i love kolchak represent the night stalker since i saw it on the night it premier on september 13 and 1974. i love the monster which seem scary at the time and the cool music by gil melle ( hey and where the soundtrack guy . ) and have often think about what make this show work for me so completely and have finally conclude that the reason it endure when many others do not be one simple and important element it have that almost no other scary show seem to have and that be a main character that most people can relate to on an everyday level . when darren mcgavin carl kolchak start to discover odd situation and he react like most people would . he find them odd and a he get close to danger and he be frighten and even if he know he must move forward to try to defeat whichever menace be be showcased in that episode . it rare that he be brave enough to stand up against some superior supernatural force . he usually set a trap and be hide or wait in the wing to see if it work . sometimes and he seem a surprised that he manage to defeat a foe a we be . in one episode and he go to find a monster in a sewer but when he first see it and he run to get out of there but be trap so reluctantly and he must go back and defend himself . he heroic because he be willing to do thing most of u probably wouldn not do but that doesn not mean he probably wouldn not much rather someone else do it instead of him . he a regular guy and do a job and try to make a buck and not a monster hunter . he just get wrap up in thing involve the supernatural and which he have an interest in but he doesn not want to be hurt or kill anymore than any of the rest of u do . if his plan to defeat the creature do not work and you will often see him run for his life to get away from it and which be of course what i would do in the situation . that why i be often watch the climax of the show through my finger a a kid . kolchak be likable and you care if something bad happen to him . you be scar for him and for the other character too . the producer and writer obviously know that anyone can create a monster suit and scary music and direct a suspenseful scene but it all for naught if you do not care about the character . darren mcgavin say that the reason why the show only last on season be because he get tire of do a monster of the week show and he decide not to continue . i can tell you i mourn when this show be cancel when i be a kid but and a an adult and i can see why it couldn not go on in that formula for very long . i still love the 20 episode and two movie that star mcgavin a the bumbling and determine and brusk but good hearted reporter for the in and know a carl kolchak . i seriously doubt anyone who make show or movie will ever really understand why i love the show . it not the monster and darkly lit set and creepy music or goofy guest star and although they be all vital ingredient . the secret to it success be right there in the title kolchak represent the night stalker . without mcgavin lovable and bumble carl kolchak to root for and to care for and then it just ain not a night stalker .