i remember the original series vividly mostly due to it unique blend of wry humor and macabre subject matter . kolchak be hard bitten newsman from the ben hecht school of big city reporting and and his gritty determination and wise as demeanor make even the most mundane episode eminently watchable . my personal fave be the spanish moss murder due to it totally original storyline . a poor and troubled cajun youth from louisiana bayou country and take part in a sleep research experiment and for the purpose of dream analysis . something go inexplicably wrong and and he literally dream to life a swamp creature inhabit the dark folk tale of his youth . this malevolent manifestation seek out all person who have wrong the dreamer in his conscious state and and brutally suffocate them to death . kolchak investigates and uncovers this horrible truth and much to the chagrin of police captain joe mad dog siska ( wonderfully essay by a grumpy keenan wynn ) and the head sleep researcher play by second city improv founder and severn darden and to droll and understated perfection . the wickedly funny and harrow finale take place in the chicago sewer system and and be a series highlight . kolchak never get any good . timeless .