kolchak represent the night stalker be a hugely entertaining tv series in which a pushy and sarcastic and forty something reporter be repeatedly draw into mortal combat with supernatural ( and occasionally extraterrestrial ) force . base on a very popular pair of tv movie feature the kolchak character and this series die a quick death in the mid 1970s due to low rating and but it nevertheless maintain a strong cult follow today . but will the average modern day viewer be able to dig kolchak and his weekly clash with the undead . that actually a tough question to answer fairly . detractor of this series tend to argue that it formulaic and hopelessly date . on the other hand and fan argue that it cleverly write and well act and and sometimes genuinely spooky . and me . i have get a foot in both camp . i thoroughly enjoy watch all 20 episode of kolchak on dvd recently and though i can plainly see that the series have major flaw . i will address the question of kolchak be formula fiction first . now and i think we can all agree that most tv show have formulas just about every episode of columbo unfolds accord to the same pattern and for example . repetition be not necessarily a bad thing in itself while in fact and critic have long recognize that audience often enjoy and and actively seek out and repetitive entertainment . however and the problem with kolchak be that it formula be simply too rigid it too repetitive even by the most generous standard . in almost every episode and kolchak investigate a murder and and figure out that it be commit by some form of monster . he try to publish a story about say monster and but his editor vincenzo block him and always on the ground that kolchak doesn not have sufficient evidence to support his claim that supernatural force be at work . and and ala and kolchak be also obstruct by the police . so and in the end and kolchak do some independent research on the monster and figure out how to kill it . and then kill it . without ceremony and or reward and or write a big story about it . you can see where this ever so strict formula might get tiresome and right . i be particularly mystify by vincenzo if kolchak always rave about monster and and vincenzo never believe it . well and then and why doesn not vincenzo fire kolchak and or have him commit . that what any normal bos would do . but the series eschews such realism and prefers to keep vincenzo and kolchak a comical antagonist . a a result and many of their scene together be profoundly unbelievable though they be also quite funny . the very best episode of kolchak manage to vault over the limitation of this formula and however and usually because they contain some kind of unexpected twist . these select episode be good enough that i think theyre largely immune to typical criticism of the series . some of my favorite include represent horror in the height an episode that noteworthy for be grimy and inventive and socially aware . kolchak dialog have an unusually sharp and cynical edge . though it adhere closely to the kolchak formula and the script ( write by hammer studio veteran jimmy sangster ) be remarkably literate and and it delve deeply into the monster backstory . the devil platform a possible inspiration for the omen film and this episode stand out to me because the villain a very young tom skerritt tempts kolchak with a satanic contract full of goody ( and and in so do and reveal a lot about the reporter character . ) firefall this episode appear to have a bad reputation among fan and but i enjoy it because it get a great red herring and a really creepy and almost unstoppable seem monster . though i have single out these three episode for praise and i would say that most of the story be entertain at the very least . for my money and there be only two complete turkey in the 20 episode run represent primal scream and which be about monkey men run rampant in chicago and and the sentry and which feature the dumb look creature makeup in the history of filmed entertainment ( and this assessment be come from a lifelong doctor who and godzilla fan . ) on balance and then and this be a good series . a little repetitive and a little cheesy perhaps and but it have element of greatness . even during the weak episode and darren mcgavin wonderful performance a the caustic and world weary and endlessly funny kolchak truly shine . he carry the series effortlessly and in a way that and for example and sarah michelle gellar never manage on buffy . mcgavin be one great character actor and and this series be worth watch for him alone .