatever Happened to The Likely Lads. and was very popular and these shows sat well with the current comedy shows ie, Dads Army, Porridge and Monty Python and it was also our introduction to The Waltons which i never missed and there was more but i have to confess to preferring my new Stereo Record Deck to TV and only came downstairs to watch the shows i have mentioned and most of my time was now spent with my precious record collection which was growing and after completing my Beatles collection, i was now hunting down Beach Boys as i was now seeing how interesting the groups story was and i had no trouble obtaining info from the music press and radio, though records were harder to find at that time. I now see how important 1974 was for the group as one era ended with In Concert and a new era began with Endless Summer making them an oldies group , but here in UK they had remained very popular throughout their various musical trends but in 1974 the group were having a further bite at the cherry as most radio stations featured them in their weekly playlists. In 1974, i had no idea of the personnel of the group and the only member i knew was Mike and i have told this story before but Mike is the spitting image of our Childrens Favourite Captain Birds Eye who would grace our commercials in 60s, 78s,80s 90s and beyond , advertising Fish Fingers and with the cap and beard was a dead ringer for Mike Love and the best example i can give is the photo on 15 Big Ones and all mike needs is a pipe and that would complete the picture. Oh yes, 1974 was such an important year and Beach Baby by First Class was all over the airways and anybody could assume this was the Beach Boys as it was so obviously made in their style . What a tribute.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Really interesting about popular UK TV shows returning in color (excuse my US spelling!) in the early 70s! I recognize all the titles you mentioned, apart from “Porridge,” though, apart from Monty Python, I don’t think I’ve actually seen any of them. (Monty Python will figure in these episodes when we get to the fourth quarter of ’74.) Interesting to know, too, that “The Waltons” played in the UK. In the US, it got very high ratings, but I read later that it was very “regional” here and that, in big cities, almost nobody watched it. John Ritter, who appeared occasionally on the series as the minister (before he starred on “Three’s Company”) said he’d get mobbed by fans when he went out of town, but in L.A., nobody knew who he was. You make a great point about Mike Love being the “recognizable” Beach Boy, with the cap and beard. It’s something I’ve always wanted to mention here and the opportunity hasn’t come up yet. When I was a little kid in the 60s, I was only vaguely following music (apart from The Monkees.) There were a few groups, like The Beatles (of course), Herman’s Hermits, The Kinks and The Mamas & The Papas that I knew “on sight.” I always knew the Beach Boys because they were the ones with “the tall guy in the beard and cap.” Thanks for the feedback and perspective and I’m very much looking forward to your thoughts on “Endless Summer” next time! Have a great week, Chris!

[@chrisrainbow2393]

@@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444 Just a quick follow up to my post Steve as you say you have never heard of "Porridge " and this is one of the best comedy shows to come from UK and if i was to say that its very similar to your " Sgt Bilko " , you will see where i am coming from. Norman Stanley Fletcher, ( Fletch ) played by Ronnie Barker is on a 5 year stretch in Slade Prison where the sitcom is based and it seems that his occupation has been petty crime with him being guest of Her Majesty more times than he has been free and like Bilko he has the gift of the gab and the respect of the other various lags as they outsmart the dreaded chief warden ie " Mr McKay " who always ends up with egg on his face and a clear example is that when he is asked if he is sorry for his crimes, Fletch replies " oh yes.......i am sorry i was caught " .

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

@@chrisrainbow2393 Thanks for the follow up, Chris! From your description, it sounds very funny and very "modern" in a way. Thanks for the info and I'm going to see if I can find some episodes to check out!

[@joeljr4982]

Lots of memories here Steve. I never watched a lot of these shows but I know all the titles. I studied the TV guide just like I do The Beach Boys now. I always thought it was weird that the Hudson Brothers went from their own prime time show to a Saturday morning kids show. The other thing I remember is that 11 year old me had a huge crush on Holly from Land of the Lost. Lol

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks, Joel! Your comments reminded me of how I used to study TV Guide every week in those days (mainly looking to see if any good "monster movies" were going to be on.) Like you, I remembered all the titles but few of the shows. I remembered the Hudson Brothers had gone from prime time to Saturday morning, but I didn't remember it all happening in the space of just a few weeks. (You're right, too! It was very weird!) At 14, I suppose I was a little too old for Holly from "Land of The Lost." Anyway, she could never have replaced Marcia Brady (or Laurie Partridge) in my heart! Thanks again for the great feedback, Joel!

[@joeljr4982]

Both Hudson brothers shows must have been produced at the same time. They’re not Brian Wilson releasing Little Deuce Coupe 3 weeks after Surfer Girl.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

@@joeljr4982 I'm sure you must be right. (Great comparison too, Joel!)

[@murdockreviews]

I really like most 'Night Stalker' episodes. It was apparently never shown on German TV or at least no dubbed versions exist, so I was happy to get the whole season in its original version on DVD.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

I love "The Night Stalker" too. Darren McGavin's "Kolcak" was great character. I know that the show officially ran for one season, but my recollection is that, after the first few months, they started moving it around in the TV schedule, or pre-empting it for TV specials, making it hard to find and confusing as to whether it was still on TV or not. Cool that you have the series on DVD! (I do too!) Thanks for the feedback, Murdock!

[@danny1959]

The Night Stalker was much more successful when it came back as The X Files in the 1990s.

[@tompepper4789]

I had the same thought while watching this. Slightly higher budget.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Good call, Danny! As Tom mentioned, "X Files" definitely benefitted from a higher budget. I think the fact that, by the 90s, story arcs on TV shows were allowed to develop a little, rather than being "reset" at the end of each episode really helped too. Thanks for mentioning "The X Files," Danny!